Philosophy of Happiness

Offered at:
The Center for Community Education
Broome Community College
Binghamton, NY
October 12, 19, 26 6:30-8:30p.m.
Tichner Hall 106
call 607-778-5012 to register (pre registration required) 

Description:

What exactly is happiness? How did it come to be listed in our country's founding documents as a right equal to life and liberty?

This course is an introductory level exploration of how different philosophers and philosophies West and East have thought about what it means for a human being to be happy. I will be handing out some excerpts for the second and third weeks. We will look at some of the early Greek philosophies: Hedonism, Skepticism, Stoicism, Plato, and Aristotle.

In some ways, these philosophers begin the definitions of happiness that we all experience or hope to experience in our own lives- happiness is pleasure- no its living a balanced virtuous life- well, sometimes it seems like tranquility is happiness.

After the Greeks, we will consider some Eastern approaches. It is well known that the Buddha taught that suffering comes from craving and the letting go of craving anything, even happiness is enlightenment. We will be looking at the relationship between enlightenment and happiness, and sayings of the Buddha and Buddhist scholars on the subject of happiness. Also we will consider Confucianism. 

Briefly, let me tell you that in the second and third week we will look at some of the most influential philosophers of the Western tradition on the subject of happiness: Kant, Mill, Schopenhauer, Hegel, Freud (not actually a philosopher, but very influential), Sartre, Camus, Marx, Bertrand Russell, and more. The class will have as much of a discussion format as is possible.

My goal here is for you to interact with these philosophical ideas in terms of how they relate to your life, ideas and experiences. Visit this site after the first week. I will be encouraging an on line discussion in the discussion section of this web site. I will also be more definitive about the philosophers and topics we will be covering.

Contact me:
     by telephone: (607) 724-1422.
     by private e mail: Michael@michaelmckimmy.com
     by group discussion: www.michaelmckimmy.com
     for face to face: make an appointment after class, by phone or e mail