PHIL 273-1: The Good Life

Winter 2017

T/Th 2:00-3:20

University Hall 118

Professor Stephen White

Office: Kresge 3351

Office hours: Tuesday/Thursday 4-5

Course Description

This is the second in the sequence of three courses required of sophomores in the Brady Scholars Program in Ethics and Civic Life. In this course, we will be exploring rival philosophical theories of well-being. What, fundamentally, makes a person’s life go well? Is a person better off the more he or she gets what she wants? Or the more enjoyment he or she gets out of life? And what of things like love, friendship, health, education, and creative expression? Do these things contribute to a good life in and of themselves, or only insofar as they enhance a person’s satisfaction or enjoyment? In addition to such fundamental issues, we will consider some more specific questions related to the good life. For instance, what is the relation between being happy and being moral? Would it be better if we could live much longer lives than humans presently live? Is it bad to die? And is there a connection between having a good life and finding meaning or purpose in one’s life?

Texts

Thomas Hurka, The Best Things in Life

Richard Kraut, What is Good and Why?

John Kekes, The Art of Life

Additional readings will be made available through Canvas

Learning Objectives:

Students will

(1) learn to articulate and critically assess arguments for and against rival theories of well-being.

(2) be able to apply different theories of well-being to answer specific questions about the role that such things as pleasure, the length of life, work, and morality play in a good life.

(3) Learn to construct arguments and clearly explain philosophical ideas in writing.

Assignments and grade breakdown:

  • Response pieces: Four short (1 page) responses to the readings. You may choose the topics and the dates to turn them in, though the first two must be turned in by the end of week 4 (20% of final grade).
  • Paper #1: 4-5 pages (approx. 1500 words), due February 5 (35% of final grade).
  • Paper #2: 6-7 pages (approx. 2000 words), due March 14 (40% of final grade).
  • Participation (5% of final grade).

Course policies:

  • Class attendance is required
  • Late work: Assignments will be docked 1/3 of a letter grade for each day late unless you have arranged for an extension at least 5 Days prior to the due date. Extensions will not be granted merely because the student has assignments for multiple courses due the same day.
  • Documentation is required in cases of emergency.
  • No laptops, phones, or tablets may be used during class. Exceptions to this rule may be arranged in consultation with Professor White.

Plagiarism:

Any form of plagiarism will be reported to the dean’s office and will result in a 0 for the assignment.

Accommodations:

We aim to provide students with disabilities and other conditions requiring accommodation a learning and community environment that affords them full participation, equal access, and reasonable accommodation. Eligible students should contact AccessibleNU, in the office of the Dean of Students to arrange for the proper accommodations as early as possible in the quarter. To contact AccessibleNU, visit

Schedule:

Introduction

Jan 5: Parfit, Reasons and Persons, “What Makes a Life Go Best” (Canvas);

The Meaning of “Good for” and the Desire Theory

Jan 10: Kraut, Ch. 1, §§1-2; Ch. 2 §§16-23

Jan 12: Kraut, Ch. 2, §§24-31

Hedonism

Jan 17: Kraut, Ch. 2, §§32-33

Jan 19: Hurka, Chs. 1-2

Pluralism about the Good

Jan 24: Hurka, Ch. 3

Nozick, “The Experience Machine”

Jan 26: Hurka, Ch. 8

Human Nature and Human Good

Jan 31: Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, BK 1 (Canvas)

Julia Annas “Happiness as Achievement” (Canvas)

Feb 2: Kraut, Ch. 3 §§34-37

(First paper due (Sunday, Feb 5)

Feb 7: Kraut, Ch. 3, §§38-44

Feb 9: Kraut, Ch. 3, §§45-50; 51-54

Some Model Lives

Feb 14: Kekes, Chs 1-2

Feb 16: Kekes, Chs 3-4

Feb 21: Kekes, Ch. 6, 9

Happiness, Meaning, and Death

Feb 23: Wolf, “Happiness and Meaning” (Canvas)

Feb 28: Nagel, “The Absurd” (Canvas)

March 1: NO CLASS

March 7: Nagel, “Death” (Canvas)

Final paper due (Tuesday, March 14)