What is the Good Life? Searching for Success from Plato to Prozac

A Distinguished Scholar Seminar featuring Lloyd S. Kramer, Chair and Dean E. Smith Distinguished Term Professor of History

June 26-27, 2009

One of the oldest questions in philosophy addresses a deceptively simple problem:  What is the good life?   Philosophers, political theorists, artists, and analysts of human psychology have examined this question since antiquity, proposing different answers and urging human beings to follow often conflicting prescriptions for a meaningful, productive, and successful existence.  This question remains a pressing concern for high-achieving people in our own culture, but we rarely have time to reflect on the components of a successful life.  This seminar will examine some of the most common assumptions about the meaning of success and draw on classical humanist perspectives to frame the discussion.  We’ll refer to influential authors such as Plato, Lucretius, Boethius, Machiavelli, Jane Austen, and Jean-Paul Sartre; and we’ll discuss a classic film, “Citizen Kane.” What defines a truly successful life: the search for truth, the accumulation of wealth, power or fame, or personal relationships with family and friends? Join us as we turn to the past and the present to consider these questions.

Topics

Does a Successful Life Include a Religious/Philosophical Quest for Eternal Truths?

Is Wealth Important for a Successful Life?

Film Viewing: Citizen Kane

What is the Role of Public Action, Power, and Fame in a Successful Life?

How do Friendships and Family Relations Contribute to a Successful Life?

Concluding Conversation:  Do Most People Believe They’re Living a Successful Life?  Why or Why Not?

Time and Cost

3:00 p.m., Friday, June 26, through 1:00 p.m., Saturday, June 27, 2009. The tuition is $120 ($105 by May 27). The optional Friday dinner is $20. Tuition for teachers is $60 ($52.50 by May 27). 10 contact hours for 1 unit of renewal credit.

For information about lodging click here.

Co-Sponsored by the General Alumni Association.
For information about GAA discounts and other scholarships available to Humanities Program participants, click here.

Register for this seminar.