Questioning the Good Life

Organized by Jeff Kosky, Jon Eastwood, Karla Murdock, Tim Diette and Art Goldsmith

Who Cares About Happiness?

A quick look at the bestseller lists tells of a widespread interest in and concern about happiness. Echoed in the morning talk shows and the evening news hours, happiness seems more and more a national obsession.

Why Study It?

The current interest in happiness is not confined just to consumers of the popular media, but extends also to academic experts in fields as wide-ranging as psychology, economics, sociology, philosophy and religion. Since everybody, it seems, truly does care about and have something to say about happiness, it's a topic where the knowledges produced by disciplinary expertise might come together, shape one another, and respond to one another in a truly interdisciplinary fashion.

What's This Seminar Series All About?

The Questioning the Good Life seminar series is a year-long colloquium that seizes these opportunities. The colloquium is organized around a series of six visiting speakers, chosen for the discipline they represent as well as for the perspective they will bring to our study of happiness. Each of the speakers is a leader in his or her field and one whose popularity extends beyond the narrow confine of their discipline.

How Can I Get Involved?

While each of the speakers will give a public talk to the University community, students and faculty may apply to join a core group of committed seminar participants, who will meet throughout the year to:

1. Attend the majority of the six public lectures by the visiting speakers
2. Attend luncheon discussions with the speakers, where student participants will assume leadership roles
3. Participate in four additional "sense-making meetings" to discuss books or essays related to the speakers or the topics they address

Where Do I Apply?

Application is closed. Thank you for your interest.