The word “philosophy” comes from the Greek term “philosophia” which means “love of wisdom.” Those who love wisdom and seek after it are called “philosophers.” But this doesn’t help us much, because it isn’t obvious what that involves, exactly. When “philosophy” became a self-conscious and distinct kind of activity, most agreed that philosophy is a way of living your life. It involves asking certain kinds of questions in certain kinds of ways, and the way that one lived one’s life is part of one’s answer to those questions. Philosophy is a Way of Life. Philosophy as a Way of Life is also a way to teach Philosophy, and that’s how this course is organized. This means that this course is organized by four key principles:

1. Pursuit of the Good life,

2. Diverse Content,

3. Student-Led Dialogue, and

4. Immersive Assignments.

In “How Should I Live?” Philosophy and the Good Life (PHIL 103), students will wrestle with the big questions about how to live and what makes your life flourish. The course tackles such issues as what justifies your beliefs, whether you should practice a religion or follow a tradition, and what sacrifices you should make for others. We’ll learn what well-respected (or at least, very often read) philosophers have to say about how to live well. We’ll reason through real-world case studies where philosophical considerations underlie major business and life decisions. We’ll talk in small intensive dialogue groups, and in full-class debates about how we answer these questions.

Students will learn how to ask stronger philosophical questions by engaging with a wide range of philosophical texts – including the more formal academic sort and the less formal “Opinion” pieces found in e.g., the NY Times, Aeon, Psyche, and the Atlantic. If Philosophy is a Way of Life, then it requires socializing. In this class, students will be members of a “Peer-Led Dialogue Group” throughout the semester in which they articulate their own strong philosophical questions, listen attentively to their peers, and respond with intellectual humility and intellectual curiosity. On (most) Fridays, the class will be divided into two Dialogue Groups; each group will be lead by a Student Dialogue Leader. The Dialogue Leader will facilitate focused and respectful discussion, and encourage all students’ participation. (You can ‘meet’ the Dialogue Leaders on The Team page.)

This class culminates in each student having composed a philosophical Apology, in which they defend their own answers to the class’s four big questions, and a creative project called Making a Map to the Good Life. (For more on these assignments, see the Policies and Assignments page.)

In Spring 2024, this class meets on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 9:30-10:45am, in Whitesides Hall #015.