PHIL2607 Happiness and Mental Health

Many people consider happiness to be the main goal of human life. This topic considers various issues in connection with this, with a particular focus on the role of mental health. What is happiness? What is the connection between our temporary emotional states and an overall good life? What role do our attitudes, rational abilities, social relations, and sense of identity play in well-being? To answer these questions, the topic will draw on contemporary ideas in philosophy and psychology, as well as classical ideas from both Western and Eastern traditions.

This topic aims to:

• Address key issues in central theories of the good life
• Identify key points in recent discussions of the good life
• Encourage students to formulate a coherent argument which make reference to some key literature, both ancient and recent, on the good life
• Enable students to clearly express their ideas about the philosophy of science both in writing and orally

1. Understand and discuss central texts on the good life
2. Appreciate and critique some of the central arguments in ancient and recent literature on the good life
3. Formulate your own views and arguments on some important issues in recent literature on the good life
4. Clearly express their philosophical views on the good life both in writing and orally