ASP215 - Philosophy, Happiness, and the Good Life

Unit details

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Year:2019 unit information
Enrolment modes:

Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), CBD*, Cloud (online)

Credit point(s):1
EFTSL value:0.125
Trimester 1 Unit Chair:

Matthew Sharpe

Prerequisite:Any first year Arts unit
Corequisite:

Nil

Incompatible with:

ASP213/313, ASP315, ASP415

Scheduled learning activities - campus:

1 x 2 hour Seminar per week

Scheduled learning activities - cloud (online):

1 x 2 hour online Seminar per week

Note:

*CBD refers to Institute of Koorie Education; Community Based Delivery

Content

In this course, we look at some basic life questions everyone faces: what is happiness, and how do we attain it?  Is pleasure the goal of life?  Is fame the best thing to aspire to?  IS strength of character enough to be happy, or do we need good luck?  Should we moderate, or try to conquer emotions like anger?  Is it ever right to lie?  Is altruism the key to a good life, or pursuing self-interest?  Each week, competing answers to these questions are examined, and students are prompted to engage with a host of the most important Western philosophers: Socrates, Aristotle, the Stoics, Cicero, Epicureanism, Natural Law, Hume, Kant and utilitarianism.

Assessment

Assessment 1 (Individual) - Seminar/Online Exercises (800 words) - 20%

Assessment 2 (Group) - Essay 1 (1600 words) - 40%

Assessment 3 (Individual) - Essay 2 (1600 words) - 40%

Unit Fee Information

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