What does it mean to pursue happiness, and why do so many struggle to attain it? This course examines the nature of happiness through multiple lenses, asking whether it can be defined, measured, cultivated, or even bought. Together, we will explore how personal values, social position, and cultural background shape individual and collective wellbeing. We will consider differences across racial, ethnic, religious, gender, age, and class groups, and analyze how chemistry, neurology, and the structures of daily life influence our emotional lives. Placing happiness at the center, the course traces the evolution of modern understandings of wellbeing by drawing on philosophy, psychology, economics, political science, religion, sociology, and the natural sciences. Students will engage with classical texts and contemporary theories alongside video materials, music, and empirical findings from the emerging interdisciplinary field of Happiness Studies. Throughout the seminar, participants are invited to reflect on their own experiences and aspirations. By connecting research to lived practice, the course offers practical strategies for enhancing personal wellbeing while illuminating the broader social forces that shape what it means to live a flourishing life.
Summer Registration Opens
Monday, March 30, 2026 at 8 AM (AZ Time)
