CLAS 105 Reading the Greeks
An undergraduate lecture and discussion course providing a themes-based approach to ancient Greek culture, literature, and society. The current theme is "happiness."
What is happiness? What kind of decisions do I have to make in order to lead a happy and fulfilling life in future? The good news is that you are not the first person to ask these questions. Starting from antiquity, people have pondered these issues. This course offers an introduction to ancient thoughts about happiness, and, indirectly, to ancient philosophical thinking. It addresses some of the crucial enduring questions of the Liberal Arts Curriculum, such as the nature and meaning of the good life, and the relationship between human beings and God(s). By looking at the concept of happiness in ancient Greece, we will investigate the relationship between philosophy and religion in the ancient world, thereby allowing students to better understand the philosophical and intellectual context in which Christianity developed.