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Instructor: Susan Wolf. This seminar meets Tuesdays from 4:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. in Caldwell 213.

What kind of life is the best life, from the point of view of self-interest? To what extent does this question admit of a universal answer? To what extent is the answer up to each person to decide for him or herself? The course will consider a variety of theories of human well-being, and associated questions about the relation of well-being to pleasure, to virtue, to the satisfaction of preferences, to meaningfulness in life, and more. Readings include Philippa Foot’s Natural Goodness, James Griffin’s Well-Being, and Richard Kraut’s What is Good and Why .

Susan Wolf’s webpage