The Pursuit of Happiness

Lake Michigan in the evening

Description:

The right to pursue happiness is a foundational right of the United States.  This reading and discussion group will focus on the experience and causes of happiness and its flip side, suffering.  Should we place pleasure or happiness as a central concern of existence, or try to maintain equanimity in the face of both pleasant and painful experiences?

We will read and discuss religious, philosophical and scientific perspectives on the value and pitfalls of pursuing happiness.  We will also examine the causes, treatment and prevention of severe depression, the most common mood disorder.

Meeting Details:

This is an online course offering using Zoom.  

Meetings are on consecutive Wednesdays from 4:00-5:30 beginning on Wednesday October 19th, 2022

Registration:

Please register on Church Center.

This class is limited to 12 participants.

Facilitator

Brian O’Donnell is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Indiana University.  He received a B.A. from Oberlin College and his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from SUNY Stony Brook.  He has investigated the psychology and biology of psychoactive drugs and psychotic disorders for several decades, supported by the National Institutes of Health, the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation and Indiana University.  Email: bodonnel@nullindiana.edu