Provide two arguments for, and two arguments against (each 80 words max), the debate proposition:
“Eudaemonia” as articulated in ancient Greek philosophy, is essentially the same concept of “wellbeing” that underpins aims of positive psychology and modern psychotherapies.
With these debates, the readings (and listening!) listed are just a starting point/a guide to some different views on the topic. Much much more can be said on all of these topics, and this is a good excuse to work on your scholarship skills for these kind of topics as the essay approaches. Also, remember that there is a 20%+ chance that you will be chosen to be a presenter in the debate this week – you want to be prepared!
If you learned much more about the topic in the process of the debate, feel free to submit a second attempt at the debate propositions in the 7 days after your tutorial – but your first submission will be marked, rather than the second.
Relevant textbook reading on what the ancient Greeks thought about eudaemonia: Leahey, pp 48-50 & 74-78. But this is very much only explaining what eudaimonia is – for good debate points, also have a look through the following:
Peterson, C., Ruch, W., Beermann, U., Park, N., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2007). Strengths of character, orientations to happiness, and life satisfaction, The Journal of Positive Psychology, 2(3), 149-156, DOI: 10.1080/17439760701228938 (a positive psychology journal article making the comparison between their ideas of flourishing and Greek ideas of eudaimonia)
Nussbaum, M. (2008). Who Is the Happy Warrior? Philosophy Poses Questions to Psychology. The Journal of Legal Studies, 37(S2), S81-S113. DOI: 10.1086/587438 (a critique of the Peterson et al article and others similar to it)
For a review of eudaimonia as it applies to modern psychotherapies, and a place to get further references Begley, N, (2010). The Psychological Adoption and Adaptation of Eudaimonia (http://positivepsychology.org.uk/psychological-adoption-eudaimonia/)
‘Eudaimonia’ or ‘the good life’ is also discussed in this BBC In Our Time podcast about Stoicism (https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p003k9fs )
Last Completed Projects
| topic title | academic level | Writer | delivered |
|---|