HNRS-120 | The Meaning of Life

Full Title: The Meaning of Life

Topic Description:

What is the meaning of life? In order to answer this question, one must ask many others. Why are we here? Who am I? What is the nature of the universe? How can I find happiness? What is the truth? What is my purpose? In this course, students will read multiple sources on a wide range of topics that attempt to address these “big” questions in life, in a search for meaning and purpose. The course will move from a broad perspective of historical solutions to these problems (e.g., religious, philosophical, social, economic, political) to more contemporary approaches (e.g., physics, psychology, artificial intelligence, neuroscience) in an effort to understand “what is the meaning of life?” While there is admittedly no one answer to this question, the goal of this course is to use critical thinking and open discussions to critically assess different value systems including our own.

Counts as Global? No

Topic Approved: December 2014