The Editorial Board misunderstood the purpose of the course, ‘The Good Life.’ The course would challenge students’ views about what ‘the good life’ is and to think about whether it exists. The class doesn’t just “give incoming freshmen a chance to bond over coursework” but has the noble goal of making students reflect on their commonly held notions.
The class would cover topics like happiness, meaning in life, death, ethics and politics, examined from ancient and modern perspectives. A required philosophy course for liberal arts and science students is long overdue. It’s a travesty that many math and science courses are required, but few of the humanities are. Too many students take few courses beyond the minimum requirements. Studying philosophy, sociology and even ‘the good life’ are important steps to becoming a better educated citizen and person.
