C5-D5. The Good Life (10 weeks)

In the ten weeks of this course, the participants will have the opportunity to reflect about what makes a life a good life following suggestions we find in different readings. Writings from the following authors will be included: J.S. Mill, Plato, Tolstoy, Hornby, and de Maupassant.

INSTRUCTOR: Richard Schmitt was born in Germany. Forced to leave for being Jewish, he reached the U.S. as a young man. He received his higher education at the University of Chicago and Yale and spent many years teaching at Brown University and at Worcester State University. He has taught WISE courses for over twenty years.

REQUIRED BOOKS: J S Mill, On Liberty; Plato, Republic, Book 1 and Symposium; Tolstoy, The Death of Ivan Ilych, Part 1 & 2 and A Confession; Nick Hornby “Nipple Jesus;” de Maupassant, “Mademoiselle Fifi”