UPDATE, Oct. 2. The schedule is set. For those who've not declared a topic preference, there's still time. Look in the first four chapters of Bakewell for ideas.
For the NEXT EXAM, bonus questions from the presentations will be included. That is, you can still earn up to 20 points from the questions pertaining to our class readings but you may also earn points (not exceeding 20) for correct answers to questions about the reports. Presenters, you can suggest bonus questions for the exam.
If your Exam #2 score exceeds Exam #1, we'll drop #1 and double your points on #2.
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It's time to select and assign report presentation topics. Take a look at the syllabus for October, topics should be related to what we're reading and discussing in class during the month. Your ten-minute presentation should tell us something interesting and relevant we'd not have known just from reading our texts. You can prepare a PowerPoint (etc.) if you wish, but that's not required.
If your reporting date happens to be on a nice Fall day, consider taking us outside.
Post a brief summary of your topic, with any suggested readings (etc.) and a discussion question or two, in the comments' space below prior to your scheduled reporting date.
If you have a particular topical interest you'd like to report on, indicate that in the comments space below by the end of this week (Friday the 17th). First come, first served. We want to avoid redundancy.
If you do not indicate a particular topical interest, I'll assign it. jpo
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Hello Professor Oliver. I have an idea for the presentation but I am not positive of its topicality. At core the: connection between low-level hedonism so rife in our culture and machoism. I came to the realization these two were connected during your lecture September 9th, and wanted to expand upon the idea. Thank you for your time I really enjoy your class.
ReplyDeleteSam Rosendahl.
Machoism? Masochism? Either way, that sounds like an intriguing topic.
DeleteHello Professor Oliver,
ReplyDeleteI would like to do my presentation on the Unmapable Nature of Happiness. I'd like to present before Fall Break to correspond with the end of More Than Happiness by Antonia Macaro
Reacting to Ch 14 in Bakewell "See the World", I would like to address the topic: How World Travel Changed My Perspective on Happiness on October 26th if possible.
ReplyDeleteIf at all possible id like to use ch. 9 in Blakewell "Be convivial: live with others" as a jumping off point to talk about the relationship between the law and happiness.
ReplyDeleteEntirely possible.
DeleteIf I could, I would like to present to the class John Piper’s view of happiness and fulfillment: christian hedonism.
ReplyDeleteStrange as it may seem, I would actually prefer to be assigned a topic. That is...unless I can discuss free will? If not I think that (potentially) succeeding outside my comfort zone could be a bit more fulfilling than regurgitating information I may already have a more clear picture of. And thus, bringing me one step closer to happiness.
ReplyDeleteAlso, would love to do so the week after Fall break if possible.
I'll bet you can find a hook pertaining to free will in our text.
DeleteI would like to discuss Altruistic hedonism, preferable sometime after fall break.
ReplyDeleteI will be discussion about motivation. I will like to go on Oct 7.
ReplyDeleteIn my report I'm going to be discussing the theories of well being. Specifically I'm going to be talking about the hedonistic, desire, list, and eudemonistic theories of well being.
ReplyDeleteLet me know if this is an acceptable topic.
- Kendry Martinez
I would like to do a presentation on the book that is near and dear to my heart. The book is called Radical Honesty: how to change your life by telling the truth by Brad Blanton PhD. I find his insights on how to come to grips with ones emotions extremely insightful and an interesting topic on finding happiness. If this is acceptable please let me know
ReplyDeleteI love that book! His ideas about us being barred from deeper presence when our words don't match reality really helped me understand the importance of living authentically. (Attense)
DeleteSure. But see if you can identify points of contact with Montaigne. I'll bet you can.
DeleteI would like to do a presentation on contentment and its relation to happiness. If possible, I would like to go after fall break. This would give me some time to go over the topic with my father, who was the first person to present the idea to me.
ReplyDeleteI have not yet received the book (ordered from school bookstore) I'm most interested in discussing- that is "More Than Happiness: Buddhist and Stoic Wisdom..."- so I will not be able to cite a particular jumping off point in the book just yet. However, I would like to examine the Buddhist concept of suffering. I would like to specify in what capacity I examine this concept, perhaps relating it to a modern perspective, but I will have to return to this comment and elaborate further after a short interim so I can actually get my hands on the book.
ReplyDeleteMy topic will be on presence vs distraction / conviction vs double-mindedness, and cognitive dissonance vs acceptance. Will probably hit The Power of Now and Purity of Heart is to Will One Thing, as well as various studies on dopamine.
ReplyDeleteIt would be great to have it due as early as possible given what everyone else has already chosen. Maybe October 5th or something.
^Attense
DeleteWow, I had no idea that one line in a song by Deca that I listen to is actually the name of a text by Kierkegaard
DeleteThat's so cool!!
DeleteGood Morning! Sorry I'm replying so late! I would like to discuss Montaigne's first answer: "Don't worry about death".
ReplyDelete"There are two lives, the natural and the spiritual, and we must lose the one before we can participate in the other." William James
DeleteDo we need to die to achieve that?
"It is not death, it is dying that alarms me." Michel de Montaigne
DeleteYou'll be joining us in class for that?
DeleteActually, yes, I will!!
DeleteI would like to cover the topic of waking up from a habit if possible. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteOn the 21st.
DeleteI would like to cover the topic of little tricks and the art of living as discussed in Q. 6 of How to Live. I would like to present on the 19th if possible.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete