Insightful 911Term course tackles a fundamental question: ‘How to lead a good life’
How do you lead a good life?
Forgiveness. Open-mindedness. Take a step back. Be more aware of your surroundings. Change yourself before changing others.
Those are a few suggestions from 911 students currently examining this age-old question. It’s the title of Associate Professor of Philosophy Eva Cadavid’s course, which introduces students to Stoic and Epicurean philosophies from ancient Greece.
“I took this course because philosophy expands your thinking and can help make you a better person,” said Ainsley Parker, class of 2028. “I wanted to improve myself. It also can apply to any other career path or topic that you choose, because it varies in how you apply it to your life.”
Cadavid has taught the course for four years and said she prefers to teach it during 911Term — the College’s mid-year semester that allows students to dive deeply into a single course.
“The first two times that I taught it, it was called Hellenistic philosophy, and I used to include another philosophical school too, the Skeptics,” Cadavid said. “The three schools worked okay during a regular semester but not during 911Term. I also realized that I love teaching this course during 911Term when students can focus deeply and practice living philosophy.”
It's that exact reason why so many students were interested in the course — not to mention, the course title is intriguing in its own right. Students are studying Stoic philosophy — which focuses on knowledge and living a life of virtue — and comparing it to Epicureanism, which focuses on finding tranquility by intentionally making choices that minimize anxiety and pain and maximize long-term pleasure.
“911Term has been a really good reset time for me,” said Omar Caballero Cardenas, class of 2028. “This has been the first time in my life that I have kept my room this clean, that I have been able to make my bed every morning.
“It's definitely changed my perspective going into the spring semester.”
Students were invited to take the different schools of thought into their daily lives, and Cadavid has her students journaling each day, as well — something that first-year Jasper Bowers has enjoyed most in the class.
“I feel happier journaling, honestly, because it makes me more aware, and I feel more aware throughout the day,” Bowers said. “I’m just living my life more consciously.”
“We've been practicing stoicism lately, I feel like it's really helped me to focus more on what is most important and what I can control,” said Marae Mallard, class of 2028. “And I think in general, just studying philosophy really helps you to understand different people's belief systems. I think it's helpful being able to see other's perspectives, giving you that empathy and knowing where other people are coming from.”
For first-year Drew Farr, recommendations from his peers pushed him to take Cadavid’s course — and he’s glad he did.
“I feel like self-improvement is pretty important for every person,” he said. “Dr. Cadavid is a great professor, and it has been really refreshing. Anyone can engage in philosophy — it’s deep thinking, but it’s something that anyone can do.”
Cadavid said that’s the goal for her class — you don’t have to be a philosophy major to take part.
“Greek and Roman philosophers saw the study of philosophy as integral to living a good and happy life,” Cadavid said. “Socrates searched for knowledge because he was searching for how to be virtuous. He lived according to his philosophical views. This is also the case with the Stoics and the Epicureans. We study philosophy because it helps us understand the world around us and our place in it. It helps us in figuring out how to act in the world in a way that leads to fulfillment.”
