Major Course Research Questions for Happiness and Wisdom

Return to Happiness and Wisdom

Happiness

1. How objective, real, or subjective is happiness?
2. What are some of the obstacles to happiness?
3. What is the relationship between happy states of mind and happy lives?
4. To what extent can money make you happy?
5. Are happy societies wealthy societies? Should increasing GDP be our focus?
6. What role does fate and luck play in happiness?
7. What role does love and intimacy play in happiness?
8. What role does pleasure play in happiness?
9. What role does social esteem and career success play in happiness?
10. To what extent can we influence our general happiness by the things we do?

Wisdom

1. Is wisdom a kind of knowledge? If so, what kind of knowledge is it?
2. Is wisdom a form of social cognition?
3. Can wisdom be acquired? If so, what sorts of learning and training work?
4. What is the age of onset of wisdom?
5. Is wisdom partly the result of personal training of emotions, (especially, in relation to knowledge of reality (Stoicism) or the nature of mind (Yoga), or a view about the reality of self and change (Buddhism), or spiritual development (major religions)?
6. Does wisdom contribute to life satisfaction (happiness) or does wisdom make you sadder?