Courses & Events > Practical Philosophy > Part 2 Details
Practical Philosophy
Part 2 Details
Many of the ideas touched upon in the Part 1 are examined in far greater depth in Part 2.
Week 1. The true nature of happiness; how is it acquired or lost? Observation. The conscious perceiver and the present moment.
Week 2. Happiness and the service of the needs of others. To be happy is to be in tune with one’s own nature. The relationship between happiness and law. The creative power of observation.
Week 3. The principle of “May all be happy” and the principle of utility – the greatest happiness for the greatest numbers. Observing the body at work and the movements of the mind.
Week 4. The self as the true source of happiness. The Platonic virtues; the divine and human good. The eternal present and passing time.
Week 5. The life and work of Marsilio Ficino (1433-1499). The immortality and divinity of the soul; rejoice in the present.
Week 6. Recapitulation of the term’s work. The difference between pleasure and happiness. The different states of attention.
Week 7. Seven natural values and corresponding misconceptions about them: happiness, knowledge, fullness of life, service, generosity, beauty and love. Further work on attention.
Week 8. Further natural values and common misconceptions. Detachment, wealth, truth, self-respect, efficiency, duty and work. Attention and efficiency.
Week 9. The meaning, etymology and creative power of wisdom. Stepping free of the grip of passing time. Practice in relation to speech and conversation.
Week 10. The process od identification. The birthless and deathless Self. The four principles of work.
Week 11. Being at one with the universe. The importance of not selling our happiness. Further on the principles of work.
Week 12. Review of the term’s work.