What is happiness? Can it be measured? What is the relationship between happiness and virtue, money, pleasure, relationships, mindfulness, and satisfaction? If you ever ponder this, come to Castleton Free Library at 7:00 pm on Thursday, May 17th for a talk by William Edelglass on "The Genealogy of Happiness - From Aristotle to Positive Psychology." The program will begin with an overview of different conceptions of happiness in Western philosophy, religion, and political theory. Edelglass will then turn to the numerous claims about what makes us happy based on results of the "new science of happiness." He will conclude by reflecting on findings of positive psychology in the context of historical ideas of happiness.
William Edelglass teaches philosophy, environmental studies, and Buddhist studies at Marlboro College. He has published widely in Indian and Tibetan Buddhist philosophy, environmental philosophy, and 20th-century European thought. His background includes work as a wilderness guide for Outward Bound, and three years teaching Western Philosophy to Tibetan monks at the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics in Dharamsala, India.
This talk is a Vermont Humanities Council program, supported in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the Vermont Humanities Council (VHC). Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the NEH or VHC. The event is free, open to the public, and accessible through our north entrance (parking on the west side of the library at 638 Main Street). For more information, contact Mary Kearns at castletonfreelibrary@gmail.com or 468-5574.
What makes you happy? According to Charlie Brown, "Happiness is two kinds of ice cream" and "being alone every now and then." If you agree, then enjoy a bit of ice cream at the program, and borrow some books for your alone time. Our shelves are full of new titles and displays to feed your spring fever and curiosity. How about The Pruner's Handbook, or Heirloom Plants for meditative work in fresh garden beds? Or Radio Free Vermont - A Fable of Resistance, Bill McKibben's first novel? Or new collections of short stories or poetry; a bio of David Bowie; a photo-essay on the Northern Forest Canoe Trail; kids' books from the newly released awards lists? Or how about advice from Happiness is a Choice You Make: Lessons from a Year Among the Oldest Old?
Visit the library. We've got things to make you happy.