This exciting new course treats the history of discourses about happiness, focusing especially on four historical episodes. They are ancient Greek philosophy, contemporary positive psychology, Buddhism (and its interpretation in the light of positive psychology), and Sufism. The course seeks to understand what a range of human beings in history have thought happiness consists in, and how they sought to achieve it, and will to put these understandings in dialogue with contemporary positive psychology. The course considers not only virtue and positive emotions (affect) but also ethical action and practices of meditation and mindfulness. The course requires attendance at lecture and, when sectioned, at discussion sections. Class attendance is mandatory and required to pass the class. Students will keep a weekly journal recording their acts of altruism and thankfulness, write a weekly short poem or piece of flash fiction, and take a midterm and a final.

Fulfills requirements for History Minor in Global History, History of Medicine & Health, and Religion

Class Texts:

Cheavens, Jennifer S. and Feldman, David B.. The Science and Application of Positive Psychology (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2022). In Mirlyn

Carrithers, Michael. Buddha: A Very Short Introduction. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001) via Mirlyn.

Ridgeon, Lloyd The Cambridge Companion to Sufism (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2014). Also in Mirlyn

Hanson, Rick. Buddha's Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom (Harbinger Press, 2011) (via Mirlyn).

Rumi, Jalal al-Din. Trans. Coleman Barks et al. The Essential Rumi (San Francisco: Harper, 1995). (Title linked to Mirlyn ebook)

Online Resources:

How to Write a Haiku (Writing Cooperative

Juan Cole, "How to Write a Rubaiyat"

"Learn how to Write Flash Fiction"

Aug. 31 Orientation

PART I: MODERN PSYCHOLOGY AND WELL-BEING

Sept. 2 Freud and the Unconscious

Nicky Hayes, "The Unconscious Mind: Freud and Psychoanalysis," A Little History of Psychology

Short excerpt from Freud, Civilization and its Discontents

Sept. 7 LABOR DAY - NO CLASS

Sept. 9 Jung and Adler

Nickey Hayes, "Two Post-Freudians: Carl Jung and the Collective Unconscious and Adler’s Individual Psychology," A Little History of Psychology.

du Toit, D.H., du Toit, S. (2019). Giving Positive Psychology Interventions Depth: A Jungian Approach. In: Van Zyl, L., Rothmann Sr., S. (eds) Theoretical Approaches to Multi-Cultural Positive Psychological Interventions. Springer, Cham.

Sept. 14 Maslow and Humanist Psychology

Nicky Hayes,"The Missing Link: Explaining Motivation Through Needs and Drives, and the Challenge from Maslow,"

Nickey Hayes, "The Humanist Movement," A Little History of Psychology

Abraham E. Maslow, "Lessons from the Peak-Experiences."

Sept. 16 Positive Psychology

Nickey Hayes, "From Helplessness to Optimism: Seligman and the Establishment of Positive Psychology," A Little History of Psychology

Cheavens and Feldman, Positive Psychology, 1-2

PART II: HAPPINESS, BRAIN NEUROPLASTICITY, AND EASTERN TRADITIONS

Sept. 21 Suffering and Happiness

Hanson, Buddha’s Brain, Chaps. 1-3

Carrithers, Buddha, chap. 1

The Four Noble Truths

Buddha, Sutra on Impermanence (Anityatāsūtra)

Sept. 23 Happiness

Hanson, Buddha’s Brain, 4-6

Carrithers, Buddha, chap. 2

Buddha, Dhammapada,

Sept. 28 Equanimity and Love

Hanson, Buddha’s Brain, Chaps. 7-8

Carrithers, Buddha, chap. 3

Sept. 30 Compassion and Kindness

Hanson, Buddha’s Brain, Chaps. 9-10

Carrithers, Buddha, chap. 4

Buddha, Karuniya Metta Sutta

Oct. 5 Wisdom

Hanson, Buddha’s Brain, Chaps. 11-13

Carrithers, Buddha, chap. 5

Buddha, Dhammapada, 14

PART II: THE CLASSICAL PHILOSOPHY OF HAPPINESS

Oct. 7 Greek Conceptions of Happiness: Socrates and Plato

No physical class Oct. 7 only. Watch online:

Genius of the Ancient World - 2. Socrates (Bettany Hughes, BBC)

Notes on Plato 3 | Happiness - Christopher Anadale

READ:

S. Dhiman, "Being Good and Being Happy: Eudaimonic Well-Being Insights from Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle", 2021. Read sections on Socrates and Plato.

Plato, Euthydemus

Oct. 12 Aristotle

S. Dhiman, "Being Good and Being Happy: Eudaimonic Well-Being Insights from Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle", 2021. Read section on Aristotle.

Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, 1.

Oct. 14 Review toward the Exam

Oct. 19 FALL BREAK - NO CLASS

Oct. 21 Midterm

Oct. 26 Stoics and Hedonists

Christopher W. Gowan, "Epicureanism" in Self-cultivation philosophies in ancient India, Greece and China

S. Dhiman, "More than Happiness: A Stoic Guide to Human Flourishing," 2021.

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Chapter 2.

PART III: SUFISM AS A SPIRITUAL TRADITION: THE OTHER HELLENISM

Oct. 28 What is Sufism?

Ridgeon, Sufism, chap. 1, 2

Seyyed Hossein Nasr, “Happiness and the Attainment of Happiness: An Islamic Perspective,” 29 The Journal of Law and Religion 76 (2014)

Nov. 2 Hellenism and Sufism

Knysh, Sufism, chap. 4
Video: Rumi: Poetry of the Heart" (6 mins.)

Nov. 4 Sufi Practice

Ridgeon, Sufism, chapter 3
Pasha-Zaidi, N., Al-Seheel, A., Bridges-Lyman, K., Dasti, R. (2021). "Gratitude and Wellbeing: Cultivating Islamically-Integrated Pathways to Health and Wellness." In: Pasha-Zaidi, N. (eds) Toward a Positive Psychology of Islam and Muslims. Cross-Cultural Advancements in Positive Psychology, vol 15. Springer, Cham.

Rumi, Essential Rumi

Cry out in your Weakness, pp. 156-157
Ali in Battle, 223-224

Juan Cole, "Rumi and Shakespeare on Forgiveness and Reconciliation," Renovatio, Fall, 2024.

Nov. 9 Sufi Orders, Positivity and Wisdom

Ridgeon, Sufism, chap. 4, 6
Essential Rumi

The Three Fish, pp. 194-197
Polishing the Mirror, p. 222

Nazila Isgandarova, "Muraqaba as a Mindfulness-Based Therapy in Islamic Psychotherapy," Journal of Religion and Health (2019) 58:1146–1160.

Nov. 11 Love, Romance and Humanity

Ridgeon, Sufism, chap. 7
Rumi, Essential Rumi

Two Ways of Running, 178-180
Solomon Poems, pp. 186-190
Send the Chaperones Away, pp. 198-199
The King and the Handmaiden, pp. 225-232

William Chittick, "Love in Islamic Thought," Religion Compass 8/7 (2014): 229–238.

Video: Nusret Fateh Ali Khan, "Dam Mast Qalandar"

Nov. 16 Optimism, Mindfulness, Creativity

Rumi, Essential Rumi

Chinese Art and Greek Art, pp. 121-122
Father Reason, pp. 145-146
Body Intelligence, pp. 150-152

S. Haque Nizamie et al. , "Sufism and mental health," Indian J Psychiatry. 2013 Jan; 55(Suppl 2): S215–S223.

Nov. 18 Justice

Ridgeon, Sufism, ch. 9

Radha D’Souza, "What Can Activist Scholars Learn from Rumi?" Philosophy East and West, Volume 64, Number 1, January 2014, pp. 1-24.

PART IV: POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY

Nov. 23 Hope

Cheavens and Feldman, Positive Psychology, 7, 8

Nov. 25 THANKSGIVING - NO CLASS

Nov. 30 FLow

Carr, Positive Psychology, 4-5

Dec. 2 Wisdom and Creativity

Cheavens and Feldman, Positive Psychology, 6, 8

Dec. 7 Coping and Relationships

Carr, Positive Psychology, 10, 13

Dec. 9 Review toward the Final Exam.

Academic Integrity Policy: History 291 follows the academic integrity guidelines set forth by the College of LSA and the History Department. Students should familiarize themselves with both of these documents, which explain the standards of academic integrity and clarify the prohibited forms of academic misconduct. Students in History 241 should utilize the Chicago Manual of Style Online for all issues of source citation, along with any specific guidelines provided in the course assignments. Clarifying the disciplinary standards of research ethics and source citation is part of the educational mission of this course, and students should consult the faculty instructor and/or GSI regarding any questions. The penalties for deliberate cases of plagiarism and/or other forms of academic misconduct are a failing grade on the assignment. Cases that the instructor judges to be particularly serious, or those in which the student contests the charge of academic misconduct, will be handled by the office of the Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Education. All cases of deliberate academic misconduct that result in formal sanctions of any kind will be reported to the dean’s office, as required by LSA policy, which also ensures due process rights of appeal for students.

Student Well-Being

Students may experience stressors that can impact both their academic experience and their personal well-being. These may include academic pressure and challenges associated with relationships, mental health, alcohol, drugs, identities, finances, etc.
If you are experiencing concerns, seeking help is a courageous thing to do for yourself
and those who care about you. If the source of your stressors is academic, please contact me so that we can find solutions together. For personal concerns, U-M offers the following resources:

• Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) - confidential; 734-764-8312; for
after-hours urgent support, call and press 0; counseling, workshops, groups and more

• Dean of Students Office - 734-764-7420; provides support services to students and manages critical incidents impacting students and the campus community

• Ginsberg Center for Community Service Learning - 734-763-3548; opportunities
to engage as learners and leaders to create a better community and world

• Maize and Blue Cupboard (MBC) - 734-936-2794; Food pantry with groceries,
kitchen and cooking supplies, personal and household items, and support

• Multi-ethnic Student Affairs (MESA) - 734-763-9044; diversity and social justice
through the lens of race and ethnicity

• Office of Student Conflict Resolution - 734-936-6308; offers multiple pathways for resolving conflict

• Office of the Ombuds - 734-763-3545; students can raise questions and concerns
about the functioning of the university.

• Spectrum Center - 734-763-4186; support services for LGBTQ+ students

• Trotter Multicultural Center - 734-763-3670; intercultural engagement and
inclusive leadership education initiatives

• University Health Service (UHS) - 734-764-8320; clinical services include nurse
advice by phone, day or night

• Well-being Collective - searchable list of many more campus resources

• Wolverine Wellness - confidential; 734-763-1320; provides Wellness Coaching,
Collegiate Recovery Program, and much more

Syllabus online here: http://www-personal.umich.edu/%7Ejrcole/syl/war/syl390.html

Return to Juan R.I. Cole Syllabi.

WebMaster: Juan R.I. Cole