Friday, January 17th

Objectives:
1. Explore the difference between happiness and meaning and take a stand on which you think is more important based on this article's definition of happiness v. meaning


2.  Understand basic idea of Existentialism,  Albert Camus' concept of "The Absurd" and how these ideas showed up in the film, Stranger than Fiction.


Starter/Journal Prompt #3: Read and summarize the findings in the article, entitled "Stanford research: The meaningful life is a road worth traveling"

• Briefly summarize 3 different ways the researcher distinguishes between happiness and meaning
• Overall, how would the researcher, Jennifer Aaker, define happiness? How would she define meaning?
• According to her definition of these two concepts, which do you think is more important? Why?

Agenda
1. 4 corners: 

• Do you think pursuing meaning is more important than pursuing happiness?
  
• Do you agree with Aaker's definitions of happiness and meaning? In other words, are they as separate as Aaker makes them out to be?

2. Listen to an excerpt from this Radiolab podcast on "Bliss" (first 5 minutes, 40 seconds) and watch the youtube video of Aleksander Gamme's blissful cache discover


3. Partner chat: Have you ever been this happy?  What do you think is the relationship between this guy’s happiness and his pursuit of a meaningful life?


4. Existentialism Powerpoint presentation and connections to Stranger than Fiction

• "Myth of Sisyphus" Study Guide and Discussion Questions

5. Ashley's introduction to our next book: The Stranger, by Albert Camus

• Check out a book
• Plot overview
• Annotation Handout (required to participate in our seminar)
• Begin reading and annotating