The students reflect upon the significance of environmental protection for a happy life. They accept their fellow students' ideas of happiness, but also examine their logical and factual validity. They evaluate excessive lifestyles of people who repress unpleasant things in order to be instantly happy and weigh them against severe long-term damage. They realize that as a prerequisite for a happy life nature has to be intact and critically reflect their own lifestyles bearing in mind their reponsibility for others.
Apart from that, the students use fundamental ethical terms like "virtue" and "reason". They develop a deeper understanding of the ideas of Aristotle, Epicurus and Aristippus and get more experienced and proficient in philosophical discussions.
Happiness and environmental protection
This paper describes a lesson for grades 8-10 where pupils have a panel discussion on the relation between happiness and environmental protection. In that discussion they represent the points of view of Aristotle, Epicurus and Aristippus. The lesson is integrated into a sequence of lessons with the topic "My happiness, your happiness, our happiness - how the globe influences human happiness".
| Author / creator | Curator | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Katja Galatsch | Rolf Roew | 02/2019 |
Aims and objectives
Content
Happiness according to Aristotle, Epicurus and Aristippus.
Learning activities
Learning activities include the analysis of a cartoon and the preparation, performance and evaluation of a panel discussion.
Materials and resources
All the materials used are described in the pdf attached (see for "Downloads").
Teacher role
In this lesson, the teacher mainly assumes the role of a moderator.
Grouping / classroom
Students work individually, in small groups and in the complete course.