Education and the Good Life- Period 1 Computer Science Program Fall 2020 Semester - Amsterdam

In the Netherlands there is diversity in ideas about what it means to live a good life. These ideas range from strict religious views to agnostic and materialistic or hedonistic views on life. In this course we discuss the way in which education can best contribute to children's development of a conception of the good life. What is the role and position of parents? How can schools contribute? We begin with an exploration of the concept of the good (life) and focus on two interpretations of well-being, i.e. happiness and flourishing. We continue with an exploration of the importance of ideals in living a good life and pay attention to family upbringing and education in
schools. The second part of the course focusses on 'worldview' and 'religion' in relation to education and schools. We investigate the various possibilities in which schools and the curriculum can be influenced by worldviews. The course is theoretical in character and will pay attention to philosophical research and arguments. However, it also has an empirical and practical dimension in which we investigate the practical implications of the theoretical explorations.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam) awards credits based on the ECTS system. Contact hours listed under a course description may vary due to the combination of lecture-based and independent work required for each course therefore, CEA's recommended credits are based on the ECTS credits assigned by VU Amsterdam. 1 ECTS equals 28 contact hours assigned by VU Amsterdam.