Schedule
January 24
First day of classes.
January 29
Gregg Easterbrook, "The Great Story of our Era: Average People Better Off." In The Progress Paradox (Random House, 2003), 3-34.
John De Graaf et al, "An Ache for Meaning," "Social Scars" and "Resource Exhaustion." In Affluenza, 2nd ed. (Berrett Koehler, 2005), 68-94.
Conceptual tensions within QOL
The sociology of knowledge: Robert K. Merton
A sociology of QOL knowledge: David Brooks
HAPPINESS & SUBJECTIVE QUALITY OF LIFE
January 31
Darrin M. McMahon, "The Highest Good." In Happiness: A History (Atlantic Monthly Press, 2006), 19-65.
Abraham Maslow, "A Theory of Human Motivation." Chap. 1 in Doherty & Etzioni, Voluntary Simplicity.
Schwartz, The Paradox of Choice, chaps. 1-5.
Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs
Self-actualization and individuality
Maslow: where Aristotle got it wrong
February 7
Schwartz, The Paradox of Choice, chaps. 6, 8, 9, 11.
Recommended:
"Happiness: Enough Already" (Newsweek, February 11, 2008).
Adaptation and the 'satisfaction paradox'
"In-Verse Thinking: Questions for Charles Simic" (New York Times Magazine, February 3, 2008).
February 12
Essay 1 due.
James B. Twitchell, "The Liberating Role of Consumption..." Chap. 11 in Doherty & Etzioni.
MODERNIZATION & QUALITY OF LIFE
February 14
Clifford W. Cobb, pp. 1-14 of "Measurement Tools and the Quality of Life" (2000).
David A. Clark, "The Capability Approach: Its Development, Critiques, and Recent Advances" (2005).
February 19
"Stifled, Egypt's Young Turn to Islamic Fervor" (New York Times, February 17, 2008).
February 21
Marshall Sahlins, "The Original Affluent Society." In Stone Age Economics (Aldine Atherton, 1972), 1-40.
WORK-LIFE BALANCE
February 26
Ilene Philipson, "Less to Come Home to/Less to Go Out to." In Married to the Job (Free Press, 2002), 36-75.
February 28
Bianchi et al., Changing Rhythms of American Family Life, chaps, 1, 3-4.
Bianchi et al., Changing Rhythms of American Family Life, chaps. 5, 7-10.
"More Americans Are Giving Up Golf" (New York Times, February 21, 2008).
March 6
Essay 2 due.
March 9-22: Spring break
March 25
Stearns, Anxious Parents, esp. Chaps. 1-2, 4, 6-7.
WORK: THE MUSE OF QUALITY OF LIFE?
March 27
Andrew Ross, "The Golden Children of Razorfish." In No Collar (Basic Books, 2003), 55-86.
Ciulla, The Working Life, chaps. 1, 3-4, 7-8.
April 3
Ciulla, The Working Life, chaps. 10-11, Epilogue.
"Forget the Career. My Parents Need Me at Home" (New York Times, November 24, 2005).
How work and QOL are understood today.
The Quality of Working Life Movement.
April 8
Essay 3 due.
SUSTAINABILITY & COMMUNITY QUALITY OF LIFE
April 10
James Howard Kunstler, "Home From Nowhere." Atlantic Monthly, September 1996.
US City Sustainability Rankings (2006).
What Makes a Successful Place? (Project for Public Spaces).
April 15
O'Toole, The Best-Laid Plans, Introduction, Parts 2-3.
"Fuel Choices, Food Crises and Finger-Pointing" (New York Times, April 15, 2008).
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., "The Next President's First Task (A Manifesto)" (Vanity Fair, May 2008).
April 17
O'Toole, The Best-Laid Plans, Parts 4, 6.
Claude Fischer, "Ever More Rooted Americans," City & Community 1 (2002): 177-198.
April 22
Amitai Etzioni, "Voluntary Simplicity." Introduction in Doherty & Etzioni, Voluntary Simplicity.
Juliet Schor, "The Problem of Over-Consumption." Chap. 4 in Doherty & Etzioni, Voluntary Simplicity.
Duane Elgin and Arnold Mitchell, "Voluntary Simplicity: A Movement Emerges." Chap. 9 in Doherty & Etzioni, Voluntary Simplicity.
The Anti-Communitarian Manifesto.
VOLUNTARY SIMPLICITY & THE POLITICS OF QUALITY OF LIFE
April 24
Robert Frank, "Achieving Collective Well-Being Through Greater Simplicity: A Simple Proposal." Chap. 5 in Doherty & Etzioni, Voluntary Simplicity.
David Brooks, "Conspicuous 'Simplicity'." Chap. 10 in Doherty & Etzioni, Voluntary Simplicity.
Cecile Andrews: Circle of Simplicity.
"Say 'Hybrid' and Many People Will Hear 'Prius'" (New York Times, July 4, 2007).
Utilitarianism and individual preferences: Clifford W. Cobb.
April 29
Grigsby, Buying Time and Getting By, chaps. 1-3.
Grigsby, Buying Time and Getting By, chaps. 4-5.
"For 'EcoMoms,' Saving Earth Begins at Home" (New York Times, February 16, 2008).
May 6
Essay 4 due.
Friday, May 16
Final paper due.