Other Cultures, Other Virtues

AGENDA

1. The big picture
2. Aristotle (makeup class)
3. Joseph Marshall, Lakota virtues

LOGISTICS

1. Presentations
2. Reading responses
3. Monday: Epictetus -- you need the book from SMU bookstore

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The big picture

1. What is the good life?
2. What makes a life go well
3. What ultimate matters
4. Later...meaning

Module 2: the virtue-centered life

1. Aristotle, ancient Greece
2. Joseph Marshall -- Lakota virtues
3. Epictetus -- Stoicism -- ancient Roman
4. Peter Singer -- contemporary philosopher

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Aristotle recap

supreme good = happiness = fulfilling our proper function = living virtuously (with some external goods)

1. External goods
• What are the external goods we need?
• Do we really need them?  Epictetus
2. The virtues
• what is virtue?
• what are the virtues?

Paragon of virtue (who?)

An interesting virtue --

• Truthfulness about your strengths -- don't boast, but don't downplay
• Not the same as general honesty

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Contrast with Aristotle, particularly on truthfulness

• Joseph Marshall, The Lakota Way
• Lakota people  -- Native Americans -- current lands in North and South Dakota
• Lakota virtues -- humility,, perseverance, respect, honor, love, sacrifice, truth, compassion, bravery, fortitude, generosity, wisdom

• 

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Chapter 1: Humility (here)

• Paragon of virtue: No Moccasins
• She lives "before the coming of the horses--before 1700" (p. 1)
• How Marshall sets the scene (p. 2) -- last paragraph (read)
• What's the story?
• "The people in No Moccasins' village honored her for her humility rather than for the courageous deeds she performed as a young woman." (p. 18)

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"Quiet path"s section: The eagle feathers puzzle

• eagle feathers used to display accomplishments
• the Waktoglaka ceremony
• Seems like a contradiction (this is the puzzle)

1. humility and quiet as the greatest Lakota virtue
2. cultural acceptance of  eagle feathers

• How does Marshall resolve this apparent contradiction?
• How does he say about Crazy Horse, a Lakota hero?

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Contrast with Aristotle

• humility not on Aristotle's list
• modesty involves hiding something you're ashamed of--not a virtue -- virtuous people have nothing to be ashamed of!
• No Moccasins has a deficiency in the area of truthfulness-- a vice!
• Communicating your accomplishments with eagle feathers is virtuous

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PRESENTATIONS

• Canvas
• Virtue group could (choose just one)
• Experiment with Aristotle's ethics
• Experiment with Lakota virtues--be quiet and humble!
• Experiment with Stoicism -- see next reading
• Experiment with Peter Singer's ethics 
• Tell me preferences using preference assignment

READING RESPONSES

• Read the question carefully!
• Read the requirements carefully!
• Make sure you provide page or paragraph numbers if they're requested
• Do the reading first!
• You can drop three grades in group 1 (RR1-10). I've removed the no-dropping rule on RR2 and RR3.

Aristotle Classes

 The Aristotle self-guided "class" is here. Access the annotation assignment (due Jan 30 12:30 pm) through Canvas.

Reading responses, arguments, AI policy

AGENDA

1. Course plan
2. Doing the readings
3. AI policy
4. Arguments

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My ideal spot for a class on the meaning of life

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Course plan

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Doing the readings

1. Accessing the reading & assignment
2. Reading philosophy
3. Reading responses

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AI policy -- Canvas

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Arguments

Philosophers write in many modes

• they make arguments
• they also make observations, tell stories, make claims, give advice, talk about themselves, present scientific information, etc. etc.

What is an argument?

1. An argument is NOT just a controversial claim or a dispute
2. An argument is some reasoning that starts somewhere (the premises) and goes somewhere (the conclusion)

We can set up arguments like this:

1. premise
2. premise
3. premise
4. premise, THEREFORE
5. conclusion

Finding arguments

• look for argument words: therefore, it follows that, the reason why, I will argue, I have argued, on this basis, since, etc.

Examples -- workbook

Life questions, syllabus

AGENDA

1. Introductions
2. Syllabus
3. What course is about
4. Plan for course

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Introductions

• ideal location for a class on the meaning of life?

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Syllabus

1. instructor info -- office hours
2. the meaning of life -- what this course is about
3. student learning outcomes
4. distress advisory 
5. places you'll go
6. required texts
7. electronics policy
8. basis for course grade
• attendance allowance 
9. assignment group descriptions 
• we will discuss reading responses Friday
• we will discuss presentations next week
10. grading policies, grading scale
11. AI policy
• we will discuss Friday
12. honor code
13. SMU policies

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What this class is about .... workbook

1. What do you expect to cover in a course on the meaning of life?
2. What's so funny about the topic?
3. What is the meaning of life?

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Plan for this course

Modules 2-4: What is the good life? 

Modules 5-7: What is meaning? Can we have it?

Welcome!

Welcome to Philosophy 3375, The Meaning of Life, at SMU (Spring 2026). This is where you'll find material presented during class, such as visuals, lecture outlines, and discussion questions. Not everything we cover will be here, so make sure you do take notes!