Unit I
Overview
Democritus, often called the "Laughing Philosopher," believed that ataraxia (tranquility) was the key to a flourishing life. Unlike Aristotle, he argued that happiness was wholly within our control and could be cultivated through self-awareness, moderation, a clear understanding of the world, and prosocial behaviors. In this assignment, you will embark on your own journey toward ataraxia by engaging in personal reflection, practical application, and critical analysis of Democritean philosophy.
You have two options to choose from, each designed to help you integrate philosophy into your daily life and gain insight into how self-mastery, gratitude, and rational reflection can contribute to your well-being.
Option 1: The Prosocial Project – Practicing Altruism and Social Connection
Democritus argued that realizing how much of life is shaped by luck should lead us to greater generosity and compassion for others. He believed that ataraxia (tranquility) isn’t achieved in isolation but through fostering social harmony and contributing to the well-being of others.
In this option, you will design and carry out a week-long social experiment focused on practicing altruism and strengthening human connection.
Your task is to:
Consider some basic principles of Democritean ethics related to social harmony (e.g., gratitude, helping those in need, resisting envy, fostering friendships).
Develop a plan for how you will put one of these principles into action every day for the next five days. Put bluntly, make sure you do one nice thing per day—preferably something that you wouldn't normally do. This could involve acts of kindness, volunteer work, strengthening relationships, or even shifting how you interact with others (e.g., with greater empathy).
Keep a daily log documenting your experiences. What did you do? How did it affect you and those around you?
Reflect on the impact of your actions. Did they change your outlook? Did they bring you joy and/or inner peace?
Draw connections to Democritus. How does your experience align with his ethical teachings?
Your final submission can take the form of either:
A written reflection (roughly 1,000-1,500 words); or
A video journal documenting your experiences; or
A creative project (e.g., a photo series, infographic, or illustrated diary)
Option 2: The Ataraxia Journal – An Experiment in Tranquility
In this option, you will document your experiences in a six-day reflective journal, using Democritus’ teachings to reshape your daily outlook.
Instructions:
Over the next five days, keep a daily journal tracking moments when you experienced stress, frustration, or dissatisfaction.
Each evening, reflect on these moments and apply one of Democritus’ maxims (e.g., limiting unnecessary desires, recognizing the role of luck, practicing moderation).
Reflect on how applying atomistic philosophy influenced your mood, behavior, or decision-making. Did it lead to greater tranquility? What challenges did you face?
Conclude your journal with a sixth and final entry, analyzing the cumulative effects of the experiment. Did this week of atomist practice bring you closer to ataraxia? What insights, if any, did you gain?
Your final submission should include six journal entries (300-500 words each), accompanied by optional creative elements such as sketches, photos, or voice recordings.
