Radical Empathy: Finding Meaning in the World Around Us

This senior elective explores central questions surrounding what it means to engage meaningfully in the world: What do people seek in their connections with others? Why? What do we pursue in our lives and why are those things important to us? How do humans respond to hardship and pain? What is authentic empathy, and what role does it play in our daily interactions with others? The class will read a mix of fiction and nonfiction with primary readings from: Colum McCann, Emily St. John Mandel, M.K. Asante, Sonali Deraniyagala, and Eli Saslow. In addition to exploring the questions through the readings, students will grapple with their ideas in analytical and reflective writing. The material will push students to develop their reading, writing, and discussion skills so that they can think more deeply about their own experiences right now and be fully prepared for the challenges they encounter in the future.