Sawyier Lecture on Science, Technology, and Society

Engineering Happiness: Soft Science for a Hard World

J.D. Trout

Professor of Philosophy and Psychology
Loyola University Chicago

Starting January 2018:
John and Mae Calamos Professor of Philosophy
Illinois Institute of Technology

Psychologists and economists engaged in the scientific study of happiness have asked people what makes them happy and considered the reliability of their responses. In their findings, there are not only common themes about happiness across classes and cultures, but potent scientific lessons about how policies can increase happiness and reduce harm. Drawing on these lessons, this talk will then explore the prospects of engineering citizen happiness and well-being.

Refreshments will be served at 2 p.m. before the presentation. Please contact Warren Schmaus with any questions about the event.