At the 2020 National Symposium for Classical Education, Dr. Mary Hirschfield, associate professor of economics at Villanova University, shared her research on the concept of happiness and how it’s changed throughout history. Her perspective as an educator highlights the value of a virtue-based education:

“The idea that more is always desirable puts us into conflict with each other. It’s what generates a lot of the economic injustice that we see, and it puts a huge pressure on the environment. … The ancient ideal of happiness is more fulfilling, more balanced, and I want my students to see that this way of happiness is a better one.”

Follow Dr. Hirschfeld on Twitter or learn more about her work here.