Suffering is an inevitable yet poorly understood feature of human existence. This course examines how societies respond to the puzzling reality of human anguish. Among the questions it addresses are the following: What is suffering? Which types of human affliction are unique to the modern world? Have the meaning and portrayal of suffering changed over time? Do digital media sensitize or desensitize us to the anguish of distant others? In addition to introducing students to academic literature and debates on these topics, Suffering and the Human Condition will give them the opportunity to learn a method for studying human affliction that identifies the actors that perpetuate it.
Offered By
Caring for Others SpecializationUniversity of Colorado BoulderAbout this Course
Shareable Certificate
Earn a Certificate upon completion
100% online
Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.
Course 1 of 3 in the
Flexible deadlines
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Beginner Level
No prior background knowledge is required.
Approx. 8 hours to complete
English
Subtitles: English
What you will learn
Develop a deeper understanding of human suffering
Identify different types and sources of affliction
Assess trends in human anguish
Critically evaluate how suffering is framed by social media
Shareable Certificate
Earn a Certificate upon completion
100% online
Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.
Course 1 of 3 in the
Flexible deadlines
Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.
Beginner Level
No prior background knowledge is required.
Approx. 8 hours to complete
English
Subtitles: English
Offered by
University of Colorado Boulder
CU-Boulder is a dynamic community of scholars and learners on one of the most spectacular college campuses in the country. As one of 34 U.S. public institutions in the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU), we have a proud tradition of academic excellence, with five Nobel laureates and more than 50 members of prestigious academic academies.
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
2 hours to complete
What is suffering and should we study it?
In this module, you will learn why human suffering is such a difficult issue to study.
2 hours to complete
8 videos (Total 25 min), 6 readings, 1 quiz
1 hour to complete
What are the different forms and causes of suffering?
In this module, you will learn about the types of suffering that are unique to modern society.
1 hour to complete
3 videos (Total 19 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz
1 hour to complete
How much suffering is in the world today?
In this module, you will learn about how modern forms of suffering manifest themselves.
1 hour to complete
4 videos (Total 12 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz
1 hour to complete
Has the meaning and portrayal of suffering changed over time?
In this module, you will learn how historically the phenomenon of human suffering has been conceived and framed.
1 hour to complete
5 videos (Total 24 min), 3 readings, 1 quiz
About the Caring for Others Specialization
Caring for the vulnerable is one of the unique traits of human beings. Indeed, so dependent are we on this special capacity that without it, our species would not exist. This specialization examines how society cares for its at-risk members and the experiences of its caregivers. This specialization addresses questions such as: How much suffering is in the world today? Does digital media sensitize or desensitize us to the anguish of distant others? What are the different types of paid care work? Is there a care deficit? How do care workers manage their emotions? And what would it take to build a future of care? This specialization is relevant not only to individuals interested in becoming a helping professional but to anyone hoping to improve and better understand the human condition.
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