MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Toxic positivity and the power of negative thinking will be the topic of discussion at the 2024 fall Applied Philosophy Lyceum at Middle Tennessee State University.

Author Mariana Alessandri, associate professor of philosophy at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, will speak on “The Upside of Anxiety: Kierkegaard on feeling better about feeling bad” at 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27, in Room 164 at the College of Education, 1756 MTSU Blvd.

“Philosophers have often addressed the question, ‘What is happiness and how do we get it?’ Aristotle talked about the ‘flourishing life,’ which we translate as happiness,” said Phil Oliver, MTSU professor of philosophy who teaches The Philosophy of Happiness biennially. “Epicurus founded a school called The Garden and it was about pursuing happiness.”

The self-help industry is flooded with advice on how to achieve happiness. But over 40% of MTSU students who participated in a national survey report struggles with anxiety and 48% reported needing help for emotional and mental health issues. Some might say these issues are due to a lack of faith or even a chemical imbalance.

In a world so focused on the chase for true happiness, Alessandri has an appreciation for the negative sides of life, which can be catalysts for self-exploration and even change.

“What Mariana says is there are people who need to get in touch with bad feelings and then learn from them,” Oliver said.

Alessandri has written extensively about the value of negativity, with New York Times column titles like, “It’s a Terrible Day in the Neighborhood, and That’s O.K.” and “Companions of Misery.”

Oliver first met her at the annual meeting of The Society for the Advancement of American Philosophy in Boston, where she discussed her book, “Night Vision: Seeing Ourselves Through Dark Moods.”

“The book makes a strong case against a certain sort of see-no-evil optimism, and for the notion that we’re healthier and, paradoxically perhaps, even happier when we acknowledge and attempt to learn from our dark moods and negative feelings,” Oliver explained. “I see value in honestly facing negativity and sadness. But it’s better to get beyond it if you can.”

Oliver said he thinks Alessandri will address the questions, “How much should we pursue happiness or would we be happier if we lived with our sadness, acknowledged it or accepted it?”

Following Alessandri’s talk, the floor will open for a Q&A session regarding the topic. There will also be a post-event reception.

The Applied Philosophy Lyceum, which was conceived with Aristotle’s Lyceum in mind, was created in 1992. The public lecture aims to stimulate private reflection and public reasoning. Over the years, topics have ranged from environmental ethics to theories of love and friendship.

The College of Education Building is located at 1756 MTSU Blvd. For off-campus visitors attending the event, a searchable campus parking map is at https://mtsu.edu/parking.

For more information, contact the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at 615-898-2907.

— Nancy DeGennaro (Nancy.DeGennaro@mtsu.edu)