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By Olivia Sigler
Editorial Intern
People have occupied themselves with “the pursuit of happiness” for thousands of years, even before the famous phrase landed in the Declaration of Independence. But it’s gotten special attention this summer with America’s 250th anniversary and will get even more at the Des Moines Festival of Ideas set for Aug. 7-8.
In today’s rapidly changing world, happiness can seem elusive, especially amid social isolation, political discourse and technological advancement. How do we navigate that? Where is the balance between pursuing personal happiness and keeping up with the modern world?
Philosophers, journalists, scholars and artists will explore those questions at this year’s Festival of Ideas, presented by the Lyceum Movement, a national group that likens itself to a “podcast you can talk with.”
This year’s “Pursuit of Happiness” theme was inspired by the country’s semiquincentennial as well as recent mental health surveys that reveal a decline in happiness.
“It’s worth reflecting on human happiness and how we can search for it in this day and age, both for ourselves and our communities,” said Nathan Beacom, founder of the Lyceum Movement.
Through a series of sessions with 10 guest speakers, festival guests can examine happiness through multiple lenses and hear how different disciplines approach the same enduring questions. “For a topic as big as happiness, we wanted to approach it from all angles,” Beacom said. “We also find that when people from really different perspectives talk to each other, really interesting conversations happen.”
Accordingly, this year’s lineup of speakers includes a wide variety of experts. Alison Lynch, who teaches psychiatry at the University of Iowa, will share insights about mental health and addiction. Drake Law School Dean Roscoe Jones and Iowa Court of Appeal Judge John Sandy will approach the topic from a legal perspective. Brian Billion, a pianist from the Twin Cities, will share tips to find beauty amid chaos.
“Part of our goal is to foster real, in-person conversations and relationships,” Beacom said. “We hope people leave feeling more connected to their community.”
The festival starts on Aug. 7 at Drake University’s Sheslow Auditorium before moving on Aug. 8 downtown to The Shop at 901 Cherry St. Tickets and more details are available online.
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