Black and white image of a child hanging upside down on a swing with yellow graphic accents, illustrating the ethics of happiness.
SERIES

THE ETHICS OF... Conversation

DATE & TIME

TUE 26 NOV 2026
6:30pm – 7:30pm AEDT

LOCATION

IN PERSON AND LIVESTREAM
The Ethics Centre
Level 1, 161 Castlereagh St
Sydney, 2000

PRICE

TICKETS
$39 In person 
$35 Senior/concession
$25 Youth (30 and under) 
$17 Livestream

Multipack (in person): 3 for $99
Multipack (livestream): 3 for $39

Members can access a complimentary livestream ticket to this event. Become a member today. 

What are we really aiming for when we say we want happiness?

We all want to be happy. Most of us wish happiness not just for ourselves but also for the people we love – and even our pets! But what exactly is it that we all want? Is it to feel joy or tranquillity? To be deeply satisfied? Or to obtain certain objective goods? 

In The Ethics of Happiness, philosopher Dr Caroline West questions whether happiness is even a single, unified thing, and asks whether a happy life is necessarily a good life. If we cannot agree on what happiness actually means, what are we really aiming for when we say we want it?

This event is part of ‘The Ethics of…’ trilogy which includes The Ethics of Intervention and The Ethics of Immortality.Save with a Multipack and see all three events: $99 in person or $39 livestream. 

Livestream ticket holders will be able to watch on demand for up to 14 days post-event.  

About 'The Ethics Of...'

‘The Ethics of…’ is an event series where we freely examine the experiences, hopes and challenges that make us truly human; from the good to the bad and everything in between. Each event is an intimate conversation, led by a philosopher, with opportunities for the audience to share their experiences, views and learn from each other. Join us for this important and interactive event, held both in person and livestreamed, about the ways we connect with each other.

Speakers

Smiling woman with glasses in a black blazer, representing ethics of intervention in a professional portrait setting

Dr Caroline West 

Dr Caroline West is a Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Sydney, where she teaches and researches a range of topics in ethics and social philosophy, including personal identity, free speech, and happiness. She was awarded the Australasian Association of Philosophy Media Prize for her contributions to public philosophy, which include media appearances and popular essays in The Conversation, The Age, and The Sydney Morning Herald. Caroline holds a PhD from The Australian National University, has published widely in top international academic journals, and is currently writing a book on happiness.