A Brown University guest lecture from a philosopher and scholar promises to help Ivy League students and faculty live "the good life," the Huffington Post reported.

William Irvine, a professor of philosophy at Wright State University, will give a two-day lecture and seminar on succeeding in life with happiness and success. The message, seemingly more therapeutic than academic, may be different than what the Ivy League audience is accustomed to hearing.

"One of the best Stoic insights or exercises I often guide people through is called negative visualization," Irvine said. "You try, briefly, to contemplate losing the things you already have, like thinking about losing someone you love, and as soon as you contemplate it, a brief, flickering thought, it can have a remarkable impact on making you place a much higher value on what you have."

Irvine's scheduled visit in February is part of a university-wide philosophical journey into what living "the good life" means. Called "The Ethical Inquiry," the series of lectures and seminars being later this year and continue in early 2014.

Speakers will range from historians to psychologists, who will discuss and debate issues relating to a deep philosophy of the meaning of life.

"People are always chasing jobs, power, money, and trying to make themselves into better people," said Irvine, a self-proclaimed 21st century stoic. "This happens even among students. How can we use philosophy not just as a subject of study, but something that enhances our lives and understanding of ourselves? That's what we're missing."

Ethical Inquiry, started at Brown last year, is part of a growing trend in higher education to explore a more philosophical approach to what career success and life happiness looks like.

Schools such as John Jay College, Ursinus College and Emory University have benefited from grants given by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Such grants are given to fund college courses that address "enduring questions."