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There is a mental health crisis in the United States. One very significant aspect of this crisis is that – according to a recent survey conducted by the CDC -- the prevalence of depression is skyrocketing, particularly among young adults. Unfortunately, we are still woefully inadequate both in identifying cases of depression and, especially, in treating them. It is therefore morally imperative that we gain a better understanding of what depression is and how to treat it. In this course, we will use the tools of philosophical analysis to make headway on these questions. We will explore the nature of depression, address ethical issues in its treatment, and investigate depression’s “significance” – that is, what depression can help teach us about perennial philosophical questions like what makes for a life worth living.