Course Description
Existentialism was a literary, artistic, and philosophical movement that was primarily concerned with various threats to the possibility of human freedom. These threats can be loosely organized around several themes. Nihilism can take the form of either a rejection of life-orienting values or a denial that anything is valuable. Some authors came to worry about nihilism by way of moral and religious disillusionment (e.g., Dostoyevsky and Nietzsche), others in light of the worry that life either is or can be ultimately devoid of meaning or absurd (Camus, Kafka, Sartre). Other authors were more worried about a perceived abstraction or homogenization in modern life, a “levelling off” of possibilities for leading a distinctively individual life (Kierkegaard, Nietzsche). Sometimes this worry is expressed as a fear that the triumph of modern science and rationality strips the individual of the capacity to stamp his or her own life with a distinctive outlook or set of values (Dostoyevsky, Nietzsche).
Although existentialism is just as much literary and artistic as philosophical, in Philosophy 159 we will focus mostly on the philosophical aspect of existentialism. Existentialism is, moreover, a loose philosophical movement, rather than a school of thought. For this reason, we will be looking at several approaches to a group of problems or worries, rather than at the development of a set of doctrines.
In this course students will (a) acquire an introductory familiarity with existentialism as a philosophical movement, as well as with (b) some of the doctrines of several major existentialist authors. Students will also learn (c) how to analyze and assess a philosophical argument.
We will start with some of the basic threats to human freedom identified by the existentialists. In this first phase of the course we will rely on literary treatments, as well as some philosophical readings. We will then explore the philosophical responses to these threats offered by Jean-Paul Sartre, Søren Kierkegaard, and Friedrich Nietzsche. We will conclude a look at Charles Taylor's critique of the "ethics of authenticity."
Course Objectives and Learning Goals
To become familiar with some of the leading authors and concerns of the Existentialist movement in philosophy
To develop the ability to write clearly and persuasively about philosophical questions that arise in Existentialist writing
To learn how to write a short (5 pp.) analytical philosophical paper
Students may have mastered goal (3) in their First Philosophy course, in which case in this course students will hone their ability to write a short analytical paper.
This course will be administered through website (URL TBA). Students must check the course’s website regularly. Most assignments will be posted there, and the Schedule of Readings is posted there.
Students in this course write three short (5-7 pp.) formal papers (details on the syllabus) as well as two even shorter reflection papers.
Unexcused unexcused late papers will be graded down one grade step (e.g., B+ to B) per two business days late. Please discuss legitimate excuses with me as early as possible. Plan in advance!
Attendance policy
Attendance is required. I will keep attendance in order to encourage you to come to class, and if I notice an “attendance problem” emerging, I will discuss it with you. Bear in mind that the readings are difficult and that lecture and class discussion are almost certainly indispensable to your ability to write good papers. Also, the reflection papers will not make a lot of sense apart from the class sessions that set them up. If you do miss a class session, do not request a make-up lecture or review session in my office. Get notes from a classmate.
In order to enroll in this course, you must have completed one prior philosophy course (a Philosophy course numbered 001-099). This course is open to philosophy majors, minors, dabblers, tasters, and requirement satisfiers.
This course may be paired with any philosophy course in Ethics (010, 098, 099, 100–149) to satisfy the Main Campus Core Requirements in Philosophy. For more information on the core requirements in philosophy, click here.
For Fall, 2015, I've ordered the following books:
Guignon & Pereboom, eds., Existentialism: The Basic Writings, 2nd ed. (Hackett)
Kierkegaard, Fear and Trembling, trans by Hannay. (Penguin)
Dostoevsky, The Grand Inquisitor, with Related Chapters from “The Brothers Karamazov”, ed. by Guignon, trans. by Garnett. (Hackett)
Dostoevsky, Notes from Underground, ed. by Guignon, trans. by Garnett. (Hackett)
Taylor, The Ethics of Authenticity. (Harvard)
Optional: Guignon, On Being Authentic. (Routledge)
I rely on the Registrar's electronic waitlist to manage enrollment in the course. If the course is full, but you'd like to take it, place yourself on the waitlist and monitor your status. If you are awarded a seat in the course through the daily lottery of seats, you will have 24 hours to accept the seat, or you will lose it. So, stay alert.