PHIL140 Existentialism

Department of Social & Behavioral Science: Philosophy

  1. Course Number and Title

    PHIL140 Existentialism

  2. Number of Credits

    3 credits

  3. Minimum Number of Instructional Minutes Per Semester

    2250 minutes

  4. Prerequisites

    None

    Corequisites

    None

  5. Other Pertinent Information

    None

  6. Catalog Course Description

    A study of an influential modern philosophical movement, including such philosophers and writers as Dostoevski, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Heidegger, Jaspers, Camus, Sartre, and Buber. Includes an analysis of the influence of this movement on contemporary deconstructionism and post modernism.

  7. Required Course Content and Direction

    1. Learning Goals:

      1. To develop an understanding of the Existentialist Movement in Philosophy; ho it arose as a reaction to Rationalism and Hegelian System-building
      2. To gain a perspective of 19th and 20th century philosophy; how the existentialists open the way for recent trends such as Deconstructionism and Post-Modernism
      3. To see how it is possible to bring together reason and emotion, logic and poetry, discourse and fiction to express ideas
      4. To understand differences in philosophical outlook between Continental Europe on the one hand, and the United States and Britain on the other

    2. Planned Sequence of Topics and/or Learning Activities:

      1. Introduction: Defining Existentialism
      2. Dostoevsky: Notes From Underground
      3. Kierkegaard: The First Existentialist
      4. Nietzsche
      5. Jaspers: Existenzphilosophie
      6. Heideger: The Quest For Being
      7. Sartre: Existentialism
      8. Camus: The Myth of Sisiphus
      9. Buber: I and Thou

    3. Assessment Methods for Core Learning Goals:

    4. Reference, Resource, or Learning Materials to be used by Students:

      Text: See Course Format

  8. Teaching Methods Employed

    Lecture, discussions, writing exercises, projects

Review/Approval Date - 2/99