PHL 366K Existentialism Spring 2014 LECTURE TIME: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Third hour on Fridays (time and location listed below) UNIQUE NUMBERS 43435, 43440, 43445, 43450, 43455, 43460 LECTURE LOCATION: CAL 100 (TTH 3:30-4:30 p.m.) Third hour indicated below under “Sections” INSTRUCTOR: Prof. Kathleen Higgins OFFICE: Waggener Hall, Room 203 471-5564 OFFICE HOURS: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:45-11:45 a.m. and by appointment E-MAIL: <[email protected]> (Please use for logistical matters only) TEACHING ASSISTANTS: TBA COURSE DESCRIPTION: “Existentialism” was hardly a philosophical movement in the traditional sense, for few of its major figures would have described themselves as existentialists. And yet the existentialists do represent a movement in the sense that they sharing certain concerns, such as emphasis on how reflective thought relates to our actual lives, skepticism regarding reason, reevaluation of traditional approaches to ethics, and insistence on passionate engagement as essential for a meaningful life. Among the figures we will consider are Søren Kierkegaard, Friedrich Nietzsche, Jean-Paul Sartre, Albert Camus, Martin Heidegger, and Simone de Beauvoir. TEXTBOOKS: Albert Camus, The Stranger Albert Camus, The Fall Robert C. Solomon, ed. Existentialism, 2nd edition Friedrich Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra Robert C. Solomon, From Rationalism to Existentialism Recommended (Optional): Robert C. Solomon, Introducing the Existentialists GRADING: Grades will be computed using the plus-minus system. The breakdown is as follows: A 92-100 A- 90-91 B+ 87-89 B 82-86 B- 80-81 C+ 77-79 C 72-76 C- 70-71 D+ 67-69 D 62-66 D- 60-61 F 0-59 THIS COURSE WILL NOT HAVE A FINAL EXAM. Your comprehension of readings late in the term will be assessed by means of directed journal entries. This course carries the Ethics and Leadership flag. Ethics and Leadership courses are designed to equip you with skills that are necessary for making ethical decisions in your adult and professional life. You should therefore expect a substantial portion of your grade to come from assignments involving ethical issues and the process of applying ethical reasoning to real-life situations. POLICIES: ATTENDANCE IS REQUIRED FOR BOTH THE LECTURES AND THE DISCUSSION SECTIONS. Late journal assignments will automatically receive ten fewer percentage points than they would otherwise have received, and will not be accepted more than one week after the date due. Late assignments will not be accepted after Friday of the last week of class. Makeup exams or extensions will be arranged only in situations of an emergency, illness, or other serious circumstance. The instructor may ask for evidence. Students with disabilities may request appropriate academic accommodations from the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement, Services for Students with Disabilities, 471-6259. IMPORTANT DATES: February 13, 2014 Exam I 25% March 4, 2014 First Half of Journal Due Included in participation (with Directed Entries grade marked) March 20, 2104 Exam II 25% April 17, 2014 Exam III 25% May 1, 2014 Second Half of Journal Due Included in participation (with Directed Entries grade marked) Throughout the Term Participation* 25% *Participation includes a daily journal, attendance, directed journal entries, involvement in sections, possible pop quizzes, and possibly other activities. SECTIONS UNIQUE NUMBER TIME LOCATION TEACHING ASSISTANT 43435 Friday, 12:00 noon-1:00 GAR 1.134 TBA p.m. 43440 Monday, PAR 303 TBA 1:00-2:00 p.m. 43445 Friday, GAR 1.134 TBA 1:00 -2:00 p.m. 43450 Monday, MEZ 2.122 TBA 2:00-3:00 p.m. 43455 Friday, GAR 1.134 TBA 2:00-3:00 p.m. 43460 Monday, MEZ 2.122 TBA 3:00-4:00 p.m. SYLLABUS Existentialism = Solomon, Existentialism TSZ = Thus Spoke Zarathustra RE = Solomon, From Rationalism to Existentialism IE = Solomon, Introducing the Existentialists Recommendations beginning with “See” refer to films with themes related to topics under discussion. January 14 Introduction January 16 Existentialism – Context, Polemics, and Challenges Reading: “Introduction,” Existentialism (pp. xi-xx) January 21 Camus, The Stranger Reading: Albert Camus, The Stranger January 23 The Myth of Sisyphus Reading: Existentialism, pp. 187-198 Recommended: IE, pp. 61-83 January 28 Camus, The Fall Reading: Albert Camus, The Fall Recommended (with reservations): See The Plague January 30 Kierkegaard on Subjective Truth and Christianity Reading: Existentialism, pp. 1-8 and 17-29; RE, pp. 60-63 Recommended: RE, pp. 69-90 February 4 Kierkegaard and the Existential Dialectic Reading: Existentialism, pp. 8-14 Recommended: RE, pp. 90-103 February 6 Kierkegaard on Teleological Suspension of the Ethical Reading: Existentialism, pp. 15-17 and 29-33 February 11 Review February 13 Exam I February 18 Nietzsche on Nihilism and Morality Reading: Existentialism pp. 65-71 and 75-92 Recommended: RE, pp. 105-125 February 20 Nietzsche’s Critique of Traditional Values and Will to Power Reading: Existentialism, pp. 92-100 Recommended: RE, p. 125-138 February 25 Husserl’s Phenomenology and Heidegger Reading: RE, pp. 143-166 Recommended: RE, pp. 166-182; IE, pp. 35-59 February 27 Heidegger on Being, Knowing, and Dasein Reading: Existentialism, pp. 116-123 and 151-152 Recommended: RE, pp. 184-203 March 4 Heidegger on Authenticity Reading: Existentialism, pp. 123-139 Recommended: RE, pp. 203-223 Recommended: See Fearless FIRST HALF OF JOURNAL DUE, WITH DIRECTED JOURNAL ENTRIES MARKED March 6 Heidegger on Technology and the Role of Art Reading: Existentialism, pp. 139-152 Recommended: RE, pp. 223-244 March 10-15 SPRING BREAK March 18 Review March 20 Exam II March 25 Sartre on Freedom and Responsibility Reading: Existentialism, pp. 203-214 Recommended: RE, pp. 245-256; IE, pp. 3-33 Recommended: See Closer March 27 Sartre on Consciousness and Emotion Reading: Existentialism, pp. 214-218 Recommended: RE, pp. 256-288 April 1 Sartre on Bad Faith and Authenticity Reading: Existentialism pp. 224-243 Recommended: RE, pp. 288-302 April 3 Sartre on Other People Reading: Existentialism, pp. 243-256 and 259-270 Recommended RE, pp. 302-313 April 8 Sartre and Beauvoir on Sex, Love, and Ethics Reading: Existentialism, pp. 256-259 and pp. 291-317 Recommended: RE, pp. 313-323 April 10 Beauvoir on Ethics Reading: Existentialism, pp. 292-307 Recommended: See Waking Life April 15 Review April 17 Exam III April 22 Indirect Communication and Teaching by Showing: Thus Spoke Zarathustra Reading: TSZ: “Zarathustra’s Prologue” April 24 Zarathustra’s Problematic Readings: Existentialism, pp. 100-102; TSZ: “The Three Metamorphoses” “Despisers of the Body” “On Enjoying and Suffering the Passions” “The Dancing Song” “On Poets” “The Soothsayer” “On Redemption” “The Stillest Hour” April 29 Eternal Recurrence Readings: TSZ: “The Soothsayer” “On Redemption” “The Stillest Hour” “On the Vision and the Riddle” “The Convalescent” “The Other Dancing Song” “The Drunken Song” “The Sign” May 1 Conclusion: Existentialism in the 21st Century SECOND HALF OF JOURNAL DUE, WITH DIRECTED JOURNAL ENTRIES MARKED. .