Syllabus for PHIL 211

PHIL211 EXISTENTIALISM SPRING 2015 SYLLABUS PHIL 211 Existentialism – Spring 2015 CRN: 34864 -­‐-­‐ Credits: 04 15:00-­‐16:50 MWF (177 LA) and Friday discussion section. Professor: Peter Warnek 246 SCH [email protected] Office hours: W 13:00-­‐13:50, and by appointment. Course Overview This course provides a general introduction to the tradition of existential thinking and writing, and considers both the atheistic and religious tendencies of this movement. Our starting point will be a discussion of the historical origins of this tradition. By considering some of the philosophers who anticipate the themes of existential thought, such as Schelling and Hegel, we will ask whether the existential concern emerges as a continuation of our tradition or as a rebellion against it. The course thus begins by reading selected passages from Gabriel Marcel and Albert Camus. In this context, we will also ask about the usefulness of the label “existentialism,” and why it might be inappropriate to view existential experience and questioning as one philosophy among others. We will continue with readings from notable twentieth century authors, notable Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-­‐
Paul Sartre. As we work our way through this material, we will also take note of the pervasive presence of existential themes in popular literature, film and culture. The second half of the course will focus on the ethical and aesthetic implications of existential questioning. Here we will consider how questions of history and cultural identity bear upon one’s way of thinking and acting. We will read texts from Caribbean writers and poets Franz Fanon, Derek Walcott and others. The course concludes with a novel that presents in literary form many of the issues dealt with during the term. These include the meaning and possible interpretations of very basic human experiences, such as freedom and compulsion, birth and death, hope and despair, anxiety, fear and courage, love and enmity, absurdity, meaningless, nihilism, boredom, joy, loneliness and being with others. We will also reflect upon the existential critique of rationalism, science and technology, as these have come to dominate our contemporary world. What is (existential) philosophy? “It is completely correct and in the best order to say: ‘one can get nothing done with philosophy.’ Only it is misplaced to maintain that the judgment concerning philosophy has thereby been settled. For a small addendum follows in the form of an opposing question: if indeed we can do nothing with philosophy, the question is whether philosophy in the end cannot do something with us—assuming, of course, that we allow ourselves to get involved with it.” – Martin Heidegger “Philosophy demands: seek constant communication, risk it without reserve, renounce the defiant self-­‐assertion which forces itself upon you in ever new disguises, live in the hope that in your very renunciation you will in some incalculable way be given back to yourself.” – Karl Jaspers “We are interrogating our experience precisely in order to know how it opens us to what is not ourselves. This does not even exclude the possibility that we find in our experience a movement toward what could not in any event be present to us in the original and whose irremediable absence would thus count among our originating experiences.” – Maurice Merleau-­‐Ponty 1
PHIL211 EXISTENTIALISM SPRING 2015 DISCUSSION SECTION Your attendance and participation in discussion section is a requirement of this course. Take the time to get to know your GTF by visiting her office hours at least once during the course. It is important to understand that your GTF is your first person to contact for this course. Your GTF will grade your exams and submit your final grade. If you are unable to attend lectures, discussion sections or must miss exams, please take this up with your GTF directly. TEXTS and READINGS You will have readings for each lecture. Most of these readings will be found on Blackboard. There are also other texts you should purchase that are available from online bookstores. Amazon.com has all the titles available, for example. You should come to lecture having read and taken notes on the material for the day. We will discuss the reading assignment for the day in class. Please note: the use of electronic devices in class, including computers, cell phones and mp3 players, is not permitted. These devices distract your neighbors and disrupt the learning environment. COURSE REQUIREMENTS •
Discussion. Active participation in discussion sections. You are invited to raise questions •
Reading. Keep up with the assigned readings. Come to lecture and discussion having read •
Attendance. It is important to attend lecture because material is presented in lecture that •
Exams. We will have a total of 2 examinations. For exact dates see schedule below. The •
Papers. There will be 2 papers assigned during the term. There will also be a final paper. and to contribute during discussion in lecture. We will try to devote the last minutes of lecture to discussion. the assigned text for the day. Please reread and study the material in preparation for the exams. Study guides will also be posted on Blackboard. You should make use of this material along with your readings. Exact pages to be discussed each day will be announced in class as we proceed. is not found in the readings. Also, lecture provides an interpretation of the material and gives you guidance concerning which passages to focus on. Please note: It is not possible to receive a grade higher than C-­‐ if absent without an excuse at three or more meetings of discussion section. It is also not possible to receive a grade higher than C-­‐ if you miss more than 5 lectures. You will be asked to sit in an area of the lecture hall designated for your discussion section. If you do not sit in this area, you may be marked absent. If you need to miss a discussion section or cannot attend lecture, or have to reschedule an exam, please arrange this directly with your GTF. exams will consist of a combination of short answer, short essay, and multiple choice questions. These exams will test your comprehension of the concepts and vocabulary in the readings and lectures. The exams during the term will treat the material we have worked with most recently. Exams will take place in lecture. The paper topics will be assigned one week before the paper is due. See the schedule for dates. 2
PHIL211 EXISTENTIALISM SPRING 2015 Texts Readings are available on Blackboard. Please purchase a copy of The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera. You can find this book at local bookstores or online. Grade Breakdown Participation Exam #1 Exam #2 Paper #1 Final Paper Percent of Total Grade 10% 20% 20% 20% 30% Disability Accomodations If you have a documented disability and anticipate needing accommodations in this course please make arrangements to meet with me and with your GTF within the first two weeks of the course. Please request a letter from Disability Services verifying your disability and stating your needed accommodations. Bibliography for the Readings Beauvoir, Simone de. 2000. The Ethics Of Ambiguity. Citadel Press. Camus, Albert. 1991. The Myth of Sisyphus: And Other Essays. Vintage. Fanon, Franz. 200 Black Skin, White Masks. Grove Press. Kundera, Milan. 2009. The Unbearable Lightness of Being: A Novel. Deluxe. Harper Perennial Modern Classics. [Please purchase this book.] Marcel, Gabriel. 2002. The Philosophy Of Existentialism. Citadel Press. Sartre, Jean-­‐Paul. 1985. Existentialism and Human Emotions. Citadel Press. Walcott, Derek. 1998. What the Twilight Says. Ferrar, Straus and Giroux. 3
Schedule of Readings and Assignments
30-Mar
1-Apr
3-Apr
Introductions
Marcel
Marcel
"On the Ontological Mystery"
"On the Ontological Mystery"
Week 2
6-Apr
8-Apr
10-Apr
Marcel
Camus
Camus
"On the Ontological Mystery"
"An Absurd Reasoning"
"An Absurd Reasoning"
Week 3
13-Apr
15-Apr
17-Apr
Camus
Tillich
Tillich
"An Absurd Reasoning"
The Courage To Be
The Courage To Be
Week 4
20-Apr
22-Apr
24-Apr
24-Apr
Tillich
The Courage To Be
Tillich
The Courage To Be
Tillich
The Courage To Be
Paper #1 Due
5 pages
Week 5
27-Apr
29-Apr
1-May
Sartre
Sartre
Exam #1
Existentialism
Existentialism
Week 6
4-May
6-May
8-May
de Beauvoir
de Beauvoir
de Beauvoir
Ethics of Ambiguity
Ethics of Ambiguity
Ethics of Ambiguity
Week 7
11-May
13-May
15-May
Fanon
Fanon
Fanon
Black Skin, White Masks
Black Skin, White Masks
Black Skin, White Masks
Week 8
18-May
20-May
22-May
Walcott
Walcott
Exam #2
"What the Twilight Says"
"What the Twilight Says"
Week 9
25-May
27-May
29-May
Week 1
Week 10
1-Jun
3-Jun
5-Jun
10-Jun
Holiday: No Class
TBA
Guest Lecture
Discussion/Review
Kundera
Kundera
Kundera
The Unbearable Lightness of Being
The Unbearable Lightness of Being
The Unbearable Lightness of Being
Final Paper Due
7 pages
PHIL211 EXISTENTIALISM SPRING 2015 4