Existentialism

Philosophy 361

Spring 2018

INSTRUCTOR: WILLIAM IRWIN, Ph.D. EXT. 5493. williamirwin@kings.edu

Webpage: http://www.kings.edu/wtirwin

OFFICE HOURS: HAFEY-MARIAN 509 M&W 1:00-4:00 and Tu&Th 3:30-4:50 andby appointment.

Course Description: This course focuses on the thought of four existentialist philosophers: Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Heidegger, and Sartre. We will supplement our study of existentialist philosophy with discussion of existentialist novels by Camus, Tolstoy, and Dostoevsky. In exploring the thought of the existentialists we shall address such questions as: What is authentic human existence? Is God dead? Is there any ground for ethical judgments? Are human beings free? How should one face death?

Objectives: Students will develop and refine the ability to offer criticism of philosophical positions, and will develop the ability to form their own educated positions on philosophical issues. Students will gain new insight into the issues and questions surveyed, and will pursue an independent writing project.

Required Texts:

Nathan Oaklander ed., Existentialist Philosophy: An Introduction

Friedrich Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra (Kaufmann Translation)

Leo Tolstoy, The Death of Ivan Ilyich

Jean-Paul Sartre, Nausea

Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Grand Inquisitor

Arthur Miller, Death of a Salesman

Grades will be determined as follows:

2 Exams 60% (30% each, dates to be announced)

Short Term Paper 10% (A 3-5 page paper on the absurd and faith in Camus and Dostoevsky, due February 15. See handout.)

Long Term Paper 20%

Option1 Write an interpretive and argumentative essay on self-deception and authenticity in Death of a Salesman. 7-10 pages.

Option 2 Read Existentialism and Romantic Love by Skye Cleary and write a critical and argumentative essay on the views of one or more of these philosophers on romantic love: Stirner, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Sartre, or Beauvoir. (A copy of the book is available in the library.) 7-10 pages.

*10% of the paper grade will be based on an outline and discussion with the professoron or before April 12. The paper is due in class May 1.

Participation 10% Students are expected to speak at least once in each and every class meeting; as part of participation students will turn in a short, written reflection on the assigned reading for each class meeting.

Readings and Topics

I. Introduction

A. What is Existentialism? pp. 1-8.

B. Albert Camus, from The Stranger, pp. 369-382.

C. The Myth of Sisyphus, pp. 367-369.

D. Absurd Reasoning, pp. 357-367. 

E. Dostoevsky, “The Russian Monk,” pp. 39-80.

F. Arthur Miller, Death of a Salesman.

 II. Kierkegaard

A. Kierkegaard: Biography and Background (Plato and Hegel), The Impossibility of an Existential System, and Stages on Life’s Way, pp. 9-16, 29-32, and handout.

B.  Kierkegaard: Subjective Truth, pp. 16-20, 32-46.

C. Movements to Faith, 20-26; 46-63.

III. Nietzsche

A. Dostoevsky, “The Grand Inquisitor,” pp. 1-37.

B. Nietzsche: Biography and Background, The Death of God, Will to Power, and the Übermensch, pp. 75-85, 99, 106-108.

C. Nietzsche Master & Slave Morality, Critique of Christianity, and Eternal Recurrence, pp. 85-95, 111-123, and 142-143.

D. Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra Prologue and First Part, pp. 9-79.

E. Zarathustra Second Part, pp. 83-147.

F. Zarathustra Third Part, pp. 152-231.

G. Zarathustra Fourth Part, pp. 237-327.

Midterm Exam

IV. Heidegger

A. Heidegger: Biography and Background (Husserl and Phenomenology), The Question of Being, and Being-in-the-World, pp. 144-151, 163-168, 174-176.

B. Heidegger: Care, Death, and Temporality, pp. 151-160, 178-194, and 202-204.

C. Tolstoy, The Death of Ivan Ilyich, Chapters 1-4.

D. The Death of Ivan Ilyich, Chapters 5-12.

V. Sartre

A. Sartre: Biography and Background, "Existentialism is a Humanism," and Being-for-itself & Being-in-itself, pp. 215-218, 253-255, and 310-319.

B. Sartre on Freedom and the Emotions, pp. 218-224, 237-238, 255-266, 301-307.

C. Sartre: Bad Faith, The Other, The Look, and Sex, pp. 224-237, 266-278, 281-285, 292-300, (No Exit) 323-335.

D. Sartre, Nausea pp. 1-70.

E. Nausea, pp. 70-120.

F. Nausea, pp. 120-178.

VI. de Beauvoir

A. “The Second Sex” handout.

B. Discussion of The Ethics of Ambiguity and term papers.

Final Exam