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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "PH 302"
COURSE NAME: "Existentialism"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2024
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Brunella Antomarini
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MW 11:30 AM 12:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS:
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisites: One previous philosophy course or Junior Standing Co-requisites: EN 110; Recommended Junior Standing
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The course aims at a phenomenological analysis, discussion, and development of the most important theme in existential philosophy: the Self, understood as consciousness, confronting a world and engaged in human action. Beginning with selected writings by Nietzsche and Kierkegaard, the fathers of Existentialism, the course will explore issues such as freedom, responsibility, decision, finitude, and alienation. These issues will be discussed in their existential contexts as they emerge from the works of philosophers such as K. Jaspers, Sartre, Heidegger, etc. A special emphasis will be placed on the relevance and critical significance of these issues to everyday life in contemporary society.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

What does 'existence' mean today?   Traditionally, philosophy tended to separate living beings into mind and body, subject and object.  In the early twentieth century, however, a group of philosophers called "phenomenologists", as well as "existentialists" and others,  developed new approaches meant to overcome this separation and to produce a unified view of human life, based on a concrete description of our mental processes and of lived experience. 

 

READINGS. EXCERPTS FROM:

 

Soren Kierkegaard, Journal of a Seducer (Either-Or, in A Kierkegaard Anthology, JCU).

Friedrich Nietzsche, Beyond Good and Evil, pp. 85-90; Genealogy of Morals, pp. 203-209. (in The Essential Nietzsche, JCU).

https://psyche.co/ideas/when-nietzsche-said-become-who-you-are-this-is-what-he-meant?utm_source=Aeon+Newsletter

Georg Simmel, The Metropolis and Mental Life (in: On Individuality and Social Forms).

Georg Simmel, On the Stranger pp. 601-605 (in: Sociology. JCU).

Karl Jaspers, Philosophy of existence (introduction) (JCU).

J.P. Sartre, Essays in Existentialism.

Albert Camus, Donjuanism pp. 45-48; Absurd Creation pp. 60-62; Sisyphus, pp. 75-78 (in: The Myth of Sisyphus).

Raymond Ruyer, Neofinalism, Ch.3.

Jean Baudrillard, Simulacra and Simulations (pp.166-184)

Francisco Varela, Intimate Distances

Peter Sloterdijk, Rules for the Human Zoo (Environment and Planning D: Society and Space 2009, volume 27, pages 12-28)

Federica Bongiorno, From the Extended Mind to the Extended Self

 

 

FILM:

The 25th Hour, Spike Lee, 2002

 

SCHEDULE

I WEEK

Intro

 

II WEEK

Kierkegaard

 

IIIWEEK

Nietzsche

 

IV WEEK

Simmel

 

V WEEK

Jaspers

VI WEEK

Sartre

VII WEEK

Camus

MIDTERM

VIII WEEK

Guest lecture Kanchana Mahavedan

IX WEEK

Baudrillard

X WEEK

Ruyer

XI WEEK

Varela

XII WEEK

Sloterdijk

Bongiorno

XIII WEEK

Review

XIV WEEK

Review

 

 

 

 

 

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Developing skills in critical thinking, theoretical analysis, ability in distinguishing relevant and updated elements of existentialism.
TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Short papers at home  20%
PRESENTATION (mid-term exam)  20%
PRESENTATION (final exam)  40%
Attendance and participation 20%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
The course aims at a phenomenological analysis, discussion, and development of the most important theme in existential philosophy: the Self, understood as consciousness, confronting a world and engaged in human action. Beginning with selected writings by Nietzsche and Kierkegaard, the fathers of Existentialism, the course will explore issues such as freedom, responsibility, decision, finitude, and alienation. These issues will be discussed in their existential contexts as they emerge from the works of philosophers such as K. Jaspers, Sartre, Heidegger, etc. A special emphasis will be placed on the relevance and critical significance of these issues to everyday life in contemporary society.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE