Existentialism (PHIL 224)

Existentialism is a philosophic movement that flourished in the decades after the massive and unprecedented destruction of World War II.  The questions that arose in this movement centered on the  meaning (or lack thereof) of human existence.  What does it mean to be a human in a world that lacks humanity?  What does it mean to be a human when we cannot rely on anything external to ourselves to provide meaning or purpose?  How can we live authentic human lives and not thoughtlessly accept the precepts of our society about what we are expected to do?

In order to explore these central questions, we will read some of the great existential philosophers, including Heidegger, Sartre, and Simone de Beauvoir, watch a number of films, and (if time and interest permit) take a field trip.

Dana Falkenberg’s webpage