PHIL 229 Existentialism (Not offered 1998-99)

The only real philosophical problem, according to the existentialist philosopher Camus, is suicide. If there is no God, no ultimate justification for doing one thing rather than another, why live at all? How can your life be valuable or meaningful? How can you live with others in society-except under the illusions of religion and social morality? Existentialism attempts to address the philosophical questions that come out of our lived experience-as frail, mortal, uncertain, and free individuals. In this course, we will explore existentialism through readings in Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Dostoevsky, Heidegger, Sartre, Camus, de Beauvoir, and Gide; we will also look at the arguments of existentialism's critics (e.g., Murdoch, Nagel) to evaluate the questions raised by existentialism. What does it mean for a life to have a meaning? Do our choices have to be ultimately justified in order to be justified at all? Requirements: midterm paper, final paper, and short weekly assignments. No prerequisites.

KAMTEKAR