Phil 3140 Existentialism
Professor Janet Donohoe
Fall 2011
1. Learning Outcomes: The aim of this course is to examine
critically the central arguments of existentialist philosophers through
reading, writing about, and discussing primary philosophical texts. By the end of the semester students will be
able to:
·
Identify at least
three major existentialist philosophers
·
Exhibit a
familiarity with the basic philosophical positions of at least three
philosophers.
·
Clearly explain
and critically address a philosophical position in both written and oral form.
·
Exhibit a
familiarity with existentialist vocabulary
·
Analyze
philosophical position of major figures in existentialism
·
Recognize the
difference between atheist and religious existentialism
2. Requirements: To achieve the above goals will require a new
way of reading and thinking. We will not
just read the texts, but we will question and challenge them both through
discussion and writing assignments.
Because this is a Writing Across the Curriculum course, the writing
element will be substantial and will involve in-class writing as well as formal
paper writing. The requirements for the
class are sixfold.
a) class discussion and participation 10%
b) response papers 600-900 words each 20%
c) in-class written midterm exam 20%
d) paper rough draft 10%
e) final paper of 2100-3000 words 20%
f)
in-class written
final exam 20%
In order to meet these
requirements, it will be necessary to attend class regularly and to do the
assigned reading. It will be evident if you
have not done the reading and this will not be beneficial to your success in
this class. Papers absolutely will
not be accepted after the due date unless you have discussed it with me prior
to the due date. If you do not submit a rough draft, you will
not be allowed to submit a final paper.
The
Department of English and Philosophy defines plagiarism as taking personal
credit for the thinking of others as it is presented in electronic, print, and
verbal sources. The Department expects
that students will accurately credit sources in all assignments. Plagiarism is grounds for failing the course
and may result in further consequences of being expelled from the University.
Laptop
computers may not be used in the classroom unless requested by student development.
Cell
phones must be turned off in the classroom.
3. Availability: I am available outside of class during office
hours, or by appointment. If there are
questions or problems, do not hesitate to see me.
Hours: MWF 9:00-10:00
am and 12:00-1:00 pm.
Office: TLC 2230
Phone: 678-839-4743
e-mail: jdonohoe@westga.edu
4. Book List: The books listed below should be available in
the book store.
Dostoevsky Notes from Underground
Nietzsche Beyond Good and Evil
Kierkegaard Fear
and Trembling
Camus The Plague
Sartre Existentialism
and Human Emotions
Selections from DeBeauvoir’s The Second Sex will be made available
through Docutek.
Calendar
22 Introduction
24 Themes of the course. What is Existentialism?
26 Class Cancelled
29 Dostoevsky Notes
from Underground
31 Notes from Underground
2 Notes from Underground
5 Labor Day—No Classes!
7 Notes from Underground
9 Notes from Underground
12 Nietzsche Beyond
Good and Evil Part I
14 Beyond Good and Evil Part I (first response paper due)
16 Beyond Good and Evil Part V
19 Beyond Good and Evil Part V
21 Beyond Good and Evil Part VII
23 Beyond Good and Evil Part VII
26 Beyond Good and Evil Part IX
28 Sartre “Existentialism
is a Humanism” (2nd response paper due)
30 “Existentialism is a Humanism”
October
3 “Existentialism is a Humanism”
5 “Existentialism is a Humanism”
7 Midterm
Exam
10 DeBeauvoir The
Second Sex – Introduction
12 The Second Sex – Introduction (3rd response paper due)
14 The Second Sex – The Data of
Biology (last day to withdraw with a W)
17 The Second Sex – The Data of
Biology
19 The Second Sex – Situation and
Character
21 The Second Sex – Situation and
Character
24 The Second Sex – Conclusion
26 Camus The
Plague Part I
28 The Plague Part II through p. 110. (4th response paper due)
31 The Plague Part II
November
2 The Plague Part III
4 The Plague Part IV
7 The Plague
Part IV
9 The Plague Part V
11 Kierkegaard Fear and Trembling
14 Fear and Trembling (rough
draft of paper due)
16 Fear and Trembling
18 Fear and Trembling
21-25 Thanksgiving Break
28 Fear and Trembling (final
paper due)
30 Fear and Trembling
December
2 Review
Final Exam will be Friday,
December 9, 2011 at 11:00 am.