Existentialism

The goal of this course is to give participants a detailed and systematic understanding of the two texts at the center of the so-called existentialist movement in philosophy. We will study Heidegger’s and Sartre’s investigations into the nature, meaning, and consequences of Being, which study will involve us in issues in metaphysics, philosophy of mind, philosophy of language, and ethics.

Texts
Heidegger Being and Time
Sartre Being and Nothingness
Sartre No Exit and Three Other Plays

Grade
Heidegger Paper 40%
Sartre Paper 40%
Participation 20%

Schedule

Week 1
Introduction to the problem of Being

Week 2
Being and Time Introduction The Question, Being, beings
Being and Time Division 1: I, II Da-Sein, care, knoweldge

Week 3
Being and Time Division 1: III The world, signs, function
Being and Time Division 1: III Matter, space

Week 4
Being and Time Division 1: IV Being-with, the They
Being and Time Division 1: V Thrownness, attunement, interpretation

Week 5
Being and Time Division 1: V Discourse
Being and Time Division 1: V Idle talk, authenticity

Week 6
Being and Time Division 2: I Being-towards-death, Angst
Being and Time Division 2: II The Call

Week 7
Being and Time Division 2: III Temporality and the self
Being and Time Division 2: V Historicity and hermeneutics

HEIDEGGER PAPER DUE

Week 8
Being and Nothingness Introduction: II, III Consciousness
Being and Nothingness Introduction: V, VI Being-in-itself

Week 9
Being and Nothingness Part 1: Ch. 1: I-III The Question, Negation
Being and Nothingness Part 1: Ch. 2 Bad Faith

Week 10
Being and Nothingness Part 2: Ch. 1
Being and Nothingness Part 2: Ch. 1

Week 11
Being and Nothingness Part 2: Ch. 2 Time, Facticity

Week 12
Being and Nothingness Part 3: Ch. 1 The Other, the Look, freedom

Week 13
Being and Nothingness Part 3: Ch. 3 Sadism, masochism,
Authenticity, being-with

Week 14
No Exit “Hell is other people.”
The Flies Angst in ancient Greece.