University of Kent

Description

Existentialism is a philosophical and literary tradition which emphasises subjectivity, choice and freedom, and the problems these pose for individual existence. While it is not a clearly defined movement, its central ideas and themes have had a major impact on modern moral, religious and political thought, as well as on modern European literature.  In this module we study existentialist ideas as they are expressed in both philosophical and literary forms, with particular focus on issues of freedom and values and the concept of authenticity. 

T.E. Wartenberg	Existentialism : a beginner's guide
Kierkegaard	Fear and Trembling
Nietzsche	Twilight of the Idols
Dostoevsky	The Grand Inquisitor
Gide	The Immoralist
Camus	The Outsider

 

Reading

Jean-Paul Sartre    Existentialism and Humanism
David E Cooper     Existentialism
Jacob Golomb       In Search of Authenticity

Factsheet

Credits	15 (7.5 ECTS)
Level	Certificate
Term	Spring Term
Assessment	50% coursework (40% essay, 10% seminar performance) and 50% examination
Contact Hours	Weekly lecture and seminar