Module overview
How should I live my life and does it matter that I do so in good faith? What is it to live an authentic existence in light of the fact that that existence will at some point end? How is living authentically or in good faith related to being oneself, an individual, as opposed to being just one of the crowd? These are among the central questions that ‘existentialist’ thinkers, such as Kierkegaard, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, and Heidegger, try to answer. This module aims to introduce you to the different perspectives that some of the most prominent existentialists have on such questions, and to give you the chance to reflect on these issues in light of their work.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- compare and contrast different views on the issues the module concern.
- critically evaluate the ideas and arguments the existentialists advance.
- present and debate ideas in writing, in an open minded and rigorous way.
- interpret complex texts and positions.
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- some of the central themes in the work of existentialist thinkers such as Kierkegaard, Nietzsche and Heidegger.
- how the different perspectives provided by the existentialists relate to each other.
- what it means to live in good or bad faith, to lead an authentic existence, and to be an individual.
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- contribute to discussion of controversial issues in a dispassionate fashion
- work effectively to deadlines.
- present ideas clearly and concisely in writing.
- take notes from talks and written materials.
- undertake, with adequate supervision, independent work, including identifying and using appropriate resources.
Syllabus
The syllabus may vary from year to year. Topics may include:
- good and bad faith
- authenticity
- anxiety and death
- individuality
- becoming or overcoming who you are
- fate
- the death of God
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
Teaching methods include:
- Lectures
- In class discussion
- One on one consultation with the module coordinator
Learning activities include:
- Attending classes
- Contributing to class discussion
- Doing independent research for and writing assessed essays
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Independent Study | 117 |
| Teaching | 33 |
| Total study time | 150 |
Resources & Reading list
General Resources
Blackboard.
Textbooks
T Flynn (2006). Existentialism: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Assessment
Formative
Formative assessment description
Draft essaySummative
Summative assessment description
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Timed Assignment | 60% |
| Group essay | 40% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External