Module HPS-1005:
Existentialism
Module Facts
Run by School of History, Philosophy and Social Sciences
20.000 Credits or 10.000 ECTS Credits
Semester 1
Organiser: Prof Lucy Huskinson
Overall aims and purpose
Widely thought to have originated in the 19th Century with Kierkegaard’s refutation of organised religion and systematic philosophies and the need to focus on individual experience as the principal source of meaning, Existentialism has blossomed into one of the most vibrant philosophical and cultural movements to explore the fundamental meanings and experiences of life and human existence. Its impact on other disciplines—such as literature, art, theatre, cinema, and psychology—has been huge since its heyday in Europe immediately after the second world war. By examining philosophical prose, literature, and contemporary films, this module we demonstrate how existentialism is as much a viable outlook on life today for all of us, as it was to those darkly-dressed caricatures who debated existential theories passionately in the cafés of post-war Paris. Ideas such as the meaning of existence, consciousness, the burden of freedom, anxiety, finitude, the absurd, the existence of others, and authenticity will be explored in light of such thinkers as Jean-Paul Sartre, Albert Camus, José Ortega y Gasset, Franz Kafka, Fyodor Dostoevsky, and Søren Kierkegaard. Students will develop an understanding of the fundamental unity that underlies the different theories of existentialism, before subjecting them to critique.
Course content
The module will begin with an overview of the meaning of existentialism, its key themes and thinkers. The module is then divided into five parts. In part one we examine the philosophical groundwork that underpins existentialism as a theory. Here students will be introduced to such ideas as Sartre’s concepts of consciousness, being, nothingness, facticity and transcendence. In part two we explore the importance of freedom to the human condition, and the meaning behind Sartre’s famous slogans, ‘we are condemned to be free’, and ‘existence precedes essence’. Here we will examine the first of our contemporary films, The Truman Show, in order to demonstrate the validity of these ideas within society today. Part three then surveys the notion of the ‘absurd’ as a philosophical concept and identifies its trace in literature, art, and film. Students will examine a variety of responses to the absurd, including those outlined by Kafka, Camus, and Kierkegaard. We will then watch the film Ground hog Day with a view to identifying how these responses can be portrayed in contemporary film. Part four examines Sartre’s notion of bad faith, and the ease in which we fail to respond adequately to the demands of existentialism. Finally, part five considers the effect that others have on our existence and in our capacity to engage our lives authentically.
Assessment Criteria
good
Good C- - C +. Submitted work is competent throughout and occasionally distinguished by superior style, approach and choice of supporting materials. It demonstrates: - Good structure and logically developed arguments. - At least in parts draws on material that has been sourced and assessed as a result of independent study, or in a way unique to the student. - Assertions are, in the main, backed by evidence and sound reasoning. - Accuracy and presentation in an appropriate academic style.
Very Good B- - B+. Submitted work is competent throughout and distinguished by superior style, approach and choice of supporting materials. It demonstrates: - Very good structure and logically developed arguments. - Draws on material that has been sourced and assessed as a result of independent study, or in a way unique to the student. - Assertions are backed by evidence and sound reasoning. - Accuracy and presentation in an appropriate academic style.
threshold
D- - D +. Submitted work is adequate and shows an acceptable level of competence as follows:
- Generally accurate but with omissions and errors.
- Assertions are made without clear supporting evidence or reasoning.
- Has structure but is lacking in clarity and therefore relies on the reader to make links and assumptions.
- Draws on a relatively narrow range of material.
excellent
A - - A*. Submitted work is of an outstanding quality and excellent in one or more of the following ways: - Has originality of exposition with the student’s own thinking being readily apparent. - Provides clear evidence of extensive and relevant independent study. - Arguments are laid down with clarity and provide the reader with successive stages of consideration to reach conclusions.
Learning outcomes
-
Critically evaluate the guiding themes, and the range of perspectives in which the existentialist tradition expresses its ideas and arguments.
-
Display detailed knowledge of major texts that comprise the existentialist tradition.
-
Understand the cultural contexts in which existentialism developed in order to appreciate ways in which they reflect those contexts or add new perspectives to them.
-
Display some knowledge of the ways in which these texts have been variously interpreted and developed by existential thinkers.
Assessment Methods
Type | Name | Description | Weight |
---|---|---|---|
REPORT | Case Study | Choose a film and explain and critique its existential themes. |
50.00 |
ESSAY | Existential Essay | 50.00 |
Teaching and Learning Strategy
Hours | ||
---|---|---|
Lecture | Interactive lectures with individual/group activities. |
25 |
Tutorial | Optional tutorials to provide feedback on assignments |
1 |
Private study | Study to consult reading materials, and to prepare, research, and write assignments. |
174 |
Transferable skills
- Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
- Computer Literacy - Proficiency in using a varied range of computer software
- Self-Management - Able to work unsupervised in an efficient, punctual and structured manner. To examine the outcomes of tasks and events, and judge levels of quality and importance
- Exploring - Able to investigate, research and consider alternatives
- Information retrieval - Able to access different and multiple sources of information
- Inter-personal - Able to question, actively listen, examine given answers and interact sensitevely with others
- Critical analysis & Problem Solving - Able to deconstruct and analyse problems or complex situations. To find solutions to problems through analyses and exploration of all possibilities using appropriate methods, rescources and creativity.
- Presentation - Able to clearly present information and explanations to an audience. Through the written or oral mode of communication accurately and concisely.
- Teamwork - Able to constructively cooperate with others on a common task, and/or be part of a day-to-day working team
- Mentoring - Able to support, help, guide, inspire and/or coach others
- Caring - Showing concern for others; caring for children, people with disabilities and/or the elderly
- Management - Able to utilise, coordinate and control resources (human, physical and/or financial)
- Argument - Able to put forward, debate and justify an opinion or a course of action, with an individual or in a wider group setting
- Self-awareness & Reflectivity - Having an awareness of your own strengths, weaknesses, aims and objectives. Able to regularly review, evaluate and reflect upon the performance of yourself and others
- Leadership - Able to lead and manage, develop action plans and objectives, offer guidance and direction to others, and cope with the related pressures such authority can result in
Subject specific skills
Philosophy
Courses including this module
Optional in courses:
- LM3Y: BA Cymdeithaseg&CriminologyCrimJ year 1 (BA/CCCJ)
- M93B: BA Criminology & Criminal Just (4yr with Incorp Foundation) year 1 (BA/CCJ1)
- M931: BA Criminology & Criminal Justice with International Exp year 1 (BA/CJIE)
- X315: BA Childhood and Youth Studies and Sociology year 1 (BA/CYSS)
- LL13: BA Sociology/Economics year 1 (BA/ECS)
- LL2B: BA Sociology & Economics (4 yr with Incorporated Foundation) year 1 (BA/ECS1)
- 3QV1: BA History and English Literature year 1 (BA/ELH)
- LQ3J: BA English Lang. & Sociology year 1 (BA/ELSOC)
- P3V1: BA Film Studies and History year 1 (BA/FSH)
- V100: BA History year 1 (BA/H)
- V103: BA History and Archaeology year 1 (BA/HA)
- V1V9: BA History with Archaeology with International Experience year 1 (BA/HAIE)
- V1V4: BA History with Archaeology year 1 (BA/HAR)
- VW23: BA Hanes Cymru a Cherddoriaeth year 1 (BA/HCAC)
- MVX1: BA History/Criminology year 1 (BA/HCR)
- LV11: BA History/Economics year 1 (BA/HEC)
- RV11: BA History/French year 1 (BA/HFR)
- V1W6: BA History with Film Studies year 1 (BA/HFS)
- V1W7: BA History with Film Studies with International Experience year 1 (BA/HFSIE)
- RV21: BA History/German year 1 (BA/HG)
- 8B03: BA History (with International Experience) year 1 (BA/HIE)
- RV31: BA History/Italian year 1 (BA/HIT)
- V1P5: BA History with Journalism year 1 (BA/HJ)
- VW13: BA History and Music year 1 (BA/HMU)
- V1PM: BA Hanes gyda Newyddiaduraeth year 1 (BA/HN)
- LL53: BA Health & Social Care/Sociology year 1 (BA/HSCS)
- RV41: BA History/Spanish year 1 (BA/HSP)
- LVJ1: BA Cymdeithaseg/Hanes year 1 (BA/HSW)
- V140: BA Modern & Contemporary History year 1 (BA/MCH)
- V130: BA Mediaeval and Early Modern His year 1 (BA/MEMH)
- WV33: Music & Hist & Welsh Hist (IE) year 1 (BA/MHIE)
- LP33: BA Media Studies and Sociology year 1 (BA/MSSOC)
- VV56: BA Philosophy and Religion year 1 (BA/PHRE)
- L200: BA Politics year 1 (BA/POL)
- L201: BA Politics with Placement Year year 1 (BA/POLP)
- 3VQV: BA Philosophy and Religion and English Literature year 1 (BA/PREN)
- VVR1: BA Philosophy and Religion and French year 1 (BA/PRF)
- VVR2: BA Philosophy and Religion and German year 1 (BA/PRG)
- VVV1: BA Philosophy and Religion and History year 1 (BA/PRH)
- VVR3: BA Philosophy and Religion and Italian year 1 (BA/PRI)
- VVW3: BA Philosophy and Religion and Music year 1 (BA/PRM)
- VVR4: BA Philosophy and Religion and Spanish year 1 (BA/PRS)
- VVV2: BA Philosophy and Religion and Welsh History year 1 (BA/PRWH)
- CL83: BA Sociology/Psychology year 1 (BA/PS)
- L300: BA Sociology year 1 (BA/S)
- L31B: BA Sociology (4 year with Incorporated Foundation) year 1 (BA/S1)
- LM40: BA Sociology & Criminology & Crim Just with International Ex year 1 (BA/SCJIE)
- LM39: BA Sociology and Criminology & Criminal Justice year 1 (BA/SCR)
- 3L3Q: BA Sociology and English Literature year 1 (BA/SEL)
- LV31: BA Sociology/History year 1 (BA/SH)
- 8Y70: BA Sociology (with International Experience) year 1 (BA/SIE)
- LQ31: BA Sociology/Linguistics year 1 (BA/SL)
- L41B: BA Social Policy (4 year with Incorporated Foundation) year 1 (BA/SOCP1)
- L402: BA Social Policy year 1 (BA/SOCPOL)
- LL34: BA Sociology and Social Policy year 1 (BA/SOCSP)
- LM50: BA Social Policy and Criminology and Criminal Justice (IE) year 1 (BA/SPCIE)
- LM49: BA Social Policy/Criminology year 1 (BA/SPCR)
- LV41: BA Social Policy/History year 1 (BA/SPH)
- LVK1: BA Polisi Cymdeithasol/Hanes year 1 (BA/SPWH)
- QV51: BA Cymraeg/History year 1 (BA/WH)
- V104: BA Welsh History and Archaeology year 1 (BA/WHAR)
- VP23: BA Welsh History and Film Studies year 1 (BA/WHFS)
- LVH2: BA Welsh History/Sociology year 1 (BA/WHS)
- QVM2: BA Welsh History/Cymraeg year 1 (BA/WHW)
- LQ35: BA Cymraeg and Sociology year 1 (BA/WS)
- V101: MArts History year 1 (MARTS/HIST)
- M932: MSocSci Criminology & Criminal Justice year 1 (MSOCSCI/CCJ)
- L302: MSocSci Sociology year 1 (MSOCSCI/S)
- L403: MSocSci Social Policy year 1 (MSOCSCI/SP)