The George Washington University
PHIL 1193.11
Fall 2014
Smith Hall, Rm 14, Mondays, Wednesdays 4:45p – 6p
Instructor: Dr. Michael J. Sigrist
Office: Rome 456
Office Hours: By Appt. and M, W, 1-2p
Email: msigrist@gwu.edu
Mobile: +1 (202) 681 8307
INTRODUCTION TO EXISTENTIALISM
Course description
This course will cover the popular movement in philosophy, literature and culture known as
“existentialism”. As the name implies, existentialists believe that philosophy should remain grounded in
the individual’s existence and experience. Accordingly, the topics that we will examine—including death,
value, selfhood, responsibility, and choice—are all themes that not only interest philosophers but also
matter to our personal and everyday lives. We begin with the claim—common to all existentialists—that
who you are—your “self”—is not given (no existentialist believes in an ‘inner’ or ‘true’ self, for example)
but an accomplishment achieved in constant confrontation with the world, with other persons, and with
mortality. As Søren Kierkegaard says in one of our first readings, “a human being is still not a self.” We
will investigate how selfhood can be maintained in the face of impersonal social systems, universal moral
codes, religious orthodoxies, and the forces of history. Our course will examine this set of problems not
only by a close reading of key philosophical texts but also through important works by novelists, poets,
and filmmakers.
Course Aims and Objectives
This course satisfies the Critical Thinking criterion as part of the analytical approach required by the
General Education Curriculum of the University. Critical Thinking involves: analyzing and evaluating
abstract information; understanding and analyzing scholarly literature and argument, particularly with
respect to theoretical orientation and sources of support; and formulating logical arguments based on that
analysis.
1. Analyzing and evaluating abstract information
Students will compare, analyze and critically evaluate different theoretical frameworks for understanding
concepts such as freedom, authenticity and responsibility. Many of our texts will examine these themes
through highly abstract and systematic philosophical concepts. The course will make use of literature and
film in order both to illustrate and critique those theories.
2. Understanding and analyzing scholarly literature and argument, particularly with respect to
theoretical orientation and sources of support.
Students are required to demonstrate their understanding of complex and interrelated concepts across a
range of difficult and sophisticated texts. They should demonstrate an ability to identify, assess and
compare competing interpretations of central themes and concepts. Our texts present a number of deep
and nuanced disagreements. Students will be required to demonstrate in class discussion and through
written work their comprehension of these differences and disagreements.
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Students will be required to exercise two different sorts of critical and interpretive skills: first, to show
how abstract and theoretical concepts fit and help to explain important elements of literature, film, history
and the contemporary social world. Second, to show conversely how these elements can be used to
develop, sharpen and test those same abstract philosophical concepts.
3. Formulating logical arguments based on that analysis.
Students are required to construct original logical arguments of their own, informed by our texts, class
discussions, online interactions, and some basic secondary literature.
Course Policies and Expectations
Attendance and Participation: This material is difficult. You will not understand it if you do not attend
class regularly. Regular attendance is required. You are allowed three unexcused absences; each
additional unexcused absence will cost three percentage points from your final point total for the course.
Make-Ups: If you miss a exam due to an unexcused absence you will not be able to make it up. If you
miss an due to an excused absence you will need to arrange a make-up with me. Unless it is due to a lifethreatening or debilitating emergency, you must make these arrangements with me before the date of the
exam.
Blackboard: Online discussion journals will be an important part of this course, but they will only be
useful if you—collectively—work to make them so. Make sure that you are familiar with the format and
that you keep up to date with your journal entries. You must post an entry once a week, but are
encouraged to post more often. Some weeks I will post reading and discussion questions along with
pointers, and there will be an ongoing thread for any questions related to matters like terminology,
argument analysis, sources, etc. Regardless, you are responsible for making your journal entries relevant
to the readings and class discussions each week. There will also be a question forum on the disucssion
boards that I will monitor. This is your chance to ask questions, solicit alternative perspectives, share your
opinions, and continue discussions beyond the classroom. The better use the class as a whole makes of
this format, the better it will be for each of you as you study for papers and the final exam.
Respect and Tolerance: We will be dealing with difficult and often personal themes in this course. In fact,
the material in this course will be impossible to understand if you do not take it personally. All the same,
you will be required to act respectfully, politely and collegially to other students, including any who
express opinions that might upset you, either in the classroom or on the discussion boards. At the same
time, intentional offense, disrespect of any kind, and impoliteness will not be tolerated.
Phone Number: Above you will see a phone number. This is not my personal phone number. It is a
Google Voice number I have set up especially for students. Use discretion, but if you have quick
questions about the class or an assignment, are running late for an appointment, would like to schedule an
appointment, would like to let me know that you are planning on attending office hours, or anything else
germane to the class, you may text me at this number. (Rarely will I answer voice calls). Be advised that I
will reply to messages according to estimated urgency. I am likely not to answer any texts in the evening,
night or early morning, and may take 24 hours or more to respond. The best policy is to bring questions to
me in class. Be also advised that if you text me, the number from which you dial will show up on my
phone. In any case, always leave your name with your message.
Email: Depending on the urgency of the matter and the time in the semester, I may take 24 to 48 hours to
reply to emails. If you email with questions readily available on the class syllabus, in our readings, or
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from class, it’s possible that I will not reply at all. Replies are especially likely to be slow around due
dates and the final exam. If you have urgent questions, it is always best to ask during class or to bring
them to office hours.
Required Textbooks
1. Eds. Charles Guignon and Derek Pereboom
Existentialism: Basic Writings Hackett
Publishing Co. 0872205959
2. Fyodor Dostoevsky Notes from
Underground Vintage Books 067973452X
3. Simone De Beauvoir A Very Easy Death
Pantheon 0394728998
4. Alice Munro Lives of Girls and Women
Vintage 0375707492
Assignments and Grading Procedures
Attendance and Participation: This material is difficult. You will not understand it if you do not attend
class regularly. Regular attendance is required. You are allowed three unexcused absences; each
additional unexcused absence will cost three percentage points from your final point total for the course.
In class you will be called upon to answer questions, discuss the text, and contribute to group discussions.
Your participation grade will be partly determined by the quality of your contributions and preparedness.
Journals: You are required to maintain a reading journal for the course. Except for the final week and the
week the mid-term is due, you must post at least one entry per week. There is no specific word length
requried, but for a guideline, entries should be at least 250 words. I will assess your entries for both
content and composition (grammar and organization). An assessment rubric, available on Blackboard,
will be used for each week’s entry. A tab for each week has been set up in Blackboard under the
‘Journals’ tab on the main content menu. You are responsible for making sure that you know how to
access and post your entries, but please come to me if you have any questions (Blackboard can be
confusing before you are used to its functions!). Please note: your entries are viewable by other
members of the class. DO NOT SHARE PRIVATE OR CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, or
write anything that would be disrespectful to another member of the class.
Papers: You will have two papers for the course. The first paper will be analytical and explanatory. The
final paper, due on the university scheduled final exam date, will be argumentative. Detailed instructions,
including a rubric, will be available on blackboard for each assignment at least four weeks prior to the due
date.
Mid-Term and Final Exams: Mid-Term and Final exams will cover concepts, arguments, and details (for
instance, characters and plot points from our novels and films) from our readings and class discussions.
The will be take home, and must be submitted by the start of the next class period (due specified on
course schedule).
Participation
Journals
Mid-Term
Paper #1
Final Exam
Paper #2
Total
40 pts
130 (13 x 10)
40 pts
40 pts
40 pts
60 pts
350 pts
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Evaluation of a student's performance in this course as a whole will be guided by the following criteria:
A: demonstration of superior work (written and in class) in fulfillment of course
requirements; improvement during the semester will be weighed in evaluation.
B: Excellent work (written and in class) in fulfillment of course requirements; improvement
during the semester will be weighed in evaluation.
C: satisfactory work (written and in class) in fulfillment of course requirements
D: assigned work is not satisfactory or not completed and/or student fails to meet
minimum attendance requirements.
F: failure to meet minimum course goals -- written assignments, class
participation, and other course requirements.
If you experience difficulty in this course for any reason, please do not hesitate to consult with me. In
addition to the resources of the department, a wide range of services is available to support you in your
efforts to meet the course requirements.
Academic Integrity
I personally support the GW Code of Academic Integrity. It states: “Academic dishonesty is defined as
cheating of any kind, including misrepresenting one's own work, taking credit for the work of others
without crediting them and without appropriate authorization, and the fabrication of information.” For the
remainder of the code, see: http://www.gwu.edu/~ntegrity/code.html
Disability Support Services (DSS)
Any student who may need an accommodation based on the potential impact of a disability should contact
the Disability Support Services office at 202-994-8250 in the Marvin Center, Suite 242, to establish
eligibility and to coordinate reasonable accommodations. For additional information please refer to:
http://gwired.gwu.edu/dss/
University Counseling Center (UCC) 202-994-5300
The University Counseling Center (UCC) offers 24/7 assistance and referral to address students' personal,
social, career, and study skills problems. Services for students include:
- crisis and emergency mental health consultations
- confidential assessment, counseling services (individual and small group), and referrals
http://gwired.gwu.edu/counsel/CounselingServices/AcademicSupportServices
Security
In the case of an emergency, if at all possible, the class should shelter in place. If the building that the
class is in is affected, follow the evacuation procedures for the building. After evacuation, seek shelter at
a predetermined rendezvous location.
COURSE SCHEDULE
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WEEK
Readings
Themes and Topics
Fear and Trembling (FT), Preface and
Panegyric Upon Abraham
Selections from Augustine’s
Confessions (BB)
What is Existentialism? Introduction to the Course
Existentialism as a Cultural Movement
Hellenic and Judeo-Christian Roots and Grand Synthesis
Modernity, Authority, Subjectivity: “Cogito, Sum”
[Labor Day - No Classes 9/1]
FT, Preliminary Expectoration
“Christian Heroism” – Becoming an Individual
Identity and Necessity
Identity and Committments
Ethics and/or Individuality
Identity and Risk
Eternal v Temporal
Aesthetic, Ethical, and Faithful modes of life
Infinite Resignation and Faith
FT, Problem I
FT, Problem II
Frankfurt, “Identification and
Wholeheartedness”
Individuality and Others
Faith and Intelligility
Faith or Madness?
Tragic Hero v Knight of Faith
Anguish
Value and Desire
Wholeheartedness and Identity
4
9/15
9/17
Sickness Unto Death
“The Subjective Truth”
Tragedy, Absurdity, and Comedy
Selfhood as Movement
Despair
Conviction and Commitment
Passion and Truth
Faith and Knoweldge
Knowledge and Decision
5
9/22
9/24
Nussbaum, “Love’s Knowledge” (BB)
Wolf, “The Meaning of Lives” (BB)
Knowing v Being
Reflecting and Existing
Being in Time
Passion and Self-Knowledge
Happiness and Meaning
Selfishness and Happiness
Meaningful Living
Projects and Identity
6
9/29
10/1
Nietzsche, Twilight of the Idols
Nietzsche, Birth of Tragedy
Reason and the Will to Truth
Idols and Culture
Culture and Instinct
Homer v Socrates
Pessimism and Nihilism
Decadence
1
8/25
8/27
2
9/1
9/3
3
9/8
9/19
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7
10/6
10/8
Nietzsche, The Gay Science
Discussion of film No Country for Old
Men
Science, Truth, and Life
Free Will and Life
Knowledge and Nihilism
Drives and the Unity of Will
Origins of Morality
Death of God
Cheerfulness and Nihilism
Nihilism and Value
Revaluation of Values
Dostoyevsky, Notes from the
Underground
(Cont’d)
Wickedness and Despair
Consciousness and Absurdity
Consciousness and Agency
Consciousness and Identity
Dasein ohne Eigenschaften
MIDTERM DUE
Heidegger, Being and Time (BT),
Introduction, Chs 1 & 2
BT, Division One, Chs. 1- 3
Munro, Lives of Girls and Women
(LGW)
Dasein & Existenz
Dasein and the Meaning of Being
Being in the World
Worldhood of the World
PAPER #1 DUE
BT, Division One, Chs. 4 – 6
BT, Division Two, 1 - 3
LGW
Being-with Others
Individuality and Sociality
Sociality and Authenticity
Moods
Dasein and Care
11
11/3
11/5
BT, Division Two, 1 – 3 (Cont’d)
Discussion of film Before Sunrise
Care and Time
Care and Death
Death and Time
Death and Authenticity
Inauthenticity
Resoluteness and Conscience
12
11/10
11/12
Beauvoir, A Very Easy Death
LGW
Death and Dying
Death and Identity
Dying and Being with Others
Animality and Technology
Sartre, Being and Nothingness (BN),
Chs. 1 - 3
BN, Chs. 4 – 6
Consciousness as Nothingness
Nothingness and Possibility
Consciousness and Freedom
8
10/13
10/15
9
10/20
10/22
10
10/27
10/29
13
11/17
11/19
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14
11/24
THANKSGIVING
BREAK -11/26
15
12/1
12/3
LGW
Consciousness and Anguish
Bad faith
Meta-Stability
BN, Chs. 7 & 8
The Constitution of the Other
Freedom and the Other
Subjectivity and Objectification
Freedom and Responsibility
BN, Ch 9 & 10
LGW
Existential Projects & Freedom
Ethical Implications – Are there any?
Responsibiltiy to/for the Other?
Final Paper AND Final Exam due on university scheduled exam date.