EXISTENTIALISM. Course Number PHIL Meeting Times MW 2:00-3:15. Instructor John V. Garner, Ph.D.,

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1 EXISTENTIALISM Course Description This course examines both atheistic and religious existentialism through thinkers such as Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Sartre, Camus, Beauvoir, and Fanon. To provide relief, we may also read selections from figures who influenced, drew from, or challenged existentialist themes, such as Weil, Heidegger, Levinas, Girard, or Castoriadis. Students are encouraged to think through the big questions existentialists raise about the meaning of human existence, including whether there is any purpose for our existence, how we define ourselves, whether there are any reasons to be moral, and whether human existence is inherently meaningful. We will analyze theories in terms of the ramifications for the way we live our lives. Counts toward the philosophy major and the philosophy minor. Learning Outcomes The aim of this course is to examine critically the central arguments of existentialist philosophers through reading, writing about, and discussing primary philosophical texts. By the end of the semester students will be able to: Identify at least three major existentialist philosophers. Exhibit a familiarity with the basic philosophical positions of at least three philosophers. Clearly explain and critically address a philosophical position in both written and oral form. Exhibit a familiarity with existentialist vocabulary. Analyze philosophical positions of major figures in existentialism. Recognize the difference between atheist and religious existentialism. Course Number PHIL Meeting Times MW 2:00-3:15 Instructor John V. Garner, Ph.D., jgarner@westga.edu Office TLC 2249, (678) Office Hours MW 12:20-1:50 and 3:20-6:05; and by appointment.

2 Course Requirements Exams 1-3 (45%) Quizzes (15%) Engagements I-II (20%) Attendance & Participation (5%) Engagement III (15%) Course Requirement Details Exams There will be three exams, each one testing the material from the previous section. The exam format consists of writing questions as well as multiple choice. A scantron form may be required. No make-up exams will be given. For in-class exams, students more than 15 minutes late to class may not take the test and therefore fail. No hats, no cell phones, no bathroom breaks are allowed. Any student observed using any kind of technology during an exam will fail that exam. Other rules may apply and will be announced before the exam. Engagements Engagements are forms of writing in which the student provides exposition, explanation, or interpretation of a thinker s main points while also contributing thoughts of the student s own, plus arguments to support those thoughts. Specific requirements differ from case to case. Engagements I and II are typically about 900 words. Engagement III is typically 1,200-1,500 words. A prompt and rubric will be provided. Quizzes There are two kinds of quizzes, those which are planned and announced and taken online (on Course Den) before class, and those which are unannounced and taken in class. Quizzes are short (no more than 5-10 minutes is usually required, though 20 minutes is allowed for online quizzes) and test whether students have read and/or worked through the assigned material. We will have a practice online quiz which will allow you to make sure you know how to operate the system. Never use a non-standard browser, iphone, Android, etc. to take a quiz; use a normal computer and a standard browser (Chrome, Internet Explorer, Firefox, etc.). Take the quiz in one sitting; you only get one attempt, and you cannot exit and return to a quiz after opening. Since 1/6 th of the quiz grades will be dropped, I will allow no make-up quizzes unless these two conditions hold: (1) you have contacted ITS; and (2) they contact me and inform me that there was indeed a technical problem. (It is your responsibility to contact ITS or Course Den help if you have problems with the system. I cannot respond to s about technology related matters.) Online quizzes will be posted and open for at least 24 hours in advance of the close date/time. Grades for quizzes will be announced immediately upon completion; but correct answers may or may not be visible online. Generally, they will be visible once the quiz closes (click the down arrow beside the quiz, then submissions, then attempt 1 on the next page). Attendance/Participation This portion of the grade involves the assessment of the student s overall attendance record, of the student s level of commitment as evidenced via quiz or homework assignments, and of the student s verbal participation, especially in conversations, class work, and/or blogs throughout the semester. If discussion posts/comments are employed in the course, they will be announced (with specific guidelines posted) at least 48 hours in advance of the deadline. Students with no recorded absences will receive a 1 point increase on their final grades. One absence only will yield a 1/2 point increase. Additional Policy Details and Miscellany Grading Scale A (90% or above) B (80 to 89%) C (70 to 79%) D (60 to 69%) F (59 or below) Attendance Attendance will be kept, and it is the students responsibility to make sure their own attendance record coincides with the professor s. Students should attend all classes, but are permitted to miss up to three without penalty (no questions asked). Every absence after the third (fourth through seventh) will result in a reduction of the attendance/participation grade by 10 points per absence. At eight absences a student will be given a failing grade for the class. I generally am uninterested in excuses, so never me to excuse or explain an absence. One exception: if you miss an exam for an excusable reason (e.g. medical emergency,

3 death in the family, etc.), you may me. Please note: Students who leave class and do not return will be counted absent. Students who leave class and return should not make a habit of this; if they do, they will be counted absent. Each case of tardiness or failure to bring the required reading to class counts as half an absence. Texting and other Disturbances Texting, web surfing, instant messaging, using a phone, or any other class disturbances constitute a violation of the definition of attendance above. Each time you distract yourself in class, expect to be called out and/or marked absent; you can accrue more than one absence per day this way. Unless a student receives permission from the instructor, all electronic devices should be turned off for the duration of class. If there is an emergency situation where someone is expecting a call, the professor should be notified prior to class and students should receive the call outside the classroom. Extra Credit Extra credit opportunities are not given. Honors Conversion Honors conversion is possible for this class. See me for more information. Severe Weather Policy For questions about what to do in case of severe weather, see the UWG website: Cheating and Plagiarism The Department of English and Philosophy defines plagiarism as taking personal credit for the words and ideas of others as they are presented in electronic, print, and verbal sources. The Department expects that students will accurately credit sources in all assignments. An equally dishonest practice is fabricating sources or facts; it is another form of misrepresenting the truth. Plagiarism is grounds for failing the course. Papers submitted in other courses (whether college, high school, etc.) may not be submitted again for this course. All cases of plagiarism will be reported to the Department of English and Philosophy as well as to the University itself. All cases will be prosecuted. Web- and Course Den-based tools may be used by your professor to detect plagiarism. Please survey these links for more information: Other Schoolwide Syllabus Policies Please review the following each semester: Other Policies The following file gives you important information about your rights and responsibilities in this class, including information about: Americans with Disabilities Act; UWG Policy; Credit Hour Policy; Honor Code for UWG. Because these statements are updated as federal, state, university, and accreditation standards change, you should review the information each semester. The file: Required Texts Kierkegaard, Sickness unto Death, trans. Hannay, Penguin, ISBN: Nietzsche, The Birth of Tragedy, trans. Whiteside, Penguin, ISBN: Sartre, Essays in Existentialism, ed. Baskin, Citadel, ISBN: Camus, The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays, trans. O Brien, Vintage, ISBN: Levinas, Existence and Existents, trans. Duquesne, trans. Lingis, ISBN: Beauvoir, Ethics of Ambiguity, trans. Frechtman, Philosophical Library, ISBN: SCHEDULE OF CLASSES (subject to change) Part I Influences: Religious, Atheistic, Phenomenological

4 August 9 August 14 August 16 August 21 August 23 August 28 August 30 September 4 September 6 September 11 September 13 No meeting on campus. (Syllabus review and quiz conducted on CourseDen.) TBA Nietzsche, The Birth of Tragedy (1872) Nietzsche, The Birth of Tragedy (1872) Nietzsche, The Birth of Tragedy (1872); Engagement I Due Sartre, The Emotions, in Essays (1939) Sartre, The Emotions, in Essays (1939) Part II Core Texts and Debates September 18 September 20 September 25 September 27 October 2 October 4 October 9 October 11 EXAM 1 Sartre, The Humanism of Existentialism, in Essays (1946) Sartre, The Humanism of Existentialism, in Essays (1946); and Sartre, Freedom and Responsibility and The Desire to be God, in Essays (1943) *Heidegger, Letter on Humanism (1946) *Heidegger, Letter on Humanism (1946) Part III In Search of an Ethics October 16 October 18 October 23 October 25 October 30 November 1 November 6 November 8 November 13 Levinas, Existence and Existents (1947) Levinas, Existence and Existents (1947); Engagement II Due Levinas, The Trace of the Other (1963) EXAM 2 *Camus, Reflections on the Guillotine (1957); and *Aronson, Camus vs Sartre

5 November 15 November 20 November 22 November 27 November 29 December 8 *Fanon, The Wretched of the Earth, On Violence (1961) *Fanon, The Wretched of the Earth, On Violence (1961) EXAM 3 Engagement III Due on CourseDen