 |
-- Spring 2008 --
Department of Philosophy |
| PHIL 107 - Human Existence | |
| Greg Tropea |
|
-- Spring 2008 --
Department of Philosophy |
| PHIL 107 - Human Existence | |
| Greg Tropea |
Where to find me and when...
Office: Trinity 118
Office Hours: MWF 10-11, MW 3-4, and by appt.
Phone: 898-5058 (office) / 898-6183 (Philosophy Department) / 898-6046
(fax)
E-mail: gtropea@csuchico.edu (use for messages, not for papers)
Reading for this course...
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What is Enlightenment?(Online text)
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Purpose of the course...
Philosophers have always pondered large issues of human existence in the
languages and symbols of their times. The questions are perennial, but
the ways of thinking about them are constantly changing. In the nineteenth and twentieth
centuries, the philosophical movement known as existentialism took shape and concentrated
attention on human existence itself in ways that had never been tried
before. This course explores a set of texts that ponder some of the
perennial questions of human existence in the language and symbols of thinkers who shaped twentieth-century understandings of these questions. Our work is to develop understandings of these texts
as they functioned in their own times and as they speak to us today.
General Education considerations from the University...
In each course in this area of General Education, students must
Further, in the Philosophy, Religion, and Humanities Studies courses, students must demonstrate
The challenges are obviously significant.
| Papers
There will be two papers to write for this course. Each paper should be about five pages (1200-1500 words) long. The first paper will focus on the work of one person whose work we are reading. You will need to use at least one reliable, non-encyclopedia source beyond the course reading to write this paper. This paper should provide a survey of some of the important questions or issues that the person deals with in his or her work. You are not expected to explain in detail how these questions are treated, but you should show familiarity with how the writer works. Your second paper will focus on an issue discussed in the reading or in class. For this paper, you may rely mainly on the reading, but it is expected that you will look at and respond to one or more sources outside the reading. In this paper, you are mainly attempting to show how a thoughtful person might come to terms with this issue in the context of twenty-first century problems, e.g., prolonging or terminating life, sustainability, distribution of wealth, religion and spirituality, or some other issue you find compelling. It is not required that you come up with an absolutely original interpretation of the issue, though if some significant inspiration occurs after you have explained some existing treatments of the issue, then following out your ideas would be appropriate. |
40% |
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Weekly Writings
For the first meeting of each week, bring to class a written proposition or question based on the reading for that week. Include an explanation of the context in which your issue occurs and why your proposition or question merits discussion by the class. |
20% |
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Mid-term exam
This will be a one-period essay examination about the readings and discussions during the first eight weeks of the semester. |
10% |
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Final exam
This will be an essay examination about the entire semester's readings and discussions. |
30% |
| Total | 100% |
| If you miss a class, be sure to catch up with your workgroup. | |
| Unit | Weeks | Topic | Reading |
| 1 | 1-4 | Breaking with Tradition |
What is Enlightenment? Thus Spake Zarathustra |
| 2 | 5 | Being an Individual | Anthem |
| 3 | 6-7 | Discovering Oneself | Demian |
| 4 | 8-9 | Absurdity | The Myth of Sisyphus |
| 5 | 10-13 | Being Technological | The Question Concerning Technology (specific essays TBA) |
| 6 | 14-15 | A Sense of the Basics | Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind |