Existentialism and its Origins

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• how the different perspectives provided by the existentialists relate to each other.
• some of the central themes in the work of existentialist thinkers such as Kierkegaard, Nietzsche and Heidegger.
• 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:

• work effectively to deadlines.
• take notes from talks and written materials.
• present ideas clearly and concisely in writing.
• contribute to discussion of controversial issues in a dispassionate fashion
• undertake, with adequate supervision, independent work, including identifying and using appropriate resources.

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.
• interpret complex texts and positions.
• critically evaluate the ideas and arguments the existentialists advance.
• present and debate ideas in writing, in an open minded and rigorous way.

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

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

Resources & Reading list

General Resources

Blackboard.

Textbooks

T Flynn (2006). Existentialism: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Essay proposal

• Assessment Type: Formative
• Feedback: appropriate feedback will be provided.
• Final Assessment: No
• Group Work: No
• Percentage contribution: 100%

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External