TEXTS: Robert Solomon, Existentialism; Herman Hesse, Steppenwolf; Jean Paul Sartre, Nausea.

RESERVE MATERIAL: Gill and Sherman (G&S), The Fabric of Existentialism; Merleau-Monty, Sense and Non-sense; Filebox material; Solomon’s own course on CD-ROM.

NOTE: Read Gill and Sherman's biographical sketch on each of our authors. I will point out errors in the introduction to Heidegger.

1/14&16 INTRODUCTION. Two types of existentialism; Husserlian and existentialist phenomenolgoy; premodernism, modernism, constructive postmodernism, deconstructive postmodernism; types of dialectic; the Second Fall.

1/23-30 KIERKEGAARD (3). Solomon reading; G&S, pp. 145-207. Read Gen. 22 from any version of the Bible. Listen to Solomon's CD-ROM.

1/30 Kierkegaard paper (30 pts.) is due. Click here for instructions.

2/4-11 DOSTOEVSKY(3). Solomon reading and the Grand Inquisitor legend in Gill and Sherman, pp. 230-42. Listen to Solomon's CD-ROM.

2/11 Dostoevsky paper is due.

2/13-25 NIETZSCHE (3). Solomon readings. Gill & Sherman, pp. 2443-290. Listen to Solomon's CD-ROM.

2/20 In-Class Writing on Nietzsche.

2/25 TAKE-HOME EXAM. Due March 4 at 3:45 PM.

2/27-3/6 HESSE (3). Read Steppenwolf and be prepared to discuss it in class in your groups. Find your group questions here. Excerpts from the film Steppenwolf on March 6.

3/11&13 HEIDEGGER (2). Solomon readings (up to p. 116). Listen to Solomon's CD-ROM.

3/25&27 MARCEL (2). Solomon reading and Gill and Sherman, pp. 614-628. Listen to Solomon's CD-ROM.

4/1&3 CAMUS (2). Solomon reading; G&S, p. 534-566. Listen to Solomon's CD-ROM.

4/3 In-Class Writing on Camus.

4/8-15 SARTRE (3). Solomon reading up p. 233. Read Nausea complete for a group discussion. See your group questions here. Listen to Solomon's CD-ROM.

4/15 Draft Papers are due.  See instructions here.

4/17-24 MERLEAU-PONTY (3). Solomon, pp. 254-268; G&S, pp. 567-584. Sense and Non-Sense, on reserve, pp. 63-82. Listen to Solomon's CD-ROM.

4/29-5/1 DE BEAUVOIR (2). Solomon reading. Listen to Solomon's CD-ROM.

5/1 In-Class Writing on Simon de Beauvoir.

5/6 PAPERS ARE DUE

5/6&8 BUBER (2). Solomon reading. Listen to Solomon's CD-ROM.

5/8 In-Class Writing on Buber.

5/13 FINAL EXAM. We meet in our regular room at 3:30. Study questions will be on the website far in advance.

REQUIREMENTS: One take-home mid-term and one in-class final worth 100 pts. each. Four in-class writings worth 10 pts. points each. There will be two short papers worth 30 pts. each. You will work in groups twice and the work will be worth 30 pts. each. There will be a research paper worth 100 pts. And finally, nine postings for 10 pts. each are required on AngstTalk (see below). There will be a total of 550 pts. in the course and 90% + =A; 80%+=B; 70%+=C; and 55%+=D. Those student taking the course pass/fail must complete all the requirements.

RESEARCH PAPER.  It should be 12-15 pages long with bibliography. Students may choose a topic of their own with the approval of the instructor. Seven-page rough drafts of papers are due on April 15 and final drafts are due on May 6.

AngstTalk. Nine postings will be required on the following topics: Kierkegaard, Dostoevsky, Nietzsche, Hesse, Heidegger, Marcel or Merleau-Ponty, Camus, Sartre, and Buber. Four postings must be done before March 14 or all credit will be lost. Hard copies of postings must be handed in to the instructor.