PHIL10100 Existentialism and Humanism: An Introduction to Continental Philosophy

Academic Year 2024/2025

What makes us 'human'? Is our humanity something we 'do' or something we 'are'? Can we be more or less human? How do we give meaning to our human existence or is that existence ultimately meaningless? Are we now post-human? What is humanism and how has it affected our political and social structures? How do we treat others and how should we treat them? Are we ever really free?

In this module we examine approaches to these and related questions from the European philosophical tradition. Thinkers we will read include: Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, Kierkegaard, Marx, Beauvoir, Sartre, Fanon, Foucault and Braidotti. Our main themes will be: rationality, freedom, responsibility. Further details will be posted on Brightspace.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this module students will have:

-- A grasp of some of the key movements in the history of European thought, especially from the Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries
--An understanding of a range of philosophical concepts about human agency and responsibility
--Developed their own position on what it means to be human and whether that is a category that continues to be useful in the contemporary age
--Developed skills in reading and critically analysing a philosophical text

Indicative Module Content:

As detailed in module descriptor

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Autonomous Student Learning

95
Lectures

23
Tutorial

7
Total

125
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Students will learn through a combination of lectures, tutorials, and independent reading. Students are encouraged to engage in class discussions (in lectures as well as tutorials) and to bring their own examples/questions/topics to class. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
PHIL1010E - Intro to European Philosophy E


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Exam (In-person): In-person closed-book exam on material not assessed by the mid-term essay. n/a Graded No

60
Assignment(Including Essay): 1,500 word essay on material covered in the first part of the module n/a Graded No

20
Participation in Learning Activities: Attendance and participation in tutorials including, for example, required reading, discussion questions, small group work in class. n/a Graded No

20

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Written feedback on individual essays 2 weeks after submission. In-Class general feedback. Drop-in feedback session after essays returned (2 weeks post-submission).