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PHIL10100

Academic Year 2026/2027

Existentialism and Humanism: An Introduction to Continental Philosophy (PHIL10100)

Subject:
Philosophy
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Philosophy
Level:
1 (Introductory)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Professor Brian O'Connor
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

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.

About this Module

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

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


 

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 Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Exam (In-person): End of trimester in-person exam, closed-book. End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
 Graded No
65
 No
Participation in Learning Activities: Participation in tutorials and short in-class assignments. Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 10, Week 11 Pass/Fail Grade Scale Yes
35
 Yes

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).

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Mon 13:00 - 13:50
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 32, 33 Thurs 12:00 - 12:50
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 31 Thurs 12:00 - 12:50
Spring Tutorial Offering 1 Week(s) - 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31 Tues 12:00 - 12:50
Spring Tutorial Offering 2 Week(s) - 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 31 Tues 13:00 - 13:50
Spring Tutorial Offering 3 Week(s) - 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30 Tues 15:00 - 15:50
Spring Tutorial Offering 5 Week(s) - 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30 Wed 10:00 - 10:50
Spring Tutorial Offering 6 Week(s) - 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30 Wed 12:00 - 12:50
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