What if life has no intrinsic meaning? This question has haunted and moved thinkers across times, from Ancient Greece till today, generating debates in philosophy, religion, literature and more. 

In this class, we will practice academic writing by exploring the potentially liberating aspects of the meaninglessness of existence, as posited by authors such as Albert Camus. We will investigate the meanings that we consciously or unconsciously attribute to experiences, to war and suffering, and to art. We will do that through discussions about a variety of cultural products on this topic, ranging from philosophy to literature, from Nietzsche to Netflix.  

Some of the materials that we will read include Viktor Frankl’s personal account of life in Auschwitz in his book Man’s Search for Meaning, war journalist Chris Hedges’ book about the ideological power of wars in War is a Force that Gives Us Meaning, and Massaki Yuasa’s animated film Night Is Short, Walk On Girl. As attempts to make sense out of an ultimately senseless reality, all these “texts” will offer a basis for thinking about the possible meanings that we can create and put forth ourselves. They will also offer a model for our own writing practices and search for meaning, collective as well as individual. 

Course Requirements:

Much of this course will depend on you studying the reading materials carefully in order to contribute to our in-class discussions. Additionally, you will also be asked to complete weekly assignments on Canvas. The majority of your grade will come from three papers and one presentation, all on a topic of your choice, and which we will workshop during the course. There will be no exams.

Intended Audience:

This course is intended for first or second year students interested in philosophy and literature and seeking to practice academic writing and inquiry.