What does it mean to live authentically in a world without fixed answers? This seminar explores existentialism as both a philosophical inquiry and a literary tradition. Through readings and discussion, we’ll trace existentialist thought from 19th-century roots to its profound influence in the 20th and 21st centuries. Thinkers like Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Sartre, and Camus will anchor our exploration, alongside literary voices who grapple with alienation, freedom, absurdity, and moral choice. We’ll ask how literature can illuminate existentialist philosophy—and vice versa—and how both offer tools for confronting modern life’s uncertainties. The course will also consider the relevance of existential questions today, from the search for meaning to ethical decision-making in a rapidly changing world. Open to all curious learners, the seminar invites dialogue on how we navigate existence itself.
Registration Opens Online:
Monday, August 4, 2025, at 8 AM (AZ Time)
