I'll bet you have, from time to time, stopped and wondered what you are doing here in
this exact place and in this exact time.  Well, all persons in all places and in all times ask, have asked and will continue to ask similar questions.  The human being wrestling with the purpose and meaning of being itself is nothing new.  In short, you are not alone--or are you?

What if there is no meaning or purpose to life itself?  What if there is no human nature, no essence, and no pattern or formula to let you know what or who you are supposed to be.  What if at the end of all of your thinking and and praying you discover that reason and God and truth are but illusion?  What if at the base of it all your meaning and purpose and even your creation are in your hands alone?  Who are you with no heaven or hell, no god, no nature, no essence, no truth???  Who is in charge???????  Could it possibly be............................................

Welcome to the study of EXISTENTIALISM---a twentieth century movement in philosophy, art, literature and politics that grew out of just the sort of questions posed above.  We will wrestle together with them alongside many of the century's great thinkers, comics, scientists, artists, filmmakers and writers.

                                  "I would believe only in a God who would dance."  Frederich Nietzche
 

As a community of learners engaged in this project we will:

• LEARN TO READ, WRITE AND THINK CRITICALLY
• BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE ROOTS AND HISTORY OF EXISTENTIALIST THOUGHT
• COME TO APPRECIATE SOME OF THE LITERATURE, ART, FILM PHILOSOPHICAL WRITINGS, AS WELL AS CRITICISMS OF THE EXISTENTIALIST MOVEMENT.

"This fact alone, that there is no mystery, would falsify their claim to be true pictures of the situation of man."
Iris Murdoch

                      FIRST THINGS FIRST:
Get thee to the library and to the bookstore!

Purchase a copy of the text we will be using for this class:

EXISTING: An Introduction to Existential Thought,
Steven Luper, Trinity University
Mayfield Publishing, 2000

You must obtain a QVCC Library Card or Library Bar code for your QVCC ID.  I will be placing several books on reserve in the Library--you will NOT be permitted to use them without having a bar code.  This is because while life itself may not have rules---the QVCC Library does!!
(There are not many though--it really is a fun place .  Bring your coffee, a joke or two and questions for the extremely helpful and bizarre staff.  They will WOW you with their knowledge, their kindness, willingness to help and their WILD senses of humor! )

A BIT ABOUT YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

    BE PRESENT - While I am an understanding and kind professor, I am also a
    selfish one. I know well that my class is always a better class when each student
    shows up. I miss you when you are not here. I miss your voice, your ideas, your
    very special way of seeing and solving problems.

    I am not alone in needing you. Your classmates need you as well. So often it is the
    question or comment of one student which brings the class into focus for another.
    So come to class and help yourself, your classmates and moi!

    This class will only "WORK" if each member of it participates fully.  Participation
    begins with preparation and so my dear students..... know that your reading
    assignments form the foundation of this class and that you are expected to have
    each one completed BEFORE the class period for which it is assigned.

    KEEP UP WITH YOUR ASSIGNMENTS!  All will be challenging, some will be
    difficult, a few will drive you crazy, many will be fun. Each of them will be
    designed to exercise your mind and to assist you in your learning. Do them! Talk
    about them! Voice your frustration! Laugh at them! Threaten not to do
    them---BUT DO THEM.

    LISTEN TO OTHERS WITH AN OPEN MIND.
    Learning is about making our world bigger. In order to accomplish that WITH
    SUCCESS, we must learn to think critically. That is to say we must listen
    with our minds wide open, we must question with rigor ALL opinions---EVEN
  THOSE THAT WE OURSELVES HOLD DEAR; and we must evaluate with honesty.
    At the core of this process must be a deep respect
    for one another as persons and as scholars. Let us remember to be kind to one
    another----even when our discussions are most lively.

    TRUST - Whew! This one might be difficult. This class will, most likely, be
    conducted much differently than any other class of your experience. I do things in
    a unique way. This class will run like life itself---you won't always know exactly
    what I am doing or why. Sometimes you will be unsure of your footing---do tell me
    when you feel this way. I will do what I can to comfort you, but.......Know that
    there is a method to my madness and TRUST that you will learn more than you
    ever thought you could.

  A BIT ABOUT MY RESPONSIBILITIES

            I will treat you with kindness and respect.
            I will listen to your questions and comments and criticisms with an open
            mind.
            I will work with you to ensure that you are successful in this class. I want
            you to flourish and will do what I can to see that you do.
            I will knock you off balance and drive you crazy.
            I will challenge you and cause you to struggle.
            I will make you laugh.
            I will keep in touch by way of email, phone and office hours.
            I will be well prepared for class.
            I will have a ball doing what I love to do----teach!

     A BIT ABOUT SUCCESS
LIFE—Is full of surprises and not all of them are pleasant. Illness, accident,
relationships, employment, kiddies---all of these can sometimes get between a
student and success. Let me know if you are having what seems to be an
insurmountable problem. Often Dean Huard and I can work with you to ensure
that you will be able to finish your work and succeed. We are both very creative
people who want you to make it---Let us help you.

A word about LEARNING DIFFERENCES.  I was 35 years old before I
discovered that I had a learning difficulty.  I graduated dead last in my high school
class and spent most of my teen years, twenties and early thirties feeling stupid.
Taaah—daaaahhhh!!   It turns out that I am very smart after all!!  I graduated from
college summa cum laude, completed my graduate education and have enjoyed              successes I never dreamed could be mine.  Why?   Quite simply because I was diagnosed with a learning difference.  I have now learned how to work with it, discovered strengths I posses because of it and, well.........you know the rest.
So my dear students, should you think that you might benefit from doing
so---get yourself to the office of Chris Scarborough x363 or Marie Kilbride x326.
They are wonderful and knowledgeable people who derive great joy from
assisting students.  Give them a thrill---call them!  By the way---if you wish to speak with Chris or Marie and are a bit on the shy side, I would be happy to pave the way for you or even accompany you.
 

GRADES- YUCK!!! I REALLY HATE THIS PART

20%  THE RESEARCH PROJECT-This will consist of an in-depth investigation into the philosophy of a particular existentialist philosopher.
30%   REACTION PAPERS-You will turn in a one-page reaction paper for each reading we do for class and will be collected at the start of each class period.  No reaction papers will be accepted for credit after the date they are due.
50%   A FINAL SELF-EVALUATION PROCESS

Nan V. Hirst
210e
774-1164 x451
qv_nanzilla@netsense.net
nanzilla@netsense.net