INTRODUCTION TO EXISTENTIAL PHILOSOPHY

Course Code:
Instructor: Dr. Shipra Dikshit
Office: School of Indic Studies, INADS

Objective of the Course:

Introduction to Existential Philosophy provides an accessible introduction to existentialism
by examining the major themes like Anxiety, Despair, Nausea, Look of the other person and
Freedom etc. in the work of Heidegger, Sartre, Merleau-Ponty and de Beauvoir. Paying
particular attention to the key texts, Being and Time, Being and Nothingness,
Phenomenology of Perception, The Ethics of Ambiguity and The Second Sex, the course
explores the shared concerns and disagreements between these major thinkers.

Methodology:
The fundamental existential themes examined include: Freedom and responsibility; lived-
body; death, finitude and mortality; phenomenological experiences and 'moods', such as
anguish, angst, nausea, boredom, and fear; an emphasis upon authenticity and responsibility
as well as the analysis of their opposites (inauthenticity and bad faith); the tendency of
individuals to become lost in the crowd and even a pessimism about human relations more
generally; and a rejection of any external determination of morality or value.

Benefits for Students:

This course seeks to introduce students to core issues in their day-to day life. By becoming
aware of freedom and choice, individuals can mitigate their anxiety about the unknown. It not
only allows students to develop an understanding of some of the key discussions in this
tradition, but it will also expose students with fundamental issues concerning our existence
and lived experience. The aim of this course is to develop a critical thinking related to
covered materials and encourage students. It helps them to analyse their own lived
experiences rationally and philosophically. Students will be able to develop an awareness of
how existentialist and phenomenological analysis can contribute to their understanding of
ourselves and the connected social world.

What’s New:
By becoming aware of freedom and choice, individuals can mitigate their anxiety about the
unknown. The course can be taken as Existential therapy which helps the students to question
about the nature of their existence. Belief is that by overcoming distress related to existential
topics, mental health challenges such as anxiety and nausea will be reduced or prevented.
Course not only allows us to understand the absurdity of life, but it also helps us to find the
goal and project of one’s existence. The course will also help to make authentic choices and
to take the responsibility for oneself and the humanism, by rejecting any kind of authority
over your existence.