No Excuses: Existentialism and Meaning of Life

Overview

Explore a unique philosophy that puts you in charge of your own life with this excellent introduction to Existentialism by noted philosopher Robert C. Solomon. This course dives into fundamental questions about existence, individual responsibility, and the nature of freedom—topics that have garnered persistent interest for over a century.

Across 24 lectures, you’ll meet influential thinkers like Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, and Sartre, gaining insights into their diverse approaches to life’s major questions. By examining the existentialist perspective, you’ll uncover how it challenges conventional wisdom and stimulates profound thought regarding your own life and choices.

Video Lessons

01: What Is Existentialism?

Introduce the central themes of existentialism, including individual significance and human freedom.

Length: 31 min

02: Albert Camus—“The Stranger” Part I

Analyze the character of Meursault in Camus’s “The Stranger,” exploring his philosophical implications.

Length: 30 min

03: Albert Camus—“The Stranger” Part II

Delve deeper into the conflict between reason and experience as presented in “The Stranger.”

Length: 31 min

04: Camus—The Myth of Sisyphus

Examine Camus’s concept of the absurd and its relevance to personal meaning.

Length: 29 min

05: Camus—The Plague and The Fall

Explore themes of absurdity and the human response to collective suffering in Camus’s works.

Length: 30 min

06: Camus—The Fall, Part II

Investigate the confessions of Clamence in “The Fall” and the interplay between guilt and seduction.

Length: 30 min

07: Søren Kierkegaard—“On Becoming a Christian”

Understand Kierkegaard’s unique take on Christian faith and its significance in existential thought.

Length: 31 min

08: Kierkegaard on Subjective Truth

Explore the role of subjective truth in Kierkegaard’s philosophical framework and its implications for living meaningfully.

Length: 30 min

09: Kierkegaard’s Existential Dialectic

Discuss Kierkegaard’s critique of Hegel and his concept of existential choices.

Length: 31 min

10: Friedrich Nietzsche on Nihilism and the Death of God

Analyze Nietzsche’s views on nihilism and his declaration that “God is dead.”

Length: 30 min

11: Nietzsche, the “Immoralist”

Explore Nietzsche’s contrast between “master” morality and the traditional moral viewpoints.

Length: 32 min

12: Nietzsche on Freedom, Fate, and Responsibility

Discover Nietzsche’s thoughts on fate and the existential act of self-realization.

Length: 31 min

13: Nietzsche—The Übermensch and the Will to Power

Discuss Nietzsche’s concept of the Übermensch and its implications for the future of humanity.

Length: 31 min

14: Three Grand Inquisitors—Dostoevsky, Kafka, Hesse

Examine the contributions of Dostoevsky, Kafka, and Hesse to existentialism through fiction.

Length: 31 min

15: Husserl, Heidegger, and Phenomenology

Investigate the philosophies of Husserl and Heidegger and their merging with existential thought.

Length: 31 min

16: Heidegger on the World and the Self

Learn how Heidegger’s philosophies redefine our understanding of self and existence.

Length: 31 min

17: Heidegger on “Authenticity”

Explore the necessity of authenticity in the face of societal pressures according to Heidegger.

Length: 31 min

18: Jean-Paul Sartre at War

Engage with Sartre’s existential imperative: “No excuses!” and the nature of freedom in crises.

Length: 30 min

19: Sartre on Emotions and Responsibility

Delve into Sartre’s views on emotions as strategies rather than mere feelings.

Length: 30 min

20: Sartre’s Phenomenology

Analyze Sartre’s interpretation of consciousness and free will within existentialism.

Length: 31 min

21: Sartre on “Bad Faith”

Explore Sartre’s concepts of Being-for-Itself and Being-in-Itself and their moral implications.

Length: 31 min

22: Sartre’s Being-for-Others and No Exit

Examine Sartre’s take on relationships and existence in his play “No Exit.”

Length: 31 min

23: Sartre on Sex and Love

Investigate Sartre’s views on intimate relationships and their existential significance.

Length: 31 min

24: From Existentialism to Postmodernism

Conclude with reflections on how existentialism informs and contrasts with postmodern thought.

Length: 32 min