Phenomenology and Existential Philosophy

What is meaning? What is culture? What role does experience of the other have for our self-conception and our emotional life? In what way do phenomenological analyses of meaning and intentionality contribute to our understanding of these matters? Thinkers within the phenomenological and existential tradition share the view that subjectivity, experience, perception and meaning need to be understood in light of our active engagement in the world and with others. Phenomenology thereby concerns the most fundamental aspects of our understanding of the self, emotions, the body, the other, gender, aesthetics and culture. The course gives an introduction to the philosophical traditions of phenomenology and (20th century) existentialism, based on original texts. It also relates phenomenological issues to more recent developments and contemporary concerns, for example within cognitive science, philosophy of language and/or feminist philosophy.

According to the course curriculum, a candidate who passes this course is expected to have the following learning outcome (defined as knowledge and skills):

Knowledge

The candidate has

• familiarity with the main lines of thought in the phenomenological tradition
• good knowledge of the different phenomenological and existentialist approaches to perception, meaning, language, intersubjectivity and culture
• knowledge of how phenomenology and existential philosophy contributes to contemporary debates on perception, meaning and cognition, and of its relevance for recent debates on body and gender, identity and cultural experience

Skills

The candidate has the ability to

• present and argue for and against different positions within phenomenology, also in relation to more recent systematic positions and debates
• orient oneself in the literature within a particular field, and find complementary literature of relevance to a chosen topic and/or research question
• illuminate/answer the topic/research question in an independent manner through a written assignment (essay)

Seminar, supervision and self-study. The course has two alternative assessment forms (see 'further on evaluation') with different required activities that must be approved in order to sit the exam.

For assessment assignment/written examination: approved reading list that must be handed in to the Department.

For assessment assignment: approved reading list that must be handed in to the Department, 80 % attendance at seminar and approved oral presentation (15 minutes).