Philosophy has always been concerned with questions about the meaning of life. This course will examine some of these questions, focusing mostly on recent philosophical treatment of them. We’ll examine some accounts of how human lives can be meaningful. We’ll explore some puzzles about whether, and if so why, death is bad, and consider whether immortality would be a good thing. And we’ll read two book-length works. One of these will be on meaning in life. The second explores the importance to us of our confidence that human life will continue long after our own deaths.
Learning Objectives:
• Gain a better understanding of what the questions of life’s meaning are about.
• Learn what some of the main proposed answers to these questions are.
• Critically evaluate proposed answers to these questions.
• Develop one’s own views about these questions.
• Develop analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Develop expository and analytical writing skills.
Guidelines for Papers
1. Assignment: You must write two papers. The first, shorter paper must concern some issue covered in the course prior to October 10. The second, longer paper must concern some issue covered in the course on or after October. 10.
2. Length: The shorter paper should be 1500-1800 words long. The longer paper should be 2500-3000 words long. Each paper should be typed, double-spaced. Include a word count at the end of each paper.
3. Type of paper: Each paper should describe the issue on which you have chosen to focus, lay out the position you have chosen to take on that issue, and defend that position. Your position might be, for example, a criticism of a particular philosopher’s view, or a defense of a particular view from a certain objection, or a suggested revision of a view that enables it to avoid a certain criticism.
You might need to explicate a view or an argument you are focusing on; do this clearly and accurately. A major part of the paper should consist of your argument for the position you have taken. Present reasons why your view should be accepted, consider objections to your position, and reply to those objections. Aim to persuade your reader.
4. Research: Each paper should draw from at least one of the assigned readings for the course. You may, but you need not, draw from additional sources. Feel free to consult the instructor for help in finding source material.
5. Crediting sources: If you get an idea from something that you have read, include a footnote or endnote identifying the source. If you quote something, use quotation marks and include a footnote or endnote. The first time a reference appears in a note, give full bibliographic information. For a book, give author, title, city where published, publisher, publication date, and page number(s). For an article in a journal, give author, title, journal name, volume, year, and page numbers. For a web source, give the web address and date accessed.
Whatever sources you use (whether oral, printed, or web-based), be sure to cite them correctly and comply with the FSU Academic Honor Policy. If you are in doubt about whether you need to cite a certain source, cite it!
6. Papers that have been (or are intended to be) submitted for other courses may not be submitted for this one. If you have a question about the acceptability of something you are considering, please discuss it with the instructor.
