PHIL5899 · Philosophy
Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences
The course aims to explore the notion of the tragic as aphilosophicalconcept.While ancient tragedy is characterized by the compassion aroused by the suffering of the tragic hero and the fear aroused by tragic theology, the idea of a wicked god disappears quite early. In contemporaryphilosophy, the notion of the tragic will be increasingly linked to the drama of freedom, the finitude and absurdity of the human condition, and the pessimistic worldview. The course will take place in the form of a seminar and will especially deal with thephilosophyof the 20thCentury. The following authors (and texts) will be read:Unamuno (The Tragic Sense ofLife), Scheler (On the Tragic), Camus ("On the Future of Tragedy",The Myth of SisyphusandThe Rebel), Benjamin (The Origin of German Tragic Drama), C. Schmitt (Hamlet or Hecuba: The Intrusion of Time into the Play), Jaspers (Tragedy is not enough), Ricur ("The Wicked God and the Tragic Vision ofExistence").
Course experience
Averages use the original five-point historical evaluation scale.
Organization
4.8 / 5
How well the course was organized
Challenge
4.8 / 5
How intellectually challenging students found it
Attendance
4.9 / 5
How necessary attendance was
Assignments
4.8 / 5
How helpful assignments were
Weekly effort
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hours per week
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Across time
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Fall 2024
1 sectionFall 2023
1 section