PHIL5987 · Philosophy
Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences
This course approaches the theme of suffering as a challenge to phenomenology and Christian theology. Suffering is distinguished from pain, and explored in relation to various modes of meaning-giving. Extended attention is given to the possibility of meaningless suffering, with reference to medical literature and the testimony of victims of the Shoah. The theme of meaningless suffering resists phenomenological interpretation and challenges Christian theodicy. Authors studied will include the book of Job, Augustine, Leibniz, Nietzsche, Husserl, Levinas, and P. Levi.
Course experience
Averages use the original five-point historical evaluation scale.
Organization
4.6 / 5
How well the course was organized
Challenge
4.8 / 5
How intellectually challenging students found it
Attendance
4.7 / 5
How necessary attendance was
Assignments
4.8 / 5
How helpful assignments were
Weekly effort
~5
hours per week
Estimated from the original workload response buckets. Individual sections may differ.
Instructor options
Ratings below reflect only recovered evaluations connected to this course.
Across time
Section-level results available in the recovered archive.
Fall 2024
1 section