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Existentialism and the Authentic Life

Written by: Skye C. Cleary, The Great Courses
Narrated by: Skye C. Cleary
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Publisher's Summary

“What’s the point of it all?” Most of us have asked ourselves that question at one time or another. The philosophers known as the existentialists certainly did—and for the same reasons you might: war, love, politics, racism, mortality, and more. Luckily for us, they did not just ask the questions. Sartre, Beauvoir, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Camus, Fanon, and others also came up with some answers, ideas, and suggestions we can apply to our own lives today.

In the 24 fascinating lectures of Existentialism and the Authentic Life, Professor Skye C. Cleary will lead you through the writings of many existentialists to help you understand how they addressed the biggest of all questions. Writing about love, death, sex, war, plagues, intrigue, murder, deception, and more, these thinkers guide you toward living an authentic and meaningful life in a world that often seems absurd.

In this course, you’ll learn about the main issues addressed by existentialism. These include:

• Anxiety. In many ways, anxiety, choice, and freedom go hand in hand. When you realize that you are in charge of your one and only finite life, anxiety can certainly come into play.

• Freedom. The existentialists did not believe in absolute freedom. You are not free to do anything you want, for example, if you don’t have the power or if your actions harm others. However, you do have the freedom to make your own path in this life and to choose your own actions within limits.

• Responsibility. With that freedom comes responsibility, and not just responsibility for yourself. Being authentic means that you have a responsibility to support others in pursuing their authentic paths.

In Existentialism and the Authentic Life, discover how the existentialists can guide you in answering life’s most pressing questions for yourself.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2024 The Great Courses (P)2024 The Teaching Company, LLC

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Excellent course on Existentialism

Thorough, enjoyable, and engaging. Dr. Cleary did an excellent job presenting existentialism from general concepts to nuances through an exploration of its major proponents and their thinking. She achieved a great balance between context and personal history from major figures of the movement, making the course as entertaining as it is informative. Thank you for this great course, Dr. Cleary. I’ve taken many philosophy courses from the great courses and this is one of the best. Highly recommended for anyone interested in existentialism, its main thinkers, or philosophy in general.

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