Listen free for 30 days
-
No Excuses: Existentialism and the Meaning of Life
- Narrated by: Robert C. Solomon
- Series: The Great Courses: Modern Philosophy
- Length: 12 hrs and 7 mins
- Lecture
- Categories: Money & Finance, Economics
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wish list failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Audible Membership
$14.95 a month
Buy Now for $46.98
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
The Modern Intellectual Tradition: From Descartes to Derrida
- Written by: Lawrence Cahoone, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Lawrence Cahoone
- Length: 18 hrs and 46 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What is reality? Ask yourself whether you can actually know the answer, much less be sure that you can know it, and you've begun to grapple with the metaphysical and epistemological quandaries that have occupied, teased, and tormented modern philosophy's greatest intellects since the dawn of modern science and a century before the Enlightenment.
-
-
Superficial discourse on deep ideas
- By Amazon Customer on 2018-07-02
Written by: Lawrence Cahoone, and others
-
The Will to Power: The Philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche
- Written by: The Great Courses, Kathleen M. Higgins, Robert C. Solomon
- Narrated by: Kathleen M. Higgins, Robert C. Solomon
- Length: 12 hrs and 17 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Who was Friedrich Nietzsche? This lonely and chronically ill, yet passionate, daring, and complex man is perhaps the most mysterious and least understood of all contemporary philosophers. Why are his brilliant insights so relevant for today? How did he become the most misinterpreted and unfairly maligned intellectual figure of the last two centuries?
-
-
It’s a lecture
- By Anonymous User on 2019-10-21
Written by: The Great Courses, and others
-
The Passions: Philosophy and the Intelligence of Emotions
- Written by: Robert C. Solomon, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Robert C. Solomon
- Length: 12 hrs and 37 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Conventional wisdom suggests there is a sharp distinction between emotion and reason. Emotions are seen as inferior, disruptive, primitive, and even bestial forces. These 24 remarkable lectures suggest otherwise-that emotions have intelligence and provide personal strategies that are vitally important to our everyday lives of perceiving, evaluating, appraising, understanding, and acting in the world.
Written by: Robert C. Solomon, and others
-
The Great Ideas of Philosophy, 2nd Edition
- Written by: Daniel N. Robinson, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Daniel N. Robinson
- Length: 30 hrs and 11 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Grasp the important ideas that have served as the backbone of philosophy across the ages with this extraordinary 60-lecture series. This is your opportunity to explore the enormous range of philosophical perspectives and ponder the most important and enduring of human questions-without spending your life poring over dense philosophical texts.
-
-
Too idiosyncratic for my taste
- By Enrique on 2019-12-08
Written by: Daniel N. Robinson, and others
-
Exploring Metaphysics
- Written by: David K. Johnson, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: David K. Johnson
- Length: 11 hrs and 24 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This mind-bending tour of metaphysics applies philosophy to the forefront of today's knowledge. Over the course of 24 fascinating lectures, Professor Johnson thinks through the big questions about humans and the universe: The relationship between the mind and the brain, how consciousness emerges from neurochemical processes, the existence of God, human free will, the possibility of time travel, and whether we live in a multiverse or even a computer simulation.
-
-
Excellent with caveats
- By Corvine Habanero on 2019-04-29
Written by: David K. Johnson, and others
-
Argumentation: The Study of Effective Reasoning, 2nd Edition
- Written by: David Zarefsky, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: David Zarefsky
- Length: 12 hrs and 15 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What is effective reasoning? And how can it be done persuasively? These questions have been asked for thousands of years, yet some of the best thinking on reasoning and argumentation is recent and represents a break from the past. These 24 engaging lectures teach you how to reason, how to persuade others that what you think is right, and how to judge and answer the arguments of others - and how they will judge yours.
-
-
Pedantic
- By Richard B Kuzyk on 2021-07-29
Written by: David Zarefsky, and others
-
The Modern Intellectual Tradition: From Descartes to Derrida
- Written by: Lawrence Cahoone, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Lawrence Cahoone
- Length: 18 hrs and 46 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What is reality? Ask yourself whether you can actually know the answer, much less be sure that you can know it, and you've begun to grapple with the metaphysical and epistemological quandaries that have occupied, teased, and tormented modern philosophy's greatest intellects since the dawn of modern science and a century before the Enlightenment.
-
-
Superficial discourse on deep ideas
- By Amazon Customer on 2018-07-02
Written by: Lawrence Cahoone, and others
-
The Will to Power: The Philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche
- Written by: The Great Courses, Kathleen M. Higgins, Robert C. Solomon
- Narrated by: Kathleen M. Higgins, Robert C. Solomon
- Length: 12 hrs and 17 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Who was Friedrich Nietzsche? This lonely and chronically ill, yet passionate, daring, and complex man is perhaps the most mysterious and least understood of all contemporary philosophers. Why are his brilliant insights so relevant for today? How did he become the most misinterpreted and unfairly maligned intellectual figure of the last two centuries?
-
-
It’s a lecture
- By Anonymous User on 2019-10-21
Written by: The Great Courses, and others
-
The Passions: Philosophy and the Intelligence of Emotions
- Written by: Robert C. Solomon, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Robert C. Solomon
- Length: 12 hrs and 37 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Conventional wisdom suggests there is a sharp distinction between emotion and reason. Emotions are seen as inferior, disruptive, primitive, and even bestial forces. These 24 remarkable lectures suggest otherwise-that emotions have intelligence and provide personal strategies that are vitally important to our everyday lives of perceiving, evaluating, appraising, understanding, and acting in the world.
Written by: Robert C. Solomon, and others
-
The Great Ideas of Philosophy, 2nd Edition
- Written by: Daniel N. Robinson, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Daniel N. Robinson
- Length: 30 hrs and 11 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Grasp the important ideas that have served as the backbone of philosophy across the ages with this extraordinary 60-lecture series. This is your opportunity to explore the enormous range of philosophical perspectives and ponder the most important and enduring of human questions-without spending your life poring over dense philosophical texts.
-
-
Too idiosyncratic for my taste
- By Enrique on 2019-12-08
Written by: Daniel N. Robinson, and others
-
Exploring Metaphysics
- Written by: David K. Johnson, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: David K. Johnson
- Length: 11 hrs and 24 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This mind-bending tour of metaphysics applies philosophy to the forefront of today's knowledge. Over the course of 24 fascinating lectures, Professor Johnson thinks through the big questions about humans and the universe: The relationship between the mind and the brain, how consciousness emerges from neurochemical processes, the existence of God, human free will, the possibility of time travel, and whether we live in a multiverse or even a computer simulation.
-
-
Excellent with caveats
- By Corvine Habanero on 2019-04-29
Written by: David K. Johnson, and others
-
Argumentation: The Study of Effective Reasoning, 2nd Edition
- Written by: David Zarefsky, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: David Zarefsky
- Length: 12 hrs and 15 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What is effective reasoning? And how can it be done persuasively? These questions have been asked for thousands of years, yet some of the best thinking on reasoning and argumentation is recent and represents a break from the past. These 24 engaging lectures teach you how to reason, how to persuade others that what you think is right, and how to judge and answer the arguments of others - and how they will judge yours.
-
-
Pedantic
- By Richard B Kuzyk on 2021-07-29
Written by: David Zarefsky, and others
-
Why Evil Exists
- Written by: Charles Mathewes, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Charles Mathewes
- Length: 19 hrs and 6 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Whether we view it in theological, philosophical, or psychological terms, evil remains both a deeply intriguing question and a crucially relevant global issue. Now, Professor Mathewes offers you a richly provocative and revealing encounter with the question of human evil - a dynamic inquiry into Western civilization's greatest thinking and insight on this critical subject.
-
-
enriching, humbling, fascinating
- By Rainbow J. on 2020-10-05
Written by: Charles Mathewes, and others
-
The Big Questions of Philosophy
- Written by: David K. Johnson, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: David K. Johnson
- Length: 19 hrs and 2 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
We have all pondered seemingly unanswerably but significant questions about our existence - the biggest of all being, "Why are we here?" Philosophy has developed over millennia to help us grapple with these essential intangibles. There is no better way to study the big questions in philosophy than to compare how the world's greatest minds have analyzed these questions, defined the terms, and then reasoned out potential solutions. Once you've compared the arguments, the final step is always deciding for yourself whether you find an explanation convincing.
-
-
Excellent!
- By Christopher Staniforth on 2022-02-18
Written by: David K. Johnson, and others
-
The Ethics of Aristotle
- Written by: The Great Courses, Father Joseph Koterski S.J.
- Narrated by: Father Joseph Koterski S.J.
- Length: 6 hrs and 9 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this 12-lecture meditation on Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, you'll uncover the clarity and ethical wisdom of one of humanity's greatest minds. Father Koterski shows how and why this great philosopher can help you deepen and improve your own thinking on questions of morality and leading the best life. The aim of these lectures is to provide you with a clear and thoughtful introduction to Aristotle as a moral philosopher.
-
-
A very good synopsis.
- By Amazon Customer on 2019-08-21
Written by: The Great Courses, and others
-
The Meaning of Life: Perspectives from the World's Great Intellectual Traditions
- Written by: Jay L. Garfield, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Jay L. Garfield
- Length: 18 hrs and 42 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What is the meaning of life?It's a question every thoughtful person has pondered at one time or another. Indeed, it may be the biggest question of all-at once profound and universal, but also deeply personal.We want to understand the world in which we live, but we also want to understand how to make our own lives as meaningful as possible; to know not only why we're living, but that we're doing it with intention, purpose, and ethical commitment.
-
-
Interesting
- By Marie-Kim on 2022-05-01
Written by: Jay L. Garfield, and others
-
Boosting Your Emotional Intelligence
- Written by: Jason M. Satterfield, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Jason M. Satterfield
- Length: 12 hrs and 40 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
We have all had experiences with people that prove that those with the highest IQs are not always the most successful. What could these very smart people be missing? Chances are it's emotional intelligence (EQ) - the ability to perceive, understand, and manage emotions in ourselves and others. Sounds very powerful, doesn't it? Could we really manage our own emotions, as opposed to having our emotions run the show? Could we really effect change in the emotions of our coworkers or family members?
-
-
Useful for Everyone
- By Lea Stogdale on 2019-08-08
Written by: Jason M. Satterfield, and others
-
The Great Ideas of Psychology
- Written by: Daniel N. Robinson, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Daniel N. Robinson
- Length: 23 hrs and 27 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
If you’ve ever wanted to delve more deeply into the mysteries of human emotion, perception, and cognition, and of why we do what we do, these 48 lectures offer a superb place to start. With them, you’ll see the entire history of psychology unfold. In the hands of Professor Robinson, these lectures encompass ideas, speculations, and point-blank moral questions that might just dismantle and rebuild everything you once thought you knew about psychology.
-
-
great lecturer
- By Ali Golabgir on 2021-07-23
Written by: Daniel N. Robinson, and others
-
Theories of Knowledge: How to Think About What You Know
- Written by: Joseph H. Shieber, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Joseph H. Shieber
- Length: 11 hrs and 28 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Delve into the exciting field of “epistemology”, the philosophical term for our inquiry into knowledge: what it is, the ways we acquire it, and how we justify our beliefs as knowledge. Taught by acclaimed Professor Joseph H. Shieber of Lafayette College, these 24 mind-bending lectures take you from ancient philosophers to contemporary neurobiologists, and from wide-ranging social networks to the deepest recesses of your own brain.
-
-
well-chosen topics
- By Anonymous User on 2019-08-06
Written by: Joseph H. Shieber, and others
-
Philosophy of Mind: Brains, Consciousness, and Thinking Machines
- Written by: Patrick Grim, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Patrick Grim
- Length: 12 hrs and 30 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The quest to understand the mind has motivated some of history's most profound thinkers. But only in our own time are we beginning to see the true complexity of this quest, as today's philosophers draw on the latest evidence from neuroscience, psychology, artificial intelligence, linguistics, and other fields to probe deeply into the inner workings of the mind.
-
-
Mind blowing philosophy
- By sergii on 2021-09-30
Written by: Patrick Grim, and others
-
Redefining Reality
- The Intellectual Implications of Modern Science
- Written by: Steven Gimbel, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Steven Gimbel
- Length: 18 hrs and 6 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
No subject is bigger than reality itself, and nothing is more challenging to understand, since what counts as reality is undergoing continual revision and has been for centuries. The quest to pin down what's real and what's illusory is both philosophical and scientific, a metaphysical search for ultimate reality that goes back to the ancient Greeks. For the last 400 years, this search has been increasingly guided by scientists, who create theories and test them in order to define and redefine reality.
-
-
Biased
- By samuel esau santarella on 2019-09-06
Written by: Steven Gimbel, and others
-
Your Deceptive Mind: A Scientific Guide to Critical Thinking Skills
- Written by: Steven Novella, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Steven Novella
- Length: 12 hrs and 39 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
No skill is more important in today's world than being able to think about, understand, and act on information in an effective and responsible way. What's more, at no point in human history have we had access to so much information, with such relative ease, as we do in the 21st century. But because misinformation out there has increased as well, critical thinking is more important than ever. These 24 rewarding lectures equip you with the knowledge and techniques you need to become a savvier, sharper critical thinker in your professional and personal life.
-
-
Great book worth a listen but maybe I'm bias.
- By Martin on 2018-01-15
Written by: Steven Novella, and others
-
The Psychology of Performance: How to Be Your Best in Life
- Written by: Dr. Eddie O'Connor, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Dr. Eddie O'Connor
- Length: 12 hrs and 18 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
"How do you get to Carnegie Hall?" "Practice. Practice. Practice." Today, the relatively new science of performance psychology tells us that old answer is incomplete at best. In The Psychology of Performance: How to Be Your Best in Life, clinical sport psychologist Eddie O'Connor, PhD, shares the best ways for you to reach your personal Carnegie Hall based on the latest scientific research - whether your performance environment is music, dance, business, or sport.
-
-
Perfect for anyone who competes... or trains...
- By Amazon Customer on 2018-09-19
Written by: Dr. Eddie O'Connor, and others
-
Great Minds of the Western Intellectual Tradition, 3rd Edition
- Written by: The Great Courses, Alan Charles Kors, Darren Staloff, and others
- Narrated by: Alan Charles Kors, Darren Staloff, Dennis Dalton, and others
- Length: 43 hrs and 41 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For 3,000 years, mankind has grappled with fundamental questions about life. What is real? Who or what is God? When is it legitimate for one person to have power over others? What is justice? Beauty? This 84-lecture, 12-professor tour of Western philosophical tradition covers more than 60 of history's greatest minds and brings you a comprehensive survey of the history of Western philosophy from its origins in classical Greece to the present.
-
-
Very disappointed
- By elcucuy on 2019-04-16
Written by: The Great Courses, and others
Publisher's Summary
What is life? What is my place in it? What choices do these questions obligate me to make? More than a half-century after it burst upon the intellectual scene - with roots that extend to the mid-19th century - Existentialism's quest to answer these most fundamental questions of individual responsibility, morality, and personal freedom has continued to exert a profound attraction.
Now, in a series of 24 probing and thoughtful lectures, you can enrich your own understanding of this unique philosophical wave, the visionary thinkers it brought together to ponder and debate these questions, and the prominent role it still plays in contemporary thought.
"Existentialism is, in my view, the most exciting and important philosophical movement of the past century and a half," says Professor Solomon. "Fifty years after the French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre gave it its identity and 150 years after the Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard gave it its initial impetus, it continues to win new enthusiasts and, in keeping with its still exciting and revolutionary message, vehement critics." Plumbing both sides of the debate, these lectures examine a wide range of Existentialist thought. You'll be exposed to the religious approach of Kierkegaard; the bold fiction of Camus; the warrior rhetoric and often-shocking claims about religion and morality posed by Nietzsche; the radical and uncompromising notion of freedom championed by Sartre; and the searching analysis of human historicity and finitude offered by Martin Heidegger. And you'll encounter the reluctance - often angrily expressed - of many of Existentialism's major figures to be thought of as part of any philosophical movement or even as intellectual allies!
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.
What listeners say about No Excuses: Existentialism and the Meaning of Life
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jm
- 2020-03-08
Teaching excellence!
Professor Robert Solomon knits diverse philosophical perspectives into an excellent and engrossing series of lectures.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Amazon Customer
- 2021-01-21
Well worth the time
Plays like a tight knit story with a compelling plot. Wished the characters were developed more fully, though the prof did a good job showing the connections among them. I recommend the course.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Gary
- 2015-07-24
Good for even a non-existentialist
I don't like existentialism philosophy, but I liked this lecture series. It allowed me to understand other philosophers through the lens of Existentialism, and I got to understand Kant, Schopenhauer, and learn learn more about Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, and Heidegger. I liked the hour and a half he devoted to Heidegger so much, I ended up buying "Being and Time" from Amazon.
I would strongly recommend watching the BBC production of the play "Huis Clos" ("In Camera", or also called "No Exit") freely available on YouTube before or after listening to this lecture. I did and am glad for the understanding it brought. The heart of this lecture series is really Jean-Paul Sartre and a lot of what he thinks is within this highly watchable and freely available play.
Even if you think Existentialism is passe (a word the lecturer uses), and you don't particularly like Existentialism this lecture has more than enough to keep you entertained. As with almost all of these Great Course series, I don't know of anything else where I get as much value for my one credit, and because of this series I'm violating one of my rules and plan on reading a difficult book because this series has piqued my interest that much in Heidegger.
190 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Rich
- 2015-10-09
Broad, Thorough and Highly Engaging
The Great Courses captured a jewel of a lecture series with Professor Solomon's work. Solomon puts the focus on five European philosophers: Camus (French, 20th C.), Kierkegaard (Danish, 19th C.), Nietchze (German, 19th C.), Heidegger (German, 20th C.) and Sarte (French, 20th C.). Common threads of individualism, passion and freedom ties the work of all these philosophers together. Solomon's lectures are clear, in-depth, and fascinating.
This was the first title in my Audible collection (30+ titles) that I immediately listened to again once finished. The second listening I took notes, there was good information in nearly every minute of the recording. After finishing the course, I learned Dr. Solomon passed away in 2007 while vacationing with his wife (a fellow Philosophy professor) in Europe. I never knew him personally, but this recording seems to be a fitting tribute to a man who clearly cared about his philosophies and teachings. (The companion PDF authored by Solomon is excellent as well).
The remainder of the review will be scratch notes on the lectures. If you are interested in exploring beyond the Greeks in the realm of Philosophy, if you've ever felt frustrated with the "herd mentality" of society, or if you've ever wondered where the world of emotions/passions fit in our age of reason, this title doesn't disappoint.
---
* Albert Camus: Emotions and thoughts do not depend upon each other, as illustrated in "The Stranger." Perhaps emotions precede reason, in contrast to the Greeks. Guilt exists just by our being human. Your perspective is more important than "the benign indifference of the universe." The Myth of Sisyphus: he becomes one with his rock, refusing to accept the absurdity of the situation. Reason begets absurdity. "You get the war you deserve" as illustrated in The Plague. Philosophical suicide is dismissing the absurd and prioritizing a future utopian life. The utopian future trivializes the life you are living right here right now. The Fall illustrates a character that thinks too much, challenging Socrates' notion that the unexamined life is not worth living. Is pride a blessing (the Greeks) or a curse (the Christians)? The character can't overcome his guilt of reflection. (Mother Teresa offered as contrast: "I focus only on the person that I am with.")
* Soren Kierkegaard: Fear and Trembling. Subjective truths; leaps of faith. Trying to prove God exists is pointless. Keep subjectivity and objectivity separate. "I want a truth that I can live and die for." His truth was Christianity. He abhorred those who thought Christianity was their birthright or function of hometown. Passionate commitment: seems like an oxymoron but for Kierkegaard it's the decision and action that follows a passion that are important. Hegel's historical vs. existential dialectic. His planes of existence: aesthetic, ethical and spiritual. Boredom (aesthetic) and burnout (ethical) leaves only the spiritual.
* Friedrich Nietzsche. The public's misperception of "God is Dead." Relative truths exist, but perhaps no absolute truth. An immoralist: ethics are a matter of self virtue, not Kant's rationalism, not an order of God. Judge yourself, not others--aligns with Aristotle. Virtue is beautiful. Master/slave morality. Slave morality has eclipsed master morality, for the worse. Wealth, education and strength are looked down upon. Slave morality sees those as evil and focuses on self-denial. Proto-characters. Perspectivism. Birds of prey will never be lambs. Talents may exist, but must be self-realized. "Become who you are." The Will--universal by Schopenhauer. Nietzsche doesn't believe in free will/the ability to pull away from all the world. "There is just action; consciousness is overrated." Our control is used to cultivate new automatic actions. "Give style to your character; it is a great art." Nietzsche's test for living properly: if you had to live your life over and over ad infinatum, would you? Ubermensch is free of resentment, but aspiring to uber is not realistic. Goethe's life was near ideal: creative, spiritual. Will to power is self-mastery, not control. Will to power/Self-esteem is feeling energized by your own ideas. Will to power is a passionate life, in contrast to the Greeks. Martyrs are more motivated by their own righteousness than by the infinite afterlife. Love is control. Pity is superiority. Attachments to ideals and aspirations are what life is all about. Schopenhauer says life is nothing, Nietzsche disagrees.
* Martin Heidegger. Believes that the conscious and the world are not separate entities. Lines between realism and idealism are blurred. "Dasein." Our first thoughts are not "who am I," but "here is the world I am in." To think about the hammer makes it no longer a hammer. Authenticity: taking a hold of yourself, not Das Mann self. A return to your historicity after authenticity to avoid alienation. We've been thrown into the world. We never live in the present. This understanding leads to dasein. Acorns are not dasein: they have potential, but not perspective. Conscious says we could be more authentic, which gives rise to guilt. "Being unto death:" a recognition that leads to resolutions. Nazi ties: very controversial.
* Jean-Paul Sarte. Writes for responsibility; turns down Nobel prize. Human nature is found under stress. Sarte says screw making up excuses for yourself for any predicament. We are free in that we always have choices to make, no matter the situation--he should know, he was a Nazi prisoner. How do citizens see the moutain they live by? Threats to freedom are often internal. Choices lead to emotions. You decide whether to forget or dwell. "We all get the war we deserve." Consciousness is freedom, spontaneous and nothingness: like a beam of light that dynamically molds what it sees. Emotions structure consciousness, not an escape behavior. Being for itself, in itself, for others. Self is an accumulation of external actions. Transcendence: overreaching facts and the present, wanting to be God. My birthday is not a fact (re: fake ids). "Bad faith"--a stiff waiter. Sarte attacks Freud for not taking responsibiliy. Being for others--the play 'no exit.' We only know ourselves through other people. We may appear bad in one instance, but we also are being for ourselves so don't have to be judged. Leads to moral education. Being for others cannot be ignored. Facticity, transcendence and being for others always in tension, in contrast with Aristotle's society. This guilt is secular original sin. Hell is other people: the play No Exit. Wife abuser, female socialite and working class lesbian. Death makes us pure facticity. Seeing someone else in our private desert.
150 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Kim Drnec
- 2014-08-01
Brilliant Life changing
Where does No Excuses: Existentialism and the Meaning of Life rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
For non-fiction it is one of the best I've listened to. Clear, interesting.
What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?
It explains a complicated subject surrounded by much colloquial mystery simply. It also gives philosophical reasons why we really don't have excuses and why doing what we need to do just is...so get on with it!
What does Professor Robert C. Solomon bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
Intonation and some personal comments that give thoughtful support
What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?
A clear explanation of what this philosophy actual is and how it really applies to normal modern life
Any additional comments?
It changed my life and when I start over thinking things, wondering why something is, I listen to parts of it and feel much better about what choices I have and that I just need to get on with it. Being human isn't as complicated as we make out sometimes!
39 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Max Osterhaus
- 2013-08-07
Loved it!
A nuanced and careful look at some pretty fiery characters. The professor has a nice cadence and clear speech (rare in philo profs!). I wanted more when he finished!!
23 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Christian M. Adriano
- 2016-12-30
Great introduction to Existentialism
Pros of the lectures:
- intuitive examples
- connects each philosopher's work with another
- full of insights for present day
The most memorable part is about Sartre ideas about choice, particularly that we can choose our emotions at any given moment.
However I found the ideas of nothingness a bit complicated to grasp in the first listening. I confess I had to go back to a few chapters a couple of times. For which the Audible version is very convenient.
Overall I highly recommend these lectures!
10 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Diego
- 2015-02-08
Made want to read Camus!
But he lost me on Heidegger...
Seriously, great course! The professor conveys passion for the subject and yet the critique is balanced and understandable.
16 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- SpiderGrrl
- 2018-08-21
Degradingly Pro-Right-Wing Christian
The term "lifestyle" has been "corrupted" by "California overuse"? WTH? And he then provides a smarmy and, in his eyes, proper example of a lifestyle choice: joining the Marines.
This is NOT a lecture series on Existentialist thought. It's a lecture series on how to bend a targeted few modern philosophers and writers through a very Christian lens.
29 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- eric
- 2014-10-12
One of the best of the courses series
Seems to me some subjects are better in audible form; philosophy certainly seems to be a subject that transfers well
12 people found this helpful
-
Overall
- Meira
- 2018-09-03
Disappointing
When I chose this book, I hoped to discover the views of existentialist philosophers on the topic of the meaning of life, which is the book's title. Instead, I heard vague information delivered in random format. For example, the cited existentialists are consistently referred to using only their last names, and historical references are few, so that experts, events, and relationships are ambiguous. These deficiencies are exacerbated by the narrator's repetition of insignificant details, delivered through an apathetic narration.
18 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Madeleine
- 2014-04-13
Wonderful Survey of the Evolution of a Philosophy
This was an incredibly compelling audio course. I appreciated Prof. Solomon's inclusion not only of philosophical thinkers but also writers like Camus, Hesse, Dostoyevsky and Kafka. Their inclusion helps greatly to bring the elements of the philosophy out of dry generalities and into the real of human experience.
I highly recommend this course for anyone interested in existentialism, but also for a richer look at the works of writers mentioned above.
22 people found this helpful