Philosophy through the Ages, Part 5

Philosophy, defined by the ancient Greeks as the "love of wisdom," is a journey toward understanding fundamental truths about ourselves and our relationship to the world. As the final installment of a five-part series, this course investigates the evolution of this journey from the height of the Existentialist movement into the complex landscape of Contemporary Philosophy. We examine how thinkers from the mid-20th century to the present day have grappled with the enduring problems of existence and ethics. We begin with a deep dive into the later works of Camus and Sartre, exploring the philosophical weight of their plays and novels. We further analyze the spiritual and psychological contributions of Marcel, Buber, and Viktor Frankl, with a focus on Frankl’s seminal work, Man’s Search for Meaning. The course then moves toward the modern era, exploring American Pragmatism’s approach to truth and action, and the latest philosophical challenges facing us today, including the work of Teilhard de Chardin. This course uses the Hybrid format which allows students to participate remotely or in the classroom.