Anticipatory Guide:Existentialism
“L’etranger” Albert Camus
Group Work
• What do you know about philosophy?
• Talk to a partner or use your phone.
• 1 minute
• I will call on you
Group Work
• phi·los·o·phy• noun• noun: philosophy• 1. the study of the fundamental nature of
knowledge, reality, and existence, esp. when considered as an academic discipline.
• The word "philosophy" comes from the Ancient Greek φιλοσοφία (philosophia), which literally means "love of wisdom“
Group Work
• What do you know about the word “existence?”
• Talk to a partner or use your phone.
• 1 minute
• I will call on you
Group Work
• What does “truth” mean?
• Talk to a partner
• You have one minute
• I will call on you
Group Work
• What does “meaning” mean?
• Talk to a partner
• You have one minute
• I will call on you
Group Work
• What does “meaning” mean?• Definition• Description• Purpose• Reason for existence• To make sense of
Rules
• Respect always• Don’t interrupt• 1 minute to talk• Raise your hand• Don’t hate• Think before you raise your hand• Don’t sleep (Alvin)• Listen to Mr. Kim!• Stay calm and relax
Group Work• Watch “Inspirational Video – Police officer”
• Imagine you are the wife of the officer. What “meaning” can you get from this incident?
• Talk to a partner
• You have one minute
• Example: – “This story shows how kindness is pointless because you die.” – “This story shows how being kind leaves you a legacy.” – “This story shows how life is pointless because catastrophe can
hit anybody, even if you are a good person.”
Group Work• Which of all of everyone’s answers is the
“TRUTH?”• Talk to a partner
• You have one minute
• I will call on you
Group Work
• Why are all of these “truths” contradicting?
• Talk to a partner
• You have one minute
• I will call on you
Group Work
• So what the hell is the “truth?”
• Talk to a partner
• You have one minute
• I will call on you
Group Work• What do the following words mean? Use your
own words.– Subjective– Objective
Group WorkWhat is a hammer?
Group Work
• Is truth objective or subjective?
Group Work“Love is HELL and full of suffering.”
• Is this subjective or objective?
• Is this the truth?
Group Work
• Things happen for a reason.
• Is this truth for you?
• Why or why not?
• Talk to a partner.
• You have one minute.
Group Work• Watch “Tim Minchin UWA Address (2013)”
• According to Tim, what is the “meaning” of life?
Group Work• Watch “New Jersey Teens Come up With a New
Game”
• Assume you are the following people. What is the “meaning” behind these “knockouts.” Start with, “From the point of view of the teenage assaulters, these knockouts mean___________.”
• Teenage assaulters
Group Work• Watch “New Jersey Teens Come up With a New
Game”
• Assume you are the following people. What is the “meaning” behind these “knockouts.” Start with, “From the point of view of the victims, these knockouts mean___________.”
• Victims
Group Work• Watch “New Jersey Teens Come up With a New
Game”
• Assume you are the following people. What is the “meaning” behind these “knockouts.” Start with, “From the point of view of a preachers, these knockouts mean___________.”
Preacher
Group Work• Watch “New Jersey Teens Come up With a New
Game”
• Assume you are the following people. What is the “meaning” behind these “knockouts.” Start with, “From the point of view of Mr. Kim, these knockouts mean___________.”
• Mr. Kim
Group Work• Watch “New Jersey Teens Come up With a New
Game”
• What is the true meaning of these “knockouts” to you?
• Who is correct?
Group Work• Watch “Explain like I’m Five: Existentialism”
• According to these five year olds, what does “existentialism” mean?
Group Work
• Absurd• ab·surd/əbˈsərd/• Adjective:(of an idea or suggestion) Wildly
unreasonable, illogical, or inappropriate: "so you think I'm a spy? How absurd!".
• (of a person or a person's behavior or actions) Foolish; unreasonable.
Group Work
• Talk to a partner.• Use “absurd” in a sentence.• 30 seconds.
Group Work
• Existence is absurd and true meaning in life is impossible.
Group Work
• Day to day existence is filled with anxiety and fear.
Group Work
• I can only obtain true meaning in life after I have reached a state of nothingness.
• (A person who doesn’t believe in school, family, church, government…a person who doesn’t care, who doesn’t believe).
Group Work
• Whether or not God exists is irrelevant because of free will.
• (Things happen for a reason…whose reason? Does that mean you have no control over your life because of God’s plan?)
Group Work
• Political philosophies, religious dogma, societal beliefs are irrelevant to me and do not define me.
• (Chris from “Into the wild”.)
Group Work
• The idea that I am born into a particular time, place, family, and economic environment is absurd.
• (The “Butterfly effect”)
Group Work
• My most authentic moment in life is death.
Group Work
When I am born, I am undefined without any prior essence or preconceived personality or soul.
(Born a perfect, blank baby)
Group Work
• Ultimately, I am alone in this world, alienated from everything that attempts to define me.
• (You are disconnected to your parents, church, school, your friends: anything that has expectations of you to behave).
Group Work
• In life, I must make choices regardless of what’s best for others. I can only choose what’s best for me.
L Etranger
• Take out “The Stranger Anticipation Guide”• Start on “Part II” and write a response to one
of the 10 topics.
L Etranger
• Take out “The Stranger Anticipation Guide”• Start on “Part II” and write a response to one
of the 10 topics.• If you are not done, finish at home, and you
will use it tomorrow.
Group Work• Use hamburger/hamburger paper. Each member
has their own paper.• Write names on corners.• In middle “Diamond” section, write down your
name.• Members read their essay to group.• Write down one aspect of the essay you LOVED.• Write down one move they need to improve
(Thesis, transitions, grammar, punctuation).• In the end, have a general discussion on the topic• Staple essay to hamburger/hamburger paper.
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