PHI 250LEC—The Meaning of Life

Is there any real point in anything? Or are we just thrown into the world and forced to make our way through until, eventually, we die? This course will confront such questions. In it, we will ask what the meaning of life is. We will ask what that question even means, and we will survey a range of possible answers to it. We will talk about theism and evolution, nihilism and death, and happiness and purpose. Readings will be heavily interdisciplinary and will include traditional philosophical texts as well as fiction, poetry, speeches, memoirs, think-pieces, psychology, and art.