The Good Life
Course content
In this course, we examine the question of the good life as it surfaces in key texts from Continental philosophy, with particular focus on human freedom and the search for meaning, fulfilment, and happiness. Our course takes us into the works of European thinkers - such as Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Simone Weil, and Camus - who shared an insight into the existential conditions of despair, anxiety, and meaningless, seeing these trials as occasions to examine how we live. With them, we inquire into our relationships, activities, and commitments; we wonder about the importance of personal responsibility and active engagement; and we ask whether freedom is key to the good life, and, if so, the freedom to do what? We may not discover the secret to happiness in this course, but we do partake in an age-old pilgrimage in search of the good life.
The course is planned with physical attendance, but can also be accessed as live streaming of registered participants.
Together, we will be aiming to: (1) enter into dialogue with European philosophical, literary, and artistic traditions that have grappled with existential questions; (2) acquire academic skills in navigating and interpreting philosophical works, novels, films, and artworks; (3) develop abilities in nuancing and articulating our own views and positions in dialogue with those of others; and (4) relate our particular lived experiences love to universal philosophical concepts that elucidate the human condition.
Class instruction. We will employ an array of short lectures, student presentations, dialogue between partners, small group activities, full-class discussions.
Full degree students enrolled in Study Programmes at UCPH departments: Send an e-mail to evu@teol.ku.dk to sign up. Remember to attach a pre-approval form your Study Board. Application deadline 1 June and 1 December.
Visiting exchange and guest students – send an e-mail to international@teol.ku.dk to sign up.
Creditstudents – follow link
Open University students – follow link
Professionel master students – follow link
- ECTS
- 15 ECTS
- Type of assessment
-
Written assignment
- Type of assessment details
- Undergraduate requirements (bachelor students):
Requirement to pass the course for undergraduate students (bachelor students): Active attendance (at least attendance in 75% of the class-sessions, documented by protocol). The syllabus volume and content are determined by the teacher, and three to five assignments are handed in to the teacher on each 9,600-12,000 characters, ie. 4-5 pages, as well as a final major assignment, which has s size of 19,200-24,000 characters, ie. 8-10 pages, and based on 400-500 pages literature in agreement with the teacher. The assignments are assessed by the teacher and the final assessment is given after the 7-point grading scale.
Graduate requirements (kandidat/master students):
Requirement to pass the course for graduate students (kandidat/master students): Active attendance (at least attendance in 75% of the class-sessions, documented by protocol). The syllabus volume and content are determined by the teacher, and three to five assignments are drawn on each 9,600-12,000 characters, ie. 4-5 pages, as well as a final major assignment, which has a size of 26,400-36,000 characters, ie. 11-15 pages, and is based on 800-1000 pages of literature in agreement with the teacher. The assignments are assessed by the teacher and the final assessment is given after the 7-point grading scale. - Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
Single subject courses (day)
- Category
- Hours
- Class Instruction
- 28
- Preparation
- 122
- Exam Preparation
- 150
- Exam
- 120
- English
- 420
Kursusinformation
- Language
- English
- Course number
- TTEASK033U
- ECTS
- 15 ECTS
- Programme level
- Full Degree Master
BachelorBachelor choiceFull Degree Master choicePart Time Master
- Duration
-
1 semester
- Placement
- Autumn And Spring
- Schedulegroup
-
Fridays 10-13
Autumn 2023
First day is Friday 25 August
Spring 2024
First day is Friday 19 January - Studyboard
- Study board of Theology
Contracting department
- Theology
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Theology
Course Coordinator
- Jakob Due Lorentzen (3-7a747c5084757f7c3e7b853e747b)
Teacher
Jakob Due Lorentzen
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Courseinformation of students