FIL108 The Meaning of Life
- ECTS Credits:
- 10
- Responsible department:
- Faculty of Humanities and Education
- Course Leader:
- Einar Duenger Bøhn
- Lecture Semester:
- Autumn
- Teaching language:
- Norwegian
- Duration:
- 1 term
Teaching language
NorwegianCourse contents
The course gives an introduction to modern philosophical thinking related to the meaning of life. It seeks to understand and answer the question about humanity’s normative existential basic condition: What is the meaning of life? The following related questions will also, among others, be discussed. Is life at the end of the day without meaning? Is meaning necessarily something subjective? What does it mean that life has meaning? How can we, to the largest possible extent, live meaningful lives? What makes life meaningless? Is life absurd? Are these questions about life at all comprehensible? Can they have objective answers? What is the relation between death and meaning? Does death render life meaningless? Would life have been more meaningful if it lasted forever? Can meaning be something negative? What is the relation between meaning, moral and happiness?
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, the students shall
Knowledge
-
Know central problems and positions within the modern debate over the question of whether life has a meaning or not
-
Have a broad knowledge of the question about the meaning of life
Skills
-
Be able to reflect upon central concepts involving the question of whether life has a meaning or not
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Be able to apply knowledge and skills in the debate over life having a meaning
General competence
-
Be able to disseminate in a critical and debating manner central topics within modern philosophical thinking about the meaning of life
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Be able to apply and relate to other topics knowledge and insight from the modern debate over the questions about life having meaning
Examination requirements
One assignment must be completed and passed. More information will be published on Canvas when the semester starts.
Teaching methods
Lectures and study groups. One assignment. More information will be given on Canvas when the semester starts.
Evaluation
The study programme manager, in consultation with the student representative, decides the method of evaluation and whether the courses will have a midterm- or end of term evaluation, see also the Quality System, section 4.1. Information about evaluation method for the course will be posted on Canvas.
Assessment methods and criteria
4-hour individual written examiniation.