Anticipatory Guide: Existentialism

1. Anticipatory Guide:Existentialism “L’etranger” Albert Camus

2. Group Work • What do you know about philosophy? • Talk to a partner or use your phone. • 1 minute • I will call on you

3. 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“

4. 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

5. Group Work • What does “truth” mean? • Talk to a partner • You have one minute • I will call on you

6. Group Work • What does “meaning” mean? • Talk to a partner • You have one minute • I will call on you

7. Group Work • What does “meaning” mean? • Definition • Description • Purpose • Reason for existence • To make sense of

8. 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

9. 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.”

10. 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

11. Group Work • Why are all of these “truths” contradicting? • Talk to a partner • You have one minute • I will call on you

12. Group Work • So what the hell is the “truth?” • Talk to a partner • You have one minute • I will call on you

13. Group Work • What do the following words mean? Use your own words. • Subjective • Objective

14. Group Work What is a hammer?

15. Group Work • Is truth objective or subjective?

16. Group Work “Love is HELL and full of suffering.” • Is this subjective or objective? • Is this the truth?

17. Group Work • Things happen for a reason. • Is this truth for you? • Why or why not? • Talk to a partner. • You have one minute.

18. Group Work • Watch “Tim Minchin UWA Address (2013)” • According to Tim, what is the “meaning” of life?

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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?

24. Group Work • Watch “Explain like I’m Five: Existentialism” • According to these five year olds, what does “existentialism” mean?

25. 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.

26. Group Work • Talk to a partner. • Use “absurd” in a sentence. • 30 seconds.

27. Group Work • Existence is absurd and true meaning in life is impossible.

28. Group Work • Day to day existence is filled with anxiety and fear.

29. 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).

30. 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?)

31. Group Work • Political philosophies, religious dogma, societal beliefs are irrelevant to me and do not define me. • (Chris from “Into the wild”.)

32. Group Work • The idea that I am born into a particular time, place, family, and economic environment is absurd. • (The “Butterfly effect”)

33. Group Work • My most authentic moment in life is death.

34. Group Work When I am born, I am undefined without any prior essence or preconceived personality or soul. (Born a perfect, blank baby)

35. 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).

36. Group Work • In life, I must make choices regardless of what’s best for others. I can only choose what’s best for me.

37. L Etranger • Take out “The Stranger Anticipation Guide” • Start on “Part II” and write a response to one of the 10 topics.

38. 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.

39. 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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