In the 24 fascinating lectures of Existentialism and the Authentic Life, Professor Skye C. Cleary will lead you through the writings of many existentialists to show how they addressed the biggest of all questions. Writing about love, death, sex, war, plagues, intrigue, murder, deception, and more, these thinkers guide you toward living an authentic and meaningful life in a world that often seems absurd.
Existentialism and the Authentic Life
Dive into the great works of existential thinkers to see how they defined their philosophy—and what it can teach us about our own lives.
Rated 4 out of
5
by
JPM54 from
Good
I enjoyed the first lectures of this course. However, towards the end I somehow lost my interest. Professor Clearly is knowledgeable and passionate about the subject matter; I enjoyed her delivery style.
Date published: 2024-05-28
Rated 3 out of
5
by
tucdoc from
drop Heidegger
Using terminology from the course, Heidegger was unable to escape the facticity of being in Germany during Nazi rule. He demonstrated a Kierkegaardian herd mentality and was a Nazi sympathizer. If Heidegger was being authentic by accepting a racist, genocidal agenda, then this is not striving toward greatness. He had a choice, as we always do.
Date published: 2024-05-10
Rated 5 out of
5
by
1anonymous from
Good ,interesting, understandable presentation
I especially enjoyed the lectures on Simone de Beauvoir "Authentic Aging" and " Loving Your Mortality." I am female and many of the issues resonated with me. As I so enjoyed the lectures, I purchased Dr. Cleary's kindle book "How to Be Authentic: Simone de Beauvoir and the Quest for Fulfilment" which I am also enjoying.
My education is that of an MD who has attempted to read widely in philosophy, etc. with limited true understanding in the field. I have avoided lectures in existentialism as they tend to depress me. These lectures were enjoyable, understandable, and did not depress me.
Date published: 2024-05-08
Rated 5 out of
5
by
jan256 from
Wonderful lecturer and material.
I have read a fair amount about existentialism, yet believe that this course is good for both newcomers and those familiar with the topic. Instead of just the usual, the professor includes other voices: I loved the section of Franz Fanon, for example, and liked the way she incorporated examples from popular culture like movies. Mostly I appreciated how she could use clear language to explain complex ideas, ideas with which I had some familarity but she was able to provide deeper understanding.
Date published: 2024-05-07
Rated 5 out of
5
by
DonMDPhD from
Refreshing!
Existentialism was my least favorite philosophy course in college--more years ago than I care to admit. The professor himself was an existentialist and to him it was all things to all people. Well, not to me. I believe he took great glee in trying to convince us how inauthentic and absurd our lives were but that could all be changed by jumping on the existentialist bandwagon. I had a problem with philosophers, regardless of how brilliant they may be, passing judgment on my life when they had never met me. Therefore, when this course first appear, I ignored it. But when I saw high ratings from reviewers I respect, I decided to give it a go.
First and foremost, Dr. Cleary was the antithesis of my professor. She presented the material in an even-handed manner. Through her we see the subjects of her lectures with their struggles and human foibles laid bare, yet this did not detract from their genius--perhaps it even enhanced it. These luminaries of the existentialist world were, like me, trying to make sense of life. And like me, had a rough time of it. There's indeed something comforting about that.
While every lecture was enjoyable, to me, three stood out. Lecture 11, on Camus's "The Plague," the staff had a bit of fun with the set. Look on the floor near Dr. Cleary to see what I mean. The others were Lectures 21 and 22, Simone de Beauvoir's take on "Authentic Aging and "Loving Your Mortality." Admittedly, this was due to my being of "a certain age" (in my case, 78) and being in the midst of all that entails. For me, the take-aways were, "The older we grow, the more authenticity comes within our grasp. . . . being authentic means becoming creators of our vibrant selves that we shape through our choices" and "Every action is infused with the possibility of death. But death is precious precisely because it injects meaning into our actions. Mortality isn’t something we should simply endure; life is better when we can love it."
As for Dr. Cleary herself, she is obviously enthusiastic about her chosen field. She is animated and draws us into each lecture. Her course guidebook is a perfect companion to her lectures. It is clearly written and free of "catch phrases" that could easily have plagued it.
I'm quite happy I overcame my preconceived prejudices of the subject and took the leap. Hopefully, we'll see more of Dr. Cleary in the future!
Date published: 2024-04-25
Rated 5 out of
5
by
DeVos from
Excellent delivery
Afteer listening to a couple of interviews with professor Cleary I just had to take this course. I wish I could thank her in person for these thought provoking lectures. She gives plenty of resources to explore further on the subject and I'm excited to approach life with a new lens.
Date published: 2024-04-16
Rated 5 out of
5
by
JMichelleM from
Compelling Professor!
The professor is obviously passionate and knowledgeable about the subject. She hooked me into wanting to learn more and more. Beautifully presented. I hope she presents more courses. Please.
Date published: 2024-04-11
Rated 5 out of
5
by
meaningMaker from
Compelling course
I viewed the entire course in a few days, a first for me with a Great Course. I suspect that the lectures spoke to me because of where I'm at in my own life. I'm looking forward to reading the guidebook so that I can home in on book titles that I might like to read or re-read, and technical terms that I'll look up. There's so much content that I'm afraid that I have much more to ponder before I can write a coherent review except to say that I found the portentous theme music for the course ironic in light of Jean Paul Sartre's concept of "seriousness."
Date published: 2024-04-09
Overview
About
Skye C. Cleary is a lecturer at Columbia University and The City College of New York. She earned a PhD in Management from Macquarie University. She is a philosopher and writer whose books include How to Be Authentic: Simone de Beauvoir and the Quest for Fulfillment, Existentialism and Romantic Love, and How to Live a Good Life. Her writing has appeared in The Paris Review, the Times Literary Supplement, TED-Ed, and the Los Angeles Review of Books, among other outlets. She also won a New Philosopher Writers’ Award and was a MacDowell Fellow.
Trailer
01: How to Think like an Existentialist
Explore the fundamental themes of existentialism—issues you’ve probably thought about with respect to your own life: anxiety, ethics, freedom, responsibility, and more. And perhaps most significantly, what is the meaning of your life, and where exactly does that meaning come from? Meet Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir as these existentialists begin to share their thoughts about these questions.
30 min
02: Søren Kierkegaard on Existential Crises
Explore why Søren Kierkegaard is often considered the first existentialist philosopher. And learn why he suggested that the path to self-fulfillment includes three phases: the aesthetic, the ethical, and the religious. But you don’t have to be religious to incorporate Kierkegaard’s attitude, living will be richer when we learn the truth for ourselves rather than follow anyone else’s directives.
33 min
03: Kierkegaard’s Leap to Faith
If you’ve heard of Søren Kierkegaard’s “leap of faith,” you might think his philosophy is only for people of faith. To the contrary, discover how Kierkegaard’s philosophy keeps the door open for a purposeful leap that doesn’t land in religion at all, but still leads to a meaningful life. The secret is to keep leaping and searching for that “one thing” that unites your existence and brings meaning to your life.
33 min
04: Friedrich Nietzsche on Authentic Greatness
If you’ve heard of the German writer and philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, you’re probably familiar with one of his most famous statements: “God is dead.” But what did he really mean by that and how is Nietzsche relevant to your life today? Learn about the Übermensch, the person who embraces life on their own terms and stretches themselves into this life right now—without counting on any life after this one.
31 min
05: Nietzsche on Creating Super-Relationships
Nietzsche knew how easy it is to spiral downward in anguish when you think about the state of the world—even as it was in the 19th century. One of his solutions was the gift of friendship. Discover how Nietzsche defined this special type of friendship that authentically benefits both participants, as well as the vital role that friendship plays in love and marriage.
30 min
06: Martin Heidegger on Authentic Being
The work of German philosopher Martin Heidegger is filled with tensions—life vs. death, authenticity vs. inauthenticity, anti-Semitic rhetoric vs. advocacy of care and questioning, his poetic prose vs. use of purposely convoluted language in Being and Time (1927), and more. To understand his influence, it’s important to explore the path he identified as falling into inauthenticity, and the steps we can take to break free into our authentic selves.
34 min
07: José Ortega y Gasset on Authentic Destiny
Spanish philosopher José Ortega y Gasset argues that we philosophize because we are aware of our ignorance about human existence. Explore his theory that existence presents each of us with multiple potential trajectories into various potential selves. And learn why Ortega says it’s important to feel lost in this world—even shipwrecked. Can the relaxed and satisfied person ever become truly authentic?
32 min
08: Karl Jaspers on Authentic Communication
Karl Jaspers was a German psychiatrist who made significant contributions in psychiatry before turning to philosophy—which he described as a process of self-development, of disclosing our very being. Discover why Jaspers believed authentic communication can lead to our brightest moments in life, and why he said, “Communication is the path to truth in all its forms.”
32 min
09: Albert Camus on Authentic Happiness
We all know that happiness can sometimes be elusive. But French philosopher Albert Camus suggests everyone can create happiness—if we just learn how. Explore Camus’ theories about authentic happiness and learn why he suggests happiness must be continuously and deliberately planned. Authentic happiness doesn’t wait for you to attain more things and achievements. You can be happy now.
31 min
10: Camus on Absurdity
The existential philosophers point out something many people have observed: Life can be absurd. But if that’s the case, does it necessarily follow that life has no meaning? And if life does not have any inherent meaning of its own, does that mean it isn’t worth living? Discover how Albert Camus answered these questions, and how we can use his philosophy to enrich our own lives.
32 min
11: Camus on Authenticity amid Chaos
Is it possible to find joy in a world filled with tragedy and suffering? Camus struggled with that question in his 1947 book The Plague. As we dive into the book’s plot, characters, and message, you’ll see that Camus believes it’s not only possible to create joy and love even in the midst of dreadfulness—it’s absolutely vital.
27 min
12: Camus on Authentic Rebellion
Camus did not believe murder is ever justified, even the murder of a tyrant. Neither did he support terrorism that could hurt innocent civilians, even in response to authoritarianism. But Camus did believe in rebellion. Discover why Camus’s rebel says no to the absurdity of existence and no to nihilism—but yes to clarity, unity, order, and the value of human life.
33 min
13: Frantz Fanon on Restoring Human Dignity
In his 1952 book Black Skin White Masks, philosopher Frantz Fanon from Martinique asks the existential question often posed by those who experience discrimination and the legacy of slavery—Why continue to live when the world is so intensely cruel? Learn what Fanon believed to be the appropriate response to that cruelty, why he challenged Sartre to change his lifestyle, and how he inspired the founders of the Black Panther Party.
31 min
14: Jean-Paul Sartre on Why Hell Is Other People
When French existentialist philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre wrote “Hell is other people” in his 1944 play No Exit, what exactly did he mean? Explore Sartre’s thoughts on our relationships to other people and the constant judgment we all face from those around us. And yet, Sartre asks, do we really want to escape other people’s opinions of us? He says no—because those judgments can help us understand new depths of our being.
27 min
15: Sartre on Sex and Sadomasochism
For Sartre, love was always infused with anxiety. After all, even if someone said they loved him, how could he ever really know what they meant? Discover Sartre’s thoughts about the role sex and sensuality can play in a person’s movement toward authenticity and lovers’ deep understanding of each other, and how expressions of pleasure and pain can tell us something meaningful about ourselves.
27 min
16: Sartre on Authentic Work
Sartre did not believe in defining oneself by work; humanity is much more complex than that. Learn why Sartre argued that you are radically free to choose whether to work on any given day, why he later reconsidered that idea, and what he believed about your “fundamental project” in directing your work life.
27 min
17: Richard Wright on Overcoming Alienation
Richard Wright’s 1953 book The Outsider is often described as the first existentialist novel written by an American. Explore the many existential leaps—to music, art, love, politics, religion—Wright’s characters make as they try to bring meaning to their absurd situations. As his characters face myriad dire challenges, Wright suggests that honest communication can help us feel less alone in the world.
30 min
18: Simone de Beauvoir on Authentic Love
French writers Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir often lived their philosophies, their lives, and their loves as open books. While they were each other’s “primary” relationship, they also maintained the freedom to love others. Learn what Beauvoir means by “authentic love,” why she believed it is central to a meaningful life, and the challenges lovers face in maintaining that authenticity.
30 min
19: Beauvoir on Authentic Friendships
Beauvoir wrote in bits and pieces about her deep friendship with classmate Élisabeth (“Zaza”) Lacoin, but the novella she devoted to her, The Inseparables, was published posthumously. Learn how Beauvoir explores the concept of authentic friendship in this short work, and the many intellectual and emotional benefits and challenges she ascribes to the relationship.
26 min
20: Beauvoir on Raising Children Authentically
Beauvoir not only asked how to live in an absurd world, but how to raise children in that world—young people who had no role in creating the world they find themselves in. Explore the many layers of childhood from Beauvoir’s point of view and learn how authentic parenting can help children creatively seize possibilities for their own lives, as well as doing something about the suffering of others.
27 min
21: Beauvoir on Authentic Aging
Even Beauvoir was not immune to the complications of the aging process, which she said she had difficulty understanding. She tackled the subject head-on in her 1970 book Old Age. Discover the difficulties and benefits of aging as she saw them, and how her existentialist view can help us accept new versions of ourselves while continuing to pursue projects that give our lives meaning.
22 min
22: Beauvoir on Loving Your Mortality
We all know we’re going to die one day—but what if we didn’t have to? Wouldn’t immortality solve all our problems? Beauvoir was just one of many existentialists to grapple with this question. Explore her 1946 novel All Men Are Mortal to learn about the problems she believed immortality would bring—and why she suggests you don’t just learn to accept your mortality, but to love it.
29 min
23: Toni Morrison and the Sources of Self-Regard
Toni Morrison, winner of the 1993 Nobel Prize in Literature, railed against judging ourselves by how we look, rather than by who we are. Dive into her 1970 novel The Bluest Eye, which addresses several existential issues, including standing up to those who would objectify us, taking responsibility for our own authentic self-regard, and creating authentic communities.
29 min
24: Everyday Existentialism
Existential questions are abiding. Philosophers and artists continue to explore these themes and reveal their own interpretations and answers, as in the 2022 Oscar-winning film Everything Everywhere All at Once. Learn how existentialism intersects with technology, ecology, ethics, and more—and how it gives us a language and intellectual framework with which to address some of the 21st century’s greatest challenges.
32 min
