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
ThisReviewer from
Pretty good course
She clearly loves the subject, and I learned some things I did not know about. Her presentation is excellent. From time to time, it almost seemed she presented the existentialists as authors of advice for the lovelorn columns.
Date published: 2024-11-10
Rated 5 out of
5
by
richibi from
outstanding
Professor Skye is not only a professor, but an oracle, her lectures are not only informative, but transcendental, her enthusiasm, her conviction are utterly contagious, you do not want to pass on this one if you are at all interested in questions about our search for meaning, she is manifestly inspired, and inspiring
Date published: 2024-10-06
Rated 4 out of
5
by
DaGeek from
Down under explanation of Existentialism
I say down under as the professor is Australian. I had a bit of a hard time placing her accent, but she made a joke about her love of Vegemite that brought home her provenance.
Philosophy was not something I studied in college, but I have developed an interest the last 15 or so years, making a casual study of this branch of knowledge. Existentialism was something I had always heard about, as well as some of its better known adherents like Sartre and Nietzsche, but for actually knowing anything about it. Nope.
I found this course a very good introduction into the philosophy and a good survey of the various people known as existentialist philosophers.
Professor Cleary has a nice style and an obvious love of her subject. In my ignorance, Existentialism had always struck me as a bit of pessimistic philosophy. While I am still a bit in that camp, it is really much more optimistic than that.
I enjoyed the course, and if you like philosophy, you will too.
Date published: 2024-09-24
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Minerva from
Never Too Old to Learn!
As a "professional student" I welcome the opportunity to study at University level. Now that I am about to turn 80 years of age (and no longer as "quick" as I was when I took Majors in Literature AND Philosophy) I find myself nevertheless excited at the prospect of revisiting the pathways of Wisdom. And the Great Courses has been important in that Quest. Recently, feeling the urge for further learning, yet unable to take an arduous programme on-campus (due to the late onset of Parkinson's Syndrome) I turned to TGC for help and discovered a new Course on Existentialism. I am pleased to report that "Existentialism and the Authentic Life" with Professor Cleary is well up to standard and "just what the doctor prescribed" : Challenging yet Intelligible, incorporating modern Digital Learning aids. Thank You Great Courses, I hope I live long enough to enjoy many more of your future offerings.
Date published: 2024-09-10
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Bd10 from
Excellent Presentation Syle
Professor Cleary is definitely very knowledgeable about this topic. I also have to give her high marks for her enthusiasm, style and delivery of the course. The topics are serious but her style and delivery of presentations made me stick to the entire course although I listened 1-2 sessions each time. I got the general idea of existentialism which is 1) you have free will in changing your environment ( partner, marriage, career, etc. regardless of the hindrance by cultural, financial, religious, racial and other factors. 2) Because of your free will, then you are responsible for your own actions. If there are some areas for improvement, I would have liked the following two topics to be explored and expanded.
1) Dr.. Clearly discussed each writer/ philosopher’s perspectives on different topics including relationships, love, age, mortality and others. However, there were little analysis and criticism of each either from her or other philosophers. Were all the perspectives of these writers correct about all these important topics?
2) Existentialism is somehow the opposite of religion. I think most of these philosophers did not believe in God at least not the way that religious people believe in. But this philosophy was completely short on how it perceives the ethics. Indeed, Sarter’s personal life and his partner do not seem to be inspiring or ethical. Let’s see: No marriage, no children, open relationships, goofing around with multiple partners, having intimate relationships with students , etc. is this the model you would like to pursue in life? What happens to responsibilities and the hurt they caused for those who truly fell in love with them and were heartbroken?
When we compare these philosophers with those of Greeks such as Socrates, they mostly seem to fail in both personal and public level. It looks like they were a bunch of individuals with no real jobs spending most of their time in cafes drinking, writing and questioning life. That is not what I am criticizing about but I left with the impression that some of them didn’t feel responsible for others but more self centered. Socrates lost his life for his principles! Do you think these guys would have done the same? I don’t know the answer but perhaps Professor Clearly could have asked similar questions about these philosophers and done some analysis either by herself or other philosophers. I also saw some of these individuals as writers rather than philosophers. However, overalls I enjoyed the course and Dr. Clearly’s excellent presentation style.
Date published: 2024-09-01
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
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
