ESP Biography

Why do I get up in the morning? How do I live a good life? What is it that gives my life meaning? Where does that meaning come from? Is there anything wrong with living a meaningless life? Such are the questions we will ponder in this introduction to existentialism, a philosophical tradition that explores how we give meaning to our lives. No background with existentialism or philosophy is required--all you need is an open, critical mind and a curiosity about your life. We'll read selections from Milan Kundera, Jean-Paul Sartre, Albert Camus, Fredrick Nietzsche, and others. This class will largely be discussion focused, and students will leave the class with various ways to think about their lives and what gives it meaning. Such a journey to find meaning in this life is surely one that spans an entire lifetime, but I hope to help you begin such a journey.

When Romeo utters that "Juliet is the sun," we are surely not meant to take him literally--to think Juliet is a large sphere of flaming gas sure isn't what Romeo is trying to convey. But if the meaning of Romeo's metaphor isn't to be found in its literal content, then what is the meaning, and where can it be found? Some theorist, such as Max Black, suggest that some words in metaphor are meant to be understood figuratively, not literally--"sun" here doesn't mean a large sphere of flaming gas, but rather, "the warmth of my life, what my day starts with, etc." Others, such as Paul Grice, think that metaphor works in implication--to say "Juliet is the sun" is literally false, so Romeo must be meaning something else, must be implying some other meaning. Donald Davidson argues that metaphors don't do their work in terms of meaning, but rather, use--they inspire us to make comparisons, but don't assert them in themselves. Finally, Kendrall Walton and David Hills find that metaphors operate in the realm of "make-believe." This class will serve as a brief introduction to the philosophy of language and one of its toughest, most interesting problems--that of understanding metaphors. We'll check out some of the more influential theories on metaphor and some of their potential problems. No previous experience with philosophy is required--only a curious mind and a love of metaphor and figurative language is recommended. The class will largely be discussion focused, and students will leave the class with a deeper understanding of philosophy of language and how metaphors do their work. You'll likely be able to impress your English teacher as well.

Why do I get up in the morning? How do I live a good life? What is it that gives my life meaning? Where does that meaning come from? Is there anything wrong with living a meaningless life? Such are the questions we will ponder in this introduction to existentialism, a philosophical tradition that explores how we give meaning to our lives. No background with existentialism or philosophy is required--all you need is an open, critical mind and a curiosity about your life. We'll read selections from Milan Kundera, Jean-Paul Sartre, Albert Camus, Fredrick Nietzsche, and others. This class will largely be discussion focused, and students will leave the class with various ways to think about their lives and what gives it meaning. Such a journey to find meaning in this life is surely one that spans an entire lifetime, but I hope to help you begin such a journey.

Learn what it's like to be a journalist with editors from The Stanford Daily! We'll go through a breaking news story activity where we'll learn how to do interviews, write ledes and how to structure an article!