Purpose Project

Your project format decision is due on January 4, 2016
This assignment is due on January 19, 2016

Topic

Create an essay, presentation, video, or podcast that explains your answer to one of the following questions:

  • Personal: How can I find meaning in life?
  • Abstract: What is the meaning of life?
Notice that these are two very different questions.  The first is asking about you personally. The existentialists believe we all must craft our own meaning in life.  How will you take up this challenge?  What matters to you?  

The second question is more abstract.  It allows more of an academic analysis.  You're essentially prescribing a plan for people in general to find purpose.  Or you might reject the premise and settle with nihilism - though I hope you don't.  

Requirements

  • You must reference at least two thinkers
    • One Existentialist Thinker
      • You must reference one existentialist thinker during your project.  They can agree or disagree with your ideas, but they need to be addressed in some way that shows you understand their philosophy.  They can be people we talked about in class, or others you research independently.  It is much better to pick someone you generally agree with rather than someone you oppose.
        • Existentialists: Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Sartre, Camus, Heidegger
    • Any Second Thinker From This Course
      • You may reference a second existentialist, or another thinker / school of thought we've spoken about in this class.
        • Knowledge: Plato, Descartes
        • Religion: Any world religion, Pascal
        • Happiness:  Haidt, Stoics, Epicurus, Aristotle
        • Ethics: Bentham, Mill, Singer, Kant
Formats
  • Written Essay
    • Five pages minimum
    • Double Spaced
    • Standard font (either Calibri 11 or Times New Roman 12)
  • Presentation
    • About 8 to 12 minutes long
    • A live presentation to the class
    • Contains visual elements via PowerPoint, props, poster
    • *** May have an interactive element, but it is optional ***
  • Video 
    • About 4 to 6 minutes long
    • May involve other people (as cameramen, supporting roles), but should still focus on your own experience.  You should be the focus of the video.
    • Could contain a variety of formats:
      • You talking to a camera
      • Dramatic reenactments
      • Images with voiceover
      • Supporting video clips (sparingly)
      • Other genius ideas
  • Podcast
    • About 8 to 12 minutes long
  • Other Suggestions

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