Could I be ok if I died today?

This week's exercise:
Every morning think about this question.  What would you need (if anything) to change about your life to be okay with dying today?

*updated 13Mar13* Sartre & Existentialism 101 (Emily C.)

*newly posted 13Mar13* Satire on Sartre & Camus
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/14/sartre-and-camus-in-new-york/?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20120716 

*newly posted 13Mar13* Essay on Camus
http://chronicle.com/article/Camuss-Restless-Ghost/135874/?cid=at&utm_source=at&utm_medium=en



video on Sartre from 3 part "Human, All too human" BBC series
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAMCZKDgL04 


Emily will post some basic information about existentialism here, and perhaps a few questions for your discussion pleasure.

Additionally, what questions do you have specifically about Sartre?

Prompts for discussion of Sartre:

• What is human freedom?  Is it important?  Why?
• Why is choice at the center of Sartre's philosophy?  What is Authenticity?
• What is bad faith?  Why does Sartre label it "bad"?
• Are we always the best judge of our selves and our motivations? 
• Have you ever thought about killing yourself?  (This isn't asking if you are suicidal, but if you've had those types of thoughts, do please come talk to me).  Under what circumstances?  When crossing a bridge perhaps?  or walking near heavy automobile traffic?  or after watching a difficult movie?  after a natural disaster or family tragedy?  What would it be like?  Why don't most of us actually fling ourselves out of window or balconies, even if most of us have thought about what that would be like?

Consciousness of D (Chpt 3)

Address one or two of the prompts below:

Is it better to face our mortality head on or try to avoid it?

What do the existentialists say?

What is it like to die?  If someone is dying, can she really explain it to you?  (see NYTimes article about dying nurse:  http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/11/us/fatally-ill-and-making-herself-the-lesson.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 )

What does it mean to "live in the light of death"?

Historical Attitudes on D&D (Chpt 2)

Do you think our modern U.S. attitude toward death & dying needs adjustment?  Are there lessons from the past which we would benefit from applying today?  Refer to Chpt 2:  Death in the West for your answer, as well as other books and films if you like.

Religion

*13Mar13* Religion & Politics
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/03/21/149098695/pew-more-americans-see-too-much-religious-talk-in-politics

Is faith a fundamental part of human life?  A necessary part?  How do (if at all) faith & reason interact for you?  How do (if at all) science and faith interact for you?  Reference the "Historical Interlude" in your Ten Theories text.

You might talk about your own or your family's religious traditions, especially those surrounding D&D.  I'll also remind you of this later in the term when we get closer to Easter, in case you'd like to comment on those traditions.

Animals and Rationality

*new* 13Mar13
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/nature/what-animals-thinking.html


Well, if this isn't perfect timing.  Video about a dolphin asking a diver for help:

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50139493n&tag=api

What other instances of animal rationality can you think of?  Or, is it all just instinct?  How would we know?  What would make behavior rational?  (this is a good exercise -- what makes someone morally culpable for a crime?  must they be rational to be punished?)

Chpt 7 Kant

What questions, comments, observations do you have about this chapter?  It is long and dense, so pick out some focused areas for discussion.

Current Events (Jan13)

 A realistic look at a dying spouse.

What he said before he died

January 28, 2013 08:00 PM | LEE ANN COX
http://www.salon.com/2013/01/29/what_he_said_before_he_died/

Facing Death

Questions, comments, reactions to the Frontline video.

Museums, places, events related to class

Films, books, music on death & dying

Expectations?

What do you think human nature is all about?  Why are you taking this course?  Why might thinking about death & dying and human nature be important to you, your family, your education?

Introductions

Who are you?  Why are you in this class?  What experiences (if any) have you had with death?