Philosophy in Literature

Philosophers and literary authors alike have dedicated much time and effort to trying to make sense of the human experience, and unlock the mysteries concerning who we are. Philosophy in Literature examines great literary works which explore philosophical ideas, and the thinkers whose concepts they are wrestling with. Drawing on four distinct, yet interconnected, themes, the course explores how the authors’ fascination with philosophy has provided the stimulus for their art. From the problem of free will to the duality of man; from our anxieties about death to our abandonment by God, the course engages works from Christopher Marlowe to Graham Greene and philosophers from Plato through to Jean-Paul Sartre.