In our introductory lecture, we are presented with the state of philosophy at the turn of the 20th century, as exemplified by the contrasting yet complementary views of Bertrand Russell and John Dewey. Russell argues that philosophy's value lies in its uncertainty, enlarging our thoughts and freeing us from the tyranny of custom, while Dewey emphasizes the need for a pragmatic approach that moves away from fixed, eternal truths and embraces the evolving, changing nature of reality as revealed by Darwin's theory of evolution. Dr. Hicks highlights the shared skepticism of both philosophers regarding philosophy's ability to provide definitive answers, marking a significant shift in the discipline's trajectory.

In lecture two, we examine the philosophical responses to World War I, focusing on the works of Sigmund Freud and Martin Heidegger. Freud's "Civilization and Its Discontents" argues that human nature is fundamentally aggressive and destructive, with civilization serving as a necessary illusion to manage these instincts. Heidegger, in "What is Metaphysics?", proposes that the war signals the end of a 2,000-year philosophical tradition and that we must embrace emotions like anxiety and boredom to reveal the metaphysical truth of the identity of being and nothingness. We see the shift in 20th-century philosophy towards the irrational and the negative, as exemplified by these influential thinkers.

In lecture three, we are introduced into the philosophy of existentialism, focusing on the works of Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus in the context of the absurdity and meaninglessness brought about by the events of World War II and the Holocaust. Sartre argues that existence precedes essence, meaning that humans are born without a predetermined purpose and must create their own meaning through their choices and actions, for which they bear full responsibility. Camus explores the absurdity of life through the myth of Sisyphus, emphasizing the importance of embracing one's fate with joy despite its ultimate futility. Through this analysis, we see the tension between individualism and collectivism in existentialist thought.