Why is there something rather than nothing? What is a human? What can I know and how? What is right and wrong? Philosophy in Literature will explore several ways of viewing the world--worldviews like Christian Theism, Naturalism, Nihilism, Existentialism, Postmodernism, etc.--and how these worldviews influence and surface within works of literature to answer some of humanity’s basic questions like the ones mentioned earlier. This course will help students develop the skill set to encounter not only various literary texts, but also those expressed through media, advertisements, etc. We will think about the ideologies (i.e., worldviews) that drive their creation and expression. As we engage with works from literary giants like Dostoyevsky, Camus, O’Connor, etc.,  students will also grapple with their own beliefs about the world and will produce a multimodal artifact (e.g., visual art, performance art, poetry, a short story, etc.) that exemplifies their worldview. The goal of this course is that students will not only be an informed examiner of various texts but that they will also understand the assumptions these texts are making about reality, humanity, what we can know and how, and what is right and wrong. Like Sire, “On one issue I remain constant: I am convinced that for any of us to be fully conscious intellectually, we should not only be able to detect the worldviews of others but be aware of our own - why it is ours and why, in light of so many options, we think it is true” (Sire, 2000, p. xiv).

Note: Juniors and seniors may choose between American Literature, African American Literature, British Literature, Screenwriting, and Philosophy in Literature (Honors course). The courses are comparable in work and requirements. If juniors wish to join the AP track, they select AP Language & Composition, followed by AP Literature & Composition their senior year if they remain in Advanced Placement classes. Introduction to Philosophy Honors (UC Approval pending) may be taken in the junior or senior year; the workload and rigor are commensurate to an AP course. 

Regular Philosophy in Literature is no longer being offered for 2024-25