GOVT 3686

Last Updated

  • Schedule of Classes - July 3, 2025 11:18AM EDT
  • Course Catalog - March 17, 2025 8:31AM EDT

GOVT 3686
What Makes Us Human? An Existential Journey Amidst Crises

Course information provided by the 2024-2025 Catalog.

Climate change, pandemics, wars and warlike politics, polarization, tribalism, raging anxieties, AI advancement – these are just some of the many existential troubles and challenges we all, and our very "human nature," now face. This is our time to realize our humanity: find out what sets us apart as humans, and live up to it. This course invites you to an existential odyssey into the human condition and politics. Are we truly different from animals and machines? What does it mean to "be yourself"? What's the difference between freedom and liberty? Should we pursue happiness? Why do we yield to fear and anxiety? Is the search for meaning meaningless? Do we live in a post-truth era? What are the roles of morality in our society and politics? Why is God dead, but religion alive? Can we defeat alienation? Is love all we need? How much can, and should, we hope for? In this course, utilizing the award-winning edX HOPE (see https://bit.ly/Human44), we will address these questions, and then some more. We shall examine a dozen themes, entwining each with critical reflections, both personal and political, amidst the current crisis: Human/nature, identity & authenticity, freedom, reflection, happiness, death & dread, meaning, morality, truth & trust, God & religion, alienation & love, and finally – hope.


Course Attribute (CU-SBY)

Last 4 terms offered 2025WI, 2024SU, 2024WI, 2023SU

Distribution Category (ETM-AS) (KCM-AG)

When Offered Winter, Summer.

Course Subfield (AM, CP, IR, PT)

View Enrollment Information

Syllabi: none

  •   Three Week - Second. 

  • 3 Credits Stdnt Opt

  •  1242 GOVT 3686   LEC 001

  •  
    • Jun 23 - Jul 11, 2025

    • Abulof, U

  • Instruction Mode: Distance Learning-Asynchronous

    This Summer Session class is offered by the School of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions. For details visit: https://sce.cornell.edu/courses/roster.

Syllabi: none

  •   Three Week - Three. 

  • 3 Credits Stdnt Opt

  •  1243 GOVT 3686   LEC 002

  •  
    • MTWRF
    • Jul 14 - Aug 1, 2025

    • Abulof, U

    • MTWRF
    • Jul 14 - Aug 1, 2025

    • Abulof, U

  • Instruction Mode: Distance Learning-Synchronous

    This Summer Session class is offered by the School of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions. For details visit: https://sce.cornell.edu/courses/roster.