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PHI-20032 - Module Specification
School of Social Sciences
Faculty of Business, Law, Humanities & Social Sciences

For academic year: 2026/27 Last Updated: 17 March 2026

PHI-20032 - Meaning and Nihilism
Coordinator: Jonathan Head Room: CBA2.032 Tel: +44 1782 7 33515
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 5
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office:

Programme/Approved Electives for 2026/27

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2026/27

Questions concerning meaning, value, and nihilism are of key importance in philosophy, though they have often been overlooked. This module will enable you to study debates about these topics in detail, and come to your own views regarding (amongst other things) the question of the value of life and our quest to find meaning in it. Informed by our reading of original texts, as well as the latest scholarship, we will reflect on such questions as:
1) Is life a good thing, or is it something to be regretted?
2) How should we find meaning in our lives?
3) Is there anything truly valuable in this world, or should we look to a life beyond?
4) What, if anything, can make life more valuable and meaningful?
You will be invited to engage with these issues in imaginative, creative, and scholarly ways in the form of a dialogue and critical text analysis.

Aims
This module focuses on key philosophical issues related to questions of meaning and value in our lives. What meaning is there to be found in our earthly lives, and where can we find something that is intrinsically valuable? If it is not clear where such things can be found, can we somehow avoid the threat of nihilism? This module may approach these issues through a more historical lens (such as through the work of 19th century philosophers, Schopenhauer and Kierkegaard) or from a more contemporary perspective. Students are invited to engage with these issues in imaginative, creative, and scholarly ways in the form of a dialogue and critical text analysis.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Analyse and critically assess key positions on the topics of meaning, value, and nihilism: 1,2
Examine some of the central debates concerning meaning, value, and nihilism: 1,2
Develop and debate views regarding philosophical questions concerning meaning, value, and nihilism: 1,2
Write about philosophical issues concerning meaning, value, and nihilism with clarity and precision: 1,2
Summarise and analyse key readings from debates concerning meaning, value, and nihilism: 1

Study hours

12 hours lectures
12 hours seminars
40 hours preparation for seminars
43 hours preparation for text analysis exercises
43 hours preparation for dialogue

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Exercise weighted 50%
2 x 500 word text analysis exercises
Students will produce 2 x 500 word commentaries on specific extracts from the core texts, based on seminar discussion of these text extracts.

2: Assignment weighted 50%
Dialogue - 1,000 words
Students will write an imagined dialogue between two of the thinkers studied on the module regarding their contrasting views on a topic related to meaning, value and nihilism. This should be 1,000 words.

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 17 March 2026