GOVT 3686

GOVT 3686

Course information provided by the 2025-2026 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.


Distribution Requirements (KCM-AG), (ETM-AS)

Exploratory Studies (CU-SBY)

Last 4 Terms Offered 2025SU, 2025WI, 2024SU, 2024WI

View Enrollment Information

Syllabi: none
  •   Winter Session. 

  • 3 Credits Stdnt Opt

  •  1012 GOVT 3686   LEC 001

    • Jan 2 - Jan 16, 2026
    • Staff

  • Instruction Mode: Distance Learning-Asynchronous

    This Winter Session class is offered by the School of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions. For details visit: https://sce.cornell.edu/.
    Enrollment open to: Precollege Studies Online program students. For details visit: https://sce.cornell.edu/precollege/program/online.