Existential Blindness: Sources of Unreason in Dark Times

Deadline September 22, 2026
Modality Online
Tuition $580
Next Start Date September 29, 2026

Course Description

Human life is premised on denial, from everyday compromises and half-truths through the distortions of political ideologies and up to the supreme fictions of philosophy and poetry—but contemporary forms of denialism, such as we increasingly find them in both public and private spheres, are, it seems, unique and perhaps uniquely pernicious, not only in their power and perversity, but in their sheer pervasiveness. When in the entire history of humanity did a dominant culture contrive to deny, in full awareness of its denial, the truths not only of its best knowledge but also of its own historical situation?

This class means to explore different forms of human denial, present and past, conscious and unconscious, and possible explanations for why self-deception and lying are so perennially part of the human experience—but then also to consider the uniqueness of our contemporary culture of denial, and how it is that we can so completely ignore or actively deny the reality of existential threats and what they imply for the human prospect.

Readings include, in the Seminar, shorter selections from Pascal, Peter Berger, and others, plus Eric Hoffer, The True Believer, Jean-Paul Sartre, Anti-Semite and Jew, and Irving Goffman, Frame Analysis. In the Tutorial, we will focus on literary and cinematic works, a Flannery O’Connor story, Melville’s Benito Cereno, Bernhard Schlink’s The Reader, along with Hiroshima mon Amour and The Zone of Interest. Required readings will be supplemented with suggested shorter readings, focused on contemporary issues.

Prerequisites:

At least 2 years of the Basic Program or permission of the instructor.

Required Texts

Required Texts:

Hoffer, Eric, The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements, Harper Perennial 978-0060505912
Ibsen, Henrik, “An Enemy of the People” (adapted by Amy Herzog) Concord Theatricals 978-0573711367
Melville, Herman, Billy Budd, Bartleby, and Other Stories, Penguin 978-0143107606
Resnais and Duras, Hiroshima mon Amour, Grove Press 978-0802131041
Sartre, Jean-Paul, Anti-Semite and Jew: An Exploration of the Etiology of Hate, Schocken 978-0805210477
Schlink, Bernhard, The Reader (tr. Janeway), Vintage, 978-0375707971

Available Course Sections

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I enjoy the interplay of the classmates and the instructors. We bring up points, we have disagreements, and we learn from each other, and the learning just goes on and on—and it makes you feel younger.
Walt Kurczewski CER’10 (Basic Program)

The Graham School has been a wonderful addition to my life. It is a great privilege to read and spend time with my fellow students. The Graham School faculty are all varied and excellent in different ways. What they share in common is their great breadth of knowledge and their generosity as teachers.
Trish Gerber CER’12 (Basic Program)

There’s nothing better than to read with a group of people and share in rational discourse about great ideas, and it’s even better to do it with an instructor as your guide in the conversation.
Jeffrey Dougherty CER ’23 (Basic Program)

Guided by expert staff, and aided by students with a variety of experience and knowledge, I gained new understanding, opened myself to new points of view, and have grown intellectually.
Roberta Lee CER’22

Here I was introduced to perspectives from the humanities and social sciences that challenged me to approach things from different angles and become more tolerant to differences. Enrolling in Graham is the best decision I ever made.
Alvaro Iriarte MLA‘23

Exploring great books and new ideas with like-minded students and engaging instructors is a great gift.
Martin J. Friedman CER'20

Frequently Asked Questions

Review common questions about our courses. You can also contact us for more information.

Do we take assessments in these courses?

Graham School non-credit courses are not graded and therefore have no tests. They focus on nourishing a love of learning, allowing you to immerse yourself in topics and discussions you find interesting.

How can I best prepare for class?

Complete any assigned reading and come prepared to participate actively in classroom discussion. While not required, we offer an optional course to prepare students to engage with challenging works: How to Read Classic Texts. While this is presented as an introductory course for the Basic Program, students in other programs or open enrollment courses are also welcome to participate and grow their skills.

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Anyone who is interested in immersing themselves in these topics and engaging in deep discovery with others is welcome to take part in this course.

UChicago has a reputation for academic rigor. Will I be able to meaningfully participate in the classroom discussions? 

Yes. Our non-credit courses are built for adults who have life experience and want to learn. Our instructors create an inclusive learning environment by encouraging all students to participate, regardless of their academic background.

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The Graham School offers both online and in-person class experiences. The description for each course section specifies whether it will be offered online through Canvas or in person at the Gleacher Center in downtown Chicago.

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