Thinking About Old Age: Philosophy, Literature, and Film
For Simone de Beauvoir and the French existentialists, there are two aspects to humanity — the objective facts and the subjective freedom by which we live those facts in our chosen way. As Sartre put it, “We are always free to make something out of what has been made of us.” In this seminar we will reflect on the meaning of old age, the challenges it presents, and the opportunities it affords through an exploration of four films, a couple of works of literature, and a few poems.
Faculty Bio
Bill Smoot is a writer of fiction and essays. He received his Ph.D. in philosophy from Northwestern University. He teaches college classes in San Quentin Rehabilitation Facility.
This is an In-Person-Only Course
- Classes meet in person at the Golden Bear Center, Suite 365, at 1995 University Ave., Berkeley
- Limited to 40 members
- You must be a current OLLI @Berkeley member to register. Learn about membership, including our fee assistance program.
Schedule Highlights
- Course starts on Monday, Sept. 14, and ends on Monday, Oct. 19
- Classes meet for 6 weeks, 2 hours per session (10 AM–noon)
- All course materials will remain available to view and enjoy in Member Dashboards through Dec. 31
Member Praise for Bill Smoot
This was absolutely one of my favorite OLLI courses. Bill is an engaging and intelligent instructor, well-versed in philosophy and film. The class discussions were excellent, and Bill was skilled at facilitating discussion.
Everything about this class was a pleasure. Wonderful instructor!
I appreciated the philosophical underpinnings that Bill discussed as a way of broadening my understanding. And I really enjoyed his sense of humor and the way he engages with the class and fosters discussion.