Making Ends (Of the World) Meet

Death is a necessary part of any life. However, having a fear of dying, “timor mortis”, can be experienced only by human beings. This course is inspired by Adam Roberts’ book It's the End of the World, where he connects fear of death with our wondering about apocalypse: “If one person eventually dies, then the whole of humanity may share this fate”. Now, when the Doomsday clock shows 90 seconds to midnight, it seems to be a good time to think about the end of the world.

In this course, students explore the different scenarios of apocalypses and how they shape our perception of the world. By examining various scenarios, students aim to gain a deeper understanding of the collective nature, our fears and vulnerabilities, and values for an individual and society. After a general introduction into the topic, students investigate different theoretical perspectives on apocalyptic scenarios, drawing from various fields such as culture, sociology, politics, and environmental studies.

We explore questions, including can the values and fear actually define the scenario of apocalypse? How does the vision of the ends of the world shape people’s values, beliefs, and behaviour? What insights can we gain about human nature and societal structures under extreme circumstances? What is going to happen in (and after) the end?

Course design by Excellence Track students: Alsu Battalova, Iulia Volokhova, Nikolai Kravchenko.