What Makes Life Meaningful? Perspectives from Anthropology



Overview

Around the world and across people’s lives, questions linger about what life is all about. Does existence have an inherent purpose? What is the meaning in – or of – my life? What happens when we die, and how should that influence life in the present? What should I do with myself, and why?  

Anthropology engages with the everyday realities of people’s lives, including their encounters with such questions. Through an anthropological framework, this course inquires into the multiple meanings that people inherit, construct, and seek across the varied circumstances of humankind. Rather than pursuing an absolute notion of ‘the meaning of life’, we will consider different cultural and subjective ‘meanings in life’. An anthropological approach fosters interest in human diversity while identifying the mutuality of our shared humanity. The course explores commonality and difference through a cross-cultural journey across the course of life.

We will examine various activities, relationships, and experiences accompanying different ages. As people navigate life’s paths and confront the limits of their existence, how do they make sense of their lives and act within them? The course invites self-reflection, situating ourselves as part of the inquiry. Together, we will consider how human beings experience their lives and attempt to infuse their time with significance.

This course is part of the Oxford University Summer School for Adults (OUSSA) programme.

Programme details

Seminars

Participants are taught in small seminar groups of up to 10 students, and receive two one-on-one tutorials with their tutor.

Sunday

Seminar 1: An introduction to the anthropology of socio-cultural and personal meaning 

Seminar 2: The life course

Monday

Seminar 3: Childhood, education, and freedom

Seminar 4: Meanings in work

Tuesday

Seminar 5: Leisure and escape

Seminar 6: Friendships, partnerships and romance

Wednesday

Seminar 7: Meanings of home

Seminar 8: Materiality, cultural meaning and personal meaning: field trip to the Pitt Rivers museum

Thursday

Seminar 9: Family, children, responsibility and care

Seminar 10: Meanings in older age

Friday

Seminar 11: Religion, politics, art and euphoria

Seminar 12: Symposium

Programme timetable

The daily timetable will normally be as follows:

Saturday

14.00–16.30 - Registration

16.30–17.00 - Orientation meeting

17.00–17.30 - Classroom orientation for tutor and students

17.30–18.00 - Drinks reception

18.00–20.00 - Welcome dinner

Sunday – Friday

09.00–10.30 - Seminar

10.30–11.00 - Tea/coffee break

11.00–12.30 - Seminar

12.30–13.30 - Lunch

13.30–18.00 - Afternoons are free for tutorials, individual study, course-related field trips or exploring the many places of interest in and around Oxford.

18.00–19.00 - Dinner (there is a formal gala dinner every Friday to close each week of the programme).

A range of optional social events will be offered throughout the summer school. These are likely to include: a quiz night, visit to historic pubs in Oxford, visit to Christ Church for Evensong and after-dinner talks and discussions.

Certification

Certificate of Attendance

All participants who complete the course will receive a physical Certificate of Attendance.

Digital badge

You will also be issued with an official digital badge of attendance. After the course, you will receive an email with a link and instructions on how to download this. You will be able to share this on social media and add to your email signature if you wish to do so.

Academic credit

OUSSA is an accredited summer school taught at undergraduate level; each one-week course carries 10 CATS (Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme) points at FHEQ (Framework for Higher Education Qualification) Level 4.

CATS points will be awarded to students who attend all classes and complete the on-course assignment to the required standard. Please see the 'assessment methods' section below for more details.

Certificate of Higher Education

Credit (CATS points) earned from OUSSA can be transferred towards our flexible Certificate of Higher Education. This part-time, award-bearing course lets you decide what, how and where you study by gaining credit from short courses, including short online courses, in-person weekly classes and OUSSA.

For full details, including transfering credit gained from OUSSA to the programme, see our Certificate of Higher Education programme page.

Fees

Description Costs
Fee Option 1 (Single en suite - inc. Tuition and Meals) £2205.00
Fee Option 2 (Double en suite - inc. Tuition and Meals) 1 person £2310.00
Fee Option 3 (Twin en suite - inc. Tuition and Meals) per person £1850.00
Fee Option 4 (No Accommodation - inc. Tuition, Lunch & Dinner) £1375.00

Funding

Concessionary rates are available on a non-residential basis for those that qualify. 

The concessionary fee is for non-residential attendance only; participants will then be responsible for finding their own accommodation. See full details including eligibility.

Payment

All fees are charged on a per week, per person basis.

Please be aware that all payments made via non-UK credit/debit cards and bank accounts are subject to the exchange rate on the day they are processed.

Course change administration fee: Please note that course transfers may be permitted in exceptional circumstances; however, in accordance with our Terms and Conditions, an administration fee of £50 will be charged.

Payment terms

  • If enrolling online: full payment by credit/debit card at the time of booking
  • If submitting an application form: full payment online by credit/debit card or via bank transfer within 30 days of invoice date

Cancellations and refunds

Please see the terms and conditions for our open-access courses.

The Department cannot be held responsible for any costs you may incur in relation to travel or accommodation bookings as a result of a course cancellation, or if you are unable to attend the course for any other reason. You are advised to check the terms and conditions carefully and to purchase travel insurance.

Tutor

Dr John Loewenthal

Dr John Loewenthal has been teaching lifelong learning courses in anthropology at the University of Oxford since 2017. He has held other research and teaching positions at Oxford Brookes University, New York University, the Centre for Research and Advanced Studies (Mexico), the University of Edinburgh, Keele University, and now SOAS, University of London. At SOAS, John works at the Centre for Anthropology and Mental Health Research in Action (CAMHRA) and is conducting the research project, ‘Anthropology, talking therapy, and education: intersections between theory and practice’. Alongside this, John practises as a psychotherapeutic counsellor working with individuals, couples, and families. John holds a First Class BA in Archaeology and Anthropology (St Hugh's College, Oxford), an MA in Anthropology and Education, as a Margaret Mead Fellow (Columbia University), and a PhD in Education (Oxford Brookes University, funded Studentship), with a thesis, ‘Aspirations of university graduates: an ethnography in New York and Los Angeles’. He also holds a Diploma in Relational Counselling and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. 

Course aims

This course aims to:

  • Introduce students to anthropology and/or develop their anthropological thinking. 
  • Combine academic literature, ethnographic examples, and students' experiences as part of our inquiry. 
  • Equip students with the curiosity and capacity to interpret what different activities and spaces may mean to people across societies and across life. 
  • Illustrate how meanings are constructed and experienced through social, cultural, historical, and subjective influence. 
  • Help students to make sense of and make the most of their lives.

Teaching methods

The teaching methods used during this course may include:

  • Short lectures/presentations
  • Physical handouts
  • Seminars/group discussions

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be expected to understand:

  • Conceptual and methodological approaches in anthropology and some differences and debates within the discipline. 
  • Theoretical perspectives on the social construction of reality. 
  • How the life course forms a medium for thinking about life’s meanings, and how meanings may change with age. 
  • The multiplicity and subjectivity of how meanings in life are experienced. 
  • Some ethnographic examples from around the world and the value of considering oneself as part of the anthropological project. 

Assessment methods

Participants are required to undertake preparatory reading and complete a pre-course assignment of 1,500 words. Although this does not count towards credit, it is seen as an important way of developing your ideas and is mandatory. The pre-course assignment is typically due in the first week of June.

You will be assessed during the summer school by either a 1,000 word written assignment or a presentation supported by individual documentation. To successfully gain credit (10 CATS points) students should attend all classes and complete the on-course assignment.

Participants will also attend two one-on-one tutorials with their tutor during the week.

Please see the 'certification' section for more details about CATS points.

Application

Most courses fill quickly so early registration is strongly recommended. If your preferred course is fully booked, you may wish to add yourself to the waiting list and the Programme Administrator will contact you should a place become available.

Please note, the programme is only open to those over the age of 18.

Online enrolment (single person accommodation and non-residential)

Single accommodation, double room for 1 person and non-residential places should be booked online by clicking on the 'Book now' button at the top of this page.

Online enrolments require payment in full at the time of registering.

Enrolment form (multi-occupancy or accessible accommodation)

Those requiring twin, double or accessible accommodation (including ground/lower floor accommodation) should complete an enrolment form as these rooms cannot be booked or requested online. 

Please send the completed enrolment form to the email address below. Both the PDF and Word option of the form below are editable, so you can complete them online before saving and sending to us as an email attachment. You do not need to print and scan them. (Please use these forms only if you are making a twin or double booking for two people.)

Those who have specific requirements (eg an accessible bedroom) should contact the Programme Administrator directly at oussa@conted.ox.ac.uk or OUSSA, University of Oxford Department for Continuing Education, 1 Wellington Square, OXFORD, OX1 2JA, UK.

Accommodation

Residential options are outlined below.

Please see the 'application' section above for guidance on how to book or request the right accommodation for you.

Residential option

This includes accommodation and all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner). 

View full details of Rewley House accommodation.

Non-residential option

We also offer places on a non-residential basis whereby participants can take classes and have meals (lunch and dinner) at Rewley House, having arranged their own accommodation elsewhere.

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support