What is existentialism? Explain Jean-Paul Sartre's ...

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What is existentialism?
 
  Explain Jean-Paul Sartre's existentialist position on the nature of free actions.

Question 2

Discuss philosopher Sandra Bartky's perspective of psychological oppression as it relates to the feminist view.
 
  Need forum contributions on Psychological oppression :) please

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Answer to Question 1

Existentialism: A philosophical and literary movement that focuses on the uniqueness of each human individual as distinguished from abstract universal human qualities.
- Existentialism was defined by Sartre as existence precedes essence, meaning that humans create themselves through free choices and are responsible for who they are.
- While William James was most concerned with establishing the possibility of freedom, Sartre's view of freedom is extreme: We are condemned to be totally free, a radical view of freedom that makes us completely responsible for who we are.

Answer to Question 2

Psychological oppression occurs when one adopts social norms that identify oneself as inferior to a dominant group.
- Psychological oppression prevents women from understanding how social forces systematically inhibit their abilities to freely choose or be autonomous.
- This tacit approval of the status quo inhibits challenges to both external and internal constraints on women's freedom.
- As members of a subordinated group, women face significant negative constraints on their life choices compared to men.
- The possibility of free choice could be a viable vehicle to eliminate these negative external and internal constraints. But meaningful exercise of free choice is contingent on becoming aware of the fact and nature of repressive forces and then making consistent, determined choices to liberate oneself from them.