In “The Look,” Sartre discusses how we gain reflective self consciousness. Explain Sartre’s theory. How might one object to this theory? How might Sartre defend his theory?
- Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex
Beauvoir argues in the introduction to The Second Sex that woman has been defined as the Other in relation to man (but man is never defined in relation to woman). She writes, “She is defined and differentiated with reference to man and not he with reference to her; she is the incidental, the inessential as opposed to the essential. He is the Subject, he is the Absolute- she is the Other” (16). But unlike groups of people who have also been treated as the Other, Beauvoir argues that women have accepted this position. What argument(s) does Beauvoir offer in favor of this claim that woman is defined with reference to man? And how, according to Beauvoir, is woman’s position as Other unique, leading her to accept her subordinate position?
- Frantz Fanon, Black Skin White Faces
In Black Skin White Faces, Frantz Fanon gives a phenomenological-existential account of the reflective self-consciousness of a black person living in a racist French colony. His account is based on Sartre’s theory of reflective self-consciousness. In your essay, briefly explain Sartre’s theory. Then, explain how on Fanon’s account, the racist “other” alters it, and thus alters the reflective self-consciousness for a black person. If you have room, you may go on to describe how this altered self-consciousness affects Fanon’s experience.
- Maurice Merleau-Ponty, The World of Perception
We read three different radio lectures from Merleau-Ponty. Choose one of those lectures and give an account of the scientific view that Merleau-Ponty thinks is incorrect. Then, give Merleau-Ponty’s argument for why this view is wrong and what he thinks the right view is. Is Merleau-Ponty correct? Why or why not?
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