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From: David@longley.demon.co.uk (David Longley)
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Subject: Re: Sartre vs. Freud
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Date: Wed, 26 Apr 1995 17:37:47 +0000
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In article <jqbD7Kyt8.Eot@netcom.com> jqb@netcom.com "Jim Balter" writes:

> Mark might choose to repeat this on his exam, which would leave him in a
> difficult position if he were examined further on his response.  For all
> he knows, this is a complete troll.  It would be better to offer him
> the sources and methods upon which this analysis is based.  Simply providing
> students with test answers defrauds the entire scholastic community (IMNSHO).
> 
> <J Q B>

Well, I think Dan's done quite a good job at describing 'bad faith', and it's
very much a Heidggerian notion too. I accept what Jim says too though. For 
what its worth, look through the index of Being & Nothingness for 'Bad Faith'
('mauvais fois' sp?) and have a look at 'A Sketch for a Theory of The Emotions'.
There may be another book of a similar name, I forget, if so read both. Sartre 
writes very clearly on this subject. 

Although Heidegger is the master on this matter (you have to read him as if you
're reading poetry though, which is anathema for Analytic Philosophers) - 
Sartre is really the inspiration for R D Laing's theories, and also, Gestalt 
*Therapy* (Fritz Perls). However, as these are regarded as fringe psychologists
mention them at your peril in an academic exam.

I think Dan is right to pitch the difference at the 'responsibility' level.
Existentialists will all argue that repression etc is a form of alientation
which We do to ourselves to avoid anxiety. Freud puts it ever so nicely and
lets us think that some other force does this to us, and therapy is a matter
of bringing it out of the unconsious. It's a kind of touch minded 'I am a whole
person who is responsible for all I do' line (existentialist) vs. 'the world is
a cruel, frightening, conflict ridden place which needs me to develop 
unconscious defense mechanisms to deal with it all' (the price is neuroses).
A sort of macho-romanticism vs passive-capitulation.

-- 
David Longley
