The Department of Philosophy is pleased to announce that Justine Sander has been awarded a URI Undergraduate Researcher Stipend of a value of $5,000 to conduct research on a project titled "Existential Freedom and the Political" under the supervision of Dr. Marie-Eve Morin this summer.
Abstract: How does the interpretation of freedom on an individual basis affect society? Is freedom more of an individual endeavour, or should it be considered the responsibility of a collective? Freedom is often considered to be a property or project of the individual. Existentialists, such as Simone de Beauvoir and Jean Paul Sartre, also emphasize the absolute freedom of the individual. However, society also plays a role. By analyzing the texts of Beauvoir and Sartre I will produce a clear map of the relation between individual freedom and society and will use this conceptual map to shed clarity on recent political events such as the US travel ban. This project will explore the ramifications of individual freedom in relation to the oppression of others. I will ask whether or not securing individual freedom should come before the promotion and protection of othe
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