The Artichoke Version of the Self

The Artichoke Version of the Self
Write a 2–3-page paper explaining the artichoke idea of the self. Remember to explain specific theories with supporting citations from the textbook and online lectures. (Here is a guide to help you with APA-style citations.)

As you develop your response, you might find some of the following questions to be relevant:
What is the existential idea of the self?
What do you make of the feminist, existential, and non-Western critiques of/alternatives to the essentialist/avocado self? Are there any problems with the idea that human beings are fundamentally rational creatures?
So, you will do the following in your paper: (1) explain the artichoke view of the self and how it differs from the avocado view; (2) explain the main ideas of existentialism, including the idea that existence determines essence; (3) discuss the feminist critique of the avocado view, i.e. the concern that men have traditionally been considered more reasonable (and, therefore, more human) than women. It is important to note that both versions of the self can acknowledge the role of environmental influences and reason in human nature; the difference is in whether these qualities are universal, unique to humans, and determine who we are in a fundamental way or whether we create our essence through our actions and factual reality. For instance, someone who adheres to the avocado view could say that while our core rational capacity is both universal and unchanging, our ability to control our emotions can be impacted by our environment, gender, etc. Furthermore, we may have non-essential characteristics (like personal taste, for instance) that are shaped by environmental factors. According to the artichoke view, however, our free response to our environment is what makes us who we are. Artichokers may agree that we are capable of rational deduction and linguistic communication, but disagree that all people share the same fundamental logic. Existentialists do think that all human beings are free, but this is realized only in the expression of said freedom and, therefore, cannot be said to be the core essence of human beings.