“Topics in Feminism.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 15 March 2004. 3 April
2008 http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/feminism-topics/

    The “Topics in Feminism” entry in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy explains the most common uses of the term “feminism” along with alternative views of feminism, including more radical and more conservative positions. As the article defines it, feminism is the “movement which seeks justice for women and the end of sexism in all forms.” The article explains various beliefs and specific movements within feminist thought. It notes the various scopes of feminist belief, and explains both the normative and descriptive accounts of feminism. It also explains the diversity among feminists, the fact that many individuals do not agree on what precisely feminism is or what should result from the feminist effort. The article also notes the most basic principles of feminism, which nearly all feminists do share, and addresses the fundamental female concern of sex-based injustice. Analysis of the conflict within the movement is also supplied. The article also notes some important sub-topics in the field of feminist philosophy, and it briefly summarizes their importance and supplies links to articles on these topics.
    This article is extremely relevant to the research topic as it explains extensively the themes, goals, and movements within feminism. Because a discussion of divorce as raised by Kramer vs. Kramer almost necessarily raises the issue of feminism and its influence on Joanna (as representative of mothers as a whole), the topic is crucial to forming an argument regarding the research question. In addition, Kramer vs. Kramer was released when the “second” wave of feminism was coming to an end and dramatic shifts in social expectations were occurring. Such information is essential to placing the movie in its appropriate historical and social contexts.

Keith Chapin says a wonderfully readable account of the Pantheism Controversy (pp. 44-108), cited in Hoffmann's Writings on Music (19th Century Music, Summer 2006).

"Eating Meat and Eating People"

Waller, Bruce N. Neglected Psychological Elements of Free Will. Philosophy, Psychiatry, & Psychology. Volume 11, Number 2, June 2004: 111-118. This journal article by Bruse Waller offers both insight on the psychological elements behind free will and criticism of contemporary philosophers who, according to Waller, ignore concepts of psychology that are necessary for fully understanding free will. Free will is apparently based on external factors, as well as two factors within the human mind: a locus of control, and a belief in self-efficacy. A locus of control is essentially a belief that one.s choices control the path of one.s life. A belief in self-efficacy is a belief in one.s competency or ability to make good, informed decisions. Waller criticizes existentialists and philosophers, both of whom fail to grasp both the concept of locus of control and self efficacy. Existentialists, Waller says, believe that free will requires a complete locus of control, and absence of self-efficacy. Therefore if individuals want to have free will they must fully believe in their ability to control their lives, but all decisions must be made with complete uncertainty because individuals must not have self efficacy. Philosophers, on the other hand, believe that humans with free will can possess confidence in their self-efficacy, but realize that their lives are controlled by external factors, and thus they must lack a locus of control. Waller is of the belief that both a locus of control and self-efficacy are necessary for a person to have free will and therefore philosophers should study these elements more closely. If a person lacks one element, then he or she will either surrender to external factors or be paralyzed by the uncertainty of his or her decisions. Waller.s article covers one of the main themes within Vivre Sa Vie. Godard explores an individual woman who believes she possesses free will, but who, in reality, is controlled by external factors. Waller brings up an example of such a person: someone who possesses a free will, but is completely lacking control. Waller states that this is an especially cruel scenario and draws a metaphor of a child being given a toy steering wheel and being told it controls a vehicle that is, in reality, completely out of the child.s control.

Up-to-date dictionary useful for quick look-ups of philosophical terms.

Authoritative entries on both philosophical topics and the lives and works of major philosophers.