The purpose of this essay is to examine, based on a qualitative semiotic image analysis, how the animated documentary Five Years After the War relates to authenticity in relation to animated realism. Parts of the film have been selected to characterize animated realism. The study discusses current concepts in the genre such as oxymoron, familization and defamiliarization. The study's theoretical starting points are stereotyping and contradictions as well as equivalence between characters, empathy and choices of color. The analysis interprets the underlying characters through connotations, which are divided into different sections in relation to the theoretical starting points and animated realism. The results show how the genre seen as oxymoronic, where animation and realism are in opposition to each other, can be reflected in this film. The scenes create contradictions and critical thinking in the underlying characters which in turn leads to an understanding of the signs and which thus becomes authentic. / Syftet med denna uppsats är att utifrån en kvalitativ semiotisk bildanalys undersöka hur den animerade dokumentärfilmen Five Years After the War förhåller sig till autenticitet i förhållande till animerad realism. Delar av filmen har valts ut som kännetecknar animerad realism. Undersökningen diskuterar begreppen aktuella inom genren såsom oxymoron, familisering samt defamilisering. Undersökningens teoretiska utgångspunkter är stereotypisering och motsatsförhållanden samt likvärdighet mellan karaktärer, empati och färgval. Analysen tolkas underliggande tecken genom konnotationer, som delas upp i olika avsnitt i förhållande till de teoretiska utgångspunkterna och animerad realism. Resultatet visar på hur genren som setts som oxymoronisk, där animation och realism står i motsats till varandra, går att avspeglas i denna film. Scenerna skapar motsättningar och kritiskt tänkande i de underliggande tecknen som i sin tur leder till förståelse för karaktären och som på så vis blir autentisk.

No / The purpose of this paper is to highlight the importance of constraints in the theory of relativity and, in particular, what philosophical work they do for Einstein's views on the laws of physics. Einstein presents a view of local ``structure laws'' which he characterizes as the most appropriate form of physical laws. Einstein was committed to a view of science, which presents a synthesis between rational and empirical elements as its hallmark. If scientific constructs are free inventions of the human mind, as Einstein, held, the question arises how such rational constructs, including the symbolic formulation of the laws of physics, can represent physical reality. Representation in turn raises the question of realism. Einstein uses a number of constraints in the theory of relativity to show that by imposing constraints on the rational elements a certain ``fit'' between theory and reality can be achieved. Fit is to be understood as satisfaction of constraint. His emphasis on reference frames in the STR and more general coordinate systems in the GTR, as well as his emphasis on the symmetries of the theory of relativity suggests that Einstein's realism is akin to a certain form of structural realism. His version of structural realism follows from the theory of relativity and is independent of any current philosophical debates about structural realism.

This thesis aims to analyse the motives behind the Kishida government’s modern Japanese security strategy. The new doctrine has taken a more offensive posture and allows for counterattacks and exports of lethal weapons despite the limits set by the pacifist clause in the constitution. The motive is based on qualitative analysis of Japanese policy in the past decade and documents published by government institutions responsible for the nation’s security. The analysis is done through the theoretical framework of Offensive Realism which places the nation state as the primary actor ininternational relations where each state is seen as maximizing its available power for the sake of survival in an anarchic system. Offensive Realism helps define Japan’s role in the world and relations to both the nations that pose a threat and to Japan and its’ allies.  The result of this essay is that East Asia is found to be an unbalanced multipolar system with China as its’ potential hegemon. Japan is forced to strengthen its Alliance with the United States, ease its’ Arms export restrictions, and adopt a more aggressive posture open for counter strikes in case of attack, to maintain the status quo and protect its sovereignty

In recent years geopolitical developments which involve powerful states clashing have demonstrated the fragility of small states and their positions within the international system. It is evident that changing hegemony has a greater impact on small states than the most powerful ones. This paper aims to research how one can understand - to a certain extent - the intractable situation between the People's Republic of China and Republic of China Taiwan through a Singaporean narrative. The objective is to further develop critical thinking on the issue by applying and testing neorealism as well as defensive realism as a theoretical approach. Realism is considered as the most sufficient theoretical framework to examine the research topic with. The critical assesment is based on empirical research and relevant circumstances as well as a historical dimensions. By analyzing the case of Singapore as a small state in southeast Asia with core elements within realism such as neorealism and defensive realism, it generates further understanding of the Singaporean standpoint in the China-Taiwan issue. The study found with regards to ethnical history as well as military and economic power that China possess, it is evident that further tension and possible escalation of the conflict would have a major impact on Singapore both economically and politically.

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During the Syrian conflict the number of European Foreign Fighters has increased exponentially and has become an ever-growing concern for European policymakers. This phenomenon presents host of major security challenges for European policymakers and governments. Among European countries, France provides the highest number of citizens who have gone to Syria to fight against Assad´s regime. The French authorities have estimated that by mid-2014, over 700 French citizens have left France and travelled to Syria to fight. Historically France has had a relationship with Syria which started with its role as a border-drawing colonial power. Grounded in a framework of realism, that emphasizes nation-states as the primary actor within the international system, the analysis concentrates on the role of France´s foreign policy on the Syria as push factor for terrorism and radicalization. This paper attempts to determinate a specific correlation between the policy that France has been conducting towards Syria between 2000 and 2015, and the phenomenon of French Foreign Fighters. Findings suggest that France´s foreign policy towards Syria is the main root cause of the French Foreign Fighters phenomenon.

Det råder väldigt olika åsikter när det kommer till den berömda Mozart-effekten, som kortfattat har sin basis i att du blir smartare av att lyssna på hans musik. Vissa studier vill hävda ett samband mellan Mozart och inlärning medan andra avvisar det helt. Genom att utgå från en egen studie, samt teorierna Agentiell Realism och Situerad Kunskap, så introduceras alternativa syn- och förhållningssätt, som möjliggör en inblick i den komplexa natur vi befinner oss i - som i sin tur kan försvåra ställningstagandet i att värdera information som absolut sanning. De upptäckter som gjorts i denna studie tyder på att oändliga mängder av faktorer ligger till grund för att de erhållna resultaten ser ut som den gör - vilket också belyser de möjliga utfall som hade kunnat inträffa, än de som just inträffat. Vi belyser även vikten av subjektiva upplevelser, då dessa har en stor vikt i hur resultaten färgas - då samma resultat kan utläsas annorlunda, beroende på hur man som individ och grupp väljer att tolka dessa. Datan tyder då på att vi inte kan uppnå hela sanningen - bara en del av den. / There are a lot of different opinions regarding the Mozart Effect; which is based on you getting smarter by listening to his music. Some studies claim there is a connection between Mozart and learning, while some studies claim the opposite. By conducting our own study, incoperated with the theories Agential Realism and Situated Knowledge, a new approach emerges enabling a glimpse of the complex nature we are a part of - a glimpse which can aggrevate the standpoint on determine information as an absolute truth. Our findings suggest that infinite amounts of factors are involved regarding the evaluation of your results and findings - which also illustrates the possible outcomes that could have occurred, in addition to the current one. We also illustrate the importance of subjective experiences, as they are crucial to how the results are processed - the same results can be perceived differently, depending on how you as an individual or a group choose to interpret the data. Our findings suggest that we can not achieve the complete truth - only a part of it.

One of the core questions in contemporary metaethics concerns the nature and status of moral claims. However, this question presupposes that morality is unified, and that a single metaethical account will suffice. This thesis aims to challenge that presupposition. In particular, I argue that there is a substantial theoretical payoff to be had from combining two distinct metaethical theories – realism, on the one hand, and constructivism, on the other – whilst limiting the scope of each. In the realist case, the discourse aims to describe a particular feature of reality; in the constructivist case, the discourse aims to solve some of the coordination problems faced by people as social beings. We have, therefore, two distinct sources of moral reasons. The resulting ‘hybrid’ theory is appealing at the metaethical level, but also yields an attractive picture at the applied level. Specifically, it retains the core intuition underlying utilitarianism, whilst incorporating a broadly contractarian account of morality. On this account, our reasons for not harming other persons are at least the same as our reasons for not harming animals – but we have additional reasons to refrain from harming persons. Chapter One establishes a moderate presumption in favour of moral realism, understood as the claim that moral discourse aims to represent the world, deals in objective truths, and yields statements capable of truth or falsity. Chapter Two addresses arguments for moral antirealism: these arguments can be met by restricting the scope of moral realism. Chapter Three explores the content of the resultant moral realism: specifically, realism about the intrinsic value of hedonic states. Chapter Four deals with that part of morality which is unaccounted for by restricted moral realism, and offers an outline form of contractarian constructivism. Chapter Five investigates the consequences of the hybrid metaethical theory for applied ethics.

published_or_final_version / English Studies / Master / Master of Arts