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This dissertation explores Ainslie's account of self-defeating behaviour as portrayed in Breakdown of Will (2001). Self-defeating behaviour can be described as voluntarily doing that which we know we are going to end up regretting (Ainslie 2001:3). It is puzzling why anyone would willingly choose to behave in such an ill-rewarding manner of which they know the negative consequences it will bear prior to them engaging in that behaviour; yet, at the same time, it is also fascinating, as despite it being behaviour people know that they are undoubtedly going to regret; many can claim to have fallen prey to it. Exploring this weakness of self-defeating behaviour, I refer to Ainslie's explanation of the phenomenon and his suggestions regarding possible strategies for curbing it. One of the strategies Ainslie suggests against self-defeating behaviour is personal rules (also known as the will), which he argues is a form of intertemporal bargaining between the successive interests, or temporal stages of the self (Ainslie 2001:78-85). Although, for the most part, his description is quite detailed, comparing our successive selves to players in an iterated prisoner’s dilemma game, there are limitations in his explanation as he seems, for one, not to consider some of the conditions for cooperation associated to the concept of an iterated prisoners' dilemma game. I, thus, turn to social norm theorist, Bicchieri's The Grammar of society (2006), in an attempt at an improved illustration of personal rules beyond its comparison to an iterated prisoner's dilemma game. I note similarities between social norms (Bicchieri) and personal rules (Ainslie) such that the reasons we follow social norms could be analogous to the reasons behind us following certain personal rules. But Bicchieri's description of social norms can be explained in a more general way, which I suggest may be a better framework for thinking about the will than an iterated prisoner's dilemma. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2011.

There is nothing in history which can be classified as an isolated event with no bearing on the whole. The Warsaw Rising of 1944 may seem to be a remote episode in the history of Polish-Soviet relations but it has, in fact, many aspects, not the least of which is its context in the history of twentieth century world relationships. It would have been beyond the scope of this work to analyze all these aspects. I have only attempted to present the genesis of the Warsaw Rising in the Polish underground struggle against the Germans and in the Polish-Soviet relations during world War II of which it is also the climax and the last forceful expression of dissent. [...]

Adam von Trott zu Solz was a participant in the German resistance to Hitler and to the National Socialist government. This thesis will describe his early life, his education and his political formation. Trott's foreign policy initiatives in England and his efforts to reactivate plans for a coup d'etat during the summer of 1939 will be examined.

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For almost 35 years the work carried out by the Brazilian artist Lygia Clark between the 1950s and until her death, in 1988, has attracted the attention of both Brazilian and European scholars and critics. Since special attention has only been given to her post-1969 work, the work carried out until 1969 has been overlooked. In particular, I would argue that through the incorporation of the human body Clark's 1959-1964 Bicho series is the first spatial performative strategy developed by Clark during the 1960s and against which all her subsequent production needs to be read. / The present essay is thus an attempt to read as spatial performative strategies Clark's Bicho series with and against the Brazilian reception of Mondrian, reception which, as I would argue has been overlooked in the context of her work. Furthermore, I would argue that in order for us to better understand how the Bicho series unfold as spatial performative strategies the Brazilian reception of Mondrian must be approached through the Brazilian reception of Merleau-Ponty's phenomenology and political and cultural movements of the time. While the role played by Merleau-Ponty's incorporation of the human body in Clark's work has not been closely examined, Clark's engagement with the political and cultural movements of her time has been underestimated. I would argue that any attempt to give an account of Clark's practice needs to take into consideration the role these three aspects played in her engagement with the problem of representation.

This thesis is an historical examination of the most radical antireligious policy in Eastern Europe under Communism. It will document the Albanian government's religious policy during the Communist period between 1944--1991, devoting special attention to the policy initiated during the Albanian Cultural Revolution (1967) which outlawed all religious practice of Islam and Christianity, public and private, for a period of twenty-three years. Historical factors which had bearing on the Albanian regime's militant atheism will be surveyed. The ideology of the Albanian Communist Party, the main component of which is nationalism, will be cited as the foundation of the "World's First Atheist State." This research will further address the he vulnerabilities of Albanian religious institutions, making possible their vulnerabilities of Albanian religious institutions, making possible their abolition by the state, as well as the significant amount of popular resistance to the state's official atheism, ensuring the return of Islam and Christianity to Albanian society.

Walker's latest three novels address in some way walker's notions of spirituality and her idea that many people suffer from a type of spiritual sickness which prevents them from realizing the fullest extent of their spirituality. The well as with themselves. Possessing the Secret of Joy doesnot discuss Walker's thoughts on spirituality as much as her earlier works. Instead, the book focuses on Tashi, the main character, who suffers a form of physical mutilation which leads to her spiritual suffering.By looking at Walker's novels and by reading other works, both fictional and nonfictional, including the influential work The Great Cosmic Mother by Monica Sjoo and Barbara Mor, I have developed a theory of Walker's spirituality. Using this idea about spirituality, I then examined Walker's novels for evidence of forms of spiritual sickness in her characters and studied the ways in which the characters overcame their respective spiritual difficulties. / Department of English

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This thesis has examined the 1940 pre-convention speeches of Wendell Willkie. The primary objective of the study was to discover and examine some of the chief rhetorical strategies employed by Willkie in his attempt to overcome serious rhetorical problems, to gain the Republican party nomination, and to achieve national prominence. The study traced Willkie'e personal and political development, discussed the major issues of the campaign, and focused on Willkie's major persuasive strategies.The analysis of the strategies of 'attack' and 'unity and principle' revealed that Willkie was competent in his choice and development of issues, effective in reducing the significance of his rhetorical problems, and successful in his attempt to gain national prominence in a short period of time. One might conclude that Willkie's rhetorical choices reflected an understanding of and an adaptation to the rhetorical climate and audience in 1940.