Thesis advisor: Caroline Bicks / In the last ten years, Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues has morphed from a successful off-Broadway production into an activist movement that fosters fundraising productions of the play by community and campus groups in almost every country. In this thesis, I examine how the ‘body stories’ told by actual women made it to community stages all over the world through a series of translations: first, how Ensler poetically/theatrically interprets their stories; second, how the monologic form (and the current multiple-actor form) of the play affects the meaning of those stories; third, projecting how the audience reacts to those stories; and last, suggesting possibilities for broadening the audience’s experience into community discussion and social change. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2010. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: English Honors Program. / Discipline: College Honors Program. / Discipline: English.

Thesis advisor: Mary J. Hughes / Based on the current sociological views of gender, this paper will examine the various constructs of femininities and masculinities as observed in stream of consciousness fiction. Using Virginia Woolf's To the Lighthouse and William Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury, one can view the interactions of pressures which establish characters' resistance or acceptance of gender roles. Because of their narrative styles, both Woolf and Faulkner provide perspectives which would normally be concealed. The characters will be organized and analyzed based upon their generations and genders, concluding with aspects of both novels which do not fit into this schema. These "complications" also bear heavily on the implications of gender in both novels, highlighting the authors' individual intentions in writing. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2008. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: College Honors Program.

Este trabalho tem como objetivo a análise dos espaços e suas influências no modo de ser das personagens principais do romance Ensaio sobre a cegueira, de José Saramago. Para tanto, analisaremos as diferentes tipologias espaciais no romance, ou seja, espaços interiores, exteriores, ínferos e labirínticos e sua importância quanto ao desenvolvimento do tema proposto pelo narrador. De início, apresentamos um breve estudo sobre a tipologia espacial e sua importância para o estudo da narrativa; em seguida, analisamos os espaços ínferos na obra tendo como foco o manicômio e a igreja; depois, examinamos os espaços labirínticos das ruas, da cidade e do supermercado; posteriormente, estudamos os espaços horizontais e verticais como as casas de algumas personagens centrais. Além disso, tratamos menipéia como expediente que contribui para a formação da autoconsciência das personagens e revela o hibridismo do texto. / The aim of this work is to present an analysis of the space and its influence over the way of being of the main characters in José Saramago\'s work Ensaio sobre a cegueira. We will analyse the different spatial typology in the novel, it means, interior, exterior, inferior and labyrinthic spaces and their importance to the development of the narrator\'s proposed theme. From the beginning, we present a brief study of the spatial typology and its importance to the study of the narrative; subsequently, we analyse the inferior spaces focusing the institution for mentally ill people and the church; moreover, we analyse the labyrinthic spaces of streets, city and supermarket; later, we study the horizontal and vertical spaces such as the houses of some of the main characters. Besides, we deal with menipeia as something that contributes to the formation of the characters\' self-consciousness and reveals the hybridism of the text.

Este trabalho tem como objetivo a análise dos espaços e suas influências no modo de ser das personagens principais do romance Ensaio sobre a cegueira, de José Saramago. Para tanto, analisaremos as diferentes tipologias espaciais no romance, ou seja, espaços interiores, exteriores, ínferos e labirínticos e sua importância quanto ao desenvolvimento do tema proposto pelo narrador. De início, apresentamos um breve estudo sobre a tipologia espacial e sua importância para o estudo da narrativa; em seguida, analisamos os espaços ínferos na obra tendo como foco o manicômio e a igreja; depois, examinamos os espaços labirínticos das ruas, da cidade e do supermercado; posteriormente, estudamos os espaços horizontais e verticais como as casas de algumas personagens centrais. Além disso, tratamos menipéia como expediente que contribui para a formação da autoconsciência das personagens e revela o hibridismo do texto. / The aim of this work is to present an analysis of the space and its influence over the way of being of the main characters in José Saramago\'s work Ensaio sobre a cegueira. We will analyse the different spatial typology in the novel, it means, interior, exterior, inferior and labyrinthic spaces and their importance to the development of the narrator\'s proposed theme. From the beginning, we present a brief study of the spatial typology and its importance to the study of the narrative; subsequently, we analyse the inferior spaces focusing the institution for mentally ill people and the church; moreover, we analyse the labyrinthic spaces of streets, city and supermarket; later, we study the horizontal and vertical spaces such as the houses of some of the main characters. Besides, we deal with menipeia as something that contributes to the formation of the characters\' self-consciousness and reveals the hybridism of the text.

O objetivo desta dissertação é de apresentar que existe forte relação entre passar no teste de marca e ser capaz de entender representações. Para isso se inicia formando uma base para a discussão da consciência, chegando a conclusão de que a consciência é um problema biológico e como tal deve ser respondido por meio da Biologia. Tendo concluído que a capacidade de se reconhecer (self-recognition) é uma das características da consciência, apresenta-se o teste de marca, faz-se a sua defesa chegando a conclusão de que ele é um teste capaz de apontar se o animal é capaz ou não se de reconhecer por eliminação de qualquer outro tipo de resultado. Por fim, apresenta-se a ligação entre passar no teste de marca e ser capaz de entender representações, colocando a capacidade de se reconhecer como uma prova dessa capacidade / The main goal of this dissertation is to show that exist a strong relationship between have a positive result in the mark test and be capable of understand representations. For it, we began building a base for the discussion of consciousness, concluding that consciousness is a biological issue and for it need to be answered by Biology. We concluded that the capacity of self-recognition is one of features of consciousness and showing that the mark test is capable to show if the animal is or not capable of self-recognition by elimination of any another kind of result. In the end, we show a bond between have a positive result in the mark test and be able to understand representations, putting the capability of self-recognition as a prove of it

John Locke claims both that ‘person' is a forensic term and that personal identity consists in sameness of consciousness. The aim of my dissertation is to explain and critically assess how Locke links his moral and legal account of personhood to his account of personal identity in terms of sameness of consciousness. My interpretation of Locke's account of persons and personal identity is embedded in Locke's sortal-dependent account of identity. Locke's sortal-dependent account of identity provides an important theoretical framework for my interpretation: It makes clear that Locke's account of personhood is to be considered separately from his account of personal identity. My approach gives full credit to Locke's claim that ‘person' is a forensic term, because I argue that persons, according to Locke, belong to a moral and legal kind of being: they are subjects of accountability. On this basis I argue that two components explain why Locke argues that personal identity consists in sameness of consciousness: firstly, his particular moral and legal conception of a person, and, secondly, his particular understanding of the conditions of just accountability and just reward and punishment. Given one accepts Locke's conception of a person and his understanding of the conditions of just accountability, it will be easy to see why Locke regards sameness of consciousness to be necessary for personal identity, but the more challenging question is whether sameness of consciousness is also sufficient. I critically assess this question by considering Locke's account of persons and personal identity within Locke's epistemological, metaphysical and religious views. I will argue that, at least from the divine perspective, the underlying ontological constitution has to be taken into consideration and that it is a verbal question whether Locke's term ‘consciousness' refers not only to phenomenologically given consciousness, but also to the underlying ontological constitution.

Chong-Fuk Lau. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 123-127). / Abstract --- p.3 / Chapter 1. --- Introduction --- p.7 / Chapter 1.1. --- The General Problem of Transcendental Philosophy --- p.10 / Chapter 1.2. --- The Concept of Method --- p.14 / Chapter 1.3. --- The Concept of Transcendental Method --- p.17 / Chapter 1.4. --- The Under-Thematized Problem --- p.20 / Chapter 2. --- Kant's Transcendental Method --- p.23 / Chapter 2.1. --- Negative Elucidation --- p.23 / Chapter 2.1.1. --- The Hypothetical Interpretation --- p.23 / Chapter 2.1.2. --- The Analytic Interpretation --- p.26 / Chapter 2.2. --- Positive Elucidation --- p.33 / Chapter 2.2.1. --- Illumination from the Doctrine of Method --- p.38 / Chapter 2.2.1.1. --- Mathematical and Philosophical Method --- p.39 / Chapter 2.2.1.2. --- The Guide of Possible Experience --- p.42 / Chapter 2.2.1.3. --- The Criteria of Transcendental Method --- p.48 / Chapter 2.2.2. --- The Structure of Self-Referentiality --- p.53 / Chapter 2.2.3. --- Kant's Program of Deduction --- p.63 / Chapter 2.2.4. --- The Problem of Reflection --- p.69 / Chapter 2.3. --- Transition to the Under-Thematized Problem --- p.71 / Chapter 3. --- The Problem of Self-Consciousness --- p.76 / Chapter 3.1. --- A Brief Review of the History of the Problem --- p.78 / Chapter 3.2. --- Kant's Explicit Doctrine of Self-Consciousness --- p.81 / Chapter 3.2.1. --- The Doctrine of Inner Sense --- p.84 / Chapter 3.2.2. --- The Criticism of Rational Psychology --- p.90 / Chapter 3.3. --- Approaching a Coherent Interpretation --- p.95 / Chapter 3.3.1. --- The Apparent Conflict and the Clue to Its Solution --- p.95 / Chapter 3.3.2. --- The Concept of Consciousness in Self-Consciousness --- p.99 / Chapter 3.3.2.1. --- Consciousness versus Experience --- p.100 / Chapter 3.3.2.2. --- Consciousness versus Cognition --- p.105 / Chapter 3.3.3. --- The Concept of Self in Self-Consciousness --- p.108 / Chapter 3.3.4. --- The Problem of Reflection Revisited --- p.112 / Chapter 3.4. --- The Need of Further Exploration --- p.116 / Chapter 4. --- Conclusion --- p.121 / Chapter 5. --- Bibliography --- p.123 / Chapter 5.1. --- Kant's Works in German Original --- p.123 / Chapter 5.2. --- English Translations and Abbreviations of Kant's Works --- p.123 / Chapter 5.3. --- English References --- p.124 / Chapter 5.4. --- Chinese References --- p.127 / Chapter 6. --- Indices --- p.128 / Chapter 6.1. --- Index of Names --- p.128 / Chapter 6.2. --- Index of Citations from Kant's Texts --- p.129

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-27T17:26:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Maria Conceicao Zuliani.pdf: 502431 bytes, checksum: 4c4855973d031f6a6cd11d8a98ba92bb (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-11-23 / The theme of this dissertation is the concept of social consciousness in the philosophy of the North American thinker Charles Sanders Peirce (1839-1914). We propose in this work to make a cut, through the study of various writings of Peirce and the experts of his work, which leads us to a concept of social consciousness. We assume, as justification for this research, to make a contribution and the translation to Portuguese of the text Immortality in the Light of Synechism, through a selection of articles translated and commented, contemplating the development ontological, logical and phenomenological of his doctrine of continuity and semiotics / O tema desta dissertação é o conceito de consciência social, na filosofia do pensador norte americano Charles Sanders Peirce (1839-1914). Propomo-nos, neste trabalho fazer um recorte, através do estudo de diversos textos de Peirce e seus comentadores, que nos leve a um conceito de consciência social. Supomos, como justificativa para esta pesquisa, trazer uma contribuição, além da tradução para o português do texto Imortalidade à luz do Sinequismo1, por meio de uma seleção de artigos traduzidos e comentados, contemplando o desenvolvimento ontológico, lógico e fenomenológico de sua doutrina da continuidade e da semiótica

This thesis will explore whether those interested in Buddhist practices such as mindfulness but who approach such practices from a broadly secular perspective can be offered reasons to take rebirth seriously as an afterlife possibility. It will begin by exploring some of the history of mindfulness and its adoption from Buddhism to show how foundational cosmological elements such as rebirth have been side-lined as part of a wider movement to bring Buddhism in line with modernist, particularly scientific, discourses. The thesis will investigate the philosophical principles behind the Buddhist multi-life perspective in order to see whether arguments could be rallied in defence of it. This will involve focussing specifically on the argument in defence of rebirth offered by Dharmakīrti and show how its premises draw from philosophical principles adopted by the earliest Buddhist philosophical systems. Dharmakīrti’s argument will be examined within the context of contemporary philosophy of consciousness where philosophers such as Evan Thompson and Galen Strawson have challenged the view that consciousness could arise from entirely unconscious factors. This challenge aligns with a key premise of Dharmakīrti’s argument for rebirth as well as Buddhist Abhidharma principles. Arguments against the emergence of consciousness from unconscious factors strengthen the case for claiming that consciousness cannot simply appear at the beginning of life and disappear at death. Whilst supporting Strawson’s arguments, the thesis will ultimately reject his claim that an individual consciousness could be constructed from, and ultimately collapse into, multiple consciousnesses. From here it will be argued that conscious experiences arise as part of an unbroken stream that can neither arise from nor collapse into rudimentary factors that are devoid of the distinctive characteristics of consciousness. The argument will conclude by suggesting that the stream of consciousness involves an inseparable capacity for retention and recall. This capacity provides the possibility for the sort of psychological continuity between lives that, within traditional Buddhist cosmology, allows an ordinary being to cultivate the extraordinary personal qualities of a Buddha.

The aim of this thesis is to provide an argument that enhancement technologies are a form of enablement more significant than their physical effects; rather, that enhancement might be a fundamental element of humanity. This allows a refutation of the standard bioconservative position, that to increase capacity beyond that of a "normal" Homo sapiens necessarily defeats humanity, or at least nebulous aspects of it. I here argue instead that humanity is affirmed, and furthermore that enhancements are in fact inherently good, valuable, and worthwhile pursuits; on the assumption that it is, as critics of enhancements and transhumanism say, inherently good, valuable, and worthy of preservation to be human. I suggest thus that to enhance is the essence of, and the key to, the continuum of humanity. In the introduction, I set out the reasons why this type of research is increasingly necessary, namely that it is important to rationally consider the effects which new enhancement and related technologies will have on our persons and on our society. Secondly, it presents my rationales for taking liberal stances on questions such as the scope and definition of enhancement, the supposed therapy- enhancement divide, and on access to enhancement technology; in order to provide a reasoned base from which to build the core themes of the thesis. It goes on to address a number of the archetypical critical arguments against enhancement, in support of these core themes. Part II of the thesis contains the papers and delivers the main arguments in sequence- firstly, the need for the application of rationality in policymaking and commentary on bioethical concerns, and secondly the importance of considering motivation when attempting to divine the best course of action to regulate beings and technologies that we have not yet experienced, and the manner of which we cannot entirely predict. This is followed by an argument as to whether it is reasonable to treat enhanced or other purported novel beings that could result from these technologies as different from ourselves, and thus warranting such policy considerations. To accomplish this, the thesis delivers a fresh angle on the relationship between Homo sapiens sapiens, the human, and whatever is posited to supersede it, the posthuman. A central theme is the idea that humanity is a "matter of sufficiency"- an end-state for moral status, not a stepping-stone which one can be 'post'. These arguments culminate in a contention that it is enhancement that acts as the unifying factor in our evolution and existence, and that there is therefore unlikely to be any good reason to see beings that follow the humans of today as being different in any significant way. The thesis concludes with an exploration of the progression of these themes, as well as identifying the place of my work amongst the wider academic literature around enhancement and the nature of the human. Finally, the most promising avenues for future research are explored.