This study explores the representation of the hero in Lawrence and Andrew Wachowski’s Matrix film trilogy, which comprises The Matrix (Wachowski, Wachowski&Silver 1999), Matrix Reloaded (Wachowski, Wachowski&Silver 2003a) and The Matrix Revolutions (Wachowski, Wachowski&Silver 2003b). Special reference is made to how Neo embodies a postmodern view of heroism. This implies an exploration into the relationship between Neo, the protagonist and hero in the Matrix trilogy, and his mythological predecessors, as well as the relationship between the representation of Neo and ideas concerning heroism. In order to further understand the nature of heroism in the Matrix trilogy, the ideas of two philosophers, namely Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) and Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874-1936), are explored and compared. It is argued in this study that the heroism presented to the viewer by the Matrix trilogy can be interpreted as being representative of the meeting of the apparently contradictory ideas of these two philosophers. Both of these philosophers, though striving for a heroic ideal, arrived at vastly different conclusions. This study, whilst considering the nature of heroism in these two views, also seeks offer an examination of the relationship that Nietzsche’s and Chesterton’s writings have to one another. This examination is not an attempt to take sides with either of these philosophers, but merely to point out certain aspects of their two distinctive viewpoints as they relate to the films in question. This study especially seeks to investigate the claim that Neo is the embodiment of the Übermensch, the figure that most clearly resembles Nietzsche’s heroic ideal. Chesterton’s views of heroism are referred to in order to counter-balance and contextualise Nietzsche’s views on this. Mainly ethical aspects of the character and narrative of the hero are focused on in this study in order to show, firstly, that these more abstract aspects are implicit in the representation of the hero in the Matrix trilogy, and secondly, that the hero belongs to a moral taxonomy. The final aim of this study is to present a coherent view of the many facets of heroism that incorporates an assessment of how philosophy, ideology and semiology underpin the visual. / Dissertation (MA (Visual Studies))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Visual Arts / unrestricted

This study enters into the dialog within Christian theology between annihilationism and traditionalism on the nature of eternal punishment. The positions and issues within the topic will be examined theologically and analyzed doctrinally. In my first chapter I will summarize the views and arguments in the debate, establish operating definitions, address preliminary issues, and provide some historical context. I will establish a thesis agenda with dual aspects: negatively, to examine and critique annihilationism on theological grounds, and positively to offer arguments for a modified traditionalism. Chapters two, three, and four primarily serve the negative purpose. Chapter two critically considers annihilationism on exegetical and hermeneutical issues, concluding that the view is inferior to traditionalism. Chapter three examines annihilationism for consistency with other areas of Christian theology, concluding that the view generates major theological problems in Christology. Chapter four considers both annihilationism and traditionalism regarding the disproportionality problem of hell, concluding that annihilationism and two types of traditionalism can resolve the problem but of these three only one sort of traditionalism can do so whilst also satisfying other important theological criteria. Regarding the negative aspect of the thesis, I conclude that the severe theological problems in annihilationism constitute sufficient reason to reject the view. In chapter five I accomplish the positive aspect of this thesis, offering six criteria of success for any view of eternal punishment. I then provide detailed argumentation for a modified traditionalism called reconciliationism, concluding it best meets these criteria and is the most theologically and exegetically satisfying view on offer. In the concluding chapter I state this thesis' contributions, suggest several areas for further research, and offer some implications for pastoral theology. I finally conclude that annihilationism has seemingly insurmountable theological problems, but a modified traditionalism can succeed as a doctrine of hell.

Comentadores de várias tendências se dividem quanto a como situar o pensamento político do Doutor de Aquino frente à religião. Seria possível fazer uma interpretação naturalista da política em Tomás de Aquino? Ou o seu pensamento político se encontra influenciado por uma esfera superior necessária para que se possa compreender em profundidade o que o autor propõe? No intuito de se posicionar sobre esse antigo debate, pretendemos pesquisar o pensamento de Tomás para buscar entender o conceito de lei, e daí os limites para a lei humana e alguma possível influência do elemento religioso. Para lançar luz sobre o problema, analisaremos as questões sobre o conceito de lei, a lei eterna, a lei natural e a lei humana presentes na Primeira Parte da Segunda Parte da Suma de Teologia, em comparação com outros escritos de Tomás, notadamente a Primeira Parte da Suma de Teologia, a Suma Contra os Gentios e o opúsculo De Regno. Os comentadores divergem a respeito e a pesquisa busca, a partir da releitura das obras de Tomás e dos principais comentadores do século XX e XXI, uma clara tomada de posição clara a respeito, concluindo pela dependência do pensamento político de Tomás de Aquino de uma ordem superior à esfera humana. / Commentators of several trends split themselves as how to situate the political thought of Doctor Aquinas regarding religion. Would it be possible to do a naturalistic interpretation of politics in Thomas Aquinas? Or is his political thought under the influence of a superior sphere necessary to understand in depth what the author proposes? Aiming to set a position about this ancient debate, we attempt to research the thought of Thomas in order to search understanding of the concept of law, and so forth the limits for the human law and any possible influence of the religious element. To bring light on this matter, we will analyse the questions about the concept of law, the eternal law, the natural law and the human law which are enclosed in the First Part of the Second Part of The Summa Theologica, in comparison with the other writings of Thomas, mainly the First Part of the Summa Theologica, the Summa Contra Gentiles and the opuscule De Regno. The commentators disagree in this respect and the research aims, through the carefull reading of the works of Thomas and of the main commentators of the XX and XXI centuries, a clear view in this respect, concluding for the dependency of the political thought of Thomas Aquinas of a superior order above the human sphere.

The aim of this dissertation is to investigate the importance of the mother figure for the definition of the female identity in three novels by the Belgian writer and psychoanalyst Jacqueline Harpman: La fille démantelée, La plage d’Ostende and Orlanda. This perspective is largely motivated by the specific character of the mother-daughter relation which is crucial to the formation of female identity. Freud already argued that it was impossible to understand the female identity without considering a woman’s preœdipal fixation to her mother. The analysis of the three novels is based on the concept of what Kristeva terms primary narcissism, which represents a delicate stage in the relationship between mother and child. In different ways, the analyzed novels are permeated by an oscillation between identification and differentiation. On a thematic level, the female protagonist’s desire to distance herself from the mother is always countered by an awareness of an intimate bond with her, and, paradoxically, it may seem, that the differentiation from the mother opens the way for a happy reunion between mother and daughter, now two individuals who no longer form a symbiotic unit. In this process of individuation described in the novels, a third instance which Freud called father of individual prehistory is crucial. Even though, at first sight, love appears to be the most important theme in the works of Harpman, this thesis argues that the theme of love is intimately linked to that of the mother figure and that it is necessary to read the works of Harpman through the spectrum of the mother-daughter relation in order to achieve a deeper understanding. Such a reading reveals among other things the key role of the inner dynamics of love. Love is not only the main theme of the work of Harpman, it’s also the meeting place of the two “love cures” of Harpman: literature and psychoanalysis, both situated in the field between narcissism and idealization, mechanisms that are inherent to what Freud called the subject’s eternal rebirth. The way in which writing functions as a way for the Harpman female protagonist to become a subject corresponds to Kristeva's idea of the entering into language, or into the symbolic system as Lacan put it, as a way to ward off the emptiness of the abjection. The symbolic system gives the subject a sense of being an individual with clear boundaries in a structured and intelligible world.

Darbo aktualumas. Vertybinių nuostatų reikšmė visuotinai pripažįstama, dažnai nurodoma ugdymo dokumentų preambulėse, net išryškinama, kurios, būties vertybės laikytinos svarbiausios. Tas pats vyksta ir sporte. Sportuojant įvairias sporto šakas ugdomos skirtingos vertybės. Tačiau vertybinių nuostatų ugdymo technologijos menkai atskleistos, nes siejasi su asmens vidaus pasauliu, kurio pažinimas remiasi į psichinių ir dvasinių galių atskleidimą, tiesiogiai neištiriamą. Todėl dažnai telkiamas dėmesys į akivaizdžius ugdymo proceso dėmenis (žinias, gebėjimus, įgūdžius), daugiausia atliepiančius pragmatinio pasaulio siekius, nesugebant įžvelgti jų sąsajų su vidinėmis asmens galiomis bei išskirtiniu, lemiančiu vaidmeniu ugdytinio veikloje. Visa tai ir lėmė temos aktualumą. Darbo objektas. Sportuojančių mokinių vertybinės nuostatos. Darbo tikslas. Teoriškai pagrįsti ir empiriškai ištirti sportuojančių mokinių vertybinių nuostatų ypatumus. Tyrimo metodika. Tyrimui buvo naudojama anketinė apklausa. Empirinis tyrimas vyko 2011 metų sausio ir vasario mėnesiais. Mokiniams buvo išdalinta 220 anketų (į 11 iš jų atsakyta nebuvo). Tyrimo dalyvavo 105 mergaitės ir 104 berniukai. Tyrime dalyvavo Vilkaviškio vidurinės mokyklos, Marijampolės vidurinės mokyklos, Telšių vidurinės mokyklos ir Pakruojo karatė klubo „Cunamis“ mokiniai. Tyrimo metodologija: darbe remtasi humanistine filosofija ir psichologija, egzistencinės filosofijos ir psichologijos idėjomis, holistine kūno kultūros samprata. Tyrimo... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Work relevance: Importance of values universally recognized instruments, often referred to in the preambles of education, even highlighting that, being regarded as the most important values. And the same is happening in sports. Various sports sports conveyed to different values. However, the development of values and low technology disclosed as related to the internal world of a person whose knowledge is based on the mental and spiritual powers of disclosure, directly unsearchable. It is therefore often focuses attention on the clear terms to the educational process (knowledge, abilities, skills), mainly responding to the world of pragmatic goals, inability to discern their internal links to personal and exclusive powers, determining the role of learner activities. All this has led to topicality. Object of the research. Value of principles of pupils going in for sports. Purpose of the research. Theoretically based and empirically examine peculiarities of value principles of pupils going in for sports. Methodology of the research. The study used a questionnaire survey. Empirical research was conducted in January and February months. Students were handed out 220 questionnaires (in 11 of them were not answered). The study involved 105 girls and 104 boys. The study included Vilkaviškis secondary school, Marijampolė secondary school, Telšiai secondary school and karate club “Cunamis” pupils. This work was based on humanistic philosophy and psychology, existential philosophy and... [to full text]

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:26:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-11-16Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:15:10Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 casado_tsm_me_mar.pdf: 371107 bytes, checksum: c916f1899683294270449329f8453f53 (MD5) / Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo analisar a construção filosófica de Friedrich Nietzsche acerca do sentido de sabedoria trágica, desde sua formulação no estudo sobre a tragédia até os escritos finais no que concerne ao trágico. Nesse intuito, busca-se aprofundar o estudo dos elementos tratados por Nietzsche ao longo de sua produção filosófica, passando pelos conceitos apolíneo e dionisíaco, a partir dos quais tratará do nascimento da arte trágica e do enfrentamento do pessimismo, e retratando as modificações sofridas por seu pensamento ao distanciar-se da concepção metafísica de arte e voltar-se a um projeto pelo qual enaltece a força dionisíaca em oposição ao conhecimento moral e metafísico. Desse modo, serão analisados os caminhos percorridos por esta filosofia trágica, que encontrará sua máxima na concepção do eterno retorno e na força dionisíaca de afirmação da existência / This research aims to analyse the philosophical construction of Friedrich Nietzsche specifically the tragic wisdom’s meaning, since when it was formulates in the study of the tragedy until the final writings in regard to the tragic. To this end, the focus was to analyse with details the study of elements that are used by Nietzsche throughout his philosophical production, through with the apollonian and dionysian’s concepts, from which will deal with the begin of the tragic art and the confront of the pessimism, and reflecting the changes suffered from his thought that is to be distant from the metaphysical conception of art and to be with a project that extols the dionysian force in opposition to the moral and metaphysical knowledge. Thus, it will be analysed the paths that are taken by this tragic’s philosophy, and that will find its maximum in the conception of eternal recurrence and Dionysian’s power of life’s affirmation

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:12:19Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 JoanaBL.pdf: 510109 bytes, checksum: e5551032ad7d4bbf15927e80f9372702 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-06-15 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior / It is investigating why reason Nietzsche affirms, in 1888, when revises his work (Ecce Homo), that to be exactly with The Birth of Tragedy it will be necessary to forget some things , and, in spite of, insist, in the same writing, in naming himself the first tragic philosopher - that is, the opposite and antipode of a pessimistic philosopher . Nietzsche elaborates in The Birth of Tragedy a theory about tragic starting from the opposition and complementarity among Apollo and Dionysian, rationalism and instinct, and in the refusal of the pessimistic perspective. The objective of the dissertation is to discuss how the theory of tragedy modifies due to the rupture with the inspiring of the first moment of the nietzschian philosophy, Schopenhauer and Wagner - maybe the such things to be forgotten about The Birth of Tragedy - and the implications of this rupture, that transforms the philosophy of Nietzsche in dissident of the metaphysical tradition. Like this, it is noticed that there is more continuity than estrangement in what concerns to the definition of tragic, just announced in 1871. By the sentence of the eternal return to the concept of will of power Nietzsche elaborates a tragic perspective, marked by the Dionysian celebration of the life, also acted through the pessimism dionisiac , defined in Gaya Science's ? 370 (1881-2), and of the sentence of the love fate, enunciated in the ?276 of the same work; all those concepts, discussed in this research, concentrate, decisively, the acceptance idea and statement of life, or more precisely, the decline of the tragic hero, between joy and ruin / Trata-se de investigar por que raz?o Nietzsche afirma, em 1888, quando revisa sua obra (Ecce Homo), que para ser justo com O Nascimento da Trag?dia ser? preciso esquecer algumas coisas , e, n?o obstante, insista, no mesmo escrito, em nomear-se o primeiro fil?sofo tr?gico isto ?, o extremo oposto e o ant?poda de um fil?sofo pessimista . Nietzsche elabora em O Nascimento da Trag?dia uma teoria do tr?gico a partir da oposi??o e complementaridade entre apol?neo e dionis?aco, racionalismo e instinto, e na recusa da perspectiva pessimista. Desse modo, o objetivo da disserta??o ? discutir como a teoria da trag?dia se modifica devido ? ruptura com os dois inspiradores do primeiro momento da filosofia nietzschiana, Schopenhauer e Wagner talvez as tais coisas a serem esquecidas de O Nascimento da Trag?dia e as implica??es desta ruptura, que transforma a filosofia de Nietzsche em dissidente da tradi??o metaf?sica. Assim, percebe-se que h? mais continuidade do que distanciamento no que concerne ? defini??o de tr?gico, apenas anunciada em 1871. Da senten?a do eterno retorno ao conceito de vontade de poder Nietzsche elabora uma perspectiva tr?gica, marcada pela celebra??o dionis?aca da vida, tamb?m representada atrav?s do pessimismo dionis?aco , definido no ? 370 da Gaia Ci?ncia (1881-2), e da m?xima do amor fati, enunciada no ?276 da mesma obra; todos esses conceitos nietzschianos, discutidos nesta pesquisa, concentram, decisivamente, a id?ia de aceita??o e afirma??o da vida, ou mais precisamente, o ocaso do her?i tr?gico, entre j?bilo e ru?na

Comentadores de várias tendências se dividem quanto a como situar o pensamento político do Doutor de Aquino frente à religião. Seria possível fazer uma interpretação naturalista da política em Tomás de Aquino? Ou o seu pensamento político se encontra influenciado por uma esfera superior necessária para que se possa compreender em profundidade o que o autor propõe? No intuito de se posicionar sobre esse antigo debate, pretendemos pesquisar o pensamento de Tomás para buscar entender o conceito de lei, e daí os limites para a lei humana e alguma possível influência do elemento religioso. Para lançar luz sobre o problema, analisaremos as questões sobre o conceito de lei, a lei eterna, a lei natural e a lei humana presentes na Primeira Parte da Segunda Parte da Suma de Teologia, em comparação com outros escritos de Tomás, notadamente a Primeira Parte da Suma de Teologia, a Suma Contra os Gentios e o opúsculo De Regno. Os comentadores divergem a respeito e a pesquisa busca, a partir da releitura das obras de Tomás e dos principais comentadores do século XX e XXI, uma clara tomada de posição clara a respeito, concluindo pela dependência do pensamento político de Tomás de Aquino de uma ordem superior à esfera humana. / Commentators of several trends split themselves as how to situate the political thought of Doctor Aquinas regarding religion. Would it be possible to do a naturalistic interpretation of politics in Thomas Aquinas? Or is his political thought under the influence of a superior sphere necessary to understand in depth what the author proposes? Aiming to set a position about this ancient debate, we attempt to research the thought of Thomas in order to search understanding of the concept of law, and so forth the limits for the human law and any possible influence of the religious element. To bring light on this matter, we will analyse the questions about the concept of law, the eternal law, the natural law and the human law which are enclosed in the First Part of the Second Part of The Summa Theologica, in comparison with the other writings of Thomas, mainly the First Part of the Summa Theologica, the Summa Contra Gentiles and the opuscule De Regno. The commentators disagree in this respect and the research aims, through the carefull reading of the works of Thomas and of the main commentators of the XX and XXI centuries, a clear view in this respect, concluding for the dependency of the political thought of Thomas Aquinas of a superior order above the human sphere.

The ancient Chinese I Ching, the Book of Changes, and the philosophy of the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) both assert that the universe exists in a state of change. The I Ching, originally a book of divination, illustrates the changing phenomena of the natural world in terms of sixty-four hexagrams, which are figures composed of six lines  yielding and firm lines, representing actual conditions and relationships existing in the world and caused by the interplay between two primordial forces, yin and yang. The I Ching shows that on the macro level the Tao works in the universe, in heaven and on earth, and on the micro level it applies to man. The I Ching teaches harmony with Tao and its power (natural law and moral law), so that its reader may take appropriate action in any given situation with reference to the hexagrams and their appended judgments as revealed by the oracle. Nietzsche, however, regards the world as the Will to Power, ‘a monster of energy’, like a storming and flooding ocean eternally changing, where harmony and order seems impossible. His mouthpiece, Zarathustra, who teaches the Übermensch, encourages a war-like attitude towards life. Zarathustra’s second metamorphosis of an evolving spirit, the warrior lion, marks the difference between the Nietzschean Übermensch and the Chinese sage who attains harmony and balance within and without, a mysterious union with heaven. Zarathustra’s third metamorphosis, a playing child, creates itself as its own ‘bridge’ through a process of self-overcoming, whereas the I Ching indicates order to be the ‘bridge’ over chaos, the order of the human world being expressed in the five cardinal relationships. Whereas the I Ching advises its reader to follow their own nature and fate in order to lead a harmonious moral life, Nietzsche’s Übermensch is ‘the annihilator of morality’ and paradoxically ‘the designation of a type of supreme achievement’ (EH Books 1). With his idea of the Übermensch, Nietzsche indicates that morality is a pose (BGE 216). He seeks to make us become aware that we should invent our own virtue and create our own way in order to become what we are. He criticizes Christian morality, calling himself ‘the first immoralist’. His shocking approach attempts to make us become aware of the possibility that a ‘noble morality’ and ‘higher moralities’ ought to be possible. His Übermensch represents such a higher mode of existence. Zarathustra also teaches the doctrine of eternal recurrence, implying that moment is eternity, changelessness within change. Multifarious manifestations are the expression of the Tao. Everything is interconnected and interdependent. Whereas ordinary men see the continuity of phenomena as real, enlightened beings are aware of the transitory and illusive nature of the self and all things. The Nietzschean Übermensch embodies the characteristics of an enlightened being, a Buddha or Bodhisattva in Buddhist terms, characteristics such as wisdom and compassion. Therefore, the practice of the Bodhisattva is explored as a feasible way for actualizing the Nietzschean hypothetical Übermensch. / Thesis (DPhil)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Philosophy / unrestricted

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