This project is primarily exegetical in nature and aims to provide a rational reconstruction of the concept of moral responsibility in the work of Immanuel Kant, specifically in his Critique of Pure Reason (CPR), Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals (GR), and Critique of Practical Reason (CPrR). It consists of three chapters – the first chapter interprets the concept of freedom that follows from the resolution to the Third Antinomy in the CPR. It argues that Kant is best understood here to be providing an unusual but cogent, compatibilist account of freedom that the author terms meta-compatibilism. The second chapter examines the GR and CPrR to interpret the theory of practical reason and moral agency that Kant develops in these works. This chapter concludes by evaluating what has been established about Kant’s ideas of freedom and moral agency at that point in the project, identifying some problems and objections in addition to providing some suggestions for how Kantian ethics might be adapted within a consequentialist framework. The third chapter argues that, for Kant, there are two necessary and jointly sufficient conditions (in addition to a compatibilist definition of freedom) that must obtain for an individual to qualify as responsible for her actions.

Le système juridique des Etats de droit musulman est composé de règles et de principes hétérogènes. A côté du droit positif codifié, les règles religieuses constituent une source de référence pour le législateur et pour le juge. La constitutionnalisation de l’islam comme religion officielle et comme source de législation dans les Etats de droit musulman, développe ce pluralisme juridique. La coexistence des différentes sources de droit, positive et religieuse, est accentuée par le système de personnalité des lois. Dans ce contexte, l’effectivité de la liberté de religion proclamée par la Constitution des Etats de droit musulman est remise en cause. Le principe d’égalité sans discrimination fondée sur la religion, la liberté de pratiquer librement sa religion ou encore le droit de changer de religion sont encadrés par la législation ou par la jurisprudence. Bien que tous les Etats aient amorcé le processus de constitutionnalisation, les juges constitutionnels peinent à affirmer leur autonomie par rapport au pouvoir exécutif. Le droit musulman est instrumentalisé par les pouvoirs politiques pour asseoir leur autorité sur une légitimité religieuse. Toutefois, la jurisprudence avant-gardiste de la Haute Cour constitutionnelle égyptienne qui a affirmé son indépendance et la jurisprudence civile des tribunaux tunisiens qui ont interprété l’article 1er de la Constitution tunisienne, sont le signe encourageant d’un changement possible. / The legal system in states governed by Islamic law is comprised of a set of heterogeneous rules and principles. Alongside its codified, positive law, religious laws serve as a referential source for the legislature and judiciary. The constitutionalization of Islam as both an official religion and a legislative source in Islamic law states nurtures this legal plurality. The coexistence of these different sources of law, positive and religious respectively, is further accentuated by the subjective variability of law. In this context, the existence of freedom of religion, as enshrined in the constitutions of these Islamic law states, is called into question. The principle of equality without discrimination on grounds of religion; the liberty to freely practice one’s religion; or, indeed, the right to change one’s religion, are framed by legislation or jurisprudence. Although all states have begun the process of constitutionalization, constitutional judges still struggle to assert their autonomy over the executive branch. Islamic law is being exploited by political powers wishing to anchor their authority in religious legitimacy. Nonetheless, encouraging signs of change are evident in the forward-thinking jurisprudence of certain jurisdictions.

The aim of this essay is to analyze how students on a specific art school talk about the norms that surround the school and the teaching at the school. This analysis will be used to determine certain “rules” that exist in the school and how the students experience this. The analysis is based on Goffmans interaction theory and on Berger, Luckmans phenomenological theories. The material consists of five interviews with students from the specific school and one interview with a former student. The study shows that there are ways for an art student to position him or herself at the art school and what kind of normative behavior that sets standards for the institution and how people interact on the art school. The study also tells something about the philosophy that lays a normative ground for the institution to stand on.

This thesis examines the conditions under which a defense of religious freedom can be successfully argued before the courts. It is acknowledged that freedom of religion has long existed in Canada but the defense of religious freedom in criminal prosecutions has not often been accepted by the Canadian Courts. The author thinks that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms puts the defense of religious freedom in a more favourable position by making it possible for Canadian judges to proceed to a balancing test that up to now they have been reluctant to use. Besides the question of the balancing test, various problems revolve around the defense of religious freedom in criminal prosecutions. The first section examines the social and historical context of religious freedom in Canada. The second section is located in a more legal perspective. A survey of the Canadian cases is made in order to comprehend the answers that Canadian judges have given in the criminal prosecutions where the defense of religious freedom was raised. In looking at the Canadian decisions on that issue, four basic problems call for solutions. The following sections deal respectively with those questions. Section 3 raises the issue of the definition of religion and religious activities. Section 4 points out a new understanding of the concept of infringement. In Section 5, the notion of balancing test is examined in light of American decisions and its application to the defense of religious freedom is considered. Finally, the necessity of a theory justifying the defense of religious freedom is explored in Section 6. In conclusion, this study stresses the impact the Charter will have upon the acceptance of the defense of religious freedom by Canadian courts. To the problems that have been identified, the author proposes some solutions, bearing in mind that the future of the defense of religious freedom in Canada depends on whether or not Canadian judges will consider that the Charter has introduced a new era in the exercise of fundamental freedoms in Canada. / Law, Peter A. Allard School of / Graduate

This thesis provides an overview over the existing and emerging correlation of the Internet and Human Rights with the main focus on the human right to freedom of expression. It looks at how freedom of expression is protected and curtailed at the same time by regulation in the global context and nationally and how it could be protected in the future. Firstly, it will address general issues and problems connected with the Internet and Human Rights, like equal access to the new technology, and terrorism and the defence of freedom. It will look at the relationship of freedom of expression and other human rights, especially the right to privacy. Secondly, it will examine the applicability of international human rights agreements and the opportunities offered by them. It will also look at the possibility of drafting a new piece of international legislation and the effectiveness of national regulation. Although in some areas international consensus may be easier to achieve, for example in many aspects of criminal law enforcement, it is unrealistic to expect that countries with different cultural values will agree upon a single set of rules for the whole world. International harmonisation strategies are clearly an important response to the jurisdictional difficulties of Internet regulation, but they can't be the ultimate and single solution. But national regulation faces its problems, too. Due to the character of the Internet as a transnational medium and its borderless flow of information the nation state only has limited possibilities to effectively regulate the Internet within its borders and it has to accept a loss of sovereignty in cyberspace. Although regulation in some areas may be effective, complete control is impossible which will be shown. Thirdly, it will consider the different approaches that are available to regulate and control content on the Internet, their effectiveness and their influence on the human right to freedom of expression. It will illustrate in various examples in form of case studies the difficulties of Internet regulation. It will also provide an overview over selfrating schemes and filtering and blocking software and the problems connected with them. The liability of Internet Service Providers will be examined and alternatives to government control of the Internet will be discussed. / Law, Peter A. Allard School of / Graduate

This dissertation examines the potential dependence of praxis upon poiesis. The relation between praxis and poiesis, or action and work, is complicated by the conflicting qualities and principles of each. This tension, however, illuminates the human being as free and worldly. It is therefore concluded that praxis and poiesis form an interdependent tension that is potentially mediated by the faculty of judging and care for the world. Chapter 1 serves as an introduction to the framework and significant elements of Arendt's overall project. It begins with an elucidation of the philosophical bias against politics that Arendt critiques. The rest of the chapter explores the unique characteristics and principles that Arendt attributes to each respective activity of the vita activa. This chapter enables the reader to grasp the significance of the differences that Arendt accentuates between activities, as well as the specific characteristics and principles of action and work. Chapter 2 introduces the potential dependence of action upon the capabilities of the work activity. It centres on the relationship between action, the condition of plurality, the public space of appearance, and the durable, fabricated world. The durable world provides both a shared context and shared concern for potential action and the realisation of plurality. But this is problematic considering the extent to which the durable world arises through fabrication. This suggests that action is subordinate to the faculty of work. The problematic implications of such a relationship are further analysed, with a focus on the principles that inform homo faber's view of the world in general, and the relation between this sensibility and public spaces of appearance in particular. The contradictory principles of work and action, and yet the significance of work in building a durable world, will come to light. Chapter 3 explores further the extent of the relationship between action and world. The aim is to provide an exegesis of Arendt's notion of amor mundi, or love for the world, coupled 132 with her emphasis on the frailty of action. Amor mundi illuminates actors' concern with the world as a space for appearance and as a durable world. However, the extent to which political actors may effectively care for the world is brought into question. The faculties of promisemaking, forgiveness, and remembrance are examined as 'solutions' to the frailty of action. But remembrance once again suggests a dependence of action on work. The chapter concludes with a discussion on the relationship between praxis and poiesis in light of the role of remembrance and the tension between freedom and permanence. Chapter 4 builds on the claim that praxis and poiesis must be rethought in terms of an interdependence that reflects the nature of human being as free and worldly. It is argued that it is specifically in the faculty of judgment that this interdependence is mediated. The role of the disinterested spectator is therefore introduced and its relevance in both praxis and poiesis investigated. This faculty emphasises the importance of spectators who judge all appearances on the basis of beauty and meaning, and out of a concern for the world as a durable public space. The relation between judgment, action, and work also illuminates the condition of the human being as free and worldly, and the capacity to care for the world through the activities of both beginning and preserving. / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Philosophy / unrestricted

Liberté de l'information et de la communication considérée comme la pierre angulaire d'autres libertés fondamentales garanties dans toutes les sociétés qui favorisent la consolidation de la «règle de droit» et «démocratie». Cette donne n'a pas laissé indifférents les états noirs d'Afrique, qui ont proclamé cette liberté fondamentale garantie dans leurs constitutions nationales. L'étude sur la prévention et la répression des violations de la liberté de l'information et de la communication dans les Etats de Afrique noire francophone fait partie d'une perspective de droit comparé. Il s'agit de la mise en œuvre de mécanismes de prévention et de répression au niveau international, régional et dans chacun des États concernés. En effet, les attaques contre les citoyens et les acteurs des médias sont nombreuses : les agressions physiques et les assassinats perpétrés, les violences contre les journalistes, la censure et l'interdiction de paraître, les dommages à la propriété des médias et de la communication. Mais aussi les atteintes à l'honneur, la considération des autres et des affaires publiques sont souvent commises dans l'exercice de la liberté de l'information et de la communication. Par conséquent, il est nécessaire d'assurer la protection des victimes et des lecteurs multimédias portant loyalement sur leur travail social et professionnel. Cette protection implique à l'échelle internationale, la mise en place des organes de contrôle créés par les instruments internationaux de caractère universel, culturel et régional. Entre les Etats africains, il s'agit de la mise en œuvre des mécanismes et des mesures visant à assurer la prévention et la répression des infractions appropriées. L'analyse des mécanismes mis en place pour protéger cette liberté conduit au problème de leur efficacité et leur efficience. Cependant, il semble que les mécanismes et les mesures prévues comportent des aspects positifs et négatifs qui ont besoin d'envisager des réformes essentielles. Ce qui implique une meilleure prévention et à la répression des violations de l'exercice de cette liberté dans les États de l'Afrique noire francophone. Cette étude est divisée en deux grandes parties centrées dans une perspective analytique première porte descriptive et compréhensive sur la prévention des violations de la liberté de l'information et de la communication (première partie), puis la répression des infractions à l'exercice de cette liberté (Partie II). / Freedom of information and communication considered the comerstone of other essential freedoms guaranteed in all societies that promote the consolidation of the "role of law "and" democracy." This gives did not leave indifferent the black states of Africa, who have proc1aimed this fundamental freedom guaranteed in their national constitutions. The study on the prevention and punishment of violations of freedom of information and communication in the states of black francophone Africa is part of a comparative law perspective. It involves the implementation of preventive and repressive mechanisms at international, regional and each of the States concerned. Indeed, attacks on clt1zens and media players are numerous: physical and assassinations perpetrated violence against journalists, censorship and prohibition of forthcoming; damage to property and communication media. But also attacks on the honour, consideration of others and public affairs are often committed in the exercise of freedom of information and communication. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure protection of victims and media players loyally carrying their social and professional job. This protection implies intemationally, setting in motion mechanisms of the monitoring bodies established by international instruments of a universal character, cultural and regional. Among African states, it involves the implementation of appropriate mechanisms and measures to ensure the prevention and punishment of offenses. The analysis of the mechanisms established to protect this freedom leads to the problem of their effectiveness and efficiency. However, it appears that the mechanisms and measures planned abound positive and negative aspects that need to consider essential reforms, better prevention and suppression of violations of the exercise of that freedom in the states of black Francophone Africa. This study is divided into two parts centred in a descriptive and comprehensive analytical perspective first door on the prevention of violations of freedom of information and communication (First Part), and then the punishment of offenses the exercice of this freedom (Part II).

A proposta desta dissertação é analisar a teoria da justiça republicana de Philip Pettit. Isso exige, inicialmente, o desenvolvimento de sua concepção de liberdade como não dominação, central para o modelo de republicanismo do autor. A partir deste concepção de liberdade, é possível a formulação de uma concepção de justiça republicana, a qual permite o desenvolvimento de instituições políticas destinadas a maximizar a não dominação nas relações entre os cidadãos e nas relações destes com o próprio Estado. Com referência às relações entre os cidadãos, Pettit apresenta instituições nacionais voltadas à infraestrutura, seguridade e defesa. Já as relações dos cidadãos com o Estado levam Pettit a formular uma teoria republicana da democracia, a qual possui um caráter tanto participativo quanto contestatório. Além disso, acreditamos que a teoria da justiça de Pettit, para se mostrar relevante no âmbito da teoria política normativa contemporânea, deve ser comparada com o liberalismo-igualitário de John Rawls, o qual ocupa posição de destaque neste debate. Assim, defenderemos o republicanismo de Philip Pettit como uma alternativa ao liberalismo de matriz rawlsiana, problematizando alguns pontos do pensamento deste autor. / The purpose of this dissertation is to analyze Philip Pettits republican theory of justice. This demands, initially, the development of his conception of freedom as nondomination, which is central to his republicanism. From this conception of freedom, its possible to develop a republican conception of justice, which allows us to design institutions encharged of maximizing non-domination on the relationships between citizens and between these citizens and the state. Regarding the relationship between citizens, Pettit develops domestic institutions on the domains of infrastructure, insurance, and insulation. And regarding the relationship between the people and the state, Pettit builds a republican theory of democracy, which has a system of participation and contestation. Besides this, we also believe that Pettits theory of justice, in order to prove its relevance on the contemporary normative political theory, needs to be compared with John Rawls liberal-egalitarianism, a doctrine that has a prominent site on this debate. Therefore, we stand up for Philip Pettits republicanism as a alternative to the Rawlsian republicanism, but also stress some problematic issues on the work of the former.

A dissertação contesta a tese de que a visão de Hans Kelsen sobre a democracia é meramente procedimental e visa identificar e esclarecer o conteúdo axiológico presente na teoria. Como estratégia teórica, contextualiza a teoria kelseniana ao lado e em oposição à teoria democrática de Schumpeter, ao mesmo tempo em que delimita suas oposições à teoria clássica baseada em Rousseau. A pesquisa investiga o seu conceito de democracia; a adequação de seus ideais na prática concreta das instituições. Problematiza seus elementos abstratos como relativismo e liberdade, inclusive estendendo a problematização à teoria jurídica kelseniana. Esclarece ainda o conteúdo político expresso na norma jurídica democrática, conformada numa incerteza institucionalizada. Ao final, ao invés de uma teoria formalista, a pesquisa apresenta uma teoria procedimental valorativa derivada de um complexo modelo filosófico, político e jurídico-institucional, construída sob as bases do relativismo e sob os cânones tradicionais de ciência do século XX. Uma democracia caracterizada como governo do povo que ainda se mantém como base para teorias que trabalham com a ideia de um pluralismo político. / The dissertation disputes the thesis that the vision of Hans Kelsen on democracy is purely procedural and aims to identify and clarify the axiological content present in theory. As theoretical strategy, contextualizes the kelsenian theory and in opposition to democratic theory of Schumpeter, while delimiting their oppositions to classical theory based on Rousseau. The research investigates their concept of democracy; the adequacy of his ideals in concrete practice of the institutions. Discusses its abstract elements like relativism and freedom, including extending the questioning legal theory kelsenian. Clarifies political content still expressed in democratic legal standard, formed in an institutionalized uncertainty. At the end, rather than a theory \"formalist\", the research presents a procedural \"evaluative theory\" derived from a complex philosophical, political and legal model-institutional, built under the foundations of relativism and under the traditional canons of 20TH century science. A democracy characterized as \"government of the people\" that still stands as the basis for theories that work with the idea of political pluralism.

This thesis intends to demonstrate why commercial surrogacy is not morally justifiable. In order to display the implication of the aim, a normative argumentative method is applied. In the analysis, arguments, and possible counter-arguments of ethical issues of exploitation, commodification, individual freedom and estranged labor in context to surrogacy arrangements is outlined. To strengthen the content of the arguments presented the concept of exploitation, commodification together with the harm principle and the Marxian framework of estranged labor will act as the theoretical framework of the thesis. In the analysis, it is shown that global economic inequalities, and social structures of class and gender make the practice of surrogacy exploitative per se and that the surrogate becomes objectified as she as a person and her body is treated as a commodity. Based on these factors, it is concluded that surrogacy cannot be morally justified.