A tese é uma análise interpretativa do trecho conhecido como símile do Sol na obra República de Platão (508b-509b). Esta análise tem por base dois vieses: i) aquele das questões de relação entre autor e seus personagens, e das questões da relação dos personagens com o próprio drama vigente no diálogo; e ii) aquele das questões relativas à argumentação metafísica apresentada nesta parte do debate, seja quanto aos seus conteúdos, seja quanto aos métodos nela empregados. Estas duas perspectivas de abordagem do símile são atravessadas tendo como fio condutor da exegese o elemento dramático que o próprio autor Platão fez questão que se seguisse à exposição de Sócrates da analogia solar: a reação do personagem Glauco, sobretudo a seguinte passagem: E Glauco muito humorosamente falou: Ah, Apolo, mas que exagero extraordinário! (República VI 509c1-2). O símile do Sol assim é analisado segundo os seus possíveis aspectos de autoria, drama, comicidade e religiosidade, de um lado, e, do outro, segundo os aspectos de sua relação com alguns pontos filosóficos apresentados pelo próprio personagem Sócrates platônico no diálogo e alhures, como a assim chamada Teoria das Ideias, o chamado caminho mais longo, e alguns aludidos métodos de investigação. A partir disso, o presente estudo pretende discutir com, e lançar dúvidas sobre, algumas posições que a tradição da filosofia ocidental construiu nos séculos XX e XXI a respeito da Ideia de Bem dentro do texto da República. / This thesis is an interpretative analysis of the analogy known as simile of the Sun in Plato\'s Republic(508b-509b). The analysis is based on two perspectives: i) that of issues about relationship between author and his characters, and about relationship between the characters and own living drama in the dialogue; and ii) that of issues related to metaphysical argumentation presented in this part of work, whether about its contents or about its methods. In both these approach perspectives of the simile the exegesis\' leitmotiv is the dramatic element that author Plato himself decided put after Socrates\' exposition of analogy of sun: the reaction of character Glaucon, mainly this passage: And Glaucon very comically said: Oh, Apollo, what an extraordinary exaggeration! (RepublicVI 509c1-2). Therefore simile of Sun is analyzed according to its possible features of authorship, drama, comicality and religiosity, on one hand, and, on the other, according to its features about relationship between it and some points made by character Socrates himself in the dialogue and elsewhere, as so called Theory of Ideas, so called longer way, and some alluded to methods of inquiry. With these bases, this study intends discuss with, and cast doubts on, some positions developed at XX and XXI centuries by Western Philosophy tradition about Idea of Good within Republic\'s text.

A República ocupa lugar de destaque no conjunto da obra platônica tanto pela importância do tema de que trata e pelo teor das teses defendidas quanto pela diversidade de questões que aborda no desenvolvimento de seu argumento principal. Em sua mais famosa e influente obra, Platão define a justiça a partir do estabelecimento de uma analogia entre a alma humana e a cidade, mostrando-nos em que consiste esta virtude seja no âmbito particular da vida moral humana seja na vida política de uma cidade idealmente planejada. A obra apresenta inicialmente uma dupla linha de argumentação, tratando, primeiro, da definição da justiça na cidade para, então, poder compará-la e aplicá-la à concepção de justiça na alma humana. O primeiro clímax argumentativo é atingido ao final do livro IV quando a analogia é finalmente estabelecida e obtemos tanto a definição política da justiça quanto sua definição moral. Mas os afluentes moral e político da argumentação entrecruzam-se e desembocam ambos nos livros centrais da obra (V, VI e VII) quando a figura do filósofo passa a ser desenvolvida. Platão demonstra-nos que o filósofo é, ao mesmo tempo, o indivíduo virtuoso por excelência e, portanto, o modelo máximo individual de justiça, e também o único e legítimo líder político da cidade justa, além de elemento indispensável a sua concretização. Nosso trabalho tem por objetivo descrever e analisar o argumento principal dos livros centrais que legitima o posto supremo do filósofo na cidade justa, mostrando como as questões metafísicas e epistemológicas ocupam um papel fundamental na economia da obra. A problemática central da pesquisa concentra-se nos dilemas decorrentes da definição do conhecimento do filósofo que legitima seu posto na cidade. A pergunta fundamental que desejamos responder é: de que modo o conhecimento das Formas pode oferecer um saber prático suficiente e eficiente para a atividade política do filósofo? Avaliamos a hipótese de alguns comentadores de que o argumento de Platão guarda em seu interior um conflito entre a descrição do aspecto teórico do filósofo e seu aspecto prático, e que o elemento fundamental e final de sua formação, o conhecimento da Forma do Bem, é definido de um modo tão abstrato e distante do mundo concreto que não nos deixa claro como ele pode servir de paradigma para a atividade de governante do filósofo. A alegação geral é a de que o conhecimento das Formas e do Bem não fornece ao filósofo nenhuma vantagem com relação aos outros possíveis candidatos à administração dos interesses da cidade. O objetivo máximo de nosso trabalho é nos contrapormos a tal interpretação oferecendo uma hipótese alternativa de leitura do argumento platônico. Nossa concepção parte de uma interpretação distinta da natureza do conhecimento da Forma do Bem, entendendo-a como a compreensão da própria estrutura racional da realidade. Outro ponto chave de nossa leitura é a interpretação que desenvolvemos do conceito platônico de mímesis, peça indispensável para entendermos a razão de não haver nenhuma espécie de conflito entre o que seriam as descrições teórica e prática do filósofo. / The Republic remains as the most special piece of Platos philosophical work, due to the importance of its subject and the meaning of its theses, as well as for the plurality of questions that emerge from its central argument. In his most famous work Plato defines justice by making use of the analogy between the human soul and the city, showing us the true nature of that virtue in its moral aspect with regard to the individual human life, and also in its political aspect in conceiving an imaginary perfect city. Plato leads his argument first through the definition of the perfect just city, so he can later compare and apply his former conclusions to his conception of the human soul. The first important achievement of the text occurs when the analogy is finally completed and we have the two definitions of justice accomplished. But the moral and the political courses of the argument entwine and receive full treatment only in the central books (V, VI, and VII) of the writing, where the picture of the true philosopher starts to be developed. Plato demonstrates us that the philosopher is, at the same time, the genuinely virtuous person, and therefore, the greatest model of individual justice, and the one and only one political chief of the perfect just city, by right - and also the indispensable element for its existence. Our goal in this work is to describe and analyze the main argument of the Republics central books that justifies the supreme position of the philosopher in the just city, showing how the metaphysical and epistemological issues have a special role in the economy of that work. The central problem of this research focuses the many dilemmas concerning the definition of the philosophers knowledge that legitimates his command of the city. We shall answer how it is possible that the knowledge of the Forms can constitute the practical wisdom the philosopher needs for his political activities. An evaluation is made of some scholars assumption that in Platos argument lies a deep conflict between his practical conception of the philosopher and his theoretical conception of the same. Indeed, a suspicion is raised by some commentators that the knowledge of the Forms and of the Good is so abstract and distant from our ordinary world that it is not really clear how it is to be used as a paradigm for the governing activity of the philosopher. The general assumption is that the special knowledge of the philosopher does not offer him any advantage over other possible candidates to the political office. Our main objective in this work is to develop an alternative view of Platos argument that shows how it is coherent and does not present the problems pointed out by these readers. We shall first develop a different conception of the nature of the knowledge of the Good, taking it as the understanding of the rational structure of reality. Another main point of our reading is the interpretation we offer of the important platonic concept of mímesis - a key to the understanding that there is no such conflict on Platos views on the philosopher.

The diploma thesis, Selected Problems of Maintenance with Particular Focus on Good Morals, deals with legal matters of maintenance mainly in connection to the aspect of good morals (boni mores) which represents the principal of equity and is the moral extension of legal provisions under the law of the Czech Republic. The purpose of the thesis is to identify the most frequent issues that are being dealt with and describe their legal solution in accordance with the legislation valid and effective till the end of 2013 and under the new legislation after the recodification of the Czech civil law, effective from the 1st of January 2014. The doctrine of boni mores and legal provisions regarding maintenance have both met some changes in terms of interpretation and application since the recodification. Maintenance and good morals are researched together, they are researched one in connection to the other one, in this diploma thesis because the previous legislation established a special linkage between them which resulted in a considerable amount of case law that needs to be revisited. The thesis is divided into 5 chapters which are further divided into subchapters. The first chapter is focused on the theoretical basis of the doctrine of boni mores, the role it plays in the Czech legal system, the meaning...

M.A. / The study of South African history has developed considerably over the last number of years to incorporate new ideas, approaches, and styles. However, the standard works on South African historiography continue to provide a reader with very little beyond a descriptive framework to allow historians to locate their work within the body of South African historical knowledge. This dissertation attempts to address this shortcoming by encouraging and advocating a more analytical approach to the field of historiography. Here, the approach taken is the same as that taken by Hayden White in writing his work Metahistory: The Historical Imagination in Nineteenth-Century Europe. At the same time, a stronger focus is placed on the role of historical context. To demonstrate the advantages of this type of analysis, of analytical historiography over the traditional conception of historiography, I have chosen the example of South African slavery under Dutch administration, 1652 – 1795. The question that this work then attempts to answer is: How can our understanding of South African Slave Historiography be enlightened by the use of Analytical Historiography? The work is divided into two, with the first section dealing with the theoretical and methodological requirements of the work. The second deals with the Whiteian analysis of a number of works on slavery at the Cape before 1795.1 This is followed by the final analysis and conclusion.

As the title indicates, this is a study of the historical emergence of geography as a subject in Cape schools, and covers the period 1772-1951. The account is not merely descriptive and factual, for wherever possible an attempt is made to assess the nature and scope of the geography which was taught at different periods in relation to modern, authoritative ideas concerning the pedagogic application of the subject in the school. The work as a whole is predominantly concerned with the historical development of geography in the secondary school. However, in the initial four chapters the slight and insubstantial nature of the available data precludes the possibility of differentiating between geoeraphy of primary standard and that of secondary standard, and in these early chapters all references to the subject are consequently generalized. In Chapter 5, which deals with the period during which Langham Dale was Superintendent-Genera l of Education, geography of secondary standard becomes distinguishable from that of primary standard for the first time, and from this point onwards the two are differentiated to the fullest extent possible, and the former is chiefly emphasized. The entire study is presented against a broad background of relevant, educational developments of a general nature.

From Preface: The question of religious instruction in Cape Schools first aroused my interest when I was subjected to anything but religious tnstruction during my own high school years. My desire to enquire into the whole position of religious instruction in the high school curriculum grew out of an essay on the role of religion in the education of the child which I wrote whilst reading for the B.Ed. degree. As background, I read Harold Loukes' classic Teenage Religion, and from then onwards, I felt that it was necessary to undertake an investigation of this kind in the Cape Province. My aim was not only prompted out of a desire to expose what I already knew to be an educationally and religiously unsound and unhealthy state of affairs, but more deeply because I, although an ignorant amateur in theology, am aware that too often the traditional religious foundations, poorly built by unintelligent teaching, are shaken, if not destroyed, by scientific discovery and material advancement.

New geochemical data consisting of major and 15 trace element analyses are presented for 41 rocks from three andesitic and associated basaltic rock occurrences in the North Eastern Cape Province. These include the Pronksberg, Belmore and Roodehoek localities. Field evidence suggests that the three andesites were emplaced during the early stages of Karoo volcanicity. Geochemical variations within the Pronksberg and Roodehoek andesite are small, manifesting the undifferentiated nature of the magmas. Variations within the Belmore andesite are interpreted as representing fractionation of orthopyroxene, accompanied by only minor plagioclase fractionation. Differences in trace element concentrations and inter-element ratios between the andesites and associated basalts of the Pronksberg and Belmore volcanic suites precludes the possibility of the two rock types being genetically related. Geochemical differences constrain the possibility of the three andesites being cogenetic. Magmatic processes resulting in their formation are, however, thought to be similar. The differences in chemistry between the Pronksberg Basalt (High K Type) and Pronksberg Basalt (Drumbo Type) are interpreted as representing the combined influence of weathering, the presence of amygdales and the within-flow variations of alkali elements on the Pronksberg Basalt (High K Type). Similarities in petrography and chemistry justifies a correlation of the Pronksberg Basalt (Drumbo Type) with the Drumbo Basalt Member in the Barkly East area. Data for the Drumbo Basalt (This study) in the Barkly East area confirms and complements previously presented data. Normative chemistry and strontium isotope data indicate a process involving crustal assimilation or melting of crustal rocks as being the most likely explanation for the genesis of the Karoo andesites / KMBT_363 / Adobe Acrobat 9.53 Paper Capture Plug-in

The study of administrative processes is a relaltively new one both in the field of history and sociology. In both disciplines what is required is study of the sructure and growth of adminstrative systems and of the impact of administrative action on the community it seeks to serve and which it often provokes. In the field of history, Professor F. Tout in his chapters on administrative history ... gave new vitality and understanding to medieval studies. In the main, South African history, though probably not more so than other Commonwealth countries, has been less fortunate. Preface, p. 1.

Modern law of contract in South-Africa can be seen as a dynamic field of law. It encompasses key principles such as freedom of contract, autonomy, good faith and public policy. These principles are seen as important concepts that underlie the substantive law of contract. The Consumer Protection Act, introduced in 2008 and operational since 31 March 2011, has contributed to this dynamic field of law. Unfortunately the uncertainties regarding the application of widely articulated definitions associated with the act remain a concern. Many legal academics have tried to alleviate the possible difficulties posed by the application of the CPA by means of constructive criticism, in-depth analysis of practical aspects and submissions to the legislator during the past three years. The exceptio doligeneralis has offered similar protection for consumers in circumstances where it seemed as if no remedy would provide a similar equitable outcome. This defence was available when a plaintiff wanted to enforce legal action in circumstances that are unconscionable. The defendant could raise these circumstances as a defence to the action of enforcement. The potential difficulties associated with the CPA are not entirely similar to the uncertainties created by the application of the exceptio doli in the past. The widely articulated definitions present a bigger problem of uncertainty. This may in certain circumstances be to the detriment of the consumer. Consumers are afforded rights in terms of the CPA but it does not necessarily mean that the enforcement of these afforded rights is in place. There are technical difficulties regarding the interpretation of terms such as “agreement”, “unfair tactics” or “pressure” to name but a few. There are still no guidelines provided to assist consumer tribunals to adhere to the purpose of the act in a fair and organised manner. The question that arises is whether these afforded rights seem better than what it actually is; leaving us to believe that the common law regarding consumer protection can be codified. This study is an attempt to demonstrate that the CPA might not have the desired outcome as initially anticipated. The CPA unfortunately, in my opinion, represents an April fool’s day. Sections 40, 48 and 51 of the CPA will perhaps have a similar effect than the exceptio doligeneralis. These sections offer protection to a consumer if there are unfair, unreasonable or unjust circumstances. The widely articulated sections create an inclusive protecting mechanism rather than excluding. Any contract, term or clause thereof will be interpreted in such a way to benefit a consumer. It is submitted that it will not be possible to attach precise meanings to concepts such as good faith, public interest or fairness. There will always be a different understanding in a particular language and within a variation of context. The main goal to be achieved, the rules of the law of contract should reflect attempts to achieve a balance between fundamental principles such as fairness and good faith, and economic policies such as economic efficiency and the facilitation of honest market participation. / Dissertation (LLM)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / Mercantile Law / unrestricted

There are many contexts where an "everybody else is doing it" attitude is relevant. We evaluate the impact of this attitude in a multi-threshold public goods game. We use a lab experiment to study the role of providing information about contribution behavior to targeted subsets of individuals, and its effect on coordination. Treatments include one in which no information is provided and three others that vary in whom we provide information to: a random sample of subjects; those whose contributions are below the average of their group, and those whose contributions are above the average of their group. We find that the random provision of information is no different than not providing information at all. More importantly, average contributions improve with targeted treatments. Coordination waste is also lower with targeted treatments. The insights from this research are relevant more broadly to contexts including piracy, open innovation, and crowdfunding.