This thesis compares the interaction of philosophy and literature in Plato and Lucretius. It argues that Plato influenced Lucretius directly, and that this connection increases the interest in comparing them. In the Introduction, I propose that a work of philosophical literature, such as the De Rerum Natura or a Platonic dialogue, cannot be fully understood or appreciated unless both the literary and the philosophical elements are taken into account. In Chapter 1, I examine the tradition of literature and philosophy in which Plato and Lucretius were writing. I argue that the historical evidence increases the likelihood that Lucretius read Plato. Through consideration of parallels between the DRN and the dialogues, I argue that Plato discernibly influenced the DRN. In Chapter 2, I extract a theory of philosophical literature from the Phaedrus, which prompts us to appreciate it as a work of literary art inspired by philosophical knowledge of the Forms. I then analyse Socrates’ ‘prelude’ at Republic IV.432 as an example of how the dialogue’s philosophical and literary teaching works in practice. In Chapters 3 and 4, I consider the treatment of natural philosophy in the Timaeus and DRN II. The ending of the Timaeus is arguably an Aristophanically inspired parody of the zoogonies of the early natural philosophers. This links it to other instances of parody in Plato’s dialogues. DRN II.333-380 involves an argument about atomic variety based on Epicurus, but also, through the image of the world ‘made by hand’, alludes polemically to the intelligently designed world of the Timaeus. Through an examination of Plato’s and Lucretius’ polemical adaptation of their predecessors, I argue that even the most seemingly technical passages of the DRN and the Timaeus still depend upon literary techniques for their full effect. The Conclusion reflects briefly on future paths of investigation.

袁枚（1716-1797）和章學誠（1738-1801）被郭紹虞稱為清代最有識見的兩位文學批評家。他們生活的乾、嘉時期，文壇和學術界那裏不同學派盤根錯結，紛爭不斷。揭櫫復古大旗的格調派與桐城派先後稱霸文壇，同時，考據派又成為顯學，力壓具官方背景的宋學，其影響力不斷向文壇滲透。然而復古派過分重視對古人文章形式的模仿，而考據派又太過注重知識的表現，因此造成了文學創作模式單調而內容刻板沉悶的局面。面對這個局面，袁枚和章學誠先後主張以個人性情作為文學創作的主導，同時又提倡融合不同學說的優點，摒除門戶之見，以打破學術上的封閉，為文學和學術的困境尋找新出路。 / 可惜，過去學界往往只將袁枚和章學誠的文論立場置於開放和保守的對立位置上來作互相比較，然而忽略了他們的文論針對的目標，以致某些特徵都具有相當明顯的一致性。因此，本文就袁、章二人文論中具一致性的觀點分成四部分展開討論，首先從兩人所處的時代觀察他們在面對強勢時代風氣有何不同反應；繼而探討他們如何受前代（如宋明理學）和當代（如考據學）學術思想的影響，並如何面對以及加以改造；隨後，本文就其思想特徵轉入討論他們對復古派的批評和改造文壇的創作模式；最後，再深入探索袁、章二人對文學創作才能的要求以及其對文學功能的看法。本文期望通過深入對比袁、章二人文論的特徵，對之進行比較，以期對清中期文論發展有更全面的認識。 / Yuan Mei 袁枚 (1716-1797) and Zhang Xuecheng 章學誠 (1738-1801) are both revered as the most visionary literary critics of Qing dynasty by Guo Shaoyu(郭绍虞). In the QianJia era(乾嘉時期), different literary schools conflicted with each other until the literary world finally ruled by Gediao school(格調派) and Tongcheng school(桐城派), both belong to Retro school and advocated archaism. Besides, Textual school (考據派) replace the status of officially supported Song school(宋學), and became the most influential power, and its influence on literary aspect was increasing. Under such influences, however, the literary world lost its vitality because Retro school focuses too much on imitating ancient works while textual school emphasizes excessively on knowledge. Since both Retro school and Textual school ignored personality in literature, Yuan Mei and Zhang Xuecheng advocated personal temperament as the major literary considerations. Furthermore, they promoted the advantages of the integration of different thoughts to prevent the disadvantages of the dispute between diferent schools and to find anew way for literature and academia. / In the past, academics generally put Yuan Mei and Zhang Xuecheng on the opposite side to compare their literary proposition. This thesis, on the contrary, endeavors to analyze the similarities of their literary ideas rom four perspectives. First, we shall focus on the historical background to observe their reactions to different trends of QianJia era. The second part analyzes how Neo-Confucianism(理學) and Textual school affect their thoughts. Thirdly, we turn to examine their criticism of archaism and hence their suggestions of literary reform. Finally, we explore Yuan and Zhang's requirements of talents in literary creations and their views on the function of literature. Through the comparison of different aspects of Yuan and Zhang’s literary theories, this thesis attempts to gain a better understanding of the development of Mid-Qing literary thoughts. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / 黃永順. / Parallel title from English abstract. / Thesis (M.Phil.) Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2014. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 169-179). / Abstracts in Chinese and English. / Huang Yongshun.

Although nothing in either the theorist’s or the author’s oeuvre indicates one’s direct awareness of the other, Bakhtin and Nabokov both displayed a surprisingly similar concern for the interrelationship between ethics and literary aesthetics. This shared concern was no doubt shaped by Bakhtin and Nabokov’s common Silver Age background, which was rife with political, artistic and theological discourses regarding the nature of artistic creation, the created nature of man, and man’s ability to continue the process of self-creation. Both Bakhtin and Nabokov thus elaborated on the ethical dynamic between self and other within a commonly held, deeply aestheticized view of life that regards perception and representation of the other as the artistic creation of that other. Bakhtin and Nabokov’s conceptual parallel is further extended by the fact that both of their elaborations of this dynamic are specific responses to the work of Fyodor Dostoevsky. The purpose of this dissertation is, then, to explore further the conceptual convergences and antagonisms inherent in the seemingly similar aestheticized ethics of Bakhtin and Nabokov. Particular attention is paid to the author and theorist’s intellectual influences, especially with regards to Nabokov, since only a proper intellectual contextualization of Bakhtin and Nabokov’s allusively language will allow us a meaningful interpretation of their accounts of aesthetics and ethics.

明末清初的散文發展，前人或以載道觀念論之，或以抒情觀念論之，又或以流派分梳論之，各有其理，亦各有其弊。本人認為，明末清初散文發展自有其一以貫之的內在邏輯，因而本文力圖探尋其內在邏輯，重建其發展軌跡。本文指出，文道關係正是影響明末清初散文發展的關鍵因素，時人對於文道關係的不同詮釋與理解，決定了當時散文發展的方向。 / 「古文傳統」與「小品傳統」，是理解明清之際散文發展的重要概念。特別是周作人等以抒情為宗旨建構的「小品傳統」，對理解這一段散文史，產生了深遠的影響。然而本文通過考察「小品傳統」的建構過程，以及其所反抗的「古文傳統」之內涵，並辨析二者關係，相比起「古文傳統」內部「載道、唐宋、法度」的體系，「小品傳統」自身存在局限，並不足以貫穿明清散文的發展。相反，考察晚明小品文家的古文觀，清初古文家的小品創作，本文以為小品儘管一度興盛，然而「古文傳統」才是其時古文發展的主軸。 / 「古文傳統」既是關鍵所在，則如何詮釋文道關係是其時文壇的重要問題。本文指出明清之際的文道論接續了唐宋以來古文家與理學家的討論，並面臨如何承繼二者而有所發展的問題。本文通過辨析各家對文道合一的詮釋，考索其時文道論與唐宋古文家、理學家的論述之關係，指出明清之際的文人一方面推崇理學家道的修養，一方面提倡古文家的文章造詣，來達到文道合一。並通過加強文與經之間的關係，強調文必本於經典，來彌合古文家與理學家的分歧。 / 本文同時以錢謙益、黃宗羲、侯方域、汪琬為中心，具體討論明清之際文道關係的發展過程。指出錢謙益通過批評復古派，推崇反經，提出性情、學問與世運的主張，以道決定文的思路，拉開重建古文傳統的序幕。黃宗羲則在錢謙益的基礎上，通過擴大性情的內涵，以及道在審美上的包容性，重新詮釋文道關係。然而明清之際對侯方域的評價之轉變，從肯定其古文主張，到批評其小說筆法，恰正體現道決定文的思路在重建古文傳統過程中遇到的困境。汪琬則從道的層面維護程朱理學，從文的層面肯定復古派，批評錢謙益，排斥小說筆法，試圖通過文道並重的方法來解決困境。可以說明清之際古文的發展，正是從道決定文走向文道並重的過程。 / Prose development in late Ming and early Qing periods is accounted for by scholars in terms of the theories of Confucianism, the concepts of lyricism or the summaries of different schools of classical prose. This study holds the belief that the prose development within this period of time has its consistent internal logic, and its aim is to establish a new theory to explain and restore the track of such development based on the existing theories by previous scholars. This study points out that the relationship between dao 道 and wen 文 is the major element influencing the prose development in late Ming and early Qing; the interpretation and comprehension of it dictates the direction of prose development. / The two different traditions of classical prose and familiar essay are key concepts in understanding the prose development in late Ming and early Qing, especially the latter, which was constructed by Zhou Zuo-ren under the principle of lyricism. Based on the examination of its establishment, the nature of classical prose tradition it defies, and the relationship between the two, this study reveals that the familiar essay tradition was bound by its limitations which rendered it insufficient in accounting for the entire prose development of the whole period, in contrast to the internal system of classical prose tradition. The review of the view on classical prose by familiar essay writers in late Ming and the familiar essay output of classical prose writers in early Qing indicate that the classical prose tradition was then the main pillar of prose development and familiar essay was its subsidiary, despite its once high popularity. / With classical prose tradition being the key to prose development in late Ming and early Qing, the interpretation of the relationship between dao and wen was a significant issue in the ancient literary society. This study points out that when the scholars in late Ming and early Qing discussed dao and wen, such discussion was a continuation of that contributed by the masters of prose writing and philosophers of Neo-Confucianism since Tang and Song Dynasties, which relates to the problem of finding ways to advance through inheriting the two notions. Literary society in the past upheld the idea of fusing dao and wen. By analyzing the different interpretations of such fusion by various parties, this study investigates the relationship between the discussion of dao and wen in late Ming and early Qing dynasties and also that in Tang and Song dynasties, pointing out that by strengthening the relationship between prose and classics and emphasizing the classical basis of prose, it bridges the gap between Neo-Confucian philosophers’ morality and classical prose writers’ literariness. / Lastly, this study discusses the specific development of the theory of dao and wen during late Ming and early Qing through four case studies, namely, Qian Qian-yi’s criticism on Revival Theory, Huang Zong-xi’s theory of qing 情, the changing reviews on Hou Fang-yu, and Wang Wan’s criticism on Qian Qian-yi and fictional prose. Qian’s criticism marked the beginning of the revival of classical prose tradition during late Ming and early Qing, where he promoted the returning to classic, proposing the concept of qing and knowledge being complementary and the idea of dao determining wen. Huang, based on Qian’s thoughts, reinterpreted the relationship between dao and wen by further expanding the pool of connotations of qing and the aesthetic comprehensiveness of dao. / However, the phenomenon of scholars agreeing on Hou Fang-yu’s stand on classical prose while excoriating his ‘fictional style of prose writing techniques’小說筆法 reflects the predicament faced by the idea of dao determining wen in the process of reconstructing the classical prose tradition. Wang tried to resolve such predicament through putting emphasis on both dao and wen, defending neo-confucianism from the aspect of dao and affirming Ming Classicalists from that of wen, while criticizing Qian and rejecting fictional style. All these illustrate that classical prose development during Late Ming and Early Qing is a process of the transition from dao determining wen to emphasizing both dao and wen. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / 李向昇. / Parallel title from added title page. / Thesis (Ph.D.) Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2014. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 215-229). / Abstracts in Chinese and English. / Li Xiangsheng.

Thesis (MA (Visual Studies))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references.

In this doctoral dissertation I examine the development of Kierkegaard's sense of vocation as a Christian creative artist by research into his journals and published works, as well as investigating how this was influenced by his scriptural hermeneutic. I then attempt to sketch some starting points for a theology of Christian creative artwork contextualised within modern theological aesthetics by drawing upon this examination. I argue that Kierkegaard began writing without documented reflection on his intentions and communicative methodology, but was nonetheless a religious author from the start of his career, as his text The Point of View for my Work as an Author later claimed. I trace how he began with a more "indirect" approach in his writing and gradually developed a theory of "indirect communication", though there were more "direct" elements present in his work from the beginning (the "first authorship"), yet as he continued in his authorial career he became ever more "direct" in his mode of communication (the "second authorship"), until it eventually became exclusively more "direct" religious writing (the "attack on Christendom"). I conclude that the most concise and complete formulation of Kierkegaard's mature conception of his task as a Christian artist becomes "to communicate Christianity in Christendom" in a more direct mode-to explain straightforwardly what authentic Christianity is in an age of cultural, purely nominal religion. I allow that this task is in some ways unique to his own historical situation but contend nonetheless that a consideration of it is profitable for contemporary theology because of the many different ways that he attempted to carry it out. In Kierkegaardian terms, and following on from resources in Kierkegaard and his use of scripture, I argue constructively from all of this that more "direct" communication is the more valuable form of communication to the Christian creative artist for theological reasons, but that more "indirect" communication can still be useful, in the task of communicating creatively through art.

It is a common intuition that we can learn something of moral importance from literature, and one of the ways in which we teach our children about morality is through stories. In selecting books for children to read a primary concern is often the effect that the moral content of the story will have on the morality of the child reader. In this thesis I argue in order to take advantage of the contribution that literature can make to moral development, we need to teach children to read in a particular way. As a basis for this argument I use an account of moral agency that places emphasis on the development of moral skills - the ability to critically assess moral rules and systems, and the capacity to perceive and respond to the particulars of individual situations and to choose the right course of action in each - rather than on any particular kind of moral content. In order to make the most of the contribution that literature can make to the development of these skills, we need to teach children to immerse themselves in the story, rather than focusing on literary criticism. I argue that, contrary to the standard view of literary criticism as the only form of protection against possible negative effects, an immersed reading will help to prevent the child reader from taking any moral claims made in the story out of context, and so provide some measure of protection against possible negative moral effects of the story. Finally I argue that there are certain kinds of stories - recognisable by features that contribute to a high literary quality - that will enrich the experience of an immersed reading, and will therefore make a greater contribution to moral development than others.

Taking its depature point in a translation of a play by a Czech playwright and philosopher, Václav Havel, into Swahili, the article strives at a cross-cultural comparison of a pivotal concept of Havel`s thought, lidství (`humanity´), and an equally central concept of Swahili moral and philosophical thought, utu. The basis of this copmparison is, on the Czech side, an explanation of Havel`s concept and its grounding in existentialist philosophy. The Swahili side is presented in a two-step procedure. First, the semantic field of `humanity´in the Swahili language, comprising utu and several concepts related to it (especially ubinadamu), is analyzed. Second, the concepts belonging to the semantic field of utu are traced in the development of Swahili literature, as a prominent representative of intellecual discourses in the Swahili culture.

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