The problem of this study was to investigate the philosophical assumptions underlying the holistic paradigm. These underlying philosophical assumptions include beliefs about the nature of being (ontology), goals (axiology), and knowledge (epistemology). The interdependence of these assumptions, as well as how they translate into different research processes, is noted in this study.

This thesis concerns ways of knowing in the Anglican eucharistic tradition. It also explores the ramifications of these ways of knowing for theological education in the Anglican tradition of Christianity. The thesis uses Anglican eucharistic theology as a source of case study, and attempts, using a methodology of phenomenology to examine critically the particular interests and philosophical assumptions underlying eucharistic theology in the Anglican tradition from the time of the Reformation to the present day. Phenomenology is chosen as the methodology since it allows access to the diverse experience of the Anglican eucharistic tradition, suspending judgment until a later time when essences are extracted from the case studies. This has the potential to avoid exclusive commitments to particular technical and hermeneutic interests within Anglicanism while at the same time recognising the multiformity of the Anglican eucharistic tradition and fostering a critical approach to the examination of the experience of the Anglican eucharistic tradition and Anglican theological education. In examining ways of knowing in the Anglican tradition, the thesis acknowledges the usefulness for eucharistic theology and theological education of philosophical enquiry. The three ways of knowing (technical, hermeneutic and critical) proposed by the philosopher, Jurgen Habermas (1971 and 1973) are used to assist in understanding the knowledge of the Anglican eucharistic tradition presented in the case studies. The further insights of Habermas (1984 and 1989) are used in recommending a dialogue approach, based on the intersubjectivity of communicative action, for theological education concerned with the teaching of eucharistic theology in the Anglican tradition. Philosophical reflection is also employed in an examination of the underlying philosophical assumptions of the case studies of eucharistic theology in the Anglican tradition. A model of the Anglican eucharistic tradition based on the philosophical concepts of realism and nominalism, to both the moderate and immoderate degrees is developed and proposed as a way of promoting a critical interest in the Anglican eucharistic tradition beyond the merely technical or hermeneutic interests commonly found in various church parties of the Anglican Communion. The work of the Australian philosopher David Armstrong (1989, 1995, 1997 and 2004) is foundational to the development of a model for the Anglican eucharistic tradition and the examination of its experience in the case studies. The principal findings of the study suggest that the prevailing essence of the Anglican eucharistic tradition is a multiformity of eucharistic doctrine, such that eucharistic theology is most often expressed using the philosophical assumptions of realism and nominalism to the moderate degree and according to varying technical and hermeneutic interests. The thesis also seeks to draw out the educational implications of these differing ways of knowing for theological education in the Anglican tradition and specifically for the teaching of eucharistic theology. The principal recommendation of the thesis for theological education is the application of a dialogue approach in the teaching of eucharistic theology in Anglican theological education, where dialogue involves the development of an ideal communicative community in which participants seek shared meaning on the basis of the intersubjectivity of communicative action. / PhD Doctorate

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-26T20:21:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Jose Carlos Pires de Campos Filho.pdf: 1230163 bytes, checksum: 7aecdf4937e6fc88ebc0a96eb18906df (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-08-24 / The objective of this dissertation is to expose the philosophical assumptions of the theory of the philosopher St. Augustine on the nature of the ethical and legal State The thought here is understood as a defense of the just State and of the conception of natural law against accusations that Christianity causes injury to the political community. The Augustinian conception of a just and happy society allows, instead, enhancing the civic virtues as a means to achieve the common good and peace. The Augustinian ontology allows the truth to be the reference of virtues and vices, as precepts of action capable of forming the unity of a civilization. The "City of God" is the allegory of a just society that is present in this world through the ages in coexistence with the earthly state / O objetivo desta dissertação é expor os pressupostos filosóficos centrais da teoria do filósofo Santo Agostinho sobre a natureza do Estado ético-jurídico. O pensamento é aqui compreendido como uma defesa do Estado justo e da concepção de lei natural contra as acusações de que o Cristianismo causa prejuízo à comunidade política. A concepção agostiniana de sociedade justa e feliz permite, ao contrário, aprimorar as virtudes cívicas como meio para alcançar o bem comum e a paz. A ontologia agostiniana permite que a verdade seja a referência das virtudes e dos vícios, como preceitos do agir capazes de formar a unidade de uma civilização. A Cidade de Deus é a alegoria de sociedade justa presente no mundo através dos tempos em convivência com o Estado terreno