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In this dissertation, I will examine the conceptions of philosophy of the 19th and 20th Century thinkers Félix Ravaisson, Henri Bergson, and Maurice Merleau-Ponty, and their implications for contemporary theories of religious ethics and philosophical practice, especially that of Pierre Hadot. In doing so, I will elucidate their understanding of both the goals of philosophical practice and the means by which they are achieved, focusing in particular on the importance of the body in their respective theories of philosophical practice. Specifically, I argue that Ravaisson, Bergson, and Merleau-Ponty’s theories of philosophical practice are grounded in an understanding of habit as a dynamic process of producing and transforming bodily dispositions that problematizes distinctions between self and world and limits attempts to achieve conscious self-mastery. As a result, their work calls into question the extent to which self-conscious cultivation of intellectual and bodily habits that conform to an ideal self-conception is either possible or desirable, and instead affirms a conception of philosophical practice as what I term “indefinite self-cultivation.” In chapter one, I examine Félix Ravaisson’s conception of philosophical practice in relationship to his theory of habit, which he claims originates as a principle of desire that gives rise to bodily spontaneity. This theory of habit underlies a conception of philosophical practice as imitation of models of ideal conduct through which habits of inventive conduct that outstrip capacities for rational deliberation are produced. In chapter two, I contrast Ravaisson’s conception of habit with Henri Bergson’s, who regards habit as a form of bodily memory that produces automaticity. Philosophical practice for Bergson resists the effects of habit on thought and action by engaging in philosophical intuition, an application of mental effort to processes of change and movement that generates new ideas and new forms of life. In chapter three, I examine Merleau-Ponty’s intermediate position between these theories of habit, and his argument that the fluid nature of habituation as a process of social interaction makes living according to a determinate way of life possible only at the risk of doing violence to oneself. For Merleau-Ponty, philosophy entails critical practice of interrogating and expressing affects and immediate responses to events that serves as a way to question consciously-held values and uncover new personal and social possibilities. Finally, in chapter four, I conceptualize Ravaisson, Bergson, and Merleau-Ponty’s theories of philosophical practice as forms of indefinite self-transformation by putting their work in critical conversation with Pierre Hadot’s theory of philosophy as a way of life.

This review discusses the relationship between the Christian faith and business ethics, the academic work that had been done to enhance the understanding of this relationship and the opportunity for future research. The objective is to provide a research base for an empirical study on Malaysian Christians in business, their religiousness and ethical attitudes. / Religion is the most important source of a person's moral norms. Western business ethics is known to have Judeo-Christian roots and started off as an extension of religious ethics (De George 1986). As such the ethics of Christians in business is generally assumed to be consistent with the teachings of the Christian faith. Yet a couple of recent high profile criminal cases involving prominent self-declared Christians in business meant that a possible dichotomy between religious faith and business conduct surfaced. Therefore the question arises: can the relationship between the teachings of Christianity and the business ethics of its adherents be assumed? / This relationship had been of increasing interest since Christians in business are more up front and open about their faith in relation to the running of their businesses. There are ample inspirational writings based on Biblical precepts and principles intended to help Christians in business apply their faith to their business. However, theoretical and empirical research had been lacking. The volume of empirical studies had been very thin and the number of significant findings sparse. The findings were often inconclusive and sometimes contradictory. / Previous research on the relationship between Christianity religiosity and business ethics approached the concept of religion from the following angles: intrinsic and extrinsic religiosity after Allport's religiosity scale, religious intensity and frequency of religious practices, religious beliefs, Christian upbringing, and religious education. The review found the Love of Money Scale developed by Professor Thomas Li-Ping Tang which was founded on Biblical precepts. Since unethical business practices may be motivated by the love of money, the Love of Money Scale may provide new insights into the relationship between religion, love of money and ethical attitudes. / The review shows that important empirical research had been initiated in the study of the relationship between religion and business ethics. Although previous findings had been relatively weak and inconclusive, more recent studies had more positive findings. Further research would be helpful to establish the relationship on a more solid footing. / Thesis (DBA(DoctorateofBusinessAdministration))--University of South Australia, 2006

This review discusses the relationship between the Christian faith and business ethics, the academic work that had been done to enhance the understanding of this relationship and the opportunity for future research. The objective is to provide a research base for an empirical study on Malaysian Christians in business, their religiousness and ethical attitudes. / Religion is the most important source of a person's moral norms. Western business ethics is known to have Judeo-Christian roots and started off as an extension of religious ethics (De George 1986). As such the ethics of Christians in business is generally assumed to be consistent with the teachings of the Christian faith. Yet a couple of recent high profile criminal cases involving prominent self-declared Christians in business meant that a possible dichotomy between religious faith and business conduct surfaced. Therefore the question arises: can the relationship between the teachings of Christianity and the business ethics of its adherents be assumed? / This relationship had been of increasing interest since Christians in business are more up front and open about their faith in relation to the running of their businesses. There are ample inspirational writings based on Biblical precepts and principles intended to help Christians in business apply their faith to their business. However, theoretical and empirical research had been lacking. The volume of empirical studies had been very thin and the number of significant findings sparse. The findings were often inconclusive and sometimes contradictory. / Previous research on the relationship between Christianity religiosity and business ethics approached the concept of religion from the following angles: intrinsic and extrinsic religiosity after Allport's religiosity scale, religious intensity and frequency of religious practices, religious beliefs, Christian upbringing, and religious education. The review found the Love of Money Scale developed by Professor Thomas Li-Ping Tang which was founded on Biblical precepts. Since unethical business practices may be motivated by the love of money, the Love of Money Scale may provide new insights into the relationship between religion, love of money and ethical attitudes. / The review shows that important empirical research had been initiated in the study of the relationship between religion and business ethics. Although previous findings had been relatively weak and inconclusive, more recent studies had more positive findings. Further research would be helpful to establish the relationship on a more solid footing. / Thesis (DBA(DoctorateofBusinessAdministration))--University of South Australia, 2006

This review discusses the relationship between the Christian faith and business ethics, the academic work that had been done to enhance the understanding of this relationship and the opportunity for future research. The objective is to provide a research base for an empirical study on Malaysian Christians in business, their religiousness and ethical attitudes. / Religion is the most important source of a person's moral norms. Western business ethics is known to have Judeo-Christian roots and started off as an extension of religious ethics (De George 1986). As such the ethics of Christians in business is generally assumed to be consistent with the teachings of the Christian faith. Yet a couple of recent high profile criminal cases involving prominent self-declared Christians in business meant that a possible dichotomy between religious faith and business conduct surfaced. Therefore the question arises: can the relationship between the teachings of Christianity and the business ethics of its adherents be assumed? / This relationship had been of increasing interest since Christians in business are more up front and open about their faith in relation to the running of their businesses. There are ample inspirational writings based on Biblical precepts and principles intended to help Christians in business apply their faith to their business. However, theoretical and empirical research had been lacking. The volume of empirical studies had been very thin and the number of significant findings sparse. The findings were often inconclusive and sometimes contradictory. / Previous research on the relationship between Christianity religiosity and business ethics approached the concept of religion from the following angles: intrinsic and extrinsic religiosity after Allport's religiosity scale, religious intensity and frequency of religious practices, religious beliefs, Christian upbringing, and religious education. The review found the Love of Money Scale developed by Professor Thomas Li-Ping Tang which was founded on Biblical precepts. Since unethical business practices may be motivated by the love of money, the Love of Money Scale may provide new insights into the relationship between religion, love of money and ethical attitudes. / The review shows that important empirical research had been initiated in the study of the relationship between religion and business ethics. Although previous findings had been relatively weak and inconclusive, more recent studies had more positive findings. Further research would be helpful to establish the relationship on a more solid footing. / Thesis (DBA(DoctorateofBusinessAdministration))--University of South Australia, 2006

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Delaware, 2007. / Principal faculty advisor: John Byrne, Center for Energy and Environmental Policy . Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--McMaster University, 2006. / Supervisor: Travis Kroeker ... [et al.]. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 298-304).

Thesis (M.A.)--Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries, 1987. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves [162-164]).

Prof. H.P.P. Lotter

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