Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study comprises a survey of the atheist solution to the problem of evil that has occasionally in the past been suggested by philosophers, but has largely been neglected in the philosophy of religion. Against this background, the study has two main objectives. It focusses in the first place on the reasons upon which philosophers like Mackie and McCloskey regard the giving up of one or more of the attributes of God in theism as an adequate solution to the problem of evil, considered to be the strongest argument against the rationality of theistic belief. What the study however would like to add to this objective, is to point to the existence of an even more fundamental reason upon which it can be claimed that the problem of evil can be solved along this way and that the emotional pressure so typical of this problem can be relieved without any serious implications for the belief in God. Concerning the more negative orientated of these reasons, it is shown that the latter revolves around the concept of the logical inconsistency of the theistic theory that can truly be regarded as the rationale of the atheistic argument known as the problem of evil. Furthermore, this concept also represents the cornerstone of the rejection of theistic solutions to this problem by Mackie and others as inadequate. In focussing on the origins of these reasons, it is shown that although the roots of the problem of evil is to be found in pre-Christian times and it continued to be a point of discussion throughout the whole of the Apostolic Age and the Middle Ages, it was the period of the Enlightenment and in particular the legacy of David Hume that became the strongest inspiration of the atheist rejection of theism in modern times. Concerning the more positive orientated of these reasons, the focus is on the efforts of philosophers that have been following the suggestions of Hume and that have against the background of the deficiencies of the theistic solutions to the problem of evil, started to experiment with solutions wherein at least one of the constituting propositions of the problem of evil is rejected. It is also argued that the way to these experiments has been paved by the contributions of Mill and Geach and that the latter encouraged philosophers to also belabour the problem of evil from an atheistic point of view. Against this background, the final focus is on the second objective of the study, namely to show that there exists an even more fundamental reason upon which it can be claimed that the problem of evil can be solved along this way and that the emotional pressure so typical of this problem can be relieved without any serious implications for the belief in God. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie behels 'n ondersoek na die ateïstiese oplossing vir die probleem van die kwaad wat weliswaar in die verlede al by geleentheid deur filosowe gesuggereer is, maar wat nietemin nog nie veel aandag in die godsdiensfilosofiese debat oor hierdie problematiek geniet het nie. Binne hierdie raamwerk het die studie twee oogmerke. Dit wil in die eerste plek fokus op al daardie redes op grond waarvan filosowe soos Mackie en McCloskey meen dat die skrapping van een of meer van die Goddelike attribute in die teïsme tot 'n toereikende oplossing van die probleem van die kwaad as sterkste argument teen die rasionele houdbaarheid van hierdie teorie kan lei. Wat die studie in die tweede plek egter hieraan wil toevoeg, is om aan te toon dat daar 'n nog meer fundamentele rede bestaan op grond waarvan daar aangevoer kan word dat die probleem van die kwaad inderdaad langs hierdie weg en ook sonder ernstige implikasies vir die geloof in God opgelos en die emosionele druk so eie aan hierdie problematiek verlig kan word. Wat die meer negatief gerigte van hierdie redes aan betref, word daar verduidelik dat laasgenoemde rondom die konsep van die logiese inkonsistensie van die teïstiese teorie sentreer. Laasgenoemde kan met reg as die spil van die ateïstiese argument bekend as die probleem van die kwaad beskryf kan word en verteenwoordig die rasionaal van die argumente op grond waarvan Mackie en andere die teïstiese oplossings vir die probleem van die kwaad as ontoereikend afwys. In 'n nadere omskrywing van die oorspronge van hierdie redes, word daarop gewys dat alhoewel die probleem van die kwaad sy wortels in die voor-Christelike tyd het en dit ook dwarsdeur die Patristiek en die Middeleeue In onderwerp van drukke bespreking gebly het, dit egter die denkklimaat van die Verligting en in die besonder die nalatenskap van David Hume was wat sedertdien die belangrikste inspirasie van ateïstiese afwysings van die teïsme geword het. Wat die meer positief gerigte redes betref, word daar gefokus op ateïsties georiënteerde filosowe se pogings om op voetspoor van die onderskeidings van Hume en teen die agtergrond van die leemtes van teïsties georiënteerde oplossings vir die probleem, met daardie oplossings te eksperimenteer waarin daar van ten minste van een van die proposisies wat die probleem van die kwaad konstitueer, afstand gedoen word. Daar word aangevoer dat die weg tot eksperimentering met hierdie oplossings reeds deur onder meer die opvattings van Mill en Geach gebaan is en dat dit aan filosowe oënskynlik genoegsame rede gebied het om die probleem van die kwaad ook vanuit 'n ateïstiese gesigspunt te bearbei. Teen hierdie agtergrond word daar ten slotte op die tweede oogmerk van die studie gefokus, naamlik om aan te toon dat daar 'n nog meer fundamentele rede bestaan op grond waarvan daar aangevoer kan word dat die probleem van die kwaad inderdaad langs hierdie weg en ook sonder ernstige implikasies vir die geloof in God opgelos en die emosionele druk so eie aan hierdie problematiek verlig kan word. / wa201509

Thesis (MEd (Education))--University of Stellenbosch, 1945. / 128 Leaves typed on single pages. Includes bibliography. Pdf format. (OCR). Digitized at 330 dpi color PDF format (OCR), using KODAK i 1220 PLUS scanner. Digitized by Ivan Jacobs on request of Niel Hendriksz 22 Feb. 2011. / Bibliography

This essay will look at some characters from the Harry Potter novels, their attitude to deaht and their ability to love. The focus is to look at how their different stances to death and love make them good or evil. Most attention will be given to some key characters: Lord Voldemort, Harry Potter, Severus Snape, and Albus Dumbledore. Their attitudes to death is first to be dealt with, followed by an investigation of their ability to love. After that, a conclusion by analysing more briefly some minor characters who are part of Voldemort’s Death Eaters. The analysis is mainly restricted to Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, but there are a few examples from some of the other books in the Harry Potter series as well.

In this thesis I argue that the major philosophical arguments in the field of animal ethics, as it has developed in the twentieth century, are inadequate without a robust theological foundation. While these arguments for greater moral respect for animals have acquired some cultural purchase in relation to systematic abuses of animals in factory farming and some forms of hunting, they lack the resources for articulating the many complexities inherent in human relationships with other animals. These positions, expounded most prominently by Peter Singer and Tom Regan, seek to extend to animals the moral frames of earlier Enlightenment thinkers and are thus bound by the same concerns and constraints; they therefore do not sufficiently problematise the modern distinction between humans and other animals that has advanced the modern mistreatment of animals to a degree of systematic cruelty unknown in human history. I argue that the Christian tradition has richer resources for articulating human moral relationships with other animals – and for problematising the modern framing of the human-animal distinction – than these secular theories possess on their own. This is by no means the first theological foray into the field of animal ethics. Previous theological accounts, however, still work predominantly within the confines set by secular philosophers. For example, Andrew Linzey clearly articulates his concept of “Theos-rights” for animals from within the conceptual framework of deontological categories. I will argue instead that a richer theological account of human relationships with other animals can be made by embracing the foundational love ethic found in Christianity. The Christian category of neighborly love represents a normative moral position in its own right rather than a simple addition to or reinterpretation of earlier consequentialist or deontological accounts. Using the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), I outline a theologically informed animal ethic in which animals are seen as potential neighbors. My argument proceeds in two stages. The first and largest section identifies and explores three themes key to interpreting the parable with a view toward animal ethics. First, I explore the theme of responsibility and employ the thought of Emil Brunner and Karl Barth in asking to what degree humans, as imago Dei, are responsible for their relationships with animals. Second, I argue for the importance of caring in human moral encounters with animals. Here, I explore the similarities and deficiencies of feminist theory in relation to the Christian concept of neighborly love. Third, I consider the moral relevance of nearness, or proximity, in human relationships with animals. Here, I outline the different responsibilities inherent in human relationships with wild, domestic working, and pet animals. After expounding these three themes, the second stage of my thesis employs them in critiquing two specific theological issues. I first compare the Christian concept of dominion over animals found in Genesis 1:28 with competing claims from Christian stewardship ethics and environmental land ethics. Then, primarily in conversation with Barth, I conclude with a discussion of the theological arguments for and against Christian vegetarianism.

Research report (L.L.M. (Coursework))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, School of Law, 2014

Thesis advisor: David Hollenbach / Thesis advisor: Andrea Vicini / Thesis (STL) — Boston College, 2013. / Submitted to: Boston College. School of Theology and Ministry. / Discipline: Sacred Theology.

Thesis advisor: Daniel J. Harrington / Holy Scripture throughout history has been a source of inspiration for human beings. One important theme that emerges from Scripture is the notion of mercy, which is a capital virtue in the gospel of Luke. The Gospel according to St. Luke has traditionally merited the title “The Gospel of Mercy” and contains parables such as “The Parable of the Good Samaritan” and “The Parable of the Prodigal Son,” which are unique to Luke’s gospel. These parables highlight the divine merciful actions of a Samaritan and of a father respectively; they show us a path of divine mercy through concrete actions. This thesis will focus on the parable of the Good Samaritan (Lk 10:25-37). / Thesis (STL) — Boston College, 2011. / Submitted to: Boston College. School of Theology and Ministry. / Discipline: Sacred Theology.

In this thesis, I offer a complex exploration of positive motivation and life evaluation in two adjacent villages in the Buganda kingdom of Central Uganda. Focusing primarily on the lives of five individuals, I examine the tensions and inconsistencies that arise in the day-to-day pursuit of a good life in these villages and argue that, while individual lives may differ, people everywhere face similar concerns in their desire to live well. Through these individuals, but drawing also on wider ethnographic insights, I explore five core themes, with a trajectory broadly moving from more material to more transcendental concerns. These are: making a living, aspiration, gratification deferral, the source of good things, and the importance of connectedness. Running through the thesis is the assertion that wellbeing is a relational and moral project as people’s efforts to live well are inextricably intertwined. A key underlying question is ‘How can we live well in a socially acceptable way?’ This research contributes to the fledgling field of the anthropology of happiness and wellbeing as well as regional scholarship on, for example, development, livelihoods, aspirations, and ‘modernity’. In addition, it speaks to interdisciplinary wellbeing research and I argue that the nuance and contextualisation offered by anthropological and ethnographic study can both augment and challenge the primarily quantitative research from other disciplines. Furthermore, I make a particular claim for the value of biographical approaches to the study of wellbeing.

by Wan Tak-sing. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 110-111). / INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1 --- PROCEDURAL JUSTICE RECONSIDERED --- p.4 / Three Kinds of Procedural Justice --- p.5 / The Original Position --- p.11 / Personal Goods and Common Goods --- p.15 / The Good in the Procedure --- p.18 / Chapter 2 --- WHAT IS COMMON GOOD? --- p.22 / Popular Views of Common Good --- p.23 / "Two Senses of ""Common""" --- p.29 / Diversity of Goods --- p.33 / Evaluation of Goods --- p.44 / Two Kinds of Common Goods --- p.54 / Chapter 3 --- THE SELF AND COMMON GOODS --- p.70 / What is the Self? --- p.71 / The Unencumbered Self --- p.79 / The Situated Self --- p.84 / Common Goods and Self-Identity --- p.95 / CONCLUDING REMARKS --- p.108 / WORKS CITED --- p.110

Este trabalho tem por objetivo analisar boas práticas trazidas pela doutrina internacional durante o processo de solicitação de refúgio em razão de orientação sexual e/ou identidade de gênero a fim de recomendação de aplicação das mesmas no Brasil. Inaugura-se o trabalho realizando uma revisão histórica do instituto do refúgio bem com sua internalização no Brasil através da Lei 9.474/07. Além disso, o estudo a explorar como se dá a caracterização da perseguição para esse tipo de refúgio. Costura-se, por meio dos critérios de concessão de refúgio por grupo social, religião e opinião política o embasamento das decisões que vem concedendo refúgio LGBTI. Na análise da valoração das narrativas e situações imperantes sobre a situação de lésbicas, gays, bissexuais, trans e intersex no país de origem, busca-se práticas que não violem direitos humanos e garantam direitos. Utilizou-se para tanto do método de pesquisa bibliográfico, buscando-se na doutrina internacional e nacional práticas que possam vir a garantir direitos durante o processo de solicitação de refúgio. Obteve-se como resultado a estruturação de boas práticas utilizadas em outros países. Concluiu-se através do presente trabalho que o processo de refúgio por razão de perseguição por orientação sexual e/ou identidade de gênero possui atravessamentos de diversas ordens e enfrenta desafios que merecem aprofundamentos teóricos e empíricos sobre como se dá a declaração do status de refugiado. / This work aims to analyze good practices brought by international doctrine during the process of requesting refugee’s status based on sexual orientation and / or gender identity in order to recommend their application in Brazil. The work is inaugurated by carrying out a historical review of the refuge institute and its internalization in Brazil through Law 9.474 / 07. In addition, the study explore how the characterization of persecution for this type of refuge occurs. Through the criteria of granting refuge by social group, religion and political opinion, the bases of the decisions that have been granting LGBTI refuge are sewn. In the analysis of the assessment of the narratives and situations prevailing on the situation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex in the country of origin, practices are sought that do not violate human rights and guarantee rights. It was used for both the method of bibliographic research, researching in international and national doctrine practices that may guarantee rights during the process of requesting refuge. As a result, the structuring of good practices used in other countries has been summarized. It was concluded through the present work that the process of refuge due to persecution due to sexual orientation and / or gender identity has crosses of several orders and faces challenges that deserve theoretical and empirical deepening on how the declaration of refugee status is given.