This  thesis  conducts  a  philosophical,  theoretical, and  practical  exploration  of digital technology design to examine how digital technologies can fulfill our two-facet of existentiality – identified in the thesis as belonginess and novelty. By belonginess, I identify human’s innate need for a feeling of connectedness and harmony with the self, others, and the natural world. The word novelty implies the human interest in exploration, invention, and desire for new experiences. This research suggests that contemporary  digital  technologies  are  largely  novelty  need-oriented,  while  our belonginess  need  is  either  ignored  or  its  growth  curtailed.  The  research  question presented in this thesis is how and why can design enable digital technologies to mediate aligned  existentiality?  With  this  broad  question,  I  will  argue  that  an  alignment between digital technologies and our two-facet of existentiality can be met through refocused design practices.  Strong arguments have been forwarded that novelty focused digital technologies can reduce our existential  needs of belonginess. Digital technologies are leading consumerist  commodities  associated  with  creating  unrelenting  demand  for  new experiences.  The  search  for  constant  stimulation  and  novelty  has  resulted  in  a fragmented and alienated state of being-human where the only way of feeling a sense of belonging comes from consuming more novel experiences. As contemporary everyday life is increasingly intertwined with digital technologies, their effect on our way of being-human becomes even more notable.  Against  this  background,  the  research  attempts  to  ‘bring  back’  our  needs  of belonginess to an equal footing with novelty in digital technologies. I have examined the  current  digital  technology  design’s  philosophical,  theoretical,  and  practical foundations  to  refocus  design,  from  its  too  strong focus  on  developing  novelty experiences  to  mediating  aligned  existentiality.  With  the  aim  of  refocusing  the design  role,  a  theoretical  framework  based  on  holism  has  emerged  that  could provide design a background to focus on mediating aligned existentiality. Primarily ivinformed by three thinkers – Marin Heidegger, Karl Marx, and John Dewey – the proposed holistic theoretical framework aims to provide design with a basis to (1) embed belonginess values in digital technologies (2) redirect digital technologies from  alienating  values  such  as  consumerism,  and  (3)  provide  a  mediating materiality for digital technologies to advance aligned existentiality while in use. The  thesis  further  illustrates  the  proposed  holistic  dimensions  –  philosophy, theory, and practice – using three empirical materials. I argue that the proposed holistic foundation for design is also aligned with how digital technologies are being used in the everyday lifeworld. Consequently, by freeing design from its traditional responsibility of making technically savvy and novel artifacts and refocusing its role to mediating aligned existentiality, design can itself be used to support our being-human in the world of digital artifacts. / <p>Vid tidpunkten för disputationen var följande delarbeten opublicerade: delarbete 8 accepterat, delarbete 9 under granskning.</p><p>At the time of the doctoral defence the following papers were unpublished: paper 8 accepted, paper 9 under review.</p>

A aplicação do conceito de serviços ecossistêmicos à avaliação de impactos ambientais (AIA) pode resultar em uma análise integrada dos efeitos sociais e ambientais de projetos e contribuir para solução de algumas das deficiências recorrentes da prática de AIA. Com objetivo de testar a aplicabilidade de uma abordagem de serviços ecossistêmicos (ASE) foi selecionado um projeto de uma nova mina de ferro, em Minas Gerais. O estudo de impacto ambiental (EIA) desse projeto foi elaborado segundo uma perspectiva tradicional, focada nas perdas ou danos potenciais aos recursos ambientais e culturais e suas respectivas mitigações. O projeto está localizado em uma região prioritária para conservação da biodiversidade e a sua população afetada é principalmente composta por agricultores de subsistência sem acesso a saneamento básico e outros serviços públicos. A coleta de dados foi feita mediante análise documental (EIA e seus complementos) e avaliações expeditas de campo (observação direta e mini surveys). A análise dos resultados se deu por meio da comparação entre os resultados obtidos pelo teste e as etapas do processo de AIA. Os resultados apontam que a ASE: (1) proporciona uma análise integrada dos impactos sobre os meios físico, biótico e social; (2) pode melhorar a determinação do escopo do EIA e consequente identificação e avaliação dos impactos; (3) permitiu identificar impactos adversos significativos que não foram descritos no EIA; (4) facilita a identificação e avaliação de impactos cumulativos; que: (5) nem todos os impactos identificados normalmente pela AIA podem ser identificados pela ASE; e (6) a escala de análise e coleta de dados da ASE deve ser de detalhe, considerando especialmente os beneficiários dos serviços impactados. O teste também permitiu identificar as limitações da ASE, que se dão principalmente devido à sua inerente complexidade, à falta de consolidação do conceito e à dificuldade de analisar alguns serviços, principalmente os reguladores. Apesar da complexidade da ASE, a integração do conceito de serviços ecossistêmicos à prática atual de AIA poderá promover uma reestruturação de algumas de suas etapas. Tal reestruturação conduz a uma melhor análise de impactos, desde que esta seja realizada de maneira integrada e em escala compatível com a identificação detalhada dos serviços e seus beneficiários. / The integrated analysis of the social and biophysical impacts of a project, called herein ecosystem services approach (ESA) can overcome perceived shortcomings of the current environmental impact assessment (EIA) practice. Aiming at testing this approach, the EIA of a new iron ore mining project in Brazil was reviewed. The environmental impact study (EIS) filed in compliance with legislation was prepared under a \"traditional\" approach, focused on the potential loss or harm to environmental and cultural resources. The project is located in a region of high biodiversity conservation value. The affected population is mainly composed of subsistence farmers with poor access to social services. Data was collected through document analysis (EIS and its supplements) and rapid appraisal (direct observation and mini surveys). Findings were discussed in relation to the literature on the main steps of the EIA process. It was found that the ESA: (1) provides for biophysical effects to be described in integration with social impacts; (2) can improve scoping with consequent gains in impact identification and analysis; (3) can identify impacts not described in the EIS; (4) facilitates the identification of cumulative impacts; and (5) not all impacts identified in the EIS can be identified by the ESA; (6) the scale of data collection and analysis in the ESA should be detailed and focused in the beneficiaries of the affected ecosystem services. The test also led to the identification of limitations in the approach. They are mainly due to its inherent complexity, the lack of conceptual consolidation and the difficulties of analyzing some ecosystem services, especially regulating services. Despite these limitations, the inclusion of ecosystem services in EIA practice could lead to improvements in impacts analysis, provided that the approach is conducted in an integrated way and adopts detailed scales.

A aplicação do conceito de serviços ecossistêmicos à avaliação de impactos ambientais (AIA) pode resultar em uma análise integrada dos efeitos sociais e ambientais de projetos e contribuir para solução de algumas das deficiências recorrentes da prática de AIA. Com objetivo de testar a aplicabilidade de uma abordagem de serviços ecossistêmicos (ASE) foi selecionado um projeto de uma nova mina de ferro, em Minas Gerais. O estudo de impacto ambiental (EIA) desse projeto foi elaborado segundo uma perspectiva tradicional, focada nas perdas ou danos potenciais aos recursos ambientais e culturais e suas respectivas mitigações. O projeto está localizado em uma região prioritária para conservação da biodiversidade e a sua população afetada é principalmente composta por agricultores de subsistência sem acesso a saneamento básico e outros serviços públicos. A coleta de dados foi feita mediante análise documental (EIA e seus complementos) e avaliações expeditas de campo (observação direta e mini surveys). A análise dos resultados se deu por meio da comparação entre os resultados obtidos pelo teste e as etapas do processo de AIA. Os resultados apontam que a ASE: (1) proporciona uma análise integrada dos impactos sobre os meios físico, biótico e social; (2) pode melhorar a determinação do escopo do EIA e consequente identificação e avaliação dos impactos; (3) permitiu identificar impactos adversos significativos que não foram descritos no EIA; (4) facilita a identificação e avaliação de impactos cumulativos; que: (5) nem todos os impactos identificados normalmente pela AIA podem ser identificados pela ASE; e (6) a escala de análise e coleta de dados da ASE deve ser de detalhe, considerando especialmente os beneficiários dos serviços impactados. O teste também permitiu identificar as limitações da ASE, que se dão principalmente devido à sua inerente complexidade, à falta de consolidação do conceito e à dificuldade de analisar alguns serviços, principalmente os reguladores. Apesar da complexidade da ASE, a integração do conceito de serviços ecossistêmicos à prática atual de AIA poderá promover uma reestruturação de algumas de suas etapas. Tal reestruturação conduz a uma melhor análise de impactos, desde que esta seja realizada de maneira integrada e em escala compatível com a identificação detalhada dos serviços e seus beneficiários. / The integrated analysis of the social and biophysical impacts of a project, called herein ecosystem services approach (ESA) can overcome perceived shortcomings of the current environmental impact assessment (EIA) practice. Aiming at testing this approach, the EIA of a new iron ore mining project in Brazil was reviewed. The environmental impact study (EIS) filed in compliance with legislation was prepared under a \"traditional\" approach, focused on the potential loss or harm to environmental and cultural resources. The project is located in a region of high biodiversity conservation value. The affected population is mainly composed of subsistence farmers with poor access to social services. Data was collected through document analysis (EIS and its supplements) and rapid appraisal (direct observation and mini surveys). Findings were discussed in relation to the literature on the main steps of the EIA process. It was found that the ESA: (1) provides for biophysical effects to be described in integration with social impacts; (2) can improve scoping with consequent gains in impact identification and analysis; (3) can identify impacts not described in the EIS; (4) facilitates the identification of cumulative impacts; and (5) not all impacts identified in the EIS can be identified by the ESA; (6) the scale of data collection and analysis in the ESA should be detailed and focused in the beneficiaries of the affected ecosystem services. The test also led to the identification of limitations in the approach. They are mainly due to its inherent complexity, the lack of conceptual consolidation and the difficulties of analyzing some ecosystem services, especially regulating services. Despite these limitations, the inclusion of ecosystem services in EIA practice could lead to improvements in impacts analysis, provided that the approach is conducted in an integrated way and adopts detailed scales.

Based on the explicit Husserl-Heidegger polemic, which concerned the ''Phenomenology'' entry for Encyclopaedia Britannica, my thesis captures conflict between the two protagonists precisely when it becomes direct. Tracing the main issues of their dispute, I will firstly demonstrate that the conflict is not a consequence of mutual misunderstanding, but rather a disagreement coming from the core itself of their respective theories. It could therefore not have been avoided. Secondly, I will show that the leading intentions of both traditional versions of phenomenology are not only irreconcilable, but essentially contradictory.

Text in Afrikaans / Die doel van die studie is om krities te besin oor die noodsaaklikheid van Fundamentele Andragogiek in die opleiding van onderwysers in 'n kontemporer-moderne wereld, ten einde aan te toon dat dosente beter toegerus vir hulle begeleidingstaak sal wees indien hulle oor kennis van Fundamentele Andragogiek beskik. HOOFSTUK EEN Die tema word ingelei deur titel- en begripsverheldering, probleemstelling, doelformulering, metodologiese verantwoording en programaankondiging. HOOFSTUK TWEE Fundamentele Andragogiek word antropologies-ontologies begrond, enkele grondvorme van menswees word beskryf en uitgele en aandag word gegee aan die hunkeringe van die onderwysstudent-in-opleiding as ageinsgebeure. HOOFSTUK DRIE 'n Snel veranderende wereld waarin onderwysersopleiding voltrek word, word ondersoek om vas te stel in watter mate snelle verandering 'n bedreiging vir die grondvorme van menswees inhou. HOOFSTUK VIER Die opleiding van onderwysers in 'n kontemporer-moderne RSA word ondersoek, om vas te stel watter eise en verwagtinge die Ministerie van Onderwys en Opleiding het. HOOFSTUK VYF 'n Terugskou word op die studie gedoen en en enkele toekomstake word ge'identifiseer. / The study aimed at reflecting critically on the need for Fundamental Andragogics in the training of teachers in a contemporary modern world. CHAPTER ONE The theme is introduced through clarification of the title and concepts, stating problems, goal setting, methodological justification and exposition of further programme. CHAPTER TWO Fundamental Andragogics is anthropologic-ontologically grounded. Some basic forms of being human are described and attention is given to the yearnings of the teacher trainee. CHAPTER THREE The rapidly changing world is researched in order to ascertain to what extent rapid change poses a threat to the basic forms of being human. CHAPTER FOUR The training of teachers in a contemporary modern RSA is researched in order to ascertain what the demands and expectations of the Ministry of Education and Training are. CHAPTER FIVE The study is viewed in retrospect and some future objectives for teacher training are identified. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Philosophy of Education)

Text in Afrikaans / Die doel van die studie is om krities te besin oor die noodsaaklikheid van Fundamentele Andragogiek in die opleiding van onderwysers in 'n kontemporer-moderne wereld, ten einde aan te toon dat dosente beter toegerus vir hulle begeleidingstaak sal wees indien hulle oor kennis van Fundamentele Andragogiek beskik. HOOFSTUK EEN Die tema word ingelei deur titel- en begripsverheldering, probleemstelling, doelformulering, metodologiese verantwoording en programaankondiging. HOOFSTUK TWEE Fundamentele Andragogiek word antropologies-ontologies begrond, enkele grondvorme van menswees word beskryf en uitgele en aandag word gegee aan die hunkeringe van die onderwysstudent-in-opleiding as ageinsgebeure. HOOFSTUK DRIE 'n Snel veranderende wereld waarin onderwysersopleiding voltrek word, word ondersoek om vas te stel in watter mate snelle verandering 'n bedreiging vir die grondvorme van menswees inhou. HOOFSTUK VIER Die opleiding van onderwysers in 'n kontemporer-moderne RSA word ondersoek, om vas te stel watter eise en verwagtinge die Ministerie van Onderwys en Opleiding het. HOOFSTUK VYF 'n Terugskou word op die studie gedoen en en enkele toekomstake word ge'identifiseer. / The study aimed at reflecting critically on the need for Fundamental Andragogics in the training of teachers in a contemporary modern world. CHAPTER ONE The theme is introduced through clarification of the title and concepts, stating problems, goal setting, methodological justification and exposition of further programme. CHAPTER TWO Fundamental Andragogics is anthropologic-ontologically grounded. Some basic forms of being human are described and attention is given to the yearnings of the teacher trainee. CHAPTER THREE The rapidly changing world is researched in order to ascertain to what extent rapid change poses a threat to the basic forms of being human. CHAPTER FOUR The training of teachers in a contemporary modern RSA is researched in order to ascertain what the demands and expectations of the Ministry of Education and Training are. CHAPTER FIVE The study is viewed in retrospect and some future objectives for teacher training are identified. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Philosophy of Education)

Hoër Onderwys in Suid-Afrika is in 'n proses van transformasie. Hierdie transformasie is onder meer as gevolg van internasionale wereldtendense en die historiese agterstande van onderwys in Suid-Afrika. Dit is derhalwe noodsaaklik dat instellings, soos die Oos-Rand Kampus van die Vaaldriehoekse Technikon, strategiese beplanning in sy bestuursaktiwiteite behoort te inkorporeer. Hierdie studie het strategiese bestuur as sentrale tema met komponente in die Filosofiese Antropologie en in Sakebestuur. In hierdie studie is ondersoek gedoen na strategiese bestuur as dialektiese strategiese bestuur met kenmerke van bi-polere, dualistiese en kontensieuse aard. Dit is vanuit hierdie vertrekpunt dat dialektiese strategiese bestuur in die kategoriee van menswees, soos onder meer synsopenheid, dialoog, toekomstigheid, paties-dinamiese gerelasioneerdheid, verbeelding, selfbewussyn, waardes en vryheid en besluitneming, gefundeer kan word. Dit kan gekonstateer word dat dialektiese strategiese bestuur 'n menslike aktiwiteit is wat in die Filosofiese Antropologie en in die Aksiologie gefundeer is. 'n Ondersoek is ook geloods na faktore wat die toekomstige strategiese posisie van die Oos-Rand Kampus van die Vaaldriehoekse Technikon kan beinvloed en/of bepaal Internasionale en nasionale onderwysfaktore is ondersoek en 'n nie-empiriese opname is onder personeel, studente en werkgewers uitgevoer om inligting te verkry wat in strategiese bestuur gebruik kan word. Die gevolgtrekkings van hierdie studie is in die vorm van strategiese tendense en 'n moontlike bestuursplan uiteengesit wat as 'n vertrekpunt in 'n strategiese plan vir die Oos-Rand Kampus van die Vaaldriehoekse Technikon gebruik kan word. / Higher Education in South Africa is in a process of transfonnation. This transfonnation is, amongst others, due to the international global tendencies and the historic backlog of education in South Africa It is therefore imperative that institutions, such as the East Rand Campus of the Vaal Triangle Technikon, should incorporate strategic planning in its managerial activities. This study has strategic management as a central theme with components in the Philosophical Anthropology and in Business Management. In this study strategic management has been investigated as dialectic strategic management with characteristics of a bi-polar, dualistic and contention nature. It is from this departure that dialectic strategic management can be funded in the categories of being human, namely openness to being, dialogue, futurity, pathic-dynamic relatedness, imagination, self consciousness, values and freedom and decision making. It can thus be stated that dialectic strategic management is a human activity funded in the Philosophical Anthropology and in the Axiology. An investigation has also been done pertaining factors which can influence and/or determine the future strategic position of the East Rand Campus of the Vaal Triangle Technikon. International and national educational factors have been investigated and a non-empirical survey was made among stafl: students and employers as to obtain infonnation that can be used in strategic management. The conclusion of the study is presented in the form of strategic intents and a probable management plan that can be used as a point of departure in a strategic management plan for the East Rand Campus of the Vaal Triangle Technikon. / Educational Studies / D. Ed. (Filosofie van die Opvoeding)

Hoër Onderwys in Suid-Afrika is in 'n proses van transformasie. Hierdie transformasie is onder meer as gevolg van internasionale wereldtendense en die historiese agterstande van onderwys in Suid-Afrika. Dit is derhalwe noodsaaklik dat instellings, soos die Oos-Rand Kampus van die Vaaldriehoekse Technikon, strategiese beplanning in sy bestuursaktiwiteite behoort te inkorporeer. Hierdie studie het strategiese bestuur as sentrale tema met komponente in die Filosofiese Antropologie en in Sakebestuur. In hierdie studie is ondersoek gedoen na strategiese bestuur as dialektiese strategiese bestuur met kenmerke van bi-polere, dualistiese en kontensieuse aard. Dit is vanuit hierdie vertrekpunt dat dialektiese strategiese bestuur in die kategoriee van menswees, soos onder meer synsopenheid, dialoog, toekomstigheid, paties-dinamiese gerelasioneerdheid, verbeelding, selfbewussyn, waardes en vryheid en besluitneming, gefundeer kan word. Dit kan gekonstateer word dat dialektiese strategiese bestuur 'n menslike aktiwiteit is wat in die Filosofiese Antropologie en in die Aksiologie gefundeer is. 'n Ondersoek is ook geloods na faktore wat die toekomstige strategiese posisie van die Oos-Rand Kampus van die Vaaldriehoekse Technikon kan beinvloed en/of bepaal Internasionale en nasionale onderwysfaktore is ondersoek en 'n nie-empiriese opname is onder personeel, studente en werkgewers uitgevoer om inligting te verkry wat in strategiese bestuur gebruik kan word. Die gevolgtrekkings van hierdie studie is in die vorm van strategiese tendense en 'n moontlike bestuursplan uiteengesit wat as 'n vertrekpunt in 'n strategiese plan vir die Oos-Rand Kampus van die Vaaldriehoekse Technikon gebruik kan word. / Higher Education in South Africa is in a process of transfonnation. This transfonnation is, amongst others, due to the international global tendencies and the historic backlog of education in South Africa It is therefore imperative that institutions, such as the East Rand Campus of the Vaal Triangle Technikon, should incorporate strategic planning in its managerial activities. This study has strategic management as a central theme with components in the Philosophical Anthropology and in Business Management. In this study strategic management has been investigated as dialectic strategic management with characteristics of a bi-polar, dualistic and contention nature. It is from this departure that dialectic strategic management can be funded in the categories of being human, namely openness to being, dialogue, futurity, pathic-dynamic relatedness, imagination, self consciousness, values and freedom and decision making. It can thus be stated that dialectic strategic management is a human activity funded in the Philosophical Anthropology and in the Axiology. An investigation has also been done pertaining factors which can influence and/or determine the future strategic position of the East Rand Campus of the Vaal Triangle Technikon. International and national educational factors have been investigated and a non-empirical survey was made among stafl: students and employers as to obtain infonnation that can be used in strategic management. The conclusion of the study is presented in the form of strategic intents and a probable management plan that can be used as a point of departure in a strategic management plan for the East Rand Campus of the Vaal Triangle Technikon. / Educational Studies / D. Ed. (Filosofie van die Opvoeding)