Thesis (MPhil (Philosophy))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study investigated the practice of language use on road signs in Switzerland. The language used in public spaces constitutes our image of a specific place to a remarkable degree. We are constantly exposed to signs, whether road signs, advertisements or notifiers. These signs not only convey information such as “Caution”, “Final sale” or “Speed limit 60 here”, but also highlight aspects of culture and, where written text appear on them, aspects of the language(s) used in that area. Language use within the public space enables us to conceptualize, as well as recognize, the ways in which language use occurs, often (but not always) informing us whether a country is monolingual, bilingual or multilingual. In addition, these signs also indicate how language use is linked to other processes such as globalisation, social change and cultural heritage. The main purpose of this thesis was to establish how language is used on road signs in presentday, officially multilingual Switzerland. In this regard, three Swiss cantons (in which bilingual or multilingual societies are found) were investigated as to the language(s) – or lack thereof – which appear on their road signs, as well as to the order in which these languages appear. Specifically, bilingual or multilingual signs, as well as so-called Bildersprache (“picture language”, in other words on a board or plaque with a picture, symbol or other image on it), were studied in these cantons. Data for this research consists of photographic material (taken during visits to the study areas) as well as interview data. It was found that the social and political identities, as well as the economic interests, of language groups in a particular area affect the design and placement of road signs in that area. The results of this study serve as a framework for future research, and the photo material enables us, to a certain extent, to see how an apparently stable language system (such as the multilingualism found in Switzerland) encounters changes due to internal and external influences, but also how creative language can be. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie studie is die taalgebruik op padtekens in Switserland ondersoek. Die taalgebruik in openbare plekke vorm tot ’n merkwaardige mate die beeld wat ons van ’n spesifieke plek het. Ons word konstant blootgestel aan tekens, hetsy padtekens, advertensies of kennisgewings. Hierdie tekens verskaf nie net inligting soos “Versigtig”, “Finale uitverkoping” of “Spoedgrens 60” nie, maar beklemtoon ook kulturele aspekte en, in daardie gevalle waarin geskrewe teks op tekens verskyn, ook aspekte van taal/tale wat in die betrokke gebied gebesig word. Taalgebruik in die openbare ruimte help ons om die wyses waarop taalgebruik voorkom te konseptualiseer en te herken, en dui gereeld (maar nie altyd nie) vir ons aan of ’n land eentalig, tweetalig of veeltalig is. Verder gee die tekens ook ’n aanduiding van hoe taalgebruik gekoppel is aan prosesse soos globalisasie, sosiale verandering en kulturele erfenis. Die hoof doel van hierdie tesis was om te bepaal hoe taal in die hedendaagse Switzerland op padtekens gebruik word. Drie Switserse kantons (met tweetalige en veeltalige gemeenskappe) is in hierdie verband ondersoek in terme van die taal/tale – of die gebrek daaraan – wat op padtekens verskyn asook die volgorde waarin hierdie tale op die padtekens verskyn. Spesifiek tweetalige of veeltalige tekens asook sogenaamde Bildersprache (“prentetaal”, met ander woorde ’n bord met ’n prent, simbool of ander voorstelling daarop) is in hierdie kantons bestudeer. Die data vir hierdie navorsing bestaan uit fotografiese materiaal (wat verkry is tydens besoeke aan die studie-areas) sowel as inligting wat verkry is deur onderhoudvoering. Daar is bevind dat die sosiale en politiese identiteite, sowel as die ekonomiese belange, van taalgroepe in ’n spesifieke area die ontwerp en plasing van padtekens in daardie area beïnvloed. Die resultate van hierdie studie dien as ’n raamwerk vir toekomstige navorsing en die fotomateriaal stel ons tot ’n sekere mate in staat om vas te stel hoe ’n klaarblyklik stabiele taalsisteem (soos die veeltalige een wat in Switserland aangetref word) veranderinge weens interne en eksterne invloede kan ervaar, maar ook hoe kreatief taal kan wees.

Thesis (MPhil (Philosophy))--University of Stellenbosch, 2008. / As poverty continues to impact billions of people across the world – to the extent that millions die daily simply because they are too poor to live – there is a pressing ethical question to ask: Who, if anyone, should be taking moral responsibility to end extreme poverty? The key moral problem that my thesis addresses is that those individuals who should primarily be taking moral responsibility to eradicate extreme poverty because they have the power and thus responsibility to make a real difference are not. My contention is that capitalism as it is currently practiced perpetuates extreme poverty and that the very individuals who have the greatest power to eradicate poverty do not view this as a real ethical challenge nor as their primary responsibility to address. I argue that these individuals are global corporate business leaders and that extreme poverty will only be eradicated when these leaders take moral responsibility to apply capitalism in a far more sustainable way - a way that has continuity for future generations and that is fundamentally just towards all human beings. The practice of sustainable capitalism as a solution to extreme poverty is dependent on a ‘critical mass’ of business leaders acting in a way that displays virtuous moral character and sets the example for others to follow. I will assume as a starting point that global poverty does exist and that people dying of poverty when others have far in excess of their needs cannot be ethically justified, irrespective of which moral theory it is viewed from. My thesis will commence by assessing the virtue of virtue ethics theory in comparison to other moral theories and I will illustrate that virtue ethics theory is most appropriate in addressing the moral problem of extreme poverty because it places moral responsibility firmly on the individual human being rather than on any metaphysical principle or context that exists ‘above’ the individual. In my analysis of the relationship between virtue and justice, I will specifically argue that capitalism as it is currently being practiced is unjust and unsustainable. I will further argue that it does not represent Aristotle’s ideal of ‘the good life’ for all and that the outdated modernist principles on which capitalism is currently premised, need to be challenged. Since global corporate business leaders are both the architects of capitalism as we currently experience it and the greatest beneficiaries of it, they have the corresponding greatest moral responsibility to act to eradicate extreme poverty. Business leaders need to take primary moral responsibility to eradicate extreme poverty through practicing a more just and sustainable form of capitalism that is inclusive of all, balancing society and profit needs. In closing I will propose that the African humanist concept of ‘ubuntu’ provides a unique opportunity in South Africa to inform an ethical consciousness that could underpin a future sustainable capitalist approach and perhaps serve as an example to influence global corporate business leaders.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: New genetic technologies (e.g. stem-cell research, gene-therapies and cloning) raise some of the most enigmatic moral problems in the field of bioethics. My aim in this thesis is to explore the philosophical and ethical significance of the idea of an “ethics of responsibility” (as, particularly, developed in the work of Hans Jonas, Zygmunt Bauman and Emmanuel Levinas) for moral reflection on these problems. “Ethics of responsibility” is a new approach to ethics that represents an alternative to both rule morality (where moral action is identified with the application of rules) and utilitarianism (where moral action is identified with establishing the best consequences for the most people). Rule morality has the serious shortcoming of being unable to deal with real and actual moral dilemmas, and of being unclear as to which rule applies in which situation. Utilitarianism has the serious shortcoming of often being way too counter-intuitive: deeds that we normally find morally abhorrent, such a lying, stealing and even torturing can, within the utilitarian calculus, sometimes be justified. The notion of an ethics of responsibility has been promoted by the mentioned authors both to counter the simplistic idea that a rule exists in terms of which every moral action can be determined, but also to counter the crassness of the utilitarian calculus. It represents an approach to ethics in which the interests of the other are taken as seriously as possible within the confines of the situation in which action is called for. My aim is to explore this approach critically, and to invesitgate its desirability, applicability and efficacy with particular reference to the moral problems raised by the new genetic technologies. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Nuwe genetiese tegnologieë bv stamselnavorsing en kloning, opper enigmatiese morele probleme binne die veld van bio-etiek. Die doel van hierdie tesis is om die filosofiese en etiese belang van die idee van “ ‘n etiek van verantwoordelikheid” (soos dit in die werk van Hans Jonas, Zygmunt Bauman en Emmaneul Levinas ontwikkel is) vir morele refleksie van hierdie probleme te ondersoek. ‘n Etiek van verantwoordelikheid is ‘n nuwe benadering binne etiek wat ‘n alternatief daarstel vir onderskeidelik utilitarisme (waar ‘n moreel korrekte aksie dié aksie is wat die beste gevolge vir die meeste mense tot stand bring) en deontologie of reël-moraliteit (waar ‘n moreel korrekte aksie dié aksie is wat die morele reëls gehoorsaam). Albei hierdie tradisionele etiese teorie beskik oor tekortkominge. Utilitarisme voer byvoorbeeld aan dat ‘n aksie wat gewoonlik as kontraintuitief beskou word, moreel korrek is. Aksies soos steel, die vertel van leuens en marteling kan volgens die utilitaristiese beskouing moreel regverdig word. Deontologie slaag weer nie daarin om sinvol met werklike en aktuele morele probleme om te gaan nie, en dit is dikwels onduidelik watter morele reël voorkeur moet kry wanneer dit op ‘n morele dilemma toegepas word. ‘n Etiek van verantwoordelikheid wat deur bogenoemde outeurs voorgestaan word, bied ‘n alternatief vir die simplisitese idee dat vaste morele reël bestaan wat op ‘n universele wyse kan bepaal wanneer ‘n aksie moreel reg of verkeerd is. ‘n Etiek van verantwoordelikheid beweeg ook weg van die kras benadering van utilitarisme, en bied ‘n maak ruimte vir ‘n meer komplekse, genuanseerde benadering tot die etiese problematiek. Dit verskaf ‘n benadering tot etiek waar die belange van die ander binne die etiese besluitnemingsproses, ernstig opgeneem word. Die doel van hierdie tesis is om die tradisionele etiese teorie krities te benader, waarna die toepasbaarheid en effektiwiteit van ‘n etiek van verantwoordelikheid, ondersoek sal word.

Thesis (M.Phil.)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: AIDS is the most important threat to world health. Recent years have seen a dramatic spread of HIVand AIDS in South Africa. Health education directed at modifying risk behaviour appears to be the only way in which the disease can be contained. Controlling AIDS is not only by controlling the virus, but also involves tackling social, economic and political issues and putting AIDS into the broader context of sexuality and gender roles. This requires a broader understanding of this aspect of HIV-AIDS ranging from population dynamics, through to research on individual behaviour and its socio-economic impact; so that we can dispel the myths and rumours that surround AIDS and answer searching questions that will be asked by the community. In South Africa, HIV-AIDS remains a stigmatized disease. There have been calls from courageous and influential people for those who are living with HIV-AIDS to be open about their status and to destigmatise the disease. Institutions too have been drawn into the controversy about whether to remain silent or speak out. Southern African Anglican bishops, as well as some politicians declared their intention to undergo testing for HIV status in order to sensitise the public to the seriousness of the epidemic. Were AIDS not regarded as intolerable, the entire issue of confidentiality would fall away. Calls to destigmatise the disease through openness cannot stand alone. Government must put effective treatment programmes in place. In the absence of treatment, AIDS may represent only frustration and hopelessness to those who test positive; and fear, danger and resultant animosity to those who are HIV negative. The text is in four chapters. Chapter 1 focuses on confidentiality as an important principle in the management of disease. In HIV -AIDS, confidentiality is a more sensitive issue as AIDS is particularly viewed as a social stigma, accompanied by discrimination and harassment. The chapter also addresses HIV infection, transmission, counseling and screemng. Chapter 2 deals with the principles of biomedical ethics namely, autonomy, to enable the patient to determine his/her course of treatment; informed consent, designed to protect the interests of patients from exploitation and harm, and encourage health professionals to act responsibly; beneficence and nonmaleficence, to protect the welfare of others; and justice, to ensure access to health care for all. It also highlights the aspects of and limitations to confidentiality. Chapter 3 discusses broadly the ethical dilemmas pertammg to professional-patient relationships, women and HIV-AIDS, religion, prisoners and employer-employee relationships. When the AIDS epidemic started, very few people suffered from the disease, and the disease was treated with great caution and confidentiality. Today, AIDS is a pandemic and emphasis should shift from the ethic of autonomy and confidentiality, to a social ethic, which emphasizes the responsibility of minimizing the risk of spread of infection. The chapter also examines the role of the Department of Health, the participation of health professional bodies and the legal aspects relating to confidentiality in HIV-AIDS. Chapter 4 attempts to construct an argument to destigmatise HIV-AIDS by arguing the responsibility of the government to make sufficient resources available for the treatment and control of the pandemic. Health professionals are challenged to engage their expertise and skills in the service of the sick with dignity and respect. The community is encouraged to support the drive towards controlling the spread of HIV infection and enable people living with AIDS to disclose their status without fear of harassment. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Vigs is die gevaarlikste bedreiging van wéreldgesondheid. Die afgelope paar jaar het 'n dramatiese verspreiding van mv en VIGS in Suid-Afrika plaasgevind. Gesondheidsopvoeding wat gemik is op die verandering van risiko-gedrag is skynbaar die enigste metode wat die siekte kan beheer. Die kontrolering van VIGS is nie net die kontrolering van die virus nie, maar dit betref ook herbesinning oor sosiale, ekonomiese en politiese en geslagsrolle. Dit vereis 'n omvattender verstaan van hierdie aspek van HIV-VIGS, wat strek vanaf van bevolkingspatrone tot by die navorsing oor individuele gedrag en die sosio-ekonomiese impak van 19. So kan ons hopelik help om die mites rondom VIGS te besweer. In Suid-Afrika bly mV-VIGS 'n gestigmatiseerde siekte. Daar rus 'n veranbtwoordelikheid op invloedryke mense wat met mV-VIGS leef en wat as rolmodelle sou kon dien, om hul mv -status te openbaar en sodoeonde te help om die siekte te destigmatiseer. Instansies is ook by hierdie twispunt betrek om vas te stelof die mense moet praat of swyg. Suider-Afrikaanse Anglikaanse Biskoppe, asook somige politici het hulle intensies aangekondig om die mv -toets te ondergaan om sodoende die publiek te help opvoed oor die gevaar van hierdie epidemie. Oproepe om die siekte te destigmatiseer deur openbaarheid kan nie in isolasie funksioneer nie. Die staat moet effektiewe kuratiewe en voorkomingsprogramme hier rondom loods en kontinueer. In die afwesigheid van 'n geneesmiddel, sal VIGS slegs frustrasie, hopeloosheid, en vrees skep by diegene wat positief getoets is, sowel as vyandigheid onder diegene wat nie mv positief is nie. Die teks het vier hoofstukke. Hoofstuk 1 fokus op vertroulikheid as 'n belangrike beginsel in die bestuur van die siekte. In mV-VIGS is vertroulikheid 'n meer sensitiewe beginsel aangesien VIGS in die besonder as 'n sosiale skandvlek, aangevreet deur diskriminasie, gesien word. Die hoofstuk bespreek ook mv -infeksie, transmissie, raadgewing en toetsing. Hoofstuk 2 gaan oor die beginsels van die biomediese etiek, naamlik, outonomie, waaronder ingeligte toetstemming, ontwerp om die belange van die pasiente te beskerm teen eksploitasie en gevaar: om gesondheids professionele aan te moedig om hulle op 'n verantwoordelike manier te gedra. Ander beginsels is goedwilligheid en niekwaadwiligheid om die welsyn van ander te beskerm, asook geregtigheid, om toegang tot gesondheidshulp vir almal te verseker. Dit beklemtoon ook die aspekte verwant aan beperkinge tot vertroulikheid. Hoofstuk 3 bespreek breedweg die etiese dilemmas met betrekking tot die verhouding tussen pasiënye en professionele gesondheidswerkers, vrouens en mV-VIGS, godsdiens, gevangenes en werkgewer-werker verhoudings. Toe die VIGS-epidemie begin het, het min mense aan die siekte gely, en die siekte is met groot sorg en vertroulikheid behandel. Vandag is VIGS 'n pandemie en die klem moet geskuif word vanaf outonomie en vetrouilikheid na 'n sosiale etos wat verantwoordlikheid en die vermindering van die risiko van die verspreiding van die infeksie beklemtoon. Die hoofstuk kyk ook na die rolle van gesondheidsdepartmente, deelname van gesondheids professionele organisasies en die juridiese aspekte met betrekking tot vertroulikheid van HIV-VIGS. Hoofstuk 4 poog om 'n argument te ontwikkel wat daartoe sou kon bydra dat HIV-VIGS gedestigmatiseer sal word. Klem word gelê op die verabtwoordelikheid van die staat om soveel moontlike bronne beskikbaar te stel vir die behandeling van en beheer oor hierdie pandemie. Gesondheids professionele word uitgedaag om hulle deskundigheid en bekwaamheid in die diens van die siekes met waardigheid en respek te gebruik. Die gemeenskap word aangemoedig om die poging tot die beheer van die verspreiding van die HIV -infeksie te ondersteun en om die mense wat met VIGS leef in staat te stelom hul status sonder die dreigement van stigmatisering bekend te maak.

Thesis (MPhil) -- Stellenbosch University, 2000. / Some digitised pages may appear cut off due to the condition of the original hard copy. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Muden is a poor, rural hamlet in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. The sub district of Muden forms part of the Presidential Lead Pilot Land Reform Redistribution Project within KwaZulu Natal. This study analyses the negative impact of the current land reform programme on this rural environment. The research indicates a situation of severe poverty, high dependency, a lack of social infrastructure and a need for strong participatory government at local level. It also shows how existing land reform policies and current development practises are inappropriate within their current context. Proposals are formulated about a possible strategy that can be used to move beyond these problems. This study follows a systematic approach in which the reader is first shown what the facts about land reform within Muden, KwaZulu Natal are, and secondly what challenges are induced by these facts. In each chapter the perspectives are altered to add depth and to illustrate the complexity of the situation. The focus also falls on moments or aspects of crisis and how the different stakeholders have actually responded to these. From a normative perspective, guidelines are identified in a reasoned manner from the discussion in each chapter that help identify what could be done in order to overcome the crisis of development and land reform in Muden. The first chapter introduces the reader to Muden, KwaZulu Natal, through a brief history of the district from a land reform perspective. The reader is given an understanding of the current situation prevailing in the Muden Valley through an explanation of the origins of the conflict over land and other natural resources. In the second chapter the social fabric of Muden is described, considering the perceived ethical dilemma between development and environmental management within the context of land reform. A need for an integrated management strategy emerges. In the third chapter the social lens is exchanged for an environmental perspective, discussing the concept of sustainability in terms of the natural environment. Through a discussion about the quality of life of the people of Muden, both pre and post land reform, Chapter 4 brings together the social and biophysical arguments and makes a case for sustainable development. Against the background of this overview of the current situation of Muden, Chapter 5 is used for a rigorous scrutiny of the current approach to land reform/rural development. In this chapter the critical points of intervention are identified. These are points where decisions have impacted negatively upon the land reform project in the respective stages of project planning and project implementation and how these have contributed to the current crisis within Muden. The final chapter formulates a (hopefully) persuasive proposal towards the establishment of District Development Forums as an alternative approach to the current/conventional approach to land reform /rural development in Muden, KwaZulu Natal. I propose that these forums may form a practical institutional framework which have the potential to move us beyond the present quandaries o f the current land reform/rural development experience. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Muden is ‘n arm landelike dorpie in Kwa-Zulu Natal. Die Muden distrik vorm deel van die Presideasiele Loodsprojek vir die Herverdeling van Grond in KwaZulu Natal. Hierdie studie ondersoek en analiseer die negatiewe impak van die bestaande grondhervormingsprogramme op die landelike omgewing waarin dit geskied. Die navorsing dui op omvangryke armoede, ‘n hoe vlak van afhanklikheid, ‘n gebrek aan sosiale infrastrukture en ‘n behoefte vir sterk deelnemende bestuur op plaaslike vlak. Verder toon dit aan dat bestaande grondhervormingsbeleid en ontwikkelingspraktyke onvoldoende is binne die bestaande landelike konteks. Voorstelle word binne hierdie studie gedoen vir ‘n moontlike strategic om die genoemde probleme te oorkom. Die studie volg ‘n sistematiese aanpak waarin die leser bewus gemaak word van die bestaande feite rondom grondhervorming in Muden. Voorts word die uitdagings wat uit hierdie situasie spruit aan die leser gestel. In elke hoofstuk word die perspektief gewysig om insig in die situasie te verdiep en die kompleksiteit daarvan aan te toon. Momente van krisissituasies word beklemtoon en die wyse waarop rolspelers daarop reageer word bespreek. Vanuit ‘n nomatiewe hoek word in elke hoofstuk riglyne op ‘n beredeneerde wyse geidentifiseer om oplossings te vind wat die bestaande krississe in grondhervorming in Muden kan oorkom. Hoofstuk een stel die leser voor aan Muden en die geskiedenis van grondhervorming in die distrik. Begrip vir die huidige situasie in Muden word geskep deur ‘n bespreking van die oorsake van konflik oor grond en ander natuurlike hulpbronne. Hoofstuk twee beskryf die sosiale samestelling binne die Muden distrik en bring dit in verband met die oenskynlike etiese konflik tussen ontwikkeling en bewaring binne die konteks van grondhervorming. Hieruit spruit ‘n behoefte voort vir ‘n geintegreerde en omvattende bestuurstrategie. In Hoofstuk drie word die sosiale invalshoek vervang met ‘n omgewingsfokus en word die konsep van selfonderhoubaarheid van die natuurlike omgewing ter sprake gebring. Terselfdertyd ondersoek dit lewenskwaliteit van die mense in Muden voor en na die grondhervorming. Hoofstuk vier kombineer sosiale en biofisiese standpunte en ontwikkel ‘n pleidooi vir selfonderhoubare ontwikkeling. Teen die hierdie agtergrond word grondhervorming en ontwikkeling krities beoordeel in Hoofstuk vyf. Kritieke sake vir intervensie word so geidentifiseer. Hierdie sake word beskou as die produk van besluite wat negatief ingewerk het op die verskillende fases van projekbeplanning en implementering. As sodanig het die gemelde besluite dus bygedra tot die huidige grondhervormingskrises in Muden. Die laaste hoofstuk formuleer en argumenteer ten gunste van die vestiging van Distrik Ontwikkelingsforums as ‘n alternatiewe benadering tot die konvensionele en bestaande aanpak van grondhervorming en landelike ontwikkeling in Muden. As sodaning kan hierdie forums dien as praktiese institusionele raamwerke met die inherente potensiaal om bestaande probleme in hierdie verband te oorkom.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The community of the Western Cape carries the burden of the serious consequences of alcohol addiction. Alcohol abuse is very common and the consequences range from severe to devastating, not just for the individual but also for the family and the community as a whole. If answers are sought within the community, the problem deepens, and it becomes apparent why the problem of alcohol abuse is not being successfully addressed. The addict refuses treatment, the community respects the autonomy of the individual, and the problem drags on. The community also has many misperceptions concerning the causes and perpetuation of the pathological drinking behaviour of the addict, and are thus not equipped with the knowledge necessary to suggest the correct interventions for this physical and psychological illness. There is also concern that a person's autonomy and human rights are so highly regarded in the community that the appropriate treatment necessary for this serious disorder of addiction does not receive the attention it deserves. This paper investigates the causes of alcoholism and the factors which reinforce a person's drinking behaviour. The autonomy of the alcoholic is challenged and examined in depth. The importance currently assigned to autonomy and individual rights is questioned, and balanced against other important moral and ethical principles of our time. Alcohol is a drug which causes physical and psychological addiction. Addiction literally means "under the control" of something. Alcohol use is a socially acceptable habit. The psychotropic (calming) effect of alcohol serves as an effective support in or escape from stress in the life of the individual. There are also "vulnerable" individuals in the community in whom a genetic predisposition increases the chance of the development of alcohol dependence. In spite of the fact that alcohol dependence is an acquired physical condition, nobody intentionally becomes addicted to alcohol. With the knowledge of the power that addiction exercises over the life of the individual, attention is now given to the autonomy of the addict, and his/her capacity for rational decision making. The significance of the decision to request treatment for the individual, his/her family and the community is balanced against competency to take the decision. Argument is developed towards the conclusion that the alcoholic is indeed not autonomous, and does not have the competency to make decisions concerning treatment. If the autonomy of the addict is thus questioned, the way in which the person is then treated by the community becomes a difficult moral dilemma. The community's responsibility of care towards the individual and the wider community are jeopardized. The ethical principles of deontology (rules), utilitarianism (the best result for the greatest number), autonomy versus beneficence, solicitude, virtue, human rights and other principles are discussed in depth. A solution is sought that will eventually be "good" for the addict and the community. The conclusion is reached that it is "good" to intervene in the life of the addict at a certain stage of addiction. Involuntary treatment is suggested as one possible way of attacking the problem of serious alcohol abuse that is threatening to overwhelm the community. Practical suggestions are offered for the renewed application of existing treatment structures and legislation to the benefit of the addict and the community. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die gemeenskap in die Wes-Kaap gaan gebuk onder die ernstige gevolge wat alkoholverslaafdheid meebring. Alkoholmisbruik is baie algemeen en het ernstige tot vernietigende gevolge, nie net vir die induvidu nie, maar ook vir die gesin en die gemeenskap as geheel. As daar na antwoorde vir hierdie probleem in die gemeenskap gesoek word, verdiep die probleem en kom dit duidelik aan die lig waarom die probleem van alkoholmisbruik nie suksesvol aangespreek kan word nie. Die verslaafde persoon weier behandeling, die gemeenskap respekteer die indivdu sy · outonomiteit en die proble~m sleep voort. Die gemeenskap het ook baie wanopvattings omtrent die oorsake en instandhouding van die verslaafde se patologiese drinkgedrag en is dus nie met die nodige kennis toegerus om die korrekte ingrepe vir hierdie fisiese en psigiese siektetoestand voor te stel nie. Daar is ook kommer dat die gemeenskap 'n persoon se outonomiteit menseregte s6 hoog aanslaan dat 1 die toepaslike hantering van die ernstige verslawing nie tot sy reg kom nie. Hierdie werkstuk ondersoek die oorsake van alkoholisme en die faktore wat die persoon se drinkgedrag versterk. Die alkoholverslaafde se outonomiteit word uitgedaag en in diepte ondersoek. Die gewig wat 'n persoon se outonomiteit en 'regte' in die gemeenskap dra, word bevraagteken en met ander belangrike moreel etiese beginsels van die dag gebalanseer. Alkohol is 'n dwelm wat fisiese en psigiese verslaafdheid veroorsaak. Verslaafdheid beteken letterlik 'onder die beheer' van daardie substans. Alkohol gebruik is sosiaal 'n aanvaarbare gewoonte. Alkohol se psigotrope effek (kalmerend) dien as 'n effektiewe stut of ontvlugting vir stres in die lewe van die individu. Daar is ook 'kwesbare' individue in die gemeenskap waar 'n genetiese predisposisie die persoon meer 'vatbaar maak vir die ontwikkeling van alkohol afhanklikheid. Ten spyte van die feit dat alkohol-afhanklikheid 'n verworwe fisiese toestand is, raak niemand 'moedswillig' aan alkohol verslaaf nie. Met die kennis van die krag wat verslawing op die individua se lewe uitoefen as agtergrond word daar voorts gekyk na die outonomie en die verslaafde se vermoe tot rasionele besluitname. Die gewigtigheid van die besluit tot behandeling vir die individu, sy gesin en die gemeenskap word met kompetensie tot besluitname gebalanseer. Arguemente word gebou wat tot die gevolgtrekking lei dat die alkohol-afhanklike inderdaad nie outonoom is en nie die kapasiteit vir die neem van behandelingsbesluite besit nie. Indien die verslaafde se outonomiteit dan bevraagteken word, word die gemeenskap se verdere hantering van die persoon 'n groot morele dilemma. Die gemeenskap se verantwoordelikheid van sorg teenoor die individu en die groter gemeenskap kom in gedrang. Die etiese beginsels van deontologie (reels), konsekwensialisme (die beste vir die meeste), outonomiteit versus goedwilligheid, sorgsaamheid, deug, menseregte en ander beginsels word in diepte bespreek. Daar word voorgestel dat die gemeenskap se plig tot so~g, in die geval van endstadium alkoholisme, moreel sterker is as bloot die respek vir outonomie. Daar word tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat dit 'goed' is om op 'n sekere stadium van verslawing in die lewe van 'n persoon in te gryp.· Nie-vrywillige behandeling word voorgestel as bloot een van die aanslae vanuit die gemeenskap om die ernstige probleem van alkoholmisbruik wat besig is om die gemeenskap te oorweldig aan te pak. Praktiese voorstelle word gemaak om huidige behandelingsstrukture en wetgewing opnuut tot voordeel van die verslaafde en die gemeenskap aan te wend.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis discusses ethical dilemmas faced by district surgeons in South Africa. District surgeons render clinical forensic services, which means that they deal mainly with detainees and victims of crime. The main functions of district surgeons are the collection of forensic evidence from patients and the care of detainees. So the focus is to assist in the administration of justice rather than improvement of patient wellbeing. The district surgeon may therefore find himself in a situation where patients’ interests are in conflict with those of law enforcement agencies. Being a medical practitioner in clinical forensic medicine, the district surgeon has an obligation to assist in the administration of justice, as opposed to the traditional obligation to care for patients and put patient’s interests first. This allegiance to both administration of justice as well as patient wellbeing lead to an ethical dilemma of dual loyalties. A dual obligations presents an ethical dilemma for the district surgeon, especially if they are in conflict and mutually exclusive. I discuss the detention and subsequent death of Steve Biko to illustrate how dual obligations can lead to serious human rights violations and even death. Dual obligations are however not limited to detainees and police custody settings, and I demonstrate this by discussing three other scenarios commonly encountered by district surgeons. There is a lack clear guidance for district surgeons who are faced with a conflict of obligations. I explore several ethical theories including consequentialism, deontology and virtue ethics, in search of an ethical framework suitable for resolving conflicts in clinical forensic medicine. I therefore argue that a duty based ethical framework is central to clinical forensic medicine and the resolution of loyalty conflicts. I recommend the resolution of conflicts by using an approach developed by Benjamin (2006). This approach involves weighing -up the different duties in conflict, applying philosophical reasoning and then amelioration. By adopting a structured and wellreasoned ethical framework, district surgeons will be able to deal with conflicts of obligations better. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis bespreek etiese dilemmas wat in die gesig gestaar word deur distriksgeneeshere in Suid-Afrika. Distriksgeneeshere lewer kliniese forensiese dienste, wat beteken dat hulle handel hoofsaaklik oor die gevangenes en slagoffers van misdaad. Die belangrikste funksies van distriksgeneeshere is die insameling van forensiese getuienis van pasiënte, en die sorg van gevangenes. Met hierdie benadering is die fokus om te help met die administratiewe doeleindes van geregtigheid, eerder as die verbetering van die pasiënt se welstand. Die distriksgeneesheer kan hom dus in 'n situasie vind waarby die pasiënte se belange in konflik is met dié van wetstoepassingsagentskappe. As 'n geneesheer in kliniese forensiese geneeskunde, het die distriksgeneesheer 'n verpligting om te help met die administrasie van geregtigheid, in teenstelling met die tradisionele verpligting om te sorg vir hul pasiënte, en hul welstand eerste te plaas. Hierdie getrouheid gaan gepaard met beide regspleging, sowel as die welstand van die pasiënt, wat kan lei tot 'n etiese dilemma van dubbele lojaliteit. Dubbele verpligtinge bied 'n etiese dilemma vir die distriksgeneesheer, veral as hulle in konflik en wedersyds uitsluitend is. Ek bespreek die aanhouding en die daaropvolgende dood van Steve Biko om te illustreer hoe dubbele verpligtinge kan lei tot ernstige skending van menseregte en selfs die dood. Dubbele verpligtinge is egter nie beperk tot die gevangenes en polisie-aanhouding instellings nie, en ek demonstreer dit deur die bespreking van drie ander “scenario's” wat oor die algemeen eervaar word deur distriksgeneeshere. Daar is 'n gebrek aan duidelike riglyne vir distriksgeneeshere wat 'n botsing van verpligtinge in die gesig staar. Ek verken verskeie etiese teorieë insluitende konsekwensialisme, deontologie en deugde-etiek, op soek na 'n etiese raamwerk geskik vir die oplossing van konflikte in kliniese geregtelike geneeskunde. Ek argumenteer dus dat 'n pligsgebaseerde etiese raamwerk sentraal is tot kliniese forensiese geneeskunde, en die resolusie van lojaliteit konflikte. Ek beveel die oplossing van konflikte deur die gebruik van 'n benadering wat ontwikkel is deur Benjamin (2006). Hierdie benadering behels 'n gewigsoorweging tussen die verskillende pligte in konflik, die toepassing van filosofiese redenasie en verbetering. Deur die aanneming van 'n gestruktureerde en beredeneerde etiese raamwerk, sal distriksgeneeshere dus in staat wees om konflikte van verpligtinge beter te hanteer.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis has two aims. The first is to assess the cogency of the three most influential theories of intention – namely those of Elizabeth Anscombe, Donald Davidson and Michael Bratman. I identify five requirements that a convincing account of intention must fulfil, and then assess each of these theories in light of these five requirements. In the course of this analysis, I demonstrate that, while each of these theories contributes to our understanding of intention, none of them meet all the specified requirements. This leads to the second aim of this thesis, which is to develop an account of intention capable of overcoming the problems inherent in the foregoing theories of intention and hence fulfilling the specified requirements. This account is built around the definition of intention as a complex mental entity, consisting of two components: a revisable pro-attitude and a belief that the agent will try to fulfil this pro-attitude. It must further be possible for the agent to reflexively reconstruct the belief component without external information. I begin by setting out the five requirements for a convincing account of intention. In each case, I explain why it is necessary for a theory of intention to meet the relevant requirement, and elaborate on what is needed for an account of intention to fulfil this requirement. The five requirements for a convincing account of intention are: 1) It must explain the unity of the three seemingly irreconcilable uses of intention; 2) it must explain the epistemic requirements for intention; 3) it must clarify the relationship between intention and motivation, intention and causes, and intention and reasons; 4) it must explain the relationship between intention and practical reasoning, and 5) it must clarify the relationship between intention and moral responsibility. Together, these five requirements form the yardstick against which I evaluate the different theories of intention. With this yardstick in mind, I am then able to assess each of the influential theories of intention developed by Anscombe, Davidson, and Bratman. In each case, I examine how the relevant theory of intention fares in meeting each of the five requirements. This analysis shows that, while each theory provides a number of important insights, none of them succeeds in meeting all five requirements. Such analysis further enables me to identify the specific difficulties that have stymied the attempts of all three thinkers to develop a convincing account of intention. Having identified the strengths and weaknesses of the three preceding accounts of intention, I then try to work out an alternative account of intention that would not fall prey to the same complications. Following the same modus operandi as before, I evaluate my proposed account against the five requirements for a convincing theory of intention. In each case, I show that my account not only succeeds in meeting the specified criterion, but also, crucially, that it is able to overcome the difficulties that have plagued previous attempts to fulfil this criterion. I conclude that, while this account is not necessarily conclusive, it does meet the conditions for a convincing account of intention and thereby casts some light into the conceptual darkness surrounding intention that Anscombe identified more than half a century ago. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis het twee oogmerke. Die eerste is om die oortuigingskrag van die drie mees invloedryke teorieë van intensie te beoordeel – naamlik die van Elizabeth Anscombe, Donald Davidson en Michael Bratman. Ek identifiseer vyf vereistes waaraan ‘n oortuigende verklaring van intensie moet voldoen en beoordeel dan elk van hierdie teorieë aan die hand van hierdie vyf vereistes. In die loop van hierdie analise wys ek dat, alhoewel elkeen van hierdie teorieë tot ons verstaan van intensie bydra, geeneen aan al die gespesifiseerde vereistes voldoen nie. Dit lei tot die tweede oogmerk van die tesis, wat die ontwikkeling van ‘n teorie van intensie behels wat daartoe in staat is om die probleme wat inherent aan die voorgenoemde teorieë is, te oorkom en wat dus aan die gespesifiseerde vereistes voldoen. Hierdie teorie berus op die definisie van intensie as ‘n komplekse mentale entiteit wat uit twee komponente bestaan: ‘n wysigbare pro-houding en ‘n oortuiging dat die agent hierdie pro-houding sal probeer vervul. Dit moet verder ook vir die agent moontlik wees om die oortuigingskomponent refleksief te rekonstrueer sonder eksterne inligting. Ek begin deur die vyf vereistes vir ‘n oortuigende verklaring van intensie uiteen te sit. In elke geval verduidelik ek hoekom dit nodig is vir ‘n teorie van intensie om aan die relevante vereiste te voldoen en werk ek uit wat nodig is vir ‘n verklaring van intensie om aan hierdie vereiste te voldoen. Die vyf vereistes vir ‘n oortuigende verklaring van intensie is: 1) Dit moet die ooreenstemming tussen die drie skynbaar onversoenbare gebruike van intensie verduidelik; 2) dit moet die epistemiese vereistes vir intensie verduidelik; 3) dit moet die verhouding tussen intensie en motivering, intensie en oorsake, en intensie en redes verhelder; 4) dit moet die verhouding tussen intensie en praktiese redenering verhelder; en 5) dit moet die verhouding tussen intensie en morele verantwoordelikheid verhelder. Gesamentlik vorm hierdie vyf vereistes die maatstaf waarvolgens ek die verskillende teorieë van intensie evalueer. Met hierdie maatstaf in gedagte is ek dan in staat daartoe om elkeen van die invloedryke teorieë van intensie, wat ontwikkel is deur Anscombe, Davidson en Bratman, te beoordeel. In elke geval ondersoek ek hoe die relevante teorie van intensie vaar in die voldoening aan elkeen van hierdie vyf vereistes. Hierdie analise wys dat, alhoewel elke teorie ‘n aantal belangrike insigte bied, geen van hul daarin slaag om aan al vyf vereistes te voldoen nie. So ‘n analise stel my verder in staat om die spesifieke probleme te identifiseer waardeur die pogings van al drie denkers om ‘n oortuigende verklaring van intensie te ontwikkel, gestuit is. Nadat ek die sterk en swakpunte van die drie voorafgaande verklarings van intensie geïdentifiseer het, probeer ek dan om ‘n alternatiewe teorie van intensie uit te werk wat nie aan hierdie selfde komplikasies onderhewig is nie. Deur dieselfde modus operandi as voorheen te volg, evalueer ek my voorgestelde verklaring aan die hand van die vyf vereistes vir ‘n oortuigende teorie van intensie. In elke geval wys ek dat my verklaring nie bloot daaraan slaag om aan die gespesifiseerde kriterium te voldoen nie, maar ook, van deurslaggewende belang, dat dit in staat daartoe is om die probleme te oorkom waardeur vorige pogings om die kriterium te vervul, geteister is. Ek kom tot die gevolgtrekking dat, alhoewel hierdie teorie nie noodwendig afdoende is nie, dit wel die voorwaardes vir ‘n oortuigende verklaring van intensie vervul en hierdeur lig werp op die konseptuele duisternis waarin intensie gehul is en wat meer as ‘n halfeeu gelede deur Anscombe geïdentifiseer is.

Thesis (DPhil (Philosophy))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / Should surplus embryos which are destined to be discarded be protected at all cost, to the extent that they cannot contribute to medical knowledge - knowledge which could benefit society at large? Are embryos people or merely items of property? Different moral theories address these questions in different ways. Deontologists argue that the end never justifies the means and that the right not to be killed is more fundamental than the obligation to save. Utilitarians, on the other hand, argue that certain criteria should be met before moral significance can be contributed to an entity. The question of the moral status of the embryo is, as my discussion will show, one of the most widely discussed issues in the history of bioethics. Extensive literature exists on the topic. This study holds that an Ethics of Responsibility (ER) should by applied when answering the questions posed above as it encourages one to accept responsibility for the choices or decisions made and to defend them accordingly. I have endeavoured to answer the question of the personhood and rights of the embryo within the framework of the Ethics of Responsibility. Although these concepts overlap in many ways they remain central to the debate surrounding the sanctioning or prevention of the use of human embryonic stem cells in research. After identifying the micro-issues surrounding the human embryonic stem cell debate and explaining why both the deontologist and utilitarians fail to provide any adequate answers in this respect, I turn my attention to macro-issues such as safety concerns surrounding the usages and storage of stem cells. Commercialization, power issues, accessibility and the allocation of limited resources are also examined. Living in a society such as South Africa one cannot be blind to the inequalities of our health system. On a macro level I cannot but conclude that stem cell research does not seem to be a viable exercise within the South African context. South Africa faces a health care crisis far greater than the benefits stem cell research currently has to offer. However, the need still exists for a policy to guide future lawmakers who might need to address stem cell research and to guide decisions and actions. This brings me to my final chapter, namely proposing a morally justified policy for South Africa. I propose a policy which respects and values the autonomy of the progenitors’ choices (provided they have not been coerced) and which focuses on the beneficence of the greater society. Furthermore, it is paramount that the goal of any stem cell research should be for therapeutic use ONLY. Before commencing with the extraction of the stem cells, scientists should be obligated first to present convincing evidence that they have tried alternative ways to reach the same result. Once this has been proven, a regulatory body could issue the scientist/team with a license to undertake the specific research with a specific therapy as goal in order to prevent abuse. If they are found guilty of any unethical conduct their licenses should be revoked and an investigation launched.

Thesis (PhD) -- University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Philosophy has traditionally been concerned with the question of reason and rationality, as its central focus. From the perspective of the modern metaphysical tradition, this focus has developed around the theme of subjectivity in general, and the assumption of an ahistorical transcendental subject in particular. The idea of reason was thus foundational for the articulation and validation of the notions of truth and freedom. From the perspective of modernity, reason has thus been the condition of the possibility of enlightenment, freedom and moral progress. The debate between Habermas and the representatives of postmodern thinking represents the latest chapter regarding the question of reason, its limits, and its possibilities. What makes this debate particularly challenging is that Habermas, while he defends the idea of reason against its critique by the postmodernists, is actually in agreement with them in their dismissal of the tradition of metaphysical thinking. In view of his defense of the idea of reason, however, Habermas has invariably been accused of defending an outmoded and discredited form of philosophical thinking, while his opponents have generally been hailed as progressive thinkers who have succeeded in effecting a radical break with the conceptual legacy of the metaphysical tradition. In my dissertation I argue that the exact opposite position is the case, namely, that it is Habermas, and not his postmodern opponents, who has effected a radical break with metaphysical thinking. It is his ability to transform the idea of reason, from a transcendental into a postmetaphysical concept, in terms of which the question of reason and rationality, and the related ideas of truth and knowledge, are recast in fallibilistic terms, that, in my view, represents the overcoming of metaphysics. The postmodern turn, on the other hand, in view of its reluctance to consider the question of reason from an alternative model of rationality, finds itself still trapped within a form of transcendental thinking in which it seeks to enquire into the (im)possibility of reason, in the absence of a transcendental subject. In the final analysis, I argue that it is postmetaphysical rather than postmodern thinking, that offers us a practical alternative to the problematic conception of reason, bequeathed by the tradition of metaphysical thinking. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die fenomeen van die rede en die betekenis van rasionaliteit vorm tradisioneel 'n sentrale fokus van die filosofie. Vanuit die perspektief van die moderne metafisiese tradisie het hierdie fokus ontwikkel rondom die tema van subjektiwiteit in die algemeen, en die aanname van 'n a-historiese transendentele subjek in die besonder. Die rede was dus fundamenteel vir die artikulasie en legitimering van die konsepte van waarheid en vryheid. Vanuit die perspektief van moderniteit was die rede dus die voorwaarde vir die moontlikheid van verligting, vryheid, en morele vooruitgang. Die debat tussen Habermas en die verteenwoordigers van postmoderne denke verteenwoordig die mees onlangse hoofstuk van die verhaal van die vraag na rede en rasionaliteit - die beperkings daarvan, asook die moontlikhede daarvan. Hierdie debat bied besondere uitdagings omdat Habermas, terwyl hy die idee van rede verdedig teen die kritiek van die postmoderniste, eintlik met hulle saamstem vir sover hulle die tradisie van metafisiese denke verwerp. In die lig van sy verdediging van die idee van rede, is Habermas egter voortdurend daarvan beskuldig dat hy 'n uitgediende en gediskrediteerde vorm van filosofiese denke bly voorstaan, terwyl sy opponente in die algemeen voorgehou is as progressiewe denkers wat suksesvol 'n radikale breuk gemaak het met die konseptuele erfenis van die metafisiese tradisie. In my dissertasie beweer ek dat die teenoorgestelde inderwaarheid die geval is, naamlik dat dit Habermas, en nie sy postmoderne opponente nie, is wat hierdie radikale breuk met metafisiese denke suksesvol uitgevoer het. Dit is sy verrnoe om die idee van die rede te transformeer vanaf 'n transendentale na 'n post- metafisiese konsep, in terme waarvan die vraag na rede en rasionaliteit, en die verwante idees van waarheid en kennis, omskep is in fallibilistiese beg rippe, wat, soos ek aantoon, 'n (die!) suksesvolle transendering van die metafisika bewerkstellig. Die postmoderne wending, aan die ander kant, in die lig van die traagheid daarvan om 'n alternatiewe en verruimde konsepsie van rasionaliteit te ontwikkel, bly vasgevang in 'n vorm van transendentele denke waarin dit probeer om ondersoek in te stel na die (on)moontlikheid van die rede ten aansien van die afwesigheid van 'n transendentele subjek. Uiteindelik beweer ek dat dit die post-metafisiese eerder as die postmoderne denke is wat aan ons 'n praktiese alternatief bied vir die problematiese konsep van die rede, soos ons dit qeerf het by die tradisie van metafisiese denke.