The Eudaimonic turn: Well-being in Literary Studies (2013), a study by Pawelski et al, sheds light on a recent turn in literary studies. The eudaimonic approach entails that texts are examined with the help of a hermeneutic of affirmation rather than the sceptical, suspicious methods of the deconstruction and post-structuralism. Pawelski et al’s text is drawn upon in this study because it corresponds to the way in which Marlene van Niekerk utilises themes such as relationships, friendship and loss in Die sneeuslaper (2009). The eudaimonic turn focusses on the way in which complex interpersonal connections are able to add to an individual’s well-being through positive as well as negative processes. Die sneeuslaper is mainly a reflection on what it means to be an author. However, it also raises important questions about the nature of being. The four short stories provide different perspectives on friendship, on how friendship can sometimes be problematic and even a nuisance, but also how relations with others repeatedly prove to be beneficial to a person’s well-being. In my study, the relational theme of friendship in Die sneeuslaper is studied from a eudaimonic point of view. Kaja Silverman’s text, Flesh of my Flesh (2009), is referred to in order to shed light on the term relationality. The relational themes of finitude (or mortality) and interpersonal connection are clearly present in Van Niekerk’s text. Although the death of a beloved friend causes trauma in Die sneeuslaper, the trauma proves to have positive effects in the form of posttraumatic growth, comfort and acceptance as time goes by. Comfort is also construed through the creation and appreciation of a work of art like Die sneeuslaper. Cognitive narratology is referenced to show how Marlene van Niekerk overthrows and plays with fixed ideas regarding relationality and friendship, causing the reader to converse with the text. Views on friendship held by thinkers such as Aristotle, Montaigne, Lacan, Kierkegaard and Derrida are referenced to give Van Niekerk’s use of the theme in Die sneeuslaper a certain context. This context represents the fixed frames of thinking generally applicable with regard to friendship. When a reader is willing to critically interpret these as well as personal frames of reference, it provides him or her the opportunity to contemplate reality from new perspectives. In Die sneeuslaper the reader is continually challenged to question existing frames of reference by means of never ending methods (resembling a Möbius-strip) and strange notions. This study concludes with the notion that it is necessary for artists (like the writers in Die sneeuslaper) to reflect differently on reality, so that readers may be inspired to also view reality in a different light. This will result in a broader view of reality, which in turn will have a more defining influence on personal well-being. / MA (Afrikaans and Dutch), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-27T17:27:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Silvio Moreira Barbosa Junior.pdf: 458094 bytes, checksum: 12f90be7301736f9b6f3e79d4952c0ad (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-10-23 / This work follows the way in wich Martin Heidegger surpasses the proposition of a Phylo sophic Antropology through his project of a Fundamental Ontology. The Phylosophic Antropology he has in sight is the one of Max Scheler, and the specific problem from wich he takes over is the constitution of a unitary idea of man. Through the analisys of existence, Heidegger shows that so the detrmined object determined by the Phylosophic Antropology, the man, as the way of adressing the question about it, wields within the domain of Traditional Metaphysisc and, by this interven tion, are not capable to offer the desired unity. The modus operandi of Phylosophic Antropology underlines a indetermined character of the questio about man that it ignores on it importance, dealing this indetermination of what man is as an obstacle to be overcomed. This work stabilishes this indetermination, made present in the question for the unity of man with the structural unity of Dasein put uncoverd in anguish. Through this relation it s shown not only the reason why Phylosophic Antropology can not offer a unitary idea of man, but also the way in wich Fundamental Ontology overdoes the proposal of a Phylosophic Antropology / Este trabalho acompanha o modo pelo qual Martin Heidegger supera a proposta de uma antropologia filosófica a partir do seu projeto de ontologia fundamental. A antropologia filosófica que tem em vista é a de Max Scheler, e o problema específico do qual parte é o problema em se constituir uma idéia unitária de homem. Através da analise da existência, Heidegger mostra que tanto o objeto determinado pela antropologia filosófica, o homem, quanto o modo de dirigir a pergunta sobre ele, exercem-se dentro do âmbito da metafísica tradicional e, em decorrência disto, não são capazes de oferecer a unidade almejada. O modo de operar da antropologia filosófica evidencia um caráter indeterminado na pergunta sobre o homem, que ela ignora em sua importância, tratando a indeterminação do que seja o homem como obstáculo a ser superado. Este trabalho relacionará esta indeterminação, feita patente na pergunta pela unidade do homem, com a unidade estrutural do Dasein posto a descoberto na angústia. Através desta relação fica patente não só porque a antropologia não pode oferecer uma idéia unitária de homem, como o modo pelo qual a ontologia fundamental supera a proposta de uma antropologia filosófica

[pt] O sofrimento e o mal levantam uma série de questões sempre recorrentes. Tratando-se de homens e mulheres no contexto da mentalidade moderna, surge a indagação: como harmonizar a afirmação de um Deus Todo-Poderoso com a realidade do sofrimento e do mal, salvaguardando a autonomia do ser humano e do mundo? Através de três teólogos contemporâneos, Andrés Torres Queiruga, Jürgen Moltmann e Jon Sobrino, buscamos responder a esse questionamento, enfatizando a contribuição de cada um dos autores estudados, percebendo as lacunas e debruçando-nos sobre as críticas para completar, enriquecer e aprofundar suas reflexões. Nosso estudo parte de uma questão pastoral, refletida de forma teológico- sistemática, em vista de uma práxis cristã coerente para erradicar, amenizar e/ou integrar o sofrimento e o mal. / [en] Suffering and evil always raise a series of recurring questions. In dealing with man and woman, in the context of modern mentality, there arises an inquiry: how can we harmonize the affirmation of an All-Mighty God with the reality of suffering and evil, safeguarding the autonomy of the human being and the world? In dialogue with three contemporary theologians, Andrés Torres Queiruga, Jürgen Moltmann and Jon Sobrino, we try to deal with this questioning, emphasizing their contributions, detecting lacunas, and discerning the critiques in order to complement, enrich and deepen their considerations. Our study departs from a pastoral question, analyzed in a systematic-theological way, in order to establish a coherent Christian praxis which seeks to erradicate, ease and/or integrate the suffering and evil.

Progression d'un concept, le mal radical, dans trois textes :La Religion dans les limites de la simple raison (Kant), Le système de l'Ethique (Fichte), et Le Traité de 1809 (Schelling). Origine ultime du mal :libre arbitre ou détermination ?Responsabilité et liberté du mal. Mal moral et métaphysique du mal/ Advance of a concept: radical evil, in three readings: Religion within the Limits of Mere Reason (Kant), System of Ethics (Fichte), and Treatise of 1809 (Schelling).Ultimate origin of evil: free will or determination? Responsibility and freedom to evil. Moral evil and metaphysics of evil. / Doctorat en Philosophie / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

With an estimated 500 infections everyday, the country is beset with a galloping HIV and AIDS epidemic. With these accelerating numbers, it is no longer possible to ignore people living with HIV and AIDS, as they will inevitably form a more and more significant volume of the workforce. A key aspect of this phenomenon, that needs dedicated attention, is the issue of their stigmatisation in the workplace. The intent is to present the voice of the stigmatised. The dissertation attempts to understand how a stigmatised identity affects a productive member of society. It tries to capture the perspective of sero-positive persons as productive members of society and not as `victims' or `threats'. The ultimate objective is to influence policy in the workplace in order to provide a nurturing and productive work environment. The key thought emerging from the research is: driven by the inescapable structural stigma of the workplace, the virus fundamentally influences the self-definition of the sero-positive person. / Sociology / M.A.

With an estimated 500 infections everyday, the country is beset with a galloping HIV and AIDS epidemic. With these accelerating numbers, it is no longer possible to ignore people living with HIV and AIDS, as they will inevitably form a more and more significant volume of the workforce. A key aspect of this phenomenon, that needs dedicated attention, is the issue of their stigmatisation in the workplace. The intent is to present the voice of the stigmatised. The dissertation attempts to understand how a stigmatised identity affects a productive member of society. It tries to capture the perspective of sero-positive persons as productive members of society and not as `victims' or `threats'. The ultimate objective is to influence policy in the workplace in order to provide a nurturing and productive work environment. The key thought emerging from the research is: driven by the inescapable structural stigma of the workplace, the virus fundamentally influences the self-definition of the sero-positive person. / Sociology / M.A.