Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / This thesis examines the problem of identity and difference in Hegel and Heidegger and thereby attempts to shed light on the relationship between the critique of metaphysics and the critique of modernity. Both Hegel and Heidegger, it is argued, investigate identity and difference in relation to the problem of self-consciousness or subjectivity within the historical context of modernity. Their respective critiques of modern subject-metaphysics can for this reason also be viewed as critiques of the philosophical foundations of modernity. Two paths or lines of inquiry can be identified: Hegel’s dialectical-speculative path, which attempts to supersede modern subject-metaphysics in favour of speculative philosophy, the form of thought adequate to the experience of freedom in modernity; and Heidegger’s ontopoetic path, which attempts to detach itself from metaphysics in order to usher in a ‘non-metaphysical’ experience of technological modernity. These two paths are explored through a critical dialogue between Hegel and Heidegger as a way of showing the relationship between the critique of metaphysics and the critique of modernity. Part I of the thesis considers the philosophical background to the identity/difference problem and its relation to the principle of self-consciousness within modern philosophy. The early Hegel’s encounter with Kant and Fichte is explored as an attempt to criticise the (theoretical and practical) deficiencies of the philosophy of reflection. Part II considers Hegel’s positive project in the Phenomenology of Spirit, in particular the theme of intersubjective recognition and its significance for theorising self-consciousness in modernity. Hegel’s critique of substance- and subject-metaphysics is examined in the Science of Logic, which integrates the logic of identity and difference within the threefold Conceptual unity of universal, particular, and individual. Part III then turns to Heidegger’s explicit confrontation with Hegel, discussing Heidegger’s project of posing anew the question of Being, and examining in detail Heidegger’s “Cartesian-egological” reading of the Phenomenology. The later Heidegger’s “non-metaphysical” or ontopoetic evocation of identity and difference is further explored in light of Heidegger’s critical engagement with the nihilism of technological modernity. In conclusion, it is suggested that the critical dialogue between Hegel and Heidegger can open up new paths for exploring the problem of freedom in modernity.

This thesis explores the creation and resolution of environmental conflicts in modern Sweden from a narrative ethics perspective. By problematising the concept of Swedish exceptionalism in environmental questions, it allows for a multi-disciplinary reappraisal of Sweden’s international reputation as a nominally ‘green’ nation. This emphasises the dissonance between perceptions of a self-identifying green nation and idea of a sustainable modern green state which is structured in a sustainable way. In so doing, the thesis asserts the pluralistic approach to the ethics and moral identities of modernity pioneered by the Scottish political and moral philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre as a means of understanding the diverse and often contradictory nature of Sweden’s environmental performance. The main source material for this investigation is a corpus of circa 1000 texts in four major newspapers, taken from debates surrounding three environmental conflicts between 1970 and 2010. These conflicts are the 1970 campaign to save the Vindel River from development, the 1980 referendum on nuclear energy in Sweden and the role played by the proposed Stockholm Bypass road project in the 2010 municipal and national elections. Chosen to cover variation in location, size and time period, they yield a substantial sample in relation to the discussion and resolution of environmental conflict. These texts are listed in full in Appendix II. Utilising the theory of textual selves presented in the analytical discourse methodology of Norman Fairclough and the reflexive nature of self-identity within modern narrative, these entries are then coded. This coding uses the concept of a textual ethos developed within Fairclough’s Text Oriented Discourse Analysis (TODA) methodology. From this large corpus, thirteen specific examples reflecting these quantitative labels are more closely analysed using TODA. This pays attention to both their composition and to the wider context of the debates from which they are taken. In the detailed analyses that follow, the conflicts and their characteristics are viewed through the concept of modern non-rational doxa. This entails argumentation being based on temporally specific contexts and narratives over epistemologically coherent rationalism. Parallels are drawn between larger societal meta-narratives and values and the argumentation for specific choices about the future made by individual authors, and it is argued that the continued fragmentation of Swedish politics has implications for understanding the concept of norms and the hegemony of ideologies or ethical standpoints. Discussing the impact of such a situation on Sweden’s future development and the potential for export of Swedish environmental practice, this study ultimately posits that any attempt to replicate Swedish environmental practice must come to terms with the narrative context in which action is to take place. Finally, it speculates on the challenges of writing and arguing for truly sustainable eco-modernities.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:29:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-08-02Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:37:48Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 toloy_ds_me_assis.pdf: 367840 bytes, checksum: ae38eafc81eeff2e0cc9a8806b04b951 (MD5) / O modo de produção capitalista se transformou ao longo da modernidade, neste período histórico observamos como os processos produtivos passaram de uma organização fordista para uma forma de organização pós-fordista na medida em que o trabalho imaterial ganhava força, tornando-se um fator importante para a concorrência que se inaugura na nova ordem mundial. No entanto, tais transformações não foram capazes de superar antigas questões como a determinação do indivíduo mediante o trabalho, tampouco os processos de alienação decorrentes das atividades produtivas. Tais alterações também não foram capazes de superar as relações travadas entre indivíduos e mercadorias, visto que o fetiche contido nesta não apenas seguiu operando, mas ao longo da modernidade encontrou vários dispositivos técnicos que lhe conferiram maior eficácia, levando o indivíduo a novas relações de consumo e novas formas de se relacionar socialmente mediante a legitimação das mercadorias. No entanto, esta mesma modernidade também foi palco para diversas formas de resistência e conquistas para os trabalhadores que, através de diferentes formas de organizações, produziram alterações significativas nas relações trabalhistas através das lutas por melhores condições de trabalho, remuneração, direitos, entre outros. Encontramos ao longo da modernidade um indivíduo atuante, capaz de se organizar e, apesar de sua ação não haver superado antigas contradições do modelo econômico de produção, entendemos que estes seguem produzindo novas sínteses frente a realidade que lhes é apresentada, produzindo assim movimentos de resistência frente as incessantes tentativas de captura do modelo econômico / Capitalist mode of production has changed throughout modernity and at this historic period we could notice how production processes have moved from an organization Fordist form to another organization called post-Fordist according to the growing immaterial labor, which become an important factor competition to the new international order. However, such transformations have not been able to overcome old issues such as determining the individual through the work, nor the processes of alienation resulting from productive activities. Such changes have not been able to overcome the relationships between individuals and goods waged since the fetish contained in this operating not followed, but over the modernity found several technical devices that gave it more effectively, leading the individual to new consumer relations and new ways of interacting socially through the goods legitimization. However, the same modernity also played many forms of resistance and victories to the workers, who have produced significant changes in labor relations through the struggle for better work conditions, compensation, rights, among others. Throughout modernity we found an individual active, able to organize and, despite its action will not have solved the contradictions of the old economic model of production, we understand that they continue to produce new syntheses facing the reality that is presented, thus producing resistance movements front of incessant attempts to capture the economic model

Bibliography: leaves 216-219. / The central task of this dissertation is to explore Michel Foucault's conception of the human subject, and its interaction with power. Foucault offers a unique and controversial description of both the latter. After positing that his work is both coherent and political in nature, the dissertation investigates Foucault's books, lectures, interviews and articles throughout his three main periods. I have named these his Knowledge, Power, and Ethics periods to delineate different theoretical focuses in each period which are nevertheless underscored by a singular and continuous concern on Foucault's part with the constitution of the modern human subject; in addition, Foucault is interested in problematizing the "birth" and existence of this latter construction, which he believes is problematic in terms of the epistemological foundation upon which it rests, and the ontological consequences of such an entity.

To be modern and modernity are among notions about which people frequently talk past each other at all levels. There is no settled meaning of modernity so far. On the one hand, academics take different approaches to the notion, resulting in more than three theories of modernity. In their everyday life, non-scholars conceptualise modernity based on its immediate effects. This research stems from the same premises that there is no single notion of modernity nor can people have a universal understanding of it. This study endeavours to explore modernity in Bena orature. It attempts to expose what Bena people think of modernity as they present opinions in their aesthetic communication - orature. To meet that aim, the study adopted grounded theory which enables the researcher to develop a theory from available data. Bena orature was collected, analysed, and using grounded theory methods, I formulated the Bena theory of modernity. Apart from Bena orature, post-performance discussions, additional informal discussions, and secondary data from among the Bena and other societies were employed to accomplish the objectives of the study. In the analysis of data, several categories emerged, one of which appeared to be the strongest. In grounded theory, this is referred to as the core category. The core category is the theme or concept which is regarded as the main issue discussed in the society under study. In this study, wellbeing was determined to be the core category over and above the others because of its ability to explain other categories. It was revealed that wellbeing is one of the concepts which not only surfaces in Bena society but to which many other issues are related, both in aesthetic and ordinary communication. Sometimes, it may appear as if people disagree on several issues. This might translate into disagreeing on some truths amongst themselves, but in fact, they disagree on how to enhance wellbeing among Bena. Owing to that, the research ends by formulating a theory of modernity of wellbeing. Put differently, what really concerns Bena society in this modern world is attempting to enhance wellbeing, both at the individual and societal levels.:TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT i DEDICATION IV ABSTRACT V TABLE OF CONTENTS VI 1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION 1.1 Introduction 1.2 The Background to the Study 1.3 Statement of the Problem 1.4 Objectives of the Study 1.5 The Notion of Orature 1.6 The Notion of Modernity 1.7 Investigating Modernity in Orature 1.8 Position of the Researcher 2 LITERATURE REVIEW AND CONCEPTUAL BACKGROUND 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Approaches to Orature 2.2.1 Performance-centred Approach 2.2.2 Text-centred Theories 2.3 The Emergence and Development of Performance Theory 2.3.1.1 Performance Theory 2.3.1.2 Performer – Audience Relationship 2.3.1.3 Orature Performance Patterns 2.3.1.4 Functions of Orature Performances 2.3.1.5 Changing Nature of Orature in the African Context 2.3.1.6 Criticisms of Performance Theory 2.3.2 Re-emergence of Text-centred Approach 2.4 Modernity 2.5 The Origin and Development of Modernity 2.5.1 Modernity as Western Civilisation 2.5.2 Multiple Modernities (Alternative Modernities) 2.5.3 Modernity as Independent Civilization 2.5.4 Modernity as Interconnectedness 2.5.5 Modernity as Contemporaneity 2.6 Tradition versus Modernity Dichotomy 2.7 Social Construction through Narratives 2.7.1 Background to the Notion of Social Construction 2.7.2 Main Arguments of Social Construction 2.7.2.1 The Idea of Frames 2.7.3 Social Construction through Narratives 2.8 Conclusion 3 METHODOLOGY 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Origin and History of Grounded Theory 3.3 Undertaking Grounded Theory 3.3.1 Category Development 3.3.2 Substantive Coding 3.3.3 Theoretical Sampling 3.3.4 Memo Writing 3.3.5 Theoretical Sensitivity 3.3.6 Selective and Theoretical Coding 3.4 Symbolic Interactionism 3.5 Complementary Theories 3.6 Applying Grounded Theory 3.7 Data Collection 3.7.1 Research Area 3.7.2 Data Collection 3.7.2.1 Participant Observation 3.7.2.2 Interviews 3.7.2.3 Group Interviews (Focus Group Discussion) 3.7.2.4 Recording Performance, Interviews and Group Interviews 3.7.3 Reviewing Bena Documents 3.8 Data Analysis 3.9 Conclusion 4 A DESCRIPTION OF THE BENA WORLD OF ORATURE 4.1 Introduction 4.2 The Bena People 4.3 Contemporary Language Composition 4.4 Elements of Orature 4.4.1 Elements of Orature among the Bena 4.4.1.1 Tales 4.4.1.2 Tale Performers 4.4.1.3 Tale Performability 4.4.2 Performer-Audience Relationship among the Bena 4.4.2.1 Indexical References 4.4.3 Bena Songs 4.4.3.1 Bena Song Performers 4.4.4 The Bena Wedding Songs 4.4.4.1 Themes and Social Functions of the Bena Songs 4.4.5 The Bena Marriage Procedures 4.4.6 Grave Building among the Bena 4.4.7 Political Meetings 4.5 Conclusion 5 PERFORMING MODERNITY 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Uwatsalino (Usasa) 5.3 Uwukola (Romanticism) 5.3.1 Othering through Language 5.3.1.1 Monsterisation of Language 5.3.1.2 Emphasis 5.3.1.3 Euphemism 5.3.2 Fear of the Unknown 5.4 Ulutengamaso (Wellbeing) 5.4.1 Welfare 5.4.2 Grave Building 5.4.3 Christianity and Witchcraft 5.4.4 Architecture and Clothing 5.5 Uwukangafu (Bravery) 5.5.1 Courage, Perseverance and Cleverness 5.6 Kolatila (Duty) 5.6.1 Self-Reliance and Food Security 5.6.2 Thanksgiving and Labour 5.6.3 Marriage, Procreation, and Discrimination 5.7 Uwunu (Ubuntu/Humanity) 5.7.1 Obedience, Hospitality and Honesty 5.7.2 Relationship with Other People 5.7.3 Love and Harmony 5.7.4 Praises 5.7.5 Mourning 5.7.6 Humanity and Mortality 5.8 Core Category 5.9 Conclusion 6 MODERNITY OF WELLBEING AMONG THE BENA 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Wellbeing (Ulutengamaso) 6.3 Wellbeing and Other Categories 6.3.1 Wellbeing and Uwunu (Ubuntu/Humanity) 6.3.2 Wellbeing and Duty (Kolatila) 6.3.3 Wellbeing and Uwukola (Romanticism) 6.3.4 Wellbeing and Uwukangafu (Bravery) 6.3.5 Wellbeing and Uwatsalino (Usasa) 6.4 Grounding a Theory of Modernity as Wellbeing 6.5 The Relationship between Modernity as Wellbeing and Other Theories of Modernity 6.6 Conclusion 7 GENERAL SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION 7.1 Introduction 7.2 General Summary 7.3 Conclusion 8 REFERENCE 9 APPENDICES Paraphrased Bena Tales 10. ERKLÄRUNG

This study seeks to explore, and in exploring to describe, and illuminate, <i>Al-Amal </i> a private bilingual school in Kuwait that adapts and implements a curriculum designed by U.S. educators in three main academic subjects (English, science, and mathematics), while at the same time, focuses extensively on an Islamic studies curriculum. The main incentive for selecting this focus was the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Since that date, the mass media have paid much attention to Islam and to Muslim society, particularly to its educational system, which has usually been viewed with skepticism (Charif, 2002; Rugh, 2002). This study focuses on a single school, for the general insight it can offer into a number of related research questions: How do Islamic parents who send their children to this school define the spiritual and/or religious needs they want their children to possess, and what role does the school play in fulfilling such needs? How do spiritual/religious and academic needs intersect within the formal curriculum at the school, as a result of daily interactions between teachers and children? Finally, in the midst of increased westernization and globalization, how do the teachers of this school negotiate the influences of western values on their students and curriculum? By exploring the nature, philosophy, and context of one Islamic school, this study seeks to enable readers to understand more fully and accurately how those involved with such an institution cope with the various challenges they meet in the global sphere. To reach its goal, this study utilizes a number of research methods and tools, including direct observation, interviews, a research diary and reflection, and a traditional literature review. Ultimately, this study suggests that Al- Amal possesses unique complexities and contradictions. Those characteristics derive from the institution's transformation of traditional Islamic schooling in order to prepare its students for life in the global arena and from its desire to develop both academically and spiritually a new generation of Muslims better able to cope with the challenges they confront in this arena. / Ph. D.

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Este trabalho trata do pensamento social conservador na modernidade brasileira contemporânea. O texto parte de uma análise da bibliografia consagrada sobre conservadorismo, modernidade contemporânea e brasileira, analisando suas categorias fundamentais e colocando-as em contraste com uma análise empírica do pensamento social de um grupo de indivíduos conservadores imersos na modernidade brasileira: o movimento escoteiro no Brasil. As conclusões indicam que o fenômeno do pensamento conservador brasileiro segue uma lógica própria, de um conservadorismo progressista, distinto daquele encontrado em outros países europeus e anglo-saxônicos. / This dissertation deals with the conservative social thought in contemporary Brazilian modernity. The text begins with a review of the literature devoted about conservatism and contemporary Brazilian modernity, analyzing its key categories and contrasting to an empirical analysis of social thought in a conservative group immersed in Brazilian modernity: the boy scout movement in Brazil. The conclusions indicate that the phenomenon of conservative thought in Brazil follows its own logic: a \"progressive conservatism\" as distinct from that one found in other European and Anglo-Saxon countries.

Este trabalho trata do pensamento social conservador na modernidade brasileira contemporânea. O texto parte de uma análise da bibliografia consagrada sobre conservadorismo, modernidade contemporânea e brasileira, analisando suas categorias fundamentais e colocando-as em contraste com uma análise empírica do pensamento social de um grupo de indivíduos conservadores imersos na modernidade brasileira: o movimento escoteiro no Brasil. As conclusões indicam que o fenômeno do pensamento conservador brasileiro segue uma lógica própria, de um conservadorismo progressista, distinto daquele encontrado em outros países europeus e anglo-saxônicos. / This dissertation deals with the conservative social thought in contemporary Brazilian modernity. The text begins with a review of the literature devoted about conservatism and contemporary Brazilian modernity, analyzing its key categories and contrasting to an empirical analysis of social thought in a conservative group immersed in Brazilian modernity: the boy scout movement in Brazil. The conclusions indicate that the phenomenon of conservative thought in Brazil follows its own logic: a \"progressive conservatism\" as distinct from that one found in other European and Anglo-Saxon countries.

Published Article / The potential for tourism to contribute to development in South Africa has been enthusiastically embraced by the government and by many scholars. This article examines tourism from two perspectives 'Tourism First' and 'Development First' and tries to reconcile each of these modes with developmental dictates. A number of obstacles to the realisation of the developmental potential of tourism are identified. The inherent tensions between traditionalism and tourism, as an expression of modernity, are explored. It is concluded that, although the tourism industry is an excellent generator of positive economic multipliers, it does not readily lend itself to functioning as a 'lead sector' for development.