“What characterizes an acceptable theory of self-realization?” The thrust of the present dissertation is towards seeking an answer to this central problem, which stems from the fundamental human experience that life involves change, and that in a modern society such change is often expected to be towards a realization of potentials and the good life for the individual. The dissertation has a three-fold purpose. The first is to clarify the content of five modern theories of self-realization from three academic fields. The theories are those of the psychologist Abraham H. Maslow, the philosophers Charles Taylor and Alan Gewirth, and the theologians Reinhold Niebuhr and Bernard Lonergan. These are methodologically studied by the help of seven analytical questions. The second purpose is to perform a lengthwise comparatative analysis of the five theories, the results of which lead to the third; namely to critically discuss several elements of the reality of human life which have proven to be missing or supressed in much of the material. The theoretical framework for the dissertation runs along two axes: one concerns what is developed as a distinction between internalism and relationalism, and the other is to cast a critical light on the lack of attention paid by the the theories of self-realization to experiences which run counter to optimistic ideas of individual development, such as death, loss and dependence. The dissertation concludes with an outline for a constructive position based on the necessity of a theory’s closeness to experience, and on the need for reconcilitation of what may seem to be unabridgeble in human life. A theory of self-realization must do more than formulate positive conditions for change. It must also take into consideration conditions that are not directly related to, and sometimes even run contrary to, realization of the self.

University of Macau / Faculty of Education

Title from PDF of title page. / Document formatted into pages; contains 90 pages. / Thesis (M.A.)--University of South Florida, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references. / Text (Electronic thesis) in PDF format. / ABSTRACT: This thesis examines the connections between Arne Naess's Deep Ecology and Martin Heidegger's Phenomenology. The latter provides a philosophical basis for the former. Martin Heidegger's critique of traditional metaphysics and his call for an "event" ontology that is deeper than the traditional substance ontology opens a philosophical space in which a different conception of what it is to be emerges. Heidegger's view of humans also provides a basis for the wider and deeper conception of self Arne Naess seeks: one that gets rid of the presupposition that human beings are isolated subjects embedded in a framework of objects distinct from them. Both Heidegger and Naess illustrate how the substance-ontological dogma affects human culture, encouraging humans to live as if they were divorced from their environmental surroundings. / ABSTRACT: When humans live according to an atomistic conception of themselves as independent from their context, alienation results, not only from each other, and not only of humans from the surrounding environment, but from themselves as well. This thesis focuses on Heidegger's employment of the conception of poiesis or self-bringing-forth as clarifying the "root" of such ecosystemic processes as growth, maturation, reproduction, and death. Thus, Heidegger's call to phenomenology -- "to the things themselves" -- is a call away from the objectifying dichotomies through which substance ontology articulates the world into isolated components. / ABSTRACT: It is the purpose of this thesis to demonstrate not only the connections between the later Heidegger and Naess, but also to argue in favor of their claims that traditional philosophical perspectives regarding humans, the environment, and ethics need to be re-appropriated in a new way in order to avoid further ecological degradation and provide for the health and well being of the future generations that will inevitably inherit the effects of our present actions. / System requirements: World Wide Web browser and PDF reader. / Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Abstract This dissertation is a narrative unraveling of a process of human transformation that interrupts the psyche’s propensity for creating the conditions for suffering. The self privileging of ego consciousness is posited as the origin of suffering. Temporary relief from suffering is accomplished by bringing forward the content of the unconscious. The condition that allows the content of the unconscious to come forward is disrupting the boundary separating consciousness and the unconscious. This boundary is established when reprehensible content regarding the self is repressed by an ego consciousness that thereby privileges itself. Disruption of the boundary separating ego consciousness and the unconscious allows for reintroduction of the previously repressed content to consciousness. As the boundary fails and ego consciousness is dethroned, unforeseen yet yearned for knowledge becomes available to consciousness thereby initiating the possibility for transformation and hence the momentary release from suffering. Implicit in this research are assumptions of self-motivation and self-organization that configure a theory of autopoiesis or self-making. Observed and observer selves are continually reshaped through continuous interaction in the psychosocial and physical environment. In this study this interaction is made visible through autobiographical narratives in which participant selves each demonstrate and share the insight of observer and observed. This narrative interaction is the simultaneous accomplishment and display of the process of human transformation. This transformation is always only momentary. It is a single moment in the ongoing expansion and contraction of the human psyche. Each transformative event reduces the potential for being irretrievably caught in continuous suffering. Each temporary release from suffering is a waypoint on the pathway of self-realization. The transformative process as presented in this study goes beyond existing accounts of consciousness change found in the annals of psychological methodologies, although Jungian terminologies are borrowed to describe loosely shared conceptual constructs. The aim in employing autobiographical narrative is to portray this elusive process as it is experienced including all its subtleties and nuances.

In this dissertation, two fundamental questions are posed: (1) what is emotion, and (2) what part does it play in the social processes of self-formation and self-realization? How do we as behaving beings, who experience sensations, become interacting beings, who experience emotions? And, how are our emotional experiences related to who we are and our ability to acquire a positive relation to ourselves? By attempting to answer these questions I point out the social conditions that are necessary to enable emotional experiences, and in turn self-formation and self-realization. The focus is on the form, rather than on the content of the emotional self. From the developed neo-Meadian perspective on the emotional self, emotion is understood as a phenomenon linked to both mind and body, without being explained as a mind-body combination. It is argued that emotional experiences are (1) corporal evaluations of our interchanges with the outer world, especially, the other, and (2) crucial to who we are or want to be. An introduction to the neo-Meadian theory of the emotional self is presented in a general manner by including notions of the social self and emotion as social. In the first part of the dissertation, I suggest that diverse phenomena in the social process of self-formation and self-realization is explained by a view that has its roots in the classic social psychology of Adam Smith, Charles Horton Cooley, and, especially, George Herbert Mead. The view consists of three salient ideas: (1) the self does not emerge without the other or society, (2) it is from the point of view of the other or society that the self develops, and (3) self-realization involves a need for recognition. In the second part of the dissertation, I expand the view on emotion as social that is incorporated in the classic social psychology by investigating the recently established field of the sociology of emotions. Once the general structure of the notion of the social self and emotion as social is shown and provided with a preliminary defense, different modifications are considered. In the third part of the dissertation, both the classic social psychology and the sociology of emotions are modified to become more accurate. I elaborate on Mead’s distinction between social behavior, in the form of (1) functional identification, and social interaction, in form of (2) attitude taking of the thing from which he means that self-feeling arises, and (3) attitude taking of the other from which he means that self-reflexion arises.

Thesis (M.Sc. (Hons.)) -- University of Western Sydney, 2000. / "A thesis for the degree of Master in Applied Science" Bibliography : leaves 209-219.

Thesis (Ed.D.)--Teachers College, Columbia University, 1996. / Typescript; issued also on microfilm. Sponsor: Ruth Vinz. Dissertation Committee: Olga Rubio. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 226-241).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2007. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 194-208).

Text in Afrikaans, abstract in Afrikaans and English / The development of leadership potential in adolescents cannot be approached in a haphazard manner. It ought to occur on the basis of a dynamic development model within a structured space. Such a model should not only prepare adolescents for their current leadership role, but also, and more particularly, its very nature should be more career-oriented. The question of what model will strive to equip adolescents with greater entrepreneurially-orientated leadership knowledge, therefore justifiably calls for closer investigation. In this study, an attempt has been made to find a suitable model to meet these needs. With this in mind, a study of the literature on the phenomenon of successful leadership was undertaken. Various relevant aspects that incorporate organisationally-structured management, were also examined. This enabled the researcher to develop a practice-oriented model from a study of the literature. In the implementation of the research design, use was made of qualitative research methods and techniques in order to collect and analyse relevant data. The study entailed 'action research' in which two independant groups were involved. For this purpose, the research results of the second cycle were concentrated on in order to reach findings and draw conclusions, and to make recommendations. This research ultimately revealed that adolescents have a deep need for entrepreneurially-oriented leadership development content. Individual participants also derived significant benefits from the implementation of the model. Owing to the success achieved with this research study, the management team of the school involved has decided to establish a full-time entrepreneurship centre for its pupils. This study can therefore be regarded as a contribution towards meeting the need for similar models in South African schools, in a practical and viable way. / Die ontwikkeling van adolessente se leierspotensiaal is nie iets wat lukraak aangepak kan word nie. Dit behoort aan die hand van 'n dinamiese ontwikkelingsmodel binne 'n gestruktureerde ruimte te geskied. Sodanige model behoort adolessente nie alleen vir hul huidige leierskaprol voor te berei nie, maar behoort in besonder ook 'n meer beroepsgerigte karakter te openbaar. Daar kan dus tereg gevra word hoe die model behoort te lyk wat daarna streef om adolessente met groter entrepreneursgerigte leierskapskennis toe te rus. In hierdie studie is gepoog om vas te stel of 'n geskikte model gevind kan word wat aan bogenoemde behoefte voldoen. Met die oog hierop, is 'n literatuurstudie oor die verskynsel van suksesvolle leierskap onderneem. Daarbenewens is verskeie toepaslike aspekte waarbinne die bestuurswese hom in 'n organisatoriese struktuur vergestalt, ook van nader beskou. Dit het die navorser in staat gestel om 'n praktykgerigte model vanuit 'n literatuurstudie te ontwikkel. Tydens die implementering van die navorsingsontwerp, is van kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetodes en -tegnieke gebruik gemaak om relevante data in te samel en te analiseer. Die studie het voorts die vorm van aksienavorsing aangeneem waarby twee onafhanklike groepe betrek is. Vir die doeleindes is daar op die navorsingsresultate van die tweede siklus gekonsentreer om bevindinge, gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings te maak. Hierdie navorsing het uiteindelik getoon dat adolessente 'n groot behoefte aan entrepreneursgerigte leierontwikkelingsinhoude toon, terwyl individuele deelnemers baie baat by die implementering van sodanige model gevind het. Op grond van die sukses wat met hierdie navorsingstudie behaal is, het die bestuurspan van die betrokke skool besluit om 'n voltydse entrepreneurskapsentrum vir sy leerlinge tot stand te bring. Hierdie studie kan derhalwe beskou word as 'n bydrae om die behoefte aan soortgelyke modelle in Suid-Afrikaanse skole op 'n prakties-uitvoerbare wyse te vervul. / Psychology of Education / D. Ed. (Sielkundige Opvoedkunde)

Submitted thesis tries to grasp philosophically the phenomenon of sport. Attention is devoted to its historical roots, etymology, original meaning and early forms. Also, the relationship between traditional and modern sport is introduced. With respect to distant and recent past the author identifies two fundamental features of sport, which are game together with play and physical movement. Both features are elaborated in detail and captured philosophically. The focus of this thesis is put on sport with its formal aspects as well as on a sporting athlete. The author then presents a discussion regarding the definition of sport and his own position with respect to this topic. This text also deals with the role of sport in human life. The thesis offers reader an opportunity to become acquainted in detail with sport and its philosophical dimension.