Bachelor of Arts (BA)

<p>This thesis is an examination of Plato's proposal for female guardians, which he introduces as the first wave in Book V of the Republic. The proposal for female guardians elicited attention in the early 1970s, because it contained a discussion of gender equality. The thesis specifically focused on the political implications and consequences of Plato's discussion of the idea of justice, the purpose of politics and a conception of gender. For the purpose of this examination, the thesis was divided into two main sections. First, the thesis systematically catalogued the current commentary on Plato's proposal for female guardians. To facilitate an understanding of this commentary, the thesis explored both the previous theoretical framework and the public issues that provided a context for the recent commentary on Book V. Second, it provided an independent examination of Book V. To more thoroughly understand the proposal, the thesis focused on three aspects often neglected in commentary, but relevant to interpretation: the relationship between oikos and polis in ancient Greece, the connection between the first wave and the argument of the Republic and an argument against a literal interpretation of Book V. The independent interpretation of Book V focused on the connection between the function an individual performed in the city and the foundation of politics. For Plato, this foundation was based on organizing the functions in the city according to the need each individual has for others. The proposal for female guardians bases the qualification for ruling and soldering on an understanding of an individual's physis or potential that is not connected to gender. This organization of the city by of non-gender specific functions is Plato's idea of justice. Each individual performs the one function which suits him or her in order to be the most useful to each other. The necessity of gender for reproduction complicates Plato's organization by non-gender specific functions. Thus, the proposal for female guardians is not possible, because during their childbearing years guardian women are most useful as bearers of children and primarily would not perform the function based on their physis. In addition, the attempt to make all aspects of human life, including one's emotions, gender, and family fulfill the requirement of usefulness questions whether the city in speech is the best city. Thus, an examination the first wave of Book V indicates that the city in speech is neither possible nor desirable. Instead of a literal political manifesto, Book V is revealed to be a discussion of the consequences of implementing an extreme idea of justice in a political regime.</p> / Master of Arts (MA)

<p>This thesis is an examination into the nature of sovereignty and humanitarian intervention since the end of the Cold War. This inquiry has tried to understand how the use of military force to secure safety zones, in order to safely deliver and distribute required humanitarian assistance, has effected commonly held beliefs about sovereign statehood. In particular, I have focussed on three questions: What does sovereignty mean to international relations in the 1990s, how has recent humanitarian intervention in Iraq and Somalia affected the sovereignty of the host state, and what lessons can be drawn from these recent cases in regards to both the future of humanitarian intervention and the future of sovereignty? In the end, I find that recent humanitarian intervention in Iraq and Somalia does not signal the end as sovereign statehood, but rather, demonstrates the central importance of sovereignty for international relations.</p> / Master of Arts (MA)

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

<p>A survey of the growth and the disposition of the investments of Canadian life insurance companies over the period 1927 to 1946.</p> / Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

<p>The image of the philosophic dog plays a major role in the Republic. The analogy is used to illuminate the phenomenon of viciousness, a mode of behaviour that is ultimately self-destructive. Viciousness, as such, is intimately connected to the problem of the self. The analogy, therefore, functions as a guide into those very problems which affect the conception of the self.</p> <p>When the image of the dog is invoked, the analogy alerts us to difficulties in the arguments of the dialogue. The analogy does not resolve these difficulties, since it only functions to give expression to them, but in so doing it plays a central role in providing a consistent thread which binds together the diverse issues that are brought up In the Republic.</p> <p>Initially, the image is used to elucidate characteristics of the auxiliaries, but the image is subsequently implicated in the description of the just man and the philosopher, as well as their respective antitheses. The image illuminates the nature (and problem) of the philosophical relationship between the just man and the philosopher, as well as the nature of the political relationship between these two and their opposites. The thesis, therefore, uses the image as a vehicle to address the broader concern of the relationship between philosophy and politics.</p> / Master of Arts (MA)

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Master of Arts (MA)

<p>The purpose of this thesis is two fold. First of all it demonstrates clearly and precisely exactly what Jurgen Habermas understands by a legitimation crisis and secondly it demonstrates how fundamentally this conception rests upon background assumptions which are not always made explicit. To this end the thesis delves into Habermas' understanding of advanced capitalism, his understanding of the concept of rational-legal legitimacy and finally it shows how the conclusions he reaches are fundamentally based upon his reconstruction of historical materialism and the notion of a colonization of the life-world that he ultimately derives from this reconstruction. In the end it will be demonstrated that a thorough understanding of the concept of legitimation crisis cannot be achieved without reference to Habermas' reconstruction project and in this regard he remains firmly in the Marxist tradition.</p> / Master of Arts (MA)