Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this mini-thesis I explore Hannah Arendt’s engagement with the problem of
foundation in relation to the work of Derrida and complexity theory. In Arendt the
problem of foundation takes shape as the attempt to develop a thinking of foundation
that does not repress political freedom. The American Revolution is an important
point of reference in Arendt’s attempt to develop such a notion of authority.
According to Arendt the American republic could, however, not entirely succeed in
realizing this conception of authority. I draw on Derrida and complexity theory in
order to show that the shortcomings Arendt points to are structural to institutions as
such. Following Derrida and complexity theory, I further that the recognition of this
structural limitation is an indispensable step in the attempt to think political authority
as something stable, but which nevertheless keeps open the possibility of political
change. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie skripsie ondersoek ek Hannah Arendt se ommegang met die probleem van
begronding deur dit in verband te bring met die werk van Jacques Derrida en
kompleksiteitsteorie. Die probleem van begronding neem vir Arendt vorm aan in die
poging om politieke gesag op so wyse te bedink dat dit nie politieke vryheid
onderdruk nie. Die Amerikaanse rewolusie vorm ’n sentrale verwysingspunt in
Arendt so poging om gesag op hierdie manier te bedink. Dit slaag volgens haar egter
nie heeltemal daarin om hierdie alternatiewe vorm van gesag te verwesenlik nie. Ek
steun op Derrida en kompleksiteitsteorie om te wys dat die tekortkominge waarop
Arendt wys in ’n sekere sin struktureel is tot enige instelling. Ek argumenteer voorts
in navolging van Derrida en kompleksiteitsteorie dat ’n erkenning van hierdie
strukturele beperking ’n belangrike moment is in die poging om politieke gesag te
bedink as iets wat stabiel kan wees, maar terselftertyd ruimte laat vir politieke
verandering.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/6541 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Eloff, Philip Rene |
| Contributors | Cilliers, Paul, University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Philosophy. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | af_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 98 p. |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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