I should like to have completed this process by having this project bound so that it
read from right to left instead of the traditional manner in which we have learnt and
been taught to read. In partaking of such an activity, it would have been my purpose
and intention to share with you my sense of physical discomfort that has situated itself
beside me at various stages from the on-set of my research. Because I believe in this
process, I have decided to follow a traditional approach, and as you can see it reads as
it should from left to right.
In the introductory phase of this study, I assert quite unequivocally that this is not a
thesis. Instead I promote this as a prolegomena; an interlocutory prolusion. But don't
be deceived! This is very much a thesis. It has been researched according to
guidelines, formatted according to specifications and ethically undertaken. I want you
to believe that it is a thesis. Partially because I have pursued this research in a very
serious manner and also because no matter how much we try to avoid becoming
enmeshed in a system, ultimately we find that we are.
Three years ago I embarked on a quest. At this time, I proposed that I would
undertake a study on the Historical Understandings of passion throughout the Western
World. This idea came to a sudden and dramatic halt, through the encountering of
what I should like to refer to as a series of problems. In order to do justice to my
subject, I decided to write about these obstacles, a decision that I hoped would lead me
back to my original statement of intent, following their reconciliation.
It is Michel Foucault, that I credit with the title for this thesis. After reading his book
entitled "This Is Not A Pipe" (1982) I felt a certain sense of inspiration and ethical
obligation that I considered worth taking the risk for. Due to no longer writing a thesis
on passion, I decided that this could not be called a thesis. It could only be an
introduction to my thesis that would speak about why it had become impossible for me
to pursue my thesis at this stage. The other reason that this carries the title of this is
not a thesis, surrounds my favouring the post-modern over any other position that I
have inquired about.
This prolusion involves a discussion surrounding many of the problematics associated
with my research processes. These include extensively looking at existing
methodologies available when undertaking research today. Adjunct to the
illumination of these problems, I look at literary disruptions; my penchant for
knowledge and my naive aspirations which all contributed to thwarting my journey
into completing an adequate study on passion.
Included in this prolegomena, are two diagrammatic representations of passion. The
first seeks to re-inscribe through re-presenting passion away from its traditional
juxtaposition with love or sexual gratification. It re-presents passion as a polyvalent
movement that is vastly more complicated than that to which we have come to believe
in through out the centuries. Accompanying this depiction, are the traditional notions
of passion. This is based on the works of authors such as Aquinas, Daly, Cicero and
McLellan.
In the conclusion of this prolusion, I suggest that there is a need to re-write a new
methodology. One that transcends our current juncture that promotes stances
belonging to foundationalism, anti-foundationalism and non-foundationalism. It is my
ardent belief, that this is a necessary course of action and will enable the subject of
passion to be spoken to as never before.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/218845 |
| Date | January 1998 |
| Creators | Coll, Allyson, n/a |
| Publisher | University of Canberra. Professional & Community Education |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | ), Copyright Allyson Coll |
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