Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this thesis it is argued that the age-old philosophical "Problem of the
Self' can benefit by being approached from the perspective of a relatively
recent science, namely that of Complexity Theory. With this in mind the
conceptual features of this theory is highlighted and summarised.
Furthermore, the argument is made that the predominantly dualistic approach
to the self that is characteristic of the Western Philosophical tradition serves to
hinder, rather than edify, our understanding of the phenomenon. The benefits
posed by approaching the self as an emergent property of a complex system
is elaborated upon, principally with the help of work done by Sigmund Freud,
Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, and Paul Cilliers. The aim is to develop a
materialistic conception of the self that is plausible in terms of current
empirical information and resists the temptation see the self as one or other
metaphysical entity within the brain, without "reducing" the self to a crude
materialism. The final chapter attempts to formulate a possible foil against the
accusation of crude materialism by emphasising that the self is part of a
greater system that includes the mental apparatus and its environment
(conceived as culture). In accordance with Dawkins's theory the medium of
interaction in this system is conceived of as memes and the self is then
conceived of as a meme-complex, with culture as a medium for memetransference.
The conclusion drawn from this is that the self should be studied
through narrative, which provides an approach to the self that is material
without being crudely physicalistic. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie tesis word daar aangevoer dat die relatiewe jong wetenskap
van Kompleksiteitsteorie 'n nuttige bydra kan lewer tot die eeue-oue filosofiese
"Probleem van die Self'. Met die oog hierop word die konseptueie kenmerke
van hierdie teorie na vore gebring en opgesom. Die argument word gemaak
dat die meerendeels dualistiese benadering van die Westerse filosofiese
tradisie tot die self ons verstaan van die fenomeen belemmer eerder as om dit
te bemiddel. Die voordele van dié nuwe benadering, wat die self sien as 'n
ontluikende (emergent) eienskap van In komplekses sisteem, word bespreek
met verwysing na veral die werke van Sigmund Freud, Richard Dawkins,
Daniel Dennett en Paul Cilliers. Daar word beoog om In verstaan van die self
te ontwikkel wat kontemporêre empiriese insigte in ag neem en wat die
versoeking weerstaan om ongeoorloofde metafisiese eienskappe aan die self
toe te ken. Terselfdetyd word daar gepoog om geensins die uniekheid van die
self te "reduseer" na 'n kru materialisme nie. In die finale hoofstuk word daar
gepoog om 'n teenargument vir die voorsiene beswaar van kru materialisme te
ontwikkel. Dit word gedoen deur te benadruk dat die self gesien word as deel
van 'n groter, komplekse sisteem, wat die masjienerie van denke en die
omgewing (wat as kultuur gekonseptualiseer word) insluit. Insgelyks, in die
teorie van Dawkins word die medium van interaksie in hierdie sisteem gesien
as "memes", waar die self dan n meme-kompleks vorm, en kultuur die
medium van meme-oordrag is. Daar word tot die konklusie gekom dat die self
op 'n narratiewe manier bestudeer behoort te word, wat dan 'n benadering tot
die self voorsien wat materialisties is, sonder om kru fisikalisties te wees.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/52744 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | De Villiers, Tanya |
| Contributors | Cilliers, F. P., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Philosophy. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | ii, 210 p. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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