In this thesis I asked the question: how can Merleau-Ponty’s political work reveal essentialism in feminist thought and thereby contribute to feminist philosophy?
This essay discusses the process of virtualization and the increasing virtualization of social contact. More understanding of this topic is important because the effects of virtualization on human...Show moreThis essay discusses the process of virtualization and the increasing virtualization of social contact. More understanding of this topic is important because the effects of virtualization on human interactions are easily overlooked. First, Lévy’s definition of virtualization is presented to emphasize its liberating advantages. Then, Baricco’s conception of the ‘barbaric mutation’, which I think shows quite some similarities with virtualization, is introduced to elaborate on the disadvantages of this development. Dating-application Tinder is used as a case study to better understand and value these pros and cons. This ultimately leads to the idea that the virtualization of social interactions will increase, and I argue that we should be watchful for the diminuition of primary experience and a decrease in purposiveness.Show less
In this thesis Helmuth Plessner's view concerning natural artificiality is compared with with Andy Clark's view, with the aim to investigate if Clark can add something to Plessner.
A comparative analysis between the concept of emptiness in the Buddhist and Daoist tradition. A general introduction of the Buddhist tradition was given, followed by a specific discussion of the...Show moreA comparative analysis between the concept of emptiness in the Buddhist and Daoist tradition. A general introduction of the Buddhist tradition was given, followed by a specific discussion of the Madhyamaka school and its concept of śūnyatā. Śūnyatā designates the absence of an intrinsic essence to any aspect of existence and can thus be considered a form of philosophical emptiness. This was followed by an analysis of the Daoist tradition, which deals with emptiness in multiple forms: its central concept of ‘way-making’, the notion of spatiality, and the ethically relevant wu-forms. Finally, a comparison between Daoist and Buddhist forms of emptiness was offered. Both philosophies consider the meaning of emptiness to involve the ambiguity of linguistic definition, the utility of spatial or causal receptivity, and the ethics of selflessness. In the conclusion, emptiness was offered up as a philosophical through-line that can unite disparate schools of thought and provide the foundation for a more global philosophy.Show less
ABSTRACT One of the approaches to problems regarding immigration and border control is to ask the question if the right to immigration ought to be a human right. Although the human right to...Show moreABSTRACT One of the approaches to problems regarding immigration and border control is to ask the question if the right to immigration ought to be a human right. Although the human right to immigration does not exist in law of morality, border control policies still need to be morally justified by self-determination and be free of the coercion of personal autonomy.Show less
In deze scriptie beargumenteer ik dat aan de hand van de Ability Hypothesis een overtuigende fysicalistische beschrijving van qualia gegeven kan worden.
This thesis investigates the relation between the Kantian notion of the thing in itself and Heidegger’s analysis of it. Heidegger refuses the thing in itself, however, based on textual evidence, it...Show moreThis thesis investigates the relation between the Kantian notion of the thing in itself and Heidegger’s analysis of it. Heidegger refuses the thing in itself, however, based on textual evidence, it is argued that Heidegger (implicitly) maintains the concept. The thing in itself is interpreted by Kant in multiple ways, notably as a ‘transcendental object =X’ and as ‘noumenon’. Based on an interpretation of Heidegger’s: Being and Time, Kant and the Problem of Metaphysics, Letter on ‘Humanism’, and Phenomenological Interpretation of Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason; and Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason, both Kantian interpretations of the thing in itself are found to be implied in Heidegger’s philosophy. This is argued with the problem of transcendence in the background.Show less
Nietzsche, disciple of Dionysus and lover of music, thought about the question of the ideal music throughout his life. The early Nietzsche of Die Geburt der Tragödie (1872) greatly admired his...Show moreNietzsche, disciple of Dionysus and lover of music, thought about the question of the ideal music throughout his life. The early Nietzsche of Die Geburt der Tragödie (1872) greatly admired his friend Wagner, whose music he considered to be the ideal Dionysian music and so the great hope for the overcoming of the crisis of modernity. Later, this friendship would collapse, and what remained for Nietzsche was Der Fall Wagner, as his late polemical book is named. Grand Style (“großer Stil”) became the new Dionysian aim for the arts and hope for the overcoming of the crisis of modernity. The background of this thesis is the crisis of modernity, to which the Dionysian is to be the solution. The question I will answer is why Nietzsche’s Dionysian musical ideal changed over time from Wagner to Grand Style.Show less
Deze paper formuleert, aan de hand van een case study van een transgender, een fenomenologische kritiek op metafysische theorieën van persoonlijke identiteit. De kritiek richt zich in het bijzonder...Show moreDeze paper formuleert, aan de hand van een case study van een transgender, een fenomenologische kritiek op metafysische theorieën van persoonlijke identiteit. De kritiek richt zich in het bijzonder op de rol van het lichaam in het concept van persoonlijke identiteit. De kritiek wordt geformuleerd aan de hand van de theorie van Merleau-Ponty, door middel van de relatie tussen de ervaring en identiteit. De paper zal laten zien dat de fenomenologische kritiek niet van toepassing is op zogeheten ‘ik-theorieën’, maar wel op zogeheten ‘geest-theorieën’, ‘lichaams-theorieën’ en ‘substraat-theorieën’. In deze paper blijkt dat voor de geest-, lichaams-, en substraat-theorieën de relatie tussen lichaam en identiteit een dusdanig groot probleem vormt, dat ze zich aan zouden moeten passen om een concurrent te kunnen blijven van de ik-theorieën.Show less
Freedom of speech is one of our most cherished freedoms. If there is one institution that, throughout history, has most embodied and protected this fundamental freedom, it is the university. So one...Show moreFreedom of speech is one of our most cherished freedoms. If there is one institution that, throughout history, has most embodied and protected this fundamental freedom, it is the university. So one would expect the freedom to express almost anything on campus. One would be gravely mistaken. This paper argues that, in a relatively recent trend on American universities, views deemed offensive, hateful or discriminatory are increasingly censored. Free speech is stifled by means of speech codes, free speech zones, no-platforming controversial speakers and much more. After having examined the severity of free speech restrictions in part one, part two of this paper presents a defence of a Millian, or ‘broad’, understanding of free speech. Following John Stuart Mill, broad free speech allows for the expression of almost any view, including those found offensive, hateful or discriminatory. For allowing all views to be heard is essential to the university’s goals of establishing the truth and forming the students into critical thinkers. Finally, arguments in favour of free speech restrictions on universities are discussed and refuted accordingly. In concluding, this paper advises universities to refuse to implement free speech restrictions, as these are antithetical to the goals of the university.Show less
