Discussing the work of Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda in After Life (1998), Nobody Knows (2004), and, most importantly, Shoplifters (2018), this thesis aims to expand on the way the hybrid...Show moreDiscussing the work of Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda in After Life (1998), Nobody Knows (2004), and, most importantly, Shoplifters (2018), this thesis aims to expand on the way the hybrid documentary genre is defined by contemporary academic literature. Furthermore, it offers a different perspective on the lens through which we view Kore-eda’s recent filmography.Show less
This paper examines the Chiiki Okoshi Kyōryoku Tai (COKT), a Japanese government programme aimed at inducing counterurbanization and rural revitalization by commissioning people to move from urban...Show moreThis paper examines the Chiiki Okoshi Kyōryoku Tai (COKT), a Japanese government programme aimed at inducing counterurbanization and rural revitalization by commissioning people to move from urban to rural areas to engage in revitalization projects. Utilizing academic literature, government published data and personal reports, the historical context that led to the formation of the COKT is explored, followed by an analysis of the COKT’s potential benefits and problems based on its performance thus far and how it is presented to the public by the government. Although the counterurbanization aspect of the COKT continues to be heavily pushed by government documents, we argue that the actual numbers of participants remains far too low to make a tangible difference. However, linking to more recent literature on kankeijinkō, we argue that the COKT has potential benefits that reach beyond directly inducing counterurbanization, including the promotion of increased mobility and interaction between urban and rural areas.Show less
Since Martin Heidegger developed the notion of dwelling as a fundamental ontological concept that is based on the basic character of human being, this idea of dwelling has inspired a number of...Show moreSince Martin Heidegger developed the notion of dwelling as a fundamental ontological concept that is based on the basic character of human being, this idea of dwelling has inspired a number of architectural theorists in relation to the question of how we should build. However, it has been argued that such interpretations have often been flawed, and I think that in reality Heidegger’s conception of dwelling is too intangible to really comment on the act of building. This thesis will therefore explore inhabitation from a different angle – from an angle that investigates how we experience architecture, how architecture means something us and how architecture also changes us – in order to ask how we can come to an understanding of the experience of inhabitation from which it is possible to comment on the act of building. I will therefore not investigate inhabitation from a Heideggerian perspective – asking what it means to dwell – but rather approach inhabitation from a more phenomenological and hermeneutic perspective. I will argue that the experience of inhabitation depends upon the interaction between people and architecture; it is a melodic experience in which the possibilities for meaningful action that the architecture offers correspond with people’s intention of action, while at the same time the architecture amplifies experience through functioning as a medium. From this conception, I will argue that inhabitation must become an answer to building – not in the sense that existing models of inhabitation are reproduced, but rather that an understanding of the experience of inhabitation becomes guiding in the design process.Show less
This thesis investigates the canonical, western philosophical way of thinking about human origin. It claims that this traditional understanding of origin is focussed on birth: a moment that a new...Show moreThis thesis investigates the canonical, western philosophical way of thinking about human origin. It claims that this traditional understanding of origin is focussed on birth: a moment that a new person originates from the darkness, into the light. This instigates an image of human origin as one of separation, an image that is contradicted by the phenomenological acounts of the people that have actually enjoyed or endured this process of human origination in the midst of their very own bodies: pregnant women. Their accounts paint a very different picture of the start of human life. This thesis investigates this structurally overlooked perspective on origin, and will answer the question as to what and in which way the traditional, canonical philosophical realm benefits in accuracy and richness from a serious consideration of the phenomenological experience of pregnancy. Ultimately, we move from an understanding of human origin as a clearly defined moment of separation, to a continuum of becoming, marked by an ambiguous relationality.Show less
This paper explores one of philosophy's longest and most enduring puzzles: the puzzle of akrasia. Akrasia, or weakness of will as it is often called, has challenged our understanding of human...Show moreThis paper explores one of philosophy's longest and most enduring puzzles: the puzzle of akrasia. Akrasia, or weakness of will as it is often called, has challenged our understanding of human behaviour for over two millennia. Most literature treats akrasia as an isolated instance of a weak will. However, unlike most approaches, this thesis aims to reconceptualise akrasia as a character trait based on the tripartite relationship between its recurrence, self-deception, and self-control. The proposed view sees recurrent akratic behaviour as an essential factor in that process, which is often overlooked. Agents repeatedly fail to adhere to their better judgement, which supports the hypothesis of reconceptualising akrasia as a trait since it isn’t a one-time event but part of a person’s character. In this process of rethinking akrasia as a trait, self-deception is conscripted against the agent’s better judgment. This creates a bidirectional relationship between akrasia and self-deception, allowing the agents to deceive themselves and further reinforce both. Over time, as the juncture between akrasia and self- deception becomes stronger, it undermines the agent’s self-control. As the two manifest, the agent’s ability to develop and maintain self-control is hindered, reinforcing akratic behaviour.Show less
This paper explores the authenticity of social media influencers through Charles Taylor's framework and examines their power to influence. In Chapter 1, we argue that influencers cannot be...Show moreThis paper explores the authenticity of social media influencers through Charles Taylor's framework and examines their power to influence. In Chapter 1, we argue that influencers cannot be authentic as influencers live in a dual identity paradigm, often creating a completely different online self that is shaped for the purpose of an economic gain and status enhancement. We claim that influencers' identities are commodified - molded by market demands and audience preferences. In Chapter 2, we establish that influencers possess significant power due to their ability to shape opinions, trends, and purchasing decisions. Despite counter arguments suggesting influencers are mere subjects of external influences like the pressure of sponsoring brands and audience preferences, we demonstrate that their influential power is essential for the success of influencer marketing. This power is rooted in followers' perception of influencers as trustworthy and authentic, a belief that is strategically maintained for economic gain. The paper highlights several implications, such as the inadequacy of using authenticity as a moral framework for influencers and the potential ethical issues arising from their perceived authenticity. Additionally, we discuss the broader societal impacts of influencers' power, including the risk of disinformation and the erosion of genuine private life in the contemporary digitalised world. We conclude by acknowledging the limitations of our analysis and the need for further research to address the complexities of social media influence and the emerging virtual realm.Show less
This Bachelor Thesis investigates if the claim made by Simone Kleingeld in her influential 2007 'Kant's Second Thoughts on Race' that Kant turned from a racist (inconsistent universalist) to not...Show moreThis Bachelor Thesis investigates if the claim made by Simone Kleingeld in her influential 2007 'Kant's Second Thoughts on Race' that Kant turned from a racist (inconsistent universalist) to not being a racist (consistent universalist) during the 1790s but before the writing of Perpetual Peace is correct by investigating if there is racism apparent in Perpetual Peace. It has found that although Kant makes an attempt in Perpetual Peace to become a consistent universalist, and thus not a racist, this attempt is not completely successful as there are still hints of his old racist remarks that shine through in the text of Perpetual Peace. Therefore, this thesis refutes the claim made by Kleingeld (2007) that Kant turned from being a racist to a consistent universalist.Show less
In deze mastherthesis is de economische relatie tussen het garnizoen en de stad Den Haag tussen 1815 en 1830 gekwantificeerd. Door het belichten van het economische aspect van de relatie tussen...Show moreIn deze mastherthesis is de economische relatie tussen het garnizoen en de stad Den Haag tussen 1815 en 1830 gekwantificeerd. Door het belichten van het economische aspect van de relatie tussen krijgsmacht en de maatschappij is getracht om een bijdrage te leveren aan de New Military History en specifiek de armed forces and society approach. Duidelijk is geworden dat zowel de soldaat als de officier van het garnizoen een economische waarde had voor de stad. Bepalend voor het antwoord op de vraag hoe de Haagse economie heeft kunnen profiteren van het garnizoen was de samenstelling van de economie. De kern van de Haagse economie werd gevormd door de handels- en dienstensector, die gedomineerd werd door de kleding-, juweliers- en horecabranche. Dit onderzoek toont aan dat deze branches optimaal hebben kunnen profiteren van de meest omvangrijke uitgaven, namelijk de persoonlijke uitgaven van de manschappen en officieren (behoudens de uitgaven die vielen onder de collectieve bijdragen) in het garnizoen.Show less
