This thesis argues that fiction and eventually play, accumulating into the interactive fiction of video games, can offer a toolset to help cultivate familiarity and understanding between cultures....Show moreThis thesis argues that fiction and eventually play, accumulating into the interactive fiction of video games, can offer a toolset to help cultivate familiarity and understanding between cultures. In a world where cultures are living closer together than before, tensions between cultures are sure to rise. These tensions stem from a lack of shared context causing misinterpretations of the other. I will refer to the works of Wilhelm Dilthey and Robin Collingwood, who have both developed theories of hermeneutics that emphasise the importance of context as meaning-giving. Similar contexts provide similar meaning between people and vice versa. A lack in familiarity thus constitutes a lack in understanding, which poses a problem for the cross-cultural encounter. They suggest a hermeneutic method based on empathy in order to increase our understanding of others. In the second chapter, I will illustrate how fiction functions as both a tool to impart knowledge and as an exercise in empathy, which aids the hermeneutic process, drawing on Suzanne Keen’s theory of narrative empathy. When engaging with fiction, audiences temporarily abandon their own context in order to step into the alternate world of fiction. This encourages open-mindedness and empathic understanding of others, which both are of vital importance to the hermeneutic process. In the third chapter, I’ll move on play, showing how it, like fiction, demands a certain openness of mind from the player so they can step into the play-world, which makes play very well-suited to learning by doing. This section on play will be largely informed by Johan Huizinga and Miguel Sicart’s work on play and playfulness respectively. In requiring participation from its audience, they are absorbed into the other, the strange, and the new, and provided with tools to make sense of it. As an immersive and interactive medium, video games thus allow players to gain an intuitive understanding of other cultures on their own terms.Show less
This thesis investigates two interrelated issues: the tendency of automated decision-making (ADM) systems to exacerbate gender bias, and the extent to which current European Data Protection...Show moreThis thesis investigates two interrelated issues: the tendency of automated decision-making (ADM) systems to exacerbate gender bias, and the extent to which current European Data Protection legislation (GDPR) both promises and delivers a right to explanation of decisions reached by those systems. The thesis has high philosophical and societal relevance, and engages fluently with a variety of important discourses: technical discussions of artificial intelligence, feminist scholarship, and commentaries on EU legal texts. After an introduction on machine learning and algorithms, the thesis moves to examinating those parts in the GDPR that address ADM, in order to clarify the way they are regulated. In the second and in the third chapter, problems such as the black box, different types of bias, technological design and neutrality are discussed. Gender bias are presented and many cases are discussed in order to provide reason of this growing phenomenon. A central topic of investigation is that of data representativeness, or how women data lack from our daily infrastructure at a point that discrimination normally occurs. This thesis ultimately seeks to provide a new framework for the introduction of a new feminist ethics of technology, that addresses bias and data collection in an intersectional way and especially that claims for new regulations to be discussed.Show less
This work critically assesses the idea of replacing political representation based on elections and politicians by big data-driven algorithms. The rapid digitalization and datafication of our world...Show moreThis work critically assesses the idea of replacing political representation based on elections and politicians by big data-driven algorithms. The rapid digitalization and datafication of our world is fuelling the debate on democratic theory. Can the potential of new ICTs be harnessed to work for the benefit of democracy? Using Gijs van Oenen’s account as base, I make the idea of algorithmic representation more concrete by introducing the concept of a Pocket Politician, and by exploring three scenarios of what this could look like. To further unpack this concept I apply two conceptual tools of the ‘constructivist turn’ in democratic theory: Fossen’s logical distinction between dyadic-triadic and Saward’s theory on the representative claim. By doing so, I show that such a new ‘algorithmic’ system of representation would go accompanied with the loss of human intentionality and the loss of visibility. (1) Algorithmic representation blurs the characterization of the citizens that are represented. It is no longer clear as what citizens are represented due to the non-human intentionality of algorithms. And (2) the performance of representation – the representative claims – will not be visible to the citizens, making it a non-transparent form of politics. Combined, these two concessions would restrict citizens’ ability to see and experience politics on both a sensory and mental level. I come back to the three scenarios of a Pocket Politician to discuss whether this is a problem. I argue that applying algorithmic representation could be beneficial for a democracy depending on its particular state and particular needs.Show less
Researchers and scientists believe that they are closer than ever to finding a cure for age-related diseases. Via technological innovations, they hope to ‘cure ageing’ once and for all. This would...Show moreResearchers and scientists believe that they are closer than ever to finding a cure for age-related diseases. Via technological innovations, they hope to ‘cure ageing’ once and for all. This would entail that the human biological lifespan could be extended indefinitely. Quests for immortality have a long record, and recent technological advancements brought immortality once again back in the spotlight. The time has come to critically assess what the consequences of such a technological development would be.Show less
This thesis will argue that our current conception of privacy is insufficient to properly survive the threats posed by technological innovation in modern society.
The focus of this essay lies on analysing the relationship of hypnosis and consciousness. It is my claim that modernly held theories of hypnosis do not manage to fully account for all facets of...Show moreThe focus of this essay lies on analysing the relationship of hypnosis and consciousness. It is my claim that modernly held theories of hypnosis do not manage to fully account for all facets of this seeming psychological anomaly because they may be based on a faulty notion of consciousness. I will attempt to show what this notion of consciousness is and how the phenomenon of hypnosis challenges this notion. I will then propose the use of a radically different notion of consciousness by Julian Jaynes and show what a more successful theory of hypnosis based on this notion of consciousness might look like. I will briefly lay out the origins of hypnosis and why this phenomenon seems to carry with it a less than favourable image. I will isolate recurring classes of hypnotic phenomena and discuss what makes these phenomena so seemingly inexplicable (chapter 2). I will then move on to a discussion of our commonly held notion of consciousness and how it relates to hypnosis (chapter 3). The next step will be a discussion of different attempts at explaining hypnosis (chapter 4). Here I will point out the advantages as well as challenges of each of the theories presented, concluding that they all face difficulties based on their underlying notion of consciousness. Following this will be a discussion of Jaynes’s concept of consciousness, shedding light on the differences between his notion and the formerly discussed commonly held understanding of consciousness, as well as presenting potential criticisms of Jaynes’ idea (chapter 5). I will then present Jaynes’ theory of hypnosis, hoping to further flesh out, clarify and develop the different parts of his theory. This theory will then be shown to integrate the advantages of modern models of hypnosis while doing away with their formerly discussed challenges (chapter 6). Lastly, a brief conclusion with suggestions for further research is presented (chapter 7), followed by this essay’s bibliography (chapter 8).Show less
There is increasing awareness of the importance of the body in psychology and philosophy of mind. Embodied accounts of the self are promising in explaining the perceived unity and continuity...Show moreThere is increasing awareness of the importance of the body in psychology and philosophy of mind. Embodied accounts of the self are promising in explaining the perceived unity and continuity characteristic of it: the body provides spatiotemporal locatedness, and embodied experience provides relationships to and interaction with the environment. Given this emphasis on the body, it is surprising to find a lack of consideration of how the embodied self persists through time: as a three-dimensional entity, or rather as a four-dimensional one with temporal parts as well as spatial parts? Conversely, in discussions on persistence over time, a purely mental approach is dominant. I set out to detail the metaphysical debate on persistence, how it is typically applied to persons, and develop a novel account merging various influential lines of thought. The result is an embodied self as a perduring, bio-processual entity.Show less
Technological innovation is restructuring and helping shape the way society functions. The Internet revolutionised the way people could communicate with one another on a global and instant level....Show moreTechnological innovation is restructuring and helping shape the way society functions. The Internet revolutionised the way people could communicate with one another on a global and instant level. Just over a decade ago, the Bitcoin whitepaper published under the alias Satoshi Nakamoto opened up a whole new area of technological advancement. With the coming of Bitcoin came the introduction to blockchain. Creating a peer-to-peer transaction system, based on a decentralised network in which all participants contribute to the distributed ledger was a new way of looking at traditional payment mechanisms. Blockchain technology is transparent by nature and forms the basis of many opportunities - be it instant payments, placing our trust in algorithmic computing validation, and letting go of the idea that ‘trusted’ third parties – or intermediaries - are a necessity when it comes to transferring assets from one party toanother. Given the implications blockchain could have for the traditional financial industry, this thesis aims to explore the nature of blockchain technology and its new layer of trust within the financial sector.Show less
The internet and Social Media seem to have created new ways by which individuals communicate and foster new ideas. In this thesis I will explore how these changes may have impacted upon how...Show moreThe internet and Social Media seem to have created new ways by which individuals communicate and foster new ideas. In this thesis I will explore how these changes may have impacted upon how individuals and groups form and express political ideals. I will analyse how this has affected political agency. Are the ideals formed and expressed online a more accurate portrayal of the wide spectrum of opinion held within a constituency because the internet and social media seems to allow for a wider range of input? Or, does the emergence of so many voices online create difficulty for discerning consensus?Show less
In this study the relation between virtualization and shamelessness is examined by investigating the banking crisis of 2008. Shame, it is held, is crucial to our self-development and our relation...Show moreIn this study the relation between virtualization and shamelessness is examined by investigating the banking crisis of 2008. Shame, it is held, is crucial to our self-development and our relation with others because, besides the negative self-evaluation it is commonly known for, shame also encompasses a strong personal involvement. After investigating the financial crisis of 2008 it is found that the financial sector is characterized by the convergence of a high reliance on virtual systems as well as an inability to feel shame. To further study the effect of virtualization on shame, three necessary conditions for shame are proposed based on the work of Kierkegaard, Merleau-Ponty, and Sartre: integrity, embodiment, and responsibility. By examining the effect of virtualization on these three necessary conditions I arrive at a general conclusion about the effect of virtualization on our ability to feel shame. The final section expands the scope of these findings to see whether the found effect of virtualization on shame can be noticed in other social spheres that are gradually becoming more virtual.Show less
This work hefts the claim that alphabetic script, as opposed to other writing systems, was one of the causes for the appearance of philosophy in Ancient Greece due to the cognitive and social...Show moreThis work hefts the claim that alphabetic script, as opposed to other writing systems, was one of the causes for the appearance of philosophy in Ancient Greece due to the cognitive and social changes that this technological device allows for. The idea that media has a deep impact on users, rather than been an inocuous storage of information, was put forward by the members of the Toronto School of Communication Theory, in particular Havelock and McLuhan, who are the main sources for this thesis.Show less
De kwaliteit van de therapeutische relatie in psychotherapie, de persoonlijke band tussen de therapeut en de patiënt, blijkt erg bepalend voor het behandelresultaat. Dit wordt in de regel...Show moreDe kwaliteit van de therapeutische relatie in psychotherapie, de persoonlijke band tussen de therapeut en de patiënt, blijkt erg bepalend voor het behandelresultaat. Dit wordt in de regel onderscheiden van technieken, als zijnde alle manieren waarop klachten, gedragingen en herstel begrepen worden en al de interventies die hieruit volgen. Deze scriptie beschrijft drie benaderingen die de kracht van de relatie in onderscheid van technieken pogen te verklaren, vanuit de stellingname dat het belang van de relatie relevant is voor de verantwoordelijkheid die de therapeut ten overstaan van de patiënt heeft. Door gebruik te maken van verschillende plaatsen die door filosofen aan de ethiek zijn toegekend, worden verschillende mogelijkheden zichtbaar. De faciliterende relatie, ten eerste, leert dat de kracht van de relatie gelegen is in haar ondersteuning van de technieken. De atechnische relatie, ten tweede, stoelt op Bubers begrip van de ethische tussenruimte en beschrijft de relatie op haar krachtigst wanneer technieken slechts een geminimaliseerde rol spelen. De asymmetrische relatie, ten slotte, stoelt op Levinas’ begrip van de ethiek als eerste filosofie en leert dat de confrontatie met een ander oproept tot verantwoordelijkheid en dat dit (in beide richtingen) de kracht van de therapeutische relatie verklaren kan. Deze laatste benadering wordt als de meest plausibele verklaring voorgesteld. Deze benadering onderstreept de waarde van een kwetsbare betrokkenheid van de psychotherapeut op het therapeutisch proces.Show less
Het enactivisme, zoals door Varela, Thompson en Rosch geïntroduceerd in “The Embodied Mind” en waarop is voorgebouwd door onder andere Hutto en Myin postuleert dat alle cognitie kan worden begrepen...Show moreHet enactivisme, zoals door Varela, Thompson en Rosch geïntroduceerd in “The Embodied Mind” en waarop is voorgebouwd door onder andere Hutto en Myin postuleert dat alle cognitie kan worden begrepen als belichaamde act, oftewel als sensomotorische vaardigheden. Deze enactivisten verwerpen hiermee de gangbare opvatting in de cognitiewetenschappen dat cognitie het best kan worden begrepen als het verwerken van mentale representaties. Het probleem van het enactivisme is dat het succesvol wordt bevonden in het begrijpen van online cognitie zoals waarnemen, maar niet in het begrijpen van offline cognitie, zoals bijvoorbeeld herinneren en verbeelden. In hoeverre dit opgaat heb ik onderzocht door waarnemen, net als Varela, Noë en Gibson, te operationaliseren als sensorisch geleide act. Daarna heb ik de veronderstelling van Gibson getoetst die stelt dat herinneren en verbeelden kunnen worden begrepen als het offline in werking treden van sensomotorische contingenties van bepaalde sensorisch geleide acts die al eigen zijn gemaakt. Aan de hand van een fragment uit het dagboek van Cocteau laat ik zien dat procedureel en episodisch herinneren nog goed kunnen worden begrepen als sensorisch geleide acts, maar semantisch herinneren, oftewel herinneren bemiddeld door externe representaties niet. Ook voor verbeelden geldt dat die vormen die worden bemiddeld door externe representaties niet goed kunnen worden begrepen als sensorisch geleide act. Om deze vormen van offline cognitie ook te kunnen begrijpen in termen van sensorisch geleide act moeten ze worden begrepen als tweede-orde sensorisch geleide act.Show less
Our modern way of life is shaped by modern science and its promise of progress and the control of nature through technology. This way of life generates side effects like the destruction of natural...Show moreOur modern way of life is shaped by modern science and its promise of progress and the control of nature through technology. This way of life generates side effects like the destruction of natural resources and of cultural and biodiversity provoking further progression of science and technology to solve these problems and keep the illusion of progress and the control of nature alive. But every technological intervention generates new side effects leading to a vicious circle in which we are held captive. This leads to the emergence of a paradox in our conception of human identity as the master and possessor of nature and as such it is philosophically relevant. Our way of life became fully fledged due to the Scientific Revolution, which philosophical focal point is Descartes as the one who explicitly conceives of the method, nature and human identity. This MA-thesis offers an interpretation of Descartes’ thought as originating from his uncanny experience of nature as an infinite micro and macrocosmos leading to an epistemic gap which Descartes tries to bridge by his method which is interpreted as an algebraisation of thought and the concomitant mechanisation of nature which he conceives of as a cultivation of the divine seeds of knowledge in the inborn natural constitution of the human being (ingenium). This cultivation is interpreted as a philosophical Neolithic Revolution. This MA-thesis demonstrates this to be an instance of nature dictating what human identity is, demonstrating the human being to be already a part of the semantic whole that nature is and already being borne by this whole, thus rendering the promise of the control of nature a mirage. This has far reaching consequences for our way of life and our conception of our own identity, though it is the question whether we can experience it as such. It seems to call for a radical new way of thinking.Show less
The key question addressed by this thesis is: ‘what is justice?’ This question does not only apply to the judgment based on positive or written law. A renowned Dutch lawyer, Professor Paul Scholten...Show moreThe key question addressed by this thesis is: ‘what is justice?’ This question does not only apply to the judgment based on positive or written law. A renowned Dutch lawyer, Professor Paul Scholten (26th of August 1875 – 1th of May 1946) argues that religious existentialism in combination with a system of law appeals to the personal responsibility of a judge as well. This personal responsibility is existential or metaphysical and refers to the decision of Abraham at Mount Moría in the book by Søren Kierkegaards titled ‘Fear and Trembling’. Professor Scholten wrote several important works on religious existentialism and the personal responsibility of a judge; according to Professor Scholten, personal responsibility is in the core of how to speak justice. In this thesis, the thoughts of Professor Scholten constitute the connection between the scientific and philosophical approach of the law.Show less
In the last decade or so, more and more evidence has accumulated to support an enactivist theory of mind. Such a theory has great consequences for how we view the mind and thus also how we view the...Show moreIn the last decade or so, more and more evidence has accumulated to support an enactivist theory of mind. Such a theory has great consequences for how we view the mind and thus also how we view the mind’s malfunctions; mental disorders. A new way of looking at mental disorders within the framework of enactivism means to see a mental disorder not just as a brain malfunction, but as a disorder in the subjects being-in-the-world; meaning the interaction between brain, body and world. The author explores what such a view would be and what consequences this would have for understanding, diagnosing and treating mental illness.Show less
