I appeal to analytic functionalism and the ability hypothesis to address the problems posed by inversions arguments. I argue that it is reasonable to reject inversion arguments if we accept a...Show moreI appeal to analytic functionalism and the ability hypothesis to address the problems posed by inversions arguments. I argue that it is reasonable to reject inversion arguments if we accept a combination of analytic functionalism and the ability hypothesis, and that alternative theories are fundamentally more problematic.Show less
Artistic practice today is uniquely situated to pose critical, alternative responses to contemporary ecological problems. A compelling example from Mexico City is the 2015 performance piece Plan...Show moreArtistic practice today is uniquely situated to pose critical, alternative responses to contemporary ecological problems. A compelling example from Mexico City is the 2015 performance piece Plan Acalote by contemporary art collective Plan Acalli, which reenacted the journey of a traditional acalli boat across Mexico City, crossing highways and avenues that were once canals. This thesis examines the ecological potential of this artwork by studying the performance and its context through a framework of materialist posthumanism. I argue that Plan Acalote crucially enabled human participants to develop environmental skills and awareness and involved ritual, pilgrimage-like encounters. I propose that, in this way, the acalli boat’s journey can thus be read as a material transformation or “becoming” of paved urban roads into an acalote, or Nahua waterway: a collaborative, situated and performative strategy towards research, environmental awareness and art. Therefore, Plan Acalote ultimately demonstrated the potential of a shift in cosmovision through art as a viable approach to furthering ecological goals.Show less
Although many studies have researched consumer purchasing behaviour in general, relatively few studies on car purchasing behaviour are publically available. Also, purchasing behaviour studies...Show moreAlthough many studies have researched consumer purchasing behaviour in general, relatively few studies on car purchasing behaviour are publically available. Also, purchasing behaviour studies focusing on both car segments and cross-cultural car purchasing behaviour are limited available. Nor did these studies include the role of materialism in their research on car buying decision making process. In addition, no study has yet conducted research on the comparison of Sino-European car segment buying behaviour. Besides contributing to the corporate automotive sector, this bachelor thesis is written in the context of Chinese Consumption Culture, with the aim to extend the existing academic literature on cross-cultural consumption behaviour by researching and identifying to what extent differences in consumer characteristics – including culture (Dutch versus urban Chinese) and materialism - affect the consumer’s car segment buying decision making process. Overall, the results have proven that (1) cultural differences between Chinese and Dutch (Non-Chinese) people affect differences regarding the consumer’s car segment buying decision in the following manner: Chinese cultural concepts Face, Family relationships and Sense of shame are positively correlated with Car segment. This implies-, that the higher the score on Chinese culture is, the higher the score on Car segment. Chinese-national respondents in this study generally scored higher on Chinese culture than Dutch nationals. Thus, culture differences affect differences in the consumer’s car segment buying decision. (2) Differences in Materialism as consumer characteristic do also influence the consumer’s car segment buying decision. The more materialistic, the higher the car segment. Thus, differences on materialism affect differences regarding the consumer’s car segment buying decision. (3) Multiple consumer characteristics may interact, causing a leverage or “turbo” effect regarding the consumer’s car segment buying decision. For example, if a person is both Chinese and highly materialistic, a leverage effect takes place on car segment buying decision – thus scoring higher on car segment than cases with no interaction.Show less
This thesis gives an analysis of Sinclair lewis’s Character George Babbitt in his novel Babbitt. The analysis shows that Babbitt is unsatisfied with his life. This is because Babbitt is, unlike...Show moreThis thesis gives an analysis of Sinclair lewis’s Character George Babbitt in his novel Babbitt. The analysis shows that Babbitt is unsatisfied with his life. This is because Babbitt is, unlike Benjamin Franklin, not a self-made man. Franklin set an example of how to live your honourable. Ralph Waldo Emerson created with his essay Self Reliance a view that stated that man should be nonconforming to society. Emerson believed that conforming to society and neglecting personal dreams would lead to an unhappy life. Therefore, this thesis states that Babbitt is also unsatisfied because of his conformism to the materialistic American society of the 1920s.Show less
