Philosophy Commons^™

"She Said Plain, Burned Things": A Feminist Poetics Of The Unsayable In Twentieth Century Literary & Visual Culture, Leah Souffrant

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation examines the way silence, blank space, and other forms of creative withholding attempt to translate the unsayable, or to convey the unsayability of language in artistic form. Through a study of the works of Sylvia Plath, Jean Rhys, Rachel Zucker, Marguerite Duras, Anne Carson, and visual images, this work observes the connection between women's writing in the 20th century and the communication of painful subject matter through attention to absence. This study attends explicitly to how formal qualities in artistic works attend to ontological concerns through an examination of the intersection of concerns with phenomenology, feminism, and formal …

Mind, Media, And Techniques Of Remediation In America, 1850-1910, Dominique Zino

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation describes the way a renewed interest in picturesque aesthetics engaged the imaginations of writers, visual artists, philosophers, landscape designers, and collectors during the second half of the nineteenth century, reinvigorating a mode of inquiry that sanctioned the act of composing representations--mental, visual, and verbal--as a suitable response to social, political, and philosophical problems. The chapters that follow describe the understanding of the relationship between language, visual representation, and feeling that picturesque aesthetics formalized alongside the surface discourse of picturesqueness that was circulating through everyday genres, such as illustrated viewbooks, by the second half of the century. This dynamic …

A Girl Power Study: Looking And Listening To The Role Of Emotions And Relationality In Developing Critical Consciousness, Jennifer Wallin-Ruschman

Dissertations and Theses

The concept of critical consciousness centers on the capacity for involvement in social change efforts. Its development has been the aim of many recent social movements (e.g., the consciousness raising groups of the women's movement). In this work, critical consciousness is defined as the highest level of socio-political-cultural (SPC) consciousness development. SPC consciousness is characterized by the linking of the personal and the political so that structures and discourses of oppression are not only understood but also lead to critical action and transforming relations of domination. Additionally, critical consciousness includes the ability to tolerate ambivalence and conflict as well as …

Merging The Principles Of Occultism And Anarchism, Kevin Todd Mclaren

History

"Merging the Principles of Occultism and Anarchism" is an attempt to pinpoint the correlations between occult and/or esoteric belief systems and political anarchist philosophy. The paper analyzes the works, belief systems and philosophies of Giovanni Pico della Mirandola and Aleister Crowley and extracts the underlying anarchist principles that are embedded within them. This established connection to anarchism through occultism is reinforced by referencing various anarchist works, particularly the works of William Godwin.

La Transmission De La Parole : D’Une Langue À L’Autre, Gabriel Mwènè Okoundji

Présence Francophone: Revue internationale de langue et de littérature

I consider myself as a poet of oral tradition, using a pen. Somebody who passes on words I received from my ancestors, speakers of the essentials, masters of words, who could not write but who knew the basics: words and proverbs which give birth to the light necessary to progression. So my quest is turned towards a poetry of initiation and passing on whose only purpose is to teach men to trust on their fragility. So I created my mother tongue in a midway zone between Tégué, my parental tongue and French, my written language. Both languages are flowing inside …

Derrida's Voice And Phenomenon: An Edinburgh Philosophical Guide, Vernon W. Cisney

Gettysburg College Faculty Books

This work provides a detailed analysis of Derrida's 1967 book, Voice and Phenomenon, contextualizing it in the broader history of French receptions of the phenomenological tradition.

Failed States And The Origins Of Violence: A Comparative Analysis Of State Failure As A Root Cause Of Terrorism And Political Violence, Tiffiany O. Howard

Political Science Faculty Research

What makes a terrorist? Is an individual inherently predisposed to be attracted to political violence or does exposure to a certain environment desensitize them in such a way that violence represents a viable mode for addressing political grievances? Identifying state failure as the impetus for political violence this book addresses these questions and focuses on why existing extremist groups find failed states so attractive. Utilizing global barometer data, Tiffiany Howard examines the underpinnings of individual support for political violence and argues that an insidious pattern of deprivation within failed states drives ordinary citizens to engage in and support extreme acts …

Akedah, The Holocaust, And The Limits Of The Law In Roth's "Eli, The Fanatic", Aimee L. Pozorski

CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture

In her article "Akedah, the Holocaust, and the Limits of the Law in Roth's 'Eli, the Fanatic'" Aimee L. Pozorski argues that Philip Roth's 1957 short story dramatizes the tension between the law on the one hand and the philosophy of ethics, on the other hand with the story's protagonist ultimately choosing ethics as evidenced by his identification with a displaced Hasidic Jew near the story's end. In reading the story through the inter-textual references to the Genesis story of the Akedah, Pozorski discusses the limits of the law in the face of vulnerable children and within the context of …

From Defending Theism To Discerning Spirits: Reconceiving The Task Of Christian Philosophy, Neal Deroo

Pro Rege

Dr. Neal DeRoo presented this paper at a joint meeting of the Society for Christian Philosophers and the Society for Continental Philosophy and Theology, held at Trinity College, June 2014. The topic of the meeting was, "What is Christian Philosophy," celebrating the 30-year anniversary of the publication of Alvin Plantinga's landmark essay "Advice to Christian Philosophers."

Human Use Of Computers Framework: Assessment Using The Computer Procrastination Problem, Nick Breems

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

As more and more human living involves interacting with various computer systems, it becomes increasingly important to understand the full picture of what is involved in such computer use. Without such an understanding, we will be limited in our ability to either design systems and practices which maximize benefit and human flourishing, or to recognize, understand, and address dysfunction where it occurs. Basden’s (2008) Human Use of Computers Framework provides a structure for considering many facets of computer use. Based on the philosophy of Herman Dooyeweerd, Basden’s framework considers computer use as the simultaneous functioning of a.) humans interacting with …

Divine Omnipotence In Descartes' Philosophy, Alfredo Rodriguez

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The present thesis explores various aspects of Rene Descartes' doctrine of divine omnipotence within the context of his overall philosophy and with reference to his medieval heritage. This thesis shows that, contrary to his multiple and explicit statements that God's power cannot be limited in any way, Descartes took a more nuanced position on divine omnipotence that incorporated aspects of the widely accepted medieval position that God's goodness is a constraint on his power. Furthermore, Descartes used the medieval concept of universals as he experimented with the use of modes to explain how a thing's actual existence is possible by …

Conceptual Roles And Conceptual Explanation: How Internalism Can Provide Everything We Need From A Theory Of Concepts, And Why Externalism Can't, Cressida Gaukroger

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation attacks externalism about concepts. It argues that attributions of mental state content that posit externally individuated concepts lack explanatory power. Only the intrinsic or local properties of mental states are relevant to causal explanations of behaviour - relational or non-local properties of mental states do not have causal power. This dissertation focuses on expanding upon this argument, and showing that it has significant consequences for those who assert the externalist position.

I begin by setting out the primary criticisms levelled at internalist theories of concepts. These include the claims that a theory that individuates concepts purely internally will …

A Pedestal Of Power: Analyzing Consciousness In Nonhuman Animals, Conner Lee Varnell

Senior Theses

Humans have an understanding of a concept called consciousness. This idea of consciousness has been the main separating factor between animals and humans regarding humankind's purported superiority of intelligence: humans are conscious and other animals are not. Specifically, it is self-consciousness, awareness of oneself as oneself, that is. Yet extensive research throughout the last few decades shows that this may not be the case. Animals and humans alike show a variety of forms of consciousness and self-consciousness based on the structure of their bodies, brains, habitats and other contributing factors of survival. Hence, I will argue that humans are not …

King Maker In The Mind Of The Maker, Mark Eckel

Inklings Forever: Published Colloquium Proceedings 1997-2016

"The mind of the maker and the Mind of the Maker are formed on the same pattern, and all their works are made in their own image." Dorothy Sayers goes to great lengths to expose a Christian view of creativity. Seen from a First Testament perspective, Sayer's ideas conform closely to human kingship originally intended by God; the vestigates of the robes remain.

In this paper I will seek to intersect Sayer's views of The Creator, the creature, creation, and creativity with the biblical-cultural connections in Genesis 1. What does it mean to be made in God's image in the …

A Day In The Life Of A Hero: The Three Unities In C.S. Lewis's Neo-Classical Romance, Joe R. Christopher

Inklings Forever: Published Colloquium Proceedings 1997-2016

C.S. Lewis's "The Nameless Isle" is, if one ignores the first fifty-seven lines as an introduction, curiously shaped to meet the requirements of the Three Unities as the Renaissance and as Neo-classicism understood Aristotle's Poetics. Or at least two of them. The Unity of Place is obvious: all the action is set on the same isle. The Unity of Plot may be debatable since the dwarf has more to do with the resolution of the conflict than the hero does, but at least there is only one basic conflict. And, most impressive of the Three, all the action occurs on …

C.S. Lewis, Thomas Wolfe, And The Transatlantic Expression Of Sehnsucht, Jedidah Evans

Inklings Forever: Published Colloquium Proceedings 1997-2016

No abstract provided.

Once A Queen Of Glome, Always A Queen Of Narnia: Orual And Susan's Denial Of The Divine And Redemption Through Grace, Kat Coffin

Inklings Forever: Published Colloquium Proceedings 1997-2016

Susan Pevensie is one of the most misunderstood characters in C.S. Lewis' classic series, The Chronicles of Narnia. Writers such as Neil Gaiman, J.K. Rowling, and Philip Pullman have declared the character's face as a reflection of Lewis' sexism and misogyny, further claiming that Susan's exclusion from the final book of the series was due to her penchant for lipstick and nylons. Feminist criticism has found Susan's treatment pointedly gendered, displaying Lewis' supposedly negative attitude towards traditional forms of femininity.

While "the problem of Susan" has garnered critical response, little thought has been given to Susan in relation to Orual, …

The Wars We Sing Of: Modern And Medieval Warfare In Tolkien's Middle-Earth, Alethea Gaarden

Inklings Forever: Published Colloquium Proceedings 1997-2016

No abstract provided.

The Artistry Of C.S. Lewis: An Examination Of The Illustrations For Boxen And The Chronicles Of Narnia, Kathryne Hall

Inklings Forever: Published Colloquium Proceedings 1997-2016

No abstract provided.

The Wizard In The Well: The Transmogrification Of The Mythical Merlin In C.S. Lewis's That Hideous Strength, Mark R. Hall

Inklings Forever: Published Colloquium Proceedings 1997-2016

No abstract provided.

Maleeldil And Mutual Society: A Modern Woman's Defense Of Jane Studdock, Crystal Hurd

Inklings Forever: Published Colloquium Proceedings 1997-2016

Over the past few decades, many scholars and casual readers have derided C.S. Lewis as a misogynist for the "expulsion" of Susan from Aslan's Country. However, closer examinations of Lewis's underlying philosophy and previous experiences with women lend us exceptional insight into his changing perspective as well as his portrayal of feminine characters. Written before his wildly popular The Chronicles of Narnia, Lewis's science fiction or Ransom trilogy provides a glimpse into his developing talents as a fiction writer but also provides crucial commentary on the gender issues plaguing the twentieth century. This paper will investigate, through his correspondence, …

George Macdonald And J.R.R. Tolkien On Faerie And Fairy Stories, Paul E. Michelson

Inklings Forever: Published Colloquium Proceedings 1997-2016

The paper discusses the ideas of George MacDonald and J.R.R. Tolkien on Faërie and Fairy Stories, based on an analysis of MacDonald's essay "The Fantastic Imagination," Tolkien's "On Fairy-Stories," Tolkien's correspondence, and Tolkien's unpublished introduction to MacDonald's The Golden Key.

What Lewis Never Wrote: Quotes Misattributed To The Oxford Professor Don, William O'Flaherty

Inklings Forever: Published Colloquium Proceedings 1997-2016

Most people today rely on the Internet for quotations and their sources. While C.S. Lewis is frequently very quotable, there are many quotes attributed to him that he never wrote. This talk will present those quotes frequently falsely attributed to Lewis, provide proof that he never said them, and (where possible) show who wrote them. Examples are: "You don't have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body," and "You are never too old to set another goal or dream a new dream." Additionally the talk will explore what these non-Lewis quotes say about a culture looking for …

Lewis In The Dock (Part 2): A Brief Review Of The Secular Media's Coverage Of The 50th Anniversary Of C.S. Lewis's Death, Richard James

Inklings Forever: Published Colloquium Proceedings 1997-2016

In 1999, I presented a paper here at this colloquium on the secular print media's response to the 1998 C.S. Lewis Centenary Celebration. In 2014, it seems only natural to do a similar paper on the secular media's coverage of the 50th anniversary of Lewis's death which also included the dedication in Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey of a memorial stone in his honor. The number of articles again abound, even more than in 1998. This second paper will consider articles by syndicated literary, news and religious columnists from secular newspapers and periodicals; internet postings by public TV and secular …

Through The Lens Of The Four Loves: The Idea Of Love In The Screwtape Letters, Paulette Sauders

Inklings Forever: Published Colloquium Proceedings 1997-2016

It is my contention that when C.S. Lewis wrote his non-fiction book The Four Loves and published it in 1960, he had not been thinking about love in all of its manifestations for just a short time before it was written. All of the fictional works he wrote over the years, beginning in at least 1938, reflect his definitions and descriptions of the various kinds of love and their perversions that he systematically desctibes so well in The Four Loves. He does this in his fiction through his various characters and their actions.

In Out of the Silent Planet …

Lisa Tetzner's Translation Of C.S. Lewis's The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe, Betsy Susan Morgan

Inklings Forever: Published Colloquium Proceedings 1997-2016

According to UNESCO's website, Index Translationum, C.S. Lewis's The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe has been translated 127 times. The first person to translate the novel was Lisa Tetzner and it is this translation, which has run through the most editions. This paper proposes to look at that translation in terms of accuracy and to examine the changes that were made in terms of purpose. Were they caused by differences between the languages or were they motivated by other concerns? This paper will be an abridgment of a master's thesis written for the Children's Literature program at Hollins University.

C.S. Lewis' Warnings On Education, Zachary A. Rhone

Inklings Forever: Published Colloquium Proceedings 1997-2016

The Lewis connoisseur is likely to recall his opinions on education, expressed in Surprised by Joy, "My First School," "Democratic Education," and, especially, "Screwtape Proposes a Toast." The surprise, however, is exactly how prophetic Jack was in his examination of education, its direction, and the reasons for its direction. My presentation will examine Lewis' view of education in lieu of the cultural shifts of the mid-to-late-twentieth century. Proposals to revise the British and American educational systems such as the Norwood Report of 1943, the Newsom Report in 1963, the Robbins Report of 1963, and even the No Child Left Behind …

The Good Catastrophe: Tolkien On The Consolation Of The Happy Ending, John Stanifer

Inklings Forever: Published Colloquium Proceedings 1997-2016

When describing the nature of fairy-stories, Tolkien famously coined the term "eucatastrophe" ("eu meaning "good") to express the effect of the "sudden joyous turn" that leads to the story's happy ending regardless of the dark events preceding it. Tolkien applies that word specifically to fairy-stories, but I would like to explore its meaning in relation to other genres and mediums that Tolkien was either unable or unwilling to consider. Classic literature and modern popular culture alike are ripe with the use of the "good" catastrophe, and this device is well-known by cultures from all parts of the globe. If it …

A Brief History Of The New York C.S. Lewis Society, Robert Trexler

Inklings Forever: Published Colloquium Proceedings 1997-2016

The proposed presentation would describe the origins and development of the first C.S. Lewis Society, formed in New York City in 1969. Along with detailing the society's growth over a period of 45 years, the talk will recount highlights from many "Lewis Weekends" held beginning in 1977, and the prominent speakers we have been honored to invite, including Own Barfield, Walter Hooper, Christopher Derrick, Cardinal Avery Dulles, Paul Holmer, Peter Kreeft, William Griffin, Christopher Mitchell, Louis Markos, Michael Ward, Charlie Star, and Will Vaus (among others!). The talk will also mention changes in the Society's publication, The Bulletin of the …

A Look At The Lewis Trilemma, Mark Taylor

Inklings Forever: Published Colloquium Proceedings 1997-2016

No abstract provided.