OAR@UM Collection:https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/217222024-03-29T08:52:49Z2024-03-29T08:52:49ZDerrida contra Habermashttps://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/220932017-10-04T08:02:33Z2017-01-01T00:00:00ZTitle: Derrida contra Habermas
Abstract: In this dissertation, my aim will be to defend Derrida against Habermas’criticisms which are made in his book, The Philosophical Discourse of Modernity (1985), more specifically his chapters entitled, Beyond a Temporalised Philosophy of Origins: Jacques Derrida’s Critique of Phonocentrism, and Excursus On Levelling the Genre Distinction between Philosophy and Literature.
I start by examining Habermas’ second chapter in which he accuses Derrida of levelling four genre distinctions, namely; philosophy and literature, rhetoric and logic, normal and abnormal language use and the world disclosing and problem solving functions of language. Amongst the many arguments which I put forward, I have argued that a common element in every criticism seems to be that Derrida undermines rational discourse in favour of a literary style of writing and a concern for meaningless and marginal concepts in philosophy. I also argue against a criticism put forward in Habermas’ first chapter on Derrida in which he argues that Derrida is influenced by Jewish mysticism. He argues that the ‘a’ in différance is akin to the aleph in Jewish theology, it is known as the only part of the commandments which the Hebrew people heard, everything else was left to interpretation. As I will explain, différance is a concept which contains spatiality and temporality because it refers to difference and deferral simultaneously.
By way of examining Derrida’s texts, I will show that Habermas’ claims seem to stem from what has been written about Derrida by his American followers, and in so doing, he has failed to understand him altogether.
Description: B.A.(HONS)PHIL.2017-01-01T00:00:00ZAnti-foundationalism, private irony, public solidarity and social hopehttps://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/220872017-10-02T08:29:42Z2017-01-01T00:00:00ZTitle: Anti-foundationalism, private irony, public solidarity and social hope
Abstract: Rorty is not willing to sacrifice autonomy for the community’s sake, nor is he willing to give up
his desire to live in a community governed by a sense of solidarity for the Nietzschean maxim of
self-creation. He also does not in any way seek a method which will help him unify the two
desires in theory. For Rorty, the sort of language an individual uses when she seeks to create
herself is very different from the language that one uses in democratic liberal politics. Not only
they are very different, but they should also be considered as incommensurable, and kept away
from each other at all costs. Thus, as we can see, a private-public divide is crucial in sustaining
Rorty’s ideal liberal polity.
Description: B.A.(HONS)PHIL.2017-01-01T00:00:00ZExploring ethics and morality in choice-driven videogameshttps://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/220532017-10-02T08:13:52Z2017-01-01T00:00:00ZTitle: Exploring ethics and morality in choice-driven videogames
Abstract: Since the late twentieth century we underwent a mediatic turn whereby technologies, specifically the development of the computer, has become a focal area of discussion. The virtual realm has opened a portal for the exploration of philosophical concepts and their analysis regarding the context. Videogames offer a learning experience along with an understanding of the self in terms of morality. The digital storyline consisting of a moral choice system gives the player the opportunity to take thought experiments or theoretical insights from ethical concepts and apply them in another dimension.
A passion for videogames and philosophy has motivated me to want to seek the understanding of how ethics is becoming a prevailing theme in the digital world of games. In this dissertation, I discuss how ethical concepts and theories such as Virtue Ethics, Moral Duty, Utilitarianism and the theory of the Butterfly effect are incorporated into these interactive narratives. Thus, this research concerns games from the genre consisting of choice driven storylines or games having a moral choice system.
Initially, the stimulus for this discussion was through a philosophy related video made by an MA graduate in Philosophy, which speculated on morality and videogames. Later on I came across the philosophical analysis of virtual worlds through Stefano Gualeni’s work in Virtual Worlds as Philosophical Tools. Consequently, the purpose of this work is to attempt to demonstrate how gaming platforms can not only bring out an understanding of the identity of the player through moral choices, but also give the player the opportunity to examine different outcomes by being able to replay events in virtual environments with different choices and how that might give the player an insight on personal morality. In view of the recent addition of Ethics Education as a discipline in our schools, this work is expected to provide an alternative, perhaps more entertaining, way of exploring ethics and morality.
Description: B.A.(HONS)PHIL.2017-01-01T00:00:00ZThe quest for a meaningful existence through a Sartrean approachhttps://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/220522017-10-02T08:11:27Z2017-01-01T00:00:00ZTitle: The quest for a meaningful existence through a Sartrean approach
Abstract: If we embrace existentialism’s philosophy, that is, that life is in essence meaningless, the inevitable question arises whether it is possible to establish a meaningful existence. Through the existential philosophy of Jean-Paul Sartre from his lecture Existentialism is a Humanism (1946) and in his magnum opus Being and Nothingness (1943), I will argue that meaning is still attainable despite life’s inherent meaninglessness. The objective of this dissertation is one that espouses a shift in character from one of passive non-action when faced with the lack of intrinsic meaning to an affirmative standpoint. The question with regards the meaning of life possibly occurs to each and every human individual at least on one occasion during the course of their life and yet for the majority this is but a frivolous reflection. My intention is to examine the value of the question of meaning itself and to argue – from the subjectivist existentialist position – that it is extremely relevant to rigorously examine the question’s dilemmas in order to attain a life that is lived more critically and purposefully. These aims will be met through elucidating Sartre’s theories of ‘bad faith’ and ‘authenticity’ and through the recurrent theme within existentialism of subjectivity in general, as a counterargument to the attitudes of indifference and meaninglessness as is found in nihilistic and pessimistic points of view. The concluding outcome of this inquiry into subjectivity and human existence will be a discovery about self-creation and our engagement with our projects. Therefore to this extent it is to be understood as a humanistic approach rather than as an ethical judgment on what constitutes the good life.
Description: B.A.(HONS)PHIL.2017-01-01T00:00:00Z