School of Historical and Philosophical Studies - Theses
Permanent URI for this collection
Search Results
1 - 10 of 16
-
ItemGolden Age lost and philosophy's brave new world: ontology in Seneca's Epistulae 33, 90, 86 and 84( 2010)This thesis investigates the nature of Senecan ontology by looking closely at metaphorical language, quotation and intertextual engagements in Seneca's Epistulae 33, 90, 86 and 84. Senecan ontology is deeply embedded in language and articulated through metaphor, narrative and intertextual engagement with both literary and philosophical traditions. An important aspect of this investigation is developing an improved view of Senecan hermeneutics, in particular how Seneca reads and how Seneca’s readers might read him. This thesis focuses on ontology as how human beings are in the world they inhabit, that is, their mode of being. The general outline of human ontology in the Epistulae under investigation is that human-kind has fallen from a previous age which was seemingly ‘better’. It looks at the fall from the Golden Age as well as intertextual engagement with works such as Virgil’s Georgics. The important point to take away is that the fall from the Golden Age and the diseases which plague the human condition are the necessary preconditions for philosophy. Death plays an important part in Senecan ontology as human beings are creatures born to die. Senecan ontology, moreover, does necessarily differ between the tragedies and the prose. As this thesis shows in chapters 2 to 4, the Medea and the Oedipus not only conform to partial visions of Senecan ontology, but help to develop it. This demonstrates just how intertextually engaged Seneca’s Epistulae are not only with his tragedies, but with other authors and works. The Senecan world is an interconnected one, not just in terms of texts but also in terms of physics. The focus on the importance of works such as Virgil’s Georgics helps see the theme of the Golden Age and the fall in Seneca’s Epistulae and the way the Epistulae are influenced by the previous literary tradition, not just the philosophical tradition.
-
ItemTibetan thangka paintings: conserving a living religious heritage in Australia( 2010)Tibetan scrolls paintings or thangkas are present in public and private Australian collections. Religious ritual objects in their original context, thangkas are considered from a different perspective in Australia and the Western world: from sacred objects they become artworks in their new context. Conservation of thangkas is much more than a technical challenge posed by the diversity of materials present (painting on cloth, textile, wood and metal). In a holistic view of conservation, it encompasses an understanding of their original context and significance and an assessment of their value in their original culture. This relates thangkas to the broader theme of conservation of sacred objects originating from another culture, and our relationship with these objects. The thesis explores conservation of thangkas from the different perspectives of the Australian conservation professionals and collectors, and of the contemporary Tibetan Buddhists. It reviews the current attitudes, existing conservation codes of practices and publications about conservation of sacred objects, as well as the existing literature about conservation of thangkas. The thesis states that although thangkas are treated with the highest standards of conservation, their religious aspect is acknowledged but not addressed, in spite of existing concerns in the literature in the last 30 years. The issue is not specific to thangkas, and has been addressed for many sacred objects from pre-colonised cultures; existing frameworks for conservation of sacred objects from Indigenous cultures in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and USA provide useful models that could be adapted to the conservation of thangkas. Conservation of living religious heritage requires flexibility of conservation ethical standards and their adaptation to the needs of the users. This thesis argues that engaging with contemporary cultural groups and including the religious significance of thangkas into the conservation process is part of the mission of conservators. This mission goes beyond the traditional boundaries of conservation to include the development of a respectful dialogue with the users of the objects, in a constant questioning of the social relevance of our profession.
-
ItemMedia and motivations: a discourse analysis of media representations of Eilat Mazar’s ‘City of David’ excavations( 2010)The primary aim of this thesis is to examine the scholarly discourse surrounding the recent excavations conducted by Eilat Mazar at the ‘City of David’ site in Jerusalem, specifically her claims regarding the unearthing of King David’s palace. Through an analysis of the reports and results published by prior excavators of the ‘City of David’ site, Mazar’s conclusions regarding King David’s palace will be critiqued, as will the ideologies of her chief sources of funding, the Jerusalem based Shalem Centre and the Ir David Foundation. Social context surrounding Mazar’s excavations will also be examined, highlighting text often omitted from archaeological discourse, such as popular magazine articles, tourist pamphlets and blogs, in order to better understand both the ideological and political agendas that impacting upon Mazar’s conclusions and publications. The politicization of archaeology throughout the Near East, whether it is omission of Muslim history from Jerusalem tourist brochures or the complete denial of any Jewish historical claims to the Temple Mount, is an issue that greatly effects the interpretation, publication and dissemination of scholarly debate. Eilat Mazar’s work at the ‘City of David’ is a prime example of this issue, for while archaeologists internationally and domestically continue to debate her conclusions, the popular press has presented her findings as near definitive facts. Mazar’s aim to uncover the palace of King David is therefore not the primary issue, for although her belief in the historicity of the biblical narrative certainly influences her results, it is of greater concern that the public’s access to all academic arguments and theories is being limited. The fact that in over fifty articles published about Mazar’s discovery of King David’s palace not a single one mentions that her conclusions are based on preliminary results illustrating this lack of transparency. Ultimately it is the intention of this thesis to not only present the arguments for and against Eilat Mazar’s interpretations regarding King David’s palace, by comparing her conclusions with those of prior excavators and recent academic responses, but also to show the motivations behind her results and the impacts of funding, politics and faith (social context) can have upon scholarly conclusions.
-
Item"A model of wisdom and exemplar of modesty without parallel in our time": how Matilda of Flanders was represented in two twelfth-century histories( 2010)Matilda of Flanders was the wife of William the Conqueror, and as such was the first Anglo-Norman queen of England. Coming from an important family with connections to the French royal family, she played a crucial role in the new Anglo-Norman kingdom. As well as being a duchess and a queen, Matilda was also important as a monastic benefactor and as the mother of eight children, a number of whom went on to play important roles. My thesis investigates the different ways in which two twelfth-century historians, William of Malmesbury and Orderic Vitalis, represented Matilda. Beginning with an understanding that women in medieval historical texts are an ‘imaginative construction,’ it examines how these two near-contemporary historians constructed Matilda’s image to reinforce their own overall purposes. My discussion of how Matilda was represented is divided into three chapters. The first chapter examines how the two historians represented Matilda through family connections. Her marital relationship with William was the most important to both historians; how Malmesbury and Orderic represented her relationships with her children and her natal family is also examined. The second chapter is concerned with representations of Matilda through political activities, as duchess and queen. Finally, the third chapter considers how Matilda was represented through expressions of piety. I consider actions such as donations to monasteries, alms-giving, and prayer, and the connection between outward appearance and inward virtue. In sum, I argue that William of Malmesbury and Orderic Vitalis constructed the figure of Matilda of Flanders, through her family relationships, political actions, and piety, in order to meet the overall objectives for their histories. William of Malmesbury was primarily interested in demonstrating appropriate kingly behaviour to his audience, and in legitimating the Norman Conquest of England. Orderic Vitalis, in writing a universal history, sought to delineate generally appropriate Christian behaviour, to guide his audience in right ways of living. The figure of Matilda was useful in advancing these aims.
-
ItemThose who have arrived at the deepest depths of crime: Manichaeism in early Byzantine law( 2010)Although Mani considered his religion to be a revealed one, preaching his message to the world at large, the figure of the Manichaean is one that is shrouded in ambiguity. Originating in Persia in the second century, the Manichaean faith was from its very beginning, seen as a dangerous heresy by the Roman Empire, both before and after the Empire’s adoption of Christianity. Through an exploration of the anti-Manichaean legislation from pre-Christian law to the Codex Theodosianus and Codex Justinianus, several themes emerge. The threat Manichaeism was perceived to present was multi-layered, and reveals multiple concerns from the lawmakers of the time. Through identification with Persia, the Manichaean reflects the ongoing concern over an empire that rivalled Rome itself, one that Rome was constantly at war with. Through a preoccupation with magic and monasticism, a concern with ritual and experience not mediated through publically acceptable and orthodox channels becomes visible. This concern takes two forms – a deep distrust of the supernatural, and distrust towards those who would withdraw from society. Withdrawal from the empire and a lack of participation in public ritual was problematic in an empire that was shaping itself as orthodox. The solution to these concerns was exile, shaped in law to exclude Manichaeism from all spaces on the empire.
-
ItemThe British Government and the Rhineland Crisis( 2010)The purpose of this thesis is to re-examine the historiographical debate concerning the response of the British Government to the German remilitarization of the Rhineland on 7 March 1936 in light of the recent resurgence of ‘traditional’ interpretations of the crisis. The traditional view argues that the Rhineland Crisis represented an opportunity for Britain and France to prevent the Second World War by using their armed forces to intimidate Hitler. By not opposing the weaker Wehrmacht in 1936, the British and French response, it is argued, encouraged Hitler’s later foreign policy demands. Despite ‘revisionist’ writers having uncovered evidence that Hitler was not prepared to withdraw his forces from the Rhineland and that efforts to do so would have provoked a war in Europe in 1936, the revisionist view has enjoyed a recent resurgence. This thesis investigates Britain’s social, economic, military and diplomatic situation between 1919 and 1936 and explores how these affected Britain’s response to the Rhineland Crisis. The thesis makes extensive use of archival records, especially the minutes from the Cabinet meetings held during the crisis. My analysis of this material leads to the conclusion that because of the social and economic crises of the inter-war years and the risk of simultaneous conflicts with other powers Britain did not possess sufficient armed forces to risk war with Germany in March 1936; the efforts of the Cabinet to reach a negotiated settlement can therefore be regarded as justified. I also conclude that Hitler would have resorted to war in March 1936 in the event of a military response to his move.
-
ItemFrom house church to tenement church: domestic space and the development of early urban Christianity( 2010)The thesis attempts to posit a solution to the widely attested gap in our current knowledge regarding the physical circumstances in which the first urban Christians met and established a tangible presence in their social world. Whilst the literary record points to the phenomena of the ‘house church’ in multiple localities across the Roman world, there is a paucity of archaeological evidence for houses large enough to accommodate the numbers involved, and no attested record of purpose-renovated or purpose-built meeting places until well into the third century. The application of a relatively new approach in the sociological investigation of ancient communities, known as social networking theory, is applied to understand the social circumstances under which communities were formed and cohered around a common cultic practice or figure in the ancient world. This sheds light on the manner in which such groups formed and adds to our knowledge of both the social and physical circumstances experienced by the first generations of Christians in the urban environments of the Graeco-Roman city during the critical stage of the development of the group’s architecture, occupying the period c. 50 -150 CE. The possibility that the insula or apartment block may provide a suitable locale on both physical and social grounds, is then discussed appealing to both literary and archaeological evidence.
-
ItemThe philosophy of the funny( 2010)This thesis examines comedy and humour as they are seen in everyday life, and contends that they play a unique role in forming our outlook on the world. There is nothing quite like humour: it requires seriousness but it is silly; it uses rational constructs but creates something irrational; it seems to make fun of things which paradoxically we end up caring about even more. Through an exploration of the different ways comedy and humour are used, both in everyday life and popular entertainment, this thesis aims to determine the value of having a sense of humour. It proposes that through an active participation in making fun – of ourselves, of each other and of the world – we realise a potential path to enlightenment. The forms that comedy takes in our lives are numerous and varied. We consume comedy regularly from major entertainment producers. We comment upon events in the world between ourselves, often looking for a humorous angle. We gather at social events and parties and engage in very structured activities of comic free-styling. Amongst friends and family, we relentlessly “take the piss” out of each other, sending up each other’s pretentions and identities in a ruthless comic game. Our sense of humour is wedded to each of these pastimes. Through an active participation in comedy our sense of humour grows and matures, enabling us to cope better with whatever life might have in store for us. We are better equipped for dealing with the ongoing comic games we encounter in everyday life, which function as very real capability and aptitude tests. We are better equipped for dealing with whatever disaster may befall us next, for seeing the funny side of it. We are even better equipped for dealing with the imminent spectre of death, wherever it may lay its hand. Being able to recognise the logic and manifestations of comedy is a vital tool for engaging with life. This thesis argues that we should actively better our comic skills wherever appropriate and take time out from seriousness every now and then.
-
ItemBarrels on a beach: power, authority and the crew of the Trinity at Heard Island, 1880-1882( 2010)Thirty-five members of the crew of the American whaling bark Trinity were marooned on Heard Island from October 1880 to January 1882, following the loss of their vessel during a voyage hunting sea elephants for oil. The crew included Portuguese Africans from the Cape Verde islands, career whalemen and white working-class sailors. The men survived on elephant seal, penguin and Kerguelen cabbage during a hazardous fifteen months of snow, rain and blizzards. Initially the group maintained cohesion, however the pressures created conflicting perceptions of rights and responsibilities within the crew. An examination of the ship’s Log, journals, and newspaper accounts provides a record of survival strategies, day-to-day interactions among the crew, and 'elephanting' activities. This thesis argues the proposition that the traditional social structures and hierarchies of the US whaling trade influenced the decisions and behaviours of the marooned men. It examines how the hierarchical organisation based on employment, class and race, affected power and authority within the group after the wreck.
-
ItemA (partial) defense of the possible worlds account of content( 2010)I am attracted to the view that the content of a propositional attitude or a speech act is a set of metaphysically possible worlds. This view faces a number of familiar difficulties; difficulties which for most theorists of intentionality provide sufficient reason to adopt a different account of content. I think the view is not so easily dismissed. One often finds that objections against the possible worlds account of content tacitly rely upon some other assumptions which are not part of the view. To a significant extent, the view can be defended by identifying, clarifying, and rejecting those assumptions. Of course, frequent use of this strategy, by itself, is not entirely satisfactory - at least for the opponent of the possible worlds account. Often those extra assumptions are themselves intuitively plausible. So it is easy to imagine the opponent becoming frustrated when told, time after time, that she is illicitly relying upon some further assumptions; but is not given any idea of what assumptions would be acceptable, or how the possible worlds account gets by without those intuitively plausible assumptions. A satisfying defence of the possible worlds account should also address those questions. This thesis, in a nutshell, is a playing out of that strategy, in the context of the recent debate over semantic relativism. I will argue that a lot of the force of the relativist's objection relies upon making an assumption that is controversial from the perspective of the possible worlds account of content: that the semantic value of a sentence-in-context is identical to the content of an assertion of that sentence, or the content of the belief thereby expressed. But this assumption is, it must be granted, intuitively plausible. So before I discuss relativism, I will spend quite a bit of time systematically laying out the possible worlds account - its central assumptions and motivation - as well as discussing how it works in the absence of the assumption which features in the relativist's objection. The result, hopefully, is a satisfying defence of the possible worlds account of content against the relativist's account of content.