title: A Study of Dom in Old English Poetry

contributor:
Lee, A. A.
English

subject:
Old English
Poetry

abstract:
The study of the theme of dom and the Old English Doomsday verse (Judgment Day I, Judgment Day II and Christ III) begins with an investigation of the word-symbol itself and its possible meanings in poetic context. The initial, philological analysis is not intended to be exhaustive (and examples are largely limited to the poetic corpus), but rather to answer such questions as why one monosyllable can have such divergent referents as "law", "fate", "judgment", "wisdom", "selfassessment", "opinion" and both "heroic" "fame" and Christian "glory", and also to aid our understanding of the possible nuances of meaning of dom in the poetry. The method is intended to add an important perspective to an historical approach to medieval literature, for it can lead to a deeper appreciation of the poetic "word-hoard" and the complexity of associations particular word-symbols might have evoked in the Anglo-Saxon audience. Dom is analyzed initially in the light of Peter Clemoes' statement that Old English words can be "nuclei of meaning, symbols of integrated experience, [and] aggregates of traditional association". The semantic investigation leads on to a study of the concept of dom as both "heroic" reputation, the "pagan consolation", and the complex Christian idea of "glory", in particular referring to the after-life. An appreciation of the way in which a word was adopted and baptized by the Christian poets illustrates how the successful fusion of heroic and Christian concepts took place in Anglo-Saxon times, and how the "word-hoard", the traditional vocabulary and metaphors, was adapted to convey
the new and complex doctrines. The study of a semantic shift can shed light on the evolution of an idea.
The major part of the study is devoted to an analysis of the eschatological poetry in the light of the semantic investigation, for in these works the relationship between the divergent referents of dom and the parallels between heroic and Christian ideas of the after-life can be demonstrated best. The poets of the Doomsday verse do not simply recount the traditional, eschatological events, but treat the biblical, patristic and apocryphal accounts of the Last Things imaginatively and figuratively in order to stress their didactic theme which is that the moment of Judgment is ever-present and that immortality is gained by the individual's constant attempt to approximate what is considered the state of perfection. The themes of Judgment Day and the Apocalypse are very minor and, like the accounts of hell with which they are often confused, used as an incentive to better living. The poems are centripetal, aimed at instructing the individual at the present moment. The nature of the reward is rarely discussed and if so often in negative terms. Consequently, the Christian concept of dom as "glory", divine "fame", is akin to the earlier "heroic" one. Both traditions, based on hierarchical principles, stress that man's duty is to strive continuously towards a perfection which was conceived of in terms of the ethical law, although the nature of that law and the future reward differed. The important dom "judgment" rests with the individual to choose to act in a dorngeorn ("eager for glory") state and gain the sodfrestra dom "the glory of the righteous" like Beowulf or the Christian saint. Thus the concepts of dom as "decision", "judgment", "glory", etc. are seen to be inextricably fused, as are the heroic and Christian traditions in AngloSaxon times. Such findings also substantiate what was discovered in the semantic study, and the philological and literary-thematic analyses complement each other.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)


title: Physicalism and the Challenge of Epiphenomenal Properties

contributor:
Simpson, Evan
Philosophy

subject:
Physicalism
Epiphenomenal Properties

abstract:
The following dissertation is an examination of arguments against physicalism.
Physicalism is a thesis in the philosophy of mind that is constituted by two central claims:
(1) the ontological claim that everything that exists is ontologically physical and that human beings are among such things; (2) the explanatory claim that all facts about human beings and all explanations of their behaviour are dependent on and determined by physical facts and explanations. It has frequently been asserted that there are properties that escape capture in physicalist accounts of human behaviour, thereby undermining (2). Such properties are usually thought to be lacking causal powers, and hence have been called "epiphenomenal." The epiphenomenalist objections have long been thought to represent a serious obstacle to physicalism. My aim is to show that the objections that are motivated by epiphenomena} properties are unconvincing.
My discussion proceeds in two stages. In the first stage I examine the epiphenomenalist objections in detail and show that in their most persuasive forms they demonstrate that physicalism has certain explanatory inadequacies. The critics of physicalism believe that these shortcomings lead to the denial of the explanatory completeness of physicalism, and I try to make their case as charitably as I can. In the second stage of the argument I invoke the relation of psycho-physical supervenience and show that the desired conclusion does not follow, even if we admit that physicalism has certain explanatory failings. The overall conclusion ofthis dissertation is that the epiphenomenalist objections to physicalism are completely undermined and hence that properties which were thought to be epiphenomena! do not represent a serious obstacle to physicalisrn as was previously thought. My intention is that this discussion push forward work in the philosophy of mind and point the way to a more adequate articulation of physicalism.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)


title: Human Thinking and the Active Intellect in Aristotle

contributor:
Panagiotou, Dr. S
Philosophy

subject:
Aristotle
Human thinking

abstract:
In Book III, Chapter 5 of his De Anima, in the midst
of his account of the faculty of thought, Aristotle concludes that there are, in some sense, two minds required for thinking, one which 'becomes all things', and another which 'makes all things'. The second of these --commonly called the "active intellect" has always been a source of puzzlement for interpreters, on two fronts: (1) How does this entity 'make' things, i.e. what does it do, in relation to the potential or "passive" intellect, by way of producing the ideas in the latter?; and (2) What is the metaphysical status of the active intellect? In particular, can Aristotle's description of this mind as "eternal and immortal" be reconciled with his accounts, elsewhere, of the nature and function of eternal beings?
In this dissertation, with the help of related passages in other works, I unravel the details and implications of Aristotle's remarkably terse and economical discussion of the active intellect. Further, I show how we can, and why we must, re-interpret the most important aspect of Aristotle's metaphysics --his theory of the divine beings, the "unmoved movers" in light of what we learn from De Anima III.5. Aristotle is seen to have solved an essential epistemological problem, namely how we initially form the ideas or 'concepts' about which we think, in a manner which brings his psychology into direct contact with his theory of being. In the process, he implies a view of the power of human reason that is both ennobling and humbling.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)


title: Virtual Community and the Millennial Generation: An Investigation of Authentic Qualities of Community via the Internet For Canadian Christian Youth

subject:
Virtual
Canadian Christian

abstract:
Within each of us, there exists a need to be connected with others. The need to belong to someone or something is integral to whom we are as God's creation. In this search to be connected, youth are usually known to be the first on the scene to access the new technologies that bring them closer in touch with each other. Historically, youth have embraced the telephone, the television and the radio, among other various technologies. In the past decade there has been a monumental shift in the way people communicate with each other. With the revolution of the Internet and its related technologies, youth are able to extend their friendship circles far beyond the borders of culture, time and economy.
This dissertation is an examination of the responses of231 Canadian youth (aged 13 to 23) and their thoughts about the characteristics of virtual community on the Internet as a means of initiating, cultivating and maintaining relationships.
Reginald Bibby and Donald Posterski in their seminal work with Project Teen Canada in the early 1980's determined there had been a shift in values from teens highly valuing family and other significant relationships to developing a high value for peers and friends. One of the purposes of this work is to examine the extension of those significant friendships and relationships through the exploding popularity of the Internet. The qualities of community will be examined both from sociological and theological viewpoints. One of the questions in this study is: "Can the Internet provide a forum for authentic Christian community?". Or is it glorified technology that is merely a continuing step in our evolution as a society of communicators?

abstract: Dissertation

abstract: Doctor of Ministry (DMin)


title: Faith and Unfaith: Faith Maturity in Canada's At-Risk and Street-Involved Youth

subject:
Faith and Unfaith
Canada Youth

abstract:
What is faith? And who has it? Traditional arguments suggest that "faith" means: "faith in God" or "faith in gods" and therefore that faith is an idea reserved only for religious communities. The unfortunate implication is that those who do not "have faith" in God have "no faith" at all. It is the author's thesis that "faith" can be seen in a broader context and that the implications of this broader perspective hold important implications for ministry with at risk and street-involved youth.
Relying heavily on the foundational work of James Fowler, the project describes faith as a process of "meaning-making" and applies this understanding to the author's work with street-involved youth in downtown Toronto. Through a survey of current research, developmental theory, theological frameworks, biblical themes and surveys with street-involved youth the study draws important conclusions for ministry with street involved youth and other marginalized groups not traditionally associated with the church. The author argues that street-involved youth share many of the core values traditionally associated with "faithful" living and that these shared values provide significant opportunities for street-youth and church communities to grow in faith.

abstract: Dissertation

abstract: Doctor of Ministry (DMin)


title: Saving, Capital Imports and Growth: A Macroeconometric Study of India

contributor:
Denton, F. T.
Economics

subject:
Macro Economics
India

abstract:
In this study, a macroeconometric model of the
Indian economy is constructed and estimated for the
period 1957-1976. The model is evaluated in terms of
its ability to forecast major endogenous variables
through historic simulation, and is then used in a set
of experiments to examine the short and long period
effects of changes in various important exogenous
variables.
The model is growth-oriented, and focuses on the process of capital accumulation which is, amongst other things, an important determinant of growth in laboursurplus economies such as India. Supply factors play a major role in determining capital formation and output. Thus, the constraint imposed by the availability of resources -viz., saving and capital imports -is an important factor in the process of capital accumulation. Keynesian-type demand phenomena play a minor role in determining
output. The forces of demand, however, are involved in
determining prices which partly determine real resource
supplies, which in turn, affect the rate of capital
formation and hence the growth rate of output.
In order to articulate important institutional
and economic characteristics of the economy, the role of the government sector in the process of accumulation is separately and endogenously examined, the economy is disaggregated into four major sectors and the process of capital accumulation and other determinants of sectoral output are separately analysed. The sectoral rates of capital formation are determined within the context of an overall constraint on aggregate capital formation imposed by the real volume of resources -viz. , saving and foreign capital.
The study also attempts to look at some additional aspects of foreign capital. Thus, one question that is examined is whether foreign resource inflows adversely affect the domestic resource mobilization effort -viz. , the saving effort (of the government) for a given level and structure of taxation, prices and income, ana/or the taxation effort itself. Further, a sub-motiel of the foodgrains sector is constructed and integrated with the rest of the system to examine specific as well as economywide effects of Public Law (PL 480) foodgrain aid to India. Of interest are the effects on foodgrain and agricultural output and investment, as well on output in other sectors.
To deal with the simultaneity problem the model is estimated by a two-stage procedure based on principal components. The tracking ability of the model is found to be reasonably good in respect of major endogenous variables. There is some evidence of weak (adverse) effects of foreign resource inflows on government saving, though no such evidence is found for the tax effort. PL 480 foodgrain aid is found to be a less-than-perfect substitute for commercial foodgrain imports, thereby implying that there is some foreign exchange saving implicit in each unit of PL 480 imports.
Our simulation experiments suggest that an increase in foreign capital inflows over a short period have only temporary favourable effects on the growth rate of the economy though the time-path of national output is permanently raised. Moderate increases in foreign capital inflows sustained over a longer period, merely raise the time-path of output but have no significant effects on the rate of growth. Reduced PL 480 aid compensated by increased foreign exchange aid has favourable effects on foodgrain and agricultural output, as well as on national income. If there is no compensating increase in foreign exchange aid, but a corresponding decline in capital transfers to the government, there are economy-wide contractionary effects. In both cases, ther supply of foodgrains in the economy is adversely affected. Other simulation experiments suggest the presence of the ''Please Effect" in that increased direct taxation leaves the aggregate volume of saving unchanged, while increased government spending based on money creation is largely
absorbed through rising prices.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)


title: Frankenstein; Or The Modern Prometheus and The Inoculated Reader

contributor:
Coldwell, Dr. Joan
English

subject:
Frankenstein
Modern Prometheus

abstract:
My thesis examines the relationship between Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus and the Frankenstein myth as it has come to be known because of film. I propose that present-day readers, in addition to having a repository of literary knowledge, also have a reservoir of filmic memories on which to draw when they read. These visual 'texts' can function, I argue, not only as inter-texts but also as signs, indicating to us how to read certain written texts. Building on reader-response criticism, I include these visual signs in my analysis of the reading experience of Frankenstein.
After outlining a brief history of visualizations of the novel on stage and in film and commenting on the contributions these adaptations gave to the story, I focus on the James Whale classics of 1931 and 1935. It is to. these films that we owe the figures of the Karloffian monster, the hunchbacked assistant, the 'mad' scientist, and the monster's grotesque 'bride.'
Having imitated the common order of our exposure to the myth --that is we know or know of Frankenstein films before we arrive at the novel I define and explain the theoretical concepts of narrative and filmic afterimages.
then discuss their circulation in and revitalization through such agencies as advertisements, cartoons, and film and television remakes, illustrating how the Frankenstein story continues to be invoked and reworked in our culture.
I then turn to the novel and focus, first, on its reception and treatment by literary critics. Next, I examine its questioning and, at times, subverting, of such institutions as science, marriage, and orthodox Christianity. I also examine the novel's questioning of such concepts as narrative closure, the unity of character, and the possiblity of knowing 'reality.' At the same time, I illustrate (1) how literary critics, in dismissing the novel as flawed, actually shield us from the novel's subversiveness and (2) how film versions of Frankenstein and their circulating afterimages not only work to diminish the dis-ease which the novel elicits but, in fact, inoculate us against this dis-ease.
I conclude my study by relying on yet another metaphor --Freud's concept of "screen memory." We have, as my thesis illustrates, been effectively screened from Mary Shelley's novel. The version of the myth as it has come to be known by today's reader is not only tame (and tamed) by comparison but is, in some instances, antithetical to the novel. What I propose is both an acceptance of filmic afterimages of novels which have been visualized and a critical reading of these images. In the case of Frankenstein, once we become aware of how certain filmic
afterimages are operating, we can work towards a "cleansing of the doors of perception," so that in removing the film from before our eyes, we may see yet another, darker side of the myth.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)


title: The Concept of Divine Providence in the Thought of Philo of Alexandria

contributor:
Mendelson, Alan
Widdicombe, Peter
Religious Studies

subject:
Philo of Alexandria
Divine

abstract:
The objective of this dissertation is to examine the conception of divine providence in the writings of Philo of Alexandria (ca. 25 BCE -50 CE). In order to achieve this aim, we shall follow the theocentric structure of Philo's thought as outlined in the important passage De Opificio Mundi 171-2. In this passage, Philo correlates the idea of providence with his concept of God and the theory of creation.
In Chapter One, we shall first review the formal aspects of Philo's concept of God, in particular the idea of God's transcendence, and then correlate how Philo conceptualizes the idea of providence in light of these formal aspects. In particular, we shall explain how Philo can predicate that God is provident in nature, although, strictly speaking, it is Philo's view that God cannot be apprehended in his essence. In Chapter Two, we shall discuss how Philo explains the immanence of God in the cosmos in terms of the Logos and the divine powers, one of which he specifically characterizes as the providential power. In Chapter Three, we shall examine how the concept of God and the notion of providence are both critical for Philo's theory of creation. Philo conceives of the role of providence in cosmological matters as being responsible for the design, administration and continuous existence of the created universe. There are two more issues-raised in Philo's treatise De Providentia-which are critically important in order to gain a thorough understanding of Philo's conception of divine providence. These are the questions of astral fatalism and theodicy. In Chapter Four, we shall address why Philo rejects the assumptions implied in astral fatalismthe divinity of the stars, moral determinism-as irreconcilable with the conception of divine providence. He rejects the divinity of the stars because they cannot be transcendent as God and thus have causal influences over human lives. He rejects astral fatalism because it renders absurd the notion of moral responsibility. Finally, in Chapter Five, we shall correlate the question of theodicy with Philo' s conception of providence. Philo proceeds from the Platonic premise that God is not the cause for evil in any way, neither for physical evil nor for moral evil. Unlike the category of physical evil, which he explains in terms of Stoic arguments, the category of moral evil incriminates human beings directly. For Philo, the existence of moral evil exonerates God and his providence as the cause for evil and anchors the blame in the person. Moral evil originates when the rational part of the soul, the mind (which is inherently free and knows the difference between good and evil), cannot resist the assault by the senses and the passions. Philo thus places both the origin and the responsibility for moral evil on the shoulder of the human being.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)


title: Dummett and Putnam: Realism Under Attack

subject: Dummett Putnam

abstract:
Realism has traditionally been a philosophical doctrine embodying an ontological element asserting the existence of various types of entities and a meta-theoretic element asserting that the existence of those entities is independent of our knowledge of their existence. Anti-realism, on the other hand, denies that the existence of objects is independent of our knowledge.
Recently, attempts have been made to reinterpret the basic realist/anti-realist dispute in semantic terms. Basically, realism would be the view that the truth (or falsity) of sentences are independent of our knowledge of their truth-values. Anti-realism, on the other hand, would hold that truth is not so independent of our knowledge.
Michael Dummett and Hilary Putnam have presented two of the most famous extended semantic criticisms of metaphysical realism. Dummett argues that realism is committed to an unacceptable theory of meaning. Putnam argues that realism rests upon incoherent assumptions regarding truth and reference.
Unlike many commentators, I accept basic Dummettian constraints. I argue, however, that his conclusions do not follow. Not only can the semantic realist conform to his constraints, a realist construal of truth is in fact ineliminable in such an account. Thus, I turn Dummett's framework against its own conclusions.
Regarding Putnam, I proceed by rejecting his premises. I show that the arguments he constructs do not support the claim of incoherence leveled at metaphysical realism. Often, indeed, his arguments, if carefully understood, actually support realism.
I thus conclude that the two most famous and formidable attempts to reject metaphysical realism on the basis of semantic considerations fail. As such, there is no reason to abandon realism traditionally understood.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)


title: The Anarchist Concept of Community in the Thought ofBataille, Blanchet and Nancy

contributor:
Allen, Barry
Philosophy

subject:
French post modern philosophers
Bataille
Blanchot
Nancy
community
unity

abstract:
This thesis is concerned with the concept of community in the thought of three
French postmodem philosophers-Georges Bataille, Maurice Blanchot and Jean-Luc Nancy. I contend that anarchism is the best framework for understanding them because they emphasize the importance of community outside of the organization of the state. On their view, community as a unity or totality of social relations is absent in contemporary life, but this is as it should be because it makes possible the emergence of communities that are not premised on unity or totality but difference and openness. Bataille thinks that community requires an experience of sovereignty that is sacred rather than political, and that it is available through myth. Blanchot considers community in terms of the inherent neutrality of relations which cannot be co-opted by political interests. Nancy has an ontological orientation to politics that interprets existence as a community and results in a global law of multiple networks. All three stress the interplay between freedom and order, and seek a heightened sense of responsibility in community. Yet they do not acknowledge that community requires lasting institutions, and despite their attack on totalitarianism, they do not advocate democracy. Their work powerfully questions the concept of community, but it ultimately fails to offer viable alternatives for contemporary political philosophy.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)


title: Questing in the In-Between: Revisioning Faith Stage Theory

subject:
Faith
Stage Theory

abstract:
The central purpose of this work is to present an inter-disciplinary conception of faith development that honours the strengths introduced by James Fowler's Faith Development Theory, while simultaneously suggesting both paradigm and process correctives that seek to update it.
To that end, the following chapters present two main arguments:
1.
Fowler's Faith Development Theory (FDT) is in need of revision. Although the three founding principles on which FDT is based (those of the importance of experience, the centrality of symbolic representation, and the grounding concept of knowing/construal) are considered cogent, they do not find sufficient operational expression within the exposition of faith stages. The elucidation of a depth model of faith development that corrects this gap in FDT is required, in order to provide the field of pastoral care a more coherent framework through which to pursue the growth of faith with their careseekers. It is for this reason that we state that FDT is in need of revision.
2.
The required correctives to FDT are addressed and constructively resolved in the concept of Faith Constitutive Pastoral Care (FCPC) -a depth model of faith development that is focused on questing and soul care while remaining integrous to current inter-disciplinary thought in ministry, ego psychology, and epistemology. Faith Constitutive Pastoral Care (FCPC) presents a construct of relational, intersubjective balance that, while holding to the same three founding categories of concern as FDT, retains the strengths of Fowler's larger original intention while correcting the deficiencies inherent in FDT's formulation. Spiritual leaders can use Faith Constitutive Pastoral Care as a practical guide m shepherding
careseekers towards faithful maturity and growth.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)


title: The Doctrine of Chanted Language in the Chandogya Upanisad

contributor:
Arapura, J. G.
Religious Sciences

subject:
Chandogya Upanisad
orthodox Hinduism
nature of language

abstract:
 The Chandogya Upanisad is one of the most important pieces of literature in orthodox Hinduism. It contains some of the most crucial statements for the religion about salvation and ritualistic uses of language. This dissertation attempts to explain to modern Western readers what the Chandogya Upanisad says about the nature of language and in so doing explain the meaning of the Upanisad. In order to do this the traditional explanations of the text have been considered as carefully as posslble. One aspect of this consideration has been that whereas previous explanations of the text have not considered the implications of the ChU's relation to the Chandogya Brahmana this has. Another aspect has been that whereas previous explanations have not sought to understand this text as a complete and necessary whole this one has.

 Consequently part of the dissertation seeks implicitly and explicitly to demarcate the assumptions of previous scholarship from the assumptions of the ChU. The result of this is to show modern scholarship's desire to point out the historicality of the ChU and the ChU's desire to point out the uninformativeness historicality. The paradigmatic case of these incompatible desires is etymology which in the ChU is seen to imply the unity inherent to eternal being and in modern linguistics is seen to be the record of the historicality of beings, in particular, man. Another result of this part of the investigation was to discover that the transmission of upasana's (teachings) was a central cohesive theme of the ChU and that the ritualization of speech was inherent to this transmission.

 The central thesis of this dissertation is that chanted or ritualistic language is said in the ChU to be founded in desire which necessarily implies a dependent order of being. Language, which exists within this being, articulates various limits of dependency most authentically in a ritualistic manner. The primordial form of ritualistic speech is the pronoun, tat, which implies that the central phenomenon of all things is that they can be counted. We show during the course of the explanation of this thesis how the ChU points out what this dependency and numericality mean with respect to sacrifice, religious language, etymology, social order, propriety, duty, and education. In so doing we hope to have explained many of the more obscure portions of the text as well as to have presented the context in which several later theological discussions took place in the tradition.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)


title: Change and Continuity in the Religious Life of the Ilavas of Southern Kerala

contributor:
Younger, Paul
Religious Studies

subject:
Religious life
Southern Kerala

abstract:
Of all the Hindu communities in southern Kerala,
the Ilavas are the largest. They were, however,
traditionally considered outside the pale of "varna" and
treated as "untouchables" by the higher castes. A 'man of
vision' of this community, Srl Narayana Guru (1855-1928)
introduced religious and social reforms that brought about
an awakening among the Ilavas at the beginning of the
twentieth century. The consequent changes among the Ilavas
brought them to an escalating series of confrontations with
the upholders of the traditional caste order.
This thesis focuses on the reformation of the
Ilavas and analyses their place and position in the larger
social structure. It argues that their reformation can
only be understood essentially as a process of
"modernization". By modernization is meant an indigenous,
historical and ongoing process in which people participate
both consciously and critically. The Ilavas in their
awakening have incorporated the values of modernity into
their culture without losing the core values of the tradition. The history of the awakening of the Ilavas is,
therefore, a case study of modernization within the
framework of traditional Hindu society.
In order to make this case study a field was chosen
for research in consideration of maximum suitability. That
field is an area of southern Kerala called Murukkumpula,
not far from Trivandrum, the capital of Kerala. In view of
the stress on change and continuity, which is the theme of
the thesis, the field research has helped to establish that
the modes of change in this particular area can be seen
exhibited in the leadership of an elite; a reorientation
of values; a rationalistic and democratic approach to the
direction of change; an expression of freedom and
responsibility among the members; social mobility based on
equality and overall development and a network of
institutions that sustain and propagate the ideals of the
movement and hold the community together.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)


title: Optimal Monitoring Methods for Univariate and Multivariate EWMA Control Charts

contributor:
Viveros, Roman
Balakrishnan, Narayanaswamy
Mathematics and Statistics

subject:
Differential smoothing
ARL
Survival Gumbel copula

abstract:
Due to the rapid development of technology, quality control charts have attracted more attention from manufacturing industries in order to monitor quality characteristics of interest more effectively. Among many control charts, my research work has focused on the multivariate exponentially weighted moving average (MEWMA) and the univariate exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) control charts by using the Markov chain method.
The performance of the chart is measured by the optimal average run length (ARL). My Ph.D. thesis is composed of the following three contributions.

My first research work is about differential smoothing. The MEWMA control chart proposed
by Lowry et al. (1992) has become one of the most widely used charts to monitor
multivariate processes. Its simplicity, combined with its high sensitivity to small and
moderate process mean jumps, is at the core of its appeal. Lowry et al. (1992) advocated
equal smoothing of each quality variable unless there is an a priori reason to weigh quality
characteristics differently. However, one may have situations where differential smoothing
may be justified. For instance: (a) departures in process mean may be different across
quality variables, (b) some variables may evolve over time at a much different pace than
other variables, and (c) the level of correlation between variables could vary substantially.
For these reasons, I focus on and assess the performance of the differentially smoothed
MEWMA chart. The case of two quality variables (BEWMA) is discussed in detail. A bivariate
Markov chain method that uses conditional distributions is developed for average run length
(ARL) calculations. The proposed chart is shown to perform at least as well as Lowry et al.
(1992)'s chart, and noticeably better in most other mean jump directions. Comparisons with the
recently introduced double-smoothed BEWMA chart and the univariate charts for the
independent case show that the proposed differentially smoothed BEWMA chart has
superior performance.

My second research work is about monitoring skewed multivariate processes.
Recently, Xie et al. (2011) studied monitoring bivariate exponential quality
measurements using the standard MEWMA chart originally developed to
monitor multivariate normal quality data. The focus of my work is on situations
where, marginally, the quality measurements may follow not only exponential
distributions but also other skewed distributions such as Gamma or Weibull,
in any combination. The joint distribution is specified using the Gumbel copula
function thus allowing for varying degrees of correlation among the quality measurements. In
addition to the standard MEWMA chart, charts based on the largest or smallest
of the measurements and on the joint cumulative distribution function or the joint
survivor function, are studied in detail. The focus is on the case of two quality
measurements, i.e., on skewed bivariate processes. The proposed charts avoid
an undesirable feature encountered by Xie et al. (2011) for the standard MEWMA
chart where in some cases the off-target average run length turns out to be larger
than the on-target one. Using the optimal average run length, our extensive
numerical results show that the proposed methods provide an overall good
detection performance in most directions. Simulations were performed to
obtain the optimal ARL results but the Markov chain method using the empirical
CDF of the statistics involved verified the accuracy of the ARL results. In addition,
an examination of the effect of correlation on chart performance was undertaken
numerically. The methods are easily extendable to more than two variables.

Final study is about a new ARL criterion for univariate
processes studied in detail in this thesis. The traditional ARL is calculated
assuming a given fixed process mean jump and a given time point where
the jump occurs, usually taken to be from the very beginning in most chart
performance studies. However, Ryu et al. (2010) demonstrated that the
assumption of a fixed mean shift might lead to poor performance of control
charts when the actual size of the mean shift is significantly different and
therefore suggested a new ARL-based performance measure, called
expected weighted run length (EWRL), by assuming that the size of the
mean shift is not specified but rather it follows a probability distribution.
The EWRL becomes the expected value of the weighted ordinary ARL
with respect to this distribution. My methods generalize this criterion by
allowing the time at which the mean shift occurs to also vary according to
a probability distribution. This leads to a joint distribution for the size of the
mean shift and the time the shift takes place, then the EWRL is calculated
as the weighted expected value with respect to this joint distribution.
The benefit of the generalized EWRL is that one can assess the performance
of control charts more realistically when the process starts on-target
and then the mean shift occurs at some later random time. Moreover, I also
propose the effective EWRL, which measures the number of additional
process runs that on  average are needed to detect a jump in the mean
after it happens. I evaluate several well-known univariate control charts
based on their EWRL and effective EWRL performance. The numerical
results show that the choice of control chart depends on the additional
information on the transition point of the mean shift. The methods can
readily be extended to other control charts, including multivariate charts.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

abstract: Since the introduction of the standard multivariate exponentially weighted moving average (MEWMA) procedure (Lowry et al. 1992), equal smoothing on all quality variables has been conveniently adopted. In this thesis, a bivariate exponentially weighted moving average (BEWMA) control statistic with unequal smooth- ing parameters is introduced with the aim of improving performance over the standard BEWMA chart. Extensive numerical comparisons reveal that the proposed chart enhances the efficiency and flexibility of the control chart in many mean-shift directions.  Recently, Xie et al. (2011) proposed a chart for bivariate Exponential data when the quality measures follow Gumbel’s bivariate Exponential distribution (Gumbel 1960). However, when the process means experience a downward shift (D-D shift), the control charts are shown to break down. In other words, we encounter the strange situation where the out-of-control ARL becomes larger than the in-control ARL. To address this issue, we have proposed two methods, the MAX-MIN and CDF methods and applied them to the univariate EWMA chart. Our numerical results show that not only do our proposed methods prevent the undesirable behaviour from happening, but they also offer substantial improvement in the ARL over the approach proposed by Xie et al. (2011) in many mean shifts. Finally, in general, when it comes to designing a control chart, it is assumed that the size of the mean shift is fixed and known. However, Ryu et al. (2010) proposed a new general performance measure, EWRL, by modelling the size of the mean shift with a probability distribution function. We further generalize the measure by introducing a new random variable, T, which is the transition point of the mean shift. Based on that, we propose several ARL-based criteria to measure the chart performance and try them on several univariate control charts.


title: Satiric Tradition and Satiric Technique in Swift in Swift's Tale of a Tub

contributor:
Vichert, G.S.
English

subject:
Swift
Tale of a Tub
miniature history
Christian Church

abstract:
 The core of Swift's Tale of a Tub is an allegorical narrative that recounts in miniature the history of the Christian Church. ln the tailorworship and Aeolist sections of his account, however, Swift temporarily suspends the narrative and describes a comprehensive systems of belief founded in each case on a single, all-important but absurd principle: the tailor-worshippers venerate clothes and the Aeolists, wind. This shift in technique is an important indication of Swift's aim in the Tale. Despite
their essentially digressive nature, these two sections haves a close relation
to the narrative and are obviously intended to comment on it. The most useful approach to an understanding of this shift of technique is by reference to the genre known as the padoxical  enconium which was ideally suited for a satirical treatment of the philosophical issues that Swift was dealing with in the Tale.

 Swift's main target in the Tale is generally acknowledged to be 'modernism.' The combined evidence of the Tale, The Battle of the Books and The Mechanical Operation of the Spirit shows that Swift visualized the ancients-moderns controversy less as a contest between the merits of the learning of two different epochs far removed in time than as an eternally recurring struggle between a philosophic casr of thought (modernism) that would more accurately be called 'progressive rationalism' and the traditional Christian humanism to which Swift himself gave allegiance. Swift's main objection to modernism was that it tended to promote fashionable ideas to an importance far above their worth merely on grounds of novelty, to the detriment of what is of permanent value in human affairs. The typical modern reduction of experience to a naively simple scheme is the central is the central preoccupation of the 'Digression of Madness'.

 In order to refute not just individual modern thinkers but modernism in general, Swift turned the paradoxical econium into a brilliant burlesque device. Because it characteristically elevates to a position of importance something generally considered base or insignificant, the paradoxical enconium is a humorous, far-fetched counterpart to the kind of reductive logic that modernism attempts in all seriousness. The tailor-worship system is at once a paradoxical enconium of clothes and a modern philosophical system. At the same time, since it has no direct historical equivalent, the tailor-worship stands outside time as a permanent diagnosis of all such kinds of thinking. Both the Aoelist and tailor-worship systems are timeless paradigms of reductive thought that transcend the historical limitations of the examples they parody. For purpose of constructing such paradigms the paradoxical encomium was ideally adapted in a way that the allegorical narrative, with its point-forpoint correspondence with historical events, was not.

 Swift makes further use of the paradoxical encomium in the 'Digression on Madness', in which he humourously places the most reductive thinkers of history within a reductive framework of his own devising. At the centre of this digression, however, he presents a more engaging paradox: in the most famous passage of the Tale he contrives to prove the superiority of credulity to both reason and the abuse of reason. The terms in which he does so are more than just a practical example of the dangers of rhetoric: they are an inverted  restatement of the terms of the ancients-moderns controversy, a warning that modernism at its most extreme is truly insane, and an implicit vindiciation of the values of Christian humanism.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)


title: Irony and Isolation in the Fiction of Ernest Buckler

title: Ernest Buckler

contributor:
Ferns, J.
English

subject:
Ernest Buckler
use of irony
fiction

abstract:
 This thesis examines how Ernest Buckler's literary style, particularly in his presentation of the theme of isolation and his characterizations, is detennined by his intentional use of irony. By examining all of Buckler's work, including both unpublished and often neglected writings, this thesis offers critical analysis of the author's entire literary career. Unlike other critical discussions which have concentrated narrowly on the role of the artist figure and recognize irony only in limited areas, my criticism focusses on the pervasive ironies which effect the content of Buckler's fiction. I discuss irony as a structural device which unifies the Buckler canon and demonstrates the author's creative development. Through detailed analysis of the works, I offer internal evidence for my theory, and from The Buckler Collection I offer external evidence about Buckler's intentions and beliefs concerning irony. My thesis argues that critical evaluations of Buckler's writing must consider how his conscious use of irony determines our interpretation and understanding of his work.

 Irony as used in this study involves the recognition of incongruities, the contrast between appearance and reality. It manifests itself in Buckler's perspective of irony, his vision of the world as characterized by irreconcilable tensions and contradictions that are tolerated by mankind only through htmlan relationships. The role of irony in his fiction is to elucidate this attitude as it affects his themes, characterizations, plot structures and writing techniques. When applied to his beliefs and perceptions, the term irony no longer identifies only the literary genre or stylistic devices of fiction, but refers to the kinds of themes and subject matter explored by Buckler. Therefore, this thesis explains how Buckler emphasizes in his work the recognition of incongruities and uses irony to thematically structure his work.

 According to Buckler, one tragedy of modern society is alienation caused by the contradiction between man's idealized expectations and his disillusioning experiences. Buckler's perspective of irony concentrates on this discrepancy which isolates man from his community and forces him into absolute isolation, Buckler's tenn for bitter loneliness and irreversible alienation. This bleak process can only be prevented by each man acknowledging the presence of local ironies, accepting them as part of the universal human condition and reaching out to share that awareness with other men equally doomed and troubled by absurdities and contradictions. Together, through love and honest human relationships, they will face life's disturbing inconsistencies and cruel disappointments. As well, they will reject the despair of nihilism when they find truth and meaning in such human relationships.

 In this thesis I examine how Buckler expresses his perspective of irony in the fonn and content of his fiction, but I concentrate on his subject matter, themes and characterizations. The chapter discussions explain how Buckler's intentional use of irony affects his central theme of isolation. Chapter One discusses the short stories in The Rebellion of Young David and Other Stories (1975) as well as other pieces of short fiction, published and unpublished from The Buckler Collection. These selections illustrate how tensions in family relationships cause misunderstandings and feelings of rejection until a demonstration of family loyalty expressing love reunites family members. We see Buckler creating irony by juxtaposing opposites, contrasting different narrative voices, shifting time frames and manipulating images and symbols. All of these techniques develop over the period of Buckler's career.

 Chapter Two discusses The Mountain and The Valley (1952) in relation to the central theme of isolation, the artist as an ironic figure, the disintegration of the Canaan family and the conflict between various perceptions of reality. I focus on the power of language, the creative process and metaphor and the ultimate meaning of David's death. My criticism explores the entire scope of Buckler's handling of irony as it relates to David's character and to Buckler's own commentaries and plans.

Chapter Three examines irony as Buckler's challenge to nihilism in The Cruelest month (1963), the use of verbal irony, the highly intellectual style of writing, the confirmation of love as the only solution to the modern condition and the treatment of the ironic artist figure in the characters of Paul Creed and Morse Halliday.

 Chapter Four includes a discussion of Ox Bells and Fireflies (1968), a nostalgic, poetic memoir of the way it was. This work contrasts the ideal past with the disillusioning present to illustrate how man lives in a sterile, alienating environment. The presence of unintentional irony involving the conflicting perceptions of the reader and Buckler weaken the overall effectiveness of the work. In Nova Scotia: Window on the Sea (1973), Buckler jlLxtaposes contrasting ways of life, values and characterizations to emphasize how his Nova Scotian home embodies ironic contrasts. The isolation that Buckler describes is, for the most part, associatc<l with geography and physical solitude rather than a sense of alienation. Whirligig (1977) demonstrates how irony can evolve into satire and parody while continuing to contrast appearances with reality. Isolation occurs as a mild form of loneliness and alienation, an inescapable part of modern society made tolerable by man's sense of humour and absurd comedy.

As a modern writer of ironic literature, Buckler focusses on the complex ironies of human existence and the tragedy of alienation. His ironic perspective views man as fated in his struggle to survive in an indifferent universe where the phenomenal world thwarts his aspirations toward the ideal and his longing for perfection. But Buckler believes that human relationships give ultimate meaning to life and tritunph over the ironies and isolation suffered by mankind. Although often imperfect and subject to the perversities present in the modeni world, love remains man's only hope. While recognizing the ironies inherent in life, Buckler affirms in his fiction the significance of life itself, the human family and human love. This thesis examines the Buckler canon in the light of his philosophy and demonstrates that Buckler writes from an ironic perspective which modulates the reader's understanding of his work.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)


title: A Victorian Frame of Mind: The Thought of John Clark Murray

contributor:
Allen, A.R.
History

subject:
John Clark Murray
Scottish cultural tradition
social values
educational values

abstract: John Clark Murray (1836 - 1917) held the Chair of Mental and Moral Philosophy at Queen's College from 1862 to 1872, and at McGill University from 1872 until his retirement in 1903. The purpose of the present study is to offer a close historical examination of a thinker who has often been treated as a transitional thinker in histories of philosophical activity in nineteenth century Canada. The opening biographical chapter establishes the Scottish cultural tradition in which Murray was raised and whose social and educational values he continued to perpetuate in his own writing and teaching. The Scottish tradition clarifies the critical discussion in Chapter Two of some of the ambiguities of Murray's position with regard to the philosophical movements of the nineteenth century. In particular, the difficulties of classing Murray with either the Scottish Common Sense Realists, the Neo-Kantian or Neo-Hegelian Idealists, or the rising group of 'professional' philosophers are considered. Specific elements of the intellectual framework of John Clark Murray's thought are dealt with in Chapter Three. Such characteristic concerns as the structure of knowledge, the relation of materialism and idealism, freedom and necessity, and moral philosophy are considered in themselves and as components of the unified order of truth which Murray found best expressed in Christianity. The final chapter focuses on Murray's effort to formulate a response to the social problems emerging as a consequence of industrialism. After establishing the ideological strength of Murray's economic and political liberalism, this chapter traces the efforts of a concerned liberal to understand contemporary problems and of fer solutions to them.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Arts (MA)


title: CHARLES HARTSHORNE'S CRITIQUE OF THOMAS AQUINAS' CONCEPT OF DIVINE POWER

contributor:
Vallée, Gérard
Religious Studies

subject: Charles Hartshorne, critique, divine power, Thomas Aquinas, God, omnipotence

abstract: This thesis examines Charles Hartshorne's critique of classical theism, as it relates to the subject of divine power. My specific aim is to evaluate whether Hartshorne's critique applies to Thomas Aquinas' concept of divine power. Chapter One undertakes an exposition of Thomas' conception of the power of God and its implications for the human power of free choice. Chapter Two explores Hartshorne's critique of the classical concept of God, focusing on the negative implications he draws from the classical concept of omnipotence. In Chapter Three, I apply Hartshorne's critique of classical theism to Thomas' concept of divine power, in order to judge whether Hartshorne has an accurate understanding of the classical position and whether his critique reveals serious problems in Thomas' concept of divine power. My evaluation centres around Hartshorne's objections to Thomas' claim that God possesses purely actual power, and his insistence that God's omnipotence, as construed by Thomas, robs human beings of the power of free choice. Chapter Three also compares the similarities and differences between their approaches to the knowledge of God as determined by their basic metaphysical principles and their use of analogy.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Arts (MA)


title: Knowing the Voice: Familiar Talkers in Speech Perception

contributor:
Shore, David
Psychology

subject: Psycholinguistics Self-speech

abstract: Millions of different people talk to each other, and no two people sound exactly the same.  Yet, whomever we are listening to, we expect to easily understand what he or she has to say.  Somehow, we adjust to each new talker’s voice and hear the “same” speech sounds.  Until recently, differences between voices were viewed as a perceptual problem interfering with speech perception.  Recent developments, however, have shown that familiar voices can facilitate speech.  Speech-perception models can no longer dismiss talkers’ voices merely as carriers for speech, and models currently struggle to understand the relation between vocal identity and the content of speech.  The present thesis contributed to this discussion by examining familiar talkers, whose identities have been encoded into listeners’ memories.  Chapter 2 studied familiar faces’ and voices’ contribution to audiovisual speech processing, and found that different listeners may focus more strongly on learning either a familiar talker’s face or voice, but will recall what they have learned in response to that talker’s voice, not face.  Chapter 3 examined self-speech, and discovered that we do receive a familiar-talker speech-processing advantage from hearing our own recorded voice, but only so far as we can identify self-voice; when voices are obscured by noise, we receive an equivalent advantage for all voices of our own sex.  Chapter 4 confirmed a relation between speech familiarity and accurate talker identification.  Taken together, the data presented in this thesis support a model of speech perception in which listeners encode talkers’ identities inclusive of both idiosyncratic speech production and vocal qualities and, when processing speech, recall as many of a talker’s identifying characteristics as can be usefully applied to an incoming speech signal.  These findings contribute to our understanding of how we utilize talker identity in perceiving speech.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)


title: Transcendental Arguments and Scepticisim

contributor:
Griffin, Nicholas
Philosophy

subject: analytic philosophy, transcendental, argument, literature, scepticism, Kantian, justification

abstract: In recent decades, a debate has arisen within analytic philosophy concerning the nature, validity and possible uses of Kantian transcendental arguments. This thesis examines two of the main questions within this debate: (i) what is a transcendental argument, and (ii) could there be a successful transcendental argument. The first chapter surveys some recent attempts at definition. A general lack of consistency in the literature makes it impossible to reach any precise conclusion about what a transcendental argument is, but a two-fold working definition is proposed on the basis of two identifiable general approaches to this question. The second chapter looks at two forms of scepticism about our knowledge of the external world in order to set up in a Kantian way the two epistemological problems to which transcendental arguments have been proposed as solutions. One problem concerns how it can be known that the external world exists; the other concerns conceptual relativism and the possibility of transcendental justification of a particular conceptual scheme. The third chapter examines and expands upon Stephan Korner's forceful argument to show that transcendental arguments are impossible. This argument counts decisively against the possibility of a transcendental solution to the problem of conceptual relativism, but does not touch arguments to demonstrate that we have knowledge of the existence of the external world. The fourth chapter examines several transcendental arguments which attempt the latter demonstration, beginning with Kant's Refutation of Idealism and then turning to some recent variations on this argument.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Arts (MA)


title: Plato's Euthydemus

contributor:
Lewis, T.J.
Political Science

subject: Platonic dialogue, Euthydemus, Socrates' conversation, Dionysodorus, Clinias, constradistinction, begin

abstract: This thesis is a careful examination of one small Platonic dialogue, the Euthydemus. In broad terms, it argues that the Euthydemus is concerned with what might be described as 'word games', with teaching both the need to know how to speak well and the worth of being able to do so. In more specific terms, it argues that the Euthydemus is comprised of three distinct levels, Socrates' conversation (primarily) with the brothers Euthydemus and Dionysodorus, his conversation with Crito, and Plato's conversation with the reader; levels, it is suggested, which cannot be fully understood unless Crito's role in each of them is first recognized. The first level, Socrates' conversation (primarily) with the brothers Euthydemus and Dionysodorus, is seemingly composed of three separate discussions, between Socrates and the brothers, between Socrates and Clinias, and between Socrates and Ctesippus. The first discussion is a general demonstration of knowing how to use words (or 'word games') and, further, of knowing how to use them well. The second discussion, in contradistinction to the first, centres on a coherent application of words to a specific goal; that being, to begin to demonstrate both that knowledge is the greatest good for individuals and, as well, that philosophy is nothing more than a 'perpetual ruthless questioning' . The third discussion reveals something about Ctesippus' nature. More importantly, it illustrates how words can be used to communicate with certain individuals and not others. The second level of the Buthydemus, Socrates' conversation with Crito, might accurately be described as an application of words to a specific goal writ large. The reason is that, here, Socrates tells Crito a 'story' (this being what was described above as the first level of the E:uthydemus) in order to discourage him from giving his sons a philosophic education. The third level, Plato's conversation with the reader (or Plato as distinguished from Socrates), raises the broader issue of the relation between the philosopher and the city. More precisely, it begins to reveal the effects that different methods of speaking have on an individual, on the opinions that others form as a result of his or her choice in this regard, and thus on the need for an individual to choose wisely.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Arts (MA)


title: COMMITMENT, TRADITION AND THE CRITIQUE OF IDEOLOGY: MICHAEL POLANYI' S POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY

contributor:
Planinc, Z.
Religious Studies

subject: Polanyi's political, ideological, modernity, hierarchical relationship, intellectual, transcendent, elements, comprehensive

abstract: In the quarter century since his death, Polanyi's political thought has received little attention. The few studies that are available tend to mis-represent the character of his political thought either by developing only one of its aspects, or worse by presenting his ideas in inappropriately ideological terms. In this thesis I attempt to remedy this situation and present a more accurate account ofPolanyi's political philosophy. Through the careful analysis offundamental aspects ofhis epistemology and ontology, and through a treatment oftheir relation to his political ideas, I present a comprehensive interpretation ofPolanyi's political thought, taking into account the full complexity ofhis philosophical understanding. I present Polanyi as a keen interpreter ofmodernity, whose political thought is characterized not only by its 'conservative' elements, as is argued by all previous interpreters, but also, and more importantly by its anti-and non-ideological quality. I maintain that crucial to the interpretation of Polanyi's political thought is the recognition of the important and hierarchical relationship between man's commitment to the discovery and upholding of the truth ofa transcendent source oforder experienced in reality, and the role of traditions and standards in scientific, intellectual and political life. I maintain that the mis-representative accounts ofPolanyi's political philosophy offered by previous interpreters are due in large part to a failure to recognize the importance of this relationship.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Arts (MA)


title: Immune Predictors of Clinical Outcomes in Elderly Nursing Home Residents

contributor:
Loeb, Mark
Health Care Research Methods

subject:
Immunosenescence
Aging
Nursing home

abstract:
Elderly residents of nursing homes are at high risk of respiratory viral infection, mortality and frailty.  It is a widely held view that the dysfunctional changes to the immune system that arise from ageing, known as immunosenescence are responsible for the increased risk of infection, mortality and frailty; however only sparse data exist to substantiate this.  Furthermore, the majority of studies investigating these associations have excluded elderly nursing home residents, thus little is known about immune phenotypes in this group.
In this thesis, I first characterized immune phenotypes in elderly nursing home residents by comparing immune phenotypes in an elderly nursing home cohort to a group of younger healthy adults.  I then explored how age, sex, frailty and nutrition influence immune phenotypes in the elderly group.  I subsequently used different statistical analyses, including Cox proportional hazards modeling, hierarchical cluster analysis and multi-level modelling to identifying immune biomarkers predictive of clinical outcomes in elderly nursing home residents including respiratory viral infection, mortality and frailty.
We found that high cytomegalovirus (CMV)-reactive CD4+ T-cells were associated with an increased risk of respiratory viral infection and high T-regulatory cells (T-regs) were associated with a reduced risk of respiratory viral infection.  High CMV-reactive CD4+ T-cells were also associated with an increased risk of mortality within the subsequent 1-year in those aged 65-84 years but had no differential effect in those aged 85-104 years.  Other immune phenotypes were not predictive of mortality.  Higher naïve CD4+ T-cells and effector memory CD8+ T-cells predicted lower levels of frailty and higher central memory CD8+ T-cells predicted higher levels of frailty.
These findings may help provide more focused care through targeted prevention.  Furthermore, knowledge of these immune biomarkers provides insight into how immunosenescence may contribute to these clinical outcomes and will help guide future research into novel prevention strategies.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)


title: Myth, Mysticism and Morality in Russell Hoban's Later Fiction

contributor:
Granofsky, Ronald
English

subject: movement, anthropocentrism, mytocentrism, collective history, Christian, Islamic, spiritual refinement

abstract:
This thesis considers the movement away from anthropocentrism towards mythocentrism in Russell Hoban's later fiction. An analysis of the nature and results of the juxtapositions of myth, science, collective history and personal crisis in the following novels exemplifies this, his essentially revisionist, philosophy: Riddley Walker(1980), Pilgermann(1983) and The Medusa Freguency(1987). In turn, these novels bring Celtic/Christian, Judea-Islamic and Greco-Roman myth to bear upon various rational scientific societies and characters. In all cases transcendent moments edify the principal characters, whilst alienating them from their societies; in some instances social harmony is restored.
This multicultural comparison reveals in Hoban's method a growing concern for (collective and individual) moral and spiritual refinement. As the characters become less anthropocentric and more myth-centred, their transformations towards sexual maturity parallel similar changes in their attitude to myth. They move from destructive behaviour to creative. The observed spiritual growth, from fear and resignation, through faith and liberation, to baptised imagination, provides the structure for the analysis and interpretation of the three novels.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Arts (MA)


title: Philodemus: A Study of His Ethical Works on Frankness, on Economy, on Death

contributor:
Jones, H.
Classics

subject: Philodemus, Epicurean Philosophy, Herculaneum, century, religion, logic, ancient, doctrines

abstract:
The discovery of Philodemus' library was a considerable contribution to our knowledge of the Epicurean philosophy. It was excavated two centuries ago at Herculaneum, where the Epicureans settled their school in the first century B.C. The library contains a large number of papyri, among which are works of Philodemus; these documents on religion, logic, and morality, as expounded by the Epicureans. Until the present, such aspects of that singular philosophy were known only from a few testimonia of ancient critics, namely, Diogenes Laertius, Sextus Empiricus, and Cicero. At present, the discovery of the treatises of Philodemus allows us to comprehend thoroughly not only the Epicurean doctrines, but also their intentions and aims.
The works of Philodemus were published for the first time at the beginning of the 20th century. Since that time they have been sadly neglected by scholars, with the exception of some Ph.D. dissertations which treat of some parts of Philodemus' philosophical and poetical works. A large part of his works, however, still remains unknown to most classicists. Recently, a new interest in the Philodemian corpus has arisen among classical philologists. I became acquainted with Philodemus' philosophical treatises during the course which I took last winter with Professor H. Jones, in which we studied the De rerum Natura of Lucretius. An assignment, Philodemus as a philosopher and poet, stimulated me to engage in a study of his moral treatises, and more generally of the Epicurean philosophy. In this thesis I intend to present Philodemus' views on the role of frankness in the life of the Epicurean; his observations concerning the life of practicality, resourcefulness, and prudent household management; and his thoughts on the nature of death.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Arts (MA)


title: Northrop Frye and the Tragedy of Identity in Moby-Dick

contributor:
Donaldson, Jeffrey
English

subject: theoretical framework, demonic, titanic, Biblical typology, elements, original sin

abstract: The following discussion of Northrop Frye and Herman Melville is based on the theoretical framework outlined in Words With Power which emphasizes the "demonic" and "titanic" elements in the ascent and descent of the hero's quest. The study focusses upon Frye's archetype of the labyrinth and the Biblical typology which aids the critic in the task of literary interpretation. Frye claims that "anyone interested in both the Bible and literature will eventually find himself revolving around the Book of Job like a satellite" (Frye WP 310). Melville's MobyDick is "interested" in the Bible more than any other source; it revolves around the mysteries therein which condemn the "titanic" elements that appear to lead to the discovery of a "Knowledge" or "Wisdom" related to Original sin. Thus, Ahab is a Promethean figure whose challenge of the demonic categorization of this area of imagery in the Bible is inextricably related to Job's challenge of God and subsequent invocation of Leviathan. In an application of Frye's theory of the patterns of ascent and descent imagery outlined in Anatomy of Criticism, The Secular Scripture, and Words With Power, chapters 1 & 2 examine the purely "demonic" descent of the quest hero and its "positive analogies" in the myth of Narcissus. Chapter 3 discusses the "titanic" descent quest in relation to its "presiding deity" Prometheus (Ahab), and chapter 4 briefly addresses the images of ascent surrounding Ishmael at the end of the novel. Notably, each chapter also examines the relation of the quest to patterns of Leviathan symbolism which are also represented in the image of the whale. Finally, the Conclusion reconsiders the Biblical Leviathan and Job's vision of "primal creation" which Frye points to in his verbal universe or axis mundi imagery.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Arts (MA)


title: OBSTETRICAL BRACHIAL PLEXUS INJURY: A NATIONAL CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINE

contributor:
Brouwers, Melissa
Health Research Methodology

subject:
Birth Injuries/Surgery
Brachial Plexus/Injuries
Infant
Newborn
Brachial Plexus Neuropathies
Paralysis, Obstetric
Birth Injuries
Child
Evidence-Based Medicine
Practice Guideline as Topic
Quality Assurance, Health Care

abstract:
Purpose
The objective of this thesis is to establish an evidence-based clinical practice guideline for the primary management of obstetrical brachial plexus injury (OBPI). Four gaps are identified for management of OBPI in Canada: 1) The historic poor use of evidence, 2) Timing of referral to multidisciplinary care, 3) Indications and timing of operative nerve repair, and 4) Distribution of expertise in Canada.

Methods
The guideline is intended for all providers delivering perinatal care, and all specialists delivering care to OBPI patients. The consensus group was composed of clinicians representing each of Canada’s ten multidisciplinary centres. An original systematic review comparing the effectiveness of primary operative versus nonoperative management, and a review of Canadian OBPI epidemiology were completed. Quality indicators for referral to a multidisciplinary centre were established. Recommendations were based on best evidence, and interpretation of this evidence by clinical experts. An electronic modified Delphi approach was used for consensus, with agreement criteria defined a priori following RAND procedures.

Results
Nerve repair reduces functional impairment in OBPI versus nonoperative management of similar patients, and modern microsurgery has low incidence of major adverse events. The quality of evidence was low. Residual impairment is underestimated and uncharacterized in nonoperative literature. OBPI incidence was at least 1.24 per 1000 births in Canada, and consistent over the study period. The strongest risk factors for OBPI were comorbid humerus fracture, shoulder dystocia and comorbid clavicle fracture. Most patients were not referred to a multidisciplinary centre. The guideline group approved seven recommendations.

Discussion
Recommendations address the identified gaps in care, and guide identification, referral, treatment and outcome assessment for OBPI. The process established a new network of opinion leaders and researchers for further guideline development, and multicentre research. The next step is to facilitate the implementation of the recommendations.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Science (MSc)


title: "Successive Windows": Some Aspects of the Composition of Henry James's The Wings of the Dove

contributor:
Aziz, Maqbool
English

subject: Wings, Dove, moral influence, lietary accomplishments, subject

abstract: The composition of The Wings of the Dove has received adverse criticism virtually since its first publication in 1902. Relying upon James's, and Percy Lubbock's, contention that the· purpose of a novel's form is to treat its subject, this thesis will argue against ~he prevailing critical·views. The discassion will demonstrate that the subject of The Wings of the Dove is located in Milly Theale's moral influence upon Merton Densher and Kate Croy. The composition of the novel adequately develops and augments this subject. Moreover, this thesis will suggest that The Wings of the Dove provides as good an example of the culmination of James's literary accomplishments as any of the other later novels. His special talents are equally apparent in the techniques he employs to create a structural unity in The Wings of the Dove.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Arts (MA)


title: Stephen Crane: Impressionist

contributor:
Berland, Alwyn
English

subject: Impressionist, American literature, schools of literature, realism, naturalism

abstract:
Abstract Not Provided
Thesis
Master of Arts (MA)


title: The Regional Distribution Pattern of Economic Activity in Canada: A Linear Programming Exercise

contributor:
Kubursi, A.A.
Economics

subject: regions, economy, effieciency, equiy viewpoints, growth rates, income levels, society, imbalance, relationship, low income

abstract:
Resource allocation across regions in an economy has
been analysed by many authors, both from the efficiency and
equity viewpoints. In general, these aspects are assumed to
be conflicting - the attainment of higher growth rates and
income levels in accordance with efficient resource
allocation normally discrimminates against the relatively
less well off sections of society. The literature
concentrates largely on the allocation of resources across
sectors, irrespective of geographic considerations, so that
the decision to invest in a region seldom incorporates the
area's absorptive capacity. The regional imbalance that
results is shown just as clearly by the lack of high
technology industry in some areas as it is by the (potential)
congestion and overcrowding that characterises other regions.
This study focuses on the relationship between the regional
allocation of income generating activities and the total
income generated for the nation.
The growth potential of any area is defined by the
availability of all essential facilities - service and repair
facilities, transport and energy supplies being only a part
of the picture. Factor supplies and the supply of credit,
alongwith the high degree of interaction between regions and
sectors also complement the picture. The low income potential of the peripheral areas of any nation is the result of a lack of these ancilliary facilities. However, once these
bottlenecks are removed, the outlying areas normally depict
higher growth rates than the core regions. In this study, a linear programming model is developed 1 in king the commodity, factor and asset markets of
a nation, both across sectors and across regions. Thus, the
commodity market of any region is related to the commodity,
asset and factor markets of all regions. National absorptive
capacity is now defined in terms of the potentials of all
areas of the nation. The application of this model to Canada
results in a set of optimal regional patterns of economic
activity. Growth in any area is now encouraged only if the
regional economy is not operating close to some capacity
limitation, and if a full complement of goods and services,
factors and assets is available.
The results obtained justify these expectations
because the model depicts a pattern of resource allocation
that stresses areas where all facilities for growth are
present. Thus, further investment in the traditional center Quebec
and Ontario - is restricted, some critical thresholds
regarding absorptive capacity having been hit. However, the
regions where a full complement of services and asset
supplies is not available - the Atlantic provinces - are not the alternatives. The relative ordering favours the modern
manufacturing and service sec tors in Alberta and British
Columbia.
The model does suggest the existence of a tradeoff
between national income and regional balance, since the
imposition of regional balance constraints reduces the value
of national consumption. However, even when regional equity
constraints are imposed, the model suggests that more
national income can be generated through reallocation of
economic activity than was generated by the historical
pattern of allocation.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)


title: Antidepressant use during pregnancy: Determining the impact on the gut serotonergic system in the offspring

contributor: Medical Sciences (Division of Physiology/Pharmacology)

subject:
Serotonin Selective Reuptake Inhibitor
Fluoxetine
Developmental Programming
Antidepressant
Gut
Prenatal and neonatal exposure
Effects on the offspring
SSRI

abstract:
Approximately 10% of pregnant women take antidepressants. Prenatal exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a class of antidepressants, has been shown to alter serotonergic signaling in the brain. However, the effects of SSRIs on peripheral serotonin (5HT) synthesis and/or signaling have largely been ignored. Serotonin in the gut is critical for intestinal function and dysregulation of this pathway is associated with intestinal disease. Therefore, the goal of this study was to determine the effects of perinatal exposure to the SSRI fluoxetine (Prozac®) on intestinal health in the offspring. Dams were given vehicle or fluoxetine hydrochloride (FLX 10 mg/kg/d; N=15) for 2 weeks prior to mating until weaning. We assessed markers of serotonergic signaling, inflammation, and composition of the gut microbiota in the offspring. Male offspring of fluoxetine-treated dams had significantly elevated serum levels of 5-HT and decreased expression of the 5HT2A receptor and MAO. In female offspring there was no effect of SSRI exposure to alter any components of serotonergic signaling. Although we did not find any evidence of increased inflammation following fluoxetine exposure, there were significant alterations in the composition of the gut microbiota in the exposed offspring.
Male offspring of SSRIs-exposed mothers had changes in key components of the gut serotonergic system in association with elevated levels of serum 5-HT and alterations in the gut microbiota in adulthood. The impact of these changes on intestinal health and the reasons for the sex specific effects remain to be determined.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Science in Medical Sciences (MSMS)


title: Robust Minimum Dispersion Beamforming

contributor:
Kirubarajan, T.
Electrical and Computer Engineering

subject: Beamforming

abstract:
Beamforming is a spatial filtering technique using a sensor array to enhance the signal of interest (SOI) and suppress interferences and noise. It is widely used in radar, sonar, wireless communications, Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation, microphone array speech processing and many other areas. Most existing beamforming approaches are based on the minimum variance (MV) criterion. The MV approach is statistically optimal only when the desired signal, interferences and the noise are Gaussian-distributed. However, many real-world signals are non-Gaussian. For non-Gaussian signals, the higher-order statistics or fractional lower-order statistics contain useful information and can be utilized to improve the beamformer performance. In this thesis, a family of the minimum dispersion (MD) criterion-based robust beamforming algorithms, which minimize the Lp-norm (p>=1) of the array output subject to linear or nonlinear constraints, are proposed for non-Gaussian signals. The dispersion, which is a generalization of variance, implicitly exploits the higher-order statistics for p>2 or fractional lower-order statistics for p<2.
We utilize the MD criterion with a single linear constraint and multiple linear constraints, which gives us the minimum dispersion distortionless response (MDDR) beamformer and linearly constrained minimum dispersion (LCMD) beamformer, respectively. The MDDR and LCMD beamformers can be tailored to Gaussian, sub-Gaussian or super-Gaussian signals and noise by adjusting the value of p. Three efficient iterative algorithms, namely, the iteratively reweighted MVDR (IR-MVDR), complex-valued full Newton’s and partial Newton’s methods, are devised to solve the resulting convex optimization problems.
We extend the LCMD beamformer to the quadratically constrained minimum dispersion (QCMD) beamformer. The robustness against model uncertainty of the QCMD beamformer is significantly enhanced compared with the LCMD beamformer. A gradient projection algorithmic framework is developed to efficiently solve the resulting convex optimization problem. Furthermore, we derive a closed-form expression of the projection onto the constraint set.
Note that sub-Gaussian signals that are frequently encountered in practical applications. Therefore, a minimum infinity norm criterion is then adopted by the robust linear programming beamformer (RLPB). In this way, the sub-Gaussianity of the signals can be fully exploited. We model the uncertainty region as a rhombus in which the L1-norm of the steering vector error is bounded. As a result, the proposed RLPB beamformer can be obtained by solving a linear programming (LP) problem. We also present the theoretical explanation to the reason why the RLPB can implicitly exploit the high-order statistics from the statistical perspective.

abstract: Dissertation

abstract: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)


title: Biochemical Reference Intervals in Geriatrics: A Systematic Review and Examination of the Influence of Morbidity on Creatinine Reference Intervals

contributor:
Balion, Cynthia
Health Research Methodology

subject:
reference intervals
geriatrics
morbidity
reference values

abstract:
Reference intervals are important estimates used to determine whether an individual is healthy or unhealthy. They are the most widely used decision making tool in medicine and heavily influence doctor’s decisions regarding patient care. Despite the abundance of reference interval research in the field of clinical chemistry, age-related reference intervals have yet to be well-established for elderly populations. Many physiological and biochemical changes have been documented to occur with age however limited attempts have been made to quantify these changes. As a result, it is typical in clinical practice to assess geriatric patient data using an adult reference interval. Such practices can result in over-medicalization, unnecessary medical procedures and/or missed diagnoses. This thesis aims to address this gap in literature by summarizing what geriatric reference intervals are available and by investigating how reference intervals are affected by the presence of morbidity, a common characteristic of the elderly.
The first chapter of the thesis introduces the reader to reference intervals, summarizes the current guidelines used in their determination and provides a rationale for the use of age-related reference intervals in geriatrics. Chapter 2 presents a systematic review that summarizes all available reference intervals for populations ≥65 years of age and the methodology used in their determination. Despite extreme variability in methodology, evidence suggests that geriatric reference intervals are significantly different from those of adults for many analytes. Chapter 3 presents a study that evaluates the effect morbidity has on reference intervals. In this study data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) was used to calculate age-specific reference intervals for creatinine, a marker of kidney function known to increase with age. Findings suggest that the presence of morbidity significantly increases the upper limit for creatinine in elderly populations. Finally, the concluding chapter summarizes the overall findings of the thesis, proposes areas for future research and reinforces the importance of the above findings.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Science (MSc)

abstract: Reference intervals are estimates used to determine whether an individual is healthy or unhealthy. In particular this thesis investigates reference intervals for blood test results. Currently no age-specific reference intervals for the elderly are used clinically, instead the normalcy of a blood test result for an elderly person is based on adult reference intervals. This process may lead to over-medicalization or missed diagnoses in geriatrics. Within this thesis is a systematic review of the literature that was performed to capture any available reference intervals that have been published for populations greater than 65 years of age. It was determined that a multitude of geriatric reference intervals are available in literature but they are not used clinically and have no standardized methodology for their determination. Despite this lack of standardization, studies proved that geriatric reference intervals are significantly different from those of adult populations. Given that morbidity or the presence of disease is common in older patients it was suspected this may be a reason for the difference in reference intervals. A separate study was then performed to determine whether the presence of disease affects reference interval calculations. Results from this study showed that the presence of disease affects reference intervals in older individuals more so than younger individuals.


contributor:
Vorobej, Mark
Philosophy

subject: moral, philosophy, critical, notion, emotive, ethical, reasoning, factual, conclusions

abstract:
A Critical Examination of A.J. Ayer's Moral Philosophy
Ayer' s overall notion of ethics is that all normative ethical statements are cognitively meaningless. This thesis is an attempt to refute this claim. Ayer's notion is based, I think, on his following two convictions: ( i ) ethical statements are purely emotive, (ii) reasoning from factual premises to ethical conclusions is neither deductive nor inductive.
Ethical statements are, according to Ayer, purely emotive because they are pure expressions of the feelings and emotions of the speaker. This means that ethical statements do not even report the speaker's mental state. I have shown that there are some voluntarily uttered ethical statements which are not expressive and hence that some ethical statements are not purely emotive.
The controversy whether ethical statements can be deduced formally from factual statements is very old. I have switched the problem to a different direction by showing that the induction/deduction dichotomy is not adequate for reasoning. Other reasoning processes, like informal reasoning, allow one to deduce ethical conclusions from factual premises. It is also shown how Ayer's criterion of meaning, namely the verification principle, renders ethical statements meaningful. Finally, I have defended universalistic act-utilitarianism as a cognitive theory of ethics.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Arts (MA)


title: A Commentary on Plato's Ion

contributor:
Hitchcock, D.L.
Philosophy

subject: hermeneutic, principles, commentary, principles, comprehensive, understanding, Plato, ion, poetry, philosophy

abstract:
This study focuses on testing the five hermeneutic principles set out by Jakob
Klein and two ofmy own. The test consists ofwriting a commentary on Plato's Jon read
in accordance with those principles. In summary these principles require paying close
attention to the dramatic aspect ofthe dialogue and reading in a very detailed fashion.
The success or failure ofthe principles is to be decided on the basis ofthe quality
ofthe reading they produce. If following the principles produces a more comprehensive
and deeper understanding of the dialogue then they should be deemed successful.
The principles require that attention be given to the framing details of the
dialogue and that an attempt be made to integrate them into the overall understanding. This interpretation thus reaches a somewhat different understanding of Sokrates' purpose in talking to Ion and Plato's purpose in writing the dialogue. Instead ofan abstract battle between philosophy and poetry, we have a battle between two particular characters over a real city.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Arts (MA)


title: Intimate Partner Violence in Orthopaedic Surgery: Lessons Learned and Future Directions

contributor: Clinical Epidemiology/Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics

subject:
intimate partner violence
orthopaedic surgery
systematic review
methods paper
medical education

abstract: The overarching theme of this thesis is to discuss the research to date on intimate partner violence (IPV) in orthopaedic surgery and to begin to study selected issues that have been understudied in orthopaedic surgery and IPV.  This thesis outlines the current state of knowledge in the field of IPV and orthopaedic surgery and provides some insight into three selected “emerging issues” in the field which warrant future research including: education of orthopaedic surgeons and residents to reduce barriers and improve perceptions; IPV perpetrators; and outcomes for victims of IPV.  The findings demonstrate that a short course on IPV for orthopaedic trainees led to an improvement and retention of knowledge three months after the course.  IPV education should be integrated into training programs for orthopaedic surgeons.  Our systematic review on IPV perpetrator factors indicates that using alcohol or drugs, experiencing child abuse, witnessing interparental aggression, low socioeconomic status, and psychological conditions like depression and anxiety were commonly associated with IPV perpetration. Perpetrator treatment programs should take into consideration modifiable and preventable factors that are associated with IPV perpetration.  This thesis proposes a pilot prospective cohort study as the first step toward determining how experiences of IPV affect orthopaedic outcomes such as injury-related complications.  The proposed study will determine feasibility and assist in the development a larger-scale multinational prospective cohort study that will engage health care professionals from around the world to increase awareness of how IPV affects patients’ musculoskeletal outcomes.  In the past decade, the field of orthopaedic surgery has become more aware of the issue of IPV, but there are many questions that remain.  Future research into the above issues will be an excellent first step to fully understanding the issue of IPV in orthopaedic patients, and may lead to improved support of victims of IPV in the future.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Science (MSc)


title: At Play with the Hierophant: An Examination of Plato's Phaedrus

contributor:
Panagiotou, Spiro
Philosophy

subject: dramatics, Phaedrus, Plato, religious ceremonies, profanation, Athens, contextualization, temperance lies, influence

abstract:
This thesis is an investigation into the role of the dramatics in Plato's
Phaedrus. I claim that the dramatics are meant to point the reader to the
religious ceremonies known to us as the Mysteries of Eleusis, and further to
the profanation of those mysteries that occurred in Athens in 415 BCE. This
contextualization of the dialogue is done in order to locate Socrates' and
Phaedrus' discussion in an historical setting that was having difficulties
determining where between the public and private distinction in society the
responsibility for temperance lies. The Phaedrus can thus be read as Plato's
response to the problem in this area that the generation before his own faced.
The conclusion that Socrates draws in the Phaedrus is that some will be able
to act in a temperate and moderate fashion of their own accord, with no
influence needed from the state apparatus, and that these citizens must lead
the way on a path that all society must be convinced to follow if the city is to
be unified in its being.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Arts (MA)


title: Contextual determinants of chronic diseases: cardiovascular disease and cancer

contributor:
Anand, Sonia
Health Research Methodology

abstract:
Background: In Canada, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer are the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in adults. Research in health geography has established the importance of contextual factors (e.g., community nutrition, and physical activity environments) as significant contributors to CVD and cancer.
Objectives: The objectives of this project are to: 1) systematically review the Canadian literature on the effects of contextual exposures on chronic diseases (CVD and cancer); 2) develop a method of assessment of measuring key contextual factors; and 3) explore the variations in contextual characteristics of urban and rural areas using the pilot data collected by a Canada-wide cohort study (CVCD Alliance).
Methods: Objective (1): MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL databases, and reference list of articles were searched from inception through Jan 20, 2014. English language human studies, conducted in Canada, that relate to contextual factors/built environment and chronic diseases were eligible for inclusion. Objective (2): EPOCH-1 was modified to correspond with definition of community used in CVCD. Mean agreement was calculated to measure the reliability of the modified EPOCH-1. Objective (3): Physical activity (walkscore) and nutrition (cost of food basket) environments of urban and rural areas were compared using t-test.
Results: Objective (1): Review of the literature indicated that fewer fast food outlets, increased density of destinations and higher socio-economic status were associated with positive health outcomes. Objective (2): Mean agreement between raters of modified EPOCH-1 was excellent (close to 0). Objective (3): Analysis of pilot data showed that as compared to urban areas, there was a trend towards higher food costs and lower walkability in rural areas. However, this trend was not statistically significant (p>0.05).
Conclusion: This project will add to the current understanding of the impact of contextual characteristics on health, and promote the development of new interventions that aim to change modifiable environmental exposures.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Master of Science (MSc)


title: Reality, Truth and Perspecitve in Fiction of C.S. Lewis

contributor:
Morton, Richard E.
English

subject:
C.S. Lewis
reality
truth
imagination
God

abstract:
This dissertation is a critical examination of the fictional works of G.S. Lewis, focussing upon the concepts of reality, truth and perspective as they are expressed in the fiction. The discussion follows the narrative of each work in turn, thus orienting the reader by means of the works themselves, rather than by means of rubrics concerning their subjects or themes. The intent is to follow Lewis's precept, that the good reader should attend to any work of literature as something made as well as something said. The introduction surveys the development of Lewis's thought on the nature of reality and truth, and of the role of the imagination and the reason in apprehending these things. Evidence from Lewis's letters (including unpublished letters), essays, apologetics, addresses and autobiography is considered. A survey of the major criticism of Lewis's fiction is included in the introduction. A chapter of analytical discussion is then devoted to each of the books of the Ransom trilogy, to the Chronicles of Narnia as a series, and to Till We Rave Faces.

 Lewis came to believe in the existence of an ultimate, central Reality in the person of God, ln whom all lesser realities focus, and from whom they depend. He believed also in man's ability to perceive truth -- valid asssrtions concerning these realities -through the exercise of the reason, and adherence to the moral law. Mythopoeic and symbolic literature had, in Lewis's estimation, the unique ability to convey reality whole into the mind of the receptive reader. The concentration of this kind of literature upon unusual and unexpected subjects, he believed, could serve to correct the reader's perspective upon reality, by furnishing the imagination with those materials which the implicit materialism and naturalism of much of modern "realistic" literature might have kept from the reader's consideration. Lewis's own fantasies -- a science-fiction trilogy, seven fairy-tales, and a novel based on the old myth of Cupid and Psyche -- are unified by their preoccupation with the importance of an undistorted perspective upon reality, the possibility of perceiving truth, and of distinguishing truth from error, of the dependence of all reality upon an ultimate, central Reality, and of the possibility of knowing that Reality by entering into a personal relationship with God.

abstract: Thesis

abstract: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)