A psychobiography of Friedrich Nietzsche
- Authors: Booysen, Duane Danny-Coe
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Nietzsche, Friedrich Wilhelm, 1844-1900 , Philosophers -- Germany -- Biography
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9943 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1013191
- Description: The primary aim of this psychobiography was to examine Friedrich Nietzsche’s life by utilizing Carl Rogers’ theory of the fully functioning person. Friedrich Nietzsche (1844 - 1900) has become an iconic figure in German philosophy and literature. Nietzsche’s criticism of western morality and culture led him to believe that humankind was not living to its highest potential and consequently Nietzsche sought after a life of self-becoming. Nietzsche’s philosophy has influenced various people such as Viktor Frankl, DH Lawrence, Michel Foucault and NP van Wyk Louw. Nietzsche was chosen as the research subject because of personal interest, his prominence as a philosopher, and because of his ambition to live a meaningful life. Psychobiographical research with the use of psychological theory allows for the exploration and description of the life of an individual. This significant area of research involving the application of psychological theory has in previous decades, however, been under-utilized, particularly in South Africa. But more recently, has it been receiving increasing support by researchers both internationally and in South Africa. Data collected on Friedrich Nietzsche’s life were drawn from several primary and secondary sources. A data collection and analysis grid was developed in order to collect data systematically, and to analyse the data according to the qualities of Carl Rogers’ theory. The study adds to the body of psychobiographical research. It also provides an empirical exploration of Carl Rogers’ theory of the fully functioning person. As the scope of the study was that of a master’s dissertation, future research, utilising semi-structured interviews with knowledgeable relatives, academics, psychologists, biographers, philosophers and historians on Nietzsche’s life, could extend this line of research. In conclusion, the current psychobiography suggests that Nietzsche lived a life filled with several personal crises. Despite these challenges, Nietzsche directed himself towards living as a fully functioning person. Nietzsche’s impetus towards self-becoming is also evident within his philosophical writings. Nietzsche was an extraordinary individual whose life, as described in the current psychobiography, corresponds closely to Rogers’ (1961) theory of a fully functioning person.
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- Date Issued: 2012
Educators perceptions of implementing guidelines on HIV/AIDS interventions in the Department of Educations Port Elizabeth District
- Authors: Heynes, Arnelle
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Educators -- South Africa , Port Elizabeth (South Africa) -- Education , Communicable diseases
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9895 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1009319 , Educators -- South Africa , Port Elizabeth (South Africa) -- Education , Communicable diseases
- Description: The development and implementation of policy guidelines remains a contentious issue. Over the past few years, difficulty still exists in implementing the Department of Education (DoE) 1999, National Education Policy Act, 1996 (No. 27 of 1996): National Policy on HIV/AIDS for learners and educators in public schools, and students and educators in further education and training institutions [here after referred to as DoE HIV/AIDS policy (1999)], while at the same time trying to transform the entire education system. This research explored the perceptions of educators in the Port Elizabeth District regarding the implementation of DoE HIV/AIDS (1999) policy guidelines. A secondary objective was to provide a reflection of how the implementation of guidelines on HIV/AIDS interventions within the schools of the Port Elizabeth District either conformed to or deviated from the guidelines outlined in the DoE HIV/AIDS policy (1999). The study was executed within the paradigm of qualitative research and employed an exploratory, descriptive and contextual design. The researcher conducted a pilot study to enhance the trustworthiness of the study. Purposive sampling was employed to recruit research participants, consisting of 12 educators from 10 schools in the Port Elizabeth District where HIV/AIDS interventions were being implemented. Data was gathered through semi-structured interviewing and analysed using Tesch’s (1990) in De Vos, Strydom, Fouché & Delport (2005:340-341) framework for analysis of qualitative data. Guba’s model (in Krefting, 1991) was used to ensure the trustworthiness of the study. Three themes emerged from the results of the in-depth semi-structured interviews: (1) Educators’ views on the DoE HIV/AIDS policy (1999) guidelines and its implementation (2) Gaps or shortcomings in implementation of the DoE HIV/AIDS policy (1999) and (3) Educator suggestions’ to inform implementation of the DoE HIV/AIDS policy (1999) in schools. The results from the study indicate that there is inconsistency in the policy implementation approach employed by DoE district level representatives and there is a need for knowledge and capacity development at district and school level. The value of the study is outlined as well as recommendations.
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- Date Issued: 2012
Statistical models for pricing weather derivatives for Port Elizabeth
- Authors: Nasila, Mark Wopicho
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Weather derivatives -- Prices -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10567 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1018 , Weather derivatives -- Prices -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Description: Weather has a significant impact on business activities of many kinds. The list of economic activities subjected to the risk of the weather include: the energy producers and consumers, the industry of leisure, the insurance industry, the food industry and the agricultural industries but the primary industry, namely the energy industry, has given rise to the demand for weather derivatives and has caused the weather risk management industry to evolve actively. A derivative is a contract or security, whose payoffs depend upon the price of an underlying asset price, and is used to control the risks of naturally-arising exposures to such an asset price. Therefore weather derivatives are financial contracts with payouts that depend on weather in some form. It is a contract that provides a payoff in response to an index level based on weather phenomena (West, 2002).The underlying variable can be for example humidity, rain, snowfall, temperature, or even sunshine. The main players who take part in the weather derivatives markets industry can be grouped in to five main categories, namely: 1) End users who are also referred to as hedgers 2) Speculators 3) Market makers 4) Brokers 5) Insurance and re-insurance companies. Since the late 90’s when the first weather derivatives transactions were recorded, the underlying market has witnessed the development of a new derivative market in the United States, which is gradually expanding across Europe. However, the newly developed market for weather derivatives is not liquid in Africa and specifically South Africa mainly due to the following factors: 1) Many companies and business organisations have not yet established a hedging policy or even figured out how their businesses or industries are exposed to weather risks. 2 2) “Since many companies and industries depend on insurance companies to cover their risks, it is possible that the solutions suggested by these companies or industries looking for protection from weather risks differ according to the cover provided by these insurance organisations “(Micali, 2008). The main aim of this study is to review available statistical models for pricing derivatives, with temperature as the underlying which could enable industries, businesses and other organisations in South Africa to protect themselves against losses due to fluctuations in the weather and therefore hedge their risks.
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- Date Issued: 2009