title: Reclaiming mystery: A Māori philosophy of Being, in light of Novalis' ontology

authors: Mika, Carl Te Hira

subjects: Germanistik

abstract: In both the German Romantic and the Māori traditions, Sein/Being may be described as both finite and endless, and is not a separate phenomenon from things in the world but instead one that gives rise to them, providing them with Geheimnis/mystery. Forgetting about Being is an issue for the Māori self now as much as for the West, however, and it is moreover implicit in various modes of colonisation that things in the world should be approached as if they are geheimnislos/lacking mystery. To acknowledge Being in all its mystery is to bring to the fore, once again, the notion that the activity of Being is not separate from the consciousness of the self, or from other things in the world.
The frühromantische/early German Romantic poet and philosopher, Friedrich von Hardenberg (Novalis), had written in the late 18th century on the threat that Geheimnislosigkeit/the lack of mystery posed for the integrity of things in the world. His works are central to this thesis: I approach them with an ontological focus and use them as Stoßsätze/sentences that challenge and push, to examine how Māori, individually and collectively, are encouraged to forget Being and mystery in their everyday interactions with the philosophies of Western institutions. I then engage with the dominant usages of the terms ‘whakapapa’, ‘ako’, ‘whenua’, and ‘mātauranga’, to show that they are characterised by an overriding lack of mystery. Finally I use some of Novalis’ fragments to romanticise/revitalise those terms and the things to which they refer, in conjunction with some other Māori terms, thereby reclaiming aspects of their mystery in modern philosophical discourses. I also offer some romanticised early German Romantic terms from their positioning alongside Māori ones.
This thesis is innovative methodically and substantively, highlighting two main themes: the collaborative approach of referring to a seemingly disparate philosophical source to explain colonising influences on Māori metaphysics, ontology and epistemology, and the possibility for some substantive critique and resolution to those influences. The form of Symphilosophie/[unified philosophy] that is referred to here is both collaborative and productive. Novalis’ theories and fragments assist method and substance. My thesis brings to the fore the value of his sources when they are brought into dialogue with Māori philosophy to illuminate the issue of Geheimnis to things in the world.

text: Reclaiming mystery: A Māori philosophy of Being, in light of Novalis' ontology In both the German Romantic and the Māori traditions, Sein/Being may be described as both finite and endless, and is not a separate phenomenon from things in the world but instead one that gives rise to them, providing them with Geheimnis/mystery. Forgetting about Being is an issue for the Māori self now as much as for the West, however, and it is moreover implicit in various modes of colonisation that things in the world should be approached as if they are geheimnislos/lacking mystery. To acknowledge Being in all its mystery is to bring to the fore, once again, the notion that the activity of Being is not separate from the consciousness of the self, or from other things in the world.
The frühromantische/early German Romantic poet and philosopher, Friedrich von Hardenberg (Novalis), had written in the late 18th century on the threat that Geheimnislosigkeit/the lack of mystery posed for the integrity of things in the world. His works are central to this thesis: I approach them with an ontological focus and use them as Stoßsätze/sentences that challenge and push, to examine how Māori, individually and collectively, are encouraged to forget Being and mystery in their everyday interactions with the philosophies of Western institutions. I then engage with the dominant usages of the terms ‘whakapapa’, ‘ako’, ‘whenua’, and ‘mātauranga’, to show that they are characterised by an overriding lack of mystery. Finally I use some of Novalis’ fragments to romanticise/revitalise those terms and the things to which they refer, in conjunction with some other Māori terms, thereby reclaiming aspects of their mystery in modern philosophical discourses. I also offer some romanticised early German Romantic terms from their positioning alongside Māori ones.
This thesis is innovative methodically and substantively, highlighting two main themes: the collaborative approach of referring to a seemingly disparate philosophical source to explain colonising influences on Māori metaphysics, ontology and epistemology, and the possibility for some substantive critique and resolution to those influences. The form of Symphilosophie/[unified philosophy] that is referred to here is both collaborative and productive. Novalis’ theories and fragments assist method and substance. My thesis brings to the fore the value of his sources when they are brought into dialogue with Māori philosophy to illuminate the issue of Geheimnis to things in the world.

year: 2013

title: Dreaming Ourselves and Aspirations into Places of Higher Education

authors: Nikora, Linda Waimarie

subjects: Maori

abstract: Dreams and aspirations are at the core of what higher education is about.  Students and scholars alike, the world over, are engaged in the realization of dreams that bring forth new opportunities, new ways of seeing and being and of changing the world. Many Maori students dream of making a difference and see the pursuit of higher education as a way to bring their dreams into reality. Often their dreams reflect family and community aspirations bringing with it a significant burden of responsibility and obligation.  And for Maori academics and researchers like me, my dreams are not too different to those of my own students except that where students pursue a pathway towards becoming relevant, academics are challenged to remain so. In this chapter, I will share some of my/our hopes and experiences and how Maori went about dreaming ourselves into the staff make up, curriculum and research activities in the School of Psychology at the University of Waikato.

text: Dreaming Ourselves and Aspirations into Places of Higher Education Dreams and aspirations are at the core of what higher education is about.  Students and scholars alike, the world over, are engaged in the realization of dreams that bring forth new opportunities, new ways of seeing and being and of changing the world. Many Maori students dream of making a difference and see the pursuit of higher education as a way to bring their dreams into reality. Often their dreams reflect family and community aspirations bringing with it a significant burden of responsibility and obligation.  And for Maori academics and researchers like me, my dreams are not too different to those of my own students except that where students pursue a pathway towards becoming relevant, academics are challenged to remain so. In this chapter, I will share some of my/our hopes and experiences and how Maori went about dreaming ourselves into the staff make up, curriculum and research activities in the School of Psychology at the University of Waikato.

year: 2013

title: Drug Rehabilitation and Practice Dilemmas in the Maldives

authors: Ageel, Ihsana

subjects: substance abuse

abstract: Abstract

Substance misuse is a global phenomenon. However, little is known about substance misuse issues in Islamic nations or about the provision of preventative and rehabilitative services in such nations. This thesis explores the legal context of such services in the Maldives and pays particular attention to tensions between the formal policies of the National Narcotics Control Bureau and clinical practice. Findings are drawn from a review of government and service policy documents, five semi-structured individual interviews with clinical practitioners and senior administrative staff from rehabilitative services, and a three day focus group workshop with clinical staff. Findings show the lack of awareness of the legal and policy contexts for service provision and the ways in which existing policy frameworks often detract from the forging of therapeutic alliances. The primary concern raised by the analysis is the lack of involvement of clinical staff in policy formation and revision. This contributes to series of tensions and contradictions between official aims for services and the actual provision of these services. Further a range of ethical issues arose as a result of inadequate professional monitoring, training, and peer review. Recommendations are made regarding how these issues should be addressed in order to enhance the Maldivian response to increasing substance misuse.

text: Drug Rehabilitation and Practice Dilemmas in the Maldives Abstract

Substance misuse is a global phenomenon. However, little is known about substance misuse issues in Islamic nations or about the provision of preventative and rehabilitative services in such nations. This thesis explores the legal context of such services in the Maldives and pays particular attention to tensions between the formal policies of the National Narcotics Control Bureau and clinical practice. Findings are drawn from a review of government and service policy documents, five semi-structured individual interviews with clinical practitioners and senior administrative staff from rehabilitative services, and a three day focus group workshop with clinical staff. Findings show the lack of awareness of the legal and policy contexts for service provision and the ways in which existing policy frameworks often detract from the forging of therapeutic alliances. The primary concern raised by the analysis is the lack of involvement of clinical staff in policy formation and revision. This contributes to series of tensions and contradictions between official aims for services and the actual provision of these services. Further a range of ethical issues arose as a result of inadequate professional monitoring, training, and peer review. Recommendations are made regarding how these issues should be addressed in order to enhance the Maldivian response to increasing substance misuse.

year: 2006