title: This is simply what I do: Peirce's real generality meets Wittgenstein's rule-following?

authors: Legg, Catherine

subjects: philosophy

abstract: Wittgenstein’s discussion of rule-following is widely regarded to have identified what Kripke called “the most radical and original sceptical problem that philosophy has seen to date”. But does it? This paper examines the problem in the light of Charles Peirce’s distinctive scientific hierarchy. Peirce identifies a phenomenological inquiry which is prior to both logic and metaphysics, whose role is to identify the most fundamental philosophical categories. His third category, particularly salient in this context, pertains to general predication.

Rule-following scepticism, the paper suggests, results from running together two questions: “How is it that I can project rules?”, and, “What is it for a given usage of a rule to be right?”. In Peircean terms the former question, concerning the irreducibility of general predication (to singular reference), must be answered in phenomenology, while the latter, concerning the difference between true and false predication, is answered in logic. A failure to appreciate this distinction, it is argued, has led philosophers to focus exclusively on Wittgenstein’s famous public account of rule-following rightness, thus overlooking a private, phenomenological dimension to Wittgenstein’s remarks on following a rule which gives the lie to Kripke’s reading of him as a sceptic.

text: This is simply what I do: Peirce's real generality meets Wittgenstein's rule-following? Wittgenstein’s discussion of rule-following is widely regarded to have identified what Kripke called “the most radical and original sceptical problem that philosophy has seen to date”. But does it? This paper examines the problem in the light of Charles Peirce’s distinctive scientific hierarchy. Peirce identifies a phenomenological inquiry which is prior to both logic and metaphysics, whose role is to identify the most fundamental philosophical categories. His third category, particularly salient in this context, pertains to general predication.

Rule-following scepticism, the paper suggests, results from running together two questions: “How is it that I can project rules?”, and, “What is it for a given usage of a rule to be right?”. In Peircean terms the former question, concerning the irreducibility of general predication (to singular reference), must be answered in phenomenology, while the latter, concerning the difference between true and false predication, is answered in logic. A failure to appreciate this distinction, it is argued, has led philosophers to focus exclusively on Wittgenstein’s famous public account of rule-following rightness, thus overlooking a private, phenomenological dimension to Wittgenstein’s remarks on following a rule which gives the lie to Kripke’s reading of him as a sceptic.

year: 2003-01

title: Talking the talk: New Zealanders remember the Vietnam War

authors: Challinor, Deborah A.

abstract: From 1964 to 1972, almost 4,000 New Zealand military personnel served in Vietnam, most in an active combat role. The war was a politically and socially divisive issue for New Zealanders in general, but it can be argued that its greatest impact has been on the veterans themselves. This thesis will establish, analyse and explain what some of these New Zealander remember about the Vietnam War, why they remember it this way, and what the factors are which may have influenced this. Oral testimony has been chosen as the main form of evidence.

The thesis is divided into a detailed discussion of the methodology used in relation to the collection and analysis of the oral testimonies, a short introduction to some of the New Zealand Vietnam veterans interviewed, ten chapters which present the evidence, and a final section which analyses the evidence and suggests conclusions. References to the Australian and American experiences during and after Vietnam are made where relevant to provide a comparative element and to establish context.

Chapter One is an introduction to the origins, components and commemoration of New Zealand’s military traditions from the Boer War to the conflicts in Malaya and Borneo during the 1950s and 1960s. Chapter Two summarises the political and diplomatic rationale for New Zealand’s involvement in Vietnam and the military contribution that New Zealand made. Chapters Three to Eight recount why New Zealanders went to Vietnam and what they found there, allied relationships, the culture of the New Zealand soldier in Vietnam, the experience of combat and associated psychological and behavioural responses, and coping and stress release mechanisms including the use of alcohol, sex and aggression. Chapter Nine relates the experiences of veterans when they returned home, and Chapter Ten is a discussion of how the Vietnam War is remembered in New Zealand today. Much of the analysis of the evidence is presented in the final section, as are some conclusions.

Although only a small percentage of the New Zealanders who served in Vietnam are represented here, some patterns relating to how and why they remember Vietnam can be established. It is suggested that several versions of New Zealand’s traditional military mythology have had a significant impact in relation to some veterans’ motivations for going to war, what they experienced during their service and, in particular, the experience of coming home. The mythologies of the American and Australian experiences of Vietnam may also be an influencing factor. This thesis is intended to offer a brief glimpse of the dynamic relationship between the above factors and the process and construction of memory.

text: Talking the talk: New Zealanders remember the Vietnam War From 1964 to 1972, almost 4,000 New Zealand military personnel served in Vietnam, most in an active combat role. The war was a politically and socially divisive issue for New Zealanders in general, but it can be argued that its greatest impact has been on the veterans themselves. This thesis will establish, analyse and explain what some of these New Zealander remember about the Vietnam War, why they remember it this way, and what the factors are which may have influenced this. Oral testimony has been chosen as the main form of evidence.

The thesis is divided into a detailed discussion of the methodology used in relation to the collection and analysis of the oral testimonies, a short introduction to some of the New Zealand Vietnam veterans interviewed, ten chapters which present the evidence, and a final section which analyses the evidence and suggests conclusions. References to the Australian and American experiences during and after Vietnam are made where relevant to provide a comparative element and to establish context.

Chapter One is an introduction to the origins, components and commemoration of New Zealand’s military traditions from the Boer War to the conflicts in Malaya and Borneo during the 1950s and 1960s. Chapter Two summarises the political and diplomatic rationale for New Zealand’s involvement in Vietnam and the military contribution that New Zealand made. Chapters Three to Eight recount why New Zealanders went to Vietnam and what they found there, allied relationships, the culture of the New Zealand soldier in Vietnam, the experience of combat and associated psychological and behavioural responses, and coping and stress release mechanisms including the use of alcohol, sex and aggression. Chapter Nine relates the experiences of veterans when they returned home, and Chapter Ten is a discussion of how the Vietnam War is remembered in New Zealand today. Much of the analysis of the evidence is presented in the final section, as are some conclusions.

Although only a small percentage of the New Zealanders who served in Vietnam are represented here, some patterns relating to how and why they remember Vietnam can be established. It is suggested that several versions of New Zealand’s traditional military mythology have had a significant impact in relation to some veterans’ motivations for going to war, what they experienced during their service and, in particular, the experience of coming home. The mythologies of the American and Australian experiences of Vietnam may also be an influencing factor. This thesis is intended to offer a brief glimpse of the dynamic relationship between the above factors and the process and construction of memory.

year: 1998

title: Analysis of errors in the writing of first year university students of Māori

authors: Earnshaw, Lorene

subjects: Te reo Māori

abstract: This paper presents a survey of the range of grammatical and lexical errors made in written Māori by University students taking an introductory course in Māori language. We begin by introducing, and discussing the motivation for, an error classification system which accommodates different classes of error. We then provide an analysis of errors in three different types of student writing: homework assignments, impromptu tests and examination transcripts. We conclude with some remarks about the patterns of error which we found.

text: Analysis of errors in the writing of first year university students of Māori This paper presents a survey of the range of grammatical and lexical errors made in written Māori by University students taking an introductory course in Māori language. We begin by introducing, and discussing the motivation for, an error classification system which accommodates different classes of error. We then provide an analysis of errors in three different types of student writing: homework assignments, impromptu tests and examination transcripts. We conclude with some remarks about the patterns of error which we found.

year: 2004-09