A Camusian Ethic for Reconciliation: Forgiveness and Grief in Australia
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A Camusian Ethic for Reconciliation: Forgiveness and Grief in Australia, New Zealand and Rwanda Elese Bree Dowden Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy & Politics (Honours) (University of Auckland), Master of Arts in Philosophy (University of Auckland) A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at The University of Queensland in 2018 School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry Abstract Across the discipline of Albert Camus studies, there are few methods of inquiry dedicated to deriving an ethics from his writing. While most scholars focus on his fictional work, and some focus on the ethics contained within The Rebel, I choose in this thesis to focus on The Myth of Sisyphus. I develop a Camusian ethic for ethical restoration, opening a critical space of enquiry in which to consider mass atrocity and historical injustice. This work is grounded in feminist ethics and settler colonial studies alongside continental and political philosophy, and the research focuses particularly on the three contemporary contexts of Australia, New Zealand and Rwanda. I employ Iris Marion Young's work on justice and oppression to guide my theory, moving then to a consideration of colonialism by thinkers like Patrick Wolfe and Lorenzo Veracini. I also draw upon Maurice Merleau-Ponty and Jean-Paul Sartre to develop my own conception of the ethical systems in which intersubjectivity operates after ethical breakdown, relying further on Annette Baier's work on trust as mutual vulnerability.1 I approach the struggle towards reconciliation with a Sisyphean attitude, drawing parallels between the rebuilding of ethics and the impossibility of perfect justice with the story of Camus's Greek hero, who strives to push a boulder up a hill despite the futility of the task. The thread of impossibility is also contained in Jacques Derrida's work, who guides my notion of forgiveness, alongside Janna Thompson and her commentary on the moral force of the impossible.2 In reconciliation, grief, forgiveness, and absurdity, we find a common desire for unity, which is met only by the utter impossibility of its achievement. In developing a Camusian ethic I focus on this shared paradox, also drawing upon the work of Jean Améry, Søren Kierkegaard and Vladimir Jankélévitch to demonstrate the kinds of actions one might take in either leaping or meeting the challenge of the absurd. With this framework in mind I consider the context of Australia after the historical injustices that remain as a result of colonial invasion and review the government's attempts at redress and reconciliation in light of the harms inflicted against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Next, I move to a consideration of the New Zealand context, where colonial invasion has also led to structural violence and historical injustices against Māori. This discussion considers both the merits of some of the initiatives towards ethical restoration, and some of the pitfalls of the coloniality that remains inherent in the New Zealand ethical system. I lastly discuss the ways in which reconciliation has occurred after the Rwandan genocide, and highlight the challenges involved in coming to terms with the enormous devastation and trauma caused by the genocide. 1 Baier A. (1986) Trust and Antitrust. Ethics 96: 231-260. 2 Thompson J. (2010) Is Apology a Sorry Affair? Derrida and the Moral Force of the Impossible. The Philosophical Forum 41: 259-274. 1 Declaration by author This thesis is composed of my original work, and contains no material previously published or written by another person except where due reference has been made in the text. I have clearly stated the contribution by others to jointly-authored works that I have included in my thesis. I have clearly stated the contribution of others to my thesis as a whole, including statistical assistance, survey design, data analysis, significant technical procedures, professional editorial advice, financial support and any other original research work used or reported in my thesis. The content of my thesis is the result of work I have carried out since the commencement of my higher degree by research candidature and does not include a substantial part of work that has been submitted to qualify for the award of any other degree or diploma in any university or other tertiary institution. I have clearly stated which parts of my thesis, if any, have been submitted to qualify for another award. I acknowledge that an electronic copy of my thesis must be lodged with the University Library and, subject to the policy and procedures of The University of Queensland, the thesis be made available for research and study in accordance with the Copyright Act 1968 unless a period of embargo has been approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. I acknowledge that copyright of all material contained in my thesis resides with the copyright holder(s) of that material. Where appropriate I have obtained copyright permission from the copyright holder to reproduce material in this thesis and have sought permission from co-authors for any jointly authored works included in the thesis. 2 Publications included in this thesis No publications included. Submitted manuscripts included in this thesis No manuscripts submitted for publication. Other publications during candidature Dowden, E. (2018) Othered Body, Obscene Self(ie): A Sartrean Reading of Kim Kardashian-West. Hecate 43.2, 117-130. Contributions by others to the thesis Associate Professor Marguerite La Caze – Supervisor. Statement of parts of the thesis submitted to qualify for the award of another degree No works submitted towards another degree have been included in this thesis. Research Involving Human or Animal Subjects No animal or human subjects were involved in this research. 3 Acknowledgements I would like to acknowledge the Turrbal and Jagera people who are the Traditional Custodians of the land the University of Queensland is situated upon in Meanjin and acknowledge that sovereignty has never been ceded. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should also be aware that the names of the deceased may be mentioned in this work. Firstly, I want to thank my incredible supervisor Marguerite La Caze, for guiding me along this transformative journey with enormous grace, generosity, and care, and for being an utterly exceptional role model as a woman in academia. I would also like to thank the incredible folks in the School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry at the University of Queensland, particularly Dr Gilbert Burgh, Laura Roberts, Sameema Zahra, Renee England, Kate Diserens, and Michael Vincent. Without your friendship, mentorship (or tolerance), I would not have been able to write this thesis. I am grateful for the ways in which we have helped each other grow as academics. Thank you to my Brisbane family, particularly Darcy Burgin, Adalia Draghici, Cara Wilson, Alex Falk, Talia Sellars, Richard O’Rorke, and Rachel Titley. Your endless kindness and support pulled me through. A very special thanks to Hau’Oli the potato king, Mulder and Scully, for helping me to find comfort and joy even in the darkest places. I want to thank my mother and father, for teaching me diplomacy, hard work, and quiet, abundant love. I want to thank my stepmother, for teaching me tenacity, my brother for teaching me strength, and Felicity Grace, for teaching me about sisterhood. I would lastly like to thank Scott Harrison, for standing gently by my side even when I am wrong. 4 Financial support This research was supported by an Australian Research Council Scholarship as a part of Discovery Project DP150102420 led by Associate Professor Dr Marguerite La Caze. This research was also supplemented by the following travel funding awards: The Australasian Society for Continental Philosophy John Dalton Travel Bursary, The University of Queensland Graduate School Candidate Development Award, and the University of Queensland School of Historical & Philosophical Inquiry Travel Funding. Keywords reconciliation, philosophy, albert camus, forgiveness, trust, ethics, feminist, absurdism, settler colonialism. 5 Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classifications (ANZSRC) ANZSRC code: 220306, Feminist Theory, 30% ANZSRC code: 220305, Ethical Theory, 70% Fields of Research (FoR) Classification FoR code: 2203, Philosophy, 100% 6 Contents Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................... 9 Thesis Outline .............................................................................................................................................. 17 Chapter One: Nonideal theory, decoloniality and intersubjective trust ........................................................... 23 1.1 Justice, oppression and feminist ethics .................................................................................................. 23 1.2 Settler Colonialism and Otherness ........................................................................................................ 29 1.3 Shame in the Face of the Other ............................................................................................................. 37 1.4 Ethical systems and intersubjectivity .................................................................................................... 40 1.5 Trust, self-trust and pre-reflective trust ................................................................................................. 44 1.6 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................