Discourse and Silence in Martianus Capella’s De nuptiis Philologiae et Mercurii

The present paper analyzes Martianus Capella’s De nuptiis Philologiae et Mercurii from a generic point of view, departing from Systemic Functional Linguistics, in order to establish parody as its main feature, in consistence with its generic adscription to Menippean Satire. As a result, we expect to prove that Martianus is attacking discourse and discursive knowledge, and proposing silence as an alternative category for the characterization of transcendence and truth. This perspective intends to show De nuptiis as a Menippean Satire which subverts all values exposed along the work, turn ing thus into an anti-didactic text.

Evaluating Qualitative Research

This chapter addresses a wide range of theories and practices related to the evaluation of qualitative research (EQR). First, six categories of EQR are presented: (1) a positivist category, (2) Lincoln and Guba’s alternative category, (3) a “subtle-realist” category developed by Hammersley and Atkinson, and Seale, (4) a general EQR category, (5) a category of post-criteriology, and (6) a post-validity category. Second, evaluation strategies for EQR are offered by providing a variety of actual examples. Third, the chapter discusses a path forward for EQR that includes both internal and external elements. The chapter concludes with a holistic view of EQR needed to collectively construct/confront inner and outer challenges to qualitative paradigms in the twenty-first century. Twenty-first-century criteria supported include thought-provoking ideas, innovative methodology, performative writing, and global ethics and justice mindedness.

The Use and Abuse of Jus Nexi

This paper uses Shachar’s conception of jus nexi to explore three interrelated ideas. I first contend that Shachar’s analysis of the monetary value of birthright citizenship may be applied to temporary workers, lawful permanent residents and naturalized citizens as an exposé of inherited privilege in diverse communities and as a means of identifying which forms of membership and belonging are worth owning. Second, I use the idea of jus nexi to question which additional work relationships and identity networks that might qualify as genuine connections to a given state. Finally, I question whether an operationalized version of jus nexi, that is an alternative category of citizenship, would supplant or complement existing jus soli and jus sanguinis rules. Here, I seek to apply Shachar’s theoretical contributions to current political debates and warn that a genuine connection test is increasingly being misused to support a nativist agenda.