The impact of cultural contact between China and the Ancient Mediterranean World. The project which is part of a large international project aims to investigate the evidence for cultural contact between Rome and China and draws on material which has not been properly studied. Some of this material is of great artistic value (esp. Manichaean manuscripts) and has already attracted the attention of national media (newspapers, radio and TV). The project will help strengthen research ties between th ....The impact of cultural contact between China and the Ancient Mediterranean World. The project which is part of a large international project aims to investigate the evidence for cultural contact between Rome and China and draws on material which has not been properly studied. Some of this material is of great artistic value (esp. Manichaean manuscripts) and has already attracted the attention of national media (newspapers, radio and TV). The project will help strengthen research ties between the Social Science Academy of China and the Australian Academy of the Humanities. It will also heighten academic interest among ethnic groups: Chinese, Assyrian, Turkish and Iranian in cross-cultural contacts through exhibitions. Read moreRead less
China and the ancient Mediterranean world. The project which is part of a large international project aims to investigate the evidence for cultural contact between Rome and China and draws on material which has not been properly studied. Some of this material is of great artistic value (esp. Manichaean illuminated manuscripts) and has already attracted the attention of national media (newspapers, radio and TV). The project will also help strengthen research ties between the Social Science Academ ....China and the ancient Mediterranean world. The project which is part of a large international project aims to investigate the evidence for cultural contact between Rome and China and draws on material which has not been properly studied. Some of this material is of great artistic value (esp. Manichaean illuminated manuscripts) and has already attracted the attention of national media (newspapers, radio and TV). The project will also help strengthen research ties between the Social Science Academy of China and the Australian Academy of the Humanities. It will also heighten academic interest among ethnic groups: Chinese, Assyrian, Turkish and Iranian in cross-cultural contacts.Read moreRead less
Mission and Inculturation: the Manichaean and Nestorian experience in China - a textual, iconographical and epigraphical investigation. The project aims to investigate the introduction of two 'Western' religions, Manichaeism and Nestorian Christianity, into China through textual and archaeological evidence. The project will explore important multi-cultural aspects such as theological inculturation and artistic synthesis. The iconographical material from South China is both unique and of great ar ....Mission and Inculturation: the Manichaean and Nestorian experience in China - a textual, iconographical and epigraphical investigation. The project aims to investigate the introduction of two 'Western' religions, Manichaeism and Nestorian Christianity, into China through textual and archaeological evidence. The project will explore important multi-cultural aspects such as theological inculturation and artistic synthesis. The iconographical material from South China is both unique and of great artistic value and has already attracted the attention of national media (newspapers, radio and TV).Read moreRead less
Manichaean and Medieval Christian (Nestorian and Catholic) remains in Quanzhou (S. China) - an epigraphical, iconographical and historical investigation. This is a UNESCO-sponsored project, conducting research into Manichaean and Christian missionary activities around the port city of Quanzhou (Zaitun) in the 12th and 13th centuries. The research is being conducted in conjunction with the Quanzhou Museum of Maritime Contacts, and the results will be published for the Museum in a catalogue of Sy ....Manichaean and Medieval Christian (Nestorian and Catholic) remains in Quanzhou (S. China) - an epigraphical, iconographical and historical investigation. This is a UNESCO-sponsored project, conducting research into Manichaean and Christian missionary activities around the port city of Quanzhou (Zaitun) in the 12th and 13th centuries. The research is being conducted in conjunction with the Quanzhou Museum of Maritime Contacts, and the results will be published for the Museum in a catalogue of Syro-Turkish inscriptions and sepulchral monuments. The catalogue will be accompanied by the first monograph in English on this topic, as well as by interim reports and articles.Read moreRead less
The rise of empiricism and the attempt to produce a unified understanding of the world, 1680-1750. Empiricism is often regarded as the characterising feature of modern scientific method, and, in those approaches to psychology and the social and economic sciences that seek to model themselves on successful scientific practice in the physical and life sciences, it often acts as a model of good practice. The project examines the original form of empiricism and shows how it was able to directly enga ....The rise of empiricism and the attempt to produce a unified understanding of the world, 1680-1750. Empiricism is often regarded as the characterising feature of modern scientific method, and, in those approaches to psychology and the social and economic sciences that seek to model themselves on successful scientific practice in the physical and life sciences, it often acts as a model of good practice. The project examines the original form of empiricism and shows how it was able to directly engage questions of value in a novel and revealing way, and how its connection with 'hard' sciences was not merely to provide a methodological gloss on these, but went to the core of what scientific explanation consisted in.Read moreRead less
Isaac Newton's Temple of Solomon and his analysis of sacred architecture: An interpretation and discussion of Babson Manuscript 0434. Babson Manuscript is an important Newtonian manuscript that contains significant cross disciplinary ideas. It requires a multi-disciplinary understanding and skills for its detailed evaluation. Interpretation and analysis of this significant Newtonian manuscript will advance Newtonian scholarship and will be a valuable resource for researchers of architectural his ....Isaac Newton's Temple of Solomon and his analysis of sacred architecture: An interpretation and discussion of Babson Manuscript 0434. Babson Manuscript is an important Newtonian manuscript that contains significant cross disciplinary ideas. It requires a multi-disciplinary understanding and skills for its detailed evaluation. Interpretation and analysis of this significant Newtonian manuscript will advance Newtonian scholarship and will be a valuable resource for researchers of architectural history. This project has both academic and public outcomes. Recently there has been an increased interest in what is commonly perceived as 'ancient wisdom.' Solomon's Temple is one of the most revered ancient symbols. This project will make the history and ideas of this symbol more accessible to the publicRead moreRead less
John Locke, botany and natural kinds. This project will enhance the status of research into early modern science and philosophy in Australia. It is a project of major significance in Locke studies and in the history of botany and it will impinge on a number of current philosophical debates to which Australians are already making a major contribution: the nature of biological species; natural kinds; and scientific method. Those who work on early modern thought in Australia will also benefit from ....John Locke, botany and natural kinds. This project will enhance the status of research into early modern science and philosophy in Australia. It is a project of major significance in Locke studies and in the history of botany and it will impinge on a number of current philosophical debates to which Australians are already making a major contribution: the nature of biological species; natural kinds; and scientific method. Those who work on early modern thought in Australia will also benefit from the close relationship that will be established between the University of Sydney and Oxford University. The publications issuing from the project will be of international significance.Read moreRead less
The Logical Theories of Robert Kilwardby. The project is to produce a monograph on the logical theories of Robert Kilwardby (d. 1279) as they are expounded in his commentary on Aristotle's Prior Analytics, analyzing them from the perspective of modern logic. Kilwardby's commentary - which has not been critically edited, translated, or extensively studied - is remarkable for its fidelity to Aristotle's text, and its innovations in logical theory. This forms part of a larger project jointly with D ....The Logical Theories of Robert Kilwardby. The project is to produce a monograph on the logical theories of Robert Kilwardby (d. 1279) as they are expounded in his commentary on Aristotle's Prior Analytics, analyzing them from the perspective of modern logic. Kilwardby's commentary - which has not been critically edited, translated, or extensively studied - is remarkable for its fidelity to Aristotle's text, and its innovations in logical theory. This forms part of a larger project jointly with Dr Henrik Lagerlund (Uppsala University), to do a critical edition, historical introduction, and English translation of Kilwardby's commentary, together with the present logical analysis.Read moreRead less
Personal Identity, Consciousness and Agency. If I lose my memory, am I the same person I used to be? If much of my body or brain is replaced, do I remain the same person? What if my beliefs and attitudes are altered: does this affect who I am? These are questions of personal identity, and they have enormous bearing on questions of public ethics, especially in the light of biomedical changes. Our inter-disciplinary solutions will add both nuance and insight to the difficult decisions the communit ....Personal Identity, Consciousness and Agency. If I lose my memory, am I the same person I used to be? If much of my body or brain is replaced, do I remain the same person? What if my beliefs and attitudes are altered: does this affect who I am? These are questions of personal identity, and they have enormous bearing on questions of public ethics, especially in the light of biomedical changes. Our inter-disciplinary solutions will add both nuance and insight to the difficult decisions the community will face in this area. The project brings to Australia two leading young researchers from the United States, thus substantially enhancing Australia's skill base and international profile.Read moreRead less
Idealism, Pragmatism, and the Historical Norms of Rationality. This project engages critically with the remarkable "normative pragmatics" of Robert Brandom, essentially the first analytic philosopher in a century to defend Hegel's "logic" from a modern logical perspective. It develops Brandom's suggested "inferentialist" interpretation of Hegel, but shows how a presupposition distorts both Brandom's reading of Hegel and his substantive account of the norms of reason. A corrective is developed on ....Idealism, Pragmatism, and the Historical Norms of Rationality. This project engages critically with the remarkable "normative pragmatics" of Robert Brandom, essentially the first analytic philosopher in a century to defend Hegel's "logic" from a modern logical perspective. It develops Brandom's suggested "inferentialist" interpretation of Hegel, but shows how a presupposition distorts both Brandom's reading of Hegel and his substantive account of the norms of reason. A corrective is developed on the basis of the later work of Brandom's mentor, Wilfrid Sellars. The corrected account shows how the norms of thought need not be eternal to be rational, but rather, are rational because of the way they are historical.Read moreRead less