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
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 Criticism of Heaven and Earth. Two issues have returned with vigour to public debate: the role of religion in secular society and the relation between theology and political theory. This project provides a much needed reference work that sets the current debates within a long and rich tradition. Apart from enabling us to avoid the mistakes of the past, it also brings to the fore forgotten solutions to such issues. Further, given the central role of many of these critics in a range of discipl ....The Criticism of Heaven and Earth. Two issues have returned with vigour to public debate: the role of religion in secular society and the relation between theology and political theory. This project provides a much needed reference work that sets the current debates within a long and rich tradition. Apart from enabling us to avoid the mistakes of the past, it also brings to the fore forgotten solutions to such issues. Further, given the central role of many of these critics in a range of disciplines, the series will have repercussions across a wide range of discussions within Australia and abroad. Finally, is a further step in international leadership emanating from Australia.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
Idealism and the objectivity of norms and values: a neglected path from the eighteenth century. The problem of understanding how norms and values can be objective within the modern, secular scientific worldview became a focus of European philosophical concern in the early modern period - it is now of vital practical concern for the community as a whole. From the perspective of modern culture, both high and low, individuals are often portrayed as facing a choice between individual gratification a ....Idealism and the objectivity of norms and values: a neglected path from the eighteenth century. The problem of understanding how norms and values can be objective within the modern, secular scientific worldview became a focus of European philosophical concern in the early modern period - it is now of vital practical concern for the community as a whole. From the perspective of modern culture, both high and low, individuals are often portrayed as facing a choice between individual gratification and a self-less commitment to values or norms which cannot be rationally justified. By showing this to be a false dichotomy, this project promises a way beyond this impasse.Read moreRead less
The God of Hegel's Post-Kantian Idealism. Recently both philosophical and popular debates over the role of religion in modern society have, like earlier debates from the 18th century, been marked by a commitment to philosophical realism. In the largely neglected "idealist" tradition of the nineteenth century, such disputes were cast in a different light. By developing an idealist conception of God, using contemporary philosophical resources, this project aims to offer a way of thinking about the ....The God of Hegel's Post-Kantian Idealism. Recently both philosophical and popular debates over the role of religion in modern society have, like earlier debates from the 18th century, been marked by a commitment to philosophical realism. In the largely neglected "idealist" tradition of the nineteenth century, such disputes were cast in a different light. By developing an idealist conception of God, using contemporary philosophical resources, this project aims to offer a way of thinking about the role of religion in human life that avoids the primacy of the question of belief in God as well as antagonistic conceptions of religious differences.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
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
Completing the Gallipoli story: Researching Turkish Archives for a More Comprehensive History. Both Australia and Turkey see the Gallipoli Campaign as a defining event. Australian perceptions of the Campaign are based on C.E.W. Bean's Official History and a number of popular publications. Yet, despite the vast collection of material held in Turkish archives, existing accounts give scant attention to Turkish operations leaving the story incomplete. This project will rectify that imbalance by loca ....Completing the Gallipoli story: Researching Turkish Archives for a More Comprehensive History. Both Australia and Turkey see the Gallipoli Campaign as a defining event. Australian perceptions of the Campaign are based on C.E.W. Bean's Official History and a number of popular publications. Yet, despite the vast collection of material held in Turkish archives, existing accounts give scant attention to Turkish operations leaving the story incomplete. This project will rectify that imbalance by locating and translating key documents-battlefield reports and signals, War Ministry communications, records of prisoner interrogations, aircraft logs and diaries. The result will be a comprehensive history that will contribute to the deepening relationship between Australia and Turkey as we approach the centenary of the Campaign. Read moreRead less
Decorum as an Idea in Architecture, from the Renaissance to the Present. Examines the theory and practice of decorum in architecture from the Renaissance to the present day. The principal aims are to set decorum within the history of ideas and to establish the relevance of the concept to modernism and contemporary debates on the nature of architecture. The project will be empirically innovative and significant to both historians and theorists. The expected outcome is a book-length study.