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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
Science and the Shaping of Modernity, 1690-1755. It is important that we understand the values underlying our culture, and one form of such understanding is historical. The idea that science provides the standards for all forms of cognitive enquiry is an intrinsic part of modern culture, and the notions of impartiality and objectivity that it is taken to express are closely tied in with estimations of the value of our culture. The history of how this conception emerged in the early-modern period ....Science and the Shaping of Modernity, 1690-1755. It is important that we understand the values underlying our culture, and one form of such understanding is historical. The idea that science provides the standards for all forms of cognitive enquiry is an intrinsic part of modern culture, and the notions of impartiality and objectivity that it is taken to express are closely tied in with estimations of the value of our culture. The history of how this conception emerged in the early-modern period shows that there was nothing self-evident in the assimilation of cognitive values to scientific ones, however, or in the extrapolation of these to general cultural and political values. Read moreRead less
The persona of the philosopher in early modern Europe. The project aims to provide a new interpretation of the history of early modern European philosophy, organised around the key concept of the persona of the philosopher. By focusing on the shaping and reshaping of the philosophical persona - understood as a self cultivated for the purposes of conducting philosophical life and learning - the project will offer novel and fundamental insights into conflicts over the character of philosophy, its ....The persona of the philosopher in early modern Europe. The project aims to provide a new interpretation of the history of early modern European philosophy, organised around the key concept of the persona of the philosopher. By focusing on the shaping and reshaping of the philosophical persona - understood as a self cultivated for the purposes of conducting philosophical life and learning - the project will offer novel and fundamental insights into conflicts over the character of philosophy, its disciplinary borders, its relation to the new scientific enterprises of the era, and its relation to civil and religious life.Read moreRead less
The Role of Naturalism in Ontology and Scientific Methodology. Naturalism is the philosophical doctrine perhaps best described as a respect for the methods of the natural sciences. Although most contemporary philosophers would describe themselves as naturalists, exactly how this important doctrine is spelled out is a matter of much controversy. What is more, many substantial issues in both philosophy of science and in metaphysics depend crucially on how we understand naturalism. This project ....The Role of Naturalism in Ontology and Scientific Methodology. Naturalism is the philosophical doctrine perhaps best described as a respect for the methods of the natural sciences. Although most contemporary philosophers would describe themselves as naturalists, exactly how this important doctrine is spelled out is a matter of much controversy. What is more, many substantial issues in both philosophy of science and in metaphysics depend crucially on how we understand naturalism. This project will investigate the various conceptions of naturalism, looking at both their motivations and their implications for philosophy and scientific and mathematical methodology.Read moreRead less
Organisms and Us: How Living Things Help Us To Understand Our World. How do researchers learn from and 'think with' non-human organisms? This project seeks to develop a comprehensive historical and philosophical exploration of the changing roles and understandings of research with organisms in 20th and early 21st century science. Advances in the content and technologies of the biological and biomedical sciences have resulted in new understandings of what we can know and learn from organisms, par ....Organisms and Us: How Living Things Help Us To Understand Our World. How do researchers learn from and 'think with' non-human organisms? This project seeks to develop a comprehensive historical and philosophical exploration of the changing roles and understandings of research with organisms in 20th and early 21st century science. Advances in the content and technologies of the biological and biomedical sciences have resulted in new understandings of what we can know and learn from organisms, particularly with regard to human functioning, health, and well-being, yet we have no integrated scholarship examining these developments across a range of fields. This project seeks to produce useful scholarship relevant for humanities scholars, scientists, clinicians and policy-makers.Read moreRead less
Modelling Nervous Systems, 1880-1930: Debates over Choice of Materials and Techniques in the Correlation of Form and Function. This project will examine key scientific research programs in the history of the neurosciences in the transitional period 1880-1930 in order to explore the models, methodologies, and material techniques that were the foundation for the most influential theories. Several major figures will serve as anchors for the study, providing insight into the contentious debates as ....Modelling Nervous Systems, 1880-1930: Debates over Choice of Materials and Techniques in the Correlation of Form and Function. This project will examine key scientific research programs in the history of the neurosciences in the transitional period 1880-1930 in order to explore the models, methodologies, and material techniques that were the foundation for the most influential theories. Several major figures will serve as anchors for the study, providing insight into the contentious debates as well as the often unstated basic agreements that occurred across a range of disciplinary, social, and national boundaries to examine the roots of what neuroscience is today.Read moreRead less
Modelling Nervous Systems, 1880-1930: Debates over Choice of Materials and Techniques in the Correlation of Form and Function. This project will examine key scientific research programs in the history of the neurosciences in the transitional period 1880-1930, in order to explore the models, methodologies, and material techniques that were the foundation for the most influential theories. Several major figures will serve as anchors for the study, providing insight into the contentious debates as ....Modelling Nervous Systems, 1880-1930: Debates over Choice of Materials and Techniques in the Correlation of Form and Function. This project will examine key scientific research programs in the history of the neurosciences in the transitional period 1880-1930, in order to explore the models, methodologies, and material techniques that were the foundation for the most influential theories. Several major figures will serve as anchors for the study, providing insight into the contentious debates as well as the often unstated basic agreements that occurred across a range of disciplinary, social, and national boundaries, in order to get to the core of what neuroscience is today.Read moreRead less
Philosophy, the Religious Life, and the Making of Modern Science. This project will enhance our understanding of unique features of Western society-in particular the success and prestige of the sciences and the waning influence of religion and philosophy. This will in turn provide fresh insights into science-religion controversies within the West and will shed light on the distinctive nature of the secular ethos of the West in comparison with cultures (such as some Islamic societies) in which r ....Philosophy, the Religious Life, and the Making of Modern Science. This project will enhance our understanding of unique features of Western society-in particular the success and prestige of the sciences and the waning influence of religion and philosophy. This will in turn provide fresh insights into science-religion controversies within the West and will shed light on the distinctive nature of the secular ethos of the West in comparison with cultures (such as some Islamic societies) in which religious considerations play a dominant role in public life and international affairs. Aside from its intrinsic merits, this project will also further promote Australia's growing reputation as a centre for excellence in the field of early modern intellectual history.Read moreRead less
Making plants better, making Australia better? A history of genetic modification science, policy, and community attitudes in Australia. This project will document and analyse the history of the development of genetic modification (GM) science and policy, and the associated community attitudes and activism efforts in Australia over the last 40 years, with a focus on the development of GM for food and agricultural purposes. In addition to producing a rich historical narrative of critical scientifi ....Making plants better, making Australia better? A history of genetic modification science, policy, and community attitudes in Australia. This project will document and analyse the history of the development of genetic modification (GM) science and policy, and the associated community attitudes and activism efforts in Australia over the last 40 years, with a focus on the development of GM for food and agricultural purposes. In addition to producing a rich historical narrative of critical scientific and policy developments associated with GM in Australia. This project will explore how Australians respond to new scientific ideas and technologies, and use this evidence as the basis for a case study of prospects for future community involvement in the development of science policy particularly in association with emerging technologies.Read moreRead less
The origins of scientific experimental practices: from the anatomical theatre to the conversations of the Royal Society. This research will offer new insight into the emergence of scientific empiricism, and will thus provide an important contribution towards informed public discussion concerning science education, the relations between the sciences and between science and general culture. This discussion is incumbent on us in our quest for a knowledge-based economy and a proper place in an incr ....The origins of scientific experimental practices: from the anatomical theatre to the conversations of the Royal Society. This research will offer new insight into the emergence of scientific empiricism, and will thus provide an important contribution towards informed public discussion concerning science education, the relations between the sciences and between science and general culture. This discussion is incumbent on us in our quest for a knowledge-based economy and a proper place in an increasingly competitive world of science-led industry `and commerce. Australia enjoys a prime international position in history and philosophy of science scholarship, and in the field of seventeenth century science in particular. This project will maintain and enhance this position.Read moreRead less