Descartes' Ontology of Everyday Life. Australia has a strong international reputation in philosophy and the history of philosophy. This project will contribute to our standing in the international community of scholars and to the teaching of Australian students in the historical origins of contemporary ideas and problems. It will furthermore contribute to the growing recognition of early modern interdisciplinary studies within Australia by drawing on ideas from the history of science, early mode ....Descartes' Ontology of Everyday Life. Australia has a strong international reputation in philosophy and the history of philosophy. This project will contribute to our standing in the international community of scholars and to the teaching of Australian students in the historical origins of contemporary ideas and problems. It will furthermore contribute to the growing recognition of early modern interdisciplinary studies within Australia by drawing on ideas from the history of science, early modern philosophy, medieval philosophy and the history of early modern thought and ideas.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
An intellectual history of theoretical innovation in the Anglo-American Humanities. This project makes an important contribution to the debate over humanities education. Post-structuralist theory in the humanities is attacked by some as modish and lacking in values, and defended by others as supporting critical reflection and progressive political and ethical values. The project explores the degree to which the 'moment of theory' represents the return of earlier European university metaphysics t ....An intellectual history of theoretical innovation in the Anglo-American Humanities. This project makes an important contribution to the debate over humanities education. Post-structuralist theory in the humanities is attacked by some as modish and lacking in values, and defended by others as supporting critical reflection and progressive political and ethical values. The project explores the degree to which the 'moment of theory' represents the return of earlier European university metaphysics to the centre of the humanities curriculum. The project will study these shifts in theory in the humanities and show these to be highly relevant to contemporary debates about teaching and learning.Read moreRead less
Hume's Sceptical Materialism. The early modern period is the decisive period in shaping the modern outlook, but its major figures are not well understood in Australia. This project will enable a broader and more unified understanding of the intellectual movements of the period (showing Hume to be not an intellectual outsider but someone offering a sceptical version of the radical Enlightenment) - and so will enable a better understanding of our intellectual heritage.
The philosophical foundations of women’s rights: a new history, 1600-1750. This project aims to show that the history of women’s rights is much longer and richer than previously thought. There is a common perception that the notion of women’s rights first emerged in the late eighteenth century. This project expects to generate a new understanding of feminist history by investigating texts calling for the recognition of women’s dignity, worth, nobility, and excellence (cognate concepts to rights) ....The philosophical foundations of women’s rights: a new history, 1600-1750. This project aims to show that the history of women’s rights is much longer and richer than previously thought. There is a common perception that the notion of women’s rights first emerged in the late eighteenth century. This project expects to generate a new understanding of feminist history by investigating texts calling for the recognition of women’s dignity, worth, nobility, and excellence (cognate concepts to rights) in England and Europe from 1600 to 1750, against the backdrop of the rise of Cartesianism. The anticipated outcome is greater awareness of an enduring feminist tradition within the history of philosophy. The expected social benefits include a shift in public thinking about feminist history and women in philosophy.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120102308
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
The physical and metaphysical foundations of structural realism. The aim of this project is to develop a general conception of nature that accounts for the central features of contemporary fundamental physics. It will provide a comprehensive conceptual framework for understanding the fundamental physical features of the world.
The place of history in science: reassessing the Darwinian revolution. This project aims to examine how historical representations of Darwin and his revolutionary theory have influenced the shape and direction of modern evolutionary science itself. The project expects to show how certain historical assumptions about Darwin and natural selection have constrained evolutionary thinking in particular ways. Conversely, it will demonstrate how contemporary developments in evolutionary science have cha ....The place of history in science: reassessing the Darwinian revolution. This project aims to examine how historical representations of Darwin and his revolutionary theory have influenced the shape and direction of modern evolutionary science itself. The project expects to show how certain historical assumptions about Darwin and natural selection have constrained evolutionary thinking in particular ways. Conversely, it will demonstrate how contemporary developments in evolutionary science have changed historians’ understanding of the history of evolution. The expected outcomes include a new understanding of the mutual interactions between history and science, capacity building in the field of the history of science, and interdisciplinary collaborations across the biological sciences and humanities.Read moreRead less
Science and Religion in Early Modern Europe. This project seeks to elucidate the nature of early modern science, early modern religion, and their relationship. A major focus will be the shift from medieval conceptions of science (scientia) and religion (religio) as inner virtues, to the modern understanding of science and religion as bodies of knowledge and sets of practices. This transformation was fundamental to the emergence of modern science and made possible a new kind of relationship be ....Science and Religion in Early Modern Europe. This project seeks to elucidate the nature of early modern science, early modern religion, and their relationship. A major focus will be the shift from medieval conceptions of science (scientia) and religion (religio) as inner virtues, to the modern understanding of science and religion as bodies of knowledge and sets of practices. This transformation was fundamental to the emergence of modern science and made possible a new kind of relationship between science and religion?one unique to the West. The project will enhance our understanding of the rise of science and identify distinctive features of modern Western culture.Read moreRead less
Trust and the Changing Moral Economy of Australian Medicine. There is strong evidence that patients sue their doctors because of inadequate doctor/patient communication, and this has been directly linked to low levels of trust. But unless doctors have become worse communicators over time, poor communication fails to explain recent rises in litigation rates. This historical study will examine the multiple factors affecting changing doctor/patient relationships. It will offer new insights into the ....Trust and the Changing Moral Economy of Australian Medicine. There is strong evidence that patients sue their doctors because of inadequate doctor/patient communication, and this has been directly linked to low levels of trust. But unless doctors have become worse communicators over time, poor communication fails to explain recent rises in litigation rates. This historical study will examine the multiple factors affecting changing doctor/patient relationships. It will offer new insights into the circumstances that fostered trust in medicine in the past, which will assist in understanding the current dynamics of changes in trust. This will help policy makers seeking to promote and maintain good health by strengthening the values of trust and reciprocity within Australia's healthcare system.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140101770
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$327,841.00
Summary
Secularism and Philosophy: The Challenge of Spinozism. With the resurgence of religious conflict throughout the world, the question of secularism has acquired renewed importance. Nowhere has the plausibility of a secular worldview been more rigorously debated than within the history of philosophy, and no philosopher has aroused more controversy on this subject than Benedict de Spinoza (1632-1677). This project will result in the first history of Spinozism's pivotal role in the history of secular ....Secularism and Philosophy: The Challenge of Spinozism. With the resurgence of religious conflict throughout the world, the question of secularism has acquired renewed importance. Nowhere has the plausibility of a secular worldview been more rigorously debated than within the history of philosophy, and no philosopher has aroused more controversy on this subject than Benedict de Spinoza (1632-1677). This project will result in the first history of Spinozism's pivotal role in the history of secularism, focusing on three distinct episodes of philosophical conflict generated by Spinoza's thought from the late eighteenth century to the present. The study will make clear that secularism is not simply a social and political phenomenon, but a philosophical conundrum, thus far irresolvable.Read moreRead less