Durant ces dernières décennies, la communauté informatique a montré un intérêt grandissant pour les modèles de calcul non-standard, inspirés par des phénomènes physiques, biologiques ou chimiques. Les propriétés exactes de ces modèles ont parfois été l'objet de controverses: que calculent-ils? Et à quelle vitesse? Les enjeux de ces questions sont renforcés par la possibilité que certains de ces modèles pourraient transgresser les limites acceptées du calcul, en violant soit la thèse de Church-Turing soit la thèse de Church-Turing étendue. La possibilité de réaliser physiquement ces modèles a notamment été au coeur des débats. Ainsi, des considérations empiriques semblent introduites dans les fondements même de la calculabilité et de la complexité computationnelle, deux théories qui auraient été précédemment considérées comme des parties purement a priori de la logique et de l'informatique. Par conséquent, ce travail est consacré à la question suivante : les limites du calcul reposent-elles sur des fondements empiriques? Et si oui, quels sont-ils? Pour ce faire, nous examinons tout d'abord la signification précise des limites du calcul, et articulons une conception épistémique du calcul, permettant la comparaison des modèles les plus variés. Nous répondrons à la première question par l'affirmative, grâce à un examen détaillé des débats entourant la faisabilité des modèles non-standard. Enfin, nous montrerons les incertitudes entourant la deuxième question dans l'état actuel de la recherche, en montrant les difficultés de la traduction des concepts computationnels en limites physiques. / Recent years have seen a surge in the interest for non-standard computational models, inspired by physical, biological or chemical phenomena. The exact properties of some of these models have been a topic of somewhat heated discussion: what do they compute? And how fast do they compute? The stakes of these questions were heightened by the claim that these models would violate the accepted limits of computation, by violating the Church-Turing Thesis or the Extended Church-Turing Thesis. To answer these questions, the physical realizability of some of those models - or lack thereof - has often been put at the center of the argument. It thus seems that empirical considerations have been introduced into the very foundations of computability and computational complexity theory, both subjects that would have been previously considered purely a priori parts of logic and computer science. Consequently, this dissertation is dedicated to the following question: do computability and computational complexity theory rest on empirical foundations? If yes, what are these foundations? We will first examine the precise meaning of those limits of computation, and articulate a philosophical conception of computation able to make sense of this variety of models. We then answer the first question by the affirmative, through a careful examination of current debates around non-standard models. We show the various difficulties surrounding the second question, and study how they stem from the complex translation of computational concepts into physical limitations.

[pt] Esta dissertação busca analisar a proposta filosófica de Larry Laudan para a superação dos impasses epistemológicos gerados no debate entre a concepção fundacionista de ciência dos positivistas lógicos e a crítica relativista que foi promovida pelos epistemólogos da virada histórica. Aqui serão discutidas as principais questões levantadas neste confronto no tocante à metodologia da ciência. Para tal, nos deteremos sobre a gênese e sobre colapso do naturalismo lingüístico-descritivo do Círculo de Viena, mostrando o enfraquecimento de suas teses centrais ora pela análise de suas contradições internas, ora pela abordagem das críticas que lhe foram dirigidas por outras escolas de pensamento, em especial, a crítica histórica. Por fim, nos deteremos sobre o modelo metametodológico de Laudan e sua perspectiva naturalista de metodologia científica baseada em regras normativas. / [en] This essay seeks to analyze Larry Laudan`s philosophical proposal to overcome the epistemological predicaments raised in the discussion between positivists and historical turn`s relativists. Here, we will discuss the main questions raised in this confrontation about the scientific methodology. In such case, we will detain over the origin and breakdown of the linguistic-descriptive naturalism created by logical positivism. We will present the feebleness of the positivist`s central thesis, unveiling the internal contradictions of the proposal and the critiques from others schools of thought, in special, the criticism from historical turn`s point of view. At last, we will focus Laudan`s metamethodological model of science`s philosophy and its naturalist perspective based in normative rules.

Economics plays a significant role in decision-making in contemporary western societies, but its role is increasingly questioned. A recurring topic among the challenges raised by critics is that economics as a discipline lacks sufficient pluralism. That is, it fails to enable, encourage, and respect the use of different ontologies, methodologies, theories, and/or schools of thought to study economic reality. Has this been a productive critique? Does talk about pluralism help identify genuine problems in the discipline? Pluralism in economics could draw support from the current consensus in philosophy that pluralism in science is a good thing. I argue, however, that the claim that economic research is insufficiently pluralist is unlikely to convince economists who believe economics is already pluralist enough and that it does not offer unambiguous recommendations for change. This is because there are too many legitimate ways to interpret how pluralism maps to practice. There are numerous variables that pluralist ideals might focus on-the things that they seek multiple rather than one of-and different interpretations of how many of those variables economics has in practice. Yet, as I go on to argue, this does not mean that talk of pluralism is entirely beside the point, since the reasons pluralists offer for their ideals do help to identify genuine problems in economics. The social epistemic strategies that arguments for pluralism recommend point us to three concrete issues in the way economic research is organised: gender imbalances, a steep internal hierarchy, and a dismissive attitude to outsiders. I show that economic research could be more progressive, representative of the interests of those in society, accepted, and legitimate and less likely to fall into bias if the discipline alleviated its gender imbalances, if it were less hierarchical, and if it had a healthier relationship with outsiders. In chapter 1, I outline the debate about pluralism in economics and explain how my thesis utilises a novel approach to social epistemology to offer a way out of the impasse in which that the debate presently resides. In chapter 2, I explain the different philosophical arguments for pluralism in science and categorise them using the variables they focus on and the reasons they give for pluralism. In chapter 3, I argue that interpreting pluralism as a particular arrangement of variables for economics to attain does not lead to unambiguous recommendations for change because it leaves too much open. Yet, I go on to argue, in chapter 4, that drawing on the reasons for pluralism can provide a set of heuristics for piecemeal evaluations of the social epistemic practices in economics. In chapters 5, 6, and 7, I apply these heuristics to economics. I provide evidence that [a] women are outnumbered in economics and face an adverse environment in the discipline, that [b] economics is steeply hierarchical, and that [c] economists form an in-group that assumes superiority and frequently dismisses outside voices. I argue that these three features of economic research block avenues for productive forms of feedback (mechanisms that help to challenge, justify, and refine scientific knowledge), block the interests of certain perspectives being heard, and block public scrutiny of the decisions made by economists.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-27T17:27:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 JAIRO DE SOUSA MELO.pdf: 52195 bytes, checksum: fa611b6f5aac9f7b6b06a3f55339ee20 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-09-23 / Basically, this work is about the origins of the Theory of Relativity. However, most importantly, it intends to interpret how and in which ways the Michelson´s experiment may have contributed or not to ideas that led Einstein in developing his seminal theory. Most specifically, this work leans over a text of 1949, by philosopher Gaston Bachelard in which he, in according with common sense of his age, declare that the experiment made by Michelson in 1881 is the starting point of the development of Theory of Relativity. At last, this paper made a comparative analysis of Einstein s own statements and a demonstration that, although the experiment had been crucial to resolve the ether problem, it, that is, its result, doesn t bear any significant value in the theories developed by the physicist, and, beyond that, contrary to what was postulated, the theory explains the failure of the experiment, its null result; and this result didn t lead, in its age, to any postulation about the subjacent principle to Theory of Relativity / Basicamente este trabalho versa sobre as origens da Teoria da relatividade. Mas, sobretudo, busca interpretar como e de que forma o experimento de Michelson pode ter contribuído ou não para as idéias que conduziram Einstein no desenvolvimento de sua teoria seminal. Mais especificamente, o trabalho debruça-se sobre um texto de 1949, do filósofo Gaston Bachelard no qual o mesmo, em concordância com o senso comum de sua época, afirma ter sido o experimento realizado por Michelson em 1881 o ponto de partida para o desenvolvimento da Relatividade. Finaliza este trabalho, uma analise comparativa das declarações do próprio Einstein e uma demonstração de que, embora o experimento tenha sido crucial para o fechamento do problema do éter, ele, ou melhor, seu resultado não tem peso significativo nas teorias desenvolvidas pelo físico, e, muito mais, ao contrário do que se postulava, a teoria explica o insucesso do experimento, seu resultado nulo; e o resultado nulo do experimento não remeteu, em sua época, a nenhuma postulação sobre os princípios subjacentes à Teoria da Relatividade

Den projektbaserade arbetsformen blir allt mer vanligt förekommande inom alla nivåer i samhället. Projekt kräver planering, bland annat tid- och resursplanering. Tid är en av de viktigaste beståndsdelarna i projekt, och tidsaspekten är av avgörande betydelse om projektet kommer att lyckas i sin helhet. Resurser är en annan viktig beståndsdel som också har en avgörande betydelse om projekt kommer att nå målen. Samtidigt som projektet som arbetssätt tilltar, tenderar projekten att växa i storlek. Statistiken gör gällande att stora projekt ofta misslyckas ett problem som inte har minskat, trots mångåriga erfarenheter från projekt. Även om utbudet av metoder, tekniker och programverktyg är tämligen omfattande idag, kvarstår problemet med misslyckade projekt, trots mer erfarenhet och fler verktyg. Det råder ett generellt problem med att projekttiden minskar, i kombination av att komplexiteten ökar i alla former av projekt. Omständigheter som medfört större krav på projektplanering, särskilt tid- och resursplanering. Det kan antas att det finns ett behov av datoriserade projektplaneringsprogram, och antagandet att det är svårt att tid- och resursplanera utan stöd av olika metoder, tekniker och datorverktyg.Studiens syfte är att undersöka hur projektplanering i allmänhet och tid- och resursplanering i synnerhet bedrivs idag, och hur de olika metoderna, teknikerna och programverktygen kan förbättra, och underlätta projektplaneringen.

A análise do distanciamento entre as orientações teóricas das instâncias decisórias (ID) sobre a inclusão da abordagem dos aspectos da História e Filosofia da Ciência no Ensino de Ciências Naturais (HFCECN) constitui o nosso objetivo de investigação, cujo problema foi identificar as ID e saber em que elas se distanciavam entre si em relação à HFCECN. Para tal, delimitamos o estudo de caso único qualitativo, tendo o Brasil como unidade caso sob o aspecto da HFCECN, cujas múltiplas unidades de análise foram as ID. Para coleta e análise de dados utilizamos a entrevista semiestruturada com especialistas, a análise de conteúdo e a análise documental. Da investigação resultou a identificação de quatro ID em relação à HFCECN, das quais três foram analisadas e identificamos que elas apresentam desconexão/discrepância metodológica e epistemológica de perspectivas diferentes, portanto, a convergência entre as ID está longe de ocorrer na realidade material do sistema educacional, o que pode inviabilizar a efetiva HFCECN. Os regulamentos oficiais apontam para a contextualização externa (sociocultural) e as pesquisas parecem assumir a HFC como conteúdo no ensino de ciências naturais, porém, dos 72 trabalhos de pesquisa analisados, 34 apontam para contextualização interna; 16, criticidade; 9, motivação; 8, contextualização externa. Na formação docente, a maioria das disciplinas aponta para contextualização interna (7); as percepções dos docentes formadores apontam para instrumentação didática e criticidade e uma abordagem da HFC enquanto perspectiva de reflexão crítica. As três ID constituem seus próprios cenários ontológico, político e decisório, formam uma constelação bicondicional com rupturas de sequência comunicativa e tomada de decisões. A realidade escolar não tem sido considerada enquanto instância decisória e nem consultada o suficiente para tomada de decisões e prescrições das três ID. Finalmente, apresentamos algumas reflexões e perspectivas propositivas sobre o tema. / Our research goal is to analyze the detachment of the theoretical orientations from the decision-making institutions (DMIs) with regards to the inclusion of aspects of the approach of History and Philosophy of Science in the Teaching of Natural Sciences (HPSTNS), in order to identify the decision-making institutions and learn where they distanced themselves from each other regarding HPSTNS. Thus, a single qualitative case was delimited, using Brazil as a study unit under the HPSTNS aspect and the DMIs as multiple analyses units. To collect and examine the data, semi-structured interviews with experts, content and documentation analysis were used. The outcome of the research was the identification of four decision makers related to HPSTNS, of which three were analyzed. We concluded that they exhibit methodological and epistemological disconnection/discrepancy with different perspectives, therefore, the convergence between the DMIs is far from occurring in the educational systems actual material, rendering unfeasible the effective HPSTNS. The official rules point to an external contextualization (social-cultural) and the research appears to assume the HPS as the natural science teaching content. However from the 72 research papers analyzed: 34 showed internal contextualization; 16, criticisms; 9, motivations; and 8, external contextualization. In teacher education, most of the courses point to the internal context (7), the teachers perceptions indicate didactic instrumentation, and criticism is an HPS approach as a perspective of critical reflection. The three DMIs constitute their own ontological, political and decision-making scenario, they form a bi-conditional constellation with communicative sequence and decision making disruptions. The school reality has not been considered as a Decision-Making Institution nor sufficiently consulted for the recommendations of decisions and directives of those three (DMIs). Finally, we offer some reflections and proactive perspectives on the subject.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:31:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-08-25Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:01:21Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 rodrigues_gtm_dr_mar.pdf: 1990070 bytes, checksum: 2b9a38eef2efa194166a8fb33cae6826 (MD5) / Nos últimos anos tem sido notado no campo do direito um significativo aumento do interesse pelo referencial teórico e metodológico fornecido pela antropologia. No entanto, e apesar de algumas relevantes contribuições direcionadas a uma aproximação entre a antropologia e o direito, o fato é que a antropologia jurídica, ao menos no cenário acadêmico nacional, ainda ressente de uma maior reflexão sobre o seu espaço epistemológico e possibilidades práticas. Nesse âmbito de análise, e partindo do pressuposto de que o conhecimento reivindicado de forma autônoma pelo direito e pela antropologia representam, sobretudo, domínios de saber que se expressam como discursos históricos, o presente estudo apresenta duas finalidades: primeiramente, identificar os fundamentos e as possibilidades de análise do discurso jurídico-antropológico através de uma leitura dos seus principais referenciais epistemológicos; e, num segundo momento, desenvolver uma etnografia do discurso jurídico no campo cultural da execução penal sob a proposta de uma antropologia do conhecimento / In recent years it has been noticed in the field of law a significant increase in interest in the theoretical and methodological framework provided by anthropology. However, despite some outstanding contributions aimed at a rapprochement between anthropology and law, the fact is that anthropology of law, at least in the national academic scene, still lacks a major reflection on your epistemological space and practical possibilities. Within this framework of analysis, and assuming that the knowledge claimed autonomously by law and anthropology especially represent areas of knowledge that are expressed as historical discourses, this study has two purposes: first, identify the reasons and possibilities of discourse analysis, legal and anthropological frames; and, second, to develop an ethnography of legal discourse in the cultural field of criminal enforcement under the proposal for an anthropology of knowledge

Esta dissertação aborda a controvérsia entre o naturalista inglês John Turberville Needham (1713-1781) e o naturalista italiano Lazzaro Spallanzani (1729-1799) sobre o tema da \"geração\" dos seres vivos. Inscrita no âmbito da História da Ciência e inserida na linha de pesquisa História Filosofia e Cultura no Ensino de Ciências, tem os objetivos de contextualizar a controvérsia Needham-Spallanzani a partir de estudos realizados por contemporâneos que desenvolveram trabalhos temática e metodologicamente semelhantes e de apresentar uma discussão sobre a ciência e o papel das controvérsias no desenvolvimento do pensamento científico. Além disso, discute a sua aplicação no ensino de Biologia, com vistas a uma abordagem explícita de questões relacionadas à Natureza da Ciência (NdC). Os resultados experimentais apresentados por Needham à Royal Society em 1748 continham evidências favoráveis à geração espontânea e foram apoiados por Pierre-Louis Moreau de Maupertuis (1698-1759) e Georges-Louis Leclerc de Buffon (1707-1788). Incentivado por Charles Bonnet (1720-1793) e René Antoine Ferchault de Réaumur (1683-1754), Spallanzani repetiu os experimentos de Needham e publicou os resultados em sua obra mais conhecida, Saggio di osservazioni microscopiche concernenti il sistema della generazione de\' Signori di Needham e Buffon (Ensaio de observações microscópicas sobre o sistema da geração dos Senhores Needham e Buffon) de 1765, em que refutou os resultados do naturalista inglês. A esse livro se seguiram comentários e objeções feitos por Needham em obra publicada em 1769, e uma tréplica de Spallanzani publicada em uma coletânea de trabalhos, Opuscoli di fisica animale e vegetabile (Opúsculos de Física animal e vegetal) de 1776. A análise da controvérsia permitiu concluir que nenhum dos dois autores mudou de posição em função dos experimentos realizados por estarem baseados em pressupostos teóricos distintos. Discutido à luz do papel das controvérsias científicas na ciência, o episódio possibilitou delinear componentes epistêmicos e não-epistêmicos nas situações de conflito entre teorias científicas rivais, aspectos relevantes para a alfabetização científica almejada para o ensino de ciências. / This dissertation approaches the controversy between the english naturalist John Turberville Needham (1713-1781) and the Italian naturalist Lazzaro Spallanzani (1729-1799) on the theme of \"generation\" of living beings. As a work related to the History of Science and inserted in the search topic History, Philosophy and Culture in Science Teaching, it has the purposes to contextualize the Needham-Spallanzani controversy from studies carried out by contemporaries of these two naturalists who developed thematically and methodologically similar studies and topresent a discussion about science and the role of controversies in the development of scientific thought. Furthermore, it discusses its application in the teaching of Biology with a view to an explicit approach on the Nature of Science (NOS) issues The experimental results presented by Needham to the Royal Society in 1748 contained favorable evidences to spontaneous generation and were supported by Pierre-Louis Moreau de Maupertuis (1698-1759) and Georges-Louis Leclerc of Buffon (1707-1788). Encouraged by Charles Bonnet (1720-1793) and René Antoine Ferchault of Reaumur (1683-1754), Spallanzani repeated Needham\'s experiments and published the results in his most famous work, Saggio di osservazioni microscopiche concernenti il sistema della generazione dei\' Signori di Needham e Buffon (Essay of microscopic observations about the generation system of Mr. Needham and Mr. Buffon) of 1765, which refuted the results of the English naturalist. Following that book, comments and objections made by Needham were published in 1769, and a reply made by Spallanzani was published in the collection of works Opuscoli di fisica animale e vegetabile (Booklets of animal and plants Physics) of 1776. The analysis of this controversy led to the conclusion that none of the two authors changed position due to the experiments made since they were based on distinct theoretical assumptions. Discussed in light of the role of controversies in the development of scientific knowledge, this episode allow to outline epistemic and non-epistemic components in conflict situations between rival theories, relevant aspects to scientific literacy longed for science education.

Agricultural system models integrate many different processes that cannot all be measured in field experiments and help quantify soil water dynamics, crop evapotranspiration, and crop growth with high temporal resolution. Understanding soil water dynamics and crop evapotranspiration is essential to improve agricultural management of field crops. For example, the interaction between nitrogen application rate and water dynamics is not sufficiently understood. In most cases, model simulations deviate from field measurements, especially when model input parameters are indirectly and unspecifically derived. The extent to which measured soil hydraulic property inputs decrease the discrepancy between measured and simulated soil water status is not well understood. Consequently, this study: (i) investigated thr use of measured soil hydraulic properties as Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM2) inputs compared to indirectly derived inputs; (ii) explored the capability of calibrating measured soil hydraulic property input parameters for one crop and using them for other crops without further calibration; (iii) studied the effect of the nitrogen application rate on the behavior of soil water dynamics and crop evapotranspiration using RZWQM2 under different rainfall amounts. To evaluate the model in different field management conditions, a field experiment with soybean, corn, wheat, and fallow soil was conducted from 2015 – 2017 to collect field data to calibrate and validate the RZWQM2 model. The model presented a satisfactory response to using measured soil hydraulic property inputs and a satisfactory capability to quantify the effect of nitrogen rates on daily crop evapotranspiration, soil water dynamics, and crop growth. With sufficient measurements of soil hydraulic parameters, it was possible to build a RZWQM2 model that produced reasonable results even without calibration.

Contemporary scholars seeking to increase Tuber Melanosporum truffle production rely almost exclusively on technological advancements to increase yields, while failing to place the cultivation of truffles, trufficulture, in its historical or local landscape contexts. In this dissertation, I describe how truffle scholars’ conceptualization of trufficulture and landscapes has changed over 150 years in France, while focusing on the French département of Lot. I examine changing relations between humans and nonhumans and how they impact truffle harvests. I analyzed the history of French trufficulture through a close reading of historic truffle manuals, archival research and the classification of remotely sensed images. Shifting from the past to the present, from July 2014-August 2016, I conducted semi-structured survey interviews with working truffle-growers (trufficulteurs) and participant observation at meetings of trufficulteurs, truffle hunts and truffle markets. I utilize actor-network theory (ANT) as both a theory and methodology. Actor-network theory allowed me to follow the impacts made by both humans and nonhumans on trufficulture. I found that truffle harvests in the 1880s dropped by 90%. Highly populated, intensively worked landscapes of viticulture, silvopastoralism and cereal cultivation created conditions suitable to truffles. By the 1870s the phylloxera aphid ravaged grapevines, which made trufficulture an important source of revenue. These advantageous conditions would not last. Post-WWI, yields fell for decades because of an ongoing rural population exodus and consequent agricultural abandonment, which promoted reforestation and closed canopy forests in Lot, France. By the 1960s, French trufficulteurs organized associations to share knowledge and promote local truffle markets to revive production. Trufficulteurs’ utilization of tractors, ‘inoculated’ plants and irrigation systems produced a new form of “modern” trufficulture. State subsidies helped trufficulteurs adopt “modern” practices, in hopes of increasing yields. “Modern” trufficulture has not dramatically increased yields. A few highly-capitalized trufficulteurs dominate production in Lot. Many others practice trufficulture as a hobby. Instead of relying on “modern” technological fixes, my findings suggest that trufficulteurs, farmers and states should reinvigorate extensive polyculture farming practices that maintain open canopy forests, which were beneficial to trufficulture in the past. Actor-network theory allowed me to rethink human and nonhuman relations, and to propose alternatives to “modern” trufficulture.