Conditions under which compositions of component systems form a well-defined system-of-systems are here formulated at a fundamental level. Statement of what defines a well-defined composition and sufficient conditions guaranteeing such a result offers insight into exemplars that can be found in special cases such as differential equation and discrete event systems. For any given global state of a composition, two requirements can be stated informally as: (1) the system can leave this state, i.e., there is at least one trajectory defined that starts from the state; and (2) the trajectory evolves over time without getting stuck at a point in time. Considered for every global state, these conditions determine whether the resultant is a well-defined system and, if so, whether it is non-deterministic or deterministic. We formulate these questions within the framework of iterative specifications for mathematical system models that are shown to be behaviorally equivalent to the Discrete Event System Specification (DEVS) formalism. This formalization supports definitions and proofs of the afore-mentioned conditions. Implications are drawn at the fundamental level of existence where the emergence of a system from an assemblage of components can be characterized. We focus on systems with feedback coupling where existence and uniqueness of solutions is problematic.

In late 19th century Russia, Darwinism was viewed as a measuring-rod of modernity. Thus, the Jewish reception of Darwinism may serve as an indicator of the extent to which the Jews in Russia were part of the modernization of Russian society. But the Darwinian concept of evolution of species through natural selection is considered incompatible with a teleological worldview, including a God-given plan for creation. This thesis addresses a twofold problem. One concerns the difficulties of reconciling Darwinism with Judaism and its traditional view of a God-given purpose in creation. The other problem is to explain the possible motives of the Jewish intellectuals for using Darwinian concepts such as the ‘struggle for existence’ in journal articles in the emerging Russian-Jewish press. The study employs discourse analysis, and the concept of isomorphism from institutional theory, for the examination of key concepts, citations, implied readers and purposes in a selection of journal articles from the Russian-Jewish press of the period 1860-1900. Contrasting with the lively general Russian debate on Darwinism, the results show that the Jews in Russia were rather reluctant to discuss Darwinism in the Russian-Jewish press. Censorship, other constraints and imminent problems facing the Jews, such as defence against growing anti-Semitism, are indicated as possible causes of the minimal evidence of a Jewish reception of Darwinism that was found. It was only to the extent that Darwinian concepts such as the ‘struggle for existence’ could be employed to address these more pressing issues that they were they found useful in a Jewish context. The results further imply that the integration between Russian and Jewish intellectuals during this period was weak, as reflected by the insignificant number of references to Russian sources in the selection of Jewish journal articles that were examined.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

Ce projet de mémoire de maîtrise portera sur Descartes et la preuve dite "ontologique" de l'existence de Dieu. La présentation qui sera faite de cette preuve, de ses tenants et de ses aboutissants, tiendra compte: premièrement, du rôle et du statut de celle-ci dans l'ordre des raisons métaphysiques; deuxièmement, des relations entre la preuve "ontologique" et la preuve dite "par les effets"; et troisièmement, des différentes oeuvres de Descartes dans lesquelles il est question de l'argument ontologique. Ainsi, cette analyse permettra de noter les différences relatives qu'il pourrait y avoir chez Descartes quant au fond ou à la forme de cet argument. Nous évoquerons notamment la position différente qu'occupe cette preuve dans deux écrits, soient les Méditations métaphysiques (1641) et les Principes de la philosophie (1644). Ce genre d'analyse nous permettra de nous pencher sur le débat initié par Martial Guéroult et Henri Gouhier concernant la place de la preuve "ontologique" de l'existence de Dieu au sein de l'ordre des raisons métaphysiques ainsi que ses relations avec la preuve "par les effets". La postérité de ce débat sera également considérée. Aussi, nous serons à même de poser la question à savoir s'il y a une évolution de la preuve "ontologique" de l'existence de Dieu au fil des oeuvres dans la pensée de Descartes. En résumé, dans ce mémoire, nous aborderons deux problématiques: la question de l'autonomie ou de la non autonomie de la preuve "ontologique" par rapport à la preuve "par les effets", et le questionnement quant à la possibilité d'une évolution de la place et de la nature de la preuve dite "ontologique" de l'existence de Dieu dans les écrits de Descartes. / This master thesis project will focus on Descartes and the "ontological" proof of the existence of God. The presentation will be made of this proof, its ins and outs. It will take into account: first, the role and status of the latter in the order of metaphysical reasons; second, the relationship between the "ontological" proof and the "through the effects" proof; and third, the various writings of Descartes in which it is question of the ontological argument. Thus, this analysis will note the differences there might be in Descartes thought regarding the substance or form of this argument. We will discuss on the different position this proof occupied in two writings: the Meditations (1641) and the Principles of Philosophy (1644). This type of analysis will allow us to focus on the debate initiated by Martial Guéroult and Henri Gouhier concerning the place of the "ontological" proof of the existence of God in the order of metaphysical reasons as well as its relations with the "through the effects" proof. The posterity of this debate will also be considered. Also, we will be able to ask the question whether there is an evolution of the "ontological" proof of the existence of God in the thought of Descartes over his writings. In summary, in this thesis, we address two issues: the question of autonomy or non-autonomy of the "ontological" proof in relation with the "through the effects" proof; and the question about the possibility of an evolution of the place and nature of the "ontological" proof of the existence of God in the writings of Descartes.

The topic of this thesis is a relation between two constitutive aspects of out existence: death and intersubjectivity. The way how to research these issues is an interpretation of main concepts and notions contained in these texts. On the basis of the comparison of these concepts, notions and whole philosophical stands offers this thesis a perspective of comprehension to the topic of death and intersubjectivity.

The aim of this diploma thesis is a philosophical interpretation of the problem of intersubjectivity in the work of Jean-Paul Sartre (1905 - 1980) and Emmanuel Levinas (1906 - 1995). In the first part, it deals with the conception of the Other in the Jean-Paul Sartre's Being and Nothingness and analyzes (after a brief introduction to Sartre's philosophy) concrete aspects of Sartre's theory of intersubjectivity. This part ends with a critique of Sartre's theory, which enable us to interpret the Levinas's theory as an alternative conception of intersubjektivity. The analysis in the second part is based on the Levinas's book Totality and infinity. The final part sums up the main differences of both conceptions. Key words: intersubjectivity, the Other, existence, freedom, ethics, Sartre, Levinas

The following text attempts to rethink the challenge of Edmund Husserl in his text On the Origin of Geometry. Interpretation of fundamental ontology developed by Martin Heidegger in Being and Time provides field on which it is possible to try to answer the question of the origin of geometry. It is conceived as a completely unique ontological possibility that nature is able to vouch for an explanation of the geometry.

We briefly summarize existing result in theory of minimizers of elliptic variational functionals. We introduce proof of existence and regularity such functional under assumpti- ons of quaziconvexity and izotrophic growth estimates, and discuss possible generalization to anizotropic case. Our proof is a compilation from more sources, modified in order of simplicity, readability and detailed analysis of all steps.

The following text attempts to rethink the challenge of Edmund Husserl in his text On the Origin of Geometry. Interpretation of fundamental ontology developed by Martin Heidegger in Being and Time provides field on which it is possible to try to answer the question of the origin of geometry. It is conceived as a completely unique ontological possibility that nature is able to vouch for an explanation of the geometry.

Regulation of genetically modified organisms and nanotechnology (comparison of British, Czech and Slovak legislation in the context of EU) The aim of this thesis is to first compare the british, czech and slovak legislation relating to genetically modified organisms. By the analysis of their respective features, the author points out the difficult bits and tries to look for the ideal solutions to the current problems of the european GM legislation. In spite of the fact, that the european legislation in this field is highly harmonised, there are still some areas that can be regulated by the member states as well as some holes waiting to be fixed. This thesis is composed of six main chapters which correspond to six main topics of present biotechnology legislation that are in the author's opinion the most significant. First chapter deals with the basic issues of releases of genetically modified organisms into the environment, on market, and with their contained use. Secondly, the author dissects the GM labelling and traceability legislation and shows the various thresholds of GM presence that are applicable to different areas. Third chapter then analyses the rules on co-existence between GM plants on one hand and conventional and organic plants on the other. Nextly, the unilateral acts of member...