Arbetet ämnar förklara varför relationerna mellan bosniaker och kroater har sett utsom de har. Arbetet försöker med hjälp av instrumentalism, primordialism ochkonstruktivism förklara hur identiteten samt relationerna mellan kroater och bosniakerhar varierat under tidsperioden 1939-1994. Arbetet syftar även till att undersöka vilkenteori som bäst hjälper oss förstå varför identiteten och relationerna mellan kroater ochbosniaker har varierat. Arbetet analyserar relationerna mellan kroater och bosniakermed hjälp av idealtyper och kommer fram till att samtliga teorier behövs om man villförstå kroaters och bosniakers relationer åren 1939-1994. Arbetet kommer även framtill att instrumentalismens idealtyp kommer närmast händelseförloppet.

Thesis (M.A.)--Kent State University, 2008. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed June 17, 2009). Advisor: Frank Ryan. Keywords: Dewey, Peirce, James, Shook, non-reflective, experience, naturalism, instrumentalism. Includes bibliographical references (p. 148).

My thesis is an attempt to show the brilliance and novelty of John Dewey's theory of knowledge, instrumentalism. The main objective of my thesis is to explain Dewey's theory of knowledge, which he coined instrumentalism, and to describe how instrumentalism as a theory of knowledge overcomes the pitfalls of competing theories within the philosophical tradition. Dewey's theory of instrumentalism does not assume that ideas are mental entities nor that ideas are true if they somehow match or fit with the object in question; thus, Dewey's theory presents a different view opposed to what we have usually called coherence, or correspondence theories of knowledge. Dewey also argued that consciousness and thinking are functions of a complex organism in transaction with its environment and thus consciousness is an instrumentality not a thing-in-itself.

Instrumentalism is a philosophy of science which holds that scientific theories are merely useful fictions for making computative predictions. Its pragmatic purpose of 'saving the appearances' downgrades the role of theory in science. Realists, on the other hand, take the implications of theories seriously. This study investigates the attributes of both instrumentalism and realism, taking theory as its point of departure. It is pointed out that constructivism is closely related to instrumentalism, both being forms of pragmatism. Since both tend to concoct and relinquish theories too easily, they tend to be relativist and subjectivist. It is therefore concluded that neither instrumentalism, nor constructivism, nor empiricism is sufficient for a rounded science education. What is needed is a type of realism which acknowledges both the empirical physical world 'out there' and the constructivist nature of scientific knowledge. The naive (empiricist) realism so prevalent in school science textbooks cannot do this. It is contended that critical realism, and especially that of Bernard Lonergan, can meet this requirement. Reality is more than what is given in sensory experience. Therefore, in order to help solve the problem of relativism and subjectivity inherent in constructivism, we need to revise our notion of reality and objectivity. Twenty-three selected British, American, South African, and African Third World high school physical science textbooks were examined in detail to determine the extent of an instrumentalist philosophy in them. They were subjected to several textual analyses, including one especially devised for this study. The results reveal that our high school physical science textbooks do indeed contain a high degree of instrumentalism. This study postulates that this instrumentalism may be used to help pupils move towards realism. However, this needs to be augmented by a full-blooded critical realist approach which takes theoretical entities seriously. One way of doing this is through the use of suitable material in the preface of every textbook. Not only should the dangers of instrumentalism (and naive constructivism) be pointed out, but the role of theory in science should be emphasised. This may be achieved by simulations to encourage growth of models and theories, historical case studies involving theory-development, and additional reading of scientists in action. Some examples of these are provided.

Within the context of medical ethics the term 'instrumentalism' is broadly understood as the practice of 'using people' to achieve some end, where the end is considered to be of some good. It is a practice that has recently come under fire in light of developments in medical research that propose to use fetal tissue obtained from elective abortions. Ethicists opposed to this kind of instrumentalism usually invoke Kant's dictum that one should never treat humanity only as a means but always as an end in itself, and allege that the instrumental use of others is 'dehumanizing' and immoral. Moreover, opponents of fetal instrumentalism claim that using fetal tissue in research is a morally tainted, 'doubly' offensive practice since it depends on tissue obtained from voluntary abortions. In this thesis, I challenge both of these claims and argue that using fetal tissue in medical research constitutes an acceptable kind of instrumentalism. Furthermore, I argue that the issue of abortion and the use of fetal tissue in research are two ethically separable issues that warrant distinct ethical judgments. My project begins with an analysis of instrumentalism, which is then applied to show how using the aborted fetus to attain valuable therapeutic goals is a morally justified instrumentalism. I then proceed with an evaluation of the arguments central to the instrumentalist debate, and show how the normative separation between abortion and fetal tissue use is possible. / Thesis / Master of Arts (MA)

The problem of this thesis is to show that a humanistic, pragmatic, and instrumental concept of God would help man in his life, at the present stage of development in the western world, more than an authoritarian or absolute concept. This thesis endeavors to show that the confusion and instability in the moral and religious life is caused by a great need of change of attitude and beliefs towards the concept of God and religion.

It is the purpose of this thesis to define and explain the educational philosophy of instrumentalism as developed by John Dewey.

The main purpose of the present study is to show that scientific realism is still worth advocating despite its vulnerability in the face of anti-realist objections. For, it does not seem possible to &lsquo / do science&rsquo / without realist commitments. The second purpose of this study is to investigate the plausibility of the novel versions of realism in the sense that whether they can satisfactorily respond to the anti-realist objections. Regarding the main purpose, I try to show that theoretical terms are neither reducible to observables nor they can be dispensed with. Hence in scientific theories there always remains a metaphysical part. Regarding the second purpose I discuss ontic structural realism which holds the individualistic attributions responsible for the metaphysical parts in theories and suggests that non-individualistic interpretation of theoretical terms is possible. The legitimacy of Ontic structural realism&rsquo / s suggestion, as its advocates claim, lies within quantum facts.

Master of Science / School of Family Studies and Human Services / Amber V. Vennum / Values dictate who we are, how we see the world, and how we choose to interact with others. They are imbedded in culture. Therapists and clients are dictated by values that in a large part determine the course of therapy (L’Abate, 1982). Mindful to not impose personal values on their clients, therapists may attempt what is being called a value-neutral approach, inadvertently reinforcing certain dominant cultural values about relationships that may, or may not, be in the best interest of the client’s relationship. Therapists practicing within American culture may unintentionally reinforce instrumental views of relationships in the therapy room if they attempt to remain value-neutral. The present study explored the influence of instrumentalism on therapist’s values and roles they take in therapy with two studies. Study 1 involved the construction and refining of scales that intended to measure (a) attitudes towards commitment (b) instrumentalism in romantic relationships. The attitudes towards commitment scale was created with high reliability and the instrumentalism scale was discarded and new items were created for the second study. Study 2 involved a mixed-methods approach to explore the influence of instrumentalism on therapists’ definitions and use of neutrality, as well as therapists’ roles in couple’s therapy. Participants for study 2 were sent a survey asking about demographics, relationship and commitment values, their definitions of neutrality, and the roles they take in couple’s therapy and whether they advocate more for individuals or relationships. When therapists advocate more for the relationship they are more likely to have more positive attitudes towards commitment, are less likely to endorse soft reasons for relationship dissolution, see themselves as part of a collective, and be religiously active.

This thesis sets out to answer if, and in that case how, the current development discourse, centring on instrumentalist arguments for gender equality and the “marketization” of aid, is reflected in Plan International Sweden’s campaign on the International Day of the Girl Child. The study draws upon critical feminist theories which stress that the instrumentalist approach, which scholars mean has become more common due to the marketization of aid, essentializes women and men in line with traditional ideas of femininity and masculinity. Through the use of discourse analysis, the study shows that the discourse of Plan’s campaign appeals to traditional constructions of femininity and masculinity where women and girls are ascribed signs such as maternal, responsible, altruistic and efficient, and men self-centred, irresponsible and potentially oppressive. Relatedly, Plan shows clear traces of instrumentalist reasoning, arguing that gender equality, besides being a social right, is an instrument to increase development efficiency. Additionally, the study finds that Plan shows traces of a marketized logic, something that can be seen in the organization’s cooperation with private companies which signifies an acceptance of them as actors in development, and the involvement of several celebrities which help validate, brand and “sell” the organization.