Résumé : À l’aube des études humiennes, Norman Kemp Smith appelait à représenter Hume « suivant toutes ses nombreuses activités », comme s’il pressentait que l’étude de la pensée humienne pouvait s’avérer un labyrinthe dans lesquels les commentaires pouvaient s’égarer et se perdre de vue. Ce pressentiment, on peut le dire aujourd’hui, s’est avéré juste, et il porte avec lui une clé de lecture : pour dépasser la représentation parcellaire, fragmentée et ultimement incohérente d’un Hume kaléidoscopique, le mieux est peut-être de s’intéresser à ses activités. La présente thèse vise à circonscrire la pratique humienne de la philosophie, ou, pourrait-on dire, du travail épistémologique et conceptuel, dans l’espace de son magnum opus, et cela à l’aide d’une clé de lecture : celle du réductionnisme. Si le Traité est une oeuvre que l’on peut qualifier d’empiriste, on ne saurait la lire seulement par ce biais ou par celui de questions localisées, et nous montrons que le projet du Traité ne peut se comprendre qu’en voyant comment Hume tente d’y réduire la et les connaissances à des dépendances ou à des parties de sa propre théorie de la nature humaine. Pour cela, nous procédons via quatre chapitres. D’abord, nous tentons de circonscrire les caractéristiques les plus importantes du projet humien, c’est-à-dire de ce que Hume avait l’intention de développer à travers les contenus particuliers du Traité ; ensuite, nous nous concentrons sur la base dont Hume part et dont il se servira pour accomplir des réductions, base que l’on peut appeler une théorie des perceptions doublée d’une théorie de l’esprit (principes, facultés, relations) ; ces deux théories, couplées à un standard strict pour obtenir le statut de « vraie idée » ou d’idée intelligible, semblent amener de par leurs prémisses assez directement au scepticisme, et c’est pourquoi on traitera du scepticisme avant d’évoquer les aspects « naturalistes » du Traité au-delà des éléments de base de la théorie des perceptions et de l’esprit, soit une manoeuvre qui ne suit pas tout à fait l’ordre humien d’exposition mais nous semble suivre un certain ordre des raisons ; enfin, la quatrième partie nous permettra de passer en revue diverses réductions opérées par Hume, celles qui mènent au scepticisme pyrrhonien mises à part, ce qui nous permettra de voir quelles sont les limites et les problèmes afférents à son réductionnisme particulier. Refondateur, systématique et totalisant dans ses intentions, le Traité suit bien plus qu’un projet simplement empiriste, et on verra que dans la démarche humienne l’empirisme apparaît davantage dans les conclusions qu’au point même de départ. En le lisant comme le lieu et la conséquence d’une orientation que l’on peut dire réductionniste, on peut trouver dans le Traité un fil conducteur qui, en dépit de problèmes plus ou moins importants rencontrés en cours de route, ne se rompt pas. / Abstract : At the dawn of Hume studies, Norman Kemp Smith called to study the philosopher “in all his manifold activities,” as if he foresaw there a serious risk for the comments to lose themselves as well as each other. Today, it can be said that Kemp Smith’s foreseeing was legitimate. Fortunately, it is possible to find here a reading key: in order to go beyond fragmented and ultimately incoherent readings of Hume, the better way to proceed may consist into focusing on his activities. The present dissertation aims at delineating Hume’s practice of philosophy, or rather his conceptual and epistemological work, in his magnum opus, by focusing on why, how and when he makes reductions. As well-known, the Treatise is an empiricist work, but can never be fully understood if one focuses only on that aspect or on local and tangential questions, and we aim at showing that the Hume’s project and development of said project can only be understood by following how the philosopher tries to reduce most (if not all) knowledge to dependencies of his own theory of human nature. In order to do that, we proceed through four chapters. First, we circumscribe the most important features of the project before and behind the Treatise, which is, what Hume intended to develop through the particular contents of the work. Second, we focus on the conceptual basis from where Hume accomplishes reductions, a basis we call his theory of perceptions, on which is grafted a theory of mind (principles, faculties, relations). These theories, associated to an intention to boil down everything into perceptions as well as to a strict standard to give a mental content the status of a “true idea,” seem to lead straight to skepticism, and this is why the third chapter will focus on the skeptical overtones of the Treatise before looking into aspects commonly referred to as “naturalist.” Though this maneuver does not exactly follow Hume’s own order of exposition, it follows, we think, a specific order of reasons. Finally, on the fourth chapter we review various reductions Hume proceeds (apart from those that lead to a Pyrrhonian skepticism), which will allow us to highlight the limits and problems that stem from his particular breed of reductionism. Following a foundationalist, systematic and totalizing project, Hume’s Treatise is much more than simply empiricist, and as we will see the empiricist aspect appears more as a set of conclusions than as a starting point. Read as both a place and an effect of a reductionist orientation, the Treatise shows a common threat which, in spite of sometimes important problems met on the spot, never breaks.

Loss of biodiversity has been in the forefront of conservation issues worldwide since the last century. Biodiversity conservation through restoring degraded habitats or creating new habitats is advocated in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. Newly created grasslands on restored landfill sites are semi-natural habitats that could support a number of species. However, it is unknown whether these re-created habitats represent a significant resource in terms of biodiversity conservation though poor quality soil was being used for restoration. A multi-taxon approach was applied to examine the biodiversity potential of these novel habitats. Plants (vascular plants and bryophytes), invertebrates (carabid beetles and land snails), and vertebrates (birds) were studied on nine restored landfill sites and paired reference sites in the East Midlands region of the UK during 2007 and 2008. Plant species data were collected by random quadrats along two 100m transects from each site; carabid beetles were censused by pitfall traps; land snails were investigated by hand searches along the transects; and bird species were assessed using point counts. Effects of restoration were investigated by examining species richness, diversity or abundance of studied taxa and also how habitat quality and landscape factors determined species composition on restored landfill sites. A total of 170 plant species (162 vascular plants and 8 bryophytes), 37 carabid beetle, 17 land snail and 12 bird species were found in the studied sites. Species richness and diversity or abundance of studied taxa on restored landfill sites were found to be equal to or above that of reference sites. Compositional differences were found between taxa on restored landfill sites and their corresponding reference sites. Though vegetation composition including NVC plant communities on restored landfill sites was rather homogeneous compared to reference sites, restored landfill sites were found to support a number of nationally decreasing native plant species and of common species of other taxa and also a number of Red List bird species such as Skylark (Alauda arvensis), Grey partridge (Perdix perdix), Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), Tree sparrow (Passer montanus) and Starling (Sturnus vulgaris). Habitat quality and landscape variables were found to be significant predictors for different species. Underlying soils were found to be an important factor in determining the heterogeneity of the plant communities within the study area which in turn dictates suitability of habitat for other taxonomic groups. A lack of congruency between taxa supports the incorporation of a multi-taxa approach into restoration plans. Management in terms of cutting or mowing of these landfill sites were found to have varying influences on different taxa. Moreover, restored landfill sites had less disturbance than reference sites as there was restricted access to dog walkers and for recreational purposes. This may be one of the main factors that could enhance the richness and abundance of a number of taxa, especially bird species. Management of these landfill sites should be targeted on species-specific goals as these sites can play a significant role in Local Biodiversity Action Plans. Overall, this study indicates that restored landfill sites have potential biodiversity conservation value in a complex modified human landscape.

Over the last two decades the potential for the combined study of literature and archaeology has been increasingly recognised. The Victorian era, which gave rise to new literary forms, and to archaeology as a science, offers a fertile area of enquiry. This thesis seeks to bring together the imaginative possibilities of archaeology and literature, conceiving their close association to be rooted in the observance and appreciation of the natural world. Focusing on the work of Thomas Hardy and Richard Jefferies, who both wrote about Wessex landscapes rich in archaeology, the thesis identifies the processes involved in the authors’ engagement with nature in archaeological settings. In 1851, Sir Daniel Wilson welcomed archaeology into the ‘circle of the sciences’, and the subject rose to popularity in the periodical press alongside rural pursuits; driven by the closing divide between town and country. Literary depictions of nature in ancient settings elevated the imaginative conception of the past, and found a receptive audience in London papers such as the Graphic and the Pall Mall Gazette, to which Hardy and Jefferies contributed. Both authors associate the mysterious qualities of prehistoric times, and the consonant sense of ‘untrodden space’, with the discovery of new subterranean territories in the self. In a society that was ‘adrift on change’, and seeking new meaning, these connections between the literary and archaeological imagination, and between the present and the past, forged at least temporary consolation. Both authors anticipated early Modern approaches to an archaeology of mind.

The themes of sensual experience, nature, and mysticism in James Dickey's poetry are examined. Dickey's "Poems 1957- 1967" and "The Eye-Beaters, Blood, Victory, Madness, Buckhead and Mercy" are the primary sources for the poems. Selections from a decade of Dickey criticism are also represented. Dickey presents a wide spectrum of attitudes toward acceptance of the physical body, communion with nature, and transcendence of the human condition, but the poems exhibit sufficient uniformity to allow thematic generalizations to be made.

This is a series of daily writings. Each day consists of a new topic and is closed at the end of the day. The ideas presented are philosophical, humorous, rambling, lamentations, incantations, doubt-ridden, aesthetic pep talks which combine into an affective representation of my studio practice’s becoming. There will be little congruency, some stories, and a lot of parallels because that is who I am.

I stand in awe of nature's beauty. The natural forms and colors of my subjects inspire me to create paintings and three-dimensional clay pieces. As I marvel at God's handiwork, my soul is enriched by the pure sight of His canvas. The rich bright colors of the organic shapes compel me to visually interpret what I experience as an expression of who and what I am, and what I want others to see. My intent is to focus on the elements of the subject matter where the color, shape, and form dominate the space.

Urban educational environments struggle to offer green space and natural light to their students. Studies have shown that exposure to natural elements, such as natural light, ventilation and vegetation improves student performance and concentration. The Waldorf School understands a child's innate need for natural learning; making it a natural choice when studying design options that integrating nature into the educational environment. The emphasis on nature based learning in the curriculum leads Waldorf to be the perfect school to test the boundaries of what is possible in urban educational environments. The project integrates nature into an urban adaptive re-use school environment, through use of natural lighting, access to green areas, and sustainable materials. The site is a total of 30,000 square feet, evenly separated between two floors and a roof garden. The site was built in 1923, as an automobile storage facility and straddles the boundary between an industrial neighborhood and a historic residential neighborhood. Through use of the Waldorf principles and architecture, an educational environment infused with natural rhythms and access to nature will be realized. Through the research conducted on various site, program and process case studies, investigation of architectural options and a thorough understanding of the needs of a Waldorf school, the project develops a prototype to be used in other urban schools.The work considers the possibilities in urban educational environments to integrate natural elements in the architecture for the benefit of students and teachers; creating a design example for both Waldorf and public educational environments.

My thesis work is about imagination. I use the collaborative efforts of the viewer's mind and my sculptures, or specimens, to make associations of real life animals. I feel this engages the viewer and in turn invites them to inspect the work on closer level. This is my ultimate goal in the work, to take hold of the viewer's curiosity and have them examine the work on a closer level.

How is nature conceived today, a generation into the environmental movement? Many contemporary artists grapple with how to reconcile our inheritance of both a precarious natural world and the culture that created it. My work investigates the subtle intricacies of our relationship with nature. I use photography to develop a way of seeing that points to the often-unnoticed nature in front of us. In particular, my work recognizes and re-imagines nature's deep connections in the context of our ecologically changed world.

My thesis is a description of the issues encountered during the process of research and construction of the objects leading to, and consisting of, the work shown in Outside Things. The work is my attempt to gain personal insight into the complicated relationship between nature and culture. Through abstract furniture objects, floral patterns, and robots I explore the relationship between actual landscape and the constructed man-made bio-mimicry that convolutes the definition of Nature.