The dissertation consists of three papers presenting applications of meta-analysis in economics and introductory chapter which discusses the development of meta-analysis in author's perspective as well as strengths and weaknesses of this quantitative method to synthesize empirical research. In the first paper analyses the impact of information and communication technology investments on productivity. The second paper focuses on the trade effect of the euro. In the third investigates the relation between international trade flows and trade costs.

Applying Occam's razor in order to minimize ontological commitments is among the central methods of Bertrand Russell's philosophy after 1905 and onwards. The year 1905 was specially significant for Russell in that respect, as he published in this year the groundbreaking paper titled 'On Denoting'. In this paper, he introduced, for the first time, the today widely acknowledged semantical theory, Theory of Descriptions. According to the canonical interpretation of Russell, which is represented, for the most part, by W. V. O. Quine's paper 'Russell's Ontological Development' (1966), Russell tended to embrace 'Meinongian' ontological commitments: these were ontological commitments to coherent and non-actual entities such as the present king of France (possibilia) and ontological commitments to incoherent entities such as the round square. In Quine's view, Russell could not dodge such commitments until he discovered Theory of Descriptions. This interpretation has been challenged recently and it is the main objective of this essay to defend Quine against his opponents. I provide a detailed account of those parts of Russell's philosophy before 'On Denoting' which precluded him from refuting conclusively the problematic ontological commitments. In order to provide such an account, we dive deep into the...

In this thesis, I explore moral intuition as an epistemological tool for constructing moral systems, focusing specifically on the challenges arising from evolutionary and cultural biases. This thesis will consider and discuss Michael Huemer's Ethical Intuitionism, Peter Singer's critique of moral intuitions, and Sharon Street's Darwinian Dilemma, I consider some possible defenses and counterarguments concerning the reliability of moral intuitions. Furthermore, this thesis examines the potential self-defeating nature of certain arguments against the reliability of moral intuitions, while concurrently discussing the broader implications of these criticisms on other areas of philosophy and the potential ramifications on our other cognitive faculties, such as logic and rationality. Alternative perspectives are briefly considered by presenting the approaches to morality of Karl Marx and Friedrich Nietzsche. Marx's theory of historical materialism and Nietzsche's concept of Will to Power. Presenting their interpretations of moral evolution, these offer contrasts to the debate surrounding moral intuitions. Ultimately, this thesis proposes that we are either compelled to accept moral intuitions as a reliable epistemological tool to construct moral systems or embrace global skepticism because of the biases and limitations inherent in our cognitive faculties. I will explore what I propose is the paradoxical nature of moral intuitions as an epistemological tool and their role in our pursuit of moral truth.

THE PARADOX Basin is a northwest-southeast trending intracratonic basin that formedin southwestern Colorado, southeastern Utah and adjacent parts of Arizona and New Mexicoduring the late Paleozoic Era. During rise of the adjacent Uncompahgre Uplift (Ancestral RockyMountains) the rapidly subsiding basin was filled with over 2000 m of Permo-Pennsylvaniansediments. Stacked depositional sequences accumulated in three roughly parallel facies belts: anortheastern clastic belt (adjacent to uplift), a central salt and black shale belt, and asouthwestern carbonate belt. Over 400 million barrels of oil have been extracted from upperParadox (Desert Creek and Ismay) carbonates in the southern Blanding Subbasin (Greater AnethField) since 1956. The sedimentology and sequence stratigraphy of Paradox Shelf strata on thewalls of the San Juan River gorge and in the subsurface Aneth Buildup are well documented.Less well documented are the stratigraphy and facies architecture of basinward extensions ofupper Paradox sequences in the northern part of the Blanding Subbasin.Detailed analysis of the lower and upper Desert Creek and lower and upper Ismay 4thordersequences from three cores (Long Point, Lewis Road, Cedar Point) demonstrate theexistence of distinctive basinward depositional trends. Compared to sequences exposed on theParadox Shelf (San Juan River outcrops) and the Aneth Buildup, sequences in the more distalnorthern Blanding Subbasin are thinner, are dominated by muddy carbonate facies, displaylimited occurrences of porous phylloid-algal and oolitic carbonates, contain thicker, morecomplete occurrences of black shale, and possess distinctive suites of lowstand facies (quartzsandstone on the shelf, bedded and nodular evaporates in the basin). Vertically, the four 4th-ordersequences display 2nd-order progradation of the Paradox Shelf through Desert Creek and Ismaytime. Carbonate-starved sequences (4th order) and parasequences (5th order) comprised of muddominatedfacies are succeeded upward by thicker, more grain-rich sequences andparasequences. The implications for the petroleum system relative to established oil and gasfields is that conventional reservoir rock facies are rare, except in small, isolated buildups.Meteoric diagenesis associated with 4th-order lowstands of sea level has reduced overallpermeability. Lowstand conditions also promoted limited precipitation of pore-occludingevaporite cement. The maximum-flood Chimney Rock, Gothic and Hovenweep shales arethicker and contain a more complete succession of basinal cycles than updip occurrences of thesepetroleum source rocks. A suite of samples from the Gothic Shale from the Cedar Point coreindicate higher burial maturity (kerogen has mostly been converted to gas) compared to valuesderived from the outcrop belt and more proximal subsurface samples.

To evaluate voting rules, it would be good to know what universe election outcomes are drawn from. Election theorists have postulated that elections might be drawn from various stochastic preference models, including the IC and IAC conditions, but these models induce empirically contradicted predictions. We use two distinct data sets, FairVote and German Politbarometer survey. Based on the data information, we suggest approaches that differ from those probabilistic models to better approximate the actual data in Chapter 3 and 4. Chapter 5 applies the spatial model for four-candidate in a three-dimensional setting. We also offer a significant gap between the actual and simulated data under the IAC conditions by comparing their statistical characteristics. / Doctor of Philosophy / Through the 1884 Third Reform Act, the plurality rule (or first-past-the-post system) runs to elect parliament members for the first time. More than a hundred years passed after the Act, and election theorists have suggested various alternatives, the plurality rule is the second most used rule worldwide for national elections for now. One main reason is that researchers do not reach an agreement on the best alternative rule. Theorists have evaluated different voting rules under probabilistic assumptions, but real-world examples contradict the predictions of these models. In this dissertation, we suggest different approaches provide a better approximation to the actual data. In Chapter 3 and 4, we go backward: analyze how voters of each preference order are distributed in real data first, then set a model for estimating the frequency of paradox. In chapter 5, we extend an existing model with higher dimensionality. Then using the model, we offer empirical evidence showing the gap between the actual and simulated data under a popular probabilistic model.

Several philosophical problems are based on an analogy between a real situation and a probabilistic model. Such problems are based on urn analogies. The present dissertation aims to describe and implement a methodology oriented towards the resolution of philosophical problems based on an urn analogy. This methodology is based on the use of the n-universes. To this end, I describe first the n-universes in a detailed way. I also discuss the difficulties of the theory of n-universes related to the demultiplication of the criteria and to the relation one/many between the objects and a given criterion.On the one hand, I present an application of the framework of n-universes to the Doomsday argument and to the problems recently appeared in the literature in keeping with the Doomsday argument. My concern is also with showing how the application of the framework of n-universes to several problems and thought experiments related to the Doomsday argument helps clarifying the problem data and making disappear the associated ambiguity. I present then an analysis of the following problems related to the Doomsday argument: the two urn case, God's Coin Toss, the Sleeping Beauty Problem, the Presumptuous Philosopher, Lazy Adam, and the Shooting-Room Paradox. I present lastly a solution to the Doomsday argument, based on a third route, by contrast to two types of solutions classically described.On the other hand, I present an application of the framework of n-universes to Goodman's paradox. I replace first Goodman's statement in the framework of n-universes. I propose then a solution to the paradox, based on a distinction between two different modelizations of Goodman's statement in two structurally different n-universes.

<p>The purpose of this dissertation is to provide a proper treatment for two groups of logical paradoxes: semantic paradoxes and set-theoretic paradoxes. My main thesis is that the two different groups of paradoxes need different kinds of solution. Based on the analysis of the diagonal method and truth-gap theory, I propose a functional-deflationary interpretation for semantic notions such as ‘heterological’, ‘true’, ‘denote’, and ‘define’, and argue that the contradictions in semantic paradoxes are due to a misunderstanding of the non-representational nature of these semantic notions. Thus, they all can be solved by clarifying the relevant confusion: the liar sentence and the heterological sentence do not have truth values, and phrases generating paradoxes of definability (such as that in Berry’s paradox) do not denote an object. I also argue against three other leading approaches to the semantic paradoxes: the Tarskian hierarchy, contextualism, and the paraconsistent approach. I show that they fail to meet one or more criteria for a satisfactory solution to the semantic paradoxes. For the set-theoretic paradoxes, I argue that the criterion for a successful solution in the realm of set theory is mathematical usefulness. Since the standard solution, i.e. the axiomatic solution, meets this requirement, it should be accepted as a successful solution to the set-theoretic paradoxes.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

This study investigates six theoretical approaches offered as solutions to the paradox of the heap (sorites paradox), a logic puzzle dating back to the ancient Greek philosopher Eubulides. Those considered are: Incoherence Theory, Epistemic Theory, Supervaluation Theory, Many-Valued Logic, Fuzzy Logic, and Non-Classical Semantics. After critically examining all of these, it is concluded that none of the attempts to explain the sorites are fully adequate, and the paradox remains unresolved. / Philosophy / M.A. (Philosophy)

During the 21st century, the use of digital services has exploded. Companies are getting better at collecting and using data for their own gain. The increased collection of data has contributed to increased privacy concerns among many. This paper examines how a person’s attitude and knowledge about data collection can affect their online behavior. To examine this, a questionnaire survey was conducted. The study's results indicate that there is a paradoxical behavior among the respondents, since most people have a negative view of data collection, but do not take measures to reflect this attitude. Furthermore, the result suggests that knowledge about data collection acts as the primary motivator for taking measures to protect their data.   Keywords: Data collection, online behaviour, privacy paradox, GDPR, attitude, knowledge, privacy concerns / Under 2000-talet har användningen av digitala tjänster exploderat. Företag blir bättre på att samla in och använda data för deras egen vinning. Den ökade datainsamlingen har bidragit till en ökad oro kring personlig data hos många. Denna uppsats undersöker hur internetanvändares attityd och kunskap kring datainsamling kan påverka deras online-beteende. För att undersöka detta utfördes en enkätundersökning. Studiens resultat indikerar att det finns ett paradoxalt beteende hos respondenterna då de flesta har en negativ syn till datainsamling men vidtar inte åtgärder för att spegla denna attityd. Vidare tyder resultatet på att kunskap kring datainsamling agerar som den primära motivatorn för att vidta åtgärder för att skydda deras data.   Nyckelord: Datainsamling, online-beteende, Privacy Paradox, GDPR, attityd, kunskap. integritets-oro

Menschen unterscheiden sich von anderen Tieren insbesondere dadurch, dass ihr Alltag durch vielfältige kulturelle Praktiken bestimmt wird. Diese erlaubten es dem Menschen, fast alle terrestrischen Habitate auf der Erde in hoher Dichte zu besiedeln. Kulturelle Merkmale werden nicht genetisch vererbt, sondern durch soziales Lernen zwischen Menschen übertragen -- niemand könnte ohne den vorhandenen Wissensbeitrag anderer ein funktionstüchtiges Kanu bauen. Daraus zu schließen, kulturelle und genetische Evolution seien komplett getrennt zu behandeln, wäre allerdings falsch. Genetische Evolution hat es überhaupt erst erlaubt, von anderen in adaptiver Weise zu lernen. Kulturelle und genetische Evolution müssen zusammen betrachtet werden, um die Einzigartigkeit des Menschen zu verstehen. Der offensichtlich vorhandene adaptive Nutzen sozialen Lernens konnte in theoretischen Arbeiten allerdings nicht repliziert werden. Das deutet darauf hin, dass das Verständnis über die Funktionsweise sozialen Lernens noch unvollständig ist. Zwar haben einige Wissenschaftler mögliche Lösungen für dieses Paradox vorgeschlagen, aber unser Modell zeigt, dass diese unzureichend sind. Stattdessen hält sich der Widerspruch hartnäckiger als geglaubt. Wir analysieren zwar neue soziale Lernstrategien, die den Widerspruch lösen könnten, doch das erfolgt nur unter sehr beschränkten Bedingungen. Außerdem treten wir für eine neue Sicht auf soziales Lernen ein und damit einhergehend für einen Modellierungsansatz, der Lernformen in realistischerer Weise berücksichtigt. Die Untersuchung des evolutionären Ursprungs sozialen Lernens sollte den gleichen Stellenwert haben wie jene des evolutionären Ursprungs kooperativen Verhaltens. Dass dies sinnvoll wäre, belegen wir, indem wir zeigen, welchen Einfluss soziales Lernen sogar auf moderne Gesellschaften und Volkswirtschaften hat und wie es beispielsweise hilft, Finanzkrisen besser zu verstehen. / Humans differ most from other animals in that their lives are shaped by many cultural practices. Having cultural traits allowed human populations to grow considerably in a short time and to conquer almost all terrestrial habitats on Earth. Cultural traits are not inborn but are instead transmitted between humans through social learning -- no individual could build a fully functional kayak without learning from others. Concluding that cultural evolution is thus a separate process from genetic evolution would, however, be rash. The latter has endowed humans with the possibility to learn from others in the first place, and prepared learning to make it especially adaptive. To find out what makes humans unique, cultural and genetic evolution, therefore, have to be studied in concert. Although nobody doubts that evolution gave rise to social learning and that the resulting cultural practices serve an adaptive purpose, theoretical works have shown that simple forms of social learning do not improve human adaptedness. This finding contradicts the observations and thus implies that our understanding of social learning is incomplete. Several authors have proposed solutions to this paradox but, as our model results will show, the solutions are unsatisfying. Instead, we find the paradox to be more resilient than is believed and propose forms of social learning that could solve it, albeit only under very narrow circumstances. Furthermore, we argue for a new perspective on social learning and, consequently, for a different framework that allows for more realistic learning models. We suggest that the study of the evolutionary origin of social learning should be given equal weight as the study of the evolutionary origin of cooperation, and illustrate this by elaborating on the impact of social learning on modern societies and market behaviors in general, and on financial crises specifically.