This study attempts to list subjects in the field of Science, in which Poe had an interest. For the purpose of this study, the writer has divided the field of Science into the following heads: medicine, chemistry, biology, navigation, metrology, astronomy, physics, mathematics, and invention. Pseudo-sciences classified as: psychology, metphysics, phrenolgy, astrology, galvanism, mesmerism, logic reasoning, cryptography, and graphology.

Cette thèse est une enquête d'histoire et de philosophie des sciences sur l'hypothèse Gaïa (HG) proposée par Lovelock et Margulis dans les années 1970. L'examen historique de l'élaboration d'HG et de sa très riche réception dans diverses disciplines scientifiques (climatologie, biogéochimie, géochimie, biologie de l'évolution, écologie et sciences de la complexité) et au sein des mouvements environnementalistes nous conduit à montrer qu'une ambiguïté majeure sur le statut d'HG grève la littérature : qu'est-ce qu'HG ? Nous montrons qu'HG a été considérée tantôt comme une hypothèse, tantôt comme une théorie, tantôt comme un programme de recherche, tantôt comme une philosophie de la nature. Chacune de ces lectures est ensuite examinée. Nous proposons une caractérisation épistémologique et historique d'HG montrant qu'HG ne doit pas être interprétée comme une hypothèse devant être confrontée de manière directe aux faits, mais comme une théorie élaborée avec des modèles. Nous clarifions alors le rôle et le statut méthodologique des modèles et théories d'HG ainsi que les concepts et hypothèses fondamentales qui les sous-tendent. La reconnaissance de Gaïa comme un système constitué des vivants et de l'environnement avec lequel ils interagissent a été l'origine de la constitution d'un nouveau programme de recherche: les sciences du système Terre. Nous proposons une histoire et une caractérisation de ce programme, repérons les déplacements philosophiques qu'il a opérés à propos des concepts de vie, d'environnement et de nature puis analysons les liens entre les conceptions que Lovelock a de Gaïa et les prescriptions environnementales qu'il a prononcées au nom de Gaïa. / The Gaia hypothesis (GH) proposed in the 1970's by Lovelock and Margulis is here analyzed from a history and philosophy of science perspective. The historical analysis of GH's elaboration and rich reception across various disciplines (climatology, biogeochemistry, geochemistry, evolutionary biology, ecology and complexity sciences) and within environmentalist movements leads me to argue that a major ambiguity plagues the relevant literatures: what is GH? I show that GH has been considered as a hypothesis, as a theory, as a research program, or as a philosophy of nature. Each of these interpretations is then analyzed. An epistemological and historical characterisation of GH shows that GH should not be interpreted as a hypothesis which ought to be confronted directly to empirical facts, but as a theory elaborated with models. I elucidate the methodological role and status of GH's models and theories before clarifying the concepts and expliciting the fundamental hypotheses underlying these models and theories. The recognition of Gaia as a system constituted of living organisms and the environment with which they internet led to the constitution of a new research program: the Earth system sciences. I offer a history and a characterisation of this research program, specify the philosophical shifts it brought about concepts such as life, the environment and nature and I analyze the relationships between Lovelock's conceptions of Gaia and the environmental prescriptions he pronounced in the name of Gaia.

The aim of this master's thesis is to find out if there is a potential conflict between the mission of swedish publiclibraries to provide knowledge and the principle of objectivity, as well as what this might mean for the libraries'democratic mission. This is done by interviewing librarians working in various public libraries and analysingtheir thoughts on keeping pseudo-scientific or otherwise misleading non-fiction in the libraries' collections andhow this relates to the democratic mission. The analysis is founded on a theoretical discussion about therelationship between knowledge and trust and how to interpret the democratic mission of public libraries. The thesis finds that the interviewed librarians work to ensure both the reliability of non-fiction books in thelibraries' collections and free formation of opinion, but tend to favour the latter if a choice has to be made.Nevertheless, all the interviewed librarians take some measures to prevent the users from being misinformed,although where the line is drawn varies. Lack of subject specific knowledge among the librarians, limitedresouces, the need to be impratial and the question of what qualifies as correct knowledge, are listed as factorsthat make it difficult to keep pseudoscific and misleadning non-fiction out of the collections. The librarians alsosuggest working to increase information literacy among the users as an alternative to engaging in qualityassurance of the books. This is a two years master's thesis in library and informationa science.

This thesis deals with the dramatic work of Jara Cimrman, which is based on the cooperation of two authors named Zdenek Sverak and Ladislav Smoljak. In the introductory chapters we analyze the genesis of mystifying legend named Jara Cimrman, then his way from the radio show to the theatre and also his own cult, which all leads to the general poetics of the Theatre of Jara Cimrman. We can find some related attributes in this theatre, like specific acting, phenomenon of their workshops and imaginative humour. All of these attributes leads to the definition of repetitive stereotypes in the plays of this theatre. In this thesis we also try to define the genre of the plays, also their subject matter, topics and their motives. The aim of this thesis is to describe these motives and also its gradual progress as in the particular dramas, so in the social atmosphere of those days.

The numerous and varied conspiracy theories which circulate in the contemporary discourse are subject to hyperstition, insofar as they are grouped into wider, more elaborate structures. Some of them become hierarchic to such a degree, that they may, in Michael Barkun's typology, be labeled as "superconspiracy" constructs. No author is more prolific and systematic in the crafting of these constructs than the guru of anglophone conspiracy theory belief, David Icke. The work attempts to keep as its object of study the work of David Icke and his "reptoid hypothesis," as it is effectively one of the most elaborate and baroque conspiracy theories which populate contemporary political discourse. It is Icke's oeuvre which this thesis attempts to recontextualize within the confines of critical social theory and Žižekian psychoanalysis. The existence of a "paranoid style" as professed by Richard J. Hofstadter can be noted throughout the history of western culture, from the Homeric gods, scheming behind the scenes, to its modern incarnations culminating in the superconspiracy constructs of David Icke, Alex Jones, and others. The work focuses not on specific conspiracy theories and their claim to facticity, but rather attempts to trace the structural features of Icke's construct and establish their underlying...

This thesis provides the first comprehensive study of an eminent but oft-overlooked Victorian polymath, with the overarching aims of assessing his contributions to nineteenth-century intellectual life and of exploring the mutual relations between science and religion in his work. One of the towering figures of the Victorian scientific establishment, William Carpenter (1813-1885), F.R.S, was a famous physiologist and public figure. He is most remembered for his concept of 'unconscious cerebration' which contributed to the emergence of the disciplines of neurology and modern psychology, but Carpenter was also noted amongst his peers for his evolutionary approach to the study of the unicellular marine invertebrates known as the foraminifera. As a lifelong practicing Unitarian, Carpenter's outspoken support for evolutionary theory made him an exemplary advocate of the compatibility between rational thought and Christian belief amidst the Victorian debate about science and religion. As the Registrar of the University of London during its formative years, Carpenter also had a nationwide impact on the fortunes of scientific education and secondary education as a whole. Finally, as a populariser of science and public moralist, "Dr. Carpenter" was also well known to the Victorian public as one of the most outspoken critics of spiritualism, alleged paranormal phenomena, and superstition more generally. Nevertheless, no systematic study of Carpenter's work had until now been carried out, and the commonly held view that he lacked originality as a scientist had not been fully questioned. The current study therefore aims to review Carpenter's achievements and trace his intellectual legacy. As an intellectual biography, it argues that focusing on the now lesser-known members of the British intelligentsia can shine new light on the context of the professionalization of science in Victorian Britain. In its focus on science and religion, this thesis argues that a deeper understanding of Carpenter's Unitarianism must feature at the heart of any endeavour to analyse his work. Previous references to Carpenter either bypassed Unitarianism and its nineteenth-century transformations, or reduced Unitarian thought to certain core tenets that fell short of uncovering Carpenter's philosophical pursuits. Carpenter's Unitarianism is still often equated with the rationalism and mortalism that defined late eighteenth-century Unitarianism, and this failure to recognise how much Carpenter's own faith had departed from earlier strands of Unitarian belief has led to some misinterpretations of his motives. The current thesis therefore offers fresh interpretations of Carpenter's work, based on new archival material and recent historical studies of the shifting priorities shaping the more romantic and emotional spirituality of nineteenth-century Unitarianism. Taking an integrative approach to Carpenter's various projects makes it possible to show how seminal many of his ideas were, and how his Unitarianism, both in its social and spiritual dimensions, influenced his professional, political and intellectual choices. The biographical angle taken in this thesis also makes it possible to uncover a degree of epistemological coherence underpinning Carpenter's thought, and to argue that Carpenter's efforts to transcend conflicting viewpoints partook of his wider social and metaphysical aims.