It is widely believed that we have immediate, introspective access to the content of our own thoughts. This access is assumed to be privileged in a way that our access to the thought content of others is not. It is also widely believed that, in many cases, thought content is individuated according to properties that are external to the thinker's head. I will refer to these theses as privileged access and content externalism, respectively. Though both are widely held to be true, various arguments have been put forth to the effect that they are incompatible. This charge of incompatibilism has been met with a variety of compatibilist responses, each of which has received its own share of criticism. In this thesis, I will argue that a contrastive account of self-knowledge is a novel compatibilist response that shows significant promise.

Rapid Prototyping (RP) is the process of building three-dimensional objects, in layers, using additive manufacturing. Rapid Manufacturing (RM) is the use of RP technologies to manufacture end-use, or finished, products. At small lot sizes, such as with customized products, traditional manufacturing technologies become infeasible due to the high costs of tooling and setup. RM offers the opportunity to produce these customized products economically. Coupled with the customization opportunities afforded by RM is a certain degree of uncertainty. This uncertainty is mainly attributed to the lack of information known about what the customers specific requirements and preferences are at the time of production. In this thesis, the author presents an overall method for selection of a RM technology, as an investment decision, under the geometric uncertainty inherent to mass customization. Specifically, the author defines the types of uncertainty inherent to RM (epistemic), proposes a method to account for this uncertainty in a selection process (interval analysis), and proposes a method to select a technology under uncertainty (Decision Theory under strict uncertainty). The author illustrates the method with examples on the selection of an RM technology to produce custom caster wheels and custom hearing aid shells. In addition to the selection methodology, the author also develops universal build time and part cost models for the RM technologies. These models are universal in the sense that they depend explicitly on the parameters that characterize each technology and the overall part characteristics.

The primary concern of this piece of work is to reconsider scientific realism debate in the philosophy of science. Accordingly, the overall aim is to come up with the clues of a viable scientific realist attitude in the face of anti-realist interpretations of scientific theories. To accomplish this aim, I make use of two modified versions of scientific realism, that is, &lsquo / epistemic structural realism&rsquo / and &lsquo / entity realism&rsquo / . Epistemic structural realism is a realist position of which proponents claim that the only knowable part of the reality is the structure of it which is expressed by the mathematical equations of our best scientific theories. On the other hand, according to entity realism, the only assured knowledge obtained from scientific theories is the existence of theoretical entities posited by these theories. I argue that a combination of the properly construed versions of these two positions might fulfill the afore-mentioned aim of this thesis.

This thesis examines perspectives of the two influential U.S. think tanks, the Brookings Institution and the Council on Foreign Relations, on Turkish foreign policy under the leadership of the Justice and Development Party (JDP) from 2002 to 2010. It attempts to analyze the perceptions of the noted institutions about the JDP&rsquo / s foreign policy by referencing their reports, articles, interviews and seminars. The study had four aims. First, it aims to analyze the JDP&rsquo / s foreign policy in the eyes of the two think tanks. Second, it shows the objective of the two institutions for shaping the framework of the discussions on the United States-Turkey relations and Turkish foreign policy by emphasizing the epistemic community. Third, this thesis intends to clarify divergences and convergences in the perceptions of the two think tanks. Fourth, it indicates the continuity, change and rupture in the JDP&rsquo / s foreign policy choices from the viewpoint of the Brookings Institution and the Council on Foreign Relations. Consequently, the thesis states that &ldquo / the given framework&rdquo / in the relations between the United States and Turkey has been largely determined by the U.S.&rsquo / activities.

The purpose of this research is to develop a method for selecting the fidelity of contributing analyses in computer simulations. Model uncertainty is a significant component of result validity, yet it is neglected in most conceptual design studies. When it is considered, it is done so in only a limited fashion, and therefore brings the validity of selections made based on these results into question. Neglecting model uncertainty can potentially cause costly redesigns of concepts later in the design process or can even cause program cancellation. Rather than neglecting it, if one were to instead not only realize the model uncertainty in tools being used but also use this information to select the tools for a contributing analysis, studies could be conducted more efficiently and trust in results could be quantified. Methods for performing this are generally not rigorous or traceable, and in many cases the improvement and additional time spent performing enhanced calculations are washed out by less accurate calculations performed downstream. The intent of this research is to resolve this issue by providing a method that will minimize the amount of time spent conducting computer simulations while meeting accuracy and concept resolution requirements for results.

This research explores the annotation and note-taking practices of graduate students and reports on the sets of activities, habits, objects, tools and methods that define the practice. In particular, this empirical study focuses on understanding the integration of annotation practices within larger scholarly processes. This study therefore aims to describe and analyze annotation not only as material externalities of the research process, but also as crucial epistemic practices allowing students to progress from one research activity to the other. Interviews are supplemented by document collection and analyzed using a multi-perspectival framework. The findings describe an annotation lifecycle and suggest a new model of the scholarly process using annotation practices as units of analysis. The study further discusses annotation as a primitive epistemic practice and examines the productive tensions fostering the student’s progress towards her goals. This research finally proposes requirements for future tools supporting scholarly practice.

The thesis deals with epistemic modality and its realizations in English and Lithuanian. It focuses on the quantitative and qualitative parameters of equivalence between the lexical exponents of epistemic modality in the two languages. The axis of contrast is laid on the auxiliary and adverb strategies (van der Auwera et al. 2005): a probe is made into the cross-linguistic distribution and behavior of the central English modal auxiliaries of possibility and necessity and epistemic stance adverbials as opposed to their counterparts in Lithuanian. It is a contrastive analysis based on the data obtained from a self-compiled bi-directional parallel corpus of fiction texts and their translations into Lithuanian and English. The findings show that, despite the existence of the same adverbial and verb strategies for epistemic meaning realization in the two languages, their implementation differs. Lithuanian shows a significantly higher frequency of adverbials as opposed to English. Due to the high degree of grammaticalization, English usually favors modal auxiliaries for expressing epistemic modality. The findings show that epistemic meaning can be determined by various constraints, the most important of which are complement stativity and subject specification. The analysis of the translational paradigm could suggest that the boundaries between low and high degree of probability can be blurred in Lithuanian. The abundance of inserted modal adverbials and the phenomenon of zero... [to full text] / Disertacijoje tiriamas episteminis modalumas ir jo raiškos priemonės anglų ir lietuvių kalbose. Abiejose kalbose esama įvairių kalbinių priemonių episteminiam modalumui reikšti, tačiau darbe daugiausia dėmesio skiriama episteminį modalumą koduojančių modalinių veiksmažodžių ir modalinių adverbialų bei jų vertimo atitikmenų analizei. Pagrindinis šio darbo tikslas – taikant lygiagrečiųjų ir palyginamųjų tekstynų metodiką aptarti kiekybinius ir kokybinius episteminio modalumo raiškos ekvivalentiškumo parametrus anglų ir lietuvių kalbose. Remiantis van der Auweros et al. (2005) tyrimo modeliu, bandoma nustatyti, kokia episteminio modalumo raiškos strategija – modalinių veiksmažodžių ar adverbialų – vyrauja anglų ir lietuvių kalbose. Tuo tikslu buvo sudarytas dvikalbis dvikryptis paralelusis tekstynas iš grožinės literatūros originalių tekstų ir jų vertimų į lietuvių ir anglų kalbas. Išanalizavus empirinę medžiagą, prieita prie tokių išvadų: episteminio modalumo raiška anglų ir lietuvių kalbose skiriasi. Anglų kalboje dėl palyginti didelės gramatiškėjimo įtakos episteminis modalumas dažniausiai reiškiamas modaliniais veiksmažodžiais, o lietuvių kalboje vyrauja adverbialinė raiškos strategija. Episteminė reikšmė glaudžiai susijusi su veiksmažodžių komplementų ir subjekto specifikacija. Vertimų paradigmų analizė rodo, kad lietuvių kalboje modalinės tikimybės laipsniai skiriami ne taip griežtai ir jos ribos ne tokios ryškios, o praleidimo ir įterpimo atvejai vertime gali būti... [toliau žr. visą tekstą]

Disertacijoje tiriamas episteminis modalumas ir jo raiškos priemonės anglų ir lietuvių kalbose. Abiejose kalbose esama įvairių kalbinių priemonių episteminiam modalumui reikšti, tačiau darbe daugiausia dėmesio skiriama episteminį modalumą koduojančių modalinių veiksmažodžių ir modalinių adverbialų bei jų vertimo atitikmenų analizei. Pagrindinis šio darbo tikslas – taikant lygiagrečiųjų ir palyginamųjų tekstynų metodiką aptarti kiekybinius ir kokybinius episteminio modalumo raiškos ekvivalentiškumo parametrus anglų ir lietuvių kalbose. Remiantis van der Auweros et al. (2005) tyrimo modeliu, bandoma nustatyti, kokia episteminio modalumo raiškos strategija – modalinių veiksmažodžių ar adverbialų – vyrauja anglų ir lietuvių kalbose. Tuo tikslu buvo sudarytas dvikalbis dvikryptis paralelusis tekstynas iš grožinės literatūros originalių tekstų ir jų vertimų į lietuvių ir anglų kalbas. Išanalizavus empirinę medžiagą, prieita prie tokių išvadų: episteminio modalumo raiška anglų ir lietuvių kalbose skiriasi. Anglų kalboje dėl palyginti didelės gramatiškėjimo įtakos episteminis modalumas dažniausiai reiškiamas modaliniais veiksmažodžiais, o lietuvių kalboje vyrauja adverbialinė raiškos strategija. Episteminė reikšmė glaudžiai susijusi su veiksmažodžių komplementų ir subjekto specifikacija. Vertimų paradigmų analizė rodo, kad lietuvių kalboje modalinės tikimybės laipsniai skiriami ne taip griežtai ir jos ribos ne tokios ryškios, o praleidimo ir įterpimo atvejai vertime gali būti... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The thesis deals with epistemic modality and its realizations in English and Lithuanian. It focuses on the quantitative and qualitative parameters of equivalence between the lexical exponents of epistemic modality in the two languages. The axis of contrast is laid on the auxiliary and adverb strategies (van der Auwera et al. 2005): a probe is made into the cross-linguistic distribution and behavior of the central English modal auxiliaries of possibility and necessity and epistemic stance adverbials as opposed to their counterparts in Lithuanian. It is a contrastive analysis based on the data obtained from a self-compiled bi-directional parallel corpus of fiction texts and their translations into Lithuanian and English. The findings show that, despite the existence of the same adverbial and verb strategies for epistemic meaning realization in the two languages, their implementation differs. Lithuanian shows a significantly higher frequency of adverbials as opposed to English. Due to the high degree of grammaticalization, English usually favors modal auxiliaries for expressing epistemic modality. The findings show that epistemic meaning can be determined by various constraints, the most important of which are complement stativity and subject specification. The analysis of the translational paradigm could suggest that the boundaries between low and high degree of probability can be blurred in Lithuanian. The abundance of inserted modal adverbials and the phenomenon of zero... [to full text]

This thesis analyzes specific challenges concerning 'truth-telling' war reporters face when reporting on international conflict. For this purpose truth is examined in accordance with journalistic principles outlined in codes of ethics, with a focus on objectivity and fairness. The aim is to discover ways to improve the application of principles, in order to battle epistemic errors and the effects they entail: polarization, reductionism, and superficiality. The study concludes that providing context and nuance is crucial, but that codes - although essential - are insufficient in helping journalists decide what is relevant and what is not. An approach in virtue ethics is recommended where phronesis (or practical wisdom) can inspire responsible journalists to comply with the spirit, rather than the letter of the principles.

This research explores the annotation and note-taking practices of graduate students and reports on the sets of activities, habits, objects, tools and methods that define the practice. In particular, this empirical study focuses on understanding the integration of annotation practices within larger scholarly processes. This study therefore aims to describe and analyze annotation not only as material externalities of the research process, but also as crucial epistemic practices allowing students to progress from one research activity to the other. Interviews are supplemented by document collection and analyzed using a multi-perspectival framework. The findings describe an annotation lifecycle and suggest a new model of the scholarly process using annotation practices as units of analysis. The study further discusses annotation as a primitive epistemic practice and examines the productive tensions fostering the student’s progress towards her goals. This research finally proposes requirements for future tools supporting scholarly practice.