This thesis outlines the main features of empiricist and positivist epistemology and looks at the critique of this position developed by conventionalist philosophers of science. It then attempts to present the basis of an alternative realist epistemology. This realist alternative is then used as a means of laying down a set of methodological protocols for reinterpreting the anti-empiricist debate in development theory over "the articulation of modes of production". This debate was concerned with producing an alternative paradigm to explain the causes of poverty and underdevelopment in such a way that the internal determinations of poverty in nation-states would be part of the explanatory structure, rather than treating poverty and underdevelopment as a phenomenon which was essentially generated through relationships of exploitation between the countries of the "developed" and Third World. Having outlined the basic concepts of this debate in a manner which is compatible with the research protocols of methodological realism, the concepts - social formation, modes of production and articulation - are applied to the concrete context of peasant relations of production in the north Jordan Valley of the Occupied West Bank/the Central Highlands of Palestine. The last section considers some of the major strategic models designed to resolve the problem of Third World poverty and underdevelopment, viz. Community Development, the Green Revolution and Basic Needs. Finally, a radical democratic approach to development intervention is suggested as a background to development action in the context of settler-colonialism and military occupation.

<p>This thesis examines the methodological context, nature, strengths and weaknesses of an unconventional approach to the explanation of human action: 'the argument from rationality.' The study focuses on Martin Hollis' innovative presentation of this alternative method of social science. The argument from rationality proposes that in the explanation of human actions consideration must be given to an asymmetry in modes of explanation: nonrational actions are subject to causal analyses, but rational actions are their own explanations. A rational action, that is, is a free action; and the social scientist is under a methodological obligation to discover whether an action is free prior to formulating a causal explanation. The argument from rationality suits the needs of students of the social scientific study of religion. With its development and legitimation two points of antagonism between the scientific and the religious worldviews are ameliorated. The argument from rationality directly curbs the reductive thrust of scientific accounts of religion by giving methodological voice to the freedom of will asserted by the great religious traditions. Indirectly, the epistemological framework of the argument indicates that reference to the transcendent is a conceptual a priori of 'talk of religion,' just as rational human agency is for 'talk of human action.' The thesis has three parts. First, the parameters of the problem of human freedom are established through discussion of the two sociologies conflict. the positivism-humanism debate, and the struggle of determinists and libertarians. Second, the epistemological and methodological legitimacy of the argument from rationality is argued through a critique of positivist and conventionalist alternatives and the specification of the analytical constituents of Hollis' qualified idealist perspective. Third, the argument is applied to the debate over reductionism in religious studies and defended against the charges of vacuity and decisionism by proposing that the rationality of an action is a question of 'degrees' and hence open to empirical investigation.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

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This dissertation will attempt to present the foundations of the positivist philosophy and worldview. It will also attempt to show the spread of Lithuanian positivism in the context of the dominant positivism of Russia and Poland, and to thoroughly examine the exploration and interpretation of positivism in the mind of Lithuanian fictional literary criticism. This study raises the question as to whether one can in general speak of the adoption of certain models of literature from didactic literature to positivist literature. Aside from discussing different time periods and different literary styles of the nineteenth century (the beginning of Lithuanian didactic literature, while the Lithuanian Cultural Renaissance was still in its embryonic stage; the maturation of didactic literature and the beginning of the Lithuanian Cultural Renaissance; and positivist literature as well as Lithuania's Cultural Renaissance in full force) this work also discusses the pieces having the characteristics of the positivist literature written during the prohibition of the press. The work will also attempt to explain what positivist personalities were significant during the second half of the nineteenth century, and to what professional and social groups these people belonged, along with reconstructing their aesthetic positivist program. This dissertation about the spread of positivism in the prose from the end of the nineteenth century is the first of its kind done in Lithuanian literary... [to full text] / Disertacijoje pristatomi pozityvizmo filosofijos ir pasaulėžiūros pagrindai, nagrinėjama lietuviškojo pozityvizmo sklaida Lenkijoje ir Rusijoje vyravusio pozityvizmo kontekste, nuosekliai apžvelgiamas pozityvizmo paieškų ir interpretavimo kelias lietuvių grožinės literatūros kritinėje mintyje. Studijoje keliams klausimas, ar apskritai galima kalbėti apie literatūrinių modelių perimamumą (didaktika  pozityvizmo literatūra), šalia pasirinktų skirtingų krypčių, skirtingo laikotarpio atraminių kūrinių (atstovaujančių lietuvių didaktinės literatūros pradžiai ir Atgimimo užuomazgoms; didaktinės literatūros brandai ir Atgimimo pradžiai; pozityvistinei literatūrai ir Atgimimui) aptariami ir spaudos draudimo laikotarpio pozityvistinių bruožų turintys kūriniai, aiškinamasi, kaip XIX a. pabaigos lietuvių literatūroje veikia personažai pozityvistai, kokioms jie priklauso profesinėms / socialinėms grupėms, rekonstruojama jų estetinė pozityvistinė programa. Disertacija apie pozityvizmo sklaidą lietuvių XIX a. pabaigos prozoje yra pirmoji tokio pobūdžio studija lietuvių literatūrologijoje. Išsami pozityvistinės gyvenimo sampratos programa Lietuvoje nebuvo suformuluota, tačiau ją galima rekonstruoti iš teiginių ir minčių, išsisklaidžiusių literatūros ir kultūros darbuotojų publicistiniuose, kritiniuose, sociologiniuose darbuose, o šio tyrimo atveju – grožinės literatūros kūriniuose. Disertacijoje siekiama nuosekliai apžvelgti ir apibendrinti pavienius pasisakymus ir įžvalgas pozityvizmo... [toliau žr. visą tekstą]

Disertacijoje pristatomi pozityvizmo filosofijos ir pasaulėžiūros pagrindai, nagrinėjama lietuviškojo pozityvizmo sklaida Lenkijoje ir Rusijoje vyravusio pozityvizmo kontekste, nuosekliai apžvelgiamas pozityvizmo paieškų ir interpretavimo kelias lietuvių grožinės literatūros kritinėje mintyje. Studijoje keliams klausimas, ar apskritai galima kalbėti apie literatūrinių modelių perimamumą (didaktika  pozityvizmo literatūra), šalia pasirinktų skirtingų krypčių, skirtingo laikotarpio atraminių kūrinių (atstovaujančių lietuvių didaktinės literatūros pradžiai ir Atgimimo užuomazgoms; didaktinės literatūros brandai ir Atgimimo pradžiai; pozityvistinei literatūrai ir Atgimimui) aptariami ir spaudos draudimo laikotarpio pozityvistinių bruožų turintys kūriniai, aiškinamasi, kaip XIX a. pabaigos lietuvių literatūroje veikia personažai pozityvistai, kokioms jie priklauso profesinėms / socialinėms grupėms, rekonstruojama jų estetinė pozityvistinė programa. Disertacija apie pozityvizmo sklaidą lietuvių XIX a. pabaigos prozoje yra pirmoji tokio pobūdžio studija lietuvių literatūrologijoje. Išsami pozityvistinės gyvenimo sampratos programa Lietuvoje nebuvo suformuluota, tačiau ją galima rekonstruoti iš teiginių ir minčių, išsisklaidžiusių literatūros ir kultūros darbuotojų publicistiniuose, kritiniuose, sociologiniuose darbuose, o šio tyrimo atveju – grožinės literatūros kūriniuose. Disertacijoje siekiama nuosekliai apžvelgti ir apibendrinti pavienius pasisakymus ir įžvalgas pozityvizmo... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / This dissertation will attempt to present the foundations of the positivist philosophy and worldview. It will also attempt to show the spread of Lithuanian positivism in the context of the dominant positivism of Russia and Poland, and to thoroughly examine the exploration and interpretation of positivism in the mind of Lithuanian fictional literary criticism. This study raises the question as to whether one can in general speak of the adoption of certain models of literature from didactic literature to positivist literature. Aside from discussing different time periods and different literary styles of the nineteenth century (the beginning of Lithuanian didactic literature, while the Lithuanian Cultural Renaissance was still in its embryonic stage; the maturation of didactic literature and the beginning of the Lithuanian Cultural Renaissance; and positivist literature as well as Lithuania's Cultural Renaissance in full force) this work also discusses the pieces having the characteristics of the positivist literature written during the prohibition of the press. The work will also attempt to explain what positivist personalities were significant during the second half of the nineteenth century, and to what professional and social groups these people belonged, along with reconstructing their aesthetic positivist program. This dissertation about the spread of positivism in the prose from the end of the nineteenth century is the first of its kind done in Lithuanian literary... [to full text]

Thesis PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-11T13:53:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Vlamir_N_Seabra.pdf: 1656773 bytes, checksum: ab08838a9283c9d714c5bfaa750e3c01 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-12-19 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This paper presents the determinants in the vocational training of agricultural technicians and the influence of the paradigms of sustainable development in their professional qualification. For this purpose, the procedures used were structured interviews with both trained technicians, as with the trainers, analyzing the information content of these interviews. In the theoretical chapters, presents the historical aspects of the training of agricultural technicians, related to the change in relationship between man and nature, the historical landmarks of the environmental movement, issues of sustainable development and the influence of the paradigm of sustainability in vocational training. In conclusion refutes the hypothesis that the pedagogical model Taylorist-Fordist, with a strong positivist approach has been overcome by systemic models, interconnected and interdependent sustainability / Neste trabalho são apresentados os fatores determinantes na formação profissional dos técnicos agrícolas e a influência dos paradigmas do desenvolvimento sustentável na sua qualificação profissional. Para tanto, os procedimentos metodológicos utilizados foram entrevistas estruturadas tanto com os técnicos formados, quanto com os formadores, analisando o conteúdo das informações destas entrevista. Nos capítulos teóricos, apresentamse os aspectos históricos sobre a formação dos técnicos agrícolas, relacionados à mudança na relação homem-natureza, os marcos históricos do movimento ambientalista, questões sobre o desenvolvimento sustentável e a influência do paradigma da sustentabilidade na formação profissional. Na conclusão refuta-se a hipótese de que o modelo pedagógico Taylorista- Fordista, com forte enfoque positivista tenha sido superado, pelos modelos sistêmicos, interligados e interdependentes da sustentabilidade.

[pt] O presente trabalho tem por objetivo compreender a perpetuação do discurso dos saberes ocidentais na margem do mundo, através da criminologia positivista, com a tradução de Lombroso feita por Nina Rodrigues, expoente no país da Escola Positivista. A partir da revisão bibliográfica buscou-se compreender, sob a perspectiva da colonialidade do saber e do ser, a invasão e colonização da América como fenômeno criador da segregação racial, constituindo-se nas primeiras demarcações da raça como conhecemos. Com essa ideia de construção do outro, Lombroso partiu dos estudos científicos para explicar o controle repressivo das sociedades centrais. A criminologia positivista partiu da ideia de degeneração dos indivíduos e na inferioridade biológica para explicar as razões da criminalização. Levando-se em conta a técnica do centro do mundo, os países latino-americanos importaram os estudos de criminologia para a margem, fortalecendo a relação de dependência centro-margem. No Brasil, as elites precisavam criar mecanismos ideológico-políticos para a manutenção no poder após a abolição da escravidão e instauração da república. A questão racial foi o ponto central nesse projeto racista confirmado pelos estudos de Nina Rodrigues, dividindo as raças, posicionando o problema do negro e o mestiço como fatores preocupantes para o futuro do país. A personificação do outro criminalizável influenciou a formação sócio-política brasileira, de maneira que o sistema penal é o responsável pela perpetuação de privilégios e vantagens históricas usufruídas pelos descendentes dos europeus. A continuidade do pensamento sobre o outro criminalizável demonstra o quantum de positivismo criminológico ainda possuímos. / [en] The presente work aims to understand the perpetuation of the discourse of western knowledge on the world, through positivista criminology, with the translation of Lombroso made by Nina Rodrigues, exponente in the country of the Positivist School. From the literature review, we sought to understand, from the perspective of the coloniality of knowledge and being, the invasion and colonization of America as a phenomenon that created racial segregation, constituting the first demarcations of race as we know it. With this idea of building the other, Lombroso started from scientific studies to explain the repressive control of central societies. Positivist criminology started from the ideia of degeneration of individuals and biological inferiority to explain the reasons for criminalization. Taking into account the technique of the center of the world, Latin American countries imported criminology studies to the margins, strenthening the center-margin dependency relationship. In Brazil, the elites needed to create ideological-political mechanisms to mantain power after the abolition of slavery and the establishment of the republic. The racial issue was the central point in this racista project confirmed by the studies of Nina Rodrigues, dividing the races, positioning the black problem and the mestizo as worrying factors for the future of the country. The personification of the criminalizable other influenced the Brazilian sócio-political formation, so that the penal system is responsible for the perpetuation of privileges and historical advantages enjoyed by the descendants of Europeans. The continuity of thinking about the criminalizable other demonstrates the quantum of criminological positivismo we still have.

The following dissertation is comprised of three manuscripts presenting a theory-to-practice design for studying the nature of knowledge change. Knowledge change—as defined for this dissertation—is an exploration of the quantitative and qualitative change in how knowledge is used over a period of time. Knowledge change is derived from the broader scholarship on conceptual change; that is, how people develop, organize, and then re-organize knowledge (Vosniadou, 2013). Conceptual change has been widely used to describe the cognitive process behind how a novice acquires and organizes knowledge in order to become an expert (Carey, 1985), particularly in the hard sciences (e.g. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, or 'STEM' subjects) (Vosniadou, 2008, 2013). However, more recent research has been dedicated to establishing the need to explore conceptual change in the social sciences (Murphy and Alexander, 2008). The present research was designed to explore knowledge change as one specific component of the conceptual change process. The research is presented in three manuscripts. The first manuscript details how the researcher blended conceptual change learning with the disciplinary domain of the present study, leadership studies. The second manuscript chronicles the design of a continuous case study, the primary tool for data collection used in the present study, as well as the methodology used. The third and final manuscript offers an overview of the first study undertaken using the collected data; that is, an exploration of the nature of knowledge change within an undergraduate peer leadership course. / Ph. D.

This PhD provides insight into designing. It offers a view on the nature and structures of design research proposing that design research occurs within the activity of designing. As a case study, the PhD provides an internal view of the emergent design process of a collaborative architecture design practice terroir. It proposes a way, (the 'design-place'), in which design by collaboration operates within complex and often contradictory contexts. The thesis deals with questions of design in a contemporary, cosmopolitan condition and proposes that within such a condition design is an ethical endeavour. A key underlying proposition of the thesis is that architecture is fundamentally a critical activity. The PhD concludes by demonstrating through design projects how terroir has explored these questions in producing designs that operate at the level of personal and subjective experience in opening up a public, cosmopolitan realm.