This document summarizes the author's week attending the St Deiniol's literary studies course in Wales from January 4-7, 2010. Over the course of interactive lectures and discussions, the author gained new insights into literature and science, manuscript studies, and their own research on David Hartley. Key topics included the relationship between the novel and science, the role of politics and ideology in the development of the Royal Society, and debates around literary Darwinism. The author found sharing ideas with peers from various disciplines to be particularly valuable for reflecting on their own approach to English literature.
This document contains diary reflections from Grace Farrington about a conference on literature, science, and medicine. Over four days, she discusses ideas presented at various sessions on topics like interdisciplinarity, representations of disease in literature, and the relationship between fiction and scientific concepts. She reflects on how engaging with different perspectives can challenge preconceptions while also sparking new insights.
This document provides an agenda and overview of material for a literature theory class. It includes:
- An introduction to literary theory, explaining that it provides lenses to analyze and interpret literature.
- An overview of several major theoretical approaches like formalism, Marxism, structuralism, new historicism, ethnic studies, gender studies, and psychoanalytic criticism.
- Sample discussion questions for different theories like new criticism, deconstruction, and feminist criticism. These questions focus on analyzing texts through the lens of each theory's key concepts.
The document aims to introduce students to the field of literary theory and some of its major schools of thought by outlining the class topics, providing theoretical context, and giving examples of
This document summarizes a paper discussing reasons for low participation of girls and women in physics. It introduces three viewpoints on the causes: inherent biological differences between males and females; socialization differences in how girls are taught; and cultural biases within the field of physics that cause females to lose interest. The paper focuses on exploring how the culture of physics may dissuade women from participating. It examines perceptions of scientists, different learning theories and pedagogies, and how physics is taught to determine what influences women's participation in the subject.
This document provides an agenda for an English class discussing two philosophers, Lao-Tzu and Machiavelli. It includes assignments like an upcoming essay due, forming discussion teams, and introducing concepts from the philosophers' works. It outlines discussing passages from Lao-Tzu on government and leadership. Students are given prompts to critically analyze the passages. The class will then discuss Machiavelli's views and have an in-class essay comparing the two philosophers' ideas. Homework includes reading Machiavelli and preparing vocabulary terms for a future test.
This document discusses the fragmented and constructed nature of historical knowledge. It examines the ideas of Michel Foucault and Hayden White, who argued that history is not objective but rather is shaped by the historian through language and narrative devices. It then analyzes how Edward P. Jones' historical novel The Known World presents a postmodern view of history by showing the instability and multiple layers of reality through the differing accounts of characters. The document questions how we can trust historical knowledge and argues The Known World highlights the fragmented nature of making sense of the past.
How important are the opinions of experts in the search for knowledge?Megan Kedzlie
An essay for my Theory of Knowledge/Philosophy class that I take in the IB. Looks at the value society puts onto experts and the definition of an expert.
This document discusses the relationship between novels and empiricism in the 17th century. It notes that both novels and early scientific experiments rejected previous traditions and embraced vernacular language while placing importance on personal trustworthiness and observation over rhetoric. Novels such as Aphra Behn's Oroonoko emphasized being based on the author's own experiences to establish truth. Similarly, the Royal Society founded in the 17th century gave rise to empiricism's emphasis on observation and distrust of words alone. Both novels and science thus used similar approaches focused on private judgment and negotiated truth.
The students provided positive and negative feedback on Event 5. Positively, they noted interesting lectures and discussions on a wide range of topics. They appreciated opportunities to network with other students. However, some critiques included that Day 1 lacked structure and was too brief, not allowing time to view collections at Blythe House. The location and accommodation also received some criticism for not being optimal.
This document contains diary reflections from Grace Farrington about a conference on literature, science, and medicine. Over four days, she discusses ideas presented at various sessions on topics like interdisciplinarity, representations of disease in literature, and the relationship between fiction and scientific concepts. She reflects on how engaging with different perspectives can challenge preconceptions while also sparking new insights.
This document provides an agenda and overview of material for a literature theory class. It includes:
- An introduction to literary theory, explaining that it provides lenses to analyze and interpret literature.
- An overview of several major theoretical approaches like formalism, Marxism, structuralism, new historicism, ethnic studies, gender studies, and psychoanalytic criticism.
- Sample discussion questions for different theories like new criticism, deconstruction, and feminist criticism. These questions focus on analyzing texts through the lens of each theory's key concepts.
The document aims to introduce students to the field of literary theory and some of its major schools of thought by outlining the class topics, providing theoretical context, and giving examples of
This document summarizes a paper discussing reasons for low participation of girls and women in physics. It introduces three viewpoints on the causes: inherent biological differences between males and females; socialization differences in how girls are taught; and cultural biases within the field of physics that cause females to lose interest. The paper focuses on exploring how the culture of physics may dissuade women from participating. It examines perceptions of scientists, different learning theories and pedagogies, and how physics is taught to determine what influences women's participation in the subject.
This document provides an agenda for an English class discussing two philosophers, Lao-Tzu and Machiavelli. It includes assignments like an upcoming essay due, forming discussion teams, and introducing concepts from the philosophers' works. It outlines discussing passages from Lao-Tzu on government and leadership. Students are given prompts to critically analyze the passages. The class will then discuss Machiavelli's views and have an in-class essay comparing the two philosophers' ideas. Homework includes reading Machiavelli and preparing vocabulary terms for a future test.
This document discusses the fragmented and constructed nature of historical knowledge. It examines the ideas of Michel Foucault and Hayden White, who argued that history is not objective but rather is shaped by the historian through language and narrative devices. It then analyzes how Edward P. Jones' historical novel The Known World presents a postmodern view of history by showing the instability and multiple layers of reality through the differing accounts of characters. The document questions how we can trust historical knowledge and argues The Known World highlights the fragmented nature of making sense of the past.
How important are the opinions of experts in the search for knowledge?Megan Kedzlie
An essay for my Theory of Knowledge/Philosophy class that I take in the IB. Looks at the value society puts onto experts and the definition of an expert.
This document discusses the relationship between novels and empiricism in the 17th century. It notes that both novels and early scientific experiments rejected previous traditions and embraced vernacular language while placing importance on personal trustworthiness and observation over rhetoric. Novels such as Aphra Behn's Oroonoko emphasized being based on the author's own experiences to establish truth. Similarly, the Royal Society founded in the 17th century gave rise to empiricism's emphasis on observation and distrust of words alone. Both novels and science thus used similar approaches focused on private judgment and negotiated truth.
The students provided positive and negative feedback on Event 5. Positively, they noted interesting lectures and discussions on a wide range of topics. They appreciated opportunities to network with other students. However, some critiques included that Day 1 lacked structure and was too brief, not allowing time to view collections at Blythe House. The location and accommodation also received some criticism for not being optimal.
Glass Reflections by Isobel Armstrong examines the use of mirrors and reflections in literature. It analyzes how mirrors are used as a metaphor for self-reflection and identity. The book also discusses how mirrors challenge conventional notions of reality by calling into question the boundaries between the real and the reflected.
This document discusses the emergence and cultural constructions of "Woolsorters' Disease", later identified as anthrax, in Bradford, England from 1878 to 1919. It describes how the disease was initially thought to be caused by "dirty foreign wools" but research demonstrated the causative organism was Bacillus anthracis. It also discusses how representations of the disease shifted from a "folk" understanding to systematic medical research, but engagement with sufferers continued through compensation and demonstrations. Finally, it notes understandings of anthrax depended on specific social contexts and industries, and how different research communities reflected differences in cultural constructions of foreign countries.
This document provides an overview of cultural representations of HIV/AIDS in various media such as literature, drama, fiction, and non-fiction narratives. It discusses how HIV/AIDS was initially viewed as a punishment for homosexuals and society. It also explores the metaphorical importance of AIDS and how representations have shifted over time from viewing it as a plague to recognizing those living with AIDS as citizens. The document analyzes several literary and cultural works that have shaped understandings of HIV/AIDS.
Colin Baker Theories And Methods Literature, Science And MedicineLitSciMed .
The document discusses the rise of medical journalism in 19th century Britain, where 479 medical periodicals were launched. It describes the different types of periodicals and the small amount of existing historiography that treats medical journals as active historical documents rather than just passive sources of information. The document calls for further exploration of how medical periodicals served as an active social force through campaigning, shaping medical education and knowledge, advocating for fringe medical ideas, and changing the relationship between doctors and patients.
The document discusses several topics related to intelligence including thought experiments, the Turing test, poetry, and simulations. It examines how thought experiments influence research and are tested or constrained. Different methods for generating text like recursive transition networks and automation are also covered. The concept of disruption, dissociation, deception and simulation are explored in the context of testing intelligence.
The document discusses the clinical case report as a narrative form. It notes that case reports have been used since Hippocratic times to describe individual patient cases. A case report provides a linguistic portrait of a patient through presenting their story conversationally or formally. It includes testimonies, observations both external and internal, descriptions and analysis of fluids, tissues and imaging, as well as responses to treatment.
The Poetry Of Humphry Davy Ahrc PresentationLitSciMed .
This document discusses Thomas Beddoes, an 18th century British chemist and physician who was also a Romantic poet. It notes that Beddoes established the Pneumatic Institution in Bristol in 1799 to study the medical uses of gases. The document explores how Beddoes straddled the fields of science, medicine, and literature as both a scientist who conducted research and communicated science to the public, as well as a published poet. It examines how to assess Beddoes' poetry and contributions through the lenses of both history of science and technology as well as literary theory.
Competing 19th Century Midwifery Instruments; Forceps/Vectis Rivalry and Reso...LitSciMed .
This document summarizes a presentation about competing midwifery instruments in 19th century Britain, specifically the rivalry between forceps and the vectis. It discusses how men originally entered the birthing chamber as a last resort before instruments were used to deliver live babies. While sources differ on how the vectis was used, an influential midwife manual from 1805 described using the vectis by placing it over the ear and past the chin. The presentation will next examine what led to the forceps becoming more successful than the vectis and the role midwives played in this change.
Victorian medicine and masculinity at home and abroadLitSciMed .
This document discusses Michael Brown's lecture on the topic of Victorian medicine and masculinity. The first half of the lecture explores how 19th century doctors compared themselves to soldiers and invoked language of war and heroism. This military metaphor became dominant and served political ends by framing medicine as public service. Literature from this time period also portrayed doctors heroically. The Crimean War further conflated medical and martial masculinities. By the 1850s, medical discourse was saturated with war imagery and concepts of martial masculinity, influenced by growing nationalism and imperialism.
This document provides an overview of an exhibit at the National Maritime Museum focused on food, cooking, and dining on 18th century ships. The exhibit includes paintings depicting life onboard ships, an interactive section showing a ship interior, and a section exploring culinary cultures such as that of Tahiti. All images in the exhibit are property of the National Maritime Museum.
The document discusses the use of objects in literary and scientific research. It references Matthew Baillie's 1793 work "The Morbid Anatomy of Some of the Most Important Parts of the Body" which examined changes in bodily structures from diseases. Joanna Baillie's "Introductory Discourse" explored how examining people's behaviors and emotions could provide insights. The document asks how objects could be incorporated into text-based research and provides examples of how they have been used historically in medical and literary works to study human anatomy and conditions.
The Man in the White Suit is a 1951 British film about a textile chemist named Sidney Stratton who invents an indestructible synthetic fabric called the "white suit." The film examines Stratton as an eccentric scientist obsessed with his experiment. It also depicts the realistic 1950s British textile industry and laboratories of the time, as well as themes of industrial innovation, the public perception of science, and the conflict between lone inventors and corporations. Stratton's fabric threatens the business models of the textile industry firms who seek to suppress his invention.
This document discusses a sextant from 1792 that is in the collection of the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich. It provides details on the object, including that it was signed by the maker Jesse Ramsden in London. The document also discusses the manufacture of the sextant and Ramsden's dividing engine technique. Previous owners of the sextant are mentioned, including John Ommaney who served on a voyage to China in 1792-3, and Admiral Purey-Cust who eventually donated it to the museum. An interpretation of the sextant is also provided in one of the museum displays focusing on the invention of the sextant.
This document describes four Polynesian artifacts collected during Captain Cook's voyages in the late 18th century, including a wooden spear from before 1778, a Kotiate (Wooden Hand Club) from before 1773, and depicts spears, clubs, and depictions of shooting walruses. All of the artifacts and pictures are owned by the National Maritime Museum.
This document discusses social constructionism and its key assumptions of taking a critical view of common knowledge, understanding knowledge as historically and culturally specific, and knowledge being sustained through social processes where knowledge and action are linked. It provides a quote from The Third Policeman about something faultless and delightful that reminded the author of something unfamiliar.
The document discusses the Transit of Venus in 1769. Pictures from the event are owned by the National Maritime Museum. The rare astronomical event involves the planet Venus passing directly between the Earth and the Sun, allowing scientists to measure the distance between Earth and Venus.
The document summarizes feedback from 14 students who attended Event 3 of the LitSciMed Project in July 2010. Key highlights included:
- Students enjoyed tours of the National Maritime Museum and Royal Institution, as well as handling original manuscripts and other archival materials.
- Educational sessions with Crosbie Smith and David Knights were praised as inspirational and for modeling interdisciplinary approaches.
- Students benefited from networking with others from different disciplines but united by common research interests.
- Suggested improvements included providing hotel recommendations, distributing readings more evenly, and allowing more time for exploration of the museum sites.
‘Humanities Research as Experimentation: Report on final Polaroid film batchLitSciMed .
This document discusses limitations and improvements to Polaroid cameras. It identifies focal depth, image dimensions, and color/light as key limitations. It also notes a bleaching effect and proposes making single plane photos by elevating or lowering the camera angle.
Online Resources at the Wellcome LibraryLitSciMed .
The document summarizes online resources available through the Wellcome Library including their catalogue, image collections, archives, electronic resources, and digitized collections. It provides tips for searching and accessing these tools, such as using controlled vocabulary and wildcards, saving records, and subscribing to RSS feeds. Contact information is provided for questions.
Topic For Informative Essay. 10 Stunning Ideas For Informative Speech Topics ...Kimberly Jabbour
Informative Essay - 10+ Examples, Format, Pdf | Examples. Examples of Informative Essays. Marvelous Informative Essay Examples For High School ~ Thatsnotus. Informative Essay Samples. Awesome Example Of Informative Essay ~ Thatsnotus. How To Write An Informative Essay 9Th Grade - How To Write An Essay .... Pin by Custom Essay Writing Services on your essay | Essay, Informative .... 70+ Fascinating Informative Essay Topics for Kids and Teens. Informative Essay Sample – Telegraph. informative essay examples 5th grade - Google Search | Persuasive essay .... Informative Essay Example | Persuasive essays, Informative essay, Essay. Informative Essay - English Final exam. Samples of an informative essay - drugerreport732.web.fc2.com. Informative Essay Examples sample, Bookwormlab. Sample Informative Essay Outline Gratis. Tips for Writing an Informative Essay. Informative Essay Example | Template Business. How To Write An Informative Essay | Informative essay, Informational .... Download Informative Essay Examples For Middle School PNG - Exam. Free Essay - 26+ Examples, Format, Pdf | Examples. How To Write Informative Speech Topics - Informative Speech Topics and .... 10 Stunning Ideas For Informative Speech Topics 2023. Examples Of Informative : What is an Informative Essay?. 003 Informative Essay Unit Assignment Page 1 Ideas ~ Thatsnotus.
This document discusses Daniel Garber's approach to teaching a new history of philosophy course. Some key points:
1) The course focuses on philosophy and science during the Scientific Revolution, reading works by philosophers like Descartes alongside scientists like Galileo and Boyle.
2) Rather than portraying figures like Descartes as representing a unified "mechanical philosophy" opposing Aristotelianism, the course emphasizes their significant differences and alternatives to Aristotelianism.
3) The course aims to provide students a more nuanced picture of the philosophical debates and diversity of thought during this period than traditional histories of philosophy.
Glass Reflections by Isobel Armstrong examines the use of mirrors and reflections in literature. It analyzes how mirrors are used as a metaphor for self-reflection and identity. The book also discusses how mirrors challenge conventional notions of reality by calling into question the boundaries between the real and the reflected.
This document discusses the emergence and cultural constructions of "Woolsorters' Disease", later identified as anthrax, in Bradford, England from 1878 to 1919. It describes how the disease was initially thought to be caused by "dirty foreign wools" but research demonstrated the causative organism was Bacillus anthracis. It also discusses how representations of the disease shifted from a "folk" understanding to systematic medical research, but engagement with sufferers continued through compensation and demonstrations. Finally, it notes understandings of anthrax depended on specific social contexts and industries, and how different research communities reflected differences in cultural constructions of foreign countries.
This document provides an overview of cultural representations of HIV/AIDS in various media such as literature, drama, fiction, and non-fiction narratives. It discusses how HIV/AIDS was initially viewed as a punishment for homosexuals and society. It also explores the metaphorical importance of AIDS and how representations have shifted over time from viewing it as a plague to recognizing those living with AIDS as citizens. The document analyzes several literary and cultural works that have shaped understandings of HIV/AIDS.
Colin Baker Theories And Methods Literature, Science And MedicineLitSciMed .
The document discusses the rise of medical journalism in 19th century Britain, where 479 medical periodicals were launched. It describes the different types of periodicals and the small amount of existing historiography that treats medical journals as active historical documents rather than just passive sources of information. The document calls for further exploration of how medical periodicals served as an active social force through campaigning, shaping medical education and knowledge, advocating for fringe medical ideas, and changing the relationship between doctors and patients.
The document discusses several topics related to intelligence including thought experiments, the Turing test, poetry, and simulations. It examines how thought experiments influence research and are tested or constrained. Different methods for generating text like recursive transition networks and automation are also covered. The concept of disruption, dissociation, deception and simulation are explored in the context of testing intelligence.
The document discusses the clinical case report as a narrative form. It notes that case reports have been used since Hippocratic times to describe individual patient cases. A case report provides a linguistic portrait of a patient through presenting their story conversationally or formally. It includes testimonies, observations both external and internal, descriptions and analysis of fluids, tissues and imaging, as well as responses to treatment.
The Poetry Of Humphry Davy Ahrc PresentationLitSciMed .
This document discusses Thomas Beddoes, an 18th century British chemist and physician who was also a Romantic poet. It notes that Beddoes established the Pneumatic Institution in Bristol in 1799 to study the medical uses of gases. The document explores how Beddoes straddled the fields of science, medicine, and literature as both a scientist who conducted research and communicated science to the public, as well as a published poet. It examines how to assess Beddoes' poetry and contributions through the lenses of both history of science and technology as well as literary theory.
Competing 19th Century Midwifery Instruments; Forceps/Vectis Rivalry and Reso...LitSciMed .
This document summarizes a presentation about competing midwifery instruments in 19th century Britain, specifically the rivalry between forceps and the vectis. It discusses how men originally entered the birthing chamber as a last resort before instruments were used to deliver live babies. While sources differ on how the vectis was used, an influential midwife manual from 1805 described using the vectis by placing it over the ear and past the chin. The presentation will next examine what led to the forceps becoming more successful than the vectis and the role midwives played in this change.
Victorian medicine and masculinity at home and abroadLitSciMed .
This document discusses Michael Brown's lecture on the topic of Victorian medicine and masculinity. The first half of the lecture explores how 19th century doctors compared themselves to soldiers and invoked language of war and heroism. This military metaphor became dominant and served political ends by framing medicine as public service. Literature from this time period also portrayed doctors heroically. The Crimean War further conflated medical and martial masculinities. By the 1850s, medical discourse was saturated with war imagery and concepts of martial masculinity, influenced by growing nationalism and imperialism.
This document provides an overview of an exhibit at the National Maritime Museum focused on food, cooking, and dining on 18th century ships. The exhibit includes paintings depicting life onboard ships, an interactive section showing a ship interior, and a section exploring culinary cultures such as that of Tahiti. All images in the exhibit are property of the National Maritime Museum.
The document discusses the use of objects in literary and scientific research. It references Matthew Baillie's 1793 work "The Morbid Anatomy of Some of the Most Important Parts of the Body" which examined changes in bodily structures from diseases. Joanna Baillie's "Introductory Discourse" explored how examining people's behaviors and emotions could provide insights. The document asks how objects could be incorporated into text-based research and provides examples of how they have been used historically in medical and literary works to study human anatomy and conditions.
The Man in the White Suit is a 1951 British film about a textile chemist named Sidney Stratton who invents an indestructible synthetic fabric called the "white suit." The film examines Stratton as an eccentric scientist obsessed with his experiment. It also depicts the realistic 1950s British textile industry and laboratories of the time, as well as themes of industrial innovation, the public perception of science, and the conflict between lone inventors and corporations. Stratton's fabric threatens the business models of the textile industry firms who seek to suppress his invention.
This document discusses a sextant from 1792 that is in the collection of the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich. It provides details on the object, including that it was signed by the maker Jesse Ramsden in London. The document also discusses the manufacture of the sextant and Ramsden's dividing engine technique. Previous owners of the sextant are mentioned, including John Ommaney who served on a voyage to China in 1792-3, and Admiral Purey-Cust who eventually donated it to the museum. An interpretation of the sextant is also provided in one of the museum displays focusing on the invention of the sextant.
This document describes four Polynesian artifacts collected during Captain Cook's voyages in the late 18th century, including a wooden spear from before 1778, a Kotiate (Wooden Hand Club) from before 1773, and depicts spears, clubs, and depictions of shooting walruses. All of the artifacts and pictures are owned by the National Maritime Museum.
This document discusses social constructionism and its key assumptions of taking a critical view of common knowledge, understanding knowledge as historically and culturally specific, and knowledge being sustained through social processes where knowledge and action are linked. It provides a quote from The Third Policeman about something faultless and delightful that reminded the author of something unfamiliar.
The document discusses the Transit of Venus in 1769. Pictures from the event are owned by the National Maritime Museum. The rare astronomical event involves the planet Venus passing directly between the Earth and the Sun, allowing scientists to measure the distance between Earth and Venus.
The document summarizes feedback from 14 students who attended Event 3 of the LitSciMed Project in July 2010. Key highlights included:
- Students enjoyed tours of the National Maritime Museum and Royal Institution, as well as handling original manuscripts and other archival materials.
- Educational sessions with Crosbie Smith and David Knights were praised as inspirational and for modeling interdisciplinary approaches.
- Students benefited from networking with others from different disciplines but united by common research interests.
- Suggested improvements included providing hotel recommendations, distributing readings more evenly, and allowing more time for exploration of the museum sites.
‘Humanities Research as Experimentation: Report on final Polaroid film batchLitSciMed .
This document discusses limitations and improvements to Polaroid cameras. It identifies focal depth, image dimensions, and color/light as key limitations. It also notes a bleaching effect and proposes making single plane photos by elevating or lowering the camera angle.
Online Resources at the Wellcome LibraryLitSciMed .
The document summarizes online resources available through the Wellcome Library including their catalogue, image collections, archives, electronic resources, and digitized collections. It provides tips for searching and accessing these tools, such as using controlled vocabulary and wildcards, saving records, and subscribing to RSS feeds. Contact information is provided for questions.
Topic For Informative Essay. 10 Stunning Ideas For Informative Speech Topics ...Kimberly Jabbour
Informative Essay - 10+ Examples, Format, Pdf | Examples. Examples of Informative Essays. Marvelous Informative Essay Examples For High School ~ Thatsnotus. Informative Essay Samples. Awesome Example Of Informative Essay ~ Thatsnotus. How To Write An Informative Essay 9Th Grade - How To Write An Essay .... Pin by Custom Essay Writing Services on your essay | Essay, Informative .... 70+ Fascinating Informative Essay Topics for Kids and Teens. Informative Essay Sample – Telegraph. informative essay examples 5th grade - Google Search | Persuasive essay .... Informative Essay Example | Persuasive essays, Informative essay, Essay. Informative Essay - English Final exam. Samples of an informative essay - drugerreport732.web.fc2.com. Informative Essay Examples sample, Bookwormlab. Sample Informative Essay Outline Gratis. Tips for Writing an Informative Essay. Informative Essay Example | Template Business. How To Write An Informative Essay | Informative essay, Informational .... Download Informative Essay Examples For Middle School PNG - Exam. Free Essay - 26+ Examples, Format, Pdf | Examples. How To Write Informative Speech Topics - Informative Speech Topics and .... 10 Stunning Ideas For Informative Speech Topics 2023. Examples Of Informative : What is an Informative Essay?. 003 Informative Essay Unit Assignment Page 1 Ideas ~ Thatsnotus.
This document discusses Daniel Garber's approach to teaching a new history of philosophy course. Some key points:
1) The course focuses on philosophy and science during the Scientific Revolution, reading works by philosophers like Descartes alongside scientists like Galileo and Boyle.
2) Rather than portraying figures like Descartes as representing a unified "mechanical philosophy" opposing Aristotelianism, the course emphasizes their significant differences and alternatives to Aristotelianism.
3) The course aims to provide students a more nuanced picture of the philosophical debates and diversity of thought during this period than traditional histories of philosophy.
Chapter 1What is theoryIn literary and cultural studies.docxwalterl4
This document provides an overview of what constitutes "theory" in literary and cultural studies. It discusses how theory is often critiques of common sense understandings and attempts to show these understandings are historical constructions. The document uses examples from Michel Foucault and his work on sexuality to illustrate these points. Specifically, it summarizes Foucault's argument that sex is not a natural phenomenon but rather is constructed through various social practices and discourses. It also discusses how Foucault's work, while not about literature directly, has been influential for literary studies by encouraging skepticism of naturalized concepts and offering new perspectives for analyzing texts.
In the Minds of Men: Darwin and the New World Order, by Ian T. TaylorOrthodoxoOnline
A history of evolution: Darwin and such. Scientific arguments against evolution. Scientific arguments that the earth is very young. A discussion of atheism, secular humanism, etc.
Excessive stress in early childhood can harm brain development and negatively impact a child's physical and mental health as high levels of stress hormones released during prolonged stressful events can disrupt the development of brain circuitry related to learning, memory, and adaptive behaviors. Chronic stress early in life has also been linked to an increased risk of developing mood and anxiety disorders later in life. It is important to help young children manage stress in healthy ways to support their optimal development.
This document is an introduction to a book titled "Advice to a Young Scientist" by P.B. Medawar. The introduction defines science broadly to include all exploratory activities aimed at better understanding the natural world. It notes that while research is the main focus, science encompasses many other roles. It also stresses that there is no single "scientist" personality, as scientists come from diverse backgrounds and temperaments. The introduction serves to set the scope of the book in advising both young and older scientists, as well as non-scientists, about the scientific process and profession.
Abortion Persuasive Essay - against - GCSE Religious Studies .... ⇉Persuasive about abortions Essay Example | GraduateWay. Argumentative essay on abortion. Argumentative Abortion Essay – Argumentative essay on abortion for .... Abortion essays - College Homework Help and Online Tutoring.. How To Write A Persuasive Essay On Abortion? | Grademiners.com. Argumentative Essay On Pros and Cons of Abortion | PDF | Abortion .... Reading: Legalized Abortion and the Public Health: Report of a Study .... Custom Essay | amazonia.fiocruz.br. Persuasive Speech On Abortions Sample - PHDessay.com. Essay Writer for All Kinds of Papers - good thesis statement for being .... Argumentative persuasive essay on abortion banning. Best Custom Academic Essay Writing Help & Writing Services UK Online ....
Abortion Persuasive Essay - against - GCSE Religious Studies .... ⇉Persuasive about abortions Essay Example | GraduateWay. Argumentative essay on abortion. Argumentative Abortion Essay – Argumentative essay on abortion for .... Abortion essays - College Homework Help and Online Tutoring.. How To Write A Persuasive Essay On Abortion? | Grademiners.com. Argumentative Essay On Pros and Cons of Abortion | PDF | Abortion .... Reading: Legalized Abortion and the Public Health: Report of a Study .... Custom Essay | amazonia.fiocruz.br. Persuasive Speech On Abortions Sample - PHDessay.com. Essay Writer for All Kinds of Papers - good thesis statement for being .... Argumentative persuasive essay on abortion banning. Best Custom Academic Essay Writing Help & Writing Services UK Online ....
A PHILOSOPHICAL POTPOURRI 14 Essays In The HumanitiesAmy Roman
This document provides an overview of the author's philosophical journey and rationale for philosophizing from a posthuman perspective. Some key points:
1) The author no longer reads philosophers to learn what they know, but to confirm insights already present in his own consciousness.
2) He has adopted a posthuman philosophical attitude informed by the work of Leslie Dewart, seeing philosophy as "theology without God" that appeals to reason rather than religious faith.
3) Through critical self-reflection inspired by phenomenology, the author transcended traditional ontology and metaphysics to understand experience and construct meaning in his life-world from a modern perspective.
4) In posthuman philosophy, the author distinguishes but
Essay Appendix. Appendix In Research Paper : 007 Research Paper Format Th Edi...Britney Gilbert
What Is an Appendix? Structure, Format & Examples | EssayPro. The Easiest Way to Write an Appendix - wikiHow. How to Write an Appendix: 11 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow. Appendix Example Images / 013 Appendix Essay ... : An appendix allows .... Appendix Example Images - 004 Appendices In Research Paper Appendix ....
100 words per response due in 8 hoursJohnnys postDe.docxRAJU852744
100 words per response due in 8 hours
Johnny's post
Define the humanities
As described by J. McAteer in the LIB101 introduction video, the humanities that we focused on in this class were “art, literature, history, philosophy and religion”.
Art can be broken down into numerous different forms ranging from hand drawn pictures, theater, and even entire buildings. In week four we saw J.M. Sweeney (2010) explain in detail how religion dedicates the various different structural pieces of their buildings to the artwork of their faith. A rather ingenious idea really once you start to think about it. How else would you be able to spread the word of your faith to those that could not read or spoke a different language?
We dove into literature right out of the gate during week one with Homer’s epic,
The Odyssey
. Literature is a great way to accumulate a wealth of knowledge and spread ideas. These days we use literature as an escape from reality, some use it as a doorway to greater knowledge, and others use it as a way to put their ideas on to paper. Literature is a great tool for preserving these ideas and stories throughout history, assuming of course, someone doesn’t decide to burn down the library.
History, the past, as it is written and also discovered by other means. We have acquired most of our knowledge of the past from literature and stories passed down throughout the years. We are constantly seeking and discovering more clues about our past by means of archaeologists, deep sea treasure hunters and the occasional lucky find in some farmers field. History is one of the best teachers.
When it comes to teaching, how is it best to start? In fact, it would seem the best way to start learning is to form a question, then another, and another. Socrates used this method as a way to understand the world around himself. One cannot truly understand something until they dissect each working part and figure out the how’s and why’s. Philosophy has taken its place in history as an exceptional way to teach and learn. Not only does it help us to understand the world around us, but it also enables us to discover different parts of ourselves.
Throughout history people have turned to religion to help them understand the reasons for events that were beyond their comprehension. It has guided those that are able to assist the less fortunate, given people higher standards and morals to live up to and provided explanations for experiences. It has brought like-minded people together so they could succeed as a community, rather than struggle as an individual. This is how I define the Humanities that we focused on in this class.
Yesenia's post
Define the humanities
For me, it is hard to put the definition into words. I guess for me the humanities are the study of what influenced our society today its learning our history. For example, the video talks about how philosophy is necessary for democracy because we must evaluate our t.
Around The Day In Eighty Worlds Politics Of The PluriverseErica Thompson
This document provides information about a book titled "Around the Day in Eighty Worlds: Politics of the Pluriverse" by Martin Savransky. It includes:
1) Front matter such as the title page, copyright information, and table of contents.
2) An acknowledgments section where the author thanks various individuals and institutions for their support during the writing process.
3) An introduction to the book's ongoing and unfinished nature, and how it seeks to activate William James' philosophical and political experimentation.
4) Details that the book contains six chapters, notes, bibliography, and index sections exploring ideas related to pluralism and the pluriverse.
This document provides instructions for requesting writing assistance from HelpWriting.net. It outlines a 5-step process: 1) Create an account with a password and email. 2) Complete a 10-minute order form providing instructions, sources, and deadline. 3) Review bids from writers and choose one based on qualifications. 4) Receive the paper and authorize payment if pleased. 5) Request revisions until fully satisfied, with the option of a full refund for plagiarized work.
Mankind in The Making - H.G. Wells, Free eBookChuck Thompson
Mankind in The Making - H.G. Wells, Free eBook. H G Wells was a member of the Fabian society. A nihilistic group of socialists, communists and anarchists that have shaped our present day.
This document analyzes the lack of a clearly defined system of doctrine in the Mormon religion. It notes that beliefs once taught by church leaders as doctrine, such as polygamy being necessary for the highest level of heaven, are now considered false. It also discusses how Mormon history shows changing theological understandings over time. Due to this ambiguity and changing nature of beliefs, there is no universally accepted framework for what constitutes official Mormon doctrine. This has led to debate both within and outside the church over what beliefs are binding on members.
This document discusses various perspectives on things and objects from the fields of philosophy, sociology, and cultural studies. It explores how objects can assert themselves as things when they stop functioning for human subjects. It examines the distinction between objects and things, and how things exist beyond just their signified use or meaning. It also looks at how humans exist in relation to objects, and how objects can act as quasi-subjects that help construct social relationships and individual identities. The document advocates studying the role of material objects in shaping culture.
This document provides a list of scholarly sources to read about thing theory and the study of objects and material culture. It includes books and articles that discuss objects from perspectives such as commodity and consumer culture, literary representations of things, philosophical understandings of objects and object-oriented ontology, psychoanalytic approaches, and the social lives and meanings of everyday things. Major authors mentioned include Arjun Appadurai, Jean Baudrillard, Jane Bennett, Bill Brown, Bruno Latour, Daniel Miller, and Sherry Turkle.
The document summarizes student feedback from Event 4 of the LitSciMed training program. Key points included:
- Students appreciated the relevant and approachable speaker presentations, as well as the opportunity to discuss their work. The location and event structure were also praised.
- Suggested improvements were providing shorter reading lists, more guidance for the poetry discussion when a speaker was absent, and inviting a poet to do a reading.
- The organization, intellectual stimulation from speakers across disciplines, and relaxed atmosphere were highlighted. Some asked for more time for discussion, input from scientists, or preparation for poetry analysis activities.
- Overall, students found the event very well done and said it achieved the right balance of topics
The document discusses various papers and objects related to Romantic-era scientists like Humphry Davy and Michael Faraday. It notes that Davy's papers at the Royal Institution help place him in the cultural context of his time. Science was conducted not just in dedicated laboratories but also portable setups that could be used in fields or homes. The document also discusses collections at the Linnean Society containing the papers of William Swainson, a lithographer and artist who struggled financially from his scientific career in Regency-era Britain. His system of classification failed to catch on. The interrelated stories discussed provide context about the period between 1800-1830 in Britain.
This document provides guidance for students preparing a scholarly edition of a manuscript. It asks them to describe the manuscript, transcribe it faithfully, and explains why examining the original manuscript is important. It also addresses how to handle mistakes, revisions, different versions, and annotations in the transcription and edited text. The goal is to produce an edition that faithfully represents the original while making it accessible to modern readers.
The document discusses various papers and objects related to Romantic-era scientists like Humphry Davy and Michael Faraday. It notes that Davy's papers at the Royal Institution help place him in the cultural context of his time. Science was conducted not just in dedicated laboratories but also portable setups that could be used in fields or homes. The document also discusses collections at the Linnean Society containing the papers of William Swainson, a lithographer and artist who struggled financially from his scientific career in Regency-era Britain. His system of classification failed to catch on. The interrelated stories discussed provide context about the period between 1800-1830 in Britain.
The Wellcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine at University College London is holding the LitSciMed Film Competition. The competition invites entrants to create short films up to 5 minutes in length on topics related to their research. The goal is to explore alternative media for presenting scholarly content. Entries must be uploaded to YouTube by June 1, 2010. The top 3 entries will receive prizes. Copyrighted material from other sources can be used if they are acknowledged and credited properly under Creative Commons licensing. A variety of resources for images, film clips, and sound effects that can be used within Creative Commons guidelines are provided.
The document discusses the use of objects in literary and scientific research. It references Matthew Baillie's 1793 work "The Morbid Anatomy of Some of the Most Important Parts of the Body" which examined changes in bodily structures from diseases. It also mentions Joanna Baillie's "Introductory Discourse" to her plays which explored how objects like an "unquiet mind" or "restless eye" can engage an audience's attention. The document poses questions about how objects could be used in text-based research and how researchers could incorporate objects into their own work.
What sort of a Narrative is the Clinical Case Report?LitSciMed .
What sort of a Narrative is the Clinical Case Report?
Brian Hurwitz
Professor of Medicine and the Arts, KCL
A talk based on: Hurwitz B Clinical Cases and Clinical Case Reports: Boundaries and Porosities. In: Morisco B, Turchetti G, Calanchi A, Castellani G.(eds) The Case and the Canon Gottingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht Unipress (In Press) expected date publication Autumn 2010
Wellcome Library’s Collections – An IntroductionLitSciMed .
The document provides an introduction to the collections of the Wellcome Library, including an overview of its origins and unifying themes. It describes Sir Henry Wellcome's extensive collections focusing on the history of medicine which formed the basis of the Library. The Library houses diverse special collections spanning from medieval texts to contemporary born-digital materials, covering topics from alchemy to psychiatry. It aims to balance representing notable figures with ordinary practitioners. The Library's online resources provide broad access to its collections.
What sort of a Narrative is the Clinical Case Report?LitSciMed .
Professor of Medicine and the Arts, KCL
A talk based on: Hurwitz B Clinical Cases and Clinical Case Reports: Boundaries and Porosities. In: Morisco B, Turchetti G, Calanchi A, Castellani G.(eds) The Case and the Canon Gottingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht Unipress (In Press) expected date publication Autumn 2010
Introduction of Cybersecurity with OSS at Code Europe 2024Hiroshi SHIBATA
I develop the Ruby programming language, RubyGems, and Bundler, which are package managers for Ruby. Today, I will introduce how to enhance the security of your application using open-source software (OSS) examples from Ruby and RubyGems.
The first topic is CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures). I have published CVEs many times. But what exactly is a CVE? I'll provide a basic understanding of CVEs and explain how to detect and handle vulnerabilities in OSS.
Next, let's discuss package managers. Package managers play a critical role in the OSS ecosystem. I'll explain how to manage library dependencies in your application.
I'll share insights into how the Ruby and RubyGems core team works to keep our ecosystem safe. By the end of this talk, you'll have a better understanding of how to safeguard your code.
Have you ever been confused by the myriad of choices offered by AWS for hosting a website or an API?
Lambda, Elastic Beanstalk, Lightsail, Amplify, S3 (and more!) can each host websites + APIs. But which one should we choose?
Which one is cheapest? Which one is fastest? Which one will scale to meet our needs?
Join me in this session as we dive into each AWS hosting service to determine which one is best for your scenario and explain why!
Freshworks Rethinks NoSQL for Rapid Scaling & Cost-EfficiencyScyllaDB
Freshworks creates AI-boosted business software that helps employees work more efficiently and effectively. Managing data across multiple RDBMS and NoSQL databases was already a challenge at their current scale. To prepare for 10X growth, they knew it was time to rethink their database strategy. Learn how they architected a solution that would simplify scaling while keeping costs under control.
Programming Foundation Models with DSPy - Meetup SlidesZilliz
Prompting language models is hard, while programming language models is easy. In this talk, I will discuss the state-of-the-art framework DSPy for programming foundation models with its powerful optimizers and runtime constraint system.
For the full video of this presentation, please visit: https://www.edge-ai-vision.com/2024/06/temporal-event-neural-networks-a-more-efficient-alternative-to-the-transformer-a-presentation-from-brainchip/
Chris Jones, Director of Product Management at BrainChip , presents the “Temporal Event Neural Networks: A More Efficient Alternative to the Transformer” tutorial at the May 2024 Embedded Vision Summit.
The expansion of AI services necessitates enhanced computational capabilities on edge devices. Temporal Event Neural Networks (TENNs), developed by BrainChip, represent a novel and highly efficient state-space network. TENNs demonstrate exceptional proficiency in handling multi-dimensional streaming data, facilitating advancements in object detection, action recognition, speech enhancement and language model/sequence generation. Through the utilization of polynomial-based continuous convolutions, TENNs streamline models, expedite training processes and significantly diminish memory requirements, achieving notable reductions of up to 50x in parameters and 5,000x in energy consumption compared to prevailing methodologies like transformers.
Integration with BrainChip’s Akida neuromorphic hardware IP further enhances TENNs’ capabilities, enabling the realization of highly capable, portable and passively cooled edge devices. This presentation delves into the technical innovations underlying TENNs, presents real-world benchmarks, and elucidates how this cutting-edge approach is positioned to revolutionize edge AI across diverse applications.
In the realm of cybersecurity, offensive security practices act as a critical shield. By simulating real-world attacks in a controlled environment, these techniques expose vulnerabilities before malicious actors can exploit them. This proactive approach allows manufacturers to identify and fix weaknesses, significantly enhancing system security.
This presentation delves into the development of a system designed to mimic Galileo's Open Service signal using software-defined radio (SDR) technology. We'll begin with a foundational overview of both Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) and the intricacies of digital signal processing.
The presentation culminates in a live demonstration. We'll showcase the manipulation of Galileo's Open Service pilot signal, simulating an attack on various software and hardware systems. This practical demonstration serves to highlight the potential consequences of unaddressed vulnerabilities, emphasizing the importance of offensive security practices in safeguarding critical infrastructure.
HCL Notes and Domino License Cost Reduction in the World of DLAUpanagenda
Webinar Recording: https://www.panagenda.com/webinars/hcl-notes-and-domino-license-cost-reduction-in-the-world-of-dlau/
The introduction of DLAU and the CCB & CCX licensing model caused quite a stir in the HCL community. As a Notes and Domino customer, you may have faced challenges with unexpected user counts and license costs. You probably have questions on how this new licensing approach works and how to benefit from it. Most importantly, you likely have budget constraints and want to save money where possible. Don’t worry, we can help with all of this!
We’ll show you how to fix common misconfigurations that cause higher-than-expected user counts, and how to identify accounts which you can deactivate to save money. There are also frequent patterns that can cause unnecessary cost, like using a person document instead of a mail-in for shared mailboxes. We’ll provide examples and solutions for those as well. And naturally we’ll explain the new licensing model.
Join HCL Ambassador Marc Thomas in this webinar with a special guest appearance from Franz Walder. It will give you the tools and know-how to stay on top of what is going on with Domino licensing. You will be able lower your cost through an optimized configuration and keep it low going forward.
These topics will be covered
- Reducing license cost by finding and fixing misconfigurations and superfluous accounts
- How do CCB and CCX licenses really work?
- Understanding the DLAU tool and how to best utilize it
- Tips for common problem areas, like team mailboxes, functional/test users, etc
- Practical examples and best practices to implement right away
5th LF Energy Power Grid Model Meet-up SlidesDanBrown980551
5th Power Grid Model Meet-up
It is with great pleasure that we extend to you an invitation to the 5th Power Grid Model Meet-up, scheduled for 6th June 2024. This event will adopt a hybrid format, allowing participants to join us either through an online Mircosoft Teams session or in person at TU/e located at Den Dolech 2, Eindhoven, Netherlands. The meet-up will be hosted by Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), a research university specializing in engineering science & technology.
Power Grid Model
The global energy transition is placing new and unprecedented demands on Distribution System Operators (DSOs). Alongside upgrades to grid capacity, processes such as digitization, capacity optimization, and congestion management are becoming vital for delivering reliable services.
Power Grid Model is an open source project from Linux Foundation Energy and provides a calculation engine that is increasingly essential for DSOs. It offers a standards-based foundation enabling real-time power systems analysis, simulations of electrical power grids, and sophisticated what-if analysis. In addition, it enables in-depth studies and analysis of the electrical power grid’s behavior and performance. This comprehensive model incorporates essential factors such as power generation capacity, electrical losses, voltage levels, power flows, and system stability.
Power Grid Model is currently being applied in a wide variety of use cases, including grid planning, expansion, reliability, and congestion studies. It can also help in analyzing the impact of renewable energy integration, assessing the effects of disturbances or faults, and developing strategies for grid control and optimization.
What to expect
For the upcoming meetup we are organizing, we have an exciting lineup of activities planned:
-Insightful presentations covering two practical applications of the Power Grid Model.
-An update on the latest advancements in Power Grid -Model technology during the first and second quarters of 2024.
-An interactive brainstorming session to discuss and propose new feature requests.
-An opportunity to connect with fellow Power Grid Model enthusiasts and users.
leewayhertz.com-AI in predictive maintenance Use cases technologies benefits ...alexjohnson7307
Predictive maintenance is a proactive approach that anticipates equipment failures before they happen. At the forefront of this innovative strategy is Artificial Intelligence (AI), which brings unprecedented precision and efficiency. AI in predictive maintenance is transforming industries by reducing downtime, minimizing costs, and enhancing productivity.
Dandelion Hashtable: beyond billion requests per second on a commodity serverAntonios Katsarakis
This slide deck presents DLHT, a concurrent in-memory hashtable. Despite efforts to optimize hashtables, that go as far as sacrificing core functionality, state-of-the-art designs still incur multiple memory accesses per request and block request processing in three cases. First, most hashtables block while waiting for data to be retrieved from memory. Second, open-addressing designs, which represent the current state-of-the-art, either cannot free index slots on deletes or must block all requests to do so. Third, index resizes block every request until all objects are copied to the new index. Defying folklore wisdom, DLHT forgoes open-addressing and adopts a fully-featured and memory-aware closed-addressing design based on bounded cache-line-chaining. This design offers lock-free index operations and deletes that free slots instantly, (2) completes most requests with a single memory access, (3) utilizes software prefetching to hide memory latencies, and (4) employs a novel non-blocking and parallel resizing. In a commodity server and a memory-resident workload, DLHT surpasses 1.6B requests per second and provides 3.5x (12x) the throughput of the state-of-the-art closed-addressing (open-addressing) resizable hashtable on Gets (Deletes).
TrustArc Webinar - 2024 Global Privacy SurveyTrustArc
How does your privacy program stack up against your peers? What challenges are privacy teams tackling and prioritizing in 2024?
In the fifth annual Global Privacy Benchmarks Survey, we asked over 1,800 global privacy professionals and business executives to share their perspectives on the current state of privacy inside and outside of their organizations. This year’s report focused on emerging areas of importance for privacy and compliance professionals, including considerations and implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies, building brand trust, and different approaches for achieving higher privacy competence scores.
See how organizational priorities and strategic approaches to data security and privacy are evolving around the globe.
This webinar will review:
- The top 10 privacy insights from the fifth annual Global Privacy Benchmarks Survey
- The top challenges for privacy leaders, practitioners, and organizations in 2024
- Key themes to consider in developing and maintaining your privacy program
Driving Business Innovation: Latest Generative AI Advancements & Success StorySafe Software
Are you ready to revolutionize how you handle data? Join us for a webinar where we’ll bring you up to speed with the latest advancements in Generative AI technology and discover how leveraging FME with tools from giants like Google Gemini, Amazon, and Microsoft OpenAI can supercharge your workflow efficiency.
During the hour, we’ll take you through:
Guest Speaker Segment with Hannah Barrington: Dive into the world of dynamic real estate marketing with Hannah, the Marketing Manager at Workspace Group. Hear firsthand how their team generates engaging descriptions for thousands of office units by integrating diverse data sources—from PDF floorplans to web pages—using FME transformers, like OpenAIVisionConnector and AnthropicVisionConnector. This use case will show you how GenAI can streamline content creation for marketing across the board.
Ollama Use Case: Learn how Scenario Specialist Dmitri Bagh has utilized Ollama within FME to input data, create custom models, and enhance security protocols. This segment will include demos to illustrate the full capabilities of FME in AI-driven processes.
Custom AI Models: Discover how to leverage FME to build personalized AI models using your data. Whether it’s populating a model with local data for added security or integrating public AI tools, find out how FME facilitates a versatile and secure approach to AI.
We’ll wrap up with a live Q&A session where you can engage with our experts on your specific use cases, and learn more about optimizing your data workflows with AI.
This webinar is ideal for professionals seeking to harness the power of AI within their data management systems while ensuring high levels of customization and security. Whether you're a novice or an expert, gain actionable insights and strategies to elevate your data processes. Join us to see how FME and AI can revolutionize how you work with data!
Digital Marketing Trends in 2024 | Guide for Staying AheadWask
https://www.wask.co/ebooks/digital-marketing-trends-in-2024
Feeling lost in the digital marketing whirlwind of 2024? Technology is changing, consumer habits are evolving, and staying ahead of the curve feels like a never-ending pursuit. This e-book is your compass. Dive into actionable insights to handle the complexities of modern marketing. From hyper-personalization to the power of user-generated content, learn how to build long-term relationships with your audience and unlock the secrets to success in the ever-shifting digital landscape.
Let's Integrate MuleSoft RPA, COMPOSER, APM with AWS IDP along with Slackshyamraj55
Discover the seamless integration of RPA (Robotic Process Automation), COMPOSER, and APM with AWS IDP enhanced with Slack notifications. Explore how these technologies converge to streamline workflows, optimize performance, and ensure secure access, all while leveraging the power of AWS IDP and real-time communication via Slack notifications.
3. My week at St Deiniol’s So, my week in Wales has come to an end, and I’m already missing the great people I’ve met and all the fantastic conversations we’ve been able to have! I was surprised at how well I got to know people in such a short space of time, and I’m really pleased that I have such a great cohort of LitSciMed friendships to take away from the course!
5. Day one got off to a great start, finding out about everybody’s research interests, and by the first plenary lecture, I already felt that I’d got to know the group! Charlotte Sleigh began with a fascinating discussion concerning the “coincidence” that was the simultaneous births of the novel and modern science. Charlotte pointed out that both were about the quest for Truth and meaning during an otherwise troubled period where anxieties about truth claims were prominent. I was particularly interested to be reminded of the fragility of the 1660s, circumstances which meant that the formation of the Royal Society was necessarily controversial (since people were banned from meeting together privately for discussions). Reflecting on how the curtailment of what people were permitted to talk about limited the Royal Society’s scope, and must have dictated research, my attention was drawn to the artificial conception we can have of Science as a naturally objective discipline. Our lecture really brought out the underlying political issues in the dedicatory epistle to the King in Sprat’s text; my group were interested in the irony that such a letter was actually produced two years after the society had first met. In our discussions about the importance of vernacular and claims to objectivity, Sharon made an interesting reference to Donna Haraway, who argued that Scientists pertain to their disinterestedness, but should acknowledge their own prejudices and allegiances. So this session got us thinking in general about to what extent Science can claim to be outside of ideology and subjectivity; the comparison with twentieth century thought brought out the power of historical context to determine how we view Science.
8. One of my favourites sessions of the week was Session Two, “Mono- Inter- Multi- disciplinarity”. It was excellent to be given the opportunity to actually reflect on my own discipline, and hear from other people. Sharon asked us to answer three questions: What was our discipline (only choosing one!), how did we know this, and finally, which other disciplines did we work in… Especially interesting was how difficult some people found question one (a question I found very simple to answer! ) Hearing from the group really emphasised how unique each person’s research was, and it was really fascinating to reflect on how strongly connected each person felt towards their various disciplines. I realised that the way each of us approached a text, and what we valued, really defined our method, and therefore the discipline we felt most at home in. I was aware of how strongly I identify with English Literature as my discipline, and I actually found it difficult to think about the other disciplines my research really depends on. Listening to other people from the History of Medicine and History emphasised how central aesthetic concerns and the general reading experience are to my way of thinking. It became apparent that the questions we are interested in asking reflect our disciplines and indicate how they diverge.
9. Getting together in this session into disciplinary groups was also really enjoyable and fascinating, since I don’t think research students ever really get to talk in such detail about what they do (or in our case, what English Literature and Literary criticism is!) Spending time in these kinds of debates made me realise how vital and helpful it is to speak to colleagues. We had to discuss our discipline’s “Concerns”, “Methods” and “Vocab” and realised that while we had some common priorities (like close reading and textual analysis), we were more divided in the importance we gave to other aspects of our approach, such as theory or aesthetics. We realised that even within our discipline, each person’s methods were necessarily different, which is what makes English Literature so diverse and fascinating. I think the overriding questions we came back to were “What is English Literature?” and “What is the value of Literature?”. These are the questions that Literary critics are united in and need their own special approach to answer. Chatting “across the disciplines” was helpful in disallowing us to take the unique nature of our discipline’s identity for granted; it was also important because we had to account for our approach to others, and recognise how other methods could be useful. I was particularly fascinated to hear about the differences between inter- and multi- disciplinary work and the issues that such research implies.
10. Stephanie Snow’s session on the “History of Medicine” was fascinating and so useful in alerting us to the continuities in history, as well as the differences. It was impressive to be given an overview of medicine from the Ancient Greeks until the present day in such detail; particularly striking to me was how the Holistic approach to the body reoccurs. I was fascinated to hear about Galen, the four humours, and the idea of “balance” which resonates so strongly with alternative therapies and our general understanding of the body today. I had been used to seeing Medicine as a continual and fairly steady series of developments and advances, but Stephanie really brought out the human element of medical research for me, that is, how scientists themselves, and societies, could still maintain incorrect or older views because of the strength of their beliefs: myths and traditional assumptions surrounding medical issues could (and still do!) actually overrule the discoveries themselves. Stephanie summed this up for me when she pointed out that even after 1800, blood-letting was practised widely as people clung on to a more Galenic and seemingly “logical” idea of balance, despite William Harvey’s theory nearly two hundred years before. Following on from this, when we came to discuss Harvey’s “On the Motion of the Heart and Blood in Animals” in detail, we found it difficult to determine if he was “revolutionary”, and wondered if this label was more dependent on the assimilation of a theory in society at large, rather than the theory itself. These issue of influence and dissemination became important in our discussions throughout the week, including those concerning how scientists write to encourage acceptance of their theories. Viewing medical texts as works of literature in this way, rather than simply a ‘collection of facts’ made me think about how I should reread the more Scientific sections of Observations on Man to contemplate how Hartley writes and why, as well as what he writes.
11. On Wednesday, Jerome talked with us about “Questions of Evidence” and the uses of manuscripts. I was really attracted to the idea that the material aspects of a book influence our ways of reading (Chartier, McGann) and that meaning and the physicality of a text can act upon one another. I had thought that considering the material aspects of a literary text would detract from an appreciation of its “meaning” and aesthetics, almost disparaging literature, but this session reminded me of the Lyrical Ballads and the care that was taken to present them in such a way that would specifically not detract from the meaning of the poems, but would instead attract a new, wider readership and way of reading; also of Blake, whose poems cannot really be appreciated without the vivid illustrations and engravings that accompany them (although they are published without them today). I would like to remain aware of how these issues enhance the text and alter the reading experience so I can gain a more holistic impression of how the texts I study were enjoyed in their own period. I will also revalue the potential use of manuscripts for my project, since the archives should offer vital information to my work on the reception of David Hartley; looking at Hartley’s letters could prove to be important for my work on the development of his theoretical ideas. Manuscripts Roger Chartier “No text exists outside of the support that enables it to be read; any comprehension of a writing, no matter what kind it is, depends on the forms in which it reaches the reader”
12. Colin typing up on to the teaching blog, with the help of Josie and Louise! (above) Jerome, and Steve (right)
15. Session 6 was excellent and so rewarding in getting to grips with the main arguments of the course as a whole. Whereas before the week, I hadn’t read Beer or Levine’s work on Literature and Science, as a group we were now able to look at the texts more critically and see potential problems within the arguments. We became particularly aware of the ways in which some of the critics (accidentally) still seemed to make Literature a passive recipient of Scientific ideas. This was especially clear in Levine’s work where he stated: ‘It is one culture, then, in two senses: first, in that what happens in science matters inevitably to what happens everywhere else, literature included: and second, in that it is possible and fruitful to understand how literature and science are mutually shaped by their participation in the culture at large”. As Jeff pointed out, he seems to be throwing Literature and Science into a type of “bucket” called culture, and so evading the difficult issue of their interaction (particularly how Literature effects Society and Science). This reflects the general difficulty of quantifying and defining the value of Literature. Despite any “problems” with Beer’s 19th Century / Darwin-centred focus, I remain really excited by the possibilities that “The Remnant of the Mythical” opens up for literary criticism and the relationship between Science and Literature. Martin, summarising our thoughts…
16. Gillian Beer I feel that Beer’s powerful opening to “The Remnant of the Mythical” deserves its own slide since it’s SO great!! Most major scientific theories rebuff common sense. They call on evidence beyond the reach of our senses and overturn the observable world. They disturb assumed relationships and shift what has been substantial into metaphor. The earth now only seems immovable. Such major theories tax, affront, and exhilarate those who first encounter them, although in fifty years they will be taken for granted, part of the apparently common-sense set of beliefs which instructs us that the earth revolved around the sun whatever our eyes may suggest. When it is first advanced, a theory is at its most fictive. The awkwardness of fit between the natural world as it is currently perceived and as it is hypothetically imagined holds the theory itself for a time within a provisional scope akin to that of fiction. MACKAY (as quoted in Beer) A remnant of the mythical lurks in the very sanctuary of science. Forms or theories ever fall short of nature, though they are ever tending to reach a position above nature, and may often be found to include more than the maker of them at the time knew.
17. Our final discussion about Literary Darwinism was an excellent conclusion to the week in Wales! We interrogated the purpose of the approach (with some trying to see its “positive sides”) but most of us grappling with describing our actual reasons for dislike. These centred around its reductionist goals, not to mention the arrogance in the intellectual imperialism it implies. It totally disregards the value of the Humanities (which we decided it may not be ashamed to admit). In the introduction we read by Jonathan Gottschall, he reflects proudly on his new-found Darwinist approach to literature that produced ‘skepticism, hostility, and, most of all, fear’ amongst the his fellow students and professors. He describes his impression of humanities criticism in a particularly scathing way: ‘I believed that the hard social constructivism that dominated the humanities had been definitively exposed by numerous and redundant studies as a failed theory’. In the same article, art is considered by the less severe David Sloan Wilson as ‘a fundamental product of human nature, as a source of insight, and even as a source of data that can be analysed quantitatively’. Accepting Literary Darwinism as another way to look at texts is useful, but the method does not allow room for other approaches, which seems to be the main problem. As David Amigoni put it, each reading provided by Literary Darwinism can only be the same. For this reason, I can’t understand the longevity it feels so proud to own as one of its advantages or saving graces. It generally feels like a very discouraging way to think about literature as it misses the point of what literary criticism and Literature is, and is contemptuous of the sense of mystery that surrounds the arts. Although I’d like to think everyone is entitled to enjoy their experience of literature in the way they prefer, I am reminded of those neuroscientists who seek to override emotional and aesthetic explanations of the arts with their concept of “pleasure pathways” and reward systems in the brain; the biology just doesn’t account for human experience, feeling, aesthetics or value, and is it really interesting?? While Literary Darwinism’s appeal definitely rests on its reactionary status, it’s great to have it there to encourage literary critics to revalue and account for their work and the value of literature. I think David Amigoni’s conclusion in his review article is an excellent way to sum up the issue of Literary Darwinism: “So while evolutionary analysis offers much to listen to, and is building some challenging bridging points, I would not wish to cede the Darwinists the authority to run the interdisciplinary show”
18. Thank you to everyone who organized this event, and to all the brilliant students who provided a lovely, kind atmosphere for my first paper, and made the workshops so great and interesting. Hope we meet again for more discussions very soon!!
19. And not forgetting the lovely tea and cake breaks in the dining room!! (Above: The lovely Naz, looking very civilized!) Taken by Paul again!