Organisation, expression and diversity of the sub-telomeric regions of the ancient eukaryote, Giardia duodenalis. We propose to extend our findings on the extreme plasticity of the structure and organisation of the sub-telomeric region of the complete genome of Giardia by more extensive chromosome walking, and comparison of different isolates. These regions are subject to gene conversion, transcriptional silencing, gene mobility, recombination, variable surface protein expression, subtelomeric i ....Organisation, expression and diversity of the sub-telomeric regions of the ancient eukaryote, Giardia duodenalis. We propose to extend our findings on the extreme plasticity of the structure and organisation of the sub-telomeric region of the complete genome of Giardia by more extensive chromosome walking, and comparison of different isolates. These regions are subject to gene conversion, transcriptional silencing, gene mobility, recombination, variable surface protein expression, subtelomeric instability and the insertion of transposable elements, a dynamic balance between structural conservation and rapid evolution. This is a rare opportunity to understand the forces at work in moulding eukaryotic sub-telomeric sequences because Giardia is not constrained by sexual homogenisation and the dynamic variability is retained.Read moreRead less
The rise of empiricism and the attempt to produce a unified understanding of the world, 1680-1750. Empiricism is often regarded as the characterising feature of modern scientific method, and, in those approaches to psychology and the social and economic sciences that seek to model themselves on successful scientific practice in the physical and life sciences, it often acts as a model of good practice. The project examines the original form of empiricism and shows how it was able to directly enga ....The rise of empiricism and the attempt to produce a unified understanding of the world, 1680-1750. Empiricism is often regarded as the characterising feature of modern scientific method, and, in those approaches to psychology and the social and economic sciences that seek to model themselves on successful scientific practice in the physical and life sciences, it often acts as a model of good practice. The project examines the original form of empiricism and shows how it was able to directly engage questions of value in a novel and revealing way, and how its connection with 'hard' sciences was not merely to provide a methodological gloss on these, but went to the core of what scientific explanation consisted in.Read moreRead less
John Locke, botany and natural kinds. This project will enhance the status of research into early modern science and philosophy in Australia. It is a project of major significance in Locke studies and in the history of botany and it will impinge on a number of current philosophical debates to which Australians are already making a major contribution: the nature of biological species; natural kinds; and scientific method. Those who work on early modern thought in Australia will also benefit from ....John Locke, botany and natural kinds. This project will enhance the status of research into early modern science and philosophy in Australia. It is a project of major significance in Locke studies and in the history of botany and it will impinge on a number of current philosophical debates to which Australians are already making a major contribution: the nature of biological species; natural kinds; and scientific method. Those who work on early modern thought in Australia will also benefit from the close relationship that will be established between the University of Sydney and Oxford University. The publications issuing from the project will be of international significance.Read moreRead less
Descartes' Ontology of Everyday Life. Australia has a strong international reputation in philosophy and the history of philosophy. This project will contribute to our standing in the international community of scholars and to the teaching of Australian students in the historical origins of contemporary ideas and problems. It will furthermore contribute to the growing recognition of early modern interdisciplinary studies within Australia by drawing on ideas from the history of science, early mode ....Descartes' Ontology of Everyday Life. Australia has a strong international reputation in philosophy and the history of philosophy. This project will contribute to our standing in the international community of scholars and to the teaching of Australian students in the historical origins of contemporary ideas and problems. It will furthermore contribute to the growing recognition of early modern interdisciplinary studies within Australia by drawing on ideas from the history of science, early modern philosophy, medieval philosophy and the history of early modern thought and ideas.Read moreRead less
Proteomic and Transcriptional Profiling of Cartilage. Gene expression and signalling pathways that regulate cartilage formation, and its orderly transition to bone, are poorly described. Our studies will, for the first time, combine two complementary cutting-edge approaches, protein identification by proteomic analysis, and mRNA profiling by microarray analysis, to define these pathways and develop a comprehensive catalogue of proteins and gene expression patterns during cartilage development a ....Proteomic and Transcriptional Profiling of Cartilage. Gene expression and signalling pathways that regulate cartilage formation, and its orderly transition to bone, are poorly described. Our studies will, for the first time, combine two complementary cutting-edge approaches, protein identification by proteomic analysis, and mRNA profiling by microarray analysis, to define these pathways and develop a comprehensive catalogue of proteins and gene expression patterns during cartilage development and bone formation. This information will provide insight into the regulation of cartilage differentiation, maturation and structure, and will provide a critical platform for the development of more sophisticated cartilage and bone biomaterials for improved tissue repair and regeneration.Read moreRead less
Mary Astell (1666-1731): An Historical-Intellectual Role Model for Women in Philosophy. Mary Astell was an early modern English philosopher of exceptional eloquence and skill. This project will produce the first overview of her philosophical thought, the first authoritative critical edition of her magnum opus, and the first assessment of her philosophical relevance today. These outputs have the potential to encourage women's participation in philosophy and in intellectual life more generally, ou ....Mary Astell (1666-1731): An Historical-Intellectual Role Model for Women in Philosophy. Mary Astell was an early modern English philosopher of exceptional eloquence and skill. This project will produce the first overview of her philosophical thought, the first authoritative critical edition of her magnum opus, and the first assessment of her philosophical relevance today. These outputs have the potential to encourage women's participation in philosophy and in intellectual life more generally, outcomes that would be of tremendous benefit to Australia's social and economic fabric. The project will also enhance Australia's already outstanding scholarly reputation for early modern studies and the history of women's ideas.Read moreRead less
Idealism, Pragmatism, and the Historical Norms of Rationality. This project engages critically with the remarkable "normative pragmatics" of Robert Brandom, essentially the first analytic philosopher in a century to defend Hegel's "logic" from a modern logical perspective. It develops Brandom's suggested "inferentialist" interpretation of Hegel, but shows how a presupposition distorts both Brandom's reading of Hegel and his substantive account of the norms of reason. A corrective is developed on ....Idealism, Pragmatism, and the Historical Norms of Rationality. This project engages critically with the remarkable "normative pragmatics" of Robert Brandom, essentially the first analytic philosopher in a century to defend Hegel's "logic" from a modern logical perspective. It develops Brandom's suggested "inferentialist" interpretation of Hegel, but shows how a presupposition distorts both Brandom's reading of Hegel and his substantive account of the norms of reason. A corrective is developed on the basis of the later work of Brandom's mentor, Wilfrid Sellars. The corrected account shows how the norms of thought need not be eternal to be rational, but rather, are rational because of the way they are historical.Read moreRead less
The Emergence of a Scientific Culture in Early Modern Europe. The shaping of cognitive values around scientific ones was one of the most lasting and radical effects of the Scientific Revolution, and it is one of the most distinctive features of modernity in the West. This dominance of scientific values is absent from other scientific cultures (e.g. from Greek, medieval or Chinese science) and there is nothing intrinsic to the kinds of theories and results we find in the Scientific Revolution tha ....The Emergence of a Scientific Culture in Early Modern Europe. The shaping of cognitive values around scientific ones was one of the most lasting and radical effects of the Scientific Revolution, and it is one of the most distinctive features of modernity in the West. This dominance of scientific values is absent from other scientific cultures (e.g. from Greek, medieval or Chinese science) and there is nothing intrinsic to the kinds of theories and results we find in the Scientific Revolution that would explain this development. The project looks at the particular legitimatory problems that science faced in the 17th and 18th centuries, and investigates how this reshaping came about.Read moreRead less
Idealism and the objectivity of norms and values: a neglected path from the eighteenth century. The problem of understanding how norms and values can be objective within the modern, secular scientific worldview became a focus of European philosophical concern in the early modern period - it is now of vital practical concern for the community as a whole. From the perspective of modern culture, both high and low, individuals are often portrayed as facing a choice between individual gratification a ....Idealism and the objectivity of norms and values: a neglected path from the eighteenth century. The problem of understanding how norms and values can be objective within the modern, secular scientific worldview became a focus of European philosophical concern in the early modern period - it is now of vital practical concern for the community as a whole. From the perspective of modern culture, both high and low, individuals are often portrayed as facing a choice between individual gratification and a self-less commitment to values or norms which cannot be rationally justified. By showing this to be a false dichotomy, this project promises a way beyond this impasse.Read moreRead less
The Baroque in Architectural Culture, 1880-1980. This project will show the significance of historical architecture in the present day, and lead to better understanding of the cultural role of building. It will enhance the reputation of Australian research on the architectural history of early modern Europe, and on issues of historical method. It will train emerging researchers and develop a research environment for further research on this field. The project will foster international connection ....The Baroque in Architectural Culture, 1880-1980. This project will show the significance of historical architecture in the present day, and lead to better understanding of the cultural role of building. It will enhance the reputation of Australian research on the architectural history of early modern Europe, and on issues of historical method. It will train emerging researchers and develop a research environment for further research on this field. The project will foster international connections and collaborations and support the publication of internationally relevant research.Read moreRead less