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
Philosophy, the Religious Life, and the Making of Modern Science. This project will enhance our understanding of unique features of Western society-in particular the success and prestige of the sciences and the waning influence of religion and philosophy. This will in turn provide fresh insights into science-religion controversies within the West and will shed light on the distinctive nature of the secular ethos of the West in comparison with cultures (such as some Islamic societies) in which r ....Philosophy, the Religious Life, and the Making of Modern Science. This project will enhance our understanding of unique features of Western society-in particular the success and prestige of the sciences and the waning influence of religion and philosophy. This will in turn provide fresh insights into science-religion controversies within the West and will shed light on the distinctive nature of the secular ethos of the West in comparison with cultures (such as some Islamic societies) in which religious considerations play a dominant role in public life and international affairs. Aside from its intrinsic merits, this project will also further promote Australia's growing reputation as a centre for excellence in the field of early modern intellectual history.Read moreRead less
Hume's Sceptical Materialism. The early modern period is the decisive period in shaping the modern outlook, but its major figures are not well understood in Australia. This project will enable a broader and more unified understanding of the intellectual movements of the period (showing Hume to be not an intellectual outsider but someone offering a sceptical version of the radical Enlightenment) - and so will enable a better understanding of our intellectual heritage.
An intellectual history of theoretical innovation in the Anglo-American Humanities. This project makes an important contribution to the debate over humanities education. Post-structuralist theory in the humanities is attacked by some as modish and lacking in values, and defended by others as supporting critical reflection and progressive political and ethical values. The project explores the degree to which the 'moment of theory' represents the return of earlier European university metaphysics t ....An intellectual history of theoretical innovation in the Anglo-American Humanities. This project makes an important contribution to the debate over humanities education. Post-structuralist theory in the humanities is attacked by some as modish and lacking in values, and defended by others as supporting critical reflection and progressive political and ethical values. The project explores the degree to which the 'moment of theory' represents the return of earlier European university metaphysics to the centre of the humanities curriculum. The project will study these shifts in theory in the humanities and show these to be highly relevant to contemporary debates about teaching and learning.Read moreRead less
Synthesis and Performance of Novel Polymer Resists for 193 nm Immersion Lithography. The semiconductor industry is one of the largest world-wide, with annual revenue of $217B and employing over 1.5M people around the world. This project provides a unique opportunity for development within Australia of significant expertise in the field of polymers for short-wavelength lithography. The materials to be developed are expected to provide the basis of future genertions of microchips. In addition the ....Synthesis and Performance of Novel Polymer Resists for 193 nm Immersion Lithography. The semiconductor industry is one of the largest world-wide, with annual revenue of $217B and employing over 1.5M people around the world. This project provides a unique opportunity for development within Australia of significant expertise in the field of polymers for short-wavelength lithography. The materials to be developed are expected to provide the basis of future genertions of microchips. In addition the materials have applications in other technologies which are manufactured in Australia, for example in spectactle lenses and optical fibres. A major outcome of this project will be establishment of Australia as a world-leader in this rapidly expanding field.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
Science and Religion in Early Modern Europe. This project seeks to elucidate the nature of early modern science, early modern religion, and their relationship. A major focus will be the shift from medieval conceptions of science (scientia) and religion (religio) as inner virtues, to the modern understanding of science and religion as bodies of knowledge and sets of practices. This transformation was fundamental to the emergence of modern science and made possible a new kind of relationship be ....Science and Religion in Early Modern Europe. This project seeks to elucidate the nature of early modern science, early modern religion, and their relationship. A major focus will be the shift from medieval conceptions of science (scientia) and religion (religio) as inner virtues, to the modern understanding of science and religion as bodies of knowledge and sets of practices. This transformation was fundamental to the emergence of modern science and made possible a new kind of relationship between science and religion?one unique to the West. The project will enhance our understanding of the rise of science and identify distinctive features of modern Western culture.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL140100053
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,629,658.00
Summary
Science and secularisation. Science and secularisation. This project will explore the growth of science in the West and how it relates to a decline in the influence of religion. Specifically, it will investigate whether science has been a major cause of secularisation, and whether the pattern of scientific advance and corresponding religious decline observed in most Western countries is a universal one. This project aims to address a major unresolved issue concerning the relations between reli ....Science and secularisation. Science and secularisation. This project will explore the growth of science in the West and how it relates to a decline in the influence of religion. Specifically, it will investigate whether science has been a major cause of secularisation, and whether the pattern of scientific advance and corresponding religious decline observed in most Western countries is a universal one. This project aims to address a major unresolved issue concerning the relations between religion, science and modernisation. It also aims to shed light on a crucial issue for global security, namely, whether modernisation leads inexorably to secular, liberal democratic states, or whether new forms of technologically advanced, yet intrinsically religious states are possible.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140101770
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$327,841.00
Summary
Secularism and Philosophy: The Challenge of Spinozism. With the resurgence of religious conflict throughout the world, the question of secularism has acquired renewed importance. Nowhere has the plausibility of a secular worldview been more rigorously debated than within the history of philosophy, and no philosopher has aroused more controversy on this subject than Benedict de Spinoza (1632-1677). This project will result in the first history of Spinozism's pivotal role in the history of secular ....Secularism and Philosophy: The Challenge of Spinozism. With the resurgence of religious conflict throughout the world, the question of secularism has acquired renewed importance. Nowhere has the plausibility of a secular worldview been more rigorously debated than within the history of philosophy, and no philosopher has aroused more controversy on this subject than Benedict de Spinoza (1632-1677). This project will result in the first history of Spinozism's pivotal role in the history of secularism, focusing on three distinct episodes of philosophical conflict generated by Spinoza's thought from the late eighteenth century to the present. The study will make clear that secularism is not simply a social and political phenomenon, but a philosophical conundrum, thus far irresolvable.Read moreRead less
Between a hot place & hypoxia: Quantifying fish-kill risk in inland rivers. Native fish populations in Australian ephemeral rivers are highly valued but are subject to widespread decline. During drought waterholes serve as critical refuges for native fish, however thermal extremes and hypoxia (lack of oxygen) have led to regular fish-kill events. Whilst we know the general conditions that lead to fish-kills, we do not have a clear understanding of why some species are more tolerant than others, ....Between a hot place & hypoxia: Quantifying fish-kill risk in inland rivers. Native fish populations in Australian ephemeral rivers are highly valued but are subject to widespread decline. During drought waterholes serve as critical refuges for native fish, however thermal extremes and hypoxia (lack of oxygen) have led to regular fish-kill events. Whilst we know the general conditions that lead to fish-kills, we do not have a clear understanding of why some species are more tolerant than others, or how we can help decision-makers anticipate fish-kill risks. This project will combine laboratory ecophysiology investigations and novel field monitoring techniques to develop a next-generation fish habitat model for stakeholders to use to assess fish-kill risks and plan for restoration. Read moreRead less