Astronomy and Experimentation

2010 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 252-269
Author(s):  
Michelle Sandell ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Realism ◽  
Natural Scientists

In this paper I contest Ian Hacking’s claim that astronomers do not experiment. Riding on this thesis is a re-evaluation of his view that astronomers are less justified than other natural scientists in believing in the existence of the objects they study, and that astronomers are not proper natural scientists at all. The defense of my position depends upon carefully examining what, exactly, is being manipulated in an experiment, and the role of experimental effects for Hacking’s experimental realism. I argue that Hacking’s experimental realism is not adequately defended, and even if we accept it in good grace, the case can be still made that astronomers experiment by Hacking’s account.

scholarly journals Struggling for Interdisciplinarity: Reflections of an Astrophysicist Working in Cultural Astronomy

2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-19
Author(s):  
César Esteban
Keyword(s):  
Landscape Archaeology ◽  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
Personal View ◽  
Interdisciplinary Nature ◽  
Natural Scientists ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Celestial Sphere

I present a personal view `on the role of astrophysicists and astronomers doing research in cultural astronomy. First, I discuss the definition of archaeoastronomy or cultural astronomy and its controversial interdisciplinary nature. I comment about the actual curricular problem of astrophysicists working in this topic and the difficult communication between astrophysicistsas well as other natural scientistsand archaeologists or anthropologists. I highlight the importance of accuracy in determining the orientation when mapping archaeological sites. Finally, I insist on the necessity of considering the celestial sphere as a part of the context of the archaeological sites, and that archaeoastronomy should be considered as a part of landscape archaeology.

scholarly journals The Role of the Department Head or Chairman: Discipline, Sex and Nationality as Factors Influencing Faculty Opinion

1979 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 19-28
Author(s):  
Roy E.L. Watson
Keyword(s):  
Academic Discipline ◽  
Natural Sciences ◽  
Department Head ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
University Department ◽  
Natural Scientists ◽  
The University

The influence of academic discipline, sex and nationality upon one's definiton of the role of the head or chairman of a university department was studied by means of a question- naire administered to members of the Faculty of Arts and Science of the University of Victoria. Discipline was found to be of overriding importance. Social scientists, unlike either Natural Scientists or Humanists, rejected leadership while favouring the roles of coordinator and, to a lesser degree, of representative. Women in the Humanities and Natural Sciences were more likely to expect leadership than were their male colleagues. The nationality of the respondents, however, did not appear to influence their expectations of the department head or chairman.

Technocrats and the management of international fisheries

1975 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 745-770 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Fisheries Management ◽  
Role Playing ◽  
Political Control ◽  
Cautious Approach ◽  
The World ◽  
Natural Scientists ◽  
National Governments ◽  
International Fisheries

The paper examines the role of the world's fishery technocrats and experts in international fisheries management. The system of management provided by the regionally based international fisheries commissions is organized on transgovern-mental and transnational lines. Political delegates to the commissions are usually government technocrats, suggesting that the system is basically transgovernmental. However, the role of scientific advisers to the commissions is studied, since the group may preempt political control through its control on expertise. Results of a questionnaire sent to 900 scientists throughout the world are given, using the data from a structured sample of 84 scientists. Most were found to be trained as natural scientists, and most were employed directly by national governments or through government reseaich institutes. “Elite” scientists in the group, and some executive heads of commissions were also analyzed, and found to have a generally cautious approach to problems of fishery ownership and management. In sum, the transgovernmental system itself was found to allow yet set the limits of transnational role playing by fishery experts.

scholarly journals Trajectories of (Non)Belief in the Scientific Community: The Case of Polish and Ukrainian Natural Scientists

2019 ◽  
Vol 61 (4) ◽  
pp. 389-409
Author(s):  
Maria Rogińska
Keyword(s):  
General Population ◽  
Scientific Community ◽  
Central And Eastern Europe ◽  
Historical Context ◽  
Social Institution ◽  
Scientific Communities ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Natural Scientists ◽  
Depth Interviews

Abstract The article contributes to the discussion on the secularizing impact of science in modern societies. The starting point of the research is sociological data that shows lower religiosity of scientific communities in comparison to the general population in various countries. This might indicate that science does exert a secularizing force on modern ideologies. The explanatory hypotheses of this phenomenon are, however, ambiguous and predominantly concern Western countries. Based on 100 in-depth interviews with physicists and biologists from Central and Eastern Europe (Poland and Ukraine), it demonstrates the crucial role of cultural and historical context in the formulation of the (un)faith of the scientists. The scientific knowledge and participation in science as a social institution is more complementary than decisive in these processes, moreover, these factors play different roles in biographical trajectories of the Polish and Ukrainian natural scientists.

Role of dactinomycin in the improved survival of children with Wilms' tumor

JAMA ◽  
1966 ◽  
Vol 195 (12) ◽  
pp. 1005-1009 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Fernbach
Keyword(s):  
Wilms Tumor

Role of the allergist in diagnosis and management of patients with uveitis

JAMA ◽  
1966 ◽  
Vol 195 (3) ◽  
pp. 167-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. E. Van Metre
Keyword(s):  
Diagnosis And Management

The power of norms to sway fused group members

2018 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Winnifred R. Louis ◽  
Craig McGarty ◽  
Emma F. Thomas ◽  
Catherine E. Amiot ◽  
Fathali M. Moghaddam
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Anthropology ◽  
Normative Systems ◽  
Violent Extremism ◽  
Identity Fusion ◽  
Group Members

AbstractWhitehouse adapts insights from evolutionary anthropology to interpret extreme self-sacrifice through the concept of identity fusion. The model neglects the role of normative systems in shaping behaviors, especially in relation to violent extremism. In peaceful groups, increasing fusion will actually decrease extremism. Groups collectively appraise threats and opportunities, actively debate action options, and rarely choose violence toward self or others.

Elaborating the role of reflection and individual differences in the study of folk-economic beliefs

2018 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Arceneaux
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Cognitive Processes ◽  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Behavioral Responses ◽  
History Of ◽  
Economic Beliefs

AbstractIntuitions guide decision-making, and looking to the evolutionary history of humans illuminates why some behavioral responses are more intuitive than others. Yet a place remains for cognitive processes to second-guess intuitive responses – that is, to be reflective – and individual differences abound in automatic, intuitive processing as well.

The role of affect in feelings of obligation

2020 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefen Beeler-Duden ◽  
Meltem Yucel ◽  
Amrisha Vaish
Keyword(s):  
Positive Emotions ◽  
The Creation ◽  
Sense Of Obligation

Abstract Tomasello offers a compelling account of the emergence of humans’ sense of obligation. We suggest that more needs to be said about the role of affect in the creation of obligations. We also argue that positive emotions such as gratitude evolved to encourage individuals to fulfill cooperative obligations without the negative quality that Tomasello proposes is inherent in obligations.

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