18,443 research outputs found
ADAM SMITH'S OPTIMISTIC TELEOLOGICAL VIEW OF HISTORY
Adam Smith's four-stage theory provides the framework for his writings on history. The fourth stage is the commercial epoch; the culmination of history in this stage is a key component in the conventional interpretation of Adam Smith as a prophet of commercialism. In two historical case studies Smith shows the capacity of commercial society to regenerate itself. This potent capacity suggests that commercial society is inevitable. At a certain point in time it also overcomes the major obstacles to its permanence. Smith's philosophy of history anticipates the end of history views of Kant and Hegel.Political Economy,
Supplemental Material - Infilled lakes (<i>P</i><i>ampas</i>) of the Cordillera Blanca, Peru: Inventory, sediment storage, and paleo outbursts
Supplemental Material for Infilled lakes (Pampas) of the Cordillera Blanca, Peru: Inventory, sediment storage, and paleo outbursts by Adam Emmer in Progress in Physical Geography</p
How Might Adam Smith Pay Professors Today?
Adam Smith’s proposal for paying professors was intended to induce increased faculty knowledge. If students have imperfect information about what they learn, and universities can only imperfectly measure the input of faculty time in student learning, publications may be used to measure faculty knowledge. If professors’ ability to publish is positively related to their ability to produce student learning, which universities can imperfectly measure, publications may be necessary to attract more able professors. Since research signals faculty knowledge, schools that do not value publications per se could require higher publication standards and pay higher wages than schools that value only publications.
ADAM SMITH'S VIEW OF HISTORY: CONSISTENT OR PARADOXICAL?
The conventional interpretation of Adam Smith is that he is a prophet of commercialism. The liberal capitalist reading of Smith is consistent with the view that history culminates in commercial society. The first part of the article develops this optimistic interpretation of Smith's view of history. Smith implies that commercial society is the end of history because 1) it supplies the ends of nature that he identifies; 2) it is inevitable; and 3) it is permanent. The second part of the article shows that Smith has some dark moments in his writings where he seems to reject completely such teleological notions. In this more civic humanist mood he confesses that commercial society does not supply the ends of nature, nor is it inevitable, nor is it permanent. Both views exist in Smith and the commentator is forced to choose between passages in Smith's work in order to support a particular interpretation of the former's view of history.Political Economy,
Dynamika vývoje a nebezpečnost jezer v pohoří Cordillera Blanca (Peru)
Adam Emmer: Dynamika vývoje a nebezpečnost jezer v pohoří Cordillera Blanca (Peru) Abstrakt: Velehorské prostředí pohoří Cordillera Blanca (Peru) prochází výraznými (geo)environmemtálními změnami, včetně ústupu zalednění a souvisejícího vzniku a vývoje ledovcových jezer. Ta mohou v případě náhlého uvolnění (části) objemu zadržované vody představovat hrozbu pro společnost (povodně typu "glacial lake outburst flood" GLOF). Spolehlivá identifikace nebezpečných jezer je klíčovým předpokladem efektivního managementu této hrozby. Těžiště disertační práce spočívá v tvorbě nové metody hodnocení náchynosti jezer k povodni typu GLOF, která reflektuje regionální specifika GLOF ve studované oblasti (podmínky, příčiny a mechanismy vzniku) a nevhodnost existujících přístupů prokázané v předchozím výzkumu. Nově vytvořená metoda zohledňuje pět možných scénářů vzniku povodně typu GLOF, které jsou hodnoceny samostatně, a to s využitím kombinace rozhodovacích stromů umožňujících integrované hodnocení kvalitativních a kvantitativních charakteristik (celkem do hodnocení vstupuje 17 charakteristik hráze, jezera a jeho okolí). Tím je umožněna identifikace konkrétních příčin a mechanismů GLOF, ke kterým je dané jezero náchylné. Funkčnost metody byla ověřena zhodnocením náchylnosti skupiny 20 jezer, přičemž u 10 z nich byla v...Adam Emmer: Dynamic of evolution and hazardousness of lakes in the Cordillera Blanca (Peru) Abstract: High mountain environment of the Cordillera Blanca (Peru) is undergoing prespicious (goe)environmantal changes such as glacier retreat and associated formation and evolution of lakes. Glacial lakes may represent a threat for the society in case of sudden release of (part of) retained water ("glacial lake outburst flood"; GLOF). Reliable identification of hazardous lakes is a key persumption of effective GLOF risk management. The fundamental part of this thesis lies in creation of new method for assessing susceptibility of lakes to outburst floods, reflecting regional specifics of these events in the study area (preconditions, causes and mechanisms) and unsuitability of existing approaches revealed in previous research. Newly created method take into account five scenarios of GLOFs, which are assessed separately, using the combination of decision trees allowing integration of qualitative and quantitative characteristics (an overall number of 17 characteristics of the dam, lake and lake surrounding enter the assessment procedure). Thus, identification of specific causes and mechanisms is enabled. The method was verified by assessing susceptibility of 20 lakes, of which 10 produced GLOFs in past (pre-flood...Katedra fyzické geografie a geoekologieDepartment of Physical Geography and GeoecologyPřírodovědecká fakultaFaculty of Scienc
Dynamic of evolution and hazardousness of lakes in the Cordillera Blanca (Peru)
Adam Emmer: Dynamic of evolution and hazardousness of lakes in the Cordillera Blanca (Peru) Abstract: High mountain environment of the Cordillera Blanca (Peru) is undergoing prespicious (goe)environmantal changes such as glacier retreat and associated formation and evolution of lakes. Glacial lakes may represent a threat for the society in case of sudden release of (part of) retained water ("glacial lake outburst flood"; GLOF). Reliable identification of hazardous lakes is a key persumption of effective GLOF risk management. The fundamental part of this thesis lies in creation of new method for assessing susceptibility of lakes to outburst floods, reflecting regional specifics of these events in the study area (preconditions, causes and mechanisms) and unsuitability of existing approaches revealed in previous research. Newly created method take into account five scenarios of GLOFs, which are assessed separately, using the combination of decision trees allowing integration of qualitative and quantitative characteristics (an overall number of 17 characteristics of the dam, lake and lake surrounding enter the assessment procedure). Thus, identification of specific causes and mechanisms is enabled. The method was verified by assessing susceptibility of 20 lakes, of which 10 produced GLOFs in past (pre-flood..
Potential hazardousness of selected moraine-dammed lakes in the Cordillera Blanca, Peru
Adam Emmer: Potential hazardousness of selected moraine-dammed lakes in the Cordillera Blanca, Peru ABSTRACT: This work is devided into the two parts. Firs part reviews contemporary methods of assessment of potential hazardousness for moraine-dammed lakes (eight qualitative methods and three quantitative methods). Second part has two main aims: 1) Assessment of potential hazardousness of seven selected moraine-dammed lakes in the Cordillera Blanca, and 2) Analysis of suitability of these methods for use in this region. Required input data for potential hazardousness assessment were gained from analysis of remotely sensed photographs, research papers of INRENA/ANA institute (Huaráz), and from fieldwork realized in 2012. Ten methods of potential hazardousness assessment were applied on seven studied moraine-dammed lakes. There are no significant differences in results obtained in each method. These results showed, that potentially most hazardous lake is that of Arhueycocha, followed by Palcacocha. On the other hand potentially less hazardous lake is that of Rajucolta. Based on analysis of regional specific of causes and mechanisms of glacial lake outburst floods from moraine-dammed lakes in Cordillera Blanca, five groups of characteristics which reflect these regional specifics were merged: A) possibility of..
Adam Smith and Roman Servitudes
This essay is a preprint of an article that appeared at: Tijdschrift voor Rechstsgeschiedenis, 72 (2004), 327–57.This essay discusses Adam Smith historical jurisprudence and his use of Roman law materials in his Lectures on Jurisprudence. It argues that Smith found it difficult to maintain his theory of legal development in the face of a highly developed body of Roman law literature
THE THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATION OF ADAM SMITH'S WORK
The paper will discuss the theological foundation to Smith's writings. Teleology, final causes and divine design were initially seen as central to understanding Smith's writings. Over time, this view fell out of fashion. In the period after World War II, with the rise of positivism, commentators tended to overlook or downplay this interpretation. In the last decade, or so, teleology has started to be restored to its former position as an essential element in understanding Smith. After spelling out Smith's teleology and his view of final causes, divine design and the ends of nature, we try to explain the Panglossian nature of the 'new theistic view' of Smith. While our view differs somewhat, we agree with the essence of the 'new view' claim: a theological view exists in Smith which underpins his moral and economic theories.Political Economy,
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