18,399 research outputs found
ADAM SMITH'S OPTIMISTIC TELEOLOGICAL VIEW OF HISTORY
No full textAdam 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,
Ethics of biological invasions
No full textThe Ethics of Biological Invasions Etika biologických invazí Řešitel: Adam Klimeš Vedoucí práce: prof. RNDr. Stanislav Komárek, Dr. Abstract There is a considerable attention ascribed to the phenomenon of biological invasions - to the fast spread of nonnative species in certain area. However evaluation of the biological invasions is usually limited to the calculation of damage costs and means spent on the control of nonnative species. The ethical aspect is marginalized this way, although as it conserns living orgamisms, such aspect is inevitably present. Presented study confront several theories of environmental ethics with examples of practical environmental policies concerning biological invasions and asks, with of these theories may work as substantiation of strategies aplied in practice
How Might Adam Smith Pay Professors Today?
No full textAdam 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.
Ekologie společenstev z hlediska klasické a bayesovské statistiky
No full textEkologie společenstev z hlediska klasické a Bayesovské statistiky Community ecology from the perspective of classic and Bayesian statistics Řešitel: Adam Klimeš Vedoucí práce: Mgr. Petr Keil, Ph.D. Abstrakt Významnou součástí dnešní vědy je kvantitativní zhodnocení dat prováděné statistickou analýzou. Bayesovský přístup představuje začínající, ale rychle se rozvíjející, obohacení statistické analýzy. Liší se ve svých východiscích od klasických metod a tyto rozdíly, jako například odlišná interpretace pravděpodobnosti, jsou považovány za překážky k přijetí Bayesovského přístupu. V této práci vyznačuji cestu, jak přistoupit k předpokladům Bayesovkého přístupu a jak se postavit k hlavním námitkám vůči němu. Bayesovský přístup prezentuji jako nový způsob analýzy dat odpovídající na otázky, které si ve vědě klademe. Bayesovský přístup hodnotím z pozice ekologie společenstev. Na příkladech ilustruji nové možnosti, které tento přístup nabízí pro analýzu mnohorozměrných dat typických pro ekologii společenstev. Zaměřuji se zejména na často používanou analýzou hlavních komponent. Představuji její Bayesovskou analogii a výhody, které přináší oproti klasickému přístupu, jako je například práce s nejistotou odhadů. Bayesovská analýza mnohorozměrných dat v ekologii je teprve ve svých počátcích, nicméně zavádí cenné nové...Community ecology from the perspective of classic and Bayesian statistics Ekologie společenstev z hlediska klasické a Bayesovské statistiky Řešitel: Adam Klimeš Vedoucí práce: Mgr. Petr Keil, Ph.D. Abstract Quantitative evaluation of evidence through statistics is a central part of present-day science. Bayesian approach represents an emerging but rapidly developing enrichment of statistical analysis. The approach differs in its foundations from the classic methods. These differences, such as the different interpretation of probability, are often seen as obstacles for acceptance of Bayesian approach. In this thesis I outline ways to deal with the assumptions of Bayesian approach, and I address the main objections against it. I present Bayesian approach as a new way to handle data to answer scientific questions. I do this from a standpoint of community ecology: I illustrate the novelty that Bayesian approach brings to data analysis of typical community ecology data, specifically, the analysis of multivariate datasets. I focus on principal component analysis, one of the typical and frequently used analytical techniques. I execute Bayesian analyses that are analogical to the classic principal components analysis, I report the advantages of the Bayesian version, such as the possibility of working with...Department of Philosophy and History of ScienceKatedra filosofie a dějin přírodních vědPřírodovědecká fakultaFaculty of Scienc
Ekologické rozdíly mezi bylinami a dřevinami a evoluce bylinnosti
No full textEcological differences between herbs and woody plants, and evolution of the herbaceous habit Adam Klimeš, doctoral thesis Abstract Flowering plants (angiosperms), which make up most present-day vegetation, were originally woody. While flowering plants have repeatedly given rise to herbaceous lineages since their first appearance, we lack a clear explanation for these common evolutionary events. Freezing temperatures and drought periods have been proposed as factors which had caused huge success of the younger growth form but the evidence is very limited and not in favour of these hypotheses. In this thesis, we aimed to build the foundations of research on the evolution of herbs. We outlined new potential drivers of the evolution of herbs, suggested solutions to some methodological challenges and provided evidence about differences between herbs and woody plants relevant to the hypotheses on herb evolution. To this end, we used common garden experiments with young plants of both growth forms and global trait data from public databases which we evaluated using phylogenetic comparative techniques. Annuality of aboveground biomass and fast life-strategy of herbs are characteristics which differentiate them from woody plants and which in some conditions are expected to be behind their success. Apart from the...Ekologické rozdíly mezi bylinami a dřevinami a evoluce bylinnosti Adam Klimeš, disertační práce Abstrakt Krytosemenné rostliny (Magnoliophyta), představující dnes většinu vegetace na Zemi, byly původně dřevinami. Od jejich vzniku se mezi nimi opakovaně vyvinuly byliny, avšak proč se tak stalo, nevíme. Jako faktory, které mohly stát za úspěchem mladší růstové formy, byly navržené mráz a období sucha. Ovšem oba faktory jsou málo prozkoumané a to, co se ví, nehovoří v jejich prospěch. V této práci jsme si dali za cíl položit základy pro výzkum evoluce bylinnosti. Navrhli jsme další faktory, které mohly stát za evolucí bylin, přišli jsme s řešením některých metodologických obtíží a představili jsme doklady o rozdílech mezi bylinami a dřevinami, které lze na základě jednotlivých hypotéz o evoluci bylinnosti očekávat. Za tímto účelem jsme provedli několik zahradních pokusů s mladými rostlinami obou růstových forem a analýzu veřejně dostupných databázových dat o vlastnostech rostlin z celého světa za použití fylogenetických komparativních technik. Byliny odlišuje od dřevin jednoletost jejich nadzemní biomasy a rychlá životní strategie a očekává se, že tyto charakteristiky stojí za jejich úspěchem. Kromě dříve navržených faktorů mrazu a sucha, existují další disturbance, které mohly hrát roli v jejich evoluci....Department of BotanyKatedra botanikyFaculty of SciencePřírodovědecká fakult
ADAM SMITH'S VIEW OF HISTORY: CONSISTENT OR PARADOXICAL?
No full textThe 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,
Community ecology from the perspective of classic and bayesian statistics
No full textCommunity ecology from the perspective of classic and Bayesian statistics Ekologie společenstev z hlediska klasické a Bayesovské statistiky Řešitel: Adam Klimeš Vedoucí práce: Mgr. Petr Keil, Ph.D. Abstract Quantitative evaluation of evidence through statistics is a central part of present-day science. Bayesian approach represents an emerging but rapidly developing enrichment of statistical analysis. The approach differs in its foundations from the classic methods. These differences, such as the different interpretation of probability, are often seen as obstacles for acceptance of Bayesian approach. In this thesis I outline ways to deal with the assumptions of Bayesian approach, and I address the main objections against it. I present Bayesian approach as a new way to handle data to answer scientific questions. I do this from a standpoint of community ecology: I illustrate the novelty that Bayesian approach brings to data analysis of typical community ecology data, specifically, the analysis of multivariate datasets. I focus on principal component analysis, one of the typical and frequently used analytical techniques. I execute Bayesian analyses that are analogical to the classic principal components analysis, I report the advantages of the Bayesian version, such as the possibility of working with..
Ecological differences between herbs and woody plants, and evolution of the herbaceous habit
No full textEcological differences between herbs and woody plants, and evolution of the herbaceous habit Adam Klimeš, doctoral thesis Abstract Flowering plants (angiosperms), which make up most present-day vegetation, were originally woody. While flowering plants have repeatedly given rise to herbaceous lineages since their first appearance, we lack a clear explanation for these common evolutionary events. Freezing temperatures and drought periods have been proposed as factors which had caused huge success of the younger growth form but the evidence is very limited and not in favour of these hypotheses. In this thesis, we aimed to build the foundations of research on the evolution of herbs. We outlined new potential drivers of the evolution of herbs, suggested solutions to some methodological challenges and provided evidence about differences between herbs and woody plants relevant to the hypotheses on herb evolution. To this end, we used common garden experiments with young plants of both growth forms and global trait data from public databases which we evaluated using phylogenetic comparative techniques. Annuality of aboveground biomass and fast life-strategy of herbs are characteristics which differentiate them from woody plants and which in some conditions are expected to be behind their success. Apart from the..
Adam Smith and Roman Servitudes
No full textThis 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
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