Applying multi-criteria optimisation to develop cognitive models

A scientific theory is developed by modelling empirical data in a range of domains. The goal of developing a theory is to optimise the fit of the theory to as many experimental settings as possible, whilst retaining some qualitative properties such as `parsimony' or `comprehensibility'. We formalise the task of developing theories of human cognition as a problem in multi-criteria optimisation. There are many challenges in this task, including the representation of competing theories, coordinating the fit with multiple experiments, and bringing together competing results to provide suitable theories. Experiments demonstrate the development of a theory of categorisation, using multiple optimisation criteria in genetic algorithms to locate pareto-optimal sets

Genetic Epistemology and Piaget's Philosophy of Science: Piaget vs. Kuhn on Scientific Progress

This paper concerns Jean Piaget's (1896–1980) philosophy of science and, in particular, the picture of scientific development suggested by his theory of genetic epistemology. The aims of the paper are threefold: (1) to examine genetic epistemology as a theory concerning the growth of knowledge both in the individual and in science; (2) to explicate Piaget's view of ‘scientific progress’, which is grounded in his theory of equilibration; and (3) to juxtapose Piaget's notion of progress with Thomas Kuhn's (1922–1996). Issues of scientific continuity, scientific realism and scientific rationality are discussed. It is argued that Piaget's view highlights weaknesses in Kuhn's ‘discontinuous’ picture of scientific change

Moving back to the future of big data-driven research : reflecting on the social in genomics

With the advance of genomics, specific individual conditions have received increased attention in the generation of scientific knowledge. This spans the extremes of the aim of curing genetic diseases and identifying the biological basis of social behaviour. In this development, the ways knowledge is produced have gained significant relevance, as the data-intensive search for biology/sociality associations has repercussions on doing social research and on theory. This article argues that an in-depth discussion and critical reflection on the social configurations that are inscribed in, and reproduced by genomic data-intensive research is urgently needed. This is illustrated by debating a recent case: a large-scale genome-wide association study (GWAS) on sexual orientation that suggested partial genetic basis for same-sex sexual behaviour (Ganna et al. 2019b). This case is analysed from three angles: (1) the demonstration of how, in the process of genomics research, societal relations, understandings and categorizations are used and inscribed into social phenomena and outcomes; (2) the exploration of the ways that the (big) data-driven research is constituted by increasingly moving away from theory and methodological generation of theoretical concepts that foster the understanding of societal contexts and relations (Kitchin 2014a). Big Data Soc and (3) the demonstration of how the assumption of ‘free from theory’ in this case does not mean free of choices made, which are themselves restricted by data that are available. In questioning how key sociological categories are incorporated in a wider scientific debate on genetic conditions and knowledge production, the article shows how underlying classification and categorizations, which are inherently social in their production, can have wide ranging implications. The conclusion cautions against the marginalization of social science in the wake of developments in data-driven research that neglect social theory, established methodology and the contextual relevance of the social environment.peer-reviewe

The socio-ethical aspects of scientific theory with particular reference to biology.

Thesis (M.A.)-University of Durban-Westville, 1987.In this dissertation scientific theory is investigated in order to show its socio-ethical aspects. An historical approach shows that prevailing historical conditions influence the development of scientific theory. These conditions are also created by the theories that they influence. Thus there is a continual interaction between theory and practice, pointinig to the socio-ethical aspects of theory. An investigation of scientific theory including biological theory also shows this continual interaction. Efforts to derive moral precepts from biological theory, e.g., Darwinism, sociobiology and genetic theory reveal the influences and prejudices of the particular historical periods in which the theories are developed. These aspects of scientific theory show that the scientific enterprise is not characterised by objectivity and disinteredness. The community aspect of scientific practice also shows that scientists are dependent on one another and that theories are interrelated. These spects of scientific theory show the transcultural and transnational nature of theory and lays a foundation for the basis of ethics and for scientific responsibility

Life is physics and chemistry and communication

Manfred Eigen extended Erwin Schroedinger’s concept of “life is physics and chemistry” through the introduction of information theory and cybernetic systems theory into “life is physics and chemistry and information.” Based on this assumption, Eigen developed the concepts of quasispecies and hypercycles, which have been dominant in molecular biology and virology ever since. He insisted that the genetic code is not just used metaphorically: it represents a real natural language.However, the basics of scientific knowledge changed dramatically within the second half of the 20th century.Unfortunately, Eigen ignored the results of the philosophy of science discourse on essential features of natural languages and codes: a natural language or code emerges from populations of living agents that communicate. This contribution will look at some of the highlights of this historical development and the results relevant for biological theories about life

A Christian View of Genetic Engineering

There has been an age long conflict between religion and science Thus many scientific breakthroughs have literally faulted some religious claims In spite o f this the symbiotic relationship between the duo cannot be overlooked In o ther words there is a recurring scholarly intercourse and intellectual romance between science and religion as established by scholars This paper examines genetic engineer ing from a Chr istian perspective with emphasis on the prospect and burden of the innovation It is premised on Barbour s model for the study of the interaction between Religion and Science and Artigas Complementary Theory which emphasizes the harmonizing and dialoguing roles between science and religion Using content analysis this work delineates the blessing and woes of genetic engineer ing in the Christian context Christianity for instance balances respect for human life and dignity of the human person on the one hand and the blessings of science in human development on the other hand Whereas Christianity appreciates the fact of human creativity in genetic engineer ing as it leads to improved plant and animal lives increased food production and therapeutic functions it equally considers broad implications of this breakthrough on the human person future and his environment It is recommended that man must not lose his dignity nor should genetic engineers arrogate to themselves the Creator s right that is to determine what kind of human that should live or die Moreover religion as part of her oversight and prophetic function must be more proactive than reactive to current scientific progress in genetic engineering in order to guide and guard science from falling into the mash of conceited and self-destructive breakthrough

Doctor of Philosophy

dissertationCrystal structure prediction is an important field of study, both for the development of new compounds and materials, and for the advancement of understanding crystallization processes. The Modified Genetic Algorithm for Crystal Structure Prediction, MGAC, is a software package for structure prediction that has had varying success in predicting the structures of many molecules. However, several advancements in the field of structure prediction have prompted a revision to the software, both from a scientific and technical standpoint. In this dissertation, the evaluation of a new method for energy calculation and structural optimization, dispersion corrected density functional theory, is presented, along with practical parameterizations for using density functional theory in crystal structure prediction. Next, a preliminary implementation of MGAC using density functional theory is outlined, including some key changes to the construction of unit cells, along with successful prediction results for the molecules glycine and histamine. Finally, a new implementation of MGAC is proposed to handle multiple space group prediction effectively, with accompanying preliminary prediction results for histamine using the new implementation of MGAC, called MGAC2

Bioethics: Reincarnation of Natural Philosophy in Modern Science

The theory of evolution of complex and comprising of human systems and algorithm for its constructing are the synthesis of evolutionary epistemology, philosophical anthropology and concrete scientific empirical basis in modern (transdisciplinary) science. «Trans-disciplinary» in the context is interpreted as a completely new epistemological situation, which is fraught with the initiation of a civilizational crisis. Philosophy and ideology of technogenic civilization is based on the possibility of unambiguous demarcation of public value and descriptive scientific discourses (1), and the object and subject of the cognitive process (2). Both of these attributes are no longer valid. For mass, everyday consciousness and institutional philosophical tradition it is intuitively obvious that having the ability to control the evolutionary process, Homo sapiens came close to the borders of their own biological and cultural identity. The spontaneous coevolutionary process of interaction between the «subject» (rational living organisms) and the «object» (material world), is the teleological trend of the movement towards the complete rationalization of the World as It Is, its merger with the World of Due. The stratification of the global evolutionary process into selective and semantic (teleological) coevolutionary and therefore ontologically inseparable components follows. With the entry of anthropogenic civilization into the stage of the information society, firsty, the post-academic phase of the historical evolution of scientific rationality began, the attributes of which are the specific methodology of scientific knowledge, scientific ethos and ontology. Bioethics as a phenomenon of intellectual culture represents a natural philosophical core of modern post- academic (human-dimensional) science, in which the ethical neutrality of scientific theory principle is inapplicable, and elements of public-axiological and scientific-descriptive discourses are integrated into a single logic construction. As result, hermeneutics precedes epistemology not only methodologically, but also meaningfully, and natural philosophy is regaining the status of the backbone of the theory of evolution – in an explicit for