Methodological research in architecture and allied disciplines : philosophical positions, frames of reference, and spheres of inquiry

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to contribute an inclusive insight into methodological research in architecture and allied disciplines and unravel aspects that include philosophical positions, frames of reference and spheres of inquiry. Design/methodology/approach - Following ontological and epistemological interpretations, the adopted methodology involves conceptual and critical analysis which is based on reviewing and categorising classical literature and more than hundred contributions in architectural and design research developed over the past five decades which were classified under the perspectives of inquiry and frames of reference. Findings - Postulated through three philosophical positions - positivism, anti-positivism and emancipationist - six frames of reference were identified: systematic, computational, managerial, psychological, person-environment type-A and person-environment type-B. Technically oriented research and conceptually driven research were categorised as the perspectives of inquiry and were scrutinised together with their developmental aspects. By mapping the philosophical positions to the frames of reference, various characteristics and spheres of inquiry within each frame of reference were revealed. Research limitations/implications - Further detailed examples can be developed to offer discerning elucidations relevant to each frame of reference. Practical implications - The study is viewed as an enabling mechanism for researchers to identify the unique particularities of their research and the way in which it is pursued. Originality/value - The study is a response to a glaring dearth of cognisance and a reaction to a growing but confusing body of knowledge that does not offer a clear picture of what research in architecture is. By identifying key characteristics, philosophical positions and frames of reference that pertain to the research in architecture and associated disciplines, the findings represent a scholastic endeavour in its field

Defence science and innovation: an affordable strategic advantage

Overview: Australia’s neighbours in the Asia–Pacific are building high-quality science, technology, engineering and mathematics research capacities and infrastructure. As a consequence, Australia’s technological advantage in the defence domain is eroding. To recover that advantage, our policy should be to make the most of the knowledge, capability and capacity in Australia’s civilian science and innovation sector.  This special report analyses current and prospective Australian science, industry and defence science and innovation policy

“Introduction: Oceanic Archives, Indigenous Epistempologies, and Transpacific American Studies”

Excerpt from Oceanic Archives, Indigenous Epistempologies, and Transpacific American Studies, edited by Yuan Shu, Otto Heim, and Kendall Johnso

Singularities of training personnel in the family economics and family business at the current stage of development of market relations

Transition of Russia to the development of market relations turned out to be an incentive motive for developing the basic concepts of the family economics and family business, a discovery of the opportunity for many Russian citizens to be engaged in entrepreneurship, which has formerly been inaccessible for them. The modern changes taking place in Russia and abroad raise new requirements for training the youths, for conscious active participation in various spheres of the socio-economic life of the society, in development of family businesses, and improvement of their efficiency. It should be noted that the problems of professional training of young people at higher education institutions as members of households in participation in the family business, formation of qualities of a future entrepreneur, and the entrepreneurial activity in the family business are actively considered and implemented in developed countries, while Russia does not virtually take part in this process. The main cause of failure in the family business is lack of competence, skills, and leadership qualities, as well as a set of competences needed for a successful business. © 2015 Canadian Center of Science and Education. All rights reserved

Virtue epistemology and abilism on knowledge

Virtue epistemologists define knowledge as true belief produced by intellectual virtue. In this paper, I review how this definition fails in three important ways. First, it fails as an account of the ordinary knowledge concept, because neither belief nor reliability is essential to knowledge ordinarily understood. Second, it fails as an account of the knowledge relation itself, insofar as that relation is operationalized in the scientific study of cognition. Third, it serves no prescriptive purpose identified up till now. An alternative theory, abilism, provides a superior account of knowledge as it is ordinarily and scientifically understood. According to abilism, knowledge is an accurate representation produced by cognitive ability

Creation as an Ecumenical Problem: Renewed Belief through Green Experience

Loss of a sense of creaturehood and of members has occurred across the lines of divided churches in a secular context. The author explores the question whether green experience of nature can be a path toward a renewed sense of creaturehood. Bernard Lonergan’s distinction between faith and belief allows for identifying a primordial faith that interprets the cosmos as numinous. Ignatius of Loyola’s Spiritual Exercises interprets primordial faith with the biblical word of God as Creator. Why not develop local ecumenical experiments in reevangelization that address green experience