The "Chu Shu" chapter of the Huai-Nan-Tzu : The sources and orientation of its political thought.

The "Chu Shu" chapter of the Huai Nan Tzu, because of its frequent use of Fa-chia terminology and allusions, has often been characterized as a Fa-chia document. While first impressions do suggest a Fa-chia oriented political philosophy, a more careful study of the sources and perspective of its basic precepts demonstrates that this is not the case. By isolating the main concepts and themes dealt with in this chapter and comparing them with their pre-Ch'in antecedents, we are able to ascertain both the debt owed to the earlier traditions and the orientation of the "Chu Shu" political theory relative to these earlier schools of thought. In the preparation of this thesis, the first step is to identify and isolate the most important concepts in the "Chu Shu" chapter. Secondly, we trace the origins and evolution of each of these concepts through pre-Han sources to determine their development- and significance. With a reasonably confident understanding of the historical significance of these concepts at hand, we then analyze the "Chu Shu" interpretation, and undertake a detailed comparison between the historical concept and its "Chu Shu" counterpart. In so doing, we have been able to locate the sources and to determine the orientation of the "Chu Shu" chapter's political thought. Appendix I contains an annotated translation of the "Chu Shu" chapter. In Appendix II we examine the usage of fa in texts prior to the emergence of the Fa-chia school, and conclude that only well into the Warring States period when the Fa-chia theorists had taken over this character and injected it. with their own meaning did it come to connote "penal law". Finally, in Appendix III we attempt to demonstrate that the final portion of this "Chu Shu" chapter is a later accretion

Phoenix : Complex Adaptive System of Systems (CASoS) engineering version 1.0.

Complex Adaptive Systems of Systems, or CASoS, are vastly complex ecological, sociological, economic and/or technical systems which we must understand to design a secure future for the nation and the world. Perturbations/disruptions in CASoS have the potential for far-reaching effects due to pervasive interdependencies and attendant vulnerabilities to cascades in associated systems. Phoenix was initiated to address this high-impact problem space as engineers. Our overarching goals are maximizing security, maximizing health, and minimizing risk. We design interventions, or problem solutions, that influence CASoS to achieve specific aspirations. Through application to real-world problems, Phoenix is evolving the principles and discipline of CASoS Engineering while growing a community of practice and the CASoS engineers to populate it. Both grounded in reality and working to extend our understanding and control of that reality, Phoenix is at the same time a solution within a CASoS and a CASoS itself

Exegesis of the 'Ta Tsung Shih' chapter of the Chuang Tzu

This thesis provides an exegesis of what might be considered a "core" chapter of the Chuang Tzu text. The "Ta Tsung Shih" chapter is "core" in that it can be demonstrably shown to represent a systematic crystallization of Chuang Tzu's philosophical system. Basically, this thesis consists of four parts. First, in the Introduction, an attempt is made to substantiate the suggestion that the "Ta Tsung Shih" chapter can be considered representative of Chuang Tzu's thought. Second, a section by section translation of the entire chapter is provided. In this translation, emendations in the text are made only when absolutely necessary to make sense of the otherwise unintelligible. Third, extensive annotation to the text is provided in note form, working on the premise that philosophical analysis must be preceded by a reconstruction of a reliable text. In compiling the annotation, we have made an effort to consult and collate the bulk of historically significant commentary and provide alternative interpretations where they arise. We have been particularly meticulous with respect to textual problems, attempting to employ methods of modern textual criticism where possible. We also explore historical allusions in some depth in order to provide the reader with the background to understand and appreciate the significance of these references. Finally, in Appendix I an annotated bibliography of Chinese commentaries is provided, complete with a listing of the text used, the date of the work, the format of the text, prejudices of the authors and occasionally, a subjective assessment of the individual worth of these commentaries. This translation and annotation of the "Ta Tsung Shih" chapter is presented as preliminary to a philosophical analysis of the actual content, which unfortunately but necessarily falls beyond the scope of this thesis. In this analysis, it is expected that Chuang Tzu's thought as presented in the "Ta Tsung Shih" chapter can be shown to be an internally consistent system of ideas which provides the reader with a unique, if not extremely, profound interpretation of his human situation.Arts, Faculty ofAsian Studies, Department ofGraduat

Phoenix : Complex Adaptive System of Systems (CASoS) engineering version 1.0.

Complex Adaptive Systems of Systems, or CASoS, are vastly complex ecological, sociological, economic and/or technical systems which we must understand to design a secure future for the nation and the world. Perturbations/disruptions in CASoS have the potential for far-reaching effects due to pervasive interdependencies and attendant vulnerabilities to cascades in associated systems. Phoenix was initiated to address this high-impact problem space as engineers. Our overarching goals are maximizing security, maximizing health, and minimizing risk. We design interventions, or problem solutions, that influence CASoS to achieve specific aspirations. Through application to real-world problems, Phoenix is evolving the principles and discipline of CASoS Engineering while growing a community of practice and the CASoS engineers to populate it. Both grounded in reality and working to extend our understanding and control of that reality, Phoenix is at the same time a solution within a CASoS and a CASoS itself