Pragmatism and Prophecy: H. G. Wells and the Metaphysics of Socialism

Read throughout the world, H. G. Wells was one of the most famous political thinkers in the early twentieth century. During the early 1900s he elaborated a bold, idiosyncratic, and controversial cosmopolitan socialist vision. In this article I offer a new reading of Wells’s political thought. I argue that he developed a distinctive pragmatist philosophical orientation, which he synthesised with his commitments to evolutionary theory. His pragmatism had four main components: a nominalist metaphysics; a verificationist theory of truth; a Jamesian “will to believe”; and a vision of philosophy as an exercise oriented to improving practice. His political thought was shaped by this philosophical orientation. Wells, I contend, was the most high-profile pragmatist political thinker in the opening decades of the twentieth century. Such an understanding requires a re-evaluation of both Wells and the history of pragmatism

Founding the World State: H. G. Wells on Empire and the English-Speaking Peoples

Herbert George Wells was one of the leading public intellectuals of the first half of the twentieth century. Most famous today as a founder of modern science fiction, he was once known throughout the world as a visionary social and political thinker. Questions of global order occupied a central place in his work. From the opening decade of the century until the close of the Second World War, he campaigned tirelessly for the creation of a world state, which would act as a guarantor of universal peace and justice. Yet, scholarship on Wells pays insufficient attention to the complex and conflicted nature of Wells's early views about how to build a world state. In particular, it neglects the tensions between his advocacy of a New Republic, formed by the unification of the English-speaking peoples, and his support for liberal imperialism. I analyze the development of this theme in Wells's political thinking during the years before WWI, a formative period in his intellectual life. I demonstrate how his conceptions of race, empire, and Anglo-American union shifted over time, show how his political arguments connected to his underlying views about social explanation and language, and highlight how his interpretation of the United States profoundly influenced his ideas about world order

The effect of training and job interruptions on logging crews’ safety in Tanzania’s plantation forests: the case of SUA training forest, Olmotonyi, Arusha

A study was carried out in Sokoine University of Agriculture Training Forest to assess the effect of training and job interruptions on logging crews’ safety during tree cutting using chainsaw and two-man cross cut saws. For each cutting method, experienced and inexperienced crews were studied before training, after training and after break using time study techniques for nine months at intervals of three months. Results show that crews seldom use safety gears. Inexperienced crews suffered more health risks than experienced crews. Most of occupational risks encountered by inexperienced chainsaw operators were from falling objects (mostly dead branches and pods), falling trees, walking between trees with a running chainsaw as well as walking carelessly on logs and felled trees during bucking. Experienced two-man cross cut saw operators committed fewer risks and suffered about 37% fewer injuries compared to inexperienced crew. Chainsaw operators suffered relatively more injuries compared to two-man cross cut saw operators. After training, there were significant improvements in both methods, but more so for the inexperienced crews. The level of safety consciousness decreased with increased accidents and or risks after the break for both crew categories. Inexperienced crews suffered more injuries. On resuming operations after the break, inexperienced crews seemed to adhere to safety rules more than the experienced ones. It is concluded that provision of appropriate safety gears as well as delivery of on job training are important measures for improved performance and lowering accidents and injuries to logging crews.Key words: Tree cutting, chainsaw, twoman cross cut saw, training, safety, accidents, Tanzania

Enhancing Design Features of Asymmetric Spur Gears Operating on a Specified Center Distance Using Tooth Sum Altered Gear Geometry

Asymmetric gears have evolved from the rising demand for power transmission drives with high load-carrying capacity, surface durability, and service life. Direct design and S± profile shifted system are the most common approaches used for enhancing design features by geometry modification in asymmetric gears. This paper aims at establishing asymmetric gear geometry modification using tooth sum alteration for a family of gears running on a specified center distance as a feasible design approach. A complete mathematical treatment of the design approach is provided, and an in-house developed computer program is used for numerical simulation. The paper explores the influence of dynamic load factors, location factors for bending, specific sliding on load-bearing capacity, and surface durability on different tooth sum alterations. The study concludes that tooth sum altered asymmetric gear geometry can be employed as an effective design technique that offers designers flexibility in designing gears for surface wear, load-bearing, and tooth life

Tribological Aspects Affecting Surface durability of Tooth-Sum Altered Spur Gears: A Load Sharing Approach

The performance of tooth-sum altered (ATS) gears is determined by the factors influenced by their profile geometry. This study aims to explore the influence of gear geometry modification on tribological aspects that affect surface wear in ATS spur gears. A computer code is developed to simulate surface wear numerically, using Archard's wear model, Greenwood-Williamson micro-asperity contact model, and Johnson’s load-sharing approach. The outcomes of the study indicate that the low contact ratio ATS gears promote the formation of thick oil film owing to reduced specific sliding and increased speed. However, high contact ratio ATS gears create unfavorable operating conditions resulting in extreme boundary lubrication. The effectiveness of lubricant oil film in reducing wear in ATS gears is associated with its modified profile, sliding velocities, load bearing, operating temperature, and oil viscosity

Conceptual transformation process model for sustainability in the infrastructure sector

Published ArticleBusiness as usual (BAU) model of infrastructure delivery is contrary to the needs of sustainability in the built environment. This difference necessitates a South African study that is focus on sustainability in the infrastructure sector. A review of the management corpus led to the discovery and review of a transformation process model, which was thereafter integrated with core lean and sustainability principles. Through the analysis and synthesis of collected data from a case study design approach, it was discovered that a transformation model could serve as a purposive vehicle for embedding sustainability in the delivery of infrastructure projects in South Africa. However, confirmatory evaluation of the proposed model is required to ascertain its applicability in the sector

Pragmatic Utopianism and Race: H. G. Wells as Social Scientist

H. G. Wells was one of the most celebrated writers in the world during the first half of the twentieth century. Famed for his innovative fiction, he was also an influential advocate of socialism and the world state. What is much less well-known is that he was a significant contributor to debates about the nature of social science. This article argues that Wells’s account of social science in general, and sociology in particular, was shaped by an idiosyncratic philosophical pragmatism. In order to demonstrate how his philosophical arguments inflected his social thought, it explores his attack on prevailing theories of race, while also highlighting the limits of his account. The article concludes by tracing the reception of Wells’s ideas among social scientists on both sides of the Atlantic. Although his programme for utopian sociology attracted few disciples, his arguments about the dynamics of modern societies found a large audience among social scientists and political thinkers.Invaluable financial support was provided by the Leverhulme Trust

Pollination ecology and breeding system of Xylopia championii (Annonaceae): curculionid beetle pollination, promoted by floral scents and elevated floral temperatures

Data on the reproductive biology of the Annonaceae are rather fragmentary, particularly for paleotropical species. The pollination ecology and breeding system of the Sri Lankan endemic Xylopia championii (Annonaceae) are described in detail. The pollination ecology was investigated using a diverse range of approaches, including (1) observations of flower-level and population-level phenology, (2) assessments of floral visitors and effective pollinators, (3) monitoring of floral temperature in situ using a digital data logger, and (4) analysis of scent chemistry using solid-phase microextraction sampling and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry identification of volatiles. The breeding system was evaluated using pollen/ovule ratios and field-based controlled-pollination experiments. Intrafloral dichogamy (protogyny) occurs over a 2-d period, with a reproductively inactive phase between the pistillate and staminate phases, although there is no evidence of interfloral dichogamy. The inner petals close to form a pollination chamber during the reproductively active phases. The flowers are pollinated by a species of Endaeus weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Floral chamber temperatures are elevated to 8°C above ambient levels. The floral scent contains a combination of volatiles that have previously been observed in fruits and other flowers and that possibly mimic insect pheromones. Xylopia championii has an essentially xenogamous breeding system, promoted by protogyny. Although X. championii possesses numerous clear adaptations for cantharophily, there is no evidence for a species-specific interaction. The beetles are attracted to the flowers by strong scents; rewards offered to the beetles include heat energy and protection from predators. Low levels of fruit set in natural conditions suggest that pollinator availability may be a limiting factor. © 2007 by The University of Chicago. All rights reserved.published_or_final_versio