On The Theoretical Problematic of Arabic Physical Science Or Why Did Arabic Science Fail To Achieve The Copernican Revolution?

A Hegelian version of the concept of problematic is used to investigate the underlying theoretical unity and structure of Arabic physical science (physics, astronomy and chemistry). A contradictory triad (associated with Platonism, Aristotelian philosophy and Ptolemaic science) is identified at the heart of the Arabic project for physical science. The paper focuses on the valiant attempts made by leading Arabic scientists to overcome these contradictions without transcending or tearing apart the prevailing problematic. The following question is then addressed: why was Arabic physical science reformist, rather than revolutionary, unlike Renaissance European physical science? An answer is proposed in terms of the history, nature and decline of Arabic rationalism

Towards a Christian literary theory

Most contemporary literary theories are either explicitly or implicitly atheistic. This thesis describes a literary theory whose principles are derived from or consistent with Christian theology. It argues against modern objections to such a theory that this is a rationally and ethically legitimate mode of contemporary literary theory. The first half of the thesis constitutes an analysis of deconstruction, of Marxism and of psychoanalysis. These are three of the most influential discourses in modern literary theory, each of which constitutes a significant argument against the existence of God, as this has traditionally been understood in Christian theology. In a chapter devoted to each theory, I examine its relation to Christian theology, and argue that it does not constitute a conclusive argument against the truth-content of such theology. I go on to assess which of its principles can be used in modem Christian literary theory, and which cannot. The second half of the thesis constitutes an analysis of a Christian tradition of thought that pertains to literary theory. In the fourth chapter, I examine the concepts of language and of art expressed or implied in the Bible, St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas, and assess which of these concepts could be used in Christian literary theory today. In the fifth chapter, I examine certain twentieth-century Christian philosophers and literary critics, and assess how their thought could be used in contemporary Christian literary theory. In the final chapter, I synthesize the conclusions to these arguments into the outline of a literary theory that both derives from Christian theology and takes account of the objections to such theology posed by contemporary literary theory

Hanif Kureishi and the Politics of Comedy

Born in the London suburbs in 1954, of a Pakistani father and an English mother, Hanif Kureishi emerged in the 1980s as one of the most prominent cultural producers of the British Asian community. His first film, My Beautiful Laundrette (1985), brought him unexpectedly to commercial success and a mainstream audience, a position consolidated by his novel The Buddha of Suburbia (1990). Since 1997, his work has turned from a concern with questions of “race” to an exploration of masculine sexuality and of the difficulties of adult relationships. Throughout, it has remained characterized by an irreverent strain of comedy. In this essay, I will analyse the political significance of this comedy, from Kureishi’s early responses to institutionalized racism to the more controversial sexual politics of his recent fiction

"A Prison for the Infinite": D. H. Lawrence and Bertrand Russell on the War

In his recent book War Trauma and English Modernism, Carl Krockel argues that Lawrence suffered from "war trauma," throughout not only the war years but for almost the entire remainder of his life. He is right to say so. The war smashed Lawrence, as an artist and as a man, and I would disagree with Krockel's thesis only insofar as he sees the beginning of a healing process at work in the final draft of Lady Chatterley's Lover (153-4). Lawrence responded to the war in many ways at the time – t..

An English Translation of La sonrisa etrusca: The Etruscan Smile

La sonrisa etrusca is José Luis Sampedro’s seventh novel and most successful work. This 1985 bestseller is listed in El Mundo’s 100 best Spanish novels of the 20th century, and in 2018 received a film adaptation. These two achievements alone make it a worthy book to translate, and currently, it is available in French, German, Dutch, Italian, Lithuanian, Romanian, Arabic, Hebrew, and Chinese. To date, there is no English translation. To address this omission, this thesis presents the first thirty chapters of the novel in English

Supporting smoking cessation: a guide for health professionals.

Supporting smoking cessation: a guide for health professionals is intended to serve as a resource for healthcare professionals providing advice for smoking cessation. Contents: • Introduction • Tobacco smoking: the scope of the problem • The role of health professionals • The ‘5As’ structure for smoking cessation • Nicotine addiction • Pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation • Other pharmacotherapy options • Other forms of treatment and support for smoking cessation • Smoking reduction rather than smoking cessation • Relapse • Smoking cessation in high prevalence populations • Smoking cessation in populations with special needs • Secondhand smoke • Resources for health professional

Modern literature

This chapter has seven sections 1. Pre-1945 Fiction; 2. Post-1945 Fiction; 3. Pre-1950 Drama; 4. Post-1950 Drama; 5. British Poetry Pre-1950; 6 British Poetry Post-1950; 7. Irish Poetry. Section 1(a) is by Andrew Radford; section 1(b) is by Michael Shawcross; section 1(c) is by Chrissie Van Mierlo; section 1(d) is by Luke Ferretter; section 1(e) is by Eric Sandberg; section 2 is by Nick Bentley; section 3 is by Rebecca D’Monte; section 4 is by Graham Saunders; section 5 is by Neil Miles; section 6 is by Matthew Sperling; section 7 is by Iain Twiddy

Helping smokers with depression to quit smoking: collaborative care with Quitline

Objectives: To report smokers' evaluations and uptake of Quitline-doctor comanagement of smoking cessation and depression, a key component of the Victorian Quitline's tailored call-back service for smokers with a history of depression and to explore its relationship to quitting success. Design, participants and setting: Prospective study followed Quitline clients disclosing doctor-diagnosed depression (n = 227). Measures were taken at baseline (following initial Quitline call), posttreatment (2 months) and 6 months from recruitment (77% and 70% response rates, respectively). Main outcome measures: Uptake of comanagement (initiated by fax-referral to Quitline), making a quit attempt (quit for 24 hours), sustained cessation (> 4 months at 6-month follow-up). Results: At 2-month follow-up, 83% thought it was a good idea to involve their doctor in their quit attempt, 74% had discussed quitting with their doctor, and 43% had received comanagement. In all, 72% made a quit attempt, 37% and 33% were abstinent posttreatment and at 6 months, respectively, and 20% achieved sustained cessation. Among participants who discussed quitting with their doctor, those receiving comanagement were more likely to make a quit attempt than those who did not receive comanagement (78% v 63%). Participants with comanagement also received more Quitline calls (mean 4.6 v 3.1)---a predictor of sustained cessation. Exacerbation of depression between baseline and 6 months was reported by 18% of participants but was not related to cessation outcome. Conclusion: Quitline-doctor comanagement of smoking cessation and depression is workable, is valued by smokers, and increases the probability of quit attempts. Smoking cessation did not increase the risk of exacerbation of depression