Bankruptcy problems with interval uncertainty

In this paper, bankruptcy situations with interval data are studied. Two classical bankruptcy rules, namely the proportional rule and the rights-egalitarian rule, are extended to the interval setting. It turns out that these bankruptcy interval rules generate elements in the interval core of a related cooperative interval game.

Cores and Stable Sets for Interval-Valued Games

In this paper, interval-type solution concepts for interval-valued cooperative games like the interval core, the interval dominance core and stable sets are introduced and studied. The notion of I-balancedness is introduced, and it is proved that the interval core of an interval-valued cooperative game is nonempty if and only if the game is I-balanced. Relations between the interval core, the dominance core and stable sets of an interval-valued game are established.cooperative games;interval games;the core;the dominance core;stable sets

Cooperative Interval Games Arising from Airport Situations with Interval Data

This paper deals with the research area of cooperative interval games arising from airport situations with interval data. We also extend to airport interval games some results from classical theory.cooperative interval games;concave games;airport games;cost games;interval data

Saīd Nursi’s Arguments for the Existence of God in Risāle-i Nur

This dissertation examines the philosophical and theological writings of Saīd Nursi (1877–1960) entitled Risāle-i Nur (Epistles of Light), and presents a critical analysis of his arguments for the existence of God. Although certain aspects of Nursi’s writings have been studied at various academic levels, his ways of arguing for the existence of God, and defending his position against the sceptics have not been studied at doctoral level. Therefore, the objective of this study is to understand Nursi’s arguments, then try locate him among other philosophers and scholars and bring out into light his original viewpoints in this context. The thesis consists of six chapters. Chapter 1 presents the historical background and the overview of main theistic arguments from the Christian, Islamic and Jewish points of views concerning God’s existence. The theistic arguments analysed are: the ontological arguments, the cosmological arguments, including the kalām cosmological arguments, the teleological arguments, which are also known as arguments to or arguments from apparent design, the arguments from morality and conscience, and, finally, the arguments from miracles and religious experience. Counter-arguments to the theistic arguments posed by the sceptics are also examined such as problem of evil, the problem of Hell, and the poor design arguments. In this chapter, we also aim to sum up some of the chief arguments in order to prepare some basis for this study. These arguments are analysed from Nursian viewpoint in later chapters. Chapter 2 provides an overview of the life and thoughts of Saīd Nursi and explores how and why his discourse changed from political activism into that of intellectual and spiritual life. Certain terminologies that have been developed by Nursi are discussed here. The Ensuing four Chapters, from 3 to 6 analyse four different arguments employed by Saīd Nursi’s for the existence and the unity of God (tawḥīd). The first argument, ‘the great book of the universe’, which is, in modern philosophy, the equivalent of the design argument is discussed in Chapter 3. Chapter 4 examines the second argument which Nursi calls the argument from prophethood (nubuwwah), with a particular focus on Prophet Muḥammad. Chapter 5 deals with the third argument, i.e. from Scriptures (waḥy), with the Qur’ān as the main focus. Finally, Chapter 6 discusses Nursi’s fourth argument that is conscience (wijdān) and the primordial human nature (fıṭrat-ı bashar). In addition, the critics posed specially by the atheist and the sceptics are subjected to an evaluation from Nursi’s perspective. Darwinian theory of evolution as an alternative to creation, criticisms to the Qur’ān and the Prophet Muḥammad, and philosophical issues such as the problem of evil and hell are among the challenges to which Nursi responds. The thesis concludes that Nursi’s first three arguments i.e. the design argument, the argument from prophethood and the argument from scriptures, despite certain different interpretations by Nursi, seem to be a continuations of the traditional argument. However, Nursi’s originality lays in his moral argument or the argument, namely, the argument from primordial human nature

PERCEIVED QUALITY OF TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN TURKEY: BASIC ISSUES AND THEIR APPLICATION TO TURKISH PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

The Turkish education system has confronted radical changes over the last few years, as well as problems associated with it. In this context, the Turkish teacher education system attracts a lot of attention due to its role as the main teacher provider. Specifically, the quality of the teachers and the programs used to train them are being questioned. The biggest barrier to resolve these questions is a lack of consensus on the definition of "quality," and the purpose of the general research design is to bring together various perspectives and examine them individually in relation to the quality of Teacher Education Programs (TEPs). Due to time limitations, this dissertation examines only the embedded perceptions of key academic stakeholders regarding academic quality. A survey was administered to 31 academic administrators, 80 faculty members and 569 students, and 14 follow-up interviews were conducted. The main research method is quantitative, and uses the Multinomial Probit and Ordered Probit models discussed by Long and Freese (2006) for analysis. Qualitative data from the interviews is then used to provide detail. Using Harvey and Green typology (1993), a stakeholder model was created, and perspectives on quality were categorized into three general quality views associated with stakeholder groups: the Public View, the Management View and the Academic View. In phase 1, findings revealed that while key academic stakeholders generally agreed on the importance of these three perspectives with high ratings, on their number one choice 75% considered the Academic View the most important. There was no significant difference between administrators and students, or between faculty and students. Phase 2 revealed some statistically significant relationships between the participants' academic positions —academic administrator, faculty member or student — and their level of agreement with the three academic quality components: Student Quality, Faculty Quality, and Curriculum Quality. Findings also revealed some significant relationships between participants’ academic positions and their number one choice among the three academic quality components. Follow-up interviews revealed that participants had varying explanations for their number one choices