How to Do Things with Words: Tolkien’s Theory of Fantasy in Practice

After his St Andrews lecture on ‘Fairy Stories’ Tolkien projected his theory of sub-creation into his legendarium. In this projection the theory of what the human sub-creator does with thought and words became a model for what miraculous and magical beings can do with spirit and matter. For example, Fëanor’s making of the Silmarils and Sauron’s forging of the Ring were conceived (or in the first case, re-conceived) as acts analogous to human fantasy. Middle-earth thus became a world in which the magical potential of human words is revealed in the visible being of magical things

Fantasy Incarnate: Of Elves and Men

This essay proposes the idea of incarnation as a key to unlocking Tolkien’s conception of fantasy as set out in the \u27Origins\u27 section of On Fairy Stories. Tolkien\u27s intellectual context is explored and his conception of mythology as a blending of imagination and history examined. The essay also establishes the differences between mortal and Elvish fantasy and argues that Tolkien\u27s Elves engage in a different kind of incarnational art than do mortals. In conclusion it is claimed that in ‘Origins’ Tolkien reworked the speculations of mid-Victorian comparative philology into an aesthetic theory of artistic creation grounded upon the notion of incarnation

INFORMATION, ENERGY, AND EVOLUTION

Within the current theory of evolution, the development in the direction of higher complexity is taken to be a necessary condition. This gives birth to a problem why this direction is prevalent for evolution. Philosophers and scientists tried to substantiate this condition and to explain it, yet the question still remains open. Our aim is to find specific regularities in nature that make complexity the chosen direction. Three main causes for this direction are deduced from initial principles, assuming that information and energy are the vital nutrients for evolution. Consequently, we base our explication and explanation of causes on the principles of information theory, Ashby’s principle of requisite variety/complexity, as well as we suggest and ground some additional principles of the system development. This makes possible to separate three principal stages for evolution of living organisms: biological, neurological, and epistemological

Ethics review guidelines in Kenya

9TH Annual ethics conference. Theme : Bioethics medical, legal, environmental and cultural aspects in healthcare ethics at STRATHMORE UNIVERSITY, 25-26 OCTOBER 2012.9TH Annual ethics conference. Theme : Bioethics medical, legal, environmental and cultural aspects in healthcare ethics at STRATHMORE UNIVERSITY, 25-26 OCTOBER 2012

The Flexibility, Isolation, and Vulnerability of Agency Working A Qualitative Psychological Study

In recent years, temporary agency work has received increased attention in the realms of media, academia, and politics. Supporters of the industry cite fast access to flexible working opportunities for individuals and organisations, yet critics have highlighted disparities with permanent counterparts in relation to pay, treatment, and job security. Previous psychological research has forwarded a series of findings that have frequently conflicted, and the article will begin by exploring the previous literature in the area. Particular focus has been given to variables relating to job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and job security. The key objective of the study is to understand the psychological impact this form of employment can have upon individuals in relation to perceptions of flexibility, isolation, and vulnerability. The study adopted a qualitative research design that incorporated twenty-five semi structured interviews with agency workers, recruitment consultants, and representatives from third party employers. Secondary sources of data included ethnography analysis in the form of a researcher diary, and a longitudinal element resulting from follow-up interviews with the agency workers of the sample. Findings indicated the significant role of motive in the formulation of positive and negative perceptions that individuals hold towards their employment. The minimal tenures and lack of obligation associated with the contracts were also found to isolate agency workers from their permanent colleagues, increase vulnerability, and decrease job security and organizational commitment

FLYING WITH IMPAIRMENTS: IMPROVING AIRLINE PRACTICES BY UNDERSTANDING THE EXPERIENCES OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

This paper presents an understanding of the air travel experiences of people with disabilities and draws implications for improving airline management practices. The theoretical foundation for the paper is based on applying a social approach to disability to the airline sector. The research design used a modified grounded and phenomenological qualitative approach that sought to understand the experiences of people with disabilities in their own words. These experiences were contrasted to the policies, procedures and operations of the three major Australian domestic airlines. The methods used to understand the experiences involved semi-structured, in-depth interviews that were part of a larger study into the tourism experiences of people with disabilities. Fifteen in-depth interviews were undertaken together with an analysis of the qualitative responses to a broader quantitative study on the same topic. The interviews were supplemented with complaint cases taken against airlines through the Australian Disability Discrimination Act, 1992. What emerged as the ‘essence of experience’ was that airline procedures created a newly disembodied experience that transformed a person\u27s impairment into socially constructed disability. The social construction was a product of international air regulations, airline procedures, pressures brought about by the introduction of low-cost airlines into Australia and a new wave of occupational health and safety considerations. The resultant experience for many was one of heightened anxiety, helplessness and, in too many cases, humiliation

Dr Simon Raymond MBBS, MD, BMEDSC (HONS)*

Non

System-friendly wind power: How advanced wind turbine design can increase the economic value of electricity generated through wind power

Previous studies find that the economic value of electricity (USD/MWh) generated by wind power drops with increasing market share. Different measures can help mitigate the value drop, including electricity storage, flexible conventional plants, expansion of transmission, and demand response. This study assesses another option: a change in design of wind power plants. “Advanced” wind turbines that are higher and have a larger rotor compared to rated capacity (lower specific rating) generate electricity more constantly than “classical” turbines. Recent years have witnessed a significant shift towards such advanced technology. Our model-based analysis for Northwestern Europe shows that such design can substantially increase the spot market value of generated electricity. At a 30% penetration rate, the value of 1 MWh of electricity generated from a fleet of advanced turbines is estimated to be 15% higher than the value of 1 MWh from classical turbines. The additional value is large, whether compared to wind generation costs, to the value drop, or to the effect of alternative measures such as electricity storage. Extensive sensitivity tests indicate that this finding is remarkably robust. The increase in bulk power value is not the only advantage of advanced turbines: additional benefits might accrue from reduced costs for power grids and balancing services. To fully realize this potential, power markets and support policies need to be appropriately designed and signal scarcity investors

Biolandbau in Graubünden – Einkommenseffekte und gesamtwirtschaftliche Bedeutung

The study analyses the business and macroeconomic impact of organic farming in Graubünden. At the macroeconomic level the analysis focuses on the labour market effects as well as on the agricultural value added. At the managerial level the focus lies on the income effects of organic farming. The data analysis shows that organic farming makes an important contribution to a sustainable economic development in Graubünden. Relating to the income effects the secondary data are ambiguous, whereas farmers themselves judge the organic re-organisation as profitable