Kant's Epistemological geography : the role of Schwärmerei and demarcation in the conception of critical philosophy

Bibliography: leaves 218-230.This study intends to examine one Kantian problematic that has been often overlooked, especially in recent years. It explores Kant's reactions to so-called occult phenomena and related teachings. Kant's initial and the single most important interlocutor in this respect was Emanuel Swedenborg. Kant refers to his visions and the tone of his writings as Schwärmerei, that is an exaltation or an exalted tone. The problem of explaining the conditions of possibility or impossibility of the knowledge-claims of this type, is apparent in Kant's writings from the late 1760s. The object of the exalted knowledge-claims, it is argued, continued to figure in the critical period as one of the prime s of the unkowable objects, that is, noumena. Therefore, it is claimed that Schwärmerei and the related practices played an intrinsic role in Kant's conception of the Grenze, a limit of the conditions of possibility of human knowledge. For , the demarcation between the phenomena and noumena relies on an assumption of the particular nature of the knowledge-claims, modelled upon the claims of Schwärmerei, pertaining to objects which are beyond our grasp. In addition, Kant's concept of Grenze and the outcome of his demarcation has been put into an historical perspective. Thus, his demarcation criteria are contrasted to modern pre-Kantian attitudes towards the occult practices and the attempts to devise demarcation criteria in science. In this respect special attention has been given to Newton's methodology and research. The study also contains an examination of more recent criteria of demarcation proposed in philosophy of science which draw from Kantian conception of demarcation. Of particualar interest are Popper's and Kuhn's demarcation criteria between the scientific and non-scientific as well as some recent demarcation policies that is argued, can be related to them. The primary sources of this study can be found in an interdisciplinary field: Kantian scholarship, history of science and the occult in the period of Renaissance and early Enlightenment, contemporary philosophy of science, and the recent debates concerning modernity

Regulatory and Controlling Mechanisms on UAV/UAS that Influence Efficient Architectural Heritage Praxis: Actual Situation in Serbia

Worldwide quickly enacted UAV/UAS legislative is permanently improving to prevent unpredicted and potentially hazardous activities. Serbian regulations have generally been harmonized with those of the EU and strictly implemented. This Paper investigates Serbian regulatory mechanisms negatively affecting surveying effectivity/efficiency. Respecting the methodology, valorisation criteria are set and problems identified. Research results are graphically presented to mutually compare them and obtain sustainable conclusions

On-photo Restitution and Management of an Angular Size-Illusion\u27s Behaviour Experienced in Architectural/Urban Spaces

An angular size-illusion refers to a contradictory effect related to a seeming size-decrease of focused objects as the observer approaches them. This paper continues the research in this field, trying to establish fundamental principles of how to: (a) efficiently perform an on-photo restitution of an illusion\u27s behaviour (expressed by illusion descriptors) when it is experienced in architectural/urban spaces during movement under the influence of available triggers (represented by illusion determinants of physical nature), and (b) manage it computationally so as to be sustainable for contemporary professional practice. To explain that conceptually, one simple architectural/urban matrix is chosen and digitally photographed. Images are photogrammetrically processed and determinants-related data obtained. Subsequently, descriptors-related outputs are calculated by applying derived mathematical equations (expressed in function of those determinants-related data). Then, behaviour-charts are created and corresponding illusion-characteristics read-off. Finally, it is illustrated how to manage (intentionally modify) the restituted behaviour by varying values of acquired determinants-related data. Given results allow also to "design a new illusion" (to programme and control it) by simulating in digital VR/AR environments. Thus, any cause of unwanted/unpredictable visual impression degradations of important architectural/urban structures can be prevented or minimized (by planning and performing adequate spatial/physical interventions on existing/reconstructed/newly designed matrices)

The impact of architectural and Urban patterns on the behaviour of an exhibited angular size-illusion

Publisher's Versio

INFLUENCE OF VEGETATIVE ROOTSTOCKS ON BIOLOGICAL AND PRODUCTION PROPERTIES OF SWEET CHERRY CULTIVAR ‘REGINA’ IN EARLY BEARING PERIOD

The study researched the influence of four vegetative rootstocks on a biological and production properties of sweet cherry cultivar ‘Regina’. The study was carried out during fourth and fifth growing years at an orchard located at the experimental estate “Radmilovac” of the Faculty of Agriculture in Belgrade. Cultivar ‘Regina’ was grafted on the following rootstocks: ‘Gisela 6’, ‘Ma×Ma 14’, ‘Colt’ and ‘Oblačinska cherry’, while trees grafted on P. mahaleb used like a control. The highest yield had trees grafted on rootstock ‘Gisela 6’ (6.5 kg), while the smallest yield had trees grafted on seedlings of P. mahaleb (1.4 kg). Cultivar ‘Regina’ had the highest number of sper fruiting branches on ‘Colt’ (367.2) and the smallest number was recorded on P. mahaleb (154.8), while number of lateral fruiting branches on trees of cultivar ‘Regina’ was between 91.6 (‘MaxMa 14’) and 42.2 (‘Oblačinska cherry’). The highest content of soluble solid matter and sweetness in fruit were on the trees grafted on P. mahaleb

Encoding/Decoding Capitals of Classical Architectural Orders by Using Fractal Geometry: Establishing Methodology

In most cases, artefacts are differentiated in terms of style they belong to – mainly visually, not mathematically. So, the main research questions of this study are both how to numerically encode stylistic regularities (peculiarities) as geometric indicators of artefacts morphology and how to decode them, namely to identify architectural style those artefacts belong to. Columns, namely their capitals are chosen as the most distinctive elements among artefacts. To elaborate on the validity of the defined principles of the aim-related methodology, a few representatives (capital samples) from each of three fundamental classical architectural orders (Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian) are used. The subject of this Paper is to establish relevant indicators of capital qualification, capital classification, and thus, referred architectural order identification. The verification of those indicators is performed by processing two sets of capitals contours (that belong to the mutually equidistant transverse and equiangular radial section planes) of each of the selected samples (namely digital 3D models). The narrower research aim is to point out that it is possible to encode not only chosen but also any other capital – by using the mentioned indicators of fractal and non-fractal nature (as a control one). The wider research aim refers to a possibility to identify order a concrete fragment of capital belongs to in terms of recognising it computationally (as confidently as possible from the mathematical probability point of view) based on the established research methodology principles. Finally, it is possible to conclude that changes of the analysed indicators trendlines behaviour (expressed by changes of its slope, roughness, continuation, etc.) accurately/precisely describe morphology-wise variations of a form that could point out subject-related stylistic variation, as well. So, this Paper demonstrates not only the fact that architectural orders capitals are true fractal objects, but rather how fractal analysis as a tool can be used to scientifically numerically encode/decode their certain characteristics (fractal features) of single- or multi-scale nature

Mathematical education of future architects – playing and learning with and in Iterated Function Systems

The principal methods of architectural design and construction have been inseparable from mathematics since time immemorial. Even nowadays, mathematical ability is an integral part of professional competence of any architect, and therefore, mathematical education is naturally very significant segment of architectural studies. At the University of Belgrade, Faculty of Architecture, the leading higher education institution for architecture and urbanism studies in the Western Balkans region, undergraduate students primarily meet with mathematics on the core course Mathematics in architecture. As the name suggests, this course covers the basics of analytic and fractal geometry, focusing on possibilities of applying. Namely, after understanding and adopting the theoretical foundations using standard teaching methodology, it often happens that students hardly recognize the connection between the acquired mathematical knowledge and their future professional activities. Therefore, after each thematic unit during the course, some experimental work or functional research is carried out. This paper briefly presents an active learning method implemented on Iterated Function Systems (IFS), as one of the units. The accompanying experimental student task involves creating various analog models of IFS which could be interpreted architecturally

QUANTIFYING THE DENSITY-QUALITY OF PHOTOGRAMMETRICALLY CREATED POINT-CLOUDS OF LINEAR ARCHITECTURAL/URBAN ELEMENTS AS A FUNCTION OF SHOOTING DISTANCES AND NUMBER OF CAMERA POSITIONS I.E. SHOOTING-DIRECTIONS

This paper examines the impact of various object-to-camera distances and the number of station-points i.e. various shooting directions with regard to the obtained Density-quality of photogrammetrically created Point-clouds - as digital representations of the existent linear architectural/urban objects/elements.According to an artificial (purified) experimental scene used, the conclusion is that with the chosen focal lengths/object-to-camera distances, with shooting directions perpendicular to the axis of that object, with station-points uniformly radially distributed around it (at a circle of 360deg), and with the obtained values of photogrammetric-software process-quality outputs which belong to the recommended ranges, the achieved density-level of the created Point-clouds may be treated as independent on the camera's radial-movement angle but dependent on the percentage of „Object's Photo-Coverage”: the lower the Coverage, the lower the density. Also, regardless of the Coverage level, the majority of the generated points are generally more "densimetrically" precise than they are "densimetrically" accurate.Key words: Architectural Photogrammetry, Image-Based 3D-Modeling, Point-Cloud, Density, Precision, Accuracy

THE APPLICATION OF INTERVAL CALCULUS TO ESTIMATION OF PLATE DEFLECTION BY SOLVING POISSON’S PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION

This paper describes the application of interval calculus to calculation of plate deflection, taking in account inevitable and acceptable tolerance of input data (input parameters). The simply supported reinforced concrete plate was taken as an example. The plate was loaded by uniformly distributed loads. Several parameters that influence the plate deflection are given as certain closed intervals. Accordingly, the results are obtained as intervals so it was possible to follow the direct influence of a change of one or more input parameters on output (in our example, deflection) values by using one model and one computing procedure. The described procedure could be applied to any FEM calculation in order to keep calculation tolerances, ISO-tolerances, and production tolerances in close limits (admissible limits). The Wolfram Mathematica has been used as tool for interval calculation

APPLICATION OF NEW ACTIVE THERMALLY ENHANCED INSULATION MATERIAL (PCM) – STOREPET

Abstract: Lightweight constructions represent an economical alternative to traditional buildings, one of whose main drawbacks is the very high energy load needed to keep internal comfort conditions, as they are unable to curb rapid variations of temperature. When compared to heavier weight materials buildings, it is estimated that to maintain a thermally comfortable temperature range of 18-24°C, low weight materials use between 2 and 3 times the heating and cooling energy needed by a heavy weight material construction. The research concept is based upon the fact that outdoor/indoor heat exchanges (which play a significant part of lightweight buildings cooling and heating loads) can be potentially controlled by a new fiber insulation that possesses a thermally active heat storage capacity. During the day, when temperature rises, the peak loads can be largely absorbed by a PCM (Phase Change Material) - enhanced fiber insulation layer, only to be slowly discharged back to the environment later (during the night time, when outside temperature drops), without affecting the interior building energy balance, as it is aided by the presence of an standard low heat transfer fiber insulation layer. This approach will provide a much slower response of the building envelope to daily temperature fluctuations, helping in maintaining inside temperature in a comfortable range and thus avoiding the need for extra energy consumptions to accomplish it. Effective levels of indoor comfort will be also guaranteed by the well known fiber materials excellence, when it comes to reduce airborne noise transmission and its superior performance upon controlling the sound resonance in construction cavities. Development of such material is in final phase in frame of European FP7 project STOREPET  (FP7-SME-2011-2, Proposal 286730). Project participant from SEE is Construction Cluster „Dundjer” from Niš. Development and application of project results will be presented in this paper. Keywords: building materials, thermal insulation, acoustic insulation, light  building constructions,  energy efficiency,  sustainable building.