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Breaking walls to build bridges
Descriptive
TypeOfResource
Text
TitleInfo
(ID = T-1)
Title
Breaking walls to build bridges
SubTitle
democracy and the struggle between belief and reason
Identifier
ETD_2518
Identifier
(type = hdl)
http://hdl.rutgers.edu/1782.2/rucore10001600001.ETD.000053277
Language
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eng
Genre
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theses
Subject
(ID = SBJ-1);
(authority = RUETD)
Topic
Political Science
Subject
(ID = SBJ-2);
(authority = ETD-LCSH)
Topic
Common sense--Philosophy
Subject
(ID = SBJ-3);
(authority = ETD-LCSH)
Topic
Science and civilization
Subject
(ID = SBJ-4);
(authority = ETD-LCSH)
Topic
Science--Social aspects
Abstract
(type = abstract)
Public support for social policies or movements is often determined by intuitive considerations, perceived as matters of common sense. Existing theories interpret these dispositions in one of two ways: either as genetic traits inherited from hominid ancestors (evolutionary psychology), or as reified elements of cultural practices (social constructivism). Both of these approaches imply that common sense is local and context-dependent, without any primordial components. Nevertheless, rationality cannot emerge in material environments without a set of necessary beliefs. This means that common sense incorporates universal elements as well. By treating shared factual knowledge as subjective and the basic intuitions as objective (not the other way around), it is possible to understand the roots of cultural paradigms and the parameters that lead to their change over time. The interplay between belief and knowledge determines the type of principles that have the strongest appeal in any society. This process works at the level of the individual, especially in the early formative years, and shapes the generational transfer of values. Of special interest is the possibility of cultural change induced by advancements in science. For example, the social relevance of scientific rationality depends on the perceived compatibility between the necessary intuitions and the supported interpretations of physical phenomena. Global effects are possible in the long run, given the universality of relevant categories. Even the modern trend towards cultural fundamentalism can be reversed, assuming favorable conditions. The goal of this dissertation is to provide a foundation for future research on the evolution of common sense. It is designed as an argument in three main steps. The first part aims to deduce the types of internal and external observables that determine the emergence of rational self-consciousness. The second part derives a limited list of physical properties that can be used to validate the ontological status of rationality. Those properties are shown to be compatible with existing empirical observations (but not with their interpretation) in the third part. These conclusions suggest that the progress of democracy can be influenced by future scientific developments, especially through changes in the qualitative approaches to fundamental physical interactions.
PhysicalDescription
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electronic resource
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x, 272 p.
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Note
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Ph.D.
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Includes abstract
Note
Vita
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Includes bibliographical references
Note
(type = statement of responsibility)
by Ghenadi Mardari
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Mardari
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Ghenadi
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1972-
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Ghenadi Mardari
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Bathory
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Peter D.
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chair
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Peter D. Bathory
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Kubik
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Jan
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Jan Kubik
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Bronner
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Stephen E.
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Stephen E. Bronner
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Loewer
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Barry
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Barry Loewer
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Flores
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Eduardo V.
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outside member
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Advisory Committee
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Eduardo V. Flores
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Rutgers University
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degree grantor
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Graduate School - New Brunswick
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OriginInfo
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2010
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2010
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Rutgers University Electronic Theses and Dissertations
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ETD
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Title
Graduate School - New Brunswick Electronic Theses and Dissertations
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rucore19991600001
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NjNbRU
Identifier
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doi:10.7282/T3S75GDQ
Genre
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ETD doctoral
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Rights
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The author owns the copyright to this work.
Copyright
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Copyright protected
Availability
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Open
Reason
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Mardari
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Ghenadi
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DateTime
2010-03-30 18:44:01
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Ghenadi Mardari
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Rutgers University. Graduate School - New Brunswick
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I hereby grant to the Rutgers University Libraries and to my school the non-exclusive right to archive, reproduce and distribute my thesis or dissertation, in whole or in part, and/or my abstract, in whole or in part, in and from an electronic format, subject to the release date subsequently stipulated in this submittal form and approved by my school. I represent and stipulate that the thesis or dissertation and its abstract are my original work, that they do not infringe or violate any rights of others, and that I make these grants as the sole owner of the rights to my thesis or dissertation and its abstract. I represent that I have obtained written permissions, when necessary, from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis or dissertation and will supply copies of such upon request by my school. I acknowledge that RU ETD and my school will not distribute my thesis or dissertation or its abstract if, in their reasonable judgment, they believe all such rights have not been secured. I acknowledge that I retain ownership rights to the copyright of my work. I also retain the right to use all or part of this thesis or dissertation in future works, such as articles or books.
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2012-05-30
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730 days- 2 years
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Ghenadi Mardari
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Rutgers University. Graduate School - New Brunswick
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Author Agreement License
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I hereby grant to the Rutgers University Libraries and to my school the non-exclusive right to archive, reproduce and distribute my thesis or dissertation, in whole or in part, and/or my abstract, in whole or in part, in and from an electronic format, subject to the release date subsequently stipulated in this submittal form and approved by my school. I represent and stipulate that the thesis or dissertation and its abstract are my original work, that they do not infringe or violate any rights of others, and that I make these grants as the sole owner of the rights to my thesis or dissertation and its abstract. I represent that I have obtained written permissions, when necessary, from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis or dissertation and will supply copies of such upon request by my school. I acknowledge that RU ETD and my school will not distribute my thesis or dissertation or its abstract if, in their reasonable judgment, they believe all such rights have not been secured. I acknowledge that I retain ownership rights to the copyright of my work. I also retain the right to use all or part of this thesis or dissertation in future works, such as articles or books.
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Technical
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ETD
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application/pdf
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application/x-tar
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