Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Nature'

Bioassay guided fractionation of a crude extract of the marine sponge Neopetrosia exigua resulted in the first reported isolation of exiguamines A and B. These pyrroloquinone alkaloids have an unprecedented hexacyclic skeleton that has not been previously encountered in natural products. Biological studies have identified exiguamine A as a potent in vitro inhibitor of the enzyme indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO). IDO is an enzyme expressed by tumor cells to evade the immune system. Inhibitors against this enzyme may allow the immune system to attack cancer cells, making this enzyme a potential drug target for anti-cancer agents. Investigation of the crude extract of a Bacillus sp. collected in Dominica led to the isolation of the known diketopiperazine cyclo(S-Val-S-Phe) (3.9). In vitro biological studies revealed that cyclo(S-Val-S-Phe) is able to promote neurite outgrowth, even in the presence of physiological inhibitors. In vivo studies have shown that cyclo(S-VaI-S-Phe) is able promote sprouting in serotonergic and adrenergic axons. Synthesis of the other three diastereomers led to the discovery that cyclo(R-Val-R-Phe) is also an in vitro activator of axonal outgrowth. Inhibitors of the G2 checkpoint are able to increase the cytotoxicity of DNA damaging chemotherapeutics. Bioassay guided fractionation of an extract of the South American plant Duguetia odorata led to the isolation of the G2 checkpoint abrogator, oliveroline. This investigation also led to the isolation of the previously unreported alkaloid N-methylguatterine, and the known alkaloids dehydrodiscretine and pseudopalmatine. Chemical investigation of the marine sponge Myrmekioderma granulatum led to the isolation of the new compounds abolenone and myrmekioside C, as well as the known compounds curcudiol, curcuphenol, abolene and sesquiterpenoid. Biological studies of these compounds revealed that curcudiol is a ligand of the sex hormone-binding globulin. This protein is involved in transporting and regulating the concentration of steroids such as testosterone and estradiol. Many pathological conditions have a lower plasma concentration of these steroids. Ligands to SHBG can release steroids into the blood, so this protein is a potential drug target to treat conditions where a hormone insufficiency is present.

Els problemes de sostenibilitat ambiental, com el canvi climàtic, solen ser d'escala mundial però necessàriament locals i materials en les seves manifestacions. No obstant això, la literatura sobre sostenibilitat i gestió ha prestat poca atenció a com l'entorn natural afecta les organitzacions i les seves operacions. Un punt de vista emergent en la literatura sobre sostenibilitat retrata les organitzacions com incorporades a la natura i permet una mirada més profunda a les interrelacions locals entre les organitzacions i l'entorn natural que les envolta. Aquesta tesi doctoral adopta aquesta perspectiva per comprendre millor com les organitzacions i els seus membres entenen i interpreten l'entorn natural en què estan immerses, i com aquestes interpretacions donen forma a les pràctiques organitzatives. Per a això, s'apliquen metodologies d'investigació qualitatives i quantitatives per examinar fins a quin punt i com l'experiència directa dels fenòmens naturals, com els efectes del canvi climàtic o les catàstrofes naturals, afecta les respostes i resultats de les organitzacions. Un primer estudi de mètodes mixtes sobre productors de cacau al Brasil explora com els responsables de la presa de decisions en contextos vulnerables experimenten les conseqüències del canvi climàtic i com els seus diferents interpretacions donen forma a les respostes adaptatives organitzatives. Aquest estudi se centra en les respostes organitzatives immediates als fenòmens naturals adversos. Un segon estudi investiga empíricament els efectes a llarg termini de l'experiència dels fenòmens naturals en els resultats organitzatius. Basant-se en l'anàlisi de dades quantitatives sobre empreses japoneses en el context del Gran Terratrèmol de l'Est del Japó, aquest estudi proposa el concepte de creixement posttraumàtic organitzatiu per captar el canvi emergent en els valors organitzatius i la capacitat de resposta a les necessitats socials després del desastre natural. Aquests estudis se centren en les interrelacions locals entre les organitzacions i l'entorn natural en què estan immerses. Si bé aquest enfocament contribueix a la creixent literatura sobre les organitzacions i l'entorn natural, també implica el risc de perdre en la infinitat d'especificitats i interpretacions que caracteritzen a cada context i que s'han d'integrar amb l'escala global de les qüestions de sostenibilitat. Conciliar l'escala local i la global, necessàries per abordar aquests reptes de sostenibilitat, no és gens trivial. Per això, un tercer estudi pretén fer una contribució teòrica a les tensions que sorgeixen entre l'aplicació local de pràctiques sostenibles i la necessitat de coordinació global en el context de les normes voluntàries de sostenibilitat. En conjunt, els tres estudis d'aquesta tesi doctoral pretenen contribuir en la interrelació local entre les organitzacions i el sistema natural en què estan immerses, per entendre com les interpretacions organitzatives dels fenòmens naturals locals afecten les organitzacions i com poden abordar eficaçment les tensions entre els nivells local i global. Els principals arguments es basen tant en la teoria com en les proves empíriques, de manera que s'ofereix un enfocament metodològic global apte per a fer aportacions substancials a l'estudi de les organitzacions i la natura.
Los problemas de sostenibilidad ambiental, como el cambio climático, suelen ser de escala mundial pero necesariamente locales y materiales en sus manifestaciones. Sin embargo, la literatura sobre sostenibilidad y gestión ha prestado poca atención a cómo el entorno natural afecta a las organizaciones y sus operaciones. Un punto de vista emergente en la literatura sobre sostenibilidad retrata a las organizaciones como incorporadas a la naturaleza y permite una mirada más profunda a las interrelaciones locales entre las organizaciones y el entorno natural que las rodea. Esta tesis doctoral adopta esta perspectiva para comprender mejor cómo las organizaciones y sus miembros entienden e interpretan el entorno natural en el que están inmersas, y cómo estas interpretaciones dan forma a las prácticas organizativas. Para ello, se aplican metodologías de investigación cualitativas y cuantitativas para examinar hasta qué punto y cómo la experiencia directa de los fenómenos naturales, como los efectos del cambio climático o las catástrofes naturales, afecta a las respuestas y resultados de las organizaciones. Un primer estudio de métodos mixtos sobre productores de cacao en Brasil explora cómo los responsables de la toma de decisiones en contextos vulnerables experimentan las consecuencias del cambio climático y cómo sus diferentes interpretaciones dan forma a las respuestas adaptativas organizativas. Este estudio se centra en las respuestas organizativas inmediatas a los fenómenos naturales adversos. Un segundo estudio investiga empíricamente los efectos a largo plazo de la experiencia de los fenómenos naturales en los resultados organizativos. Basándose en el análisis de datos cuantitativos sobre empresas japonesas en el contexto del Gran Terremoto del Este de Japón, este estudio propone el concepto de crecimiento postraumático organizativo para captar el cambio emergente en los valores organizativos y la capacidad de respuesta a las necesidades sociales tras el desastre natural. Estos estudios se centran en las interrelaciones locales entre las organizaciones y el entorno natural en el que están inmersas. Si bien este enfoque contribuye a la creciente literatura sobre las organizaciones y el entorno natural, también implica el riesgo de perderse en la infinidad de especificidades e interpretaciones que caracterizan a cada contexto y que deben integrarse con la escala global de las cuestiones de sostenibilidad. Conciliar la escala local y la global, necesarias para abordar estos retos de sostenibilidad, no es nada trivial. Por ello, un tercer estudio pretende hacer una contribución teórica a las tensiones que surgen entre la aplicación local de prácticas sostenibles y la necesidad de coordinación global en el contexto de las normas voluntarias de sostenibilidad. En conjunto, los tres estudios de esta tesis doctoral pretenden contribuir en la interrelación local entre las organizaciones y el sistema natural en el que están inmersas, para entender cómo las interpretaciones organizativas de los fenómenos naturales locales afectan a las organizaciones y cómo pueden abordarse eficazmente las tensiones entre los niveles local y global. Los principales argumentos se basan tanto en la teoría como en las pruebas empíricas, con lo que se ofrece un enfoque metodológico global apto para realizar aportaciones sustanciales al estudio de las organizaciones y la natura.
Environmental sustainability issues, such as climate change, are often global in scale but necessarily local and material in their manifestations. Yet the sustainability and the management literature has paid little attention to how the natural environment affects organizations and their operations. A burgeoning view in the sustainability literature portrays organizations as embedded in nature and allows for a deeper look at the local interrelations between organizations and the surrounding natural environment. This Ph.D. thesis adopts this perspective to provide a better understanding of how organizations and their members understand and interpret the natural environment in which they are embedded, and how these interpretations shape organizational practices. To that purpose, qualitative and quantitative research methodologies are applied to examine to what extent and how the direct experience of natural phenomena, such as climate change effects or natural disasters, affects organizational responses and outcomes. A first mixed-methods study of cocoa producers in Brazil explores how decision makers in vulnerable contexts experience the consequences of climate change and how their different interpretations shape organizational adaptive responses. This study focuses on the immediate organizational responses to adverse natural phenomena. A second study empirically investigates the long-term effects of experiencing natural phenomena on the organizational outcomes. Based on analyzing quantitative data on Japanese companies in the context of the Great East Japan Earthquake, this study proposes the concept of organizational post-traumatic growth to capture the emerging change in organizational values and responsiveness to social needs following the natural disaster. These studies hone in on local interrelations between organizations and the natural environment in which they are embedded. While this approach contributes to the burgeoning literature on organizations and the natural environment, it also implies a risk to get lost in the myriad of specificities and interpretations that characterize each context and that need to be integrated with the global scale of sustainability issues. Reconciling the local and global scale that are both required to address these sustainability challenges is far from trivial. Therefore, a third study aims to make a theoretical contribution to the tensions emerging between the local implementation of sustainable practices and the need for global coordination in the context of voluntary sustainability standards. Together, the three studies of this Ph.D. thesis aim to delve into the local interrelation between organizations and the natural system in which they are embedded, to understand how organizational interpretations of local natural phenomena affect organizations and how tensions between local and the global levels can be effectively addressed. The main arguments are grounded in both theory and empirical evidence, thereby providing a comprehensive methodological approach apt to make substantial contributions to the study of organizations and the natural environment.

Mitt arbete blir från en eko filosofisk synvinkel, och den konsthantverkbaserade scenografin som kommer skapas är baserad på vår/min syn på relation mellan naturen och människan. Många har tankar om just detta, det känns angeläget att kunna skapa en miljö där detta finns som en underton och att skapa en subtil miljö där jag jobbar med det taktila arbete, - evighetsarbeten, baserade på mitt eget formspråk. Jag vill utforska minatankar och undersöka hur jag kan betrakta och visa detta från olika vinklar.Ett ställe där natur och av människan skapade objekt samspelar, men där naturenblir styrd av objektens väggar, blommor kan tränga sig igenom kompakta materialsom asfalt och nerbrytningsprocessen är en oändlig del av detta. Med dessa flaskor vill jag visa hur naturen fångas in i ett bestämt element och lever av det som serveras den.

Ce texte accompagne mon exposition finale, ma pratique, mon projet. Je l’ai conçu ainsi comme partie intégrante du tout, mais sa lecture seule sans accès au reste pourrait aussi être considérée dans le cas où l’un ou plusieurs des aspects particuliers de celui-ci intéressentle lecteur. Notons aussi l’importance des figures qui témoignent justement de ce qui ne sera pas décrit, mais qui vont naturellement dans le même sens que ce qui l’est. La méthodologie générale est de présenter l’universel duquel le mécanisme et l’existence du particulier peuvent être compris et interprétés.Il sera question ici de définir le champ et mode d’action de l’art et de la philosophiede ma pratique, depréciser la vie de l’artiste en tant que projet ainsi quede proposer l’art en tant que décor. L’ensemble vise à être reçucomme un questionnement, une recherche, une tentative de compréhension et d’expression de notre nature humaine.Celle-ciest interprétéede deux façons; premièrement comme ce qui fait la spécificité de l’humain et deuxièmement par le paradoxe de la création d’une nature qui serait proprement humaine.

While art can be an intensification of perception, this nature center recognizes the presence of nature through symbiotic connotations of its primordial elements as architectural form. Deepened experiences of both nature and architecture are to be achieved through a clarified ordering of architectonic elements and their relationship to each other, nature, and humanity.
Master of Architecture

This project has evolved from my own observation of our deteriorating living environments. I am exploring the development of a visual story to represent my contemplation of humankind's consumption, and how it endangers the balance of the natural world. Through drawing and animation, I hope to develop a visual language and an approach to storytelling that will inspire people to think about balancing economic, environmental, and ethical issues in design and development, and to advocate a simple honest life and noninterference with the necessary course of natural events.

I am wandering wonderingly through the unplanned material atmosphere shaped by differences in temperature and moisture. The chaotic nature of weather phenomena is the catalyst for visual exploration of the subterranean catacombs of reality. The work is metaphor of nature and its creation of form and substance. Observing art and nature: I am allowing nature to be the instigator of art.

In my artwork, I merge nature with typography. I use macro-level photography to capture details of nature, such as the pistils of a flower or the sensory hairs of an insect. I print enlargements and transfer these photos onto pages of poetic text about nature, or collage them onto canvas. Once transferred, I use multiple media to alter and enhance features of the photos. I intentionally obscure much of the text which allows me to place focus on the overall layout and design. The arrangement of lines of text and spacing of words is used to create a visual rhythm. The poetic script acts as a foundation or platform for presenting the often unnoticed elements of nature. In developing a piece, I use a wet transfer which allows me to obtain subtle textures and imperfections that occur from the process. To add visual interest and complexity, I continue to manipulate the surfaces with various media and marks. This approach helps to create a blending of text and image. Similar to reading a poem or observing nature, I want to engage the viewer in an experience of visual poetry.

Richmond, Virginia is defined by our connection to the James River. The James River Park system stretches over 550 acres of natural beauty. The park is broken into 14 different sections from the Huguenot Bridge in the west to a half mile beyond the I-95 Bridge in the east. The James River includes water features that appeal to the young and curious to the most experienced river-adventurer. The James River Park System boasts idyllic shorelines, peaceful meadows, and miles of challenging hiking and biking trails that appeal to the community and guests alike. Every year thousands of people come to Richmond for activities and events like the XTerra Races, Dominion RiverRock, the Folk Festival and many more. Amazingly, at this time, there are no convenient downtown or riverfront facilities to allow locals and guests of Richmond to interact with the James River Park system. With use of the Pattern Building at Tredegar Iron Works, this project will combine the ideas of biophilia, and eco-tourism to design a boutique hotel that will cater to outdoor enthusiasts. In addition to guest suites, this boutique hotel will offer an outdoor recreation rental, retail and repair facility that will offer bikes, kayaks, tubes, paddle-boards, climbing equipment and other essentials for outdoor exploration. A small cafe will offer healthy, locally sourced, farm to table snack and drink options. Both indoor and outdoor seating areas and/or lounges will be available for relaxation. The outdoor patio will feature an interactive garden and give guests a place to enjoy scenic views, practice yoga, meditate and relax. In addition this space could be rented to host special events. The term Biophilia was first used by a German-born American psychoanalyst Erich Fromm in The Anatomy of Human Destructiveness (1973), which described the term as “the passionate love of life and of all that is alive”. Later the term was used by American biologist Edward O. Wilson in his work Biophilia (1984), that proposed that humans tendency to focus and affiliate with nature and other life-forms has a genetic basis. Humans biologically gravitate toward the rich and diverse shapes, colors and life that exists in the natural world. As we are drawn to the natural world, we also benefit from it. Nature nurtures us and has a positive effect on our health, well-being and happiness. Research led by Yoshifumi Miyazaki at Chiba University sent 84 subjects to stroll in seven different forests, while the same number of people walked city centers. Overall, those who spent time in the forest, showed a 16% decrease in the stress hormone cortisol, a 2% drop in blood pressure, and a 4% drop in heart rate. Although we spend nearly 90% of our lives indoors, those interior environments often do not reflect the characteristics of nature, trigger a positive emotional response, and are not often designed in a sustainable manner. Too often, our surroundings are designed in a way that deteriorate the environment and separate us from the natural world. The built environment of this project will emphasize the human need for contact with nature that is good for physical, emotional and physiological benefit and satisfaction. While Eco-Tourism is not a new concept the popularity of Eco-tourism increased in the 1980’s when large scale educational efforts by the government touted the benefits of conserving and protecting the environment and planet. Eco-Tourism is a piece of the “Green Movement” (scientific, social and political movement addressing environmental issues) but since there has been an increase in information about how people are negatively impacting the planet. The travel industry has been considered a strong influence and a demand for green hotels, restaurants and transportation is on the rise. Eco-Tourism is defined as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and involves interpretation and education”. Tourism often comes with its footprint on the environment. Tourism and hospitality must be sustainable. How can we still enjoy the natural wonders of the world yet minimize our impact? By exploring the concepts of Eco-tourism this project will reflect a positive environment and educate visitors on how to make their own changes. Guests will be encouraged to interact with the natural wonders of Richmond in a low impact manner, so that it may remain for others to enjoy. Research begins by understanding terms like sustainability, Eco-tourism and biophilic design and continues by researching and experiencing examples of them. By studying cases like Frank Lloyd Wrights project “Falling Water” and Mies van der Rohe’s project “Farnworth House,” understanding of a unique connection to the organic environment can occur. By studying Swedish architects Martin Videgard and Bolle Thams project “Tree Hotel” ways to incorporate travel with nature will be discovered. Finally by studying Agence Ter’s project the “Pudong Left Bank” in Shanghai inspiration on how to encourage a city to interact with its natural environment will occur. The goal of this project is to understand the relationship between human and nature and how it can be controlled and how we can benefit from an Interior Environment.

Other Nature Other nature is a long term, ongoing documentary project that explores the relationship between humans and the natural environment of the Mojave Desert. Predicated on the reduction of the Joshua Tree woodlands that surround my home of Hesperia, Other Nature examines and questions the practices used in the creation of the built environments that are replacing the Mojave’s endemic terrain. Through various techniques, I document and record the systematic removal of the Mojave’s natural presence. Photography, eco-printing and paper making all offer a cathartic approach to witnessing the loss of these natural spaces. Included in my work is an aspect of gathering and reclaiming removed plant material to commemorate the beauty of and offer a voice to a habitat that is being forever changed. Fred Brashear Jr.

My imagery comes from what I see in nature. From a hollow in a tree to a break in the clouds, absence is a recurring motif. These spaces intrigue me, and I begin to wonder where they might lead. The structures becomes one rounded, spreading volume. By printing on both sides of the paper, two images intertwine: one drawing attention and the other subtly shifting beneath the surface. The work becomes an expression of the intricacies and depth of natural forms. Ultimately, I want to take on the processes of nature and embody them in my own works of art.

The objective of this creative project is to develop a series of paintings in oil on canvas that focus on the issue of mankind's crumbling relationship with the natural world. The paintings will be produced through a process that begins with an intuitive abstract approach and will later develop layered representational imagery. My technique of painting involves initially choosing and mixing colors without regard to the finished painting, allowing the subconscious to determine the direction that the painting will take. Upon completion of the under painting, I begin creating stencils and layering imagery that provoke thought concerning nature and our place in it. This collection of paintings is representative of the process I have developed through a wide variety of influences, and is a means of communicating my concern for the ever dwindling natural environment and our connection to it.
Department of Art

Within today's technologically enmeshed world, people are spending more and more time in front of screens (both large and small). This comes at a cost; time spent outdoors is becoming scarce. How does engaging with nature impact our practice of leadership? A Collaborative Inquiry carried out by four individuals with personal leadership practices explored this question. We found that our leadership practices were improved through spending time in nature. A significant impact we identified was that our experiences in nature had an ego-reductive influence, turning our focus outwards and improving our ability to navigate complex situations with greater fluidity. We recommend that leaders looking to alter their perspective adopt a practice of intentional reflective time in nature.

This doctoral dissertation explores natural urban environment in Berlin that defy canonical typologies as well as attempts at easy categorisation. They are conventionally regarded as marginal and play a subordinate role within urban densification plans and neoliberal policies. However, such spaces are diffused across the urban fabric and constitute a fundamental part of Berlin's urbanity. They emerge through, and change with, a variety of socio-ecological entanglements and are currently configured in the urban arena as hybrid. That is, they occupy the intersection between the natural and the artificial as well as between public and private. They are shaped equally by formal and informal practices. This thesis proposes the notion of “in-between nature” as a theoretical and empirical tool to analyse hybrid landscapes in order to recenter spaces and practices considered marginal within urban design in the age of the Anthropocene. Furthermore, the term “in-between” captures the range of human-nature relationships in these contemporary landscapes and enables their close investigation. The hybrid spaces embody a specific culture of citizens living with, interacting with and reclaiming urban nature. They thus foster the emergence of new grassroots design cultures, forms of governance and spatial typologies that oppose the current dynamics of urban green consumption and enclosure, contributing instead to the preservation of biodiversity and the rise of eco-responsibility approaches. The research is divided into two parts. The first part traces the genealogy of the concept of “in-between nature” and anchors it within Berlin's urban history. It focuses on the intersection between urbanism and urban ecology and those intellectual discourses that emerged alongside this contemporary critical understanding. The second, based on a reassessment of interdisciplinary literature and on empirical fieldwork, examines different urban green spaces using a storytelling approach. It blends methodologies such as participant observation, in-depth interviews with citizens, activists, policymakers, and photography as a visual practice. In each instance, the analysis of the human-nature nexus reveals the valuable ecological, spatial and political characteristics of contemporary hybrid settings within the city context. As a result, this critical lens suggests a deeper, more articulated understanding of landscape design and lived practices, taking urban studies a step closer to the developing more encompassing angles and perspectives beyond the singularly human perspective.

From some reflections on the man (culture) nature relationship, the paper arrives at a set of more specific considerations about nature and the legal system. These will allow sustaining some of their legal expressions: natural resources heritage, commons, and ecosystem, among others. To conclude, the theme of nature as subject will be discussed, complementing the discussion with the topic of the legal system and animals.
A partir de unas reflexiones sobre la relación hombre (cultura) naturaleza, se arriba a un conjunto de consideraciones más específicas sobre el sistema jurídico y la naturaleza, las cuales permitirán sustentar algunas de sus expresiones jurídicas: recursos naturales patrimonio, commons, ecosistema entre otras. Finalmente se discute el tema de la naturaleza como sujeto, complementando la discusión con el asunto del sistema legal y los animales.

Natural areas in proximity to urban environments are constantly under pressure from development. Conservation is not high on the list of priorities, mostly because the general public do not experience the benefits of nature first hand. In Pretoria, South Africa, this is not due to a lack of open space, but rather due to the fact that conservation areas are under-utilised. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recommends that some areas be made more accessible to the benefit of greater conservation efforts. The dissertation considers the potential contribution of sensitive developments in urban conservation areas and how they should be approached. What is an architecture that supports and introduces human activities yet respects a sensitive environment? How does architecture place Man in relation with Nature? The investigation is centred at Wonderboom nature reserve in the north of Pretoria. This municipal reserve is a place of natural and historical significance: it forms part of the Magaliesberg and has remnants from the Stone Age, Iron Age and ZAR periods within its boundaries. The proposed development focuses on illustrating how nature has a significant impact on human well-being. A health practice which focuses on rehabilitation that makes use of the natural environment as primary stimulant, is introduced. The centre includes a cafeteria and is designed to support other recreational activities and occasional events too. The project looks to precedents of programme, form, materiality and similar experience for guidance. Mark DeKay’s interpretation of Integral Theory’s application to sustainable architecture is applied as criteria for architectural decisions. Design is the primary means of inquiry. Various conceptual approaches were considered before a concept was finalised which was then further iterated. The nonlinear process has been documented. The final design proposes three volumes each offering a different perspective of the environment. The exterior spaces and routes in between are carefully considered for their experiential value. The building is drawn from the environment; constructed with materials from site as far as possible. Low-tech, passive solutions favour processes which are labour intensive and can employ unskilled labourers. The construction process narrates an understanding of place and is in itself a means of engaging with the landscape. The dissertation concludes that an architectural solution best suited to an urban protected area is one with a holistic approach. In addition to performing well in terms of sustainability and being seamlessly integrated into natural systems, architecture should delight. Individual experience and collective meaning are just as important when designing to place humans in relation with nature.
Mini Dissertation MArch(Prof)--University of Pretoria, 2018.
Architecture
MArch(Prof)
Unrestricted

Le mot nature et l'expression "nature des choses", synonyme d'essence, sont en opposition presque constante dans les ecrits de pierre bayle. Une connaissance, meme elementaire, des essences permet -ou permettrait- de juger de la nature ou monde, voire d'en degageyne vision. Cette opposition se retrouve dans d'autres antitheses egalement frequentes chez le meme auteur (esprit-matiere, bien-mal, religion-raison. . . ). Elle rend tout systeme impossible parce qu'elle est insurmontable, mais elle permet, paradoxalement, par sa constance, de percevoir l'unite des preoccupations et de la pensee de bayle
The word nature and the expression "nature of things", synonyme of essence, are alwost always in opposition in pierre bayle's writings. A knowledge, even a "basic one, of essences allows - or would allow - to judge nature or world, even to extract a vision of it. We frequently find this opposition in this author's other anti, thesis (mind- matter, good-evil, religion-reason. . . ). This lead to the impossibility of all systems, because it is insurmountable. But paradoxically, it allows, due to its constancy, to perceive the unity of bayle's preoccupations and thought

"Dark Nature" examines literary representations of fears of nature in American literature, from the seventeenth through the mid-nineteenth century. Critiquing some dominant trends in ecocriticism, this project fills a gap in the field by studying texts that represent nature as a threatening force. By calling attention to such representations, I identify many of the cultural sources of those anxieties about nature at different historical moments. In the process, this project reveals that there has always been a Gothic subtext in the long history of literature about nature in the United States. "Dark Nature" begins by examining representations of Puritan fears of nature in New England, looking at authors such as William Bradford, John Winthrop, and Mary Rowlandson to show how the Puritan worldview established a "pre-Gothic" way of envisioning nature. It then moves to the post-Revolutionary era, using Charles Brockden Brown's "Edgar Huntly" to describe national anxieties about American wilderness and the ways those anxieties undermined contemporary Enlightenment ideals. The third chapter looks at the "darkness" within the work of that most canonical of nature writers, Henry David Thoreau. Despite the optimism of his Transcendental view of nature, I reveal that Thoreau's writing is often pervaded by moments of anxiety and even fear of the natural world. A further chapter about slave narratives shows how Frederick Douglass and Harriet Jacobs present nature as darker than anything their romantic contemporaries produced, often consciously employing Gothic nature imagery as a rhetorical tool of resistance against their white oppressors. Finally, this study concludes with by exploring how some of Herman Melville's writing exemplifies a changing worldview in light of Charles Darwin's theories about natural selection and survival of the fittest. After the mid-nineteenth century, Gothic representations of nature tend to signal different types of fears based no longer on Puritan conceptions of nature, but rather on a post-Darwinian view. In calling attention to this overlooked lineage of writing, "Dark Nature" helps widen the discourse of ecocritical studies, arguing that there is much to be learned from studying representations of nature that are not only un-Romantic, but outright dangerous, violent, and terrifying.

Il tema della sostenibilità è un argomento tanto vasto quanto complesso. La sua comprensione risulta semplice ai più, tuttavia il termine stesso può assumere definizioni e sfumature differenti, a seconda del campo in cui viene applicato. Il concetto in sé di sostenibilità è applicabile infatti in ogni settore. Dalla politica fino all’economia, così come nell’architettura e nel design, dove ne influenza i processi sia di progettazione che di produzione. Lo sviluppo della relazione di tesi nasce dall’interesse nel fatto che in questo periodo di profondi cambiamenti sociali, ovviamente dovuti soprattutto alla pandemia globale, stiamo assistendo ad un lento processo di transizione ecologica in ognuno di questi settori. Così in questo breve saggio ho cercato di legare gli argomenti studiati e appresi durante il corso di laurea con il mio interesse legato al tema della sostenibilità, cercando di favorire anche in questo caso il processo di transizione ecologica nel campo del Service design. Attraverso un’attenta analisi delle criticità e tante opportunità nascoste nell’approccio user centered (a mio avviso troppo user centered), lo studio dell’influenza del design sulla vita delle persone, il comportamento umano e ovviamente il tema della sostenibilità. Tutte argomentazioni utili alla mia relazione di tesi per lo sviluppo di un nuovo approccio legato alla progettazione dei servizi. Un modello che si rifà alla filosofia esistente e già codificata del Human Centered Design. In cui alle quattro fasi del Double Diamond si aggiungono quattro nuove fasi dove all’interno dei processi di progettazione l’oggetto del pensiero non è più l’uomo, bensì la natura.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2006.
Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 238-248). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.

The main concern of environmental philosophy has been to find value for nature. The thesis is an attempt to link a theory of nature, a theory of human nature and a theory of value, which Andrew Brennan stipulated for a viable environmental philosophy. The problem is set forward in Part I where a definition of nature is explored. The complexity of the task leads to a brief history of the concept of nature (after a criticism of other historical accounts by three environmental philosophers) whereby two opposing explanations of nature and human nature are revealed: teleological and non-teleological. Part II traces the decline of teleological explanation in favour of non-teleological explanations and the development of two main explanations of human nature in relation to nature that are prevalent today: Ultra-Darwinism (a reductionist explanation of human nature) and postmodernism. An analysis of these two positions shows that neither have an adequate metaphysics for finding value for nature, and this is revealed by an examination of two different types of environmental philosophy influenced respectively by the two opposing views. In Part III the problem of values is discussed with particular emphasis on moral values. An argument for objective values based on objective knowledge is put forward as well as a theory of human nature which leads to the conclusion that teleological explanations link a theory of nature, a theory of human nature and a theory of value more satisfactorily than the non-teleological explanations of Ultra-Darwinism and postmodernism. The relevance of this conclusion to the problems of the environment is shown.

Apres Locke, Ricardo noue des liens, d'une part entre valeur et travail, d'autre part entre travail et nature. Pour comprendre la raison de ces liaisons, il faut situer les théories de Locke et de Ricardo comme réponses à celle de Hobbes et de Malthus qui, de manière opposée (artificielle pour le premier, naturelle pour le second) entendent contraindre la liberté individuelle. En nouant le lien valeur-travail, Locke comme Ricardo entendent au contraire affirmer la toute-puissance de la liberté individuelle, souligner l'historicité du monde que cette liberté peut créer. Pourtant, pour ne pas tomber dans le relativisme, il leur faut aussi spécifier cette liberté, trouver le fondement de cette historicité, ce dont se trouve charge le lien travail-nature. Pour cette raison, la théorie ricardienne est, fondamentalement, naturaliste. On a remarqué que Sraffa tranchait le lien noue par Ricardo entre valeur et travail. On a moins remarque que son économie était fondamentalement antinaturaliste et que, du point de vue épistémologique, la démarche sraffaienne opérait dans le domaine de la théorie économique une véritable révolution copernicienne. Une révolution qui conçoit les relations théorie-pratique, langage-action dans une perspective similaire à celle développée par Wittgenstein dans sa seconde philosophie
Next to locke, ricardo sets up links, on the one hand, between value and labour, and of the other hand, between labour and nature. To catch why these links have been set up, it is necessary to consider locke's and ricardo's theories as answers to hobbes'and malthus" theories wich, in opposite ways (an artificial one in the first case, and a natural one in the second case) aim at limiting individual freedom. On the contrary, by connecting value to labour, locke as ricardo aim at claiming the almightiness of individual freedom, and underlining the historicity of the world this freedom may create. Nevertheless, in order not to sink into relativism, it is also necessary to specify this freedom, to find out the basis of this historicity. This is what the connection labour-nature is entrusted with. That is the reason why the ricardian theory is fondamentally a naturalistic theory. It has been noticed that sraffa disrupted the link established by ricardo between value and labour. But is has been less noticed first, that this eocnomy was fondamentally an anti-naturalistic economy, and then, that from an epistemological point of view, the sraffaian way of proceeding was carrying out, in the field of the economic theory, a real copernician revolution; a revolution considering the connections theory-practice and language-action with an outlook similar to wittgenstein's in his second philosophy

L'étude vise d'abord à déterminer les ouvrages principaux qui traitent de la philosophie de la Nature chez Galien, ainsi que ceux qui comportent le plus souvent le mot physis. Sont étudiés dans la première partie les constituants fondamentaux de la Nature physique, de l'élément (le plus petit) aux divers homéomères (parties semblables) puis, dans la seconde, la nature animale et l'organisme entier créé à partir de ses fonctions. Les rapports complexes de l'âme et du corps sont analysés à travers la notion archai͏̈que de physiognomonie. Dans la dernière partie, il ressort qu'on ne peut confondre la physiologia de Galien avec la physiologie moderne, question centrale pour l'épistémologie. A travers l'étude des expérimentations de Galien se dégagent quelques émergences vers la modernité. Enfin, le poids du Stoi͏̈cisme apparaît massif, dans le caractère artiste de la Nature par exemple. La physiologie est-elle distincte de la physique? la question de la réduction possible de l'une à l'autre reste posée
First, the study deals with main writings on the philosophy of Nature in Galen's ones and with these most using the word physis. In first part, the fundamental constituents of physic nature are studied from the element (the most small) to different "homeomeries" (similar parts), then in second part, the animal nature and the complete organism created from these functions. The difficult question of relations between soul and body is treated through the archaic notion of physiognomy. In last part, we conclude that it is not possible to confuse Galen's physiologia with modern physiology, a central question for the epistemology. Through the study of his experimentations, we see distance between Galen and modernity. In conclusion, the strength of Stoi͏̈c philosophy seems to be preponderant, for instance in the notion of artistic Nature. The possibility to reduce physiology to Physics is asked

Nature-based integration projects present nature and green spaces as an arena for interaction and integration between immigrants and native-born Swedes, and amongst immigrants of different backgrounds. To explore this, the study looks at experiences of NBI projects from the perspective of immigrants who have moved to Sweden and started the process of settling into the new society. The concepts of social networks, as well as structural, cultural, interactive and identificational integration were applied to view the interviewees experiences of nature-based integration activities in Sweden. Qualitative, semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight immigrants', about their participation in NBI projects in Sweden, and how they describe their experiences and perceptions of nature and social interactions. The findings were that time spent in nature was experienced as beneficial for the individual by contributing to their psychological well-being and providing opportunities for socialisation,. Nature in Sweden was depicted as vast, accessible and inclusive when compared with their countries of origin. Interactions and new diversified social networks provided information exchange and novel knowledge. This was seen as one of the entry points to society, and another way in which to understand Swedish cultural traditions, as nature was generally perceived as important in Swedish society. The final results showed that participation in nature-based integration activities was able to contribute to their structural, cultural and interactive integration, but could not be linked to their identificational integration in Sweden.

In this thesis I attempt to base an environmental ethic on a quality called naturalness. I examine it in terms of quantification, namely, as to whether it can quantified? I then apply the concept to specific areas such as restoration and conservation to create an environmental ethic and to show how such an ethic would be beneficial in general, and especially to policy issues concerning the environment. The thesis consists of three chapters: (1) the definition of nature and natural by way of a historical approach; (2) the place of humans in this scheme; and (3) the place of value and the discussion concerning quantification.

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 2000.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 159-163).
This work is about water infrastructure and its experience as urban and natural space. It deals with the concepts of nature/geography, technology, and the integral experiential space by analyzing water dams and reservoirs that are more than utilitarian structures. In the process of formulating the concept of ARTIFICIAL NATURE, an expanded definition of 'built activity' to embrace landscape/nature, infrastructure, and technology as well as imaginative and mental space is pursued. The specific sites of investigation range from Thrace to Central and Southeastern Anatolia in Turkey from 1920-2000.
by Fatma Aslıhan Demirtaş.
S.M.

A project to suggest an alternative to small scale hydro power at the old power plant in Långforsen, Jämtland, Sweden. Using excavation as a tool and raw materials from the site, the aim is to take the visitor into nature by using choreographed movement through the site, close to nature shelters, and a visitor center to tie it all together.

[Abstract]: This thesis presents a new cosmological model based on a blank-slate reconsideration of the issue of the first cause in cosmology. It is proposed that a pre-Big Bang evolution of nature occurred that removes the need for postulating the existence of matter, energy and time. This new approach leads to an underlyingconceptualisation of nature consistent with quantum mechanics.The problems of first cause and initial conditions in cosmology are reconsidered. It is proposed that the initial conditions were flawed and evolved toproduce the Big Bang as a natural response to these flaws. This contrasts with the traditional approach of postulating a homogeneous initial state requiring perturbation by an additional first cause.In flawed nature cosmology the origin of time occurs as a natural response to the flawed set of initial conditions, and removes the need to postulate time. The development of causality remains an ongoing process rather than being fully determined by the first cause. Ongoing development of causality provides a conceptual understanding of the probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics and itsrelationship with classical physics.Flawed nature cosmology is used to examine pre-Big Bang evolution, in order to justify rather than postulate a set of conditions leading to the Big Bang. Thisexamination of pre-Big Bang evolution also introduces a structured method to start addressing the question of the origin of matter and the forces of nature.Flawed nature cosmology reconsiders the issues that introduced the manyuniverses concept into physics such as spontaneous first causes, the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics, brane cosmology’s use of the extra dimensions in string theory, and parallel universes to solve the fine tuning problem. The manyuniversesconcept has found favour, as much of the puzzling behaviour of the universe can be avoided by simply stating that if there are many universes, one couldmatch our experience. In contrast, flawed nature cosmology demonstrates that the universe we experience is the unique product of its evolutionary history.

O trabalho de projeto que se propõe apresentar prende-se com a aplicação prática de uma oportunidade lançada pela Comunidade Intermunicipal do Alto Alentejo, no sentido de valorizar, requalificar e potenciar antigas azinhagas, caminhos rurais e calçadas seculares localizadas, preferencialmente, em áreas protegidas ou integradas na Rede Natura 2000, existentes no distrito de Portalegre e o seu aproveitamento para rotas turísticas, de fruição e de recreio. A implementação do projeto supramunicipal Alentejo “Feel Nature” envolveu os quinze municípios do distrito de Portalegre e contribuiu para infraestruturar esta região com um conjunto de rotas pedestres de apoio a um turismo de nicho, assente no produto “Walking”. A paisagem, as vilas, as cidades, as gentes, os produtos endógenos e os eventos contribuem, hoje, para o enriquecimento do projeto e da marca Alentejo “Feel Nature”, consolidada e reconhecida por distintas entidades nacionais e estrangeiras. De facto, esta rede de percursos pedestres, alinhada com o tema Natureza, percorre espaços de serra e caminhos na peneplanície, cruza cursos de água por poldras ou segue na margem de albufeiras, passa por carvalhais, soutos, montados de azinheiras e sobreiros, pastagens naturais, estepes cerealíferas, hortas, pequenas quintas e grandes herdades. O projeto Alentejo “Feel Nature”, concretizou-se numa infraestrutura pública, de recreio ativo e desportivo, assim como numa marca que promove e valoriza a região e a paisagem, no mercado nacional e internacional; Abstract: The project work that we intend to present relates to the practical application of an opportunity launched by the Intermunicipal Community of Alto Alentejo, in the sense of valorizing, re-qualifying and strengthening old paths, rural roads and secular sidewalks, preferably located in areas protected or integrated in the Natura 2000 network, existing in the district of Portalegre and its use, for tourist routes, enjoyment and recreation. The implementation of the supramunicipal project Alentejo Feel Nature, involved the fifteen municipalities of the district of Portalegre and contributed to the infrastructure of this region with a set of pedestrian routes to support a niche tourism, based on the product Walking. The landscape, villages, towns, people, endogenous products and events contribute to the enrichment of the project and the Alentejo Feel Nature brand, consolidated and recognized by different national and foreign entities. In fact, this network of pedestrian paths, aligned with the theme Nature, travels through mountain ranges and paths in the peneplain, crosses water courses by poldras or follows on the bank of reservoirs, passes through oaks, groves, holm oaks and cork oaks, pastures cereals, orchards, small farms and large estates. The Alentejo Feel Nature project was implemented in a public infrastructure, active recreation and sports, as well as a brand that promotes and values the region and the landscape in the national and international market.

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree in Management from the NOVA – School of Business and Economics
Kids Nature Camp is an ambitious project that has the intention of improving children’s life style using what Mother Nature (through Agriculture) has to offer, through the delivery of information and training concerning the adequate eating habits to have. Secondly, the objective is to, also capture the influencers’ interest to this project, not only for their children wellbeing but also bur their own, filling in all “areas” a gap that competitors don´t fill. KNC will have all the tools in its working area to reach this objective, by having available diverse products and services, such as, Fitness Class for Kids, Nutritional Appointments and harvest with vegetables; all with the assistance and help of qualified staff. This offer is designed to reach a broad target, but mainly children that the firm is hoping to be influenced by parents, teachers and doctors… As it will be possible to observe, the number of over weighted children has been increasing in the last years (one in every three, with ages between 7 and 9 years old), consequence of the unhealthy eating habits at school and even while parents supervision that tend to choose fast food chains to compensate their children (guilty market). For this initial phase of the Project, Lisbon is the area chosen to start, in a field with the right conditions to plant and accessible to the largest number of users possible (during the week and weekend), having a prediction of launch of 4 months. Observable along the Business Plan is also, the fact that this is a project with a small investment (90.000 Euros) that, according to the Financial Analysis, may be recovered in less than a year.

Des les origines, l'humanite s'est construite au dehors d'elle-meme, hors de la nature, sur le fond d'un edifice exosomatique, artificiel et objectif, grace a l'edification d'un reseau d'artefacts, tant linguistiques qu'utilitaires. Cette these est incompatible avec celle de l'autonomie de la technique, qui presuppose que l'on puisse detacher l'essence de la technique de celle de l'humanite. C'est pourquoi la premiere partie de ce travail est consacree a une genealogie critique de la these de l'autonomie, de la philosophie moderne aux oeuvres d'ellul et de heidegger. La seconde partie s'emploie donc a developper notre these. On pourra ensuite eclairer la nouveaute des liens que nous sommes amenes a nouer avec la nature, compte tenu de la multiplication considerable des objets techniques engendres par la revolution industrielle. Nous sommes en effet confrontes a un triple retrait de la nature : entre nous, mais aussi en nous et autour de nous. C'est au retrait de la nature entre nous, a l'artificialisation relative du lien social qui en decoule, qu'est devolu le second volet de cette deuxieme partie. La troisieme partie developpe l'idee du retrait de la nature en nous, avec une reflexion sur la technicisation du corps, et celle du retrait de la nature autour de nous, avec d'une part une reflexion sur la resorption de l'agriculture dans la societe industrielle et d'autre part l'affirmation du caractere indepassable de l'anthropocentrisme. Si l'introduction a ete consacree a la definition de la philosophie de la technique, a celle des concepts fondamentaux de ce memoire et a la nouveaute de nos relations a la nature, la conclusion revient sur ces relations pour en montrer le caractere paradoxal : nous appartenons resolument a la nature tout en disposant d'une certaine exteriorite vis-a-vis d'elle
What defines man has been created outside nature, from a network of linguistic and technical artefacts. This thesis rules out the thesis of the autonomy of technology which postulates the separation of the essence of technology from the essence of man. Therefore the first part of my work will be devoted to a critical genealogy of the theory of the autonomy of technology, from modern philosophy to the works of ellul and heidegger. In the second part i will expound my thesis and thus will be able to throw light on the new types of bonds that we have with nature, given the considerable quantity of technological artefacts brought by the industrial revolution. Indeed nature can be said to recede in three ways : between us, within us, and around us. The second half of my second part will deal with this recession of nature between us and the partial artificialisation of the social link. The third part develops the idea of the recession of nature within us, with a reflection on the technological mutation of the body, and the recession of nature around us with on the one hand a reflection on the dwindling role of agriculture in industrial societies, and on the other hand the assertion of the insuperable character of anthropocentrism. Whereas the introduction dealt with the definitions of the philosophy of technology, and of the basic concepts used in this work, and with the novelty of our relationships with nature, the conclusion insists again on these relationships to show how paradoxical they are : our place is inside as well as outside nature

Inspiration is something which can be found in nearly everything. The author´s inspiration is coming from the people around him, the world he lives in, all the shapes, smells, and impressions he inhales on a daily basis. But in fact the biggest inspiration for his thesis concept was the love to nature with all its facets. Together with a huge interest in sky observation and our Universe in general, the author knew quite early that those are some major topics which should be found and set-in in his thesis. Shape-wise he was as well inspired by creating a vision, which doesn´t remind people of already existing products. It should be a concept which triggers other people to rethink what we have today and what we could have in future. To achieve this, it is as well necessary to look into new technologies or inventions. The process for this concept, but also for the authors work-flow itself was meant to go into an experimental direction. With a lot try and error and learning about observations. It was a combination of a digital and physical working process, trying to mix VR with physical crafts. Starting with a vague idea, followed by loose doodles on paper which were further developed in 3D and have been evaluated in VR - this was the writers goal. In the one hand this concept will inspire other people in the way they think and perceive their environment. On the other hand side it reflects the author´s goals and wishes for this thesis. A concept which entails a whole process of theory and praxis and teaches a lot about work planning, time management, team working, or deadlines. If the final result brings people to interpret their own thoughts into the concept, it shows how mind opening an idea can be.

This project began as a critique of the current notions of â greenâ architecture. It grew into the creation of a system for integrating nature with structure, the organic with the constructed. A grand entry for the Highline Park on the lower Westside of Manhattan is used as a means for generating a domain which plants, specifically hanging ivy, could thrive. Simple elements such as columns, cables, stairs and ramps, can become a means for creating immersive living volumes, fostering instances where nature can conquer construction.
Master of Architecture

My work focuses on my physical connection to the earth. I translate what I see and visualize in nature into graphic shapes and patterns using textiles, fibers, and paints. Further, I interweave these materials through a variety of techniques, and I incorporate sewn lines to create compositions highlighting natural elements that depict the course of life. I employ a hands-on, low technology approach. This tactic contrasts my work as a professional graphic designer. While my professional efforts generally lack a physical connection with nature, due to digital simulations of real objects, my personal artwork allows me to step away from the insipid technology tools commonly used in today’s society.

Artist Statement I am fascinated with colors in nature and how it affects our moods. The colors of a sunset and moonlit sky; the feeling of a brewing storm; the laziness of a cold, gray day; the roar of an ocean; and the feel of sand on your feet are elements that I want to capture in my drawings and paintings. In addition to the natural environment, animals are an integral part of nature that I incorporate in my work. Pets are the unspoken blessings that bring joy and laughter to my life. Pets, especially dogs, are proven to relieve stress, to brighten emotions, to contribute to healing, to be forgiving, and to be loyal. Finally, my family features prominently in my work. The best times in my life have all been a result of relationships and special moments with them.

I am a painter and a printmaker. My imagery consists of houses, barns, birds, trees, hands, and gloves. On the surface these items represent home, nature, and female identity. On another level they symbolize an inner world of dreams, wishes, and losses. My paintings contain aspects of collage, they combine paint, paper, and low relief. I paint layers of transparent and opaque images and colors in order to achieve a dreamy and ethereal effect. In printmaking, I combine my imagery in layers by printing small plates and stencils next to and on top of one another until a dense, multifaceted image is achieved.