Ontology and Research with Jeremy Bentham’s three kinds of entities

Ontology and Research If you are wanting conduct ontological research, may I wish you the best of luck and Godspeed, but this is not the page for you.  If, however, you are in the Social Sciences and your supervisor, colleague, co-author, reviewer or editor is suddenly wanting you to talk about ontology or defend your ontological position like some demented pseudo-philosopher who has just swallowed a dictionary: Welcome!     Ontology is the branch of philosophy that studies of reality. Don’t panic! take a breath and relax.  It really is all very simple.  You are writing about something or researching…

Read More

Aristotle and the Rhetoric Triangle

Classical discourse has three components: Rhetoric the art of persuasion; Grammar the art of speaking and writing clearly, and Logic (or analytics) the art of thought and reason.  Rhetoric explores the ability to inform, persuade, or motivate a particular audience. Aristotle defines rhetoric as “the faculty of observing in any given case the available means of persuasion.”   Rhetoric Triangle Logos, ethos, and pathos are three central components of rhetoric.  All good arguments, written, spoken or debated depend on them. Don’t worry if you have never heard of them before, they are easily learned.  In themselves they are not new…

Read More

What is an Academic Theory?

Academic Theory – Does it matter? Well, if you’re reading this, you have found out that academic theory is important. However, you may also have discovered many people pretend they know what academic theory is but, frankly, they don’t have a clue what they’re talking about. Academic theory is critical. As an undergraduate or postgraduate student you will need to explain or situate your work within an existing body of academic theory or you will simply fail! If you’re a PhD student you will be expected to make a new contribution to theory and develop the existing literature. If you’re…

Read More

Coronavirus, University Tuition Fees and Lectures

What is happening with Coronavirus and Tuition Fees? I think the short answer to what is happening with coronavirus, university tuition fees and lectures is nobody really knows! I would treat with great scepticism anyone that tells you they know what will be happening and their University will be returning for the first semester in October and there will be no problems!  Universities will want their tuition fees.   Now, I don’t want to say they’re lying but they are probably doing a very good impression of the village idiot. Five months ago no one would have predicted the mess…

Read More