Peace and Conflict Resolution

Research Proposal for MA Thesis 

Some Thoughts on Education

The Possibility of a Pluralist General Theory

On Western Aid

 Meaning and the Creation of Common Identity
This essay discusses some of the theoretical shortcomings of John Burton’s ‎approach to conflict and conflict resolution, and argues how he might have gone further in his quest for generic theory. Given these criticisms and a new foudnation for universality built on Wittgenstiens notion of language, this essay ‎suggests ways in which conflict resolution might find more fruitful ways forward (using Victor Frankl's notions of meaning, and the idea of a common project).‎


 

I'm interested in the Baha'i faith and its relation to other world traditions (from which it was born).

    The Bahá'í Faith: Prophecy and Conversion This study looks at the Bahá'í faith and through research, field study, and survey of a number of members living in the United States (which contains the second largest concentration of members outside of Iran) and Australia, we seek to better understand what causes people to convert to this new religious movement. Both the survey and informal interviews suggest that although much has been written about prophecy (we explore the well know 1844 prediction especially), it plays no significant role on the conversion of members to the Bahá'í faith. Rather, the two strongest factors contributing to membership are the social teachings of the Bahá'ís and having been raised as a member of the Bahá'í faith.

I'm interested in Islamic History and Culture in general, as well as a study of The Koran and of the Arabic Language in general.

Analogy, Education and Conflict Resolution - I'm interested in ways in which analogy can be used to bridge seemingly divergent worldviews.


 

Multivalent (Fuzzy) Logic - Traditional (bivalent) logic holds two truth values (true and false), a multivalent logic holds more than two (e.g. true, false, maybe) - fuzzy logic extends that, allows for any number of values between true (1) and false (0).

        Web Resources on Multivalent/Fuzzy Logic

Applied Fuzzy Logic and Neural Nets - I am interested in using fuzzy logic to bridge some of the traditional gaps between computer models and reasoning, and natural language or real world problems. Neural Networks provide a solution to the learning difficulties faced by fuzzy control systems. 

        Fuzzy Control Demo - An implementation (in Java) of a basic fuzzy control   system for an air-conditioner.

        Web Resources on Cognitive Science

         Math/Computer Modeling  

       Air Traffic Control Complexity - A Math Model of Air Traffic 
           Controller workload for 2000 Math Modeling Competition

Microcredit - Microcredit is the extension of small loans to entrepreneurs too poor to qualify for traditional bank loans. It has proven an effective and popular measure in the ongoing struggle against poverty, enabling those without access to lending institutions to borrow at bank rates, and start small businesses. [1]

        Web Resources on MicroCredit

Object Oriented Design - The object oriented (OO) model for of software development requires the use of analogical reasoning both to learn and implement as system designed to, at some level, model the real world.

 

Many documents on this page are PDF formatted and require Acrobat Reader (FREE from Adobe)

All ideas and content are the original work of Brian Mistler.
Copyright © 2000-2001  [Brian J. Mistler]. All rights reserved.
Revised: June 07, 2002 .