This is the first complete, one-volume English translation of the ancient Chinese text Xunzi, one of the most extensive, sophisticated, and elegant works in the tradition of Confucian thought. Through essays, poetry, dialogues, and anecdotes, the Xunzi articulates a Confucian perspective on ethics, politics, warfare, language, psychology, human nature, ritual, and music, among other topics. Aimed at general readers and students of Chinese thought, Eric Hutton’s translation makes the full text of this important work more accessible in English than ever (...) before. Named for its purported author, the Xunzi has long been neglected compared to works such as the Analects of Confucius and the Mencius. Yet interest in the Xunzi has grown in recent decades, and the text presents a much more systematic vision of the Confucian ideal than the fragmented sayings of Confucius and Mencius. In one famous, explicit contrast to them, the Xunzi argues that human nature is bad. However, it also allows that people can become good through rituals and institutions established by earlier sages. Indeed, the main purpose of the Xunzi is to urge people to become as good as possible, both for their own sakes and for the sake of peace and order in the world. In this edition, key terms are consistently translated to aid understanding and line numbers are provided for easy reference. Other features include a concise introduction, a timeline of early Chinese history, a list of important names and terms, cross-references, brief explanatory notes, a bibliography, and an index. (shrink)

Mechanisms that contribute to perceptual processing dysfunction in schizophrenia were examined by Phillips & Silverstein, and formulated as involving disruptions in both local and higher-level coordination of signals. We agree that dysfunction in the coordination of cognitive functions (disconnection) is also indicated for many of the linguistic processing deficits documented for schizophrenia. We suggest, however, that it may be necessary to add a timing mechanism to the theoretical account.

Thomas & Karmiloff- Smith ’ argument that the Residual Normality assumption is not valid for developmental disorders has implications for models of cognition in schizophrenia, a disorder that may involve a neurodevelopmental pathogenesis. A limiting factor for such theories is the lack of understanding about the nature of the cognitive system. Moreover, it is unclear how the proposal that modularization emerges from developmental processes would change that fundamental question.

First language attrition in adulthood offers new insight on neuroplasticity and the role of language experience in shaping neurocognitive responses to language. Attriters are multilinguals for whom advancing L2 proficiency comes at the cost of the L1, as they experience a shift in exposure and dominance. To date, the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying L1 attrition are largely unexplored. Using event-related potentials, we examined L1-Italian grammatical processing in 24 attriters and 30 Italian native-controls. We assessed whether attriters differed from non-attriting native speakers (...) in their online detection and re-analysis/repair of number agreement violations, and whether differences in processing were modulated by L1-proficiency. To test both local and non-local agreement violations, we manipulated agreement between three inflected constituents and examined ERP responses on two of these. Our findings revealed group differences in amplitude, scalp distribution, and duration of LAN/N400 + P600 effects. We discuss these differences as reflecting influence of attriters’ L2-English, as well as shallower online sentence repair processes than in non-attriting native speakers. ERP responses were also predicted by L1-Italian proficiency scores, with smaller N400/P600 amplitudes in lower proficiency individuals. Proficiency only modulated P600 amplitude between 650 and 900 ms, whereas the late P600 depended on group membership and amount of L1 exposure within attriters. Our study is the first to show qualitative and quantitative differences in ERP responses in attriters compared to non-attriting native speakers. Our results also emphasize that proficiency predicts language processing profiles, even in native-speakers, and that the P600 should not be considered a monolithic component. (shrink)

Pt. 1 = Tl. 1 : up to 1975 = bis 1975 ; Pt. 2 = Tl. 2 : 1976-1991, with addenda et corrigenda to Pt. 1 = mit Nachträgen und Berichtigungen zu Tl. 1.

La stèle porte deux versions successives d'une liste d'abats, dont la plus récente est précédée d'une inscription votive de l'agoranome du Pirée. On démontre qu'il s'agit d'une liste, la première de son espèce à Athènes, fixant les prix de vente maximums, et non d'un tableau de l'ἐπώνιον. On examine les renseignements fournis par cette liste concernant l'évolution des habitudes alimentaires et du coût de la vie au Ier s. av. J.-C. La nouvelle liste, avec des prix différents de ceux de (...) la première, fut publiée après la destruction du Pirée par Sylla. (shrink)

Zur Zeit der Weimarer Republik entstehen die ersten Medienverfassungen, die nicht auf genuine Rechtstechniken oder Medientechniken reduziert werden können, sondern sich auf die Kontur von (juristischen) Personen und (politischen) Körpern auswirken und den Bestand der Rechtstexte insgesamt verändern. Anhand einer Lektüre von Texten Aby Warburgs und Carl Schmitts untersucht der Aufsatz, wie man Medienverfassungen einrichten kann. At the times of the Weimar Republic, the first »medial constitutions« come into being. As »medial constitutions«, they cannot be reduced to genuine techniques neither (...) of Law nor of mediums, but shape the contours of (legal) persons and (political) bodies and generally modify the corpus of legal texts. Reading texts by Aby Warburg and Carl Schmitt, the paper examines the way in which »medial constitutions« can be established. (shrink)

At the times of the Weimar Republic, the first »medial constitutions« come into being. As »medial constitutions«, they cannot be reduced to genuine techniques neither of Law nor of mediums, but shape the contours of (legal) persons and (political) bodies and generally modify the corpus of legal texts. Reading texts by Aby Warburg and Carl Schmitt, the paper examines the way in which »medial constitutions« can be established.