In 1975, 'An Essay on Knowledge Formation' by H. Törnebohm was published in this Journal. Its content in revised form was included in a work in Swedish of 1983 on knowledge development. HT defines his confirmation criterion in terms of a measure of truth degree T, which is based on a measure of matching M, which is also used as a measure of the degree to which proposition p (an hypothesis) is supported or undermined by another proposition q (the evidence (...) for p), M is defined in terms of a measure of the content C. Here it is argued that HT works with two measures C: (1) a first C, which is defined only for consistent propositions and which really is a measure of content; (2) a final C, which is an inverted measure of probability rather than a measure of content. As an extension of HT's first C, a new content measure, defined also for inconsistent propositions, is constructed. HT's measure M, which is based on his final C, is replaced by one measure of support and one of undermining. Both are based on the new content measure. (shrink)

Within a state-space approach endowed with a generalized potential function, mental states can be systematically characterized by their stability against perturbations. This approach yields three major classes of states: (1) asymptotically stable categorial states, (2) marginally stable non-categorial states and (3) unstable acategorial states. The particularly interesting case of states giving rise to exceptional experiences will be elucidated in detail. Their proper classification will be related to Metzinger’s account of self-model and world-model, and empirical support for this classification will be (...) surveyed. Eventually, it will be outlined how Metzinger’s discussion of intentionality achieves pronounced significance within a dual-aspect framework of thinking. (shrink)

What are the aims of legal philosophy? Which questions should it seek to address? How should legal philosophers approach and engage with their subject-matter, and what constraints are incumbent on them as they do so? What are the criteria of success of theories of law, and how do we know if they have been met? Can there be progress in legal philosophy? In Elucidating Law, Julie Dickson addresses these and other questions concerning the methodology, or the philosophy, of legal (...) philosophy and offers her own distinctive response to them. The book advocates that legal philosophers should espouse an approach that Dickson terms 'Indirectly Evaluative Legal Philosophy.' This distinctive approach can facilitate legal philosophers' understanding of aspects of the nature of law, whilst avoiding prematurely or inappropriately regarding law as inherently morally valuable. Law is a powerful, systemic, and institutionalized social tool. It should be understood in a manner appropriate to its character. (shrink)

This book takes the form of intellectual histories of eight major representative figures of the twentieth century, who inherited and responded to the spiritual problematic left by Nietzsche. With each figure offering very different ethical and spiritual positions, all shed light on what we mean when we talk confusedly around the topics of politics and religion. With portraits of Max Weber, Georg Lukács, T.S. Eliot, W.H. Auden, Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, George Orwell and Hannah Arendt, the author explores the 'latent' (...) content of their worldview - their moral (or immoral) intention - exposing a political position and the religious position of each figure, thus shedding light on their ultimate values and illuminating their particular picture of the soul, as well as the implications of their vision for religion and politics. As such, The Politics of the Soul will appeal to scholars of sociology and social theory, religion, philosophy, political theory and cultural studies. (shrink)

Is the quantum-logic interpretation dead? Its near total absence from current discussions about the interpretation of quantum theory suggests so. While mathematical work on quantum logic continues largely unabated, interest in the quantum-logic interpretation seems to be almost nil, at least in Anglo-American philosophy of physics. This paper has the immodest purpose of changing that fact. I shall argue that while the quantum-logic interpretation faces challenges, it remains a live option. The usual objections either miss the mark, or admit a (...) reasonable answer, or fail to decide the issue conclusively. (shrink)

Following much work in linguistic theory, it is hypothesized that the language faculty has a modular structure and consists of two basic components, a lexicon of (structured) entries and a computational system of combinatorial operations to form larger linguistic expressions from lexical entries. This target article provides evidence for the dual nature of the language faculty by describing recent results of a multidisciplinary investigation of German inflection. We have examined: (1) its linguistic representation, focussing on noun plurals and verb inflection (...) (participles), (2) processes involved in the way adults produce and comprehend inflected words, (3) brain potentials generated during the processing of inflected words, and (4) the way children acquire and use inflection. It will be shown that the evidence from all these sources converges and supports the distinction between lexical entries and combinatorial operations. (shrink)

Der Prozess biologischer wie anthropologischer Evolution ist heute Gegenstand gesicherter Theorie. In dieser Arbeit werden notwendige und zureichende -philosophische- Voraussetzungen derselben untersucht. Dichotomien (Geist - Materie) wie Reduktionismen (z.B. neo-empiristischer Provenienz) werden uberwunden durch ein Erklarungsmodell, das genannte Einseitigkeiten vermittels einer -strukturologischen- Reflexion auf das -Geist- wie -Materie- Gemeinsame hintergreift. - In diesem Zusammenhang werden endlich die herkommlichen Probleme von -Immanenz- und -Transzendenz- des Menschen im Sinn einer vollig neuen Fragestellung transformiert.".

1,857 adults rated the grandparental solicitude they received in childhood. Through a simple model based on the evolutionary concepts of ontogenetically differentiated reproductive strategy and paternity confidence, an ordered discriminative pattern of grandparental caregiving was predicted and confirmed by solid main effects, based on 603 complete cases. The maternal grandmother was the most caring. Unlike prevalent gender stereotypes, she was followed by the maternal grandfather, the paternal grandmother, and the paternal grandfather. The preferential grandparental solicitude was not influenced by residential (...) distance, grandparent age, and availability of other grandparents. A predicted higher correlation for male than for female progenitors between solicitude and phenotypic resemblance could be confirmed. (shrink)

Addressing a wide range of topics, from Newton to Post-Kuhnian philosophy of science, these essays critically examine themes that have been central to the influential work of philosopher Michael Friedman.

BackgroundTo limit selective and incomplete publication of the results of clinical trials, registries including ClinicalTrials.gov were introduced. The ClinicalTrials.gov registry added a results database in 2008 to enable researchers to post the results of their trials as stipulated by the Food and Drug Administration Amendment Act of 2007. This study aimed to determine the direction and magnitude of any change in publication proportions of registered breast cancer trials that occurred since the inception of the ClinicalTrials.gov results database.MethodsA cross-sectional study design (...) was employed using ClinicalTrials.gov, a publicly available registry/results database as the primary data source. Registry contents under the subcategories ‘Breast Neoplasms’ and ‘Breast Neoplasms, Male’ were downloaded on 1 August 2015. A literature search for included trials was afterwards conducted using MEDLINE and DISCOVER databases to determine publication status of the registered breast cancer trials.ResultsNearly half (168/340) of the listed trials had been published, with a median time to publication of 24 months (Q1 = 14 months, Q3 = 42 months). Only 86 trials were published within 24 months of completion. There was no significant increase in publication proportions of trials that were completed before the introduction of the results database compared to those completed after (OR = 1.00, 95 % CI =.61 to 1.63; adjusted OR = 0.84, 95 % CI =.51 to 1.39). Characteristics associated with publication included trial type (observational versus interventional adjusted OR =.28, 95 % CI =.10 to.74) and completion/termination status (terminated versus completed adjusted OR =.22, 95 % CI =.09 to.51).ConclusionsLess than a half of breast cancer trials registered in ClinicalTrials.gov are published in peer-reviewed journals. (shrink)

In diesem Buch wird zunachst eine Topik asthetischer Begriffe entwickelt, die dann an wesentlichen Knotenpunkten der Geschichte von Asthetik und Kunstphilosophie von Platon bis in die Gegenwart erprobt und auf sie angewandt wird. Systematische und geschichtlich konturierte Uberlegungen erganzen einander. Von besonderem Interesse ist dabei die Reflexion von Kunsterfahrung und Kunstwerken durch philosophisches Denken. Auf diese Weise zeigt sich das fruchtbare Spannungsverhaltnis zwischen Theorieformen und der Vielfalt asthetischer Erscheinungsformen. Dem Verhaltnis tradierter Asthetik und der nicht-schonen Kunste der Moderne gilt ein (...) besonderer Fokus. Das Augenmerk der Studie begrenzt sich freilich nicht auf hohe und autonome Kunst; vielmehr richtet es sich besonders auch auf die Architektur und Gebrauchskunst. Auch der Asthetik des Performativen und ihrer Rolle in der Kunst der Moderne gelten eingehende Analysen. (shrink)

Die politische Weltlage im fruhen 21. Jahrhundert ist global und zugleich von tiefen Differenzen und Bruchen bestimmt. Sie verlangt daher nach einer neuen politischen Philosophie, die aber zugleich groae Traditionen politischen Denkens aufnehmen und auf ihre aktuelle Bedeutung hin uberprufen muss. Auch die Folgelasten der Ideologien der Moderne sind noch einmal zu reflektieren, um aus ihnen fur veranderte Zeiten Lehren zu ziehen. Der hier vorgelegte Ansatz verbindet daher ideengeschichtliche Rekonstruktion mit der Entfaltung einer systematischen politischen Philosophie, die auch Faktoren berucksichtigt, (...) die zumeist unterbelichtet bleiben: Interkulturalitat, Sicherheitsarchitektur, das Verhaltnis von Politik und Religion, Politik und Moral sowie von Politik und Recht. Eine Schlusselbedeutung kommt dabei dem Verhaltnis von Freiheit und Sicherheit und der Frage zu, ob dieses uberhaupt in ein Gleichgewicht zu bringen ist. Der Autor verfolgt den Anspruch, Normativitat und Realismus gleichermaaen Rechnung zu tragen. (shrink)

Bedarf die in Okonomie und durch mediale Vernetzung geeinte Welt auch einer gemeinsamen Grundphilosophie? Die Schwierigkeiten, auf einen tragfahigen Konsens in strittigen Grundfragen zu kommen, deuten in diese Richtung. Doch wie konnte jene Grundphilosophie aussehen? Das Buch von Harald Seubert nimmt programmatisch die Stromungen und Tendenzen interkultureller Philosophie auf und vertieft sie auf die Grundlinien einer Weltphilosophie, die sich, keineswegs eklektizistisch, auf westliche und ostliche Uberlieferungsstrome berufen kann. Dabei kommen namhafte westliche und ostliche Stimmen zu Wort, von Platon uber (...) Cusanus und Hegel bis zu Whitehead und Sri Aurobindo. Reflektiert werden aber auch die verschiedenen Disziplinen philosophischen Denkens, von der Naturphilosophie uber die Politische Philosophie und die Frage eines gemeinsamen Wertekonsenses bis zu Ontologie und Gottesfrage. (shrink)

This essay argues that Oscar Wilde noticeably contributed to the emerging discourse about world literature, even though his views in this regard have to be unearthed from the margins of his works, from his early and unpublished American lectures and ‘between the lines’ of his major critical essays. Wilde’s implicit ideas around world literature can be understood as being closely related to his broader endeavour of redirecting and revaluing the pejorative discourse around ‘decadence’ in art and literature. More specifically, the (...) arch-aesthete preferred to use the word ‘romance’ rather than ‘decadence’, signalling a sensitivity attuned to what he called the ‘love of things impossible’. This reconceptualization of the decadent outlook was to inspire a critical ideal of literature which relied on creatively activating the other as Other, culminating in a vision of intersubjective, transcultural and unlimited literary communication. Wilde’s thought can be more specifically understood as anticipating central tenets of Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak’s evocations of the planetary, thus preparing the way for an alterity-oriented understanding of literary cosmopolitanism. (shrink)

Plato (ca. 427- ca. 347 BCE), the preeminent Greek philosopher, has been extensively studied. A major field of Plato's comprehensive work is his political philosophy, which is multifaceted and multidimensional. The discourse on gender issues forms an integral part of it. In this context, one is surprised to notice that Plato's elaborations have been interpreted in quite contrasting ways. In some feminist discussions of classical philosophy, Plato's intellectual enterprise is evaluated as reflecting Greek male chauvinism. Such identification carries all manner (...) of stereotyping, and this is neither enlightening nor helpful for an overall understanding of Plato's teachings and his world of ideas. In the scholarly literature, one can make the surprising discovery that Plato's contribution to the understanding of gender roles in society slips the attention of authors who specialize in this topic. Plato was neither feminist in the modern sense nor a sexist. Plato was not a liberal thinker, and he did not take the initiative to make a case for women's liberties. And yet, he elaborates amply on issues of what is subsumed under women's liberation in our time: What else would we call a philosopher who, under the conditions of Greek society in the classical age, advocated for the participation of women in sports competitions and approved of the access of women to public offices, even to political leadership? In this study, priority lies in reconstructing Plato's ideas on women's roles viewed against the zeitgeist of gender issues in Greek society of classical antiquity. The analysis shows that Plato's speculations about gender and gender issues in an ideal society were nothing short of revolutionary. Plato on Women is a major contribution to political philosophy and gender studies as well as an important book for collections of Plato's works and scholarly literature focusing on this philosopher. (shrink)

Kant's contribution to modern Protestant theology is as unmistakable as it is controversial. The authors of this volume are investigating a new perspective on the work of theology and the effects of Kant's philosophy of religion concentrated on biblical hermeneutics and dogmatic theology.

The purpose of this book is to discuss some critical components of Albert Shanker's work in American education, first as a teacher, then as president of the AFT. This is done in the context of the developments that took place in the United States since 1902 and the formation of the AFT in 1916. It focuses on the elements of leadership that were critical to the development of the United States from that time to the present. It presents these developments (...) in the context of Shanker's involvement since 1964. It also focuses on the dynamics of human relations cast in institutional settings. In doing so it presents features of a nation as it struggled with economic, social, and political issues that make society what it is. This discussion is done as a reflection of the need to strengthen democracy. The relations that Shanker has had with other people and organizations forms a critical component of the study. (shrink)

Da die beiden Begriffe "Kultur" und "Staat" uber eine groae inhaltliche Breite verfugen, ist das Feld der Interpretationsmoglichkeiten auaerordentlich weit. Wichtiger als der quantitative Umfang der Begriffe aber ist selbstverstandlich deren qualitative Bedeutung: Sowohl vom Begriff der Kultur als auch vom Begriff des Staates lasst sich sagen, dass sie im eigentlichen Wortsinne fundamental sind. Sie legen das Fundament fur das Zusammenleben der Menschen - mit Kultur ist dabei die (oft unsichtbare und doch uberall wirksame) Totalitat menschlicher Hervorbringungen gemeint, mit Staat (...) die institutionelle Grundordnung einer Gemeinschaft, welche die wichtigsten Regeln der Herrschaft in einem bestimmten Territorium verbindlich festschreibt. Der Zusammenhang zwischen Kultur und Staat, genauer: Die Abhangigkeit des Staates von der Kultur, ist offensichtlich: Staaten sind immer auch Ausdruck kultureller Werte und Ideale. Ein besonderes Kulturverstandnis schlagt sich in aller Regel auch in einem besonderen Staatsverstandnis nieder; dabei erweisen sich die primar ideellen Werte einer Kultur haufig sogar als prioritar gegenuber ihrer materiellen Verwirklichung in Institutionen. In jedem Fall gilt, dass beide, Staat und Kultur, aufs Engste miteinander verzahnt und ineinander verwoben sind. Wie dies von groaen (Kultur-)Theoretikern des 20. Jahrhunderts gesehen worden ist, dokumentiert dieser Band. (shrink)

Das fur alle Weltkulturen pragende Verhaltnis von Religion und Vernunft wird in diesem Buch einzigartig umfassend und differenziert dargestellt. Die bedeutenden Knotenpunkte des Nachdenkens uber Religion gewinnen, von der griechischen Antike bis in die Gegenwart, plastisch Kontur und werden zugleich souveran auf das aktuelle interkulturelle Gesprach der Weltreligionen bezogen. Der Autor geht von dem Befund aus, dass Religion keineswegs eine vergangene, sondern eine hochst aktuelle Realitat des 21. Jahrhunderts ist. Religionen haben deshalb auch fur Politik, Recht und Rationalitat massgebliche Bedeutung. (...) Eingehend wird das Problem der Aufklarung und der Sakularisierung thematisiert. Religion ist, so zeigt das Buch in einer impliziten Hermeneutik, nur in einer Verflechtung von Beobachter- und Teilnehmerperspektive zu erfassen. Darin liegt die aktuelle Bedeutung der Religionsphilosophie, die Seubert wieder ins Zentrum der Philosophie und der Geisteswissenschaften insgesamt ruckt. (shrink)