A gas in a box is perhaps the most important model system studied in thermodynamics and statistical mechanics. Usually, studies focus on the gas, whereas the box merely serves as an idealized confinement. The present article focuses on the box as the central object and develops a thermodynamic theory by treating the geometric degrees of freedom of the box as the degrees of freedom of a thermodynamic system. Applying standard mathematical methods to the thermody- namics of an empty box allows (...) equations with the same structure as those of cosmology and classical and quantum mechanics to be derived. The simple model system of an empty box is shown to have interesting connections to classical mechanics, special relativity, and quantum field theory. (shrink)

SummaryIntense, sustained nursing lengthens inter-birth intervals and is causally linked with low natural fertility. However, in traditional settings, the effects of such nursing on fertility are difficult to disentangle from those of nutrition. Results from an prospective, direct observational study of reproductive function in well-nourished Amele women who nurse intensively and persistently but who also have high fertility are here presented. Endocrine measures show that ovarian activity resumes by median 11·0 months postpartum. Median duration of postpartum amenorrhoea is 11·3 months, (...) time to next conception is 19·0 months, and the inter-birth interval is 28·0 months. Average life time fertility is 6·8. High fertility in Amele women is due both to refractoriness of reproductive function to suckling stimuli, and to maintenance of equivalent age-specific fertility rates across the reproductive life span. (shrink)

In 1993, an astonishing discovery was made at a tomb in Guodian in Hubei province. Written on strips of bamboo that have miraculously survived intact since 300 B.C., the "Guodian Laozi," is by far the earliest version of the _Tao Te Ching_ ever unearthed. Students of ancient Chinese civilization proclaimed the text a decisive breakthrough in the understanding of this famous text: it provides the most conclusive evidence to date that the text was the work of multiple authors and editors (...) over hundreds of years, rather than the achievement of a single individual writing during the time of Confucius. Robert Henricks now presents the first English translation of the "bamboo slip Laozi." Differing substantially from other versions we have of the text, the Guodian Laozi provides us with clues on how and when the text came into being. As Henricks's translation shows, many chapters are missing in this form of the text, and some chapters remain incomplete. All of this seems to suggest that the _Tao Te Ching_ was not yet "complete" when these slips were copied. In his translation, Henricks focuses attention on lines in each of the chapters that vary from readings in other editions. In addition, he shows how the sequence of chapters in this form of the text is totally unrelated to the sequence readers commonly see in the "standard" form of the text, i.e., in other translations. Here are just a few of the noteworthy features of this new _Tao Te Ching:_ • A lucid introduction to the Guodian Laozi, offering background on the archaeological interpretation of the discovery • Line-by-line comparisons of the Guodian Laozi against the Mawangdui and Wang Bi editions • Extensive notes on each chapter describing the unique elements of the Guodian Laozi in comparison with other versions • Transcriptions for each chapter, noting both the ancient and modern form of the characters in the chapter • An appendix featuring the official biography of Laozi written by Sima Qian, the Grand Historian of China, as well as Henricks's commentary and notes on this biography This groundbreaking work will lead to a reassessment of the history and significance of this well-known and critical work as well as a reevaluation of the role it played in the development of Taoism in early China. (shrink)

In 1993, an astonishing discovery was made at a tomb in Guodian in Hubei province. Written on strips of bamboo that have miraculously survived intact since 300 B.C., the "Guodian Laozi," is by far the earliest version of the _Tao Te Ching_ ever unearthed. Students of ancient Chinese civilization proclaimed the text a decisive breakthrough in the understanding of this famous text: it provides the most conclusive evidence to date that the text was the work of multiple authors and editors (...) over hundreds of years, rather than the achievement of a single individual writing during the time of Confucius. Robert Henricks now presents the first English translation of the "bamboo slip Laozi." Differing substantially from other versions we have of the text, the Guodian Laozi provides us with clues on how and when the text came into being. As Henricks's translation shows, many chapters are missing in this form of the text, and some chapters remain incomplete. All of this seems to suggest that the _Tao Te Ching_ was not yet "complete" when these slips were copied. In his translation, Henricks focuses attention on lines in each of the chapters that vary from readings in other editions. In addition, he shows how the sequence of chapters in this form of the text is totally unrelated to the sequence readers commonly see in the "standard" form of the text, i.e., in other translations. Here are just a few of the noteworthy features of this new _Tao Te Ching:_ • A lucid introduction to the Guodian Laozi, offering background on the archaeological interpretation of the discovery • Line-by-line comparisons of the Guodian Laozi against the Mawangdui and Wang Bi editions • Extensive notes on each chapter describing the unique elements of the Guodian Laozi in comparison with other versions • Transcriptions for each chapter, noting both the ancient and modern form of the characters in the chapter • An appendix featuring the official biography of Laozi written by Sima Qian, the Grand Historian of China, as well as Henricks's commentary and notes on this biography This groundbreaking work will lead to a reassessment of the history and significance of this well-known and critical work as well as a reevaluation of the role it played in the development of Taoism in early China. (shrink)

On history of Buddhist philosophy; contributed articles.

Articles on life and scholar works of academician Chimidiĭn Zhugder, famous Mongolian philosophy scholar.

Selected works of the contemporary Polish abstract painting in the light of Ingarden’s conception of metaphysical qualities: The main thesis of my article is that Roman Ingarden’s concept of metaphysical qualities can be adapted to analyze and interpret artworks that represent some tendencies in abstract painting. I start by summarizing this concept, taking into consideration the elements of its reconstructions that are present in the source literature, especially those aspects that concern art. Although Ingarden’s idea can be used with many (...) examples, I employ it to analyze chosen artworks by the outstanding Polish abstract artists Tamara Berdowska, Władysław Podrazik, Tadeusz G. Wiktor and Jan Pamuła. I do not intend to refer to these paintings strictly in Ingarden’s terms, but I use these criteria in a way that allows me to enrich the interpretation of these artworks by showing them in a new light. By recognizing the role of contemplation of art, I try to fnd the genesis of the analyzed examples and reveal how metaphysical qualities manifest in them and infuence the viewer. I underline aspects that are distinctive of the presented artists and are related to the exceptional ability of abstract language to correspond to Ingarden’s idea. Subsequently, when developing my point of view I maintain the relationship between aesthetic and metaphysical sense that creates a kind of interdependence. These artists intentionally go beyond purely aesthetic efects to relate to transcendence. By adapting Ingarden’s concept to some contemporary abstractions, I try to link philosophical and critical ways of approaching these artistic phenomena with special regards to their metaphysical connotations that tend to be overlooked in contemporary discourses. (shrink)

Zájem současné sociologie a dalších společenských věd o výzkumy spokojenosti a štěstí zatemňuje skutečnost, že původně právě sociologie chtěla „štěstí" poskytovat a nahrazovat tak náboženské přístupy ke světu. Tento implicitně nábo- ženský charakter je patrný i v rané české sociologii v dílech prvních propagátorů sociologie, jako byl především Emanuel Makovička, a později u některých následovníků a epigonů T. G. Masaryka, v meziválečném období zejména u Ladislava Kunteho, R. I. Malého, Alexandra Sommera-Batěka, Jindřicha Fleischnera a Jana Duška. Z hlediska vývoje české (...) sociologie šlo o zcela okrajové postavy, ačkoli mnohé z nich vynikly v jiných oblastech, jako celek jsou nicméně vyjádřením jednoho z aspektů dobových teoretických úvah o společnosti, jejím uspořádání a vývoji, na který by nemělo být zapomínáno. Zatímco T. G. Masaryka a pozdější akademické sociology „omezoval" vědecký charakter jejich práce, a i pokud směřovali k sociálnímu reformismu, oddělovali jej od teoretické sociologie, „sociologie vedoucí ke štěstí" nalezla plné uplatnění ve vizích a ambiciózních projek- tech těchto amatérských takésociologů - třebaže skončily faktickými nezdary nebo ani nedošly praktického naplnění, ostatně stejně jako v případě jejich pravzoru, Comtova pozitivistického apoštolátu. (shrink)

Müslümanlar 8. yüzyılın başlarından 897/1492’e kadar Endülüs’te siyasî varlıklarını devam ettirmişlerdir. İber Yarımadası’ndaki Müslümanların ilk devleti olan Endülüs Emevî Devleti'nin 422/1031’de yıkılmasından sonra, çok sayıda şehir devleti kurulmuştur. Mülûku't-tavâif denilen bu küçük şehir devletleri, 5/11. yüzyıl sonlarında Hıristiyan güçler karşısında zaman zaman yok olma tehlikesi yaşamışlardır. Bu durum karşısında Mağrib'teki Berberî asıllı Murâbıtlardan yardım istemişlerdir. Mağrib’ten gelen yardımlar sonucunda Endülüs’te 483/1090 yılından itibaren Murâbıtlar, ardından 541/1147'den sonra da Muvahhidler hâkimiyeti başlamıştır. Muvahhidlerin 7/13. yüzyıl başlarında yıkılmasıyla Endülüs’te yeniden Mülûku’t-tavâif dönemi ortaya (...) çıkmış ve kısa zaman içerisinde Benî Ahmer dışındaki devletler yok olmuştur. Bu devlet, yaklaşık iki buçuk asırlık dönem boyunca ayakta kalmayı başarmıştır. Bu dönem boyunca da diğer devletlerle farklı yönlerden temaslarda bulunmuştur. Gırnâta Sultanlığı’nın en yoğun ilişki içerisinde bulunduğu devletlerden biri de, Mağrib’te, Cebelitârık Boğazı’nın güneyinde yer alan Merînîler Devleti olmuştur. Muvahhidlerin haleflerinden olan bu devlet, kendisini Endülüs cihadı açısından da onların varisi olarak görmüştür. Endülüs’te Hıristiyan güçlere karşı devam eden mücadelede de Merînîler ve Benî Ahmer genellikle işbirliği içinde olmuşlardır. Muvahhidlerin ardılı olan bu iki devlet, din, dil, kültür, soy olarak da ortak özelliklere sahiptiler. Öncelikle savunma amaçlı askerî zeminde başlayan ilişkiler, bununla sınırlı kalmamış, farklı alanlarda etkileşimlerle devam etmiştir. Bu çalışmada Benî Ahmer ve Merînîler devleti arasındaki çeşitli ilişkiler ve etkileşimler ele alınacaktır. (shrink)

Te onderscheiden is de significa of leer van de taaldaad in ruimere en die in engere zin. In ruimere zin omvat deze het gehele gebied van de verstandhoudingsmiddelen (= beïnvloedingsmiddelen) van levende wezens (in hoofdzaak dieren en mensen, zowel individueel als groeps- of soortsgewijs), doch in de meer gebruikelijke, technischwetenschappelijke betekenis beperkt de significa zich tot het geestelijk verkeer tussen mensen of groepen van mensen, en zou dus (onder uitschakeling van de gewone taalwetenschappen, als linguistiek, semantologie, e.d.) omschreven kunnen worden (...) als de leer van de menselijke verstandhoudingsverschijnselen, beschouwd uit taalkundig, mimisch en psychisch gezichtspunt. (shrink)

In de vorige jaargang van dit tijdschrift heb ik twee artikelen gepubliceerd over de wijsgerige theologie van de zogenaamde Utrechtse school. Daarop is gereageerd door respectievelijk M. Sarot, G. van den Brink en V. Brümmer. Er zijn drie punten waarop ik de discussie graag kort wil voortzetten: logische consistentie en conceptuele coherentie als norm voor het geloof, het verfijnde realisme, en de eigen aard van de theologie in vergelijking met het concrete geloven. In feite gaat het daarbij steeds om de (...) eigen aard van het geloof. Daarin ligt ook de reden ruimte te vragen voor deze reactie. Het lijkt mij van bijzonder belang voor de theologie dat het concrete geloven op de juiste manier wordt verstaan. Alleen dan kan de theologie dit geloof werkelijk dienen. Dat geldt tegenover het gevaar van versubjectivering van het geloof evenzeer als tegenover dat van verintellectualisering. (shrink)

Diese überarbeitete Dissertation eines Kunsthistorikers will sich vor allem den Schriftquellen für und gegen Engelsdarstellungen widmen, bezieht freilich auch Denkmäler mit ein. Dahinter steht die Einsicht, daß die gegen christliche Bilder vorgebrachten Argumente zwar insgesamt an der Unmöglichkeit eines Gottesbildes festgemacht sind, daß aber das Engelsbild die Probleme deutlicher zeigt. Konnte beim Gottesbild auf die Inkarnation Christi verwiesen werden, die ihn darstellbar macht , so versagten solche Argumente bei den Bildern von Engeln, die als geistig und körperlos geglaubt wurden. Freilich (...) gibt es hier Differenzierungen, auf die P. hinweist: Als geschaffene Wesen werden sie in ihrer Geistigkeit von der Gottes abgesetzt. Die Arbeit ist eher problemorientiert, als daß sie das Material systematisch erfaßte. Und manches ist nun freilich speziell auf Bilder von Engeln bezogen und auf deren Besonderheit zugeschnitten, was allgemein christliche Kunst betraf. (shrink)

In het boek Exodus, hoofdstuk 3, wordt verteld hoe God aan Mozes verschijnt in een brandende braambos. De HEER heeft het lijden van Israel in Egypte gezien en wil hen daaruit bevrijden. Daartoe wordt Mozes naar de farao gestuurd om tegen hem te zeggen dat hij Israel moet laten gaan. Met die boodschap moet Mozes eerst naar Israel zelf. Vandaar zijn vraag: wat zullen zij zeggen? Zullen zij mij geloven, als ik zeg dat ik gestuurd ben door de God van (...) hun vader, van Abraham, Isaak en Jakob? Zullen zij niet vragen: wie is die God? Hoe is zijn naam? In antwoord daarop spreekt God de bekende woorden: ‘Ik ben die Ik ben.’ Mozes moet tot de Israelieten zeggen: ‘Ik ben heeft mij tot u gezonden.’ En verder: ‘De HEER, de God van uw vaderen, de God van Abraham, de God van Isaak en de God van Jakob, heeft mij tot u gezonden. Dit is mijn naam voor eeuwig en zo wil Ik aangeroepen worden van geslacht tot geslacht.’. (shrink)