Книга обращена ко всем интересующимся современной философской проблематикой, методами и приемами мышления человека.

A new non-traditional quasi-classical description of the particle dynamics (QCDPD) is outlined. The “quasi-classical” attribute is suggested by the closeness—although not identity—to the description of a classical system, in the framework of classical dynamics. Founded on a suitable one-to-one mapping of the timelike 4-vectors of Minkowski's spacetime onto the real 4-dimension vector space, QCDPD is mathematically equivalent to the traditional description of special relativity. However, in QCDPD a new frequency fulfilling the same transformation law as the frequency of an oscillator (...) is employed. It turns out that the special-relativity particle is, in fact, modeled as an oscillator which is essentially classical. The associated wave is a natural consequence of such a model. (shrink)

The issue of energy and its potential localizability in general relativity has challenged physicists for more than a century. Many non-invariant measures were proposed over the years but an invariant measure was never found. We discovered the invariant localized energy measure by expanding the domain of investigation from space to spacetime. We note from relativity that the finiteness of the velocity of propagation of interactions necessarily induces indefiniteness in measurements. This is because the elements of actual physical systems being measured (...) as well as their detectors are characterized by entire four-velocity fields, which necessarily leads to information from a measured system being processed by the detector in a spread of time. General relativity adds additional indefiniteness because of the variation in proper time between elements. The uncertainty is encapsulated in a generalized uncertainty principle, in parallel with that of Heisenberg, which incorporates the localized contribution of gravity to energy. This naturally leads to a generalized uncertainty principle for momentum as well. These generalized forms and the gravitational contribution to localized energy would be expected to be of particular importance in the regimes of ultra-strong gravitational fields. We contrast our invariant spacetime energy measure with the standard 3-space energy measure which is familiar from special relativity, appreciating why general relativity demands a measure in spacetime as opposed to 3-space. We illustrate the misconceptions by certain authors of our approach. (shrink)

References to energy of the universe have focussed upon the matter contribution, whereas the conservation laws must include a gravitational contribution as well. The conservation laws as applied to FRW cosmologies suggest a zero total energy irrespective of the spatial curvature when the value of the cosmological constant is taken to be zero. This result provides a useful constraint on models of the early universe and lends support to currently studied theories of the universe arising as a quantum fluctuation of (...) the vacuum. (shrink)

A Buddhist philosopher on monotheism; text, translation with critical introduction of Nāgārjuna's Īśvarakartṛtva-nirākṛtiḥ-viṣṇoḥ-ekakartṛtva-nirākaraṇa.--History of materialism in India.--Theory of poetry in India.--Scientific achievements of ancient India.--Establishment of the existence of other minds; free translation of Dharmakīrti's Santānāntara-siddhi with Vinītadeva's Santānāntara-siddhi-ṭīkā.

The problem of energy and its localization in general relativity is critically re-examined. The Tolman energy integral for the Eddington spinning rod is analyzed in detail and evaluated apart from a single term. It is shown that a higher order iteration is required to find its value. Details of techniques to solve mathematically challenging problems of motion with powerful computing resources are provided. The next phase of following a system from static to dynamic to final quasi-static state is described.

Contemporary development goals of the Philippines, like those of many post-colonial states in the Third Word, strongly emphasize the need to catch up with the living standards of western industrialized countries. This article argues that following the western model of development through industrialization can only exacerbate existing socio-economic and ecological problems. The article contends that an historically appropriate and total development should aim for a reconstitution of natural, social, and moral ecologies. Drawing from historical sources, the first part of the (...) article examines the ecological consequences of Spanish colonization in order to provide the rationale for a definition of development as a reconstitution of damaged ecologies. The second part propose that the ethics of post-colonial development should be based on equality of access to life-sustaining resources and the transformation of values. The article conceptualizes ethics as a social discourse that defends human communities from further environmental and social degradation. (shrink)

Properly understood, the instrumental rule says to take means that actually suffice for my end, not, as is nearly universally assumed, to intend means that I believe are necessary for my end. This alternative explains everything the standard interpretation can—and more, including grounding certain correctness conditions for exercises of our will unexplained by the standard interpretation.

Gödel’s contention that closed timelike curves (CTC’s) are a necessary consequence of the Einstein equations for his metric is challenged. It is seen that the imposition of periodicity in a timelike coordinate is the actual source of CTC’s rather than the physics of general relativity. This conclusion is supported by the creation of Gödel-like CTC’s in flat space by the correct choice of coordinate system and identifications. Thus, the indications are that the notion of a time machine remains exclusively an (...) aspect of science fiction fantasy. The element of the identification of spacetime points is also seen to be the essential factor in the modern creation of CTC’s in the Gott model of moving cosmic strings. (shrink)

The Vioxx drug recall and other cases of withdrawals of approved pharmaceutical products as a result of reports of serious harm to users indicate that there are many problems associated with the process of getting these products to the end user the ordinary person in the street. The problems include those related to drug/medical device research and development, clinical trials, presentation and publication of research results, approval by regulatory authorities, preparation of clinical practice guidelines, marketing of products by commercial companies (...) and post-marketing surveillance. This article discusses threats to the integrity of each of these processes and argues that the steady stream of drug recalls indicates the existence of a systemic problem. It concludes with a discussion of possible solutions to these problems. (shrink)

Investigation of the factors in natural history which conditioned the appearance of consciousness, that specifically human form of mental activity, necessarily presumes, in particular, a study of its functional preconditions or, in other words, of the higher forms of animal activity involving objects and of the corresponding mental processes. It is not enough to know the general psychological qualities of animals, the general principles by which their behavior is shaped, principles and properties offering evidence of a type of vital activity (...) qualitatively different from that of man. The traits of psychology and behavior, characteristic of the preponderance of the animal world, could not have become the immediate functional foundation capable of providing the real opportunity for the onset of the shaping of new regularities of mental activity. (shrink)