A naturalistic account of the strengths and limitations of cladistic practice is offered. The success of cladistics is claimed to be largely rooted in the parsimony-implementing congruence test. Cladists may use the congruence test to iteratively refine assessments of homology, and thereby increase the odds of reliable phylogenetic inference under parsimony. This explanation challenges alternative views which tend to ignore the effects of parsimony on the process of character individuation in systematics. In a related theme, the concept of homeostatic property (...) cluster natural kinds is used to explain why cladistics is well suited to provide a traditional, verbal reference system for the evolutionary properties of species and clades. The advantages of more explicitly probabilistic approaches to phylogenetic inference appear to manifest themselves in situations where evolutionary homeostasis has for the most part broken down, and predictive classifications are no longer possible. (shrink)

Keine ausführliche Beschreibung für "Die besonderen Wissenschaften" verfügbar.

Although peer review provides the primary mechamism for allocating research funds, very few people have undertaken any serious study of the issue. Most of the literature surrounding peer review comes from individuals who have experienced specific problems with the system. The one detail that does stand out is that though policy makers and researchers seem to view peer review as a specific process, no single form exists. In fact, almost agency and foundation has its own unique process. This presentation will (...) explore the concept of peer review and highlight its strengths and weaknesses. (shrink)

Commonsense reasoning often relies on the perception of similarity as well as dissimilarity between objects or situations.

Über medizinische Fragen hat sich Popper nur sehr wenig geäußert. Aber es liegt nahe, seine erkenntnis- und wissenschaftstheoretischen Grundprinzipien auf die Medizin und ihre Methodologie anzuwenden. Auch das Wissen in der Medizin ist zunächst in der Hauptsache nur Vermutungswissen, welches einer ständigen Verbesserung und Korrektur bedarf. Auch in der Medizin passieren Fehler. Die Fehler gilt es zu erkennen, zu analysieren und in Zukunft zu vermeiden. Arzt und Patient wollen Sicherheit – in der Diagnose und in der Therapie. Absolute Sicherheit kann (...) es aber nicht geben. Die kritische Fehleranalyse und die darauf beruhende Fehlerkorrektur helfen allerdings, den Sicherheitsgrad beständig zu steigern. Daraus ergeben sich auch entscheidende Konsequenzen für die medizinische Ethik. (shrink)

Not only does this book further our understanding of Rosenzweig's daunting work, The Star of Redemption -- a seemingly inexhaustible text -- but of Rosenzweig's ...