The aim of this essay is to ask whether what it calls the "presence" of things, including things of the past, can be rendered in language, including the language of historians. In Part I the essay adumbrates what it means by presence . It also proposes two ideal types: meaning-cultures , and presence-cultures . In the modern period, linguistic utterance has typically come to be used for, and to be interpreted as, the way by which meaning rather than presence is (...) expressed, thereby creating a gap between language and presence. Thus, in Part II the essay explores ways that this gap might be bridged, examining seven instances in which presence can be "amalgamated" with language. These range from instances in which the physical dimensions of language itself are made manifest, to those through which the physicality of the things to which language refers is supposed to be made evident. Of particular note for theorists of history are those instances in which things can be made present by employing the deictic, poetic, and incantatory potential of linguistic expression. The essay concludes in Part III with a reflection on Heidegger's idea that language is the "house of being," now interpreted as the idea that language can be the medium through which the separation of humans and the things of their environment may be overcome. The hope of achieving presence in language is no less than a reconciliation of humans with their world, including—and of most interest to historians—the things and events of their past. (shrink)

In recent years the mushrooming power, functionality and ubiquity of computers and the Internet have outstripped early forecasts about technology's rate of advancement and usefulness in everyday life. Alert pundits now foresee a world saturated with powerful computer chips, which will increasingly insinuate themselves into our gadgets, dwellings, apparel and even our bodies.

Because of their elementary significance in almost all fields of science, measures of association between two variables or traits are abundant and multiform. One aspect of association that is of considerable interest, especially in population genetics and ecology, seems to be widely ignored. This aspect concerns association between complex traits that show variable and arbitrarily defined state differences. Among such traits are genetic characters controlled by many and potentially polyploid loci, species characteristics, and environmental variables, all of which may be (...) mutually and asymmetrically associated. A concept of directed association of one trait with another is developed here that relies solely on difference measures between the states of a trait. Associations are considered at three levels: between individual states of two variables, between an individual state of one variable and the totality of the other variable, and between two variables. Relations to known concepts of association are identified. In particular, measures at the latter two levels turn out to be interpretable as measures of differentiation. Examples are given for areas of application (search for functional relationships, distribution of variation over populations, genomic associations, spatiogenetic structure). (shrink)

The author discusses Niklas Luhmann's concept of ethics and morals. Therefore he sketches the main traits of Luhmann's theory of systems (e.g. the terms autopoiesis, system and environment, code and programme). From the system-theoretical point of view, ethics are characterized as the reflexive theory of morals. Morals are described as the communication of regard or disregard. The author shows which consequences follow from this concept by discussing problems concerning several subsystems at the same time. The problems of Luhmann's theory of (...) morals and ethics are demonstrated by analyzing the concepts of risk and responsibility. Finally, the author demands that ethics should be understood even more as social ethics which reflect upon their social foundation in a more consequent way. (shrink)

Social Justice, Health Inequities, and Access to New Age-Related Interventions Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 281-295 DOI 10.1007/s12376-009-0027-3 Authors Hans-Jörg Ehni, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Baden-Württemberg Germany Georg Marckmann, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Baden-Württemberg Germany Journal Medicine Studies Online ISSN 1876-4541 Print ISSN 1876-4533 Journal Volume Volume 1 Journal Issue Volume 1, Number 3.

I. Über den Stil des Poems des Matthaios und seinen Inhalt Wir sind nicht die ersten, die sich mit dem Poem des „minderwertigen Priesters Matthaios“ über die Stadt Theodoro beschäftigen. Silvio Mercati gab es bereits im Jahr 1927 heraus, nachdem er zunächst die in ihm beschriebene Stadt fälschlich mit Theodosia (Kaffa) identifiziert hatte, den Fehler aber schon in einer Zusatzbemerkung im selben Band der „Studi bizantini“ verbesserte, in welchem er das Poem publizierte. Mercati unterzog das Gedicht einer strengen literarhistorischen Kritik. (...) Doch seine Bewertung erweist sich nicht in jedem Punkt als stichhaltig, wenn er behauptet: „das vorgegebene Thema ist abgesehen vom Wunder die Klage und die Zerknirschung“. Eine Begeisterung des Autors für das, was er mit Sinnen wahrnimmt, ist durchaus zu verspüren. Er hat eine positive Einstellung zu dem, was er sieht, und stellt es in den Rahmen der göttlichen Schöpfung. Klage und Lobpreis der mönchischen Lebensweise treten dabei in den Hintergrund. Der Dichter schöpft diese Themen nicht aus. Nachdem er am Schluss des Poems der Eitelkeit des Lebens im Sinne des Predigers Salomo vier Verse (143–146) gewidmet hat, kehrt er zur Verherrlichung des Schöpfers zurück und beendet seine Unterweisung mit christlicher Tröstung durch die Liebe ( Vers 147–150). (shrink)

PurposeThe demand for learning is constantly increasing in transcultural knowledge societies. This paper aims to consider the impact of learning concepts, as developed by Danish libraries, and the way they relate to mutual recognition and social inclusion of ethnic minority groups.Design/methodology/approachConducting research on open social spaces as libraries and learning labs in libraries implies a multiple research design along with a differentiated analytical framework.FindingsLibraries in multicultural districts will be able to contribute to the fulfilment of integration purposes more effectively if (...) they cease to be bound to the concept of information. In transformative and cross‐cultural learning contexts, the concept of knowledge should be employed.Practical implicationsStudying activities in libraries still need to be delimited from learning in schools. Enhancing multicultural learning with focus on learning styles, which permits a mutual reflection of significant symbol systems, will be desirable.Originality/valueThe paper shows, in the context of this study, knowledge emerged from the interaction of social and cultural capital. (shrink)

O debate atual em tomo da luta pelo direito de cidadania pouco dá-se conta da lógica abstraidora que caracteriza o sistema do Direito liberal, ao qual se integra. Usando como meio de inclusão social das camadas desfavorecidas, esta luta vê-se encadeada aos trilhos do procedimento legal. Ainda que possibilite avanços no que tange ao reconhecimento de novas demandas sociais, não consegue garantir sua concretização material. É na complementaridade entre a luta pelo direito de cidadania e aquela dos movimentos sociais que, (...) na sociedade liberal, revelasse a insuficiência dos procedimentos meramente legais. (shrink)

Zusammenfassung In ihrem Bestreben, die Funktionsweise totalitärer Systeme zu verstehen, insbesondere, die von Nazi-Deutschland begangenen Verbrechen zu begreifen, spricht Hannah Arendt von der Banalität des Bösen. Dabei geht sie über Kants Auffassung des radikal Bösen hinaus, ohne dessen moralische Bedeutung zu verwerfen, um angesichts der Erschütterung des traditionellen Verständnisses von Humanität durch den Eichmann-Prozess den Begriff der persönlichen Verantwortung zu retten. Insofern sie sich an der antiken griechischen Philosophie von Sokrates und Platon sowie an den Quellen des Judentums orientiert, wird (...) in Umrissen eine konzeptuelle Nähe zu Hermann Cohen sichtbar. Der dialogische und dialektische Charakter des Denkens, auf dem Arendts Widerstand gegen den Totalitarismus beruht, ist in Cohens Philosophie, die Arendt kaum wird gelesen haben, vorgeformt. Das von Cohen in seiner Auseinandersetzung mit Kant für Arendt herausgearbeitete radikal Gute lässt sich jedoch nur durch zwei regulativen Prinzipien annäherungsweise bestimmen: durch das Sokratische Prinzip des inneren Selbstgesprächs und den auf die moralische Sphäre angewandten Urteilsbegriff Kants. (shrink)

La publication des Carnets de Carnap et de sa correspondance avec Neurath nous donne de nouveaux aperçus sur l’histoire de la collaboration et de l’amitié entre les deux hommes, qui fut mise à rude épreuve au cours des cinq dernières années. L’article aborde surtout les points qui n’ont reçu jusqu’à présent aucune attention, ou du moins peu d’attention : d’une part, la question de savoir quand et comment ils sont entrés en contact et, d’autre part, comment leurs relations ont évolué (...) après leur dernière rencontre, au cinquième Congrès international pour l’unité de la science, qui s’est tenu à Harvard en septembre 1939, immédiatement après le déclenchement de la seconde guerre mondiale. (shrink)

Persönlichkeit, Glück, Schicksal.--Vorurteile gegen die Weltanschauung von Leibniz.--Der Realismus und die Idee.--Die Wiedergeburt der Ontologie.--Zur wesentlichen Freiheit.--Die Willensfreiheit als Gabe und Aufgabe.--Zur Logik der Gemeinschaft.--Über die Einheit und die Immanenz des Ganzen.--Die Idee der Wissenschaft im Wandel der Jahrhunderte.--Die Sachlichkeit als Kultur-problem.--Über den Sinn des kategorischen Imperativs.