Kagawa Tyohiko, who was a well known Christian leader and social reformer, is re-evaluated from the perspective of a public philosophy, and as an example of the possibilities for collaboration and conflict between science and the religious humanities in East Asia. His last book, Cosmic Purpose, which appears to be a kind of natural theology, is analyzed from the perspective of the hidden topic of human evil. By considering Kagawa's deep religious sensibility and conscience, the book can be interpreted to (...) reflect on the wrong directionality selected by modern Japan's leaders that resulted in the tragic war. (shrink)

Thomas Hardy's The Mayor of Casterbridge attracts the attention of ethnologists who are interested by the symbolical analysis of kingship. Although this book does not deal with the theme of kingship as such, it overlaps it on a mythical level. It is a novel about the rise and fall of a man, Henchard, whose initial act is to sell his wife and daughter; in order to commit this act he deviates from the context of the human norm by way of (...) drunkenness. He then enjoys great success as a corn merchant and becomes mayor of the town. Twenty years after this the graph of his destiny starts to fall with the arrival of a young man named Farfrae, who eventually ousts Henchard from his business as well as from his political position, and who goes to the length of taking over not only Henchard's mistress, Lucetta, but also his daughter, Elizabeth-Jane. (shrink)

In this paper I consider how the computer can or should be accepted in Japanese schools. The concept of “teaching” in Japan stresses learning from a long-term perspective. Whereas in the instructional technology, on which the CAI or the Tutoring System depends, step-by-step attainments in relatively short time are emphasized. The former is reluctant in using the computer, but both share the “Platonic” perspective which are goal-oriented. However, The “Socratic” teacher, who intends to activate students' innate disposition to be better, (...) would find another way of “teaching” and use of the computer. (shrink)

We consider a spatial bargaining model where players collectively choose a facility location on a two-dimensional rectilinear distance space through bargaining using the unanimity rule. We show that as players become infinitely patient, their stationary subgame perfect equilibrium utilities converge to the utilities that satisfy the lexicographic maximin utility criterion introduced by Sen.

Philosophical Theology and East-West Dialogue is a unique philosophical and theological analysis of certain key interactions between Eastern and Western thinkers. The book on the one hand contrasts general traits of Eastern, Buddhist thought and Western, Greek thought. However, in doing so it focuses on influential philosophers and theologians who manifest particular instances of wider issues. The result is a careful examination of basic questions that offers both broad implications and concrete specificity in its approach. The book itself is an (...) instance of East-West dialogue. Independently of each other both authors had previously engaged in serious cross-cultural studies. The Japanese Inagaki had researched Western science and philosophy, then written in Japanese comparative studies of Japanese thought. The North American Jennings had researched Japanese theology. They brought these backgrounds together, dialoguing with each other until the present study emerged. Several creative Japanese thinkers, as well as important Westerners, are taken up. The study follows the lead of many Eastern impulses, but it also critically utilizes Western methods. Contemporary thinking on religious plurality is carefully examined. This new study is a must for those interested in philosophy and theology in general, and East-West interaction in particular. (shrink)

An energy efficiency scenario (Joint Institute for a Sustainable Energy and Environmental Future) demonstrates that an energy future built on the use of cost-effective, high-efficiency technologies is clearly within the grasp of South Korea and would justify a nuclear power moratorium with significantly lower carbon dioxide emissions. This is a promising result, especially because applications of other sustainable energy options, such as renewables, decentralized technologies, material recycling/reuse, ecologically based land use planning, forest conservation, sustainable agriculture, and redirection of economic development (...) toward an environment-friendly industrial base, are not included in the analysis. Here lies one of the most fundamental policy choices of the newcentury: Will we build a sustainable energy and environmental future, or will we send forward the burdens and risks of a policy regime that is unwilling to value the future beyond the satisfaction of short-term interests and convenience? It is a critical time for South Korean policy making. (shrink)

The causes of prehistoric inter-group violence have been a subject of long-standing debate in archaeology, an- thropology, and other disciplines. Although population pressure has been considered as a major factor, due to the lack of available prehistoric data, few studies have directly examined its effect so far. In the present study, we used data on skeletal remains from the middle Yayoi period of the Japanese archipelago, where archaeologists argued that an increase of inter-group violence in this period could be explained (...) by a population-pressure hy- pothesis. We quantitatively examine the effect of population pressure on the frequency of inter-group violence by compiling an exhaustive data set. We collected demographic information based on burial jars (kamekan) and the frequency of violence based on the ratio of injured individuals. The results are consistent with the hypothesis, i. e., high population density can promote inter-group violence. (shrink)

國分功一郎、千葉雅也、伊藤亜紗...「J哲学」の旗手たちは、いま何を問い、どこを目指しているのか? 最前線への最適な入門書。.

Das Problem der Intersubjektivitiit Intersubjektivität ist Husserl schon seit der Darstellung der Ideen I in Zusammenhang mit dem Problem der phiinomenologischen phänomenologischen Reduk tion sehr stark bewusst und wird, wie die neue VerOffentlichung Veröffentlichung 'Zur Phänome Phiinome nologie der Intersubjektivität'l Intersubjektivitiit'l ausdrücklich ausdrucklich zeigt, zeit seines Lebens in seinem Denken mit mehr oder weniger Intensitiit Intensität behandelt. Bekanntlich hat Husserl Hussed die Einfühlungslehre EinfUhlungslehre in seinem spiiten späten Versuch mit der 'Selbstobjektivation' 'Selbstobjektivation',, 'Selbstauslegung' des absoluten, anonymen, transzen 2 dentalen ego (...) erkliirt. erklärt. Gerade auf diesen Punkt konzentriert sich zutreffende Kritik und zeigt die Unvermeidbarkeit des transzendentalen Solipsismus; was als Grund für fUr echte echte Intersubjektivitiit Intersubjektivität gesucht gesucht wird, wird, niimlich nämlich die die Gleichursprunglich Gleichursprünglich keit keit von von Subjekten, Subjekten, fUhrt führt schliesslich schliesslich auf auf den den Weg der Radikalisierung der trans zendentalen Reduktion und der Erklärung Erkliirung mit der immanenten Zeitigung des transzendentalen ego in die 'einseitige Verlagerung des Gewichts auf ein konsti tuierendes Ur-Ich, dem kein ebenso ursprungliches ursprüngliches Du gegenübersteht, gegeniibersteht,...'3. (shrink)

The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study found that even though children from all East Asian countries outperformed American children, American students reported higher self-evaluation of their math and science abilities than did students from East Asian countries such as China, Korea, and Japan (Mullis, Martin, Gonzalez, & Chrostowski, 2004). Such cross-cultural differences in self-appraisal fit the stereotype of the modest East Asian and contribute to the received view that East Asians have less positive self-concepts than Americans. This view (...) was summarized recently by Heine, Lehman, Markus, and Kitayama (1999) as follows: ‘‘The need for positive self-regard, as it is currently conceptualized, is not a universal, but rather is rooted in significant aspects of North American culture’’ (p. 766; but cf. Sedikides, Gaertner, & Vevea. (shrink)

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) biosynthetic pathway, mediated by nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT), a key NAD+ biosynthetic enzyme, plays a pivotal role in controlling many biological processes, such as metabolism, circadian rhythm, inflammation, and aging. Over the past decade, NAMPT‐mediated NAD+ biosynthesis, together with its key downstream mediator, namely the NAD+‐dependent protein deacetylase SIRT1, has been demonstrated to regulate glucose and lipid metabolism in a tissue‐dependent manner. These discoveries have provided novel mechanistic and therapeutic insights into obesity and its metabolic complications, such (...) as insulin resistance, an important risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This review will focus on the importance of adipose tissue NAMPT‐mediated NAD+ biosynthesis and SIRT1 in the pathophysiology of obesity and insulin resistance. We will also critically explore translational and clinical aspects of adipose tissue NAD+ biology. (shrink)

The theory of the appearance of the Absolute is the last theme of Fichte’s Science of Knowledge. Since he lectured the theory of appearance with that of truth in his Systemconcept of the Transcendentalphilosophy in 1804, he said that the Absolute exists, and that the Absolute appears. In the lecture in 1812, he explains the necessity of appearance, criticizing Spinoza’s Monismus. It is denied by the fact that a concept exists outside the only one substance, while the latter is thought (...) about. There is a Nonabsolute outside the Absolute. Fichte names it ›appearance‹, which is synonym with ›image‹ and ›scheme‹ of the Absolute. The appearance has a life to appear to itself. Because it is a concept and knowledge of the Absolute, it knows itself as such. Between two appearances is a difference, through which the manifold springs. The earlier question against Schelling’s philosophy of identity, how the finite can be deduced from the infinite or the Absolute, is solved here. Fichte calls the self-appearance of the appearance ›Seeing‹ and ›reflection‹. Also the ego as subject-object is born in it. The task of Science of Knowledge is to analyze it, through which the appearance appears to itself not only as appearing to itself, but also as appearing to itself as appearing to itself. Fichte calls this the formula of Science of Knowledge. In the appearance is a reflexibility, whose ground is the visibility of the Absolute, the absolute evidence or the light. Even the image-making act of ego is in fact that of the Absolute. The Absolute intuits itself. Ego, as a representant of it, should stand under the law of the Absolute and devote its freedom and will to this. Standing upon the will to obey the law Science of Knowledge can gain the total scope of knowledge and open the way to God and the morality.Die Lehre der Erscheinung des Absoluten ist der letzte Schritt der Entwicklung der Wissenschaftslehre bei Fichte. Nachdem er in seinem Systementwurf von 1804 die Erscheinungslehre neben die Wahrheitslehre gestellt hat, äußerte Fichte, »Das Absolute existiert« und »Das Absolute erscheint«. Im Vortrag von 1812 erklärt er die Notwendigkeit der Erscheinung des Absoluten in der Auseinandersetzung mit Spinozas Monismus. Dieser sei schon widerlegt, weil das Denken der Substanz als das Sein außerhalb derselben ist. Dies Nicht-Absolute heißt ›Erscheinung‹, welche als Bild oder Schema des Absoluten genommen wird. Die Erscheinung hat das Leben, sich selbst zu erscheinen. Da sie der Begriff oder das Wissen vom Absoluten ist, weiß sie zugleich sich selbst als solches. Zwischen zwei Erscheinungen ist eine Disjunktion, womit das Entspringen des Mannigfaltigen erklärt wird. Die früher gegen Schellings Identitätsphilosophie gerichtete Frage, wie aus dem Absoluten das Endliche abgeleitet werden könne, wird hier aufgelöst. Das Sicherscheinen der Erscheinung nennt Fichte ›Sehen‹ und ›Reflexion‹, und sieht die Aufgabe der Wissenschaftslehre in dessen Analyse. Dabei gehört diese selbst der Erscheinung an. In ihr erscheint die Erscheinung sich selbst als sich selbst erscheinend. Außerdem erscheint sie sich selbst als sich selbst erscheinend als sich selbst erscheinend, welches die Formel der Wissenschaftslehre ist. In ihr liegt die Reflexibilität, wodurch eben das Ich als Subjekt-Objekt entsteht. Dahinter aber ist die Sichtbarkeit des Absoluten, die absolute Evidenz oder das Licht. Die Bildungskraft des Ich ist in Wahrheit die des Absoluten. Das Absolute selbst schaut sich selbst an, und das Ich ist bloß sein Repräsentant. Es soll unter dem Gesetz des Absoluten stehen und seine Freiheit und den Willen diesem übertragen. Die Wissenschaftslehre macht den ganzen Umkreis des Wissens klar und öffnet den Weg zu Gott und zur Sittlichkeit, indem sie auf dem Willen als ihrem Standpunkt steht. (shrink)

30th Nov. and 1st Dec. 2013 at Kyoto University. Organizer: Takeshi Sakon.

In kants kritik der reinen vernunft ist die urteilskraft ein vermogen, das besondere unter das allgemeine zu subsumieren. unter dieser bestimmenden urteilskraft wird die spontaneitat der einbildungskraft, die auf der subjektsseite von der urteilsform wirkt, durch die verstandesbegriffe, die die pradikatsseite ausmachen, beschrankt. trotzdem realisiert die einbildungskraft die verstandesbegriffe durch die produkzion der schemata. also muss die eigentliche spontaneitat der einbildungskraft darin bestehen, das intellektuelle ddrzustellen und zu realisieren. in kants kritik der urteilskraft ist die urteilskraft die reflektierende, zum besonderen (...) das allgemeine zu finden. unter dieser urteilskraft wird die einbildungskraft von den verstandesbegriffe (d.i. von der pradikatsseite) befreit. diese freie einbildungskraft erreicht das ubersinnliche substrat, das der natur und unserer vernunft zum grund liegt, und stellt es vermittelst der form und unform der natur dar. also ist das schone die darstellung der idee des ubersinnlichen in der begrenzten form der natur durch diese kraft. aber diese darstellung ist indirekt. (edited). (shrink)

The present study investigated the influence of emotional stimuli in the flanker task. In six experiments, separate influences of anticipating and reacting to valence-laden stimuli (affective pictures or facial expressions) on the flanker effect and its sequential modulation (also known as conflict adaptation) were examined. The results showed that there was little evidence that emotional stimuli influenced cognitive control when positive and negative stimuli appeared randomly during the flanker task. When positive and negative stimuli were separated between different participant groups (...) in order to exclude a possible contamination from the effect of one valence to that of another, the sequential modulation was reduced when valence-laden stimuli were anticipated or had been presented on a preceding trial, regardless of the valence of the stimuli. A similar pattern was also obtained with facial expressions but only for response accuracy and only after valence-laden stimuli were presented on a preceding trial. The influences of anticipating and reacting to emotional stimuli were only partially replicated in the final two experiments where the arousal and valence of affective pictures were manipulated orthogonally. The lack of consistent influences of emotional stimuli on the flanker effect challenges the existing theories that implicate affective contributions to cognitive control. (shrink)

Im vorliegenden Buch wird das Verhaltnis zwischen den Problematiken der Zeit und des Anderen durchdacht. Die Genese der Zeit wird inhaltlich hinsichtlich der Entwicklung der drei Schichten des Werdeprozesses des Subjekts untersucht. Die erste Schicht wird als die ursprungliche, vor-ichliche Zeitigung durch die Triebintentionalitat zwischen dem Kleinkind und den Eltern angesehen. In der zweiten Schicht wird der Ursprung der messbaren, objektiven Zeitlichkeit und Raumlichkeit durch das Auftreten der aktiven Synthesen des Wahrnehmens, des Sprechens, des Urteilens, des Rechnens usw. intersubjektiv grundgelegt. (...) Dadurch wird die Integration der neurowissenschaftlichen Untersuchung des Bewusstseins durch B. Libet oder jener Spiegelneuronen durch G. Rizzolatti in die genetische Phanomenologie Husserls begrundet. Die dritte Schicht bezieht sich auf den Ursprung der Zeit aus dem Du der Ich-Du-Beziehung beim Erwachsenen. Dabei werden die Ich-Du-Beziehung und die selbstlose, nicht-ichliche Zuwendung zur Welt im Buddhismus in den folgenden Fragestellungen der genetischen Phanomenologie weiter vertieft: zum einen die Frage nach der Entstehung der einzelnen Empfindungsfelder aus der Ursynasthese, zum anderen die nach der Entstehung der Ethik aus dem vorsprachlichen und ubersprachlichen Schweigen der selbstlosen Zuwendung zur Welt. (shrink)

As a follow-up to the Common Knowledge symposium “Apology for Quietism” (15:1 to 16:3), this guest column asks what it means to say nothing. Strictly speaking, to “say nothing” is a contradiction in terms (unless, of course, one says “Nothing,” which is another thing entirely and generally not nothing). This essay explores what it means to say nothing in Tove Jansson's novella Fair Play (first published in Finland Swedish as Rent spel, 1989), an episodic account of the intertwined lives of (...) two elderly artists. Through its careful staging of saying nothing, the text calls attention to the many vital functions that silence serves: exposing tacit expectations, opening up creative and psychological space, enabling otherwise impossible relations. Bringing forth the diversity, complexity, and mystery behind hesitation and reticence, Jansson's novella emerges here as a quiet celebration of conversational practices associated with weakness, redefining the genre of the “love story” along the way. (shrink)

科学的予測なるものの圧力が増大するなかで。先端バイオテクノロジーやDNA型鑑定への期待、災害予測、感染症シミュレーション、地震予測、放射線被ばくのリスク予測、そして政策や経済での活用まで、予測と社会の 複雑かつ多面的な関係性を考察する。.

ABSTRACTThe present study examined the effect of stimulus valence on two levels of selection in the cognitive system, selection of a task-set and selection of a response. In the first experiment, participants performed a spatial compatibility task in which stimulus-response mappings were determined by stimulus valence. There was a standard spatial stimulus-response compatibility effect for positive stimuli and a reversed SRC effect for negative stimuli, but the same data could be interpreted as showing faster responses when positive and negative stimuli (...) were assigned to compatible and incompatible mappings, respectively, than when the assignment was opposite. Experiment 2 disentangled these interpretations, showing that valence did not influence a spatial SRC effect when task-set retrieval was unnecessary. Experiments 3 and 4 replaced keypress responses with joystick deflections that afforded appr... (shrink)

The controversies over genetically modified crops in India involve what Gieryn refers to as ‘boundary work’ in the ongoing competition for credibility and trustworthiness among claimsmakers with opposing points of view. Discourse about GM crops involves extensive drawing of boundaries by actors including policymakers, technocrats, NGOs, scientists, industrialists, and farmers. The issues raised range from governmental processes to moral and ethical implications, from environmental consequences to integration into the global economy. Those involved in these discussions frequently invoke the idealized notions (...) of farmers and farming in order to situate themselves within the boundary of a particular social category which may lend credibility to their claims. While Gieryn has focused primarily on scientists’ attempts to construct a boundary between science and non-science in order to establish themselves as experts, strengthen the credibility of their claims and avoid political interference in their intellectual activities, this article focuses on a different way in which knowledgeable and influential actors lay claim to trustworthiness by drawing a different kind of social boundary around themselves. This article will especially focus on the ways in which the category of farmers is used in the GM crop controversies by actors who are in a position to influence public policies regarding GM crops, especially in their efforts to justify their policy prescriptions. The thesis here is that GM crop controversies in India reflect elite actors’ attempts to compete for a shared social identity with farmers, thus constructing a context for the particular public policy prescriptions they support. The thesis is supported by a lexical item frequency analysis of discussion related to genetically modified cotton in India which demonstrates that boundary work using social identity of farmers plays a significant role in shaping the discourse surrounding the adoption and governance of GM crops. (shrink)