In this paper, we explore the extent to which issues of simulation model validation take on novel characteristics when the models in question become particularly complex. Our central claim is that complex simulation models in general, and global models of climate in particular, face a form of confirmation holism. This holism, moreover, makes analytic understanding of complex models of climate either extremely difficult or even impossible. We argue that this supports a position we call convergence skepticism: the belief that the (...) existence of a plurality of different models making a plurality of different forecasts of future climate is likely to be a persistent feature of global climate science. (shrink)

In this article, we discuss recent evidence from experimental economics on the impact of social preferences on workplace behavior. We focus on situations in which a single employer interacts with multiple employees. Traditionally, equity and efficiency have been seen as opposing aims in such work environments: individual pay-for-performance wage schemes maximize of efficiency but might lead to inequitable outcomes. We present findings from laboratory experiments that show under which circumstances partially incomplete contracts can create equitable work environments while at the (...) same time reaching surprisingly efficient outcomes. (shrink)

Can time exist independently of consciousness? In antiquity this question was often framed as an enquiry into the relationship of time and soul. Aristotle cautiously suggested that time could not exist without a soul that is counting it. This proposal was controversially debated among his commentators. The present book offers an account of this debate beginning from Aristotle’s own statement of the problem in Book IV of the Physics. Subsequent chapters discuss Aristotle’s Peripatetic followers, Boethus of Sidon and Alexander of (...) Aphrodisias; his Neoplatonic readers, Plotinus and Simplicius; and early Christian authors, Gregory of Nyssa and Augustine. At the centre of the debate stood the relation between the subjective time in the soul and the objective time of the cosmos. Both could be seen as united in the world soul as the seat of subjective time on a cosmic scale. But no solution to the problem was final. No theory gained general acceptance. The book shows the fascinating variety and plurality of ideas about time and soul throughout antiquity. Throughout antiquity, the problem of time and soul remained as intriguing as it proved intractable. (shrink)

Recent activities in virtually all fields engaged in consciousness studies indicate early signs of a structural turn, where verbal descriptions or simple formalisations of conscious experiences are replaced by structural tools, most notably mathematical spaces. My goal here is to offer three comments that, in my opinion, are essential to avoid misunderstandings in these developments early on. These comments concern metaphysical premises of structural approaches, the viability of structure-preserving mappings, and the question of what a structure of conscious experience is (...) in the first place. I will also explain what, in my opinion, are the great promises of structural methodologies and how they might impact consciousness science at large. (shrink)

Thoughts may have a subject — they may concern a certain topic —without having an object in the sense of being directed upon a referent. It is argued that, once this distinction is acknowledged, a third position between Meinong and Russell can be established. There will then be objectless thoughts which need not be false in view of the non-existence of their purported referents. But there will also be object-dependent thoughts which have their referents necessarily. Neither logically proper names nor (...) non-existing objects need to be introduced if we allow for cases when we are mistaken about what kind of thoughts we are considering. This result is achieved via an analysis of fictional names and a free logic which includes a nonpredicating use of general terms in sentences imitating the logical form of predications. (shrink)

The edition presents the recently discovered diaries of Jena Church Historian Karl von Hase's research seminar. Between 1850 and 1883, the reading lists and research agenda of this institution as well as the participants' discussions of current issues in dogmatics and church policy were accurately recorded. The papers enable us to trace in detail how Hase transmitted his liberal views on theology, culture, and politics to students preparing for subsequent academic or ecclesiastical careers. As a result, the historian of higher (...) education can see that in the case of academic theology, the modern seminar went beyond the tasks of methodical historicist research to shape the minds of future academic elites through a close personal relationship with a teacher. (shrink)

Aim of the lectures -- Early Brahmanical literature -- Panini's grammar -- A passage from the Chandogya Upanisad -- The structures of languages -- The Buddhist contribution -- Vaisesika and language -- Verbal knowledge -- The contradictions of Nagarjuna -- The reactions of other thinkers -- Sarvastivada Samkhya -- The Agamasastra of Gaudapada -- Sankara -- Kashmiri Saivism -- Jainism -- Early Vaisesika -- Critiques of the existence of a thing before its arising -- Nyaya -- Mimamsa -- The Abhidharmakosa (...) bhasya of Vasubandhu -- The Abhidharmasamuccaya of Asanga and its bhasya -- Bhartrhari -- The problem of negation -- Dignaga and verbal knowledge -- The Bodhisattvabhumi -- Prajnakaragupta -- Indian thinkers and the correspondence principle -- Appendix. The Mahaprajnaparamitasastra and the Samkhya tanmatras. (shrink)

Thoughts may have a subject — they may concern a certain topic —without having an object in the sense of being directed upon a referent. It is argued that, once this distinction is acknowledged, a third position between Meinong and Russell can be established. There will then be objectless thoughts which need not be false in view of the non-existence of their purported referents. But there will also be object-dependent thoughts which have their referents necessarily. Neither logically proper names nor (...) non-existing objects need to be introduced if we allow for cases when we are mistaken about what kind of thoughts we are considering. This result is achieved via an analysis of fictional names and a free logic which includes a nonpredicating use of general terms in sentences imitating the logical form of predications. (shrink)

Grazer Philosophische Studien is a peer reviewed journal that publishes articles on philosophical problems in every area, especially articles related to the analytic tradition.

This article shows in detail that the widely held view according to which the Sarvadarśanasaṃgraha has a hierarchical structure is mistaken. It further argues that at least some parts of the texts were independent essays before being incorporated into the Sarvadarśanasaṃgraha.

A collection of letters portraying the life and times of this great medieval scholar, the devoted secretary of Archbishop Theobald, and the faithful friend and counsellor of Becket. Volume 1 of his correspondence, 'The Early Letters,' long out of print, is available on microfiche.

We prove completeness of preferential conditional logic with respect to convexity over finite sets of points in the Euclidean plane. A conditional is defined to be true in a finite set of points if all extreme points of the set interpreting the antecedent satisfy the consequent. Equivalently, a conditional is true if the antecedent is contained in the convex hull of the points that satisfy both the antecedent and consequent. Our result is then that every consistent formula without nested conditionals (...) is satisfiable in a model based on a finite set of points in the plane. The proof relies on a result by Richter and Rogers showing that every finite abstract convex geometry can be represented by convex polygons in the plane. (shrink)

The various aspects of temporal reality and the cosmos in its entirety do not exist independently, but point toward their origin. Consequently, the philosophy which desires to fulfil its task completely must be directive in character and point toward God, the final end and origin of creation. Real philosophy is Christian philosophy; all things are from Him and through Him. This movement is sometimes misunderstood. It is wrongly thought that I am contending that this system of Christian philosophy is the (...) only possible approach open to Christian philosophers. I would like to take this opportunity to remove this misunderstanding. This approach to Christian philosophy is only a first attempt to construct a philosophy which is in keeping with Christianity. - Author. (shrink)

Anhand einer klinischen Vignette wird ausgeführt, dass das psychoanalytische Geschehen sich in mehreren Dimensionen entfaltet. Drei solcher Dimensionen – als Bedeutung (Erkenntnis), Berührung (Kontakt) und Bewegung (Ereignis) bezeichnet – werden beschrieben und deren dimensionale Charakteristik auf die Sinnesqualitäten des Sehens, des Berührungssinnes und des Hörens bezogen. Es wird gezeigt, dass sie Raum und Zeit auf je eigene Weise konstituieren und somit einander inkommensurable, durch keine logische oder dialektische Operation in eine Einheit überführbare Aprioritäten darstellen. Mit deren Unvereinbarkeit ist auch auf (...) Grenzen theoretisch-begrifflicher Bemächtigung verwiesen, womit die Frage nach der Reichweite metapsychologischer Begriffe, etwa des Begriffs des Unbewussten, aufgeworfen ist. Von hier aus wird in einem Ausblick nach der Begegnung als organisierendem Phantasma der analytischen Situation gefragt und – auf dem Weg einer Erörterung des Begegnungsbegriffs bei Martin Buber – versucht, Begegnung dimensional näher zu bestimmen. (shrink)

RNAs have emerged as a major target for diagnostics and therapeutics approaches. Regulatory nonprotein‐coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in particular display remarkable versatility. They can fold into complex structures and interact with proteins, DNA, and other RNAs, thus modulating activity, localization, or interactome of multi‐protein complexes. Thus, ncRNAs confer regulatory plasticity and represent a new layer of regulatory control. Interestingly, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) tend to acquire complex secondary and tertiary structures and their function—in many cases—is dependent on structural conservation rather than (...) primary sequence conservation.Whereas for many proteins, structure and its associated function are closely connected, for lncRNAs, the structural domains that determine functionality and its interactome are still not well understood. Numerous approaches for analyzing the structural configuration of lncRNAs have been developed recently. Here, will provide an overview of major experimental approaches used in the field, and discuss the potential benefit of using combinatorial strategies to analyze lncRNA modes of action based on structural information. (shrink)

Excerpt from Die Philosophie des Petrus Lombardus und Ihre Stellung im Zwolften Jahrhundert Dreifache Bedeutung des Begriffes: Natur heien 1. Die substantia prima, 2. Die regelmaige Wirkungsweise der Dinge, 3. Die ethischen Grundsatze in unserem Innern; historische Beurteilung dieser Verver tung des Begriffes. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, (...) preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works. (shrink)

Die Forderung des Deutschen Konstruktivismus nach „Begründung der Wissenschaft“ ist weiten Kreisen geläufig; was mit dieser Forderung bezweckt, inwieweit sie gerechtfertigt und auf welche Weise sie gegebenenfalls zu erfüllen ist, scheint dagegen außerhalb des konstruktivistischen Lagers weniger klar. Im vorliegenden Beitrag soll versucht werden, unter weitgehendem Verzicht auf formale Details ein wesentliches Lehrstück des obigen Programms zu erläutern, nämlich die „Begründung von Logik“. Dazu möchte ich zunächst klären, was sich in diesem Zusammenhang unter „Begründung“ verstehen läßt. Ferner werde ich skizzieren, (...) wie Anfangsstücke der Logik gegenwärtig außerhalb des Konstruktivismus betrieben werden, und inwiefern es hierbei zu „Begründungsdefiziten“ kommen könnte. Schließlich soll ein Überblick gegeben werden, wie sich der Deutsche Konstruktivismus Lösungen der von ihm lokalisierten Probleme vorstellt. Abschließend wird angedeutet, wie analoge Lösungen im Rahmen eines klassischen Logikaufbaus aussehen könnten. (shrink)

Das Fach Kunstgeschichte hat den Werkbegriff – anders als den Kunstbegriff – kaum zum Gegenstand eigenen Nachdenkens gemacht. Dennoch hat der Begriff die Praxis der Disziplin nicht unwesentlich geprägt. Selbst im aktuellen Fachdiskurs, der das Wort ›Werk‹ aufgrund seiner Konnotationen oftmals durch andere Begriffe ersetzt, wirken einige Implikate der Werkästhetik nach. Dies gilt insbesondere für jüngere Überlegungen zur Macht von Bildern und zur agency von Artefakten. Der Beitrag nimmt diese Ausgangslage zum Anlass, um an die phänomenologische Grundunterscheidung zwischen dem dinglichen (...) Kunstwerk und dem durch den Betrachter mitkonstituierten ästhetischen Objekt zu erinnern. Diese fundamentale Differenzierung, die im Anschluss an Mikel Dufrenne näher erläutert wird, könnte jenseits der Scheinalternative zwischen konstruktivistischen und animistischen Ansätzen einen neuen Weg weisen, um zu verstehen, warum Bildern und Artefakten so häufig Macht oder agency zugesprochen wird. (shrink)

Presque tous les interprètes considèrent qu’il va de soi qu’en Physique Β, 1, 192b8-193a9, Aristote présente ce qui constitue le cœur de sa propre théorie de la nature et des choses naturelles, par opposition à d’autres théories dont il avait connaissance. La question de savoir si, avec ses deux définitions, il renvoie à un principe actif, à un principe passif ou à quelque chose d’autre, a par ailleurs fait l’objet de discussions. Dans cet article, je cherche à montrer qu’en 192b8-193a9, (...) il ne met pas en place sa propre théorie, mais ne fait que préparer le terrain pour le déploiement d’une théorie, et qu’à l’évidence il renvoie à un principe actif, moteur. En outre, je montre comment il élabore au cours de Physique Β sa réponse à la question principale d’une théorie de la nature et des choses naturelles au niveau le plus général, et en quoi cette réponse est constitutive pour sa biologie. (shrink)