scholarly journals The self and its causal powers between metaphysics and science

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodolfo Giorgi ◽  
Andrea Lavazza
Keyword(s):  
Philosophy Of Mind ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
The Self ◽  
Intentional State ◽  
Causal Powers ◽  
Classic Problem ◽  
Mental Powers ◽  
Mental Acts ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Intentional Acts

Abstract According to the thesis of powerism, our world is pervaded by causal powers which are metaphysically basic. The aim of this paper is to defend the existence of the self, defined as a substantial entity, and its mental powers. This claim, which may seem a bold one, should not be deemed as inconsistent with scientific evidence. In fact, this approach does not ignore empirical knowledge, but is not bound only to it in order to understand entities, properties, and the relationship between them. Aristotelian powerism may show that the self, as the subject of one’s mental acts, is a substance that has an essential nature. Firstly, we shall analyze the immediate evidence we have in support of the existence of the self as a substantial entity. We will show that the self is a substance because it possesses an essential character, i.e. an individual essence. We will take into account the Aristotelian perspective of substance, trying to show how the presence of a necessary property that makes every subject identical to itself and the phenomenal features of one’s private experience point to the existence of a substantial entity that corresponds to the self. Secondly, we will try to justify the adoption of a metaphysical theory of causation based on powers, analyzing it in comparison with the main competing theories, namely hypotheticalism and nomism. Then, we shall proceed to show the causal properties of the substance in question, namely the mental powers. In fact, thirdly, we will embrace the thesis of powerism by defending the existence of a set of mental powers that should be attributed to the self. We will describe the main features of mental powers and we will show that they are conceivable as the pure intentional acts we perform by directing an intentional state towards an intentional object. In this way we show how a classic problem of philosophy of mind, relevant to science as well, can be addressed in an original way by a metaphysical approach involving powers.

The Concept of Self: Some Reflections on H. D. Lewis' The Self and Immortality

1980 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-48
Author(s):  
Scott Dunbar
Keyword(s):  
Philosophy Of Mind ◽  
Philosophy Of Religion ◽  
Good Reason ◽  
Religious Studies ◽  
The Self ◽  
Philosophical Reflection ◽  
Fundamental Level ◽  
Outstanding Feature ◽  
The Relationship

Professor H. D. Lewis' distinguished achievements in philosophy of religion are complemented by his admirable and original contributions to philosophy of mind. His Gifford Lectures, The Elusive Mind, are a model of philosophical clarity and acumen; his account of the elusive mind in the Gifford Lectures is developed and elaborated in a later work, The Self and Immortality. Professor Lewis' ability to connect philosophy of mind with philosophy of religion at a fundamental level is an outstanding feature of his work. Philosophical reflection on religion must, at some stage, include an adequate concept of person, thus the importance of the relationship between philosophy of religion and philosophy of mind. Everyone who is concerned with the philosophical aspects of religious studies has good reason to be indebted to H. D. Lewis as a thinker.

From Container to Claustrum: Projective Identification in Couples

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamara Feldman
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Health ◽  
Projective Identification ◽  
The Self ◽  
The Other ◽  
Intimate Partners ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
As If

This paper is a contribution to the growing literature on the role of projective identification in understanding couples' dynamics. Projective identification as a defence is well suited to couples, as intimate partners provide an ideal location to deposit unwanted parts of the self. This paper illustrates how projective identification functions differently depending on the psychological health of the couple. It elucidates how healthier couples use projective identification more as a form of communication, whereas disturbed couples are inclined to employ it to invade and control the other, as captured by Meltzer's concept of "intrusive identification". These different uses of projective identification affect couples' capacities to provide what Bion called "containment". In disturbed couples, partners serve as what Meltzer termed "claustrums" whereby projections are not contained, but imprisoned or entombed in the other. Applying the concept of claustrum helps illuminate common feelings these couples express, such as feeling suffocated, stifled, trapped, held hostage, or feeling as if the relationship is killing them. Finally, this paper presents treatment challenges in working with more disturbed couples.

The Relationship between Seeker and Spiritual Guide as portrayed in contemporary Western Sufi Autobiographies

2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 297-332
Author(s):  
Kate Zebiri
Keyword(s):  
Life Writing ◽  
New Age ◽  
The Self ◽  
Individual Autonomy ◽  
Religious Authority ◽  
The Face ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Continuity And Discontinuity

This article aims to explore the Shaykh-mur?d (disciple) or teacher-pupil relationship as portrayed in Western Sufi life writing in recent decades, observing elements of continuity and discontinuity with classical Sufism. Additionally, it traces the influence on the texts of certain developments in religiosity in contemporary Western societies, especially New Age understandings of religious authority. Studying these works will provide an insight into the diversity of expressions of contemporary Sufism, while shedding light on a phenomenon which seems to fly in the face of contemporary social and religious trends which deemphasize external authority and promote the authority of the self or individual autonomy.

Effect of Parental Modernity on Rejection Sensitivity and Self-Esteem of Adolescents

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ritu ◽  
Madhu Anand
Keyword(s):  
Social Development ◽  
Rejection Sensitivity ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
The Self ◽  
Negatively Associated ◽  
Individual Modernity ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Parental Modernity is an important aspect for the psycho-social development of the child. The present study aims to study the effect of parental modernity on rejection sensitivity and self-esteem of adolescents and the relationship between rejection sensitivity and self-esteem. The research is carried out on a sample of 240 parents (including 120 fathers and 120 mothers) and their 120 children. For observing the impact of modernity of parents on their children, Individual Modernity Scale was used and administered on father and mother. Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire and Self-Esteem Inventory were used to measure the rejection sensitivity and self-esteem of children (age ranges from 14 to 19 years). The results suggest that parental modernity has an effect on the rejection sensitivity and personally perceived self of the self – esteem of adolescents. Furthermore, the rejection sensitivity has been found negatively associated with self-esteem.

О НЕКОТОРЫХ ИСТОРИЧЕСКИХ АСПЕКТАХ СТАНОВЛЕНИЯ ВОСПИТАТЕЛЬНОЙ РАБОТЫ С ОСУЖДЕННЫМИ В МЕСТАХ ЛИШЕНИЯ СВОБОДЫ

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vasiliy Dvortsov ◽  
Alexander Efimenko
Keyword(s):  
General Education ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Criminal Code ◽  
The Self ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Educational Work ◽  
Legal Norms ◽  
Education Profession ◽  
Comprehensive Programs ◽  
The Relationship

В статье предпринята попытка теоретического анализа и изучения научной литературы по организации и становлению воспитательной работы с осужденными в местах лишения свободы, продемонстрирована взаимосвязь между политико-воспитательной работой, ресоциализацией и исправлением осужденных в пенитенциарных учреждениях. Проведенное исследование позволяет предполагать, что воспитательная работа является основополагающим средством исправления различных категорий осужденных (регламентировано ст. 9 УИК РФ). На этой основе критерием исправления будет становиться устойчивое правопослушное поведение человека. В связи с этим возникает необходимость использования психолого-педагогической программы по перестройке и самооценке осужденных, позволяющей формировать их готовность к самореализации, когда осознание совершенных преступлений становится внутренне неприемлемым. Авторами отмечается, что, самоисправление человека зависит от ряда направлений воспитательной работы: нравственного, правового, физического воспитания, получения основного общего образования, получения профессии. Очевидно, что для закрепления положительного результата процесс ресоциализации в пенитенциарных учреждениях должен проводиться сотрудниками всех отделов и служб на основе комплексных программ, разработанных с учетом специфики и возраста осужденных.The article attempts a theoretical analysis and study of scientific literature on the organization and formation of educational work with convicts in prisons, demonstrates the relationship between «political and educational work», re-socialization and correction of convicts in prisons. The study suggests that educational work is a fundamental means of correcting various categories of convicts (regulated by article 9 of the criminal code). Based on this criterion fixes will become sustainable human behavior, demonstrating a conscious rejection of the violation of legal norms with the aim of securing sustainable patterns of law-abiding behavior. There is a need to use the psychological and pedagogical Program for restructuring and self-assessment of convicts, which allows to form on this basis their readiness for self-realization, when the awareness of the crimes committed becomes internally unacceptable. In this regard, the self-correction of a person depends on a number of areas, namely, moral, legal, physical education, basic General education, profession, forming the basis of educational work. It is obvious that in order to consolidate a positive result in penitentiary institutions, the activities of all departments and services should be carried out a process of re-socialization on the basis of comprehensive Programs developed taking into account the specifics and different ages of convicts.

Influence of the Intestinal Microbiota on Diabetes Management

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (15) ◽  
pp. 1603-1615
Author(s):  
Eva Alvarez-Vieites ◽  
Arora López-Santamarina ◽  
José M. Miranda ◽  
Alicia del Carmen Mondragón ◽  
Alexandre Lamas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Intestinal Microbiota ◽  
Diabetes Management ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Focused Attention ◽  
Economic Implications ◽  
Experimental Animals ◽  
Low Intensity ◽  
New Treatments ◽  
The Relationship

In recent decades, there has been a very rapid increase in the prevalence of diabetes globally, with serious health and economic implications. Although today there are several therapeutic treatments for this disease, these do not address the causes of the disease and have serious side effects, so it is necessary to seek new treatments to replace or complement the existing ones. Among these complementary treatments, a strong link between the intestinal microbiota and diabetes has been demonstrated, which has focused attention on the use of biotherapy to regulate the function of the intestinal microbiota and, thus, treat diabetes. In this way, the main objective of this work is to provide a review of the latest scientific evidence on diabetes, gathering information about new trends in its management, and especially, the influence of the intestinal microbiota and microbiome on this pathology. It is possible to conclude that the relationship between the intestinal microbiota and diabetes is carried out through alterations in energy metabolism, the immune system, changes in intestinal permeability, and a state of low-intensity systemic inflammation. Although, currently, most of the experimental work, using probiotics for diabetes management, has been done on experimental animals, the results obtained are promising. Thus, the modification of the microbiota through biotherapy has shown to improve the symptoms and severity of diabetes through various mechanisms related to these alterations.

The Dynamics of Society-in-the-Self

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hubert J. M Hermans
Keyword(s):  
Social Environment ◽  
The Self ◽  
Boundary Crossing ◽  
The World ◽  
Self And Identity ◽  
New Vision ◽  
New Phenomena ◽  
The Relationship

In the field of tension between globalization and localization, a set of new phenomena is emerging showing that society is not simply a social environment of self and identity but works in their deepest regions: self-radicalization, self-government, self-cure, self-nationalization, self-internationalization, and even self-marriage. The consequence is that the self is faced with an unprecedented density of self-parts, called I-positions in this theory. In the field of tension between boundary-crossing developments in the world and the search for an identity in a local niche, a self emerges that is characterized by a great variety of contradicting and heterogeneous I-positions and by large and unexpected jumps between different positions as the result of rapid and unexpected changes in the world. The chapter argues that such developments require a new vision of the relationship between self and society.

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