Do Theodicists Mean What They Say?

Philosophy ◽  
1974 ◽  
Vol 49 (190) ◽  
pp. 357-374
Author(s):  
Clement Dore
Keyword(s):  
Necessary Condition ◽  
Better Than

Many theodicists have maintained that God is justified in permitting suffering on the ground that His doing so is a necessary condition of the realization of certain intrinsically valuable ends which the suffering serves and whose value outweighs the suffering which occasions them. Examples of ends which are frequently cited in this connection are freely chosen actions in accordance with stringent obligations to be charitable and steadfast. To say that the value of these ends outweighs the suffering which gives rise to them is to say that the existence both of these ends and of suffering is better than the non-existence of both. (Of course, the best thing of all on the view of the theodicists under discussion would be for these ends to exist and for the suffering not to exist, but they point out that it is logically impossible for there to be desirable responses to suffering in the absence of suffering.)

On the Power of Model Theory in Specifying Abstract Data Types and in Capturing Their Recursiveness

1983 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-170
Author(s):  
Alberto Bertoni ◽  
Giancarlo Mauri ◽  
Pierangelo Miglioli
Keyword(s):  
Model Theory ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Necessary Condition ◽  
Abstract Data Type ◽  
Abstract Data Types ◽  
Data Types ◽  
Abstract Data ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Recursive Data ◽  
Better Than

In this paper a comparative analysis of some algebraic and model-theoretic tools to specify abstract data types is presented: our aim is to show that, in order to capture a quite relevant feature such as the recursiveness of abstract data types, Model Theory works better than Category Theory. To do so, we analyze various notions such as “initiality”, “finality”, “monoinitiality”, “epifinality”, “weak monoinitiality” and “weak epifinality”, both from the point of view of “abstractness” and of “cardinality”, in a general model theoretical frame. For the second aspect, it is shown that only “initiality”, “monoinitiality”, “epifinality” and “weak epifinality” allow us to select countable models (for theories with a countable language), a necessary condition to get recursive data types, while this is not the case for “finality” and “weak monoinitiality”. An extensive analysis is then devoted to the problem of the recursiveness of abstract data types: we provide a formal definition of recursiveness and show that it neither collapses, nor it is incompatible with the “abstractness” requirement. We also show that none of the above quoted categorial notions captures recursiveness. Finally, we consider our own definition of “abstract data type”, based on typically model-theoretic notions, and illustrate the sense according to which it captures recursiveness.

War Is in the Error Term

1999 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 567-587 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik Gartzke
Keyword(s):  
International Relations ◽  
Error Term ◽  
International Conflict ◽  
Use Of Force ◽  
Social Processes ◽  
Necessary Condition ◽  
Considerable Success ◽  
Ex Ante ◽  
Stochastic Element ◽  
Better Than

At least since Thucydides, students of international relations have sought rational explanations for the advent of war. Rationalist explanations assume purposive action; states are said to make reasoned decisions about the use of force. Although rationalist explanations have proven persuasive, durable, and offer the basis for cumulative theorizing, they also imply substantial limits on what we can know about war. I show that the most general rationalist explanation for war also dictates that the onset of war is theoretically indeterminate. We cannot predict in individual cases whether states will go to war, because war is typically the consequence of variables that are unobservable ex ante, both to us as researchers and to the participants. Thinking probabilistically continues to offer the opportunity to assess international conflict empirically. However, the realization that uncertainty is necessary theoretically to motivate war is much different from recognizing that the empirical world contains a stochastic element. Accepting uncertainty as a necessary condition of war implies that all other variables—however detailed the explanation—serve to eliminate gradations of irrelevant alternatives. We can progressively refine our ability to distinguish states that may use force from those that are likely to remain at peace, but anticipating wars from a pool of states that appear willing to fight will remain problematic. For example, we may achieve considerable success in anticipating crises, but our ability to predict which crises will become wars will probably prove little better than the naive predictions of random chance. The need for uncertainty to account for war means that the same conditions thought to account for war must also exist among states not destined to fight. Otherwise, states themselves will differentiate between opponents in a way that either removes the motives for war or restores uncertainty. It has long been accepted that social processes possess an element of uncertainty, but the centrality of uncertainty to rationalist explanations for war means that the advent of war is itself stochastic. War is literally in the “error term.”

scholarly journals Global, non-scattering solutions to the energy critical Yang–Mills problem

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (01) ◽  
pp. 29-141
Author(s):  
Mohandas Pillai
Keyword(s):  
A Priori ◽  
Finite Energy ◽  
Necessary Condition ◽  
Length Scale ◽  
Wave Maps ◽  
Interesting Point ◽  
Yang Mills ◽  
Fixed Solution ◽  
Radiation Profile ◽  
Better Than

We consider the Yang–Mills problem on [Formula: see text] with gauge group [Formula: see text]. In an appropriate equivariant reduction, this Yang–Mills problem reduces to a single scalar semilinear wave equation. This semilinear equation admits a one-parameter family of solitons, each of which is a re-scaling of a fixed solution. In this work, we construct a class of solutions, each of which consists of a soliton whose length scale is asymptotically constant, coupled to large radiation, plus corrections which slowly decay to zero in the energy norm. Our class of solutions includes ones for which the radiation component is only “logarithmically” better than energy class. As such, the solutions are not constructed by a priori assuming the length scale to be constant. Instead, we use an approach similar to a previous work of the author regarding wave maps. In the setup of this work, the soliton length scale asymptoting to a constant is a necessary condition for the radiation profile to have finite energy. An interesting point of our construction is that, for each radiation profile, there exist one-parameter families of solutions consisting of the radiation profile coupled to a soliton, which has any asymptotic value of the length scale.

scholarly journals Paleogene-Neogene Cap Rocks and its Relationship with Hydrocarbon Accumulation in the Zhanhua Sag

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 299-312
Author(s):  
Chunyan Wu ◽  
Jingong Zhang ◽  
Wei Xiong ◽  
Bo Li ◽  
Yijun Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Main Type ◽  
Necessary Condition ◽  
Distribution Characteristics ◽  
Hydrocarbon Accumulation ◽  
Gas Reservoirs ◽  
Silty Mudstone ◽  
Sealing Capacity ◽  
Cap Rock ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Better Than

To analyse the Zhanhua Paleogene–Neogene cap rocks and its relationship with hydrocarbon accumulation, the seal lithology, the relationship between compaction of argillite rock and its sealing capacity, and its destruction by faults and fractures were studied. The results indicate that there are four types of cap rocks: argillite rock and silty mudstone, microcrystalline carbonate, dense cemented sandstone and dense cemented carbonate. Among these cap rocks, argillite rock is the main type in the Zhanhua Sag. According to the evolutionary characteristics of the argillite rock and its destruction by fractures and faults, the argillite cap can be classified into three categories: porosity cap, fracture transformation cap and the fault transformation cap. Among their sealing capacities, the porosity cap is the best, followed by the fracture transformation cap, and the fault transformation cap is the worst. Through the analysis of the relationship between existing oil & gas reservoirs and the distribution characteristics of the Paleogene–Neogene cap rocks in the Zhanhua Sag, it was found that the cap combination which was below or above the reservoir together controlled the hydrocarbon accumulation and preservation. It means that the destruction of the cap below or down-dip the reservoir is a necessary condition for hydrocarbon accumulation, and only when the sealing capacity of the cap rock above or up-dip the reservoir is better than that of below or down-dip the reservoir, hydrocarbon could be efficiently stored in reservoirs, thus could be effectively enriched.

The Infancy of Solar-Type Stars and its Relevance for the Origin of Life

1997 ◽  
Vol 161 ◽  
pp. 267-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thierry Montmerle
Keyword(s):  
Main Sequence ◽  
Solar Nebula ◽  
Circumstellar Disks ◽  
T Tauri Stars ◽  
Necessary Condition ◽  
Sequence Evolution ◽  
T Tauri ◽  
Solar Type ◽  
Optical Domain ◽  
The Origin Of Life

AbstractFor life to develop, planets are a necessary condition. Likewise, for planets to form, stars must be surrounded by circumstellar disks, at least some time during their pre-main sequence evolution. Much progress has been made recently in the study of young solar-like stars. In the optical domain, these stars are known as «T Tauri stars». A significant number show IR excess, and other phenomena indirectly suggesting the presence of circumstellar disks. The current wisdom is that there is an evolutionary sequence from protostars to T Tauri stars. This sequence is characterized by the initial presence of disks, with lifetimes ~ 1-10 Myr after the intial collapse of a dense envelope having given birth to a star. While they are present, about 30% of the disks have masses larger than the minimum solar nebula. Their disappearance may correspond to the growth of dust grains, followed by planetesimal and planet formation, but this is not yet demonstrated.

Time and Latitude in South Africa

1972 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 27-38
Author(s):  
J. Hers
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Cape Town ◽  
Astronomical Observations ◽  
Royal Observatory ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Astronomical Determination ◽  
Limited Accuracy ◽  
Better Than

In South Africa the modern outlook towards time may be said to have started in 1948. Both the two major observatories, The Royal Observatory in Cape Town and the Union Observatory (now known as the Republic Observatory) in Johannesburg had, of course, been involved in the astronomical determination of time almost from their inception, and the Johannesburg Observatory has been responsible for the official time of South Africa since 1908. However the pendulum clocks then in use could not be relied on to provide an accuracy better than about 1/10 second, which was of the same order as that of the astronomical observations. It is doubtful if much use was made of even this limited accuracy outside the two observatories, and although there may – occasionally have been a demand for more accurate time, it was certainly not voiced.

Localization of immunolabels by electron microscopy and image averaging

1983 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
pp. 282-283
Author(s):  
J. Frank ◽  
P.-Y. Sizaret ◽  
A. Verschoor ◽  
J. Lamy
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Single Particle ◽  
Attachment Site ◽  
Uranyl Acetate ◽  
Limulus Polyphemus ◽  
Resolution Limit ◽  
Electron Microscopic ◽  
Image Averaging ◽  
Top View ◽  
Better Than

The accuracy with which the attachment site of immunolabels bound to macromolecules may be localized in electron microscopic images can be considerably improved by using single particle averaging. The example studied in this work showed that the accuracy may be better than the resolution limit imposed by negative staining (∽2nm).The structure used for this demonstration was a halfmolecule of Limulus polyphemus (LP) hemocyanin, consisting of 24 subunits grouped into four hexamers. The top view of this structure was previously studied by image averaging and correspondence analysis. It was found to vary according to the flip or flop position of the molecule, and to the stain imbalance between diagonally opposed hexamers (“rocking effect”). These findings have recently been incorporated into a model of the full 8 × 6 molecule.LP hemocyanin contains eight different polypeptides, and antibodies specific for one, LP II, were used. Uranyl acetate was used as stain. A total of 58 molecule images (29 unlabelled, 29 labelled with antl-LPII Fab) showing the top view were digitized in the microdensitometer with a sampling distance of 50μ corresponding to 6.25nm.

Closing the GAP—A 5Å Scanning Microscope

1969 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
pp. 6-7
Author(s):  
A. V. Crewe
Keyword(s):  
Normal Form ◽  
The Other ◽  
Resolving Power ◽  
Scanning Microscope ◽  
Conventional Microscope ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Closing The Gap ◽  
Thermal Sources ◽  
Better Than ◽  
Transmission Microscope

We have become accustomed to differentiating between the scanning microscope and the conventional transmission microscope according to the resolving power which the two instruments offer. The conventional microscope is capable of a point resolution of a few angstroms and line resolutions of periodic objects of about 1Å. On the other hand, the scanning microscope, in its normal form, is not ordinarily capable of a point resolution better than 100Å. Upon examining reasons for the 100Å limitation, it becomes clear that this is based more on tradition than reason, and in particular, it is a condition imposed upon the microscope by adherence to thermal sources of electrons.

Electron Microscopic Observation of the Longitudinal Organization of Poly (p-Phenylene Terephthalamide) Fibers

1982 ◽  
Vol 40 ◽  
pp. 680-681
Author(s):  
Li Li-Sheng ◽  
L.F. Allard ◽  
W.C. Bigelow
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Scanning Electron Microscopy ◽  
Microscopic Observation ◽  
Electron Microscopic Observation ◽  
Electron Microscopic ◽  
Aromatic Polyamides ◽  
Radial Arrangement ◽  
Scanning Electron ◽  
Better Than

The aromatic polyamides form a class of fibers having mechanical properties which are much better than those of aliphatic polyamides. Currently, the accepted morphology of these fibers as proposed by M.G. Dobb, et al. is a radial arrangement of pleated sheets, with the plane of the pleats parallel to the axis of the fiber. We have recently obtained evidence which supports a different morphology of this type of fiber, using ultramicrotomy and ion-thinning techniques to prepare specimens for transmission and scanning electron microscopy.

A High Angle, Double Tilting Cold Stage for the AEI EM7

1974 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
pp. 450-451
Author(s):  
P.R. Swann ◽  
A.E. Lloyd
Keyword(s):  
Habit Plane ◽  
Temperature Control ◽  
Tilt Angle ◽  
Cooling System ◽  
Thermal Drift ◽  
High Angle ◽  
Cold Stage ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Better Than

Figure 1 shows the design of a specimen stage used for the in situ observation of phase transformations in the temperature range between ambient and −160°C. The design has the following features a high degree of specimen stability during tilting linear tilt actuation about two orthogonal axes for accurate control of tilt angle read-out high angle tilt range for stereo work and habit plane determination simple, robust construction temperature control of better than ±0.5°C minimum thermal drift and transmission of vibration from the cooling system.

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