scholarly journals The levels problem in psychopathology

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Markus I. Eronen
Keyword(s):  
Philosophy Of Science ◽  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Scientific Practice ◽  
Pragmatic Approach ◽  
Multiple Levels ◽  
Different Levels

Abstract Psychiatric disorders are studied at multiple levels, but there is no agreement on how these levels are related to each other, or how they should be understood in the first place. In this paper, I provide an account of levels and their relationships that is suited for psychopathology, drawing from recent debates in philosophy of science. Instead of metaphysical issues, the focus is on delivering an understanding of levels that is relevant and useful for scientific practice. I also defend a pragmatic approach to the question of reduction, arguing that even in-principle reductionists should embrace pluralism in practice. Finally, I discuss the benefits and challenges in integrating explanations and models of different levels.

Causal Powers

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Philosophy Of Science ◽  
Philosophy Of Mind ◽  
Scientific Practice ◽  
Laws Of Nature ◽  
Causal Powers ◽  
Important Work ◽  
Space And Time ◽  
Metaphysics Of Mind

This collection brings together new and important work by both emerging scholars and those who helped shape the field on the nature of causal powers, and the connections between causal powers and other phenomena within metaphysics, philosophy of science, and philosophy of mind. Contributors discuss how one who takes causal powers to be in some sense irreducible should think about laws of nature, scientific practice, causation, modality, space and time, persistence, and the metaphysics of mind.

scholarly journals Scientific Practice and the Epistemology of Governing Laws

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 174-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
TYLER HILDEBRAND
Keyword(s):  
British Journal ◽  
Philosophy Of Science ◽  
Scientific Practice ◽  
Laws Of Nature ◽  
General Interest ◽  
Natural Properties ◽  
Fundamental Properties ◽  
Epistemic Access ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractThis article is concerned with the relationship between scientific practice and the metaphysics of laws of nature and natural properties. I begin by examining an argument by Michael Townsen Hicks and Jonathan Schaffer (‘Derivative Properties in Fundamental Laws,’ British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 2017) that an important feature of scientific practice—namely, that scientists sometimes invoke non-fundamental properties in fundamental laws—is incompatible with metaphysical theories according to which laws govern. I respond to their argument by developing an epistemology for governing laws that is grounded in scientific practice. This epistemology is of general interest for non-Humean theories of laws, for it helps to explain our epistemic access to non-Humean theoretical entities such as governing laws or fundamental powers.

The subcellular localization and activity of Drosophila cubitus interruptus are regulated at multiple levels

Development ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 126 (22) ◽  
pp. 5097-5106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Q.T. Wang ◽  
R.A. Holmgren
Keyword(s):  
Subcellular Localization ◽  
Nuclear Localization Signal ◽  
Transcriptional Repression ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Cubitus Interruptus ◽  
Downstream Target ◽  
Localization Signal ◽  
Hh Signaling ◽  
Multiple Levels ◽  
Different Levels

Cubitus interruptus (Ci), a Drosophila transcription factor, mediates Hedgehog (Hh) signaling during the patterning of embryonic epidermis and larval imaginal discs. In the absence of Hh signal, Ci is cleaved to generate a truncated nuclear form capable of transcriptional repression. Hh signaling stabilizes and activates the full-length Ci protein leading to strong activation of downstream target genes including patched and decapentaplegic. A number of molecules have been implicated in the regulation of Ci. Mutations in these molecules lead to changes in Ci protein level, the extent of Ci proteolysis and the expression of Ci target genes. This paper examines the regulation of Ci subcellular localization and activity. We first characterize a bipartite nuclear localization signal (NLS) within Ci. We propose that the subcellular distribution of Ci is affected by two opposing forces, the action of the NLS and that of at least two regions targeting Ci to the cytoplasm. Further our data show that loss of PKA or Costal-2 activity does not fully mimic Hh signaling, demonstrating that Ci proteolysis and Ci activation are two distinct events which are regulated through different paths. Finally, we propose that there are three levels of apparent Ci activity, corresponding to three zones along the AP axis with different sets of gene expression and different levels of Hh signaling.

Unmasking conflict in vertical coopetition

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anni Rajala ◽  
Annika Tidström
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Manufacturing Sector ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Multiple Levels ◽  
A Company ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Different Levels ◽  
And Task

Purpose The purpose of this study is to increase understanding about vertical coopetition from the perspective of interrelated conflict episodes on multiple levels. Design/methodology/approach The empirical part is based on a qualitative single case study of a coopetitive buyer-supplier relationship in the manufacturing sector. Findings Conflicts in vertical coopetition evolve from being merely functional and task-related to becoming dysfunctional and relationship-related, as the level of competition increases. The nature of conflict episodes influences the development of vertical coopetition, and therefore, the interrelatedness of conflict episodes is important to acknowledge. Practical implications Although a conflict is considered functional within a company, it may still be dysfunctional as far as the coopetitive relationship with the buyer or seller is concerned. Competition may trigger conflicts related to protecting own technology and knowledge, which may lead to termination of the cooperation, therefore coopetition should be managed in a way that balance sharing and protecting important knowledge to get advantages of coopetition. Originality/value The findings enhance prior research on vertical coopetition by offering new perspectives on causes of conflicts, their management, outcomes and types. The value of taking a multilevel approach lies in the ability to show how conflicts occur and influence other conflicts through the interrelatedness of conflict elements on different levels.

Expertise in applied studio teaching: Teachers working with multiple levels of learners

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 283-298
Author(s):  
Jennifer Blackwell
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Music Education ◽  
Positive Feedback ◽  
Music Teachers ◽  
Applied Music ◽  
Teacher Modeling ◽  
Video Recordings ◽  
Multiple Levels ◽  
Different Levels ◽  
Formal Recognition

One-to-one lessons are ubiquitous in music education, and thus understanding the components of effective teaching in this environment is essential for student learning. This study explored whether the teaching elements identified in previous studies were evident with applied music teachers working with both college and pre-college students, and if those elements differed as a function of the level of the students. In addition, these teachers were asked to provide commentary on what they deemed important to effective studio teaching. I examined video recordings of 18 lessons given by two applied teachers who had received formal recognition for outstanding teaching. Many of the observations in this study were consistent with previous findings; however, higher rates of low magnitude positive feedback and student errors that did not elicit stops were present. One element regarding physical proximity was added. The findings indicate important differences in the way these teachers approach students at different levels, particularly regarding side coaching during performance, teacher modeling, feedback, and correction of errors. Participants also emphasized the importance of rapport and positive relationships.

Emergence

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Croasmun
Keyword(s):  
Systems Biology ◽  
Philosophy Of Science ◽  
Downward Causation ◽  
Feedback Loops ◽  
Emergent Properties ◽  
Middle Ground ◽  
Emergence Theory ◽  
Multiple Levels ◽  
Causal Structures

Emergence theory in philosophy of science is introduced, first in modest terms of the emergent properties exhibited by complex wholes that are not exhibited by their constituent parts. Then, emergence is treated as a trans-ordinal theory that stakes out a middle ground between reductionism and dualism. The tension between supervenience and downward causation is described as the generative dialectic of emergence. The coherence of downward causation is debated and ultimately affirmed on account of the prevalence of downward causation in the sorts of accounts produced by fields like systems biology. Racism is treated as a case study of the sorts of causal feedback loops generated by complex causal structures that operate at multiple levels of hierarchy.

natural selection of asymmetric traits operates at multiple levels

2005 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 605-606 ◽  
Author(s):  
michael k. mcbeath ◽  
thomas g. sugar
Keyword(s):  
Natural Selection ◽  
Dominant Eye ◽  
Multiple Levels ◽  
Different Levels ◽  
Selection Of

natural selection of asymmetric traits operates at multiple levels. some asymmetric traits (like having a dominant eye) are tied to more universal aspects of the environment and are coded genetically, while others (like pedestrian turning biases) are tied to more ephemeral patterns and are largely learned. species-wide trends of asymmetry can be better modeled when different levels of natural selection are specified.

scholarly journals From Explanation to Understanding: Normativity Lost?

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 327-343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henk W. de Regt
Keyword(s):  
Philosophy Of Science ◽  
Scientific Practice ◽  
Focus Of Attention ◽  
Scientific Understanding ◽  
Rhetorical Theory ◽  
Chemical Revolution ◽  
Normative Power ◽  
Contextual Theory ◽  
Psychological Dimensions

Abstract In recent years, scientific understanding has become a focus of attention in philosophy of science. Since understanding is typically associated with the pragmatic and psychological dimensions of explanation, shifting the focus from explanation to understanding may induce a shift from accounts that embody normative ideals to accounts that provide accurate descriptions of scientific practice. Not surprisingly, many ‘friends of understanding’ sympathize with a naturalistic approach to the philosophy of science. However, this raises the question of whether the proposed theories of understanding can still have normative power. In this paper I address this question by examining two theories of scientific understanding: Jan Faye’s pragmatic-rhetorical theory and my own contextual theory of scientific understanding. I argue that both theories leave room for normativity, despite their naturalistic tendencies. The normative power of my contextual theory is illustrated with a case study of the chemical revolution.

scholarly journals Disambiguating “Mechanisms” in Pharmacy: Lessons from Mechanist Philosophy of Science

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 1833 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad Yaman Abdin ◽  
Claus Jacob ◽  
Lena Kästner
Keyword(s):  
Philosophy Of Science ◽  
Contemporary Philosophy ◽  
Scientific Diagrams ◽  
Multi Level ◽  
Multiple Levels ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
In Vivo Effects ◽  
Shed Light

Talk of mechanisms is ubiquitous in the natural sciences. Interdisciplinary fields such as biochemistry and pharmacy frequently discuss mechanisms with the assistance of diagrams. Such diagrams usually depict entities as structures or boxes and activities or interactions as arrows. While some of these arrows may indicate causal or componential relations, others may represent temporal or operational orders. Importantly, what kind of relation an arrow represents may not only vary with context but also be underdetermined by empirical data. In this manuscript, we investigate how an analysis of pharmacological mechanisms in terms of producing and underlying mechanisms—as discussed in the contemporary philosophy of science—may shed light on these issues. Specifically, we shall argue that while pharmacokinetic mechanisms usually describe causal chains of production, pharmacodynamics tends to focus on mechanisms of action underlying the in vivo effects of a drug. Considering the action of thyroid gland hormones in the human body as a case study, we further demonstrate that pharmacodynamic schemes tend to incorporate entities and interactions on multiple levels. Yet, traditional pharmacodynamic schemes are sketched “flat”, i.e., non-hierarchically. We suggest that transforming flat pharmacodynamic schemes into mechanistic multi-level representations may assist in disentangling the different kinds of mechanisms and relations depicted by arrows in flat schemes. The resulting Baumkuchen model provides a powerful and practical alternative to traditional flat schemes, as it explicates the relevant mechanisms and relations more clearly. On a more general note, our discussion demonstrates how pharmacology and related disciplines may benefit from applying concepts from the new mechanist philosophy to guide the interpretation of scientific diagrams.

Levels of analysis in psychiatric research

2002 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 437-461 ◽  
Author(s):  
KATHY L. KOPNISKY ◽  
W. MAXWELL COWAN ◽  
STEVEN E. HYMAN
Keyword(s):  
Major Depression ◽  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Disease Susceptibility ◽  
Twin Studies ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Psychiatric Research ◽  
Levels Of Analysis ◽  
Different Populations ◽  
Different Levels

Most of the major psychiatric disorders have been analyzed at each of several different levels. For example, at the broadest level, epidemiological studies have served to establish the incidence of disorders like schizophrenia and major depression in a number of different populations. Family and twin studies have been important in determining the heritability of certain mental illnesses, and chromosomal and linkage analyses have identified a number of discrete loci that appear to be implicated in disease susceptibility or, even directly, in the pathogenesis of some disorders. In a few cases, specific genes have been found to be mutated or polymorphic and proteins they encode are currently being analyzed. This article reviews how these different levels contribute to our understanding of a number of psychiatric disorders, including drug addiction, which has been the focus of much of our own work.

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