John Stuart Mill's Method In Principle and Practice: A Review of the Evidence

1999 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 369-397 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Hollander ◽  
Sandra Peart
Keyword(s):  
Economic Theory ◽  
Political Economy ◽  
A Priori ◽  
A Posteriori ◽  
Actual Case ◽  
Apparent Position ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Sharp Criticism ◽  
The Relationship

Our concern is John Stuart Mill's methodological pronouncements, his actual practice, and the relationship between them. We argue that verification played a key role in Mill's method, both in principle and in practice. Our starting point is the celebrated declaration regarding verification in the essay On the Definition of Political Economy; and on the Method of Investigation Proper to It (1836/ 1967; hereafter Essay): “By the method à priori we mean … reasoning from an assumed hypothesis; which … is the essence of all science which admits of general reasoning at all. To verify the hypothesis itself à posteriori, that is, to examine whether the facts of any actual case are in accordance with it, is no part of the business of science at all, but of the application of science” (Mill 1836/1967, p. 325). The apparent position that the basic economic theory is impervious to predictive failure emerges also in a sharp criticism of the à posteriori method:

On the Very Idea of Civilisation

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 307-321
Author(s):  
Luke O’Sullivan ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Technological Development ◽  
Thomas Hobbes ◽  
Alternative Definition ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Western Imperialism ◽  
Clash Of Civilisations ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Contemporary Liberalism ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

The concept of civilisation is a controversial one because it is unavoidably normative in its implications. Its historical associations with the effort of Western imperialism to impose substantive conditions of life have made it difficult for contemporary liberalism to find a definition of “civilization” that can be reconciled with progressive discourse that seeks to avoid exclusions of various kinds. But because we lack a way of identifying what is peculiar to the relationship of civilisation that avoids the problem of domination, it has tended to be conflated with other ideas. Taking Samuel Huntington's idea of a “Clash of Civilisations” as a starting point, this article argues that we suffer from a widespread confusion of civilisation with “culture,” and that we also confuse it with other ideas including modernity and technological development. Drawing on Thomas Hobbes, the essay proposes an alternative definition of civilisation as the existence of limits on how we may treat others.

Subject of Economic Science

2015 ◽  
pp. 115-120
Author(s):  
D. Egorov
Keyword(s):  
Human Behavior ◽  
Classical Theory ◽  
Adam Smith ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Economic Science ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Consciousness ◽  
Wealth Of Nations ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Relationship

Adam Smith defined economics as “the science of the nature and causes of the wealth of nations” (implicitly appealing – in reference to the “wealth” – to the “value”). Neo-classical theory views it as a science “which studies human behavior in terms of the relationship between the objectives and the limited funds that may have a different use of”. The main reason that turns the neo-classical theory (that serves as the now prevailing economic mainstream) into a tool for manipulation of the public consciousness is the lack of measure (elimination of the “value”). Even though the neo-classical definition of the subject of economics does not contain an explicit rejection of objective measures the reference to “human behavior” inevitably implies methodological subjectivism. This makes it necessary to adopt a principle of equilibrium: if you can not objectively (using a solid measurement) compare different states of the system, we can only postulate the existence of an equilibrium point to which the system tends. Neo-classical postulate of equilibrium can not explain the situation non-equilibrium. As a result, the neo-classical theory fails in matching microeconomics to macroeconomics. Moreover, a denial of the category “value” serves as a theoretical basis and an ideological prerequisite of now flourishing manipulative financial technologies. The author believes in the following two principal definitions: (1) economics is a science that studies the economic system, i.e. a system that creates and recombines value; (2) value is a measure of cost of the object. In our opinion, the value is the information cost measure. It should be added that a disclosure of the nature of this category is not an obligatory prerequisite of its introduction: methodologically, it is quite correct to postulate it a priori. The author concludes that the proposed definitions open the way not only to solve the problem of the measurement in economics, but also to address the issue of harmonizing macro- and microeconomics.

Military Targeting in the Context of Self-Defence Actions

2015 ◽  
Vol 84 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
James A. Green ◽  
Christopher P.M. Waters
Keyword(s):  
Target Selection ◽  
Jus In Bello ◽  
Customary International Law ◽  
Jus Ad Bellum ◽  
Conceptual Clarity ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Self Defence ◽  
Selection Of

For self-defence actions to be lawful, they must be directed at military targets. The absolute prohibition on non-military targeting under the jus in bello is well known, but the jus ad bellum also limits the target selection of states conducting defensive operations. Restrictions on targeting form a key aspect of the customary international law criteria of necessity and proportionality. In most situations, the jus in bello will be the starting point for the definition of a military targeting rule. Yet it has been argued that there may be circumstances when the jus ad bellum and the jus in bello do not temporally or substantively overlap in situations of self-defence. In order to address any possible gaps in civilian protection, and to bring conceptual clarity to one particular dimension of the relationship between the two regimes, this article explores the independent sources of a military targeting rule. The aim is not to displace the jus in bello as the ‘lead’ regime on how targeting decisions must be made, or to undermine the traditional separation between the two ‘war law’ regimes. Rather, conceptual light is shed on a sometimes assumed but generally neglected dimension of the jus ad bellum’s necessity and proportionality criteria that may, in limited circumstances, have significance for our understanding of human protection during war.

scholarly journals VALIDATION OF LIDAR SURVEY DATA BY COMPARISON OF SEVERAL UNCERTAINTY MODELS

2020 ◽  
Vol XLIII-B3-2020 ◽  
pp. 1385-1390
Author(s):  
N. Seube
Keyword(s):  
Point Cloud ◽  
A Priori ◽  
A Posteriori ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Timing Errors ◽  
Beam Incidence ◽  
A Priori Uncertainty ◽  
Uncertainty Models ◽  
Attitude Uncertainty ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract. This paper introduce a new method for validating the precision of an airborne or a mobile LiDAR data set. The proposed method is based on the knowledge of an a Combined Standard Measurement Uncertainty (CSMU) model which describes LiDAR point covariance matrix and thus uncertainty ellipsoid. The model we consider includes timing errors and most importantly the incidence of the LiDAR beam. After describing the relationship between the beam incidence and other variable uncertainty (especially attitude uncertainty), we show that we can construct a CSMU model giving the covariance of each oint as a function of the relative geometry between the LiDAR beam and the point normal. The validation method we propose consist in comparing the CSMU model (predictive a priori uncertainty) t the Standard Deviation Alog the Surface Normal (SDASN), for all set of quasi planr segments of the point cloud. Whenever the a posteriori (i.e; observed by the SDASN) level of uncertainty is greater than a priori (i.e; expected) level of uncertainty, the point fails the validation test. We illustrate this approach on a dataset acquired by a Microdrones mdLiDAR1000 system.

scholarly journals Artificial moral agents: an intercultural perspective

2007 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 129-134
Author(s):  
Michael Nagenborg
Keyword(s):  
Poor Countries ◽  
Moral Agents ◽  
Artificial Moral Agents ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Good Starting Point ◽  
Cultural Dialogue ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

In this paper I will argue that artificial moral agents (AMAs) are a fitting subject of intercultural information ethics because of the impact they may have on the relationship between information rich and information poor countries. I will give a limiting definition of AMAs first, and discuss two different types of AMAs with different implications from an intercultural perspective. While AMAs following preset rules might raise con-cerns about digital imperialism, AMAs being able to adjust to their user‘s behavior will lead us to the question what makes an AMA ?moral?? I will argue that this question does present a good starting point for an inter-cultural dialogue which might be helpful to overcome the notion of Africa as a mere victim.

scholarly journals Multidisciplinary Nature of the Psycholinguistic Discourse Neuroeconomics

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 262-286
Author(s):  
Tamara Tkach ◽  
Anatoliy Tkach ◽  
Ivan Rekun
Keyword(s):  
Economic Theory ◽  
Economic Activity ◽  
Human Cognition ◽  
Economic Science ◽  
Conceptual System ◽  
Economic Knowledge ◽  
Multidisciplinary Nature ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Scientific Fields

Introduction. The article is devoted to the issues of multidisciplinary interaction in new scientific fields, which involve a wide variety of convergences, no matter how strange at first glance they may seem. One of these phenomena is the interaction of psycholinguistics and neuroeconomics. The goal. The article examines the transition of modern science to multidisciplinary discourse, which makes it necessary to conceptualize and possibly operationalize methods of psycholinguistics. The conceptualization of new areas of neuroeconomics, in a psycholinguistic context, presupposes a certain mental experience that includes, in addition to the processes of creating new concepts and contextual economic knowledge, also defining the role of interests, intentions, emotions in human economic activity. Methods. Multivariate analysis, comparative analysis, extrapolation. Results. It is proved that in recent decades the development of new areas of economic science, namely those related to the development of neuroeconomics, has significantly expanded the field of psycholinguistics. The production of new paradigms of economic theory, the formation of the corresponding definitions, objects requires the design and definition of them both in form and in content. It considers the need for a theoretical and orderly definition of the functional meaning of the psycholinguistic context of new definitions, the result of which can be a conceptual system for communication between specialists in various fields of science at the level of their professional understanding. It seems that the central issues in the psycholinguistic discourse of neuroeconomics have become the relationship between economics, psychology, linguistics and psycholinguistics. Such connection is undoubtedly of a multidisciplinary nature, which contributes to the deepening of the relationship between scientific thought, culture and language and became the impetus for understanding the nature of human cognition at a higher, multidisciplinary level of development of science. This is a necessary component for understanding the meanings and structure of concepts, terms and definitions, as well as communications at a higher scientific level. Conclusions. It is concluded that new areas of neuroeconomics such as behavioral economics, behavioral finance, emotional economics, psychological economics, have become areas of economic theory that, explicitly or implicitly, take into account the psychological characteristics of human perception and behavior in the process of economic activity. These definitions catalyze the theoretical integration of various scientific fields, and, above all, psycholinguistic science.

Descartes’s Philosophical Theology

2019 ◽  
pp. 208-225
Author(s):  
Igor Agostini
Keyword(s):  
A Priori ◽  
Philosophical Theology ◽  
Strict Sense ◽  
A Posteriori ◽  
The Third ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
True Definition

In this chapter I argue the following thesis: 1) Descartes’s Meditations never formulate the problem of God’s existence as it is required by the precepts of order; in particular, the only problem of existence posed by Descartes after the classification of thoughts in the Third Meditation does not concern God directly, but generally aliqua res. 2) Though Descartes qualifies the two proofs of the Third Meditation as a posteriori, they cannot be considered as homologous in their structure to the traditional a posteriori proofs: they both—and the second in particular—contain components that are truly a priori. 3) The proof of the Fifth Meditation, as it starts from the true definition of God and God’s essence, does not constitute a quoadnos version of the a priori demonstration belonging to mathematics, but is, in a strict sense, a potissima demonstration that is at least as evident as those of mathematics.

scholarly journals THE VARIATIONAL THEORY OF COMPLEX RAYS FOR THREE-DIMENSIONAL HELMHOLTZ PROBLEMS

2012 ◽  
Vol 20 (04) ◽  
pp. 1250021 ◽  
Author(s):  
LOUIS KOVALEVSKY ◽  
PIERRE LADEVÈZE ◽  
HERVÉ RIOU ◽  
MARC BONNET
Keyword(s):  
Spherical Harmonics ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Variational Theory ◽  
Actual Case ◽  
Analytical Properties ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Complex Rays

This paper proposes an extension of the variational theory of complex rays (VTCR) to three-dimensional linear acoustics, The VTCR is a Trefftz-type approach designed for mid-frequency range problems and has been previously investigated for structural dynamics and 2D acoustics. The proposed 3D formulation is based on a discretization of the amplitude portrait using spherical harmonics expansions. This choice of discretization allows to substantially reduce the numerical integration work by taking advantage of well-known analytical properties of the spherical harmonics. It also permits (like with the previous 2D Fourier version) an effective a priori selection method for the discretization parameter in each sub-region, and allows to estimate the directivity of the pressure field by means of a natural definition of rescaled amplitude portraits. The accuracy and performance of the proposed formulation are demonstrated on a set of numerical examples that include results on an actual case study from the automotive industry.

scholarly journals You still don’t understand: why troubled engagements continue between feminists and (critical) IPE

2006 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 145-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
GEORGINA WAYLEN
Keyword(s):  
Political Economy ◽  
International Relations ◽  
International Political Economy ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Feminist Perspectives ◽  
Critical Approaches ◽  
The Relationship

Relatively early in the attempts to gender the discipline of International Relations (IR), it was argued by some feminist scholars that it was easier to raise feminist concerns in International Political Economy (IPE) than in IR. However, it has subsequently proved very difficult to articulate these concerns within mainstream IPE, as ‘the neo-realist and neo-liberal frameworks, with their common focus on state-centric issues of co-operation and conflict and their positivist and rationalistic methodologies, do not lend themselves to investigating gendered structures of inequality …’. In contrast, more overlap has been discerned between feminist perspectives and methodologies and the less influential ‘globalist’ (also known as critical/transdisciplinary or heterodox) approaches to IPE than with the dominant statist approaches. This article takes this position as its starting point and will focus on the relationship between gendered analyses and critical IPE (as it will be known here). It therefore does not engage with the undoubtedly important question of how far it is possible or desirable to have a gendered analysis that is not linked to feminism, as within both feminist and critical approaches to IPE an emancipatory agenda is entirely legitimate and even an integral part of those approaches.

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