Spatial Dynamics: Some Conceptual and Mathematical Issues

1980 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 1051-1071 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Liossatos
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Dynamics ◽  
Spatial Relations ◽  
Qualitative Change ◽  
Dissipative Structures ◽  
Marxian Theory ◽  
Comprehensive Overview ◽  
Social Phenomena ◽  
Social Forms ◽  
Spatial Configurations ◽  
Basic Ideas

Spatial dynamics—the study of the spatiotemporal dimension of socioeconomic activities—is grounded on highly questionable premises. These are implicit or explicit philosophical theses regarding knowledge (empiricism) and society (methodological individualism). As a consequence of these premises—it is argued—the scientific knowledge of social phenomena becomes problematic if not impossible. It is further demonstrated that the dominant paradigm in the social sciences (based on empiricism and individualism) is not the only possible one. A fairly comprehensive overview of an alternative is presented, which draws upon recent advances in Marxian theory. In this perspective, the constitution and transformation of spatial configurations cannot be understood in terms of observable spatial relations; as social forms, spatial patterns must be explained in terms of the dynamics of the underlying social structure. Accordingly, ‘spatial dynamics’ must be reconstructed as the dynamics of spatial forms: the study of the formation and transformation of spatial configurations as expressions of the expanded reproduction of the capitalist mode of production in capitalist social formations. It is further argued—from the very nature of the capitalist process—that the transformation of spatial forms should be viewed as a process of evolution through instabilities and fluctuations. Accordingly, there is a sound theoretical motivation for experimenting with ‘dissipative structures’ and catastrophe theory. The basic ideas of nonequilibrium thermodynamics and dissipative structures are presented via two simple mathematical models. The latter do not intend to formalize Marx's or Schumpeter's theory. Their only function in the discourse of this paper is to illustrate how the ideas of structural determination, crises, and qualitative change can be captured in rigorous mathematical terms.

scholarly journals The limits of computation: A philosophical critique of contemporary Big Data research

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 205395171881184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petter Törnberg ◽  
Anton Törnberg
Keyword(s):  
Big Data ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Qualitative Change ◽  
Philosophical Discussion ◽  
Philosophical Critique ◽  
Social Phenomena ◽  
Social Patterns ◽  
Digital Era

This paper reviews the contemporary discussion on the epistemological and ontological effects of Big Data within social science, observing an increased focus on relationality and complexity, and a tendency to naturalize social phenomena. The epistemic limits of this emerging computational paradigm are outlined through a comparison with the discussions in the early days of digitalization, when digital technology was primarily seen through the lens of dematerialization, and as part of the larger processes of “postmodernity”. Since then, the online landscape has become increasingly centralized, and the “liquidity” of dematerialized technology has come to empower online platforms in shaping the conditions for human behavior. This contrast between the contemporary epistemological currents and the previous philosophical discussions brings to the fore contradictions within the study of digital social life: While qualitative change has become increasingly dominant, the focus has gone towards quantitative methods; while the platforms have become empowered to shape social behavior, the focus has gone from social context to naturalizing social patterns; while meaning is increasingly contested and fragmented, the role of hermeneutics has diminished; while platforms have become power hubs pursuing their interests through sophisticated data manipulation, the data they provide is increasingly trusted to hold the keys to understanding social life. These contradictions, we argue, are partially the result of a lack of philosophical discussion on the nature of social reality in the digital era; only from a firm metatheoretical perspective can we avoid forgetting the reality of the system under study as we are affected by the powerful social life of Big Data.

scholarly journals The human factor in SCM

2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 238-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timm Schorsch ◽  
Carl Marcus Wallenburg ◽  
Andreas Wieland
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chain Management ◽  
Research Field ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Comprehensive Overview ◽  
Social Phenomena ◽  
Chain Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Opportunities ◽  
Meta Theory

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to advance supply chain management by describing the current state of behavioral supply chain management (BSCM) research and paving the way for future contributions by developing a meta-theory for this important field. Design/methodology/approach The results are generated by applying the systematic literature review methodology and an iterative theory-building approach involving a panel of academics. Findings This review provides a comprehensive overview of the BSCM research landscape. Additionally, a meta-theory of BSCM is presented that encompasses all central elements of the research field and introduces the concept of emergence to the field of BSCM. Furthermore, five promising future research opportunities are formulated. Research limitations/implications The critical discussions and the formulated research opportunities will help scholars in positioning their research to enhance its contribution. Practical implications Results from this research indicate that supply chain decisions benefit from explicit consideration for cognitive and social phenomena. Originality/value This review is the first to provide a comprehensive overview of the field of BSCM research and facilitates BSCM in advancing further.

Spatial Terms

2019 ◽  
pp. 113-123
Author(s):  
Myrto Grigoroglou ◽  
Anna Papafragou
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Cognition ◽  
Spatial Relations ◽  
Spatial Language ◽  
Frames Of Reference ◽  
Dynamic Displacement ◽  
Spatial Coordinate ◽  
Semantic Domain ◽  
Space Motion ◽  
Spatial Configurations ◽  
Spatial Terms

Across the world’s languages, spatial terms are organized around a set of basic, non-linguistic spatial notions. Nevertheless, there is also considerable cross-linguistic variation in terms of both the kinds of linguistic devices used to express spatial relations and the way these devices carve up the semantic domain of space. This chapter reviews literature on spatial terms cross-linguistically, focusing on three main sub-divisions of the spatial domain: location (i.e. the static position of an object in space); motion (i.e. the dynamic displacement of an object in space); and Frames of Reference (FoR; i.e. abstract spatial-coordinate axes imposed on spatial configurations). The intricate relation between spatial language and non-linguistic spatial cognition is discussed throughout the chapter.

scholarly journals Praxis und Form

2013 ◽  
Vol 43 (172) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Sreckeisen
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Social Science ◽  
Rational Choice Theory ◽  
Choice Theory ◽  
The Other ◽  
Crucial Importance ◽  
Marxian Theory ◽  
Theory Of Practice ◽  
Social Forms ◽  
Economic Imperialism

It makes sense to combine Marx and Bourdieu in order to analyze capitalism and criticize economics. Whereas Marx reveals the crucial importance of social forms and capital fetishism, Bourdieu’s theory of practice serves as theoretical antidote to rational choice theory in economics and other social sciences. Furthermore Bourdieu convincingly criticizes Marxism for its inability to overcome theoretical oppositions like idealism vs. materialism. On the other hand Bourdieu’s theory of capital contributes to the proliferation of capital concepts in social science and contains some degree of complicity with economic imperialism that can be questioned by Marxian theory.

scholarly journals Capital theory and rational choice

Sociologija ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-204
Author(s):  
Natasa Golubovic
Keyword(s):  
Rational Choice ◽  
Rational Choice Theory ◽  
Choice Theory ◽  
Economic Science ◽  
Marxian Theory ◽  
Social Phenomena ◽  
Capital Theory ◽  
The One ◽  
The Individual

Almost from the very beginning of economic science the notion of capital has been the subject of numerous controversies. The main reason for the concept's controversial nature is that it explains interest and profit. In Marxian theory, where 'manner of production' determines forms of activities, mutual relationships and life of individuals, capital appears as a social phenomenon i.e. social relation. Goods and money are not capital by themselves but become capital in the capitalist way of production. Economics mainstream is based on methodological individualism upon which explanation of social phenomena and processes must be derived from individual behavior and motivation. Capital, therefore, is not a product of capitalism as a socially and historically specific form of economic organization, but is rather perceived as connected to the individual and his or her rational behavior. Rational choice is the basic and sometimes the only explanatory factor in the neoclassic theories of capital. Although theories of human and cultural capital point out the interdependence between individual activity and choice on the one hand, and social position on the other hand in the process of capitalization, the connection remains in the background and somehow unclear. A more explicit indication of the interdependence between social structure and choice can be found in the theory of social capital. The goal of this paper is to explore the role of rational choice theory in explaining the nature of capital.

“What” Effects on “Where”: Functional Influences on Spatial Relations

1999 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 516-521 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura A. Carlson-Radvansky ◽  
Eric S. Covey ◽  
Kathleen M. Lattanzi
Keyword(s):  
Center Of Mass ◽  
Spatial Location ◽  
Spatial Relations ◽  
The Other ◽  
Reference Object ◽  
Geometric Feature ◽  
Topological Features ◽  
Spatial Configurations ◽  
The Way

Spatial relations indicate the location of an object by specifying its direction with respect to a reference object whose location is known. It has been largely assumed that specific features of these objects are generally ignored in descriptions of spatial location. Within such a view, spatial relations can be described in terms of geometric or topological features that are not dependent on object details such as function. We demonstrate in two experiments that a geometric feature (center of mass) is not sufficient. Using two different tasks, we show that the function of the reference object and its relationship with the other object significantly influence the way in which vertical spatial relations (“above” and “below”) are applied to spatial configurations.

The spatial and temporal patterning of the deep crust and implications for the process of melt extraction

2010 ◽  
Vol 368 (1910) ◽  
pp. 11-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Brown
Keyword(s):  
Shear Failure ◽  
Spatial Relations ◽  
Dissipative Structures ◽  
Melt Flow ◽  
Temporal Patterning ◽  
Melt Extraction ◽  
Self Organized ◽  
Deep Crust ◽  
Initial Melting ◽  
Increasing Temperature

Volumetrically significant melt production requires crustal temperatures above approximately 800 ° C. At the grain scale, the former presence of melt may be inferred based on various microstructures, particularly pseudomorphs of melt pores and grain-boundary melt films. In residual migmatites and granulites, evidence of melt-extraction pathways at outcrop scale is recorded by crystallized products of melt (leucosome) and residual material from which melt has drained (melanosome). These features form networks or arrays that potentially demonstrate the temporal and spatial relations between deformation and melting. As melt volume increases at sites of initial melting, the feedback between deformation and melting creates a dynamic rheological environment owing to localization and strain-rate weakening. With increasing temperature, melt volume increases to the melt connectivity transition, in the range of 2–7 vol% melt, at which point melt may escape in the first of several melt-loss events, where each event represents a batch of melt that left the source and ascended higher in the crust. Each contributing process has characteristic length and time scales, and it is the nonlinear interactions and feedback relations among them that give rise to the dissipative structures and episodicity of melt-extraction events that are recorded as variations in the spatial and temporal patterning of the crust. Focused melt flow occurs by dilatant shear failure of low-melt fraction rocks creating melt-flow networks that allow accumulation and storage of melt, and form the link for melt flow from grain boundaries to veins allowing drainage to crustal-scale ascent conduits. Preliminary indications suggest that anatectic systems are strongly self-organized from the bottom up, becoming more ordered by decreasing the number and increasing the width of ascent conduits from the anatectic zone through the overlying subsolidus crust to the ductile-to-brittle transition zone, where the melt accumulates in plutons.

Rethinking Space: A Review of Perception, Attention, and Memory in Scene Processing

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 563-586
Author(s):  
Monica S. Castelhano ◽  
Karolina Krzyś
Keyword(s):  
Semantic Information ◽  
Scene Perception ◽  
Spatial Relations ◽  
Spatial Layout ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Attention And Memory ◽  
Spatial Configurations ◽  
Advance Research ◽  
Scene Processing ◽  
Clear Differentiation

Scene processing is fundamentally influenced and constrained by spatial layout and spatial associations with objects. However, semantic information has played a vital role in propelling our understanding of real-world scene perception forward. In this article, we review recent advances in assessing how spatial layout and spatial relations influence scene processing. We examine the organization of the larger environment and how we take full advantage of spatial configurations independently of semantic information. We demonstrate that a clear differentiation of spatial from semantic information is necessary to advance research in the field of scene processing.

Host Identity Protocol

2011 ◽  
pp. 247-272
Author(s):  
László Bokor ◽  
Szabolcs Nováczki ◽  
Sándor Imre
Keyword(s):  
Mobility Management ◽  
Separation Technique ◽  
Next Generation ◽  
Comprehensive Overview ◽  
Internet Architecture ◽  
Host Identity Protocol ◽  
Host Identity ◽  
Basic Ideas ◽  
Management Capabilities ◽  
Broad Scale

This chapter is committed to give a comprehensive overview of the Host Identity Protocol (HIP), to introduce the basic ideas and the main paradigms behind it, and to show how HIP emerges from the list of potential alternatives with its wild range of possible usability in next generation mobile architectures. The broad scale of feasible advanced mobility management proposals and scenarios, together with the promising mobility management capabilities of HIP and its cryptographic identifier/locator separation technique, will be introduced based on an exhaustive survey of existing mobility solutions designed for the Host Identity Protocol. This broad and up-to-date outline of advanced HIP-based mobility supporting schemes will guide the readers from the basics of HIP through the protocol’s main functions to its complex feature set and power to create a novel Internet architecture for future mobility-centric communications.

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