Empirical Evidence against a Cognitivist Theory of Desire and Action

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy Schroeder
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Theory Of Action ◽  
Neural Pathways ◽  
Cognitive Representation ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Specific Instance ◽  
Theories Of Action

This chapter considers T. M. Scanlon’s (1998) theory of action as a specific instance of cognitivist theories of action. It raises an unusual sort of objection to Scanlon’s cognitivism and its nearest philosophical neighbors: given what is known about the low-level neuroscience of action, there is no reasonable way to interpret the brain’s action-producing neural pathways consistent with this sort of theory. Interpreting the action-producing neural pathways as requiring a cognitive representation of reasons to be involved in action production meets a variety of objections, depending on just which parts of the action-producing neural pathways one interprets as these cognitions about reasons. The chapter proposes that a desire-based interpretation of the neural pathways addresses the obstacles raised to Scanlonian and related cognitivisms and suggests that a desire-based theory of action is thus preferable.

scholarly journals A neurocognitive model of ideological thinking

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Leor Zmigrod
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Motivational Factors ◽  
Cognitive Systems ◽  
Social Forces ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Cognitive Principles ◽  
High Level ◽  
Ideological Attitudes ◽  
The Brain

Abstract Ideological behavior has traditionally been viewed as a product of social forces. Nonetheless, an emerging science suggests that ideological worldviews can also be understood in terms of neural and cognitive principles. The article proposes a neurocognitive model of ideological thinking, arguing that ideological worldviews may be manifestations of individuals’ perceptual and cognitive systems. This model makes two claims. First, there are neurocognitive antecedents to ideological thinking: the brain’s low-level neurocognitive dispositions influence its receptivity to ideological doctrines. Second, there are neurocognitive consequences to ideological engagement: strong exposure and adherence to ideological doctrines can shape perceptual and cognitive systems. This article details the neurocognitive model of ideological thinking and synthesizes the empirical evidence in support of its claims. The model postulates that there are bidirectional processes between the brain and the ideological environment, and so it can address the roles of situational and motivational factors in ideologically motivated action. This endeavor highlights that an interdisciplinary neurocognitive approach to ideologies can facilitate biologically informed accounts of the ideological brain and thus reveal who is most susceptible to extreme and authoritarian ideologies. By investigating the relationships between low-level perceptual processes and high-level ideological attitudes, we can develop a better grasp of our collective history as well as the mechanisms that may structure our political futures.

Determinants of E-Commerce Adoption among Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Malaysia

2010 ◽  
pp. 67-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sim Chia Hua ◽  
Modapothala Jashua Rajesh ◽  
Lau Bee Theng
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Electronic Commerce ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Developing Nations ◽  
Internal Factors ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Gender And Education ◽  
Large Corporations

With a major proportion of research on Electronic Commerce (EC) undertaken on large corporations, and focused primarily on developed countries, little is known about the determinants of EC in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) of developing nations. This chapter explores the extent of EC use by SMEs, and provides some empirical evidence of how internal factors of firm and owner are influencing EC adoption among smaller businesses in Malaysia. The methodology and results of this study may be applicable to other developing countries. Findings confirm the low level of participation in EC by SMEs. The age of enterprise, as well as the owner’s gender and education were found to be significant in determining the level of EC adoption. Though some of the results contradict those of previous studies, they may have a greater implication for government authorities in drawing up guidelines, approaches, and formulating more effective frameworks to promote EC use among SMEs in developing countries.

The Efficacy of a Low-Level Program Visualization Tool for Teaching Programming Concepts to Novice C Programmers

2000 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 187-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip A. Smith ◽  
Geoffrey I. Webb
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Experimental Confirmation ◽  
Program Execution ◽  
Visualization Tool ◽  
Program Visualization ◽  
Low Level ◽  
The Past ◽  
New Concepts ◽  
Visualization Tools

It is widely agreed that learning to program is difficult. Program visualization tools make visible aspects of program execution which are often hidden from the user. While several program visualization tools aimed at novice programmers have been developed over the past decade there is little empirical evidence showing that novices actually benefit from their use [1]. In this article we describe a “Glass-box Interpreter” called Bradman. An experiment is presented which tests the efficacy of Bradman in assisting novice programmers learn programming concepts. We show that students that used the glass-box interpreter achieved greater understanding of some programming concepts than those without access. We also give evidence that the student's ability to assimilate new concepts was enhanced by exposure to the glass-box interpreter. This is experimental confirmation that such tools are beneficial in helping novices learn programming.

Reasons and Action Explanation

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Wald ◽  
Sergio Tenenbaum
Keyword(s):  
Intentional Action ◽  
Theory Of Action ◽  
Action Explanation ◽  
Theories Of Action ◽  
Causal Theories

The problem of deviant causation has been a serious obstacle for causal theories of action. We suggest that attending to the problem of deviant causation reveals two related problems for causal theories. First, it threatens the reductive ambitions of causal theories of intentional action. Second, it suggests that such a theory fails to account for how the agent herself is guided by her reasons. Focusing on the second of these, we argue that the problem of guidance turns out to be related to a number of other issues in the literature on action explanation, and that it is much more general: it threatens not only causal theories but any theory of action. Finally, we suggest that a certain version of the view that acting has a constitutive or formal aim can overcome this problem.

scholarly journals Scepticism in CSR Advertisements

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (49) ◽  
pp. 10
Author(s):  
Francisca Farache
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Communication Theory ◽  
Print Advertisements ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Csr Communication ◽  
The Uk

The aim of the present paper is to make a contribution to CSR communication theory by investigating the level of substantial information provided in CSR print advertisements in the UK and Brazil. The paper evaluates CSR advertisements using textual analysis.The empirical evidence demonstrates that companies provide a low level of substantial information when advertising CSR.The paper provides empirical evidence as to the extent that corporations use substantial information in their advertisements.

Democracy and the Transnational Dimensions of Low-Level Conflict and State Repression

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Roessler ◽  
Patrick Zwerschke ◽  
Jonathan Old
Keyword(s):  
Simple Model ◽  
Panel Data ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
The Other ◽  
State Repression ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Opposing Effects ◽  
Conflict Intensity

Abstract This paper examines the transnational dimensions of low-level conflict and state repression. In this regard, special emphasis is placed on the role of political regimes. Drawing on a simple model, we argue that democracy has opposing effects on conflict intensity. On one hand, democracy satisfies demand for political participation and thus reduces conflict potential, while, on the other hand, we highlight that domestic democracy may spur dissatisfaction and conflict abroad, which, in turn, may induce conflict spillovers. As a result, the net effect of democracy on low-level conflict and state repression is ambiguous and depends on the level of democracy in the neighborhood: We predict that democracy is more pacifying in democratic environments and may spur conflict in autocratic environments. By the symmetry of the model, we also predict that democratic environments are more pacifying for democratic countries and may spur conflict in autocracies. Empirical evidence using panel data on different types of low-level conflict and state repression for 160 countries in the period from 1950 to 2011 supports these hypotheses. Additionally, two case studies illustrate the mechanisms of our model.

Some Philosophical Prerequisites for a Sociological Theory of Action

2002 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
William I. Torry
Keyword(s):  
Social Determinants ◽  
Sociological Theory ◽  
Legal Responsibility ◽  
Theory Of Action ◽  
Personal Factors ◽  
Analytical Philosophy ◽  
Responsibility Attribution ◽  
Theories Of Action

AbstractDrawing on the work of three prominent sociological theorists, the paper elaborates on outstanding flaws in sociological theories of action and agency. These concern a penchant for according social determinants considerably more import than intra-personal factors in explanations of action etiology. Such overly-deterministic perspectives on action, it is argued, can carry little weight in moots over moral and legal responsibility. Analytical philosophy is consulted for guidance on the task of constructing sociological theories of action properly mindful of the internal, psychological realities involved in the production of actions and in the practices of responsibility attribution.

scholarly journals Witgenstein on intention and theory of action

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (RL. 2020. vol.1. no. 2) ◽  
pp. 88-94
Author(s):  
Kirill Rodin
Keyword(s):  
Essential Role ◽  
Theory Of Action ◽  
General Context ◽  
Intentional States ◽  
Theories Of Action ◽  
Action Theories

In the article we examine Wittgenstein's notes on several action theories in general context of intentional states. We show (based on the articles of Michael Scott) that the kinesthetic theory of action and theories of innervation, which were the object of criticism of Wittgenstein, do not play an essential role for understanding Wittgenstein's texts and therefore in this case the influence of historical and philosophical reconstruction on the understanding of Wittgenstein's corresponding notes can be considered insignificant. Late Wittgenstein's texts are directed against comparatively universal methodological and metaphysical principles. And therefore, criticism of theories of action can only serve as an optional illustration and an optional precondition for interpretation and understanding.

scholarly journals Indo-SAARC Trade Trend during COVID-19 Era

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 195-198
Author(s):  
Dr. Vipin Sharma
Keyword(s):  
South Asia ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
South Asian ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
The South ◽  
Regional Trade ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Asian Nation ◽  
Trading Partners ◽  
Over Time

Nations and territories in South Asia have been influenced by the covid-19 pandemic. The first South Asian nation to report an affirmed case was Nepal and India was the first South Asian nation to overwhelm China regarding the number of Covid-19 cases. The SAARC Intra-Regional Trade was at that point drifting around an extremely low level at less than 5 percent, the flare-up of Covid-19, further influenced the intra-regional trade in South Asia. The present study will examine India’s trade trend with the South Asian nation during the Covid-19 era. The South Asian countries are undergoing through covid-19 pandemic since November 2019. The empirical evidence shows that this has led to an increased India’s trade trend in these countries. Surprisingly, though the trade between India-SAARC has not grown substantially, there has been a change in the significance of India's trading partners over time

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