From Possible Causes II

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander R. Pruss ◽  
Joshua L. Rasmussen
Keyword(s):  
General Principle ◽  
Causal Order ◽  
Causal Principle ◽  
Necessary Being ◽  
Previous Argument

The chapter searches for the logically weakest causal principle that can be found that would establish the existence of a necessary being. First the most general principle of causation is presented and then a series of increasingly weaker versions are proposed. The goal of the chapter is to provide one of the most modest causal principles on which there is at least some causal order. It is then shown how to use such a principle to construct an argument for a necessary being. As usual, various objections and replies are considered, and an advantage is drawn out of this argument with a demonstration of how someone could have reason to accept the very weak causal principle even if they do not accept any causal principle in any previous argument for a necessary being.

A Cosmological Argument against Physicalism

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mats Wahlberg
Keyword(s):  
Physical Phenomenon ◽  
Sufficient Reason ◽  
Physical Effect ◽  
Cosmological Argument ◽  
Causal Principle ◽  
Restricted Version ◽  
Necessary Being ◽  
Principle Of Sufficient Reason ◽  
Sufficient Cause ◽  
Causal Closure

In this article, I present a Leibnizian cosmological argument to the conclusion that either the totality of physical beings has a non-physical cause, or a necessary being exists. The crucial premise of the argument is a restricted version of the Principle of Sufficient Reason, namely the claim that every contingent physical phenomenon has a sufficient cause (PSR-P). I defend this principle by comparing it with a causal principle that is fundamental for physicalism, namely the Causal Closure of Physics, which says that every physical effect has a sufficient physical cause (CC). I find that the evidence for Causal Closure is weaker than the evidence for PSR-P, which means that physicalists who take CC to be justified must concede that PSR-P is also justified, and to a higher degree. Since my Leibnizian cosmological argument succeeds if PSR-P is granted, I conclude that physicalists must either give up CC and thereby physicalism, or accept that a necessary being exists.

From Modal Uniformity

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander R. Pruss ◽  
Joshua L. Rasmussen
Keyword(s):  
General Principle ◽  
Critical Assessment ◽  
Finite Degree ◽  
Necessary Being ◽  
Additional Support ◽  
The Way

This chapter gives a ‘modal uniformity’ tool for assessing claims about what is possible. This tool is based upon the general principle that differences in mere finite degree do not normally make a difference with respect to possibility or necessity. The tool is sharpened by the provision of some conditions for exceptions to the general principle. The way to use this sharpened tool to provide additional support for previous arguments for a necessary being is then shown. A critical assessment follows of whether one could use the tool to construct a ‘subtraction’ argument against the existence of a necessary being; and then there is an explanation of why the argument against a necessary being faces asymmetric challenges.

Multifunctional metal–organic framework heterostructures for enhanced cancer therapy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jintong Liu ◽  
Jing Huang ◽  
Lei Zhang ◽  
Jianping Lei
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Therapy ◽  
General Principle ◽  
Biomedical Applications ◽  
Metal Organic Framework ◽  
Metal Organic ◽  
Functional Modulation ◽  
Organic Framework

We review the general principle of the design and functional modulation of nanoscaled MOF heterostructures, and biomedical applications in enhanced therapy.

Assessing the Link Between Perception and Production in Cantonese Tone Acquisition

2019 ◽  
Vol 62 (5) ◽  
pp. 1243-1257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peggy Pik Ki Mok ◽  
Holly Sze Ho Fung ◽  
Vivian Guo Li
Keyword(s):  
Language Acquisition ◽  
General Principle ◽  
Choice Task ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Tone Pair ◽  
Tone Production ◽  
Monosyllabic Words ◽  
Early Production ◽  
Forced Choice Task ◽  
Production Accuracy

Purpose Previous studies showed early production precedes late perception in Cantonese tone acquisition, contrary to the general principle that perception precedes production in child language. How tone production and perception are linked in 1st language acquisition remains largely unknown. Our study revisited the acquisition of tone in Cantonese-speaking children, exploring the possible link between production and perception in 1st language acquisition. Method One hundred eleven Cantonese-speaking children aged between 2;0 and 6;0 (years;months) and 10 adolescent reference speakers participated in tone production and perception experiments. Production materials with 30 monosyllabic words were transcribed in filtered and unfiltered conditions by 2 native judges. Perception accuracy was based on a 2-alternative forced-choice task with pictures covering all possible tone pair contrasts. Results Children's accuracy of production and perception of all the 6 Cantonese tones was still not adultlike by age 6;0. Both production and perception accuracies matured with age. A weak positive link was found between the 2 accuracies. Mother's native language contributed to children's production accuracy. Conclusions Our findings show that production and perception abilities are associated in tone acquisition. Further study is needed to explore factors affecting production accuracy in children. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.7960826

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