Universal Concepts and Particular Processes

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald C. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Physical World ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Constant Flux ◽  
Traditional Problem

This chapter is a continuing discussion on the topic of the ontology of universals, but with special focus on process and change in reality. The traditional problem of change is posed in terms of how the constant flux of the physical world can be grasped in clear, static, and intelligible ways. The theory of universals that was sketched in Chapter 3 is taken up and elaborated. It is argued that the problem of change and an explanation for how the flux can be grasped using universal concepts can be had by a trope-theoretic account of universals. The legitimacy of the intellect and of universal concepts can thereby be upheld without positing a Platonic realm of objects.

scholarly journals Dekonstruksie van tradisionele probleem- realiteite: ’n Narratief-pastorale perspektief

2002 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
J.J. De Jager ◽  
J.C. Muller
Keyword(s):  
Social Constructionism ◽  
Narrative Research ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Epistemological Perspective ◽  
Traditional Problem ◽  
Practical Research ◽  
Therapeutic Processes

Deconstruction of traditional problem realities: A narrative-pastoral perspectiveThis article serves as an introduction to qualitative narrative research from a postmodern epistemological perspective. The research is directed at four pastoral-therapeutic processes and the stories told as part of those processes. Special focus is placed on the construction and deconstruction of problems in the fields of action: authority; typification; institutionalization. Perspectives regarding narrative, social constructionism, deconstruction and post-modern theology, are explained. The article positions itself in the practical research-processes.

scholarly journals Ravens parallel great apes in physical and social cognitive skills

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone Pika ◽  
Miriam Jennifer Sima ◽  
Christian R. Blum ◽  
Esther Herrmann ◽  
Roger Mundry
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Cognitive Skills ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Animal Cognition ◽  
Great Apes ◽  
Physical World ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Large Scale Assessment ◽  
The Impact

AbstractHuman children show unique cognitive skills for dealing with the social world but their cognitive performance is paralleled by great apes in many tasks dealing with the physical world. Recent studies suggested that members of a songbird family—corvids—also evolved complex cognitive skills but a detailed understanding of the full scope of their cognition was, until now, not existent. Furthermore, relatively little is known about their cognitive development. Here, we conducted the first systematic, quantitative large-scale assessment of physical and social cognitive performance of common ravens with a special focus on development. To do so, we fine-tuned one of the most comprehensive experimental test-batteries, the Primate Cognition Test Battery (PCTB), to raven features enabling also a direct, quantitative comparison with the cognitive performance of two great ape species. Full-blown cognitive skills were already present at the age of four months with subadult ravens’ cognitive performance appearing very similar to that of adult apes in tasks of physical (quantities, and causality) and social cognition (social learning, communication, and theory of mind). These unprecedented findings strengthen recent assessments of ravens’ general intelligence, and aid to the growing evidence that the lack of a specific cortical architecture does not hinder advanced cognitive skills. Difficulties in certain cognitive scales further emphasize the quest to develop comparative test batteries that tap into true species rather than human specific cognitive skills, and suggest that socialization of test individuals may play a crucial role. We conclude to pay more attention to the impact of personality on cognitive output, and a currently neglected topic in Animal Cognition—the linkage between ontogeny and cognitive performance.

Current concepts of the interventional treatment of proximal supraaortic vessel stenosis

VASA ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. 313-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ernemann ◽  
Bender ◽  
Melms ◽  
Brechtel ◽  
Kobba ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Carotid Bifurcation ◽  
Current Treatment ◽  
Long Term Results ◽  
Clinical Indication ◽  
Interventional Treatment ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Brachiocephalic Artery ◽  
Treatment Concepts ◽  
Angioplasty And Stenting

Interventional therapies using angioplasty and stenting of symptomatic stenosis of the proximal supraaortic vessels have evolved as safe and effective treatment strategies. The aim of this paper is to summarize the current treatment concepts for stenosis in the subclavian and brachiocephalic artery with regard to clinical indication, interventional technique including selection of the appropriate vascular approach and type of stent, angiographic and clinical short-term and long-term results and follow-up. The role of hybrid interventions for tandem stenoses of the carotid bifurcation and brachiocephalic artery is analysed. A systematic review of data for angioplasty and stenting of symptomatic extracranial vertebral artery stenosis is discussed with a special focus on restenosis rate.

Acquisition and Use of Mental Operators: Effects of Type of Practice

2002 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Burkhard Müller ◽  
Jürgen Gehrke
Keyword(s):  
Mental Models ◽  
Test Performance ◽  
Physical World ◽  
Test Phase ◽  
Acquisition Phase ◽  
Practice Test ◽  
Subsequent Test ◽  
Use Of Knowledge

Abstract. Planning interactions with the physical world requires knowledge about operations; in short, mental operators. Abstractness of content and directionality of access are two important properties to characterize the representational units of this kind of knowledge. Combining these properties allows four classes of knowledge units to be distinguished that can be found in the literature: (a) rules, (b) mental models or schemata, (c) instances, and (d) episodes or chunks. The influence of practicing alphabet-arithmetic operators in a prognostic, diagnostic, or retrognostic way (A + 2 = ?, A? = C, or ? + 2 = C, respectively) on the use of that knowledge in a subsequent test was used to assess the importance of these dimensions. At the beginning, the retrognostic use of knowledge was worse than the prognostic use, although identical operations were involved (A + 2 = ? vs. ? - 2 = A). This disadvantage was reduced with increased practice. Test performance was best if the task and the letter pairs were the same as in the acquisition phase. Overall, the findings support theories proposing multiple representational units of mental operators. The disadvantage for the retrognosis task was recovered in the test phase, and may be evidence for the importance of the order of events independent of the order of experience.

Social Psychology and Noninvasive Electrical Stimulation

2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulo S. Boggio ◽  
Gabriel G. Rêgo ◽  
Lucas M. Marques ◽  
Thiago L. Costa
Keyword(s):  
Social Psychology ◽  
Social Neuroscience ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Social Pain ◽  
Substantial Evidence ◽  
Social Decision ◽  
Correlational Research ◽  
Neuroscience Research ◽  
Social Decision Making ◽  
Brain Behavior

Abstract. Social neuroscience and psychology have made substantial advances in the last few decades. Nonetheless, the field has relied mostly on behavioral, imaging, and other correlational research methods. Here we argue that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is an effective and relevant technique to be used in this field of research, allowing for the establishment of more causal brain-behavior relationships than can be achieved with most of the techniques used in this field. We review relevant brain stimulation-aided research in the fields of social pain, social interaction, prejudice, and social decision-making, with a special focus on tDCS. Despite the fact that the use of tDCS in Social Neuroscience and Psychology studies is still in its early days, results are promising. As better understanding of the processes behind social cognition becomes increasingly necessary due to political, clinical, and even philosophical demands, the fact that tDCS is arguably rare in Social Neuroscience research is very noteworthy. This review aims at inspiring researchers to employ tDCS in the investigation of issues within Social Neuroscience. We present substantial evidence that tDCS is indeed an appropriate tool for this purpose.

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