The Evolution and Exploitation of Transcendence

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory Gorelik
Keyword(s):  
Theory Of Mind ◽  
Human Development ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Transcendent Experience ◽  
And Function ◽  
The Relationship

This chapter discusses the transcendent experience, which is defined as an ego-dissolving encounter with something greater than one’s self. The transcendent experience is cross-cultural and panhistorical. This chapter presents a model describing the evolution and function of various evolved modes of transcendence, such as group-directed transcendence, theory of mind (ToM) transcendence, aesthetic transcendence, and epistemic transcendence. It then discusses the susceptibility of these modes of transcendence to costly exploitation by selfish individuals. The ensuing sections discuss the relationship between transcendence and human development across the lifespan, and concludes with some thoughts on the epistemic and ethical utility of transcendence.

Wisdom and culture

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Igor Grossmann ◽  
Franki Y. H. Kung
Keyword(s):  
Human Development ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Folk Beliefs ◽  
Psychological Phenomena ◽  
Culturally Grounded ◽  
Pragmatic Reasoning ◽  
And Function ◽  
Social Components

Wisdom is often considered to be the pinnacle of human development. Though it is universally cherished, it is unclear whether the concept of wisdom can be applied similarly across cultures. We review the emerging research on this topic, exploring extant scholarly definitions, portrayals of wisdom in the world’s philosophies, folk beliefs concerning wisdom and its development, and empirical insights evaluating expression of wisdom-related characteristics. There appears to be a large amount of convergence in scholarly and cross-cultural folk concepts, suggesting that wisdom involves certain aspects of pragmatic reasoning, with less clarity concerning emotion regulatory and prosocial aspects of wisdom. Folk beliefs about wisdom vary across cultures in the degree to which they emphasize social components and characterize development of wisdom as an incremental ability (vs. an immutable entity). Cultures also vary in the likelihood of expressing wisdom. We conclude by calling for a culturally-grounded understanding of the distribution and function of wisdom-related psychological phenomena.

scholarly journals Is Religion Always an Authoritarian Pursuit? Individual and Contextual Moderators of the Relationship Between Authoritarianism and Religiosity

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Federico ◽  
Rafael Aguilera ◽  
Hui Bai
Keyword(s):  
Human Development ◽  
Religious Involvement ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
World Values Survey ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Contextual Variation ◽  
The World ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Contextual Moderators

Social scientists have devoted much attention to explaining individual and contextual variation in religiosity. Among other things, research suggests that authoritarianism is reliably associated with greater religiosity, whereas education and human development are associated with less religiosity. In this study, we explore the possibility that the relationship between authoritarianism and various indices of religiosity may be stronger in the presence of greater educational attainment and living in a society with a higher level of human development, even though the latter two variables are often thought to reduce religiosity: Using two large cross-cultural datasets from the World Values Survey, we find evidence that authoritarianism is more strongly associated with religious involvement and practice among individuals at higher levels of education and individuals living in societies with higher level of human development. In doing so, we demonstrate that the connection between authoritarianism and religiosity is contingent on both individual-level and societal moderators.

The Riverrun of Rewriting Scripture: From Textual Cannibalism to Scriptural Completion

2012 ◽  
Vol 43 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 475-496 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anders Klostergaard Petersen
Keyword(s):  
Second Temple ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Jewish Literature ◽  
Theoretical Discussion ◽  
Third Order ◽  
Form And Function ◽  
The Status ◽  
The One ◽  
And Function ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract To retain the concept of rewritten Bible as a scholarly category it is not only crucial to slightly change the name of the notion by re-designating it “rewritten Scripture” but also to accord the term the status of a cross-cultural third-order concept. This will allow research to detach the notion from its somewhat current “parochial” nature intrinsically linked as it is to the study of Second Temple Jewish literature. Rewritten Scripture should be conceived of as an excessive form of intertextuality that signifies the relationship existing between scriptural predecessor and rewritten piece with respect to the question of authority. Apart from advancing the theoretical discussion of the nomenclature, the essay takes a fresh look at a moot point that has loomed large in previous debates, whether rewritten Scripture strives to replace its scriptural predecessor or aims to complement it in an irenic fashion. The acknowledgement of some aspectualism grants legitimacy to both viewpoints, when they are rightfully understood within their proper perspectives. Finally, the article engages in typological considerations that will allow us to distinguish between three continua defined by respectively content, form, and function. Each constitutes a continuum on its own that advantageously may be segmented by several caesuras, which will allow us to differentiate between irenic scriptural completion at the one end of the spectrum and scriptural cannibalism at the other end of the spectrum. The fact that two works belonging to the category diverge on one continuum does not imply a corresponding divergence at other continua.

Cognitive gadgets: A provocative but flawed manifesto

2019 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Del Giudice
Keyword(s):  
Theory Of Mind ◽  
Cultural Differences ◽  
Twin Studies ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Evolutionary Approach ◽  
Genetic Inheritance ◽  
Double Standards ◽  
Cross Cultural Differences ◽  
Cherry Picking ◽  
Dichotomous Thinking

Abstract The argument against innatism at the heart of Cognitive Gadgets is provocative but premature, and is vitiated by dichotomous thinking, interpretive double standards, and evidence cherry-picking. I illustrate my criticism by addressing the heritability of imitation and mindreading, the relevance of twin studies, and the meaning of cross-cultural differences in theory of mind development. Reaching an integrative understanding of genetic inheritance, plasticity, and learning is a formidable task that demands a more nuanced evolutionary approach.

Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) of DNA and RNA

1989 ◽  
Vol 47 ◽  
pp. 34-35
Author(s):  
Patricia G. Arscott ◽  
Gil Lee ◽  
Victor A. Bloomfield ◽  
D. Fennell Evans
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Structures ◽  
Inorganic Materials ◽  
Resolving Power ◽  
Scanning Tunneling ◽  
Tunneling Microscopy ◽  
Form And Function ◽  
Dna And Rna ◽  
Calf Thymus ◽  
And Function ◽  
The Relationship

STM is one of the most promising techniques available for visualizing the fine details of biomolecular structure. It has been used to map the surface topography of inorganic materials in atomic dimensions, and thus has the resolving power not only to determine the conformation of small molecules but to distinguish site-specific features within a molecule. That level of detail is of critical importance in understanding the relationship between form and function in biological systems. The size, shape, and accessibility of molecular structures can be determined much more accurately by STM than by electron microscopy since no staining, shadowing or labeling with heavy metals is required, and there is no exposure to damaging radiation by electrons. Crystallography and most other physical techniques do not give information about individual molecules.We have obtained striking images of DNA and RNA, using calf thymus DNA and two synthetic polynucleotides, poly(dG-me5dC)·poly(dG-me5dC) and poly(rA)·poly(rU).

Of Frames and Cultures - A Cross-Cultural Comparison of TV Newscasts

2006 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 160-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Senokozlieva ◽  
Oliver Fischer ◽  
Gary Bente ◽  
Nicole Krämer
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Arab World ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Cultural Comparison ◽  
Explorative Study ◽  
Cross Cultural Comparison ◽  
Tv News ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract. TV news are essentially cultural phenomena. Previous research suggests that the often-overlooked formal and implicit characteristics of newscasts may be systematically related to culture-specific characteristics. Investigating these characteristics by means of a frame-by-frame content analysis is identified as a particularly promising methodological approach. To examine the relationship between culture and selected formal characteristics of newscasts, we present an explorative study that compares material from the USA, the Arab world, and Germany. Results indicate that there are many significant differences, some of which are in line with expectations derived from cultural specifics. Specifically, we argue that the number of persons presented as well as the context in which they are presented can be interpreted as indicators of Individualism/Collectivism. The conclusions underline the validity of the chosen methodological approach, but also demonstrate the need for more comprehensive and theory-driven category schemes.

What Does Human Development Index Rating Mean in Terms of Individualism/Collectivism?

2003 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria José Sotelo ◽  
Luis Gimeno
Keyword(s):  
Human Development ◽  
Human Development Index ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
General Idea ◽  
Development Index ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
The Relationship

The authors explore an alternative way of analyzing the relationship between human development and individualism. The method is based on the first principal component of Hofstede's individualism index in the Human Development Index rating domain. Results suggest that the general idea that greater wealth brings more individualism is only true for countries with high levels of development, while for middle or low levels of development the inverse is true.

Review of Cross-cultural human development.

1976 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 222-222
Author(s):  
MICHAEL COLE
Keyword(s):  
Human Development ◽  
Cross Cultural

A cross-cultural study of theory of mind and cognitive verbs

1997 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula J. Schwanenflugel ◽  
Mike Martin ◽  
Tomone Takahashi
Keyword(s):  
Theory Of Mind ◽  
Cultural Study ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Cross Cultural Study ◽  
Cognitive Verbs
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