scholarly journals How Ontic Structural Realism would Formalize Scientific Progress

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-166
Author(s):  
Alex B Pablos
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Original Problem ◽  
Scientific Progress ◽  
Structural Realism ◽  
Van Fraassen ◽  
Ontic Structural Realism ◽  
Speculative Realism ◽  
Adequate Definition ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Fourth Form

This essay tries to make a tangential cut between the debate that seeks the most adequate definition of scientific progress (involving authors such as K. Popper, T Kuhn, A Bird or J Saatsi) and the debate on the viability of structural realism to be considered the best epistemological approach to the understanding of nature (B van Fraassen, J Ladyman, J Worrall, S Psillos...). Thus, we will first connect both debates by showing that they shared a common problem before their progressive distancing. Finally, we will outline a formulation of scientific progress inferred from the structural realism approach; in particular, our definition will be based on J. Ladyman’s proposal in Every Thing Must Go as we will emphasize that it also provides an answer to the aforementioned original problem. Our conclusion is that this formulation of scientific progress differs from the three main ones, namely, truthlikeness, problem-solving, and accumulation of knowledge. This fourth form is necessarily linked to a speculative approximation of reality. Moreover, we want to suggest that this fourth conception is articulated under the shadow of the ideas of CS Peirce. Keywords: structural realism, scientific progress, J Ladyman, speculative realism

scholarly journals Scientific Realism Again

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 99 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Ladyman
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Realism ◽  
Common Sense ◽  
Structural Realism ◽  
Van Fraassen ◽  
Ontic Structural Realism ◽  
Fundamental Physics ◽  
The Real ◽  
Special Sciences ◽  
Do So

The present paper concerns how scientific realism is formulated and defended. It is argued that van Fraassen is fundamentally right that scientific realism requires metaphysics in general, and modality in particular. This is because of several relationships that raise problems for the ontology of scientific realism, namely those between: scientific realism and common sense realism; past and current theories; the sciences of different scales; and the ontologies of the special sciences and fundamental physics. These problems are related. It is argued that ontic structural realism, in the form of the real-patterns account of ontology, offers a unified solution to them all (or at least that it is required to do so, if it is to make good on the promise of naturalised metaphysics).

The Necessity of Sufficiency

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce L. Gordon
Keyword(s):  
Recent Work ◽  
Quantum Physics ◽  
Structural Realism ◽  
Sufficient Reason ◽  
Divine Action ◽  
Ontic Structural Realism ◽  
Existence Of God ◽  
Principle Of Sufficient Reason ◽  
Adequate Understanding ◽  
Quantum Phenomena

There is an argument for the existence of God from the incompleteness of nature that is vaguely present in Plantinga’s recent work. This argument, which rests on the metaphysical implications of quantum physics and the philosophical deficiency of necessitarian conceptions of physical law, deserves to be given a clear formulation. The goal is to demonstrate, via a suitably articulated principle of sufficient reason, that divine action in an occasionalist mode is needed (and hence God’s existence is required) to bring causal closure to nature and render it ontologically functional. The best explanation for quantum phenomena and the most adequate understanding of general providence turns out to rest on an ontic structural realism in physics that is grounded in the immaterialist metaphysics of theistic idealism.

scholarly journals When is a Learning Object not an Object: A first step towards a theory of learning objects

2002 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mike Sosteric ◽  
Susan Hesemeier
Keyword(s):  
Economies Of Scale ◽  
Learning Objects ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Object A ◽  
Smart Learning ◽  
Smart Learning Environments ◽  
Adequate Definition ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Conceptual Confusion

<p> For some, “learning objects" are the “next big thing” in distance education promising smart learning environments, fantastic economies of scale, and the power to tap into expanding educational markets. While learning objects may be revolutionary in the long term, in the short term, definitional problems and conceptual confusion undermine our ability to understand and critically evaluate the emerging field. This article is an attempt to provide an adequate definition of learning objects by (a) jettisoning useless theoretical links hitherto invoked to theorize learning objects, and (b) reducing the definition of learning objects to the bare essentials. The article closes with suggestions for further research and further refinement of the definition of learning objects. </P>

scholarly journals On the notion of visual illusions

Psihologija ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 359-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dejan Todorovic
Keyword(s):  
Visual Illusions ◽  
Adequate Definition ◽  
Definition Of

The usual definitions of illusions, as incorrect perceptions or cases of discrepancies between reality and our perception of reality, have been criticized as inadequate. The reason is that it is not clear how to apply this notion in a number of interesting cases. This paper is an attempt to provide an adequate definition of illusions, appropriate for many classical phenomena usually referred to as illusions.

scholarly journals The Use and Meaning of the Past in Plato

Plato Journal ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
pp. 43-58
Author(s):  
Maurizio Migliori
Keyword(s):  
Historical Analysis ◽  
The Past ◽  
Philosophical Writing ◽  
Adequate Definition ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Relationship

This essay is based on two premises. The first concerns the vision of writing proposed by Plato in Phaedrus and especially the conception of philosophical writing as a maieutic game. The structurally polyvalent way in which Plato approaches philosophical issues also emerges in the dialogues. The second concerns the birth and the development of historical analysis in parallel with the birth of philosophy. On this basis the text investigates a series of data about the relationship between Plato and "the facts". 1) If we compare the Apology of Socrates with other sources, we discover a series of important “games” that Plato performs to achieve the results he proposes. 2) The famous passage of Phaedo 96A-102A, which concludes with the Ideas and with a reference to the Principles, expresses definite judgments on the Presocratics. 3) In his works Plato attributes to the sophists some merits, even if the outcome of their contri-bution is overall negative. 4) However, in the fourth complicated diairesis of the Sophist, there is a "sophist of noble stock", an educator who can only be Socrates. 5) Plato in the Sophist shows the weakness of the Gigantomachy, and proposes an adequate definition of the beings: the power of undergoing or acting. This reveals, before the Philebus and the Timaeus, the dynamic and dialectical nature of his philosophy In summary, a multifocal vision emerges, adapted to an intrinsically complex reality.

scholarly journals Adaptabilidade de Objetos de Aprendizagem usando Calibragem e Sequenciamento Adaptativo de Exercícios

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 70
Author(s):  
Rômulo César Silva ◽  
Alexandre Ibrahim Direne ◽  
Diego Marczal ◽  
Ana Carla Borille ◽  
Paulo Ricardo Bittencourt Guimarães ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Empirical Study ◽  
Cognitive Skills ◽  
Learning Objects ◽  
Skill Level ◽  
Problem Solution ◽  
Algebraic Expressions ◽  
Student Skill ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Two Parameters

The work approaches theoretical and implementation issues of a framework for creating and executing Learning Objects (LOs) where problem-solving tasks are ordered according to the matching of two parameters, both calculated automatically: (1) student skill level and (2) problem solution difficulty. They are formally defined as algebraic expressions. The definition of skill level is achieved through a rating-based measure that resembles the ones of game mastery scales, while the solution difficulty is based on mistakes and successes of learners to deal with the problem. An empirical study based on existing students data demonstrated the suitability of the formulas. Besides, the motivational aspects of learning are considered in depth. In this sense, it is important to propose activities according to the student’s level of expertise, which is achieved through presenting students with exercises that are compatible with the difficulty degree of their cognitive skills. Also, the results of an experiment conducted with four highschool classes using the framework for the domain of logarithmic properties are presented.

scholarly journals On individuality in quantum theory

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-38
Author(s):  
Jasmina Jeknic-Dugic
Keyword(s):  
Quantum Theory ◽  
Structural Realism ◽  
Mechanical Analysis ◽  
Quantum Systems ◽  
Quantum Mechanical ◽  
Ontic Structural Realism

A quantum mechanical analysis of the decomposability of quantum systems into subsystems provides support for the so-called "attenuated Eliminative Ontic Structural Realism" within Categorical Structuralism studies in physics. Quantum subsystems are recognized as non-individual, relationally defined objects that deflate or relax some standard objections against Eliminative Ontic Structural Realism. Our considerations assume the universally valid quantum theory without tackling interpretational issues.

scholarly journals Lumbar Intervertebral Motion in Healthy Male Participants: Protocol for a Motion Analysis During Flexion and Extension Cinematographic Recordings

10.2196/14741 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. e14741
Author(s):  
Inge J M H Caelers ◽  
Toon F M Boselie ◽  
Kim Rijkers ◽  
Wouter L W Van Hemert ◽  
Rob A De Bie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lumbar Spine ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Healthy Male ◽  
Motion Patterns ◽  
Maximum Flexion ◽  
Adequate Definition ◽  
Physiological Motion ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Medical Research Ethics ◽  
Flexion And Extension

Background Physiological motion of the lumbar spine is a subject of interest for musculoskeletal health care professionals, as abnormal motion is believed to be related to lumbar conditions and complaints. Many researchers have described ranges of motion for the lumbar spine, but only a few have mentioned specific motion patterns of each individual segment during flexion and extension. These motion patterns mostly comprise the sequence of segmental initiation in sagittal rotation. However, an adequate definition of physiological motion of the lumbar spine is still lacking. The reason for this is the reporting of different ranges of motion and sequences of segmental initiation in previous studies. Furthermore, due to insufficient fields of view, none of these papers have reported on maximum flexion and extension motion patterns of L1 to S1. In the lower cervical spine, a consistent pattern of segmental contributions was recently described. In order to understand physiological motion of the lumbar spine, it is necessary to systematically study motion patterns, including the sequence of segmental contribution, of vertebrae L1 to S1 in healthy individuals during maximum flexion and extension. Objective This study aims to define the lumbar spines’ physiological motion pattern of vertebrae L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, and S1 by determining the sequence of segmental contribution and the sequence of segmental initiation of motion in sagittal rotation of each vertebra during maximum flexion and extension. The secondary endpoint will be exploring the possibility of analyzing the intervertebral horizontal and vertical translation of each vertebra during maximum flexion and extension. Methods Cinematographic recordings will be performed on 11 healthy male participants, aged 18-25 years, without a history of spine problems. Cinematographic flexion and extension recordings will be made at two time points with a minimum 2-week interval in between. Results The study has been approved by the local institutional medical ethical committee (Medical Research Ethics Committee of Zuyderland and Zuyd University of Applied Sciences) on September 24, 2018. Inclusion of participants will be completed in 2020. Conclusions If successful, these physiological motion patterns can be compared with motion patterns of patients with lumbar conditions before or after surgery. Ultimately, researchers may be able to determine differences in biomechanics that can potentially be linked to physical complaints like low back pain. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03737227; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03737227 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/14741

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