A (not so) random walk through hydrological space and time

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Berkowitz
Keyword(s):  
Random Walk ◽  
Percolation Theory ◽  
Statistical Physics ◽  
Chemical Transport ◽  
Self Organization ◽  
Philosophical Perspective ◽  
Guiding Principle ◽  
Patterns And Processes ◽  
Temporal Measures ◽  
The Relationship

<p>A key philosophical perspective in science is that nature obeys general laws. Identification of these laws involves integration of system conceptualization, observation, experimentation and quantification. This perspective was a guiding principle of John Dalton’s research as he searched for patterns and common behaviors; he performed a broad range of experiments in chemistry and physics, and he entered over 200,000 observations in his meteorological diary during a period of 57 years. In this spirit, we examine general concepts based largely on statistical physics – universality, criticality, self-organization, and the relationship between spatial and temporal measures – and demonstrate how they meaningfully describe patterns and processes of fluid flow and chemical transport in hydrological systems. We discuss examples that incorporate random walks, percolation theory, fractals, and thermodynamics in analyses of hydrological systems – aquifers, soil environments and catchments – to quantify what appear to be universal dynamic behaviors and characterizations.</p>

Idleness and Freedom in Michel de Montaigne’s “Essays”

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 189-202
Keyword(s):  
Intellectual History ◽  
Ancient Rome ◽  
Spiritual Quest ◽  
Guiding Principle ◽  
Sextus Empiricus ◽  
History Of ◽  
Self Knowledge ◽  
The Aesthetic ◽  
The Relationship

The article advances a hypothesis about the composition of Michel de Montaigne’s Essays. Specialists in the intellectual history of the Renaissance have long considered the relationship among Montaigne’s thematically heterogeneous thoughts, which unfold unpredictably and often seen to contradict each other. The waywardness of those reflections over the years was a way for Montaigne to construct a self-portrait. Spontaneity of thought is the essence of the person depicted and an experimental literary technique that was unprecedented in its time and has still not been surpassed. Montaigne often writes about freedom of reflection and regards it as an extremely important topic. There have been many attempts to interpret the haphazardness of the Essays as the guiding principle in their composition. According to one such interpretation, the spontaneous digressions and readiness to take up very different philosophical notions is a form of of varietas and distinguo, which Montaigne understood in the context of Renaissance philosophy. Another interpretation argues that the Essays employ the rhetorical techniques of Renaissance legal commentary. A third opinion regards the Essays as an example of sprezzatura, a calculated negligence that calls attention to the aesthetic character of Montaigne’s writing. The author of the article argues for a different interpretation that is based on the concept of idleness to which Montaigne assigned great significance. He had a keen appreciation of the role of otium in the culture of ancient Rome and regarded leisure as an inner spiritual quest for self-knowledge. According to Montaigne, idleness permits self-directedness, and it is an ideal form in which to practice the freedom of thought that brings about consistency in writing, living and reality, in all of which Montaigne finds one general property - complete inconstancy. Socratic self-knowledge, a skepticism derived from Pyrrho of Elis and Sextus Empiricus, and a rejection of the conventions of traditional rhetoric that was similar to Seneca’s critique of it were all brought to bear on the concept of idleness and made Montaigne’s intellectual and literary experimentation in the Essays possible.

scholarly journals Do delusions have and give meaning?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosa Ritunnano ◽  
Lisa Bortolotti
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Psychology ◽  
Psychotic Symptoms ◽  
Philosophical Perspective ◽  
Philosophical Literature ◽  
Psychiatric Conditions ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Phenomenological Psychopathology

AbstractDelusions are often portrayed as paradigmatic instances of incomprehensibility and meaninglessness. Here we investigate the relationship between delusions and meaning from a philosophical perspective, integrating arguments and evidence from cognitive psychology and phenomenological psychopathology. We review some of the empirical and philosophical literature relevant to two claims about delusions and meaning: (1) delusions are meaningful, despite being described as irrational and implausible beliefs; (2) some delusions can also enhance the sense that one’s life is meaningful, supporting agency and creativity in some circumstances. Delusions are not incomprehensible representations of reality. Rather, they can help make sense of one’s unusual experiences and in some circumstances even support one’s endeavours, albeit temporarily and imperfectly. Acknowledging that delusions have meaning and can also give meaning to people’s lives has implications for our understanding of psychotic symptoms and for addressing the stigma associated with psychiatric conditions.

The Story of the Samaritan and the Innkeeper (Luke 10:30-35): A Study in Character Rehabilitation

2009 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 422-447 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce Longenecker
Keyword(s):  
Guiding Principle ◽  
Good Samaritan ◽  
History Of ◽  
Reign Of God ◽  
And Function ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Interpretative Framework

AbstractThe aphorism 'context is everything' has been a guiding principle in many studies of Jesus' parabolic sayings. This is true, for instance, of studies attempting to recover a parable's significance in relation to the ministry of Jesus of Nazareth, or in relation to its literary placement and function, or in relation to its polyvalent potential. It is also true of this study, which examines Jesus' narrative of the Samaritan—usually referred to as the 'parable of the good Samaritan'. It suggests that, when the Samaritan story is placed within a certain contextual configuration, its narrative features align themselves in ways that have either been conspicuously neglected or consciously avoided in the history of the story's interpretation. Rather than neglecting or avoiding the significance of these narrative features, this essay seeks to exploit their interpretative significance in a fresh manner, entertaining possibilities of meaning beyond the Lukan interpretative framework. In particular, consideration is given to the relationship between the Samaritan and the innkeeper as representing an exceptional partnership that testifies to the reign of God in making each party vulnerable to loss while promoting goodness towards others.

Self-Organization Behavior of Sub-Micron CdO Grains Grown during Vapour-Solid Transition

2008 ◽  
Vol 278 ◽  
pp. 45-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ji Zhong Zhang ◽  
Wei Qiang Wang ◽  
Na Li
Keyword(s):  
Surface Defects ◽  
Silicon Crystal ◽  
The Self ◽  
Self Organization ◽  
Organization Behavior ◽  
Silicon Crystals ◽  
Induced Aggregation ◽  
The Relationship

Various deposits of CdO grains were observed on the surface of N 100 silicon crystals heated at 580 °C and 620 °C for 1 hour in an evaporation-deposition device, respectively. The ball-shaped crystals, and regular-prism-shaped crystals were found on top of bush-like long crystals. Two types of CdO self-organization aggregates were also observed, that is, regular circular-shaped dense aggregate and long-chainshaped aggregate. The self-organization aggregates were composed of numerous submicron CdO grains. The relationship between self-organization aggregates and surface defects of virgin N 100 silicon crystal was investigated. The results showed that the CdO self-organization aggregates were related to surface defects of the virgin N 100 silicon crystal, and a defect induced aggregation (DIA) model is suggested.

scholarly journals Defining the Relationship between Domestic General Anti-Avoidance Rules and Double Tax Agreements

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Alexandra Cooper
Keyword(s):  
Tax Avoidance ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Development Model ◽  
Practical Significance ◽  
Analytical Problem ◽  
Guiding Principle ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Economic Development Model ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Domestic Law

<p>Double taxation agreements pose a particular analytical problem. While they provide a coherent structure that encourages cross-border investment, the agreements also provide opportunities for taxpayers to avoid their domestic tax obligations. To prevent tax avoidance, some countries enact domestic general anti-avoidance rules to protect their domestic interests. These rules raise questions as to what the relationship between the domestic law and the double tax agreement is. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Committee on Fiscal Affairs provides Commentary on the Organisation for Cooperation and Economic Development Model Double Tax Agreement. This Commentary sets out an analytical framework from which this relationship is to be evaluated. This paper argues that the framework is of little practical significance. The paper concludes that the weight and usefulness of the Commentary lies in a guiding principle set out in the Commentary. Consequently, the wider interpretative approaches do not practically add to the analysis and should be given little weight.</p>

scholarly journals EDITORIAL: Trials of celebrity

2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 7
Author(s):  
Barry King ◽  
Allison Oosterman ◽  
Rosser Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Collective Identity ◽  
Small Country ◽  
Dominant Focus ◽  
American Popular Culture ◽  
Complex Process ◽  
Beliefs And Values ◽  
The Press ◽  
Small Countries ◽  
Patterns And Processes ◽  
The Relationship

THIS ISSUE of Pacific Journalism Review engages with the theme of the dynamics of fame in a small country. In contrast to the dominant focus in the newly emergent field of Celebrity Studies on celebrity as a global phenomenon, the emphasis in this issue is on the interface between the global and the local; on questions of how the distinctiveness of national and local values fares when caught up in or of willingly imitating the circulation of global fame and influence. Accounts of celebrity often focus on the notion of fetishism—the complex process through which specific idols become objects of veneration on whose admirable or even infamous qualities are presented as emanating from the inner recesses of a luminous personality. The importance of this aspect of celebrity and celebrity worship is not to be denied. But there is another feature of celebrity and stardom that complements and energises the engagement of fans, the interest of the general public and the ambitions of the press and media to create and sustain a market for copy. Celebrities and stars are also totems that create a sense of unity, an imagined community. Individuals express and explore a sense of collective identity, define rituals of belonging, separate themselves from others and manage the relationship between society and nature—in the case of celebrities, the nature in question, is most often, human nature (Rojek, 2012, pp. 130-131). In the case of small countries, like New Zealand, the internal impact of Hollywood stars and celebrities on American popular culture is intensified by the fact that the celebrity system is a totemic import. Patterns and processes for rewarding talent and ascribing fame that have reached the acme of intensity in Global Hollywood, interface with locally situated systems of beliefs and values. This might be seen as a process of colonisation—and to an extent it is.

scholarly journals Trust and responsibility: the regional dimension

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 35-41
Author(s):  
Evgeniya A. Kogay
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
Interpersonal Trust ◽  
Self Organization ◽  
Sustainable Society ◽  
Social Partnership ◽  
Trust Relationships ◽  
Its Regions ◽  
New Challenges ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Different Levels

The issue of developing strategic trust at different levels of self-organization of territorial communities gains increasing importance in Russia. This article considers trust and responsibility as integral components of forming a sustainable society and implementation of modernization processes. The author turns to the problem of the relationship between these concepts and reveals trends in the dynamics of trust relationships in Russia and its regions. This article relies on the results of comparative sociological and cultural studies in the Tomsk (2015), Kursk (2016), and Tyumen (2016) regions, as well as in Russia overall (2015). The comparison of results from sociological researches shows the characteristics of institutional and interpersonal trust. The author notes that the new challenges to the development of society associated with the tasks of transition to system modernization create an increased demand for strengthening social partnership and the establishment of qualitative and constructive public policy. There is a trend to activate the position of citizens in defending their rights, as well as in helping vulnerable categories of the population. In conclusion, the author shows practical steps of individual regions on the way of creation of solidary society.

scholarly journals Drawing Out by Drawing Into: Representation and Partnership in a Design-Science Collaboration

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 294
Author(s):  
Pablo Schyfter
Keyword(s):  
Design Science ◽  
Self Organization ◽  
Art And Design ◽  
Structural Growth ◽  
Science Collaboration ◽  
Interdisciplinary Partnership ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Joint Representation ◽  
Do So

“Synthetic Aesthetics” was a two-year experimental, interdisciplinary project that supported six partnerships between synthetic biologists and artists and designers. Each group sought to accomplish two tasks: build an interdisciplinary partnership and construct a joint representation. In this article, I explore the relationship between partnering and representing in one of the six partnerships: a collaboration between an architect and a synthetic biologist. I describe David Benjamin and Fernan Federici’s work on the self-organization and structural growth of xylem cells, and their pursuit of graphical and mathematical representations of so-called biological “logic.” I analyze the case study using two frameworks in unison. The first, from research in STS, explains representation as a social accomplishment with ontological consequences. The second, by pragmatist John Dewey, describes representation as drawing out and drawing into: selecting and extracting out of the world, and molding and installing into human artifice. I study Benjamin and Federici’s work as two acts of drawing out by drawing into: constructing and representing “logic” by forming a partnership to do so; and building a partnership by jointly forming a commitment to the existence of that “logic.” Doing so also involved ontological labor: making biological “logic” and rendering cells intelligible as products of rational mechanisms (as logical cells). Thus, representing and partnering are mutually enabling, mutually dependent and capable of ontological accomplishments. The lesson is useful to STS, a field increasingly concerned with art and design as topics of study and potential partners in work.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document