It’s Not at What You Look that Matters, It’s What You See

One of the important themes in the literature on truth is its connection to meaning, or more generally, to language. As Einstein once stated, reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one. Therefore, truth, as an element inextricably connected to the subjectively perceived reality of each individual, is dependent on the form of communication and the skills used in conversation. The following essay does not focus on the issue in the study of truth itself but instead portrays and deeply analyses each step of a study of a conversation between a surgeon and a patient drawing upon concepts of communication theory and neuroplasticity. Indeed, it shows at each step and juncture of the ongoing conversation, both how the truth may be misconceived and how slight changes in communication techniques contribute to the transmission of truth in the sense of an unimpeded flow of information.

Determinants of Teachers’ Motivation to join the Teaching Profession: A Case of Two teachers Colleges in Zambia

The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in views between preservice teachers and in-service teachers on their motivation to join the teaching profession. The study used descriptive quantitative approach through the independent sample t test to reach the intended objectives. The sample size consisted of preservice teachers (n=248) and in-service teachers (n=52) from the two teacher’s colleges. The study established that preservice teachers had higher expectations regarding material benefit and convenience, intellectual stimulation as well as continuation of work in familiar settings than the perceived reality by the in-service teachers who are already in the teaching profession. Intellectual stimulation, worthwhile service to society and interpersonal relationship were considered by both the in-service and the preservice teachers as potential benefits from the teaching profession. However, both the in-service and the preservice teachers were undecided whether continuation of work in a familiar setting is a benefit from the teaching profession. While preservice teachers agreed that material benefit and convenient as well as Job Security motivated them to join the teaching profession, the in-service teachers were undecided whether the factors motivated them to join the teaching profession. Finally, there was no significant difference in terms of gender regarding the benefits front he teaching profession by the teachers in training. The study therefore recommends that since the study found that not all the factors are motivators of teachers to join the teaching profession, there is a need to for qualitatively studies to explore further reasons that motivate teachers joining the teaching profession.

Change of collective orientation through an interprofessional training with medical students and student nurses depending on presence and professional group

Background Teamwork is an important success factors for patient treatment. The willingness of a healthcare provider to work in a team can be descripted with the construct of “Collective Orientation” (CO). The level of CO can be trained and is related to team performance. In this study, we investigated the effect of a simulator-based interprofessional training on the subject of patient fall in a hospital setting upon participations CO. To evaluate whether the course could be integrated into a longitudinal education concept, the participants were medical students and student nurses. Since effects of simulations can be influenced by the perceived reality, the results were measured as a function of Presence. Method In this observation study, 62 medical students and student nurses took part in six one-day interprofessional simulation trainings with the topic patient fall. The primary outcome was the mean difference between the CO measured immediately before (T1) and after the training (T2). The Presence of the participants was measured by questionnaire immediately after the course (T2). Results Cronbach´s alpha for all scales and measurement points was higher than 0.69. CO increases over all professional groups from M = 3.42 (SD = 0.39) to M = 3.68 (SD = 0.54) significantly (p < .00; r = .5). Only the subscale “Dominance” in the professional group of the student nurses did not increase significantly. There was no correlation between Presence and the change in CO. Conclusion The questionnaires of CO and Presence can be applied to medical students and student nurses. The simulation course with the topic patient fall influences the CO and can be integrated in a longitudinal curriculum of teamwork training. The subscale “Dominance” of student nurses did not change. Preparatory learning units may increase the effects. The perceived reality of the scenario is not a main success factor.

The History, Landscapes, Metaphors and Ghosts Around the Concept of Specificity

The confusion between objects/processes and the language which describes them, leads to theories of doubtful verisimilitude about reality, inappropriate in time and even false, which distance us from the knowledge of perceived reality. In biology there are many examples of this kind of epistemological problem. Here we examine those related with specificity: a theoretical entity of enormous importance for biology and science in general. It sinks its roots beneath the evolutionary duality species-specificity, associated with the Linnean-Darwinist tradition that explains organized life in a discrete and hierarchical way. It conceptualizes the individual as an isolated agent fighting for survival as the foundation of a warrior vision of the immune system. Microorganisms are understood as inferior beings which should be eliminated in accordance with the self/not-self distinction. The use of these metaphors outside of historical context traces a map that guides the recognition of the Self and of the other according to the dialectic of Western biopolitics.

Logical Mechanisms of Comprehending Culture: An Experience of a Theoretical and Methodological Research

В статье предложена конкретизация методов постижения культуры, отражающая онтологию самой культуры. Несмотря на разнообразие теорий, в культурологии отмечается недостаточная конкретизация принципиальных оснований, необходимых для формирования методов постижения различных аспектов культуры как реальности. Целью явилось определение совокупности парадигм методических представлений, с которыми связано логическое постижение культуры. Источником исследования послужили различные представления культуроцентризма: как социальной стратегии (В. С. Библер, А. Я. Флиер), как научно-исследовательской программы (Г. Риккерт), как мировоззренческой позиции (М. С. Каган, Ю. В. Ларин). Исследование осуществлено в два этапа: через акт сравнения конкретизированы основания для формирования методологий логики, диалектики и антиномии, затем показана сфера применимости каждой области методов в отношении культуры. Полученные результаты важны для разработки общих и специальных методологий постижения культуры. Cultural centrism is a concept that considers culture as an ontological reality. The fundamental foundations necessary for the formation of methods of comprehending various aspects of culture as reality are insufficiently specified. The aim of the study is to determine the set of paradigms of methodological concepts that are associated with the logical comprehension of culture. The sources of the study were various representations of cultural centrism: as a social strategy, as a research program, as a worldview position. The methodological foundations for comprehending culture should reflect its ontology, multidimensionality and metalogical complexity. The study was carried out in two stages: through the act of comparison, the grounds for the formation of methodologies of logic, dialectic and antinomy were specified, then the scope of applicability of each methodology in relation to culture was shown. The methodological basis for comprehending the ontology of culture was developed based on the positions of cultural centrism. The research methods are differentiated analysis and conceptual modeling within the framework of a system-structural approach to the object of research. The objectivity of the methodology requires that the logic of cognition be consistent with the nature of the perceived reality. The main methodological element of the cognizing act is the implementation of a logical comparison operation, which can be resolved in three ways, forming the methods of logic, dialectic and antinomy of culture. The logic of culture coincides with its morphology, it reflects the existence and development of objective forms of culture (symbolic, normative, axiological and objective representations, enshrined in the corresponding theories of cultural genesis, are fundamental ones). The dialectic of culture repeats personal inculturation and cultural creation. The antinomy of culture reflects the inconsistency of the ontological reality of culture, which unambiguously and inseparably connects the subject and the object of culture. This allows us to consider in unity all the particular concepts of describing culture’s specific reality (nature-centric, sociocentric, anthropocentric and theocentric) and all the types of culture’s actualization (objective, normative, axiological and symbolic). As a result, the concretization of methods of comprehending culture is proposed. The concretization reflects the ontology of culture itself. The results obtained are promising for the development of general and specific methodologies for comprehending culture.

Species

This chapter studies the systematists' perspective on species concepts and the role of species in systematics. No matter how sophisticated the tools and methods enhancing the conceptualization of reality may become in the future, systematists will still be constrained by their perceptions. In their more modest, empirical view, systematists embrace their perceived reality and prefer species concepts that incorporate tools for identifying and delimiting species as empirical hypotheses, thereby providing them with efficacious working terminal elements for phylogenetic analysis and classification of more inclusive taxa. It is fortunate that cladists employed the notion of a “phylogenetic” species concept based on diagnosability before more metaphysically inclined authors appropriated the term for concepts founded on monophyly or common ancestors. As noted, Willi Hennig's species concept was a version of the “biological” species concept, and it fell to his followers to develop a species concept that is well suited to cladistic principles. Among the earliest of the post-Hennigian empiricists was American Museum ichthyologist Donn Rosen. Rosen's concept, sometimes called the apomorphic concept because of its requirement that every recognized species must have its own derived character state, accomplished two key advances for systematics: it proposed a cladistic criterion for recognizing species, and it defined species as the minimal units of analysis, as far as taxonomy is concerned, thus setting a lower bound for systematic inquiry.

The COVID States Project #39: Public attitudes towards the storming of the Capitol building

The 2020 election produced two distinct perceived realities for the United States public. The first perceived reality holds that the election was conducted fairly, and that Joe Biden won. Individuals who hold this vision of reality feel their votes were counted accurately, and that the events of January 6th were repugnant. This is also the version of reality for 60-70% of the US population. This reality is documented by court cases, our government officials (Republican and Democratic) in charge of administering the election, and the credible news media.The second vision of reality holds that the election was essentially corrupt—driven, in particular, by illegal mail-in ballots, noncitizen voting, and voting machine fraud. In this perceived reality, Biden is a usurper to the presidency. Further, the people who stormed the Capitol had a point, although the worst actions were taken by individuals affiliated with Antifa activists masquerading as Trump supporters. This is the expressed reality of former President Trump, certain Republican leaders, a subset of conservative media, and certain corners of the social media ecosystem. This is also the reality for 25-30% of the US population, and roughly half of Republicans. These two perceived realities are not created equal. The facts, as presented by the fact sorting institutions of the government and media, unambiguously support the first. However, perceptions—especially when they are shared by a sizable number of people and organized in a way that provides access to power—have consequences. The data below suggest that these two perceived realities will continue to define US politics, at least for the near future, because they are clustered around the two parties, and in each perceived reality, the other party is not just an opponent, but an enemy of democracy. In each case, the logical conclusion is that the assumption of power by the other party represents a potentially permanent surrendering of power. Below, we summarize public opinion regarding election integrity and the events of January 6th, and close by discussing the implications of these findings for American politics over the next 4 years.

Representing the World

Chapter 1 describes how specifically organized, hierarchical structures of a neural network can create neural representations of perceived reality. The authors describe how, as a result of categorization and generalization, memory traces created in subsequent layers can represent the perceived world in all its complexity. Starting from the representation of direct sensual impressions in the lowest layers, closely connected to the sensors of individual senses, to the representation of increasingly complex objects, the feelings and knowledge about the observed world are built. They postulate that to achieve this goal imaginary natural and artificial brains must contain such semihierarchical structures capable of creating new connections and information transmission paths. By associating large areas of brain fields in multiple layers, it is possible to create representations of complex reality. The dominant mechanism of self-learning is correlation learning, during which simultaneous, synchronous arousal of different senses creates mutually correlated features of the observed object. Perceived objects excite neuronal stimulation patterns that allow the system to identify the object in the future. The re-stimulation of the memory structures from the top layers to the sensory fields, causes the recall and creation of sensations similar to those felt during the original experiences. By comparing new sensual impressions with those stored in memory, the perceived objects are recognized. Frequent, simultaneous co-occurrence of stimulations of mental representations results in associations of memory cells and synapses, and thus associations of mental facts. Order and sequences of their occurrence is the basis of episodic memory. Imagined neural network memory cells, like natural brain neurons, do not limit their role to just remembering the information that they receive. They actively process this information and change the structure of their connections. We put forward the thesis that the described memory cells, artificial neurons, can create brains with features such as natural brains. It is this semihierarchical structure of neurons, which arise from categorization, generalization and association processes that can create neural representations of perceived reality. Learning through life experiences allows us to give them the characteristics of psychological sensations and thus they also become mental correlates of perceptions. The knowledge that these structures represent is as hierarchical they are. This hierarchy starts from the representation of the simplest direct sensual features, to complex models of the environment and abstract concepts that can be defined by symbolic language. The presented model describes the creation of knowledge in the mind, pattern recognition, remembering and imagining objects and events, planning, and making decisions. The systems thus created yield minds with cognitive, intentional, and propositional awareness. Unfortunately, they are devoid of phenomenal awareness, which we write about in the following chapters.