Dynamical Phenomena and Their Models: Truth and Empirical Correctness

In the epistemological tradition, there are two main interpretations of the semantic relation that an empirical theory may bear to the real world. According to realism, the theory-world relationship should be conceived as truth; according to instrumentalism, instead, it should be limited to empirical adequacy. Then, depending on how empirical theories are conceived, either syntactically as a class of sentences, or semantically as a class of models, the concepts of truth and empirical adequacy assume different and specific forms. In this paper, we review two main conceptions of truth (one sentence-based and one model-based) and two of empirical adequacy (one sentence-based and one model-based), we point out their respective difficulties, and we give a first formulation of a new general view of the theory-world relationship, which we call Methodological Constructive Realism (MCR). We then show how the content of MCR can be further specified and expressed in a definite and precise form. The bulk of the paper shows in detail how it is possible to accomplish this goal for the special case of deterministic dynamical phenomena and their correlated deterministic models. This special version of MCR is formulated as an axiomatic extension of set theory, whose specific axioms constitute a formal ontology that provides an adequate framework for analyzing the two semantic relations of truth and empirical correctness, as well as their connections.

The virtue values: Kindness, loyalty, and piety in the Melayu cultural context

The belief in good values that live in the community have an influence on the individual’s behavior. Virtue is one of them. Virtues found to have links with the individual’s character and personality. By using the approach of constructive realism indigenous psychology, this study aims to explore the virtues in the context of Melayu culture. Data collection techniques in this study were open ended questions and multiple responses. Data were analyzed with qualitative and quantitative methods using NVivo. It was found that kindness and loyalty are the core virtues that are considered important in everyday life. In the relationship context, the behaviors target of these values is higher in the community than personal. Virtues was found to be differ according to the demands of the situation. These virtues shifted in problem solving situations, where kindness and empathy are expected to appear less than serenity and resourceful. It is clear that the virtues which embraced by the individual does not always manifest if the situation is not supportive for the emergence of these virtues.

Artistic Image as a Result of Reality Reflection and Construction

The article is devoted to the analysis of artistic image as a gnoseological image. The concept of variety of cognition types, produced by contemporary epistemology, allows to consider art as a special type of cognitive relation to reality, and artistic image as a form of artistic cognition, a result of reality comprehension. In this case, the artistic image is studied from the viewpoint of two concepts — the knowledge understanding as a reflection of reality and as its construction. The analysis of the artistic image within the frame of the first concept (as a result of reality reflection) is traditional for Russian aesthetics. From this point of view, the artistic image is considered in three aspects — objective (it appears through the reality reflection by art), estimative (the artistic image includes an obvious or concealed estimation of reality) and operational (it is connected with creative transformation of reality in the process of its artistic comprehension). The concept of constructivism allows to consider the artistic cognition in other way, as an intense activity of the subject to construct reality. This article bases its argumentation on the idea, by V.A. Lektorsky, of removing the opposition between realism and constructivism through the recognition of the concept of constructive realism. Thereby, the artistic image is presented as the result of the creative activity of the artwork’s author, who transforms the reality, constructs a new, artistic reality, and the addressee, who is included in the artistic reality through actualization, identification, construction of meanings.

HISTORICAL REALITY IN THE LIGHT OF CONSTRUCTIVISM

The purpose of the article is to substantiate the thesis «historical reality as a narrative». The relevance of the article determines the place of historical knowledge as the most important ideological tool formalizing the national and civilian identity. The originality of the article lies in an attempt to find a middle ground between radical constructivism and realism whilst explaining the phenomenon of «historical reality». Research methodology — constructivism. This methodology leads to following results: 1. Historical reality is always a construct that has an author with his political, moral, religious or other beliefs. Based on this, it should be taken into consideration that other researchers establish different and even alternative historical realities. Therefore, the story will remain as a multitude of competing stories. 2. The reference to historical facts as a proof meaning the correspondence of the narrative to the described event is not a valid argument. There are the following reasons for this: a) any story originated in the past is limited to a certain number of facts. Meanwhile, there are always some unknown facts that can significantly change the picture of historical reality; b) historical reality made of fact selection depends on the researcher and the goals he pursues; c) falsification of facts is often used in historical sources. 3. Every honest researcher creates his own narrative out of real-life events and characters, which makes it possible to assert his objectivity and the incorrectness of the radical constructivism methodology. But even the most honest researcher has personality traits that can be reflected on his work, which gives grounds to claim that realism is wrong. Therefore, the truth still lies somewhere in the middle and being represented by moderate constructivism or constructive realism.

Constructive realism: advantages of ontology and methodology

This article attempts to reveal and analyse the advantages of constructive realism as a methodological framework of contemporary science. Comparing realism and constructivism as two divergent positions in epistemology in their extreme forms, we mention their downsides. These are the epistemological component for extreme realism and the ontological component for radical constructivism. We indicate that the concept of our study is characterized with the best balance of ontology and gnoseology and it allows overcoming ontological and epistemological difficulties associated with constructivism and realism correspondingly. We conclude that constructive realism may facilitate the development of the scientific worldview pertinent to modern knowledge and ready to respond the inherent methodological challenges that science faces.

Makna Kebahagiaan pada Generasi Y

Latar belakang: Manusia pada hakekatnya menempatkan kebahagiaan sebagai tujuan hidup. Penelitian kebahagiaan merupakan bahasan paling banyak diteliti dan sangat penting dibidang psikologi dalam era milenium yang sejalan dengan berkembangnya bidang kajian positive psychology. Penelitian-penelitian mutakhir menyebutkan bahwa tidak semua teori-teori psikologi sesuai disuatu daerah yang sebenarnya berkaitan dengan nilai‐nilai masyarakat dan daerah yang dianut. Generasi Y sebagai generasi yang memiliki kelekatan pada sosial media memiliki cara pandang tersendiri mengartikan kebahagiaan. Tujuan: Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk memahami dan mendeskripsikan makna kebahagiaan yang dirasakan oleh pada mahasiswa Pascasarjana sebagai generasi Y dengan pendekatan Psikologi Indigenous dalam upaya membuat suatu teori psikologi menjadi relevan apabila diterapkan didaerah atau konsteks budaya lain. Metode: Metode penelitian dilakukan dengan metode kuantitatif deskriptif dengan prinsip constructive realism. Subjek penelitian 28 mahasiswa Pasca sarjana Yogyakarta. Data dikumpulkan dengan menggunakan kuesioner terbuka kemudian data penelitian dianalisis dengan memadukan hasil kategorisasi data text. Hasil: Hasil penelitian menghasilkan enam kategorisasi tentang makna kebahagiaan generasi Y menurut subjek yaitu sehat secara emosi sebesar 28.6%, hubungan positif dengan keluarga dan orang lain sebesar 21.4%, materi sebesar 14.3%, melakukan kegiatan positif sebesar 14.3%, sehat secara jasmani sebesar 10.7% dan kebersyukuransebesar 10.7%. Simpulan: Generasi Y pada pada penelitian ini memberi makna kebahagiaan yakni dalam kondisi sehat secara emosi, memiliki hubungan positif dengan keluarga dan orang lain, memiliki materi, melakukan kegiatan positif, memiliki kesehatan jasmani dan selalu bersyukur untuk setiap hal yang dimiliki.

Konsep Diri Dan Penyesuaian Diri Peserta Pelatihan Garmen Di Balai Latihan Kerja Disperindag Jawa Tengah

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menguji hubungan konsep diri dengan penyesuaian diri peserta pelatihan garmen di Balai Latihan Kerja Disperindag Jawa Tengah. Subjek penelitian ini berjumlah 84 orang peserta pelatihan di Balai Latihan Kerja Disperindag Jawa Tengah. Alat pengumpul data yang digunakan pada penelitian ini yaitu Skala Psikologi yang terdiri dari skala konsep diri dan skala penyesuaian diri dengan menggunakan teknik Constructive Realism. Adapun metode analisis data yang digunakan pada penelitian ini adalah menggunakan teknik Analisis Regresi. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa tidak ada hubungan konsep diri dengan penyesuaian diri peserta pelatihan garmen di Balai Latihan Kerja Dsperindag Jawa Tengah. Hal ini berarti bahwa hipotesis yang diajukan dalam penelitian ini dinyatakan tidak diterima.