From NYTimes.com
In coming years, researchers may also be able to shed light on the impact of language on more subtle areas of perception. For instance, some languages, like Matses in Peru, oblige their speakers, like the finickiest of lawyers, to specify exactly how they came to know about the facts they are reporting. You cannot simply say, as in English, “An animal passed here.” You have to specify, using a different verbal form, whether this was directly experienced (you saw the animal passing), inferred (you saw footprints), conjectured (animals generally pass there that time of day), hearsay or such. If a statement is reported with the incorrect “evidentiality,” it is considered a lie. So if, for instance, you ask a Matses man how many wives he has, unless he can actually see his wives at that very moment, he would have to answer in the past tense and would say something like “There were two last time I checked.” After all, given that the wives are not present, he cannot be absolutely certain that one of them hasn’t died or run off with another man since he last saw them, even if this was only five minutes ago. So he cannot report it as a certain fact in the present tense. Does the need to think constantly about epistemology in such a careful and sophisticated manner inform the speakers’ outlook on life or their sense of truth and causation?
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Friday, September 03, 2010
Monday, February 16, 2009
Philosophy of Science: Do these Studies Support cold Fusion?
21.Yun, K-S., J-B. Ju, B-W. Cho, S-Y. Park, “Calorimetric Observation of heat Production During Electrolysis of 0.1 M LiOD_D2O Solution,” (Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry, 306, 1991), p. 279.
Other:
Storms, Edmund, “Critical Review of the “Cold Fusion” Effect,” (preprint, 1993). Subsequently updated in 2001 in Cold Fusion: An Objective Assessment, Table 2.
2. Aoki, T., Y. Kurata, and H. Ebihara, “Study of Concentration of Helium and Tritium in Electrolytic Cells with Excess Heat Generation,” (Trans. of Fusion Technology, vol. 26, no. 4T, pt 2), p. 214.
3. Appleby, A. John, J. Kim Young, Oliver J. Murphy, and Supramaniam Srinivasan, “Anomalous Calorimetric Results During Long-Term Evolution of Deuterium on Palladium from Alkaline Deuteroxide Electrolyte,” (First Annual ICCF-1, Nat. CF Institute, SLC, Utah, 1990), p. 32.
4. Bertalot, L., L. Bettinali, F. De Marco, V. Violante, P. De Logu, T. Dikonimos Makris, and A. La Barbera, “Analysis of Tritium and Heat Excess in Electrochemical Cells with Pd Cathodes,” (S.I.F., “The Science of CF”, Proceedings ACCF-2, June 29, 1991, Como, Italy), p. 3.
5. Bertalot, L., F. De Marco, A. De Ninno, A. La Barbera, F. Scaramuzzi, V. Violante, and P. Zeppa, “Study of Deuterium Charging in Palladium by the Electrolysis of Heavy Water: Search for Heat and Nuclear Ashes,” H. Ikegami, ed., (University Academy Press, Frontiers of CF, 1993). p. 365.
6. Bush, Robert T., “Cold ‘Fusion’: The Transition Resonance Model Fits Data on Excess Heat, Predicts Optimal Trigger Points, and Suggests Nuclear Reaction Scenarios,” (Fusion Technology, 19, 1991). p. 313. Eagleton, R. D., and R. T. Bush, “Calorimetric Experiments Supporting the Transmission Resonance Model for CF,” (Fusion Technology, 20, 1991), p. 239.
7. Celani, F. A., A. Spallone, P. Tripoli, A. Nuvoli, A. Petrocchi, D. DiGioacchino, M. Boutet, P.Marini, and V. Di Stefano, “High Power Microsecond Pulsed Electrolysis for High Deuterium Loading in Pd Plates” (Trans. of Fusion Technology, vol. 26, no. 4T, pt.2), p. 127. Celani, F., A. Spallone, P. Tripoli, and A. Nuvoli, “Measurements of Excess Heat and Tritium During Self-Biased Pulsed Electrolysis of Pd-D2O,” H. Ikegami, ed., (University Academy Press, Frontiers of C.F., 1993), p. 93.
8. Fleischmann, Martin, Stanley Pons, Mark R. Anderson, Lian Jun Li, and Marvin Hawkins, “Calorimetry of the Palladium—Deuterium—Heavy Water System” (Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry, 287, July 25, 1990), p. 293.
Fleischmann, Martin, Stanley Pons, and Marvin Hawkins, “Electrochemically Induced Nuclear Fusion of Deuterium,” (Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry, 261-2A, April 10, 1989), p. 301. Fleischmann, Martin, and Stanley Pons, “Heat After Death,” (Trans. of Fusion Technology, vol. 26, no. 4T, pt.2), p. 87.
9. Gozzi, D., P. L. Cignini, M. Tomellini, S. Frullani, F. Garabaldi, F. Ghio, M. Jodice, and G. M. Urciuoli, “Multicell Experiments for Searching Time-Related Events in CF,” (Proc. ACCF-2, Como, Italy, June 29, 1991 The Science of CF, vol. 33, (T. Bressani, E. Del Giudice, and G. Preparata, eds.), p. 21. Gozzi, D., P. L. Cignini, L. Petrucci, M. Tomellini, and G. De Maria, “Evidences for Associated Heat Generation and Nuclear Products Release in Pd Heavy-Water Electrolysis,” (Il Nuovo Cimento, 103, 1990), p. 143. Gozzi, D., R. Caputo, P. L. Cignini, M. Tomellini, G. Gigli, G. Balducci, E. Cisbani, S. Frullani, F. Garabaldi, M. Jodice, and G. M. Urciuoli, “Helium-4 Quantitative Measurements in the Gas Phase of CF Electrochemical Cells,” (EPRI, Proceedings: ICCF-4, vol. I), p. 6-1.
10.Guruswamy, S. J. G. Byrne, J. Li, and M. E. Wadsworth;, “Metallurgical Aspects of the Electrochemical Loading of Palladium with Deuterium,” (Workshop on CF Phenomena, Santa Fe, NM, May 23, 1989).
11.Hasegewa, N., N. Hayakawa, Y. Tsuchida, and Y. Yamamoto, “Observations of Excess Heat During Electrolysis of 1M LiOD in a Fuel Cell Type Closed Cell,” (EPRI, Proc. ICCF-4, vol. I, December 6, 1993), p. 3-1. Hasegawa, N., K. Kunimatsu, T. Ohi, and T. Terasawa, “Observation of Excess Heat During Electrolysis of 1M LiOD in a Fuel Cell Type Closed Cell,” H. Ikegami, ed., (Univ. Academy Press, Frontiers of CF, 1993), p. 377.
12.Hugo, Mark, “A Home CF Experiment,” (EPRI, Proceedings ICCF-4, vol. 2, December 12, 1993), p. 22-1.
13.Hutchinson, D. P., J. Bullock, C. A. Bennet, G. L. Powell, and R. K. Richards, “Initial Calorimetry Experiments in the Physics Division—ORNL,” (Oak Ridge Nat. Lab, ORNL/TM-11356, May 1990).
14.Bockris, John O’M., N. J. C. Packham, et al., “Sporadic Observation of the Fleischmann–Pons Heat Effect,” (Electrochemica Acta, vol. 34, no. 9, 1989), p. 1315.
15.Lewis, Derek; and Kurt Skold, “A Phenomenological Study of the Fleischmann–Pons Effect,” (Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry, 294, November 9, 1990), p. 275.
16.Okamoto, M., Y. Yoshinaga, M. Aida, and T. Kusunoki, “Excess Heat Generation Voltage Deviation and Neutron Emission in D2O-LiOD Systems,” (Trans. of Fusion Technology, vol. 26, no.4T, pt.2, 1994), p. 176.
17.Ota, K., H. Yoshitake, O. Yamazaki, M. Kuratsuka, K. Yamaki, K. Ando, Y. Iida, and N. Kamiya, “Heat Measurement of Water Electrolysis Using Pd Cathode and the Electrochemistry,” (Trans. of Fusion Technology, vol. 26, no. 4T, pt 2, 1994), p. 138.
19.Takahashi, A., T. Iida, T. Takeuchi, H. Miyamaru, and A. Mega, “Anomalous Excess Heat by D2O/Pd Cell Under L-H Mode Electrolysis,” H. Ikegami, ed., (Universal Academy Press, Frontiers of CF, 1993), p. 79. Takahashi, Akito, “Nuclear Products by D2O/Pd Electrolysis and Multibody Fusion,” (Elsevier, Proc Fourth Int ISEM Symposium on Nonlinear Phenomena in
Electromagnetic Fields, Nagoya, Japan 26, 1922, Supplement to vol. 3 of Int. J. of Applied Electromagnetics in Materials).
20.Yang, C. -S., C. -Y. Liang, T. -P. Perng, L. -J. Yuan, C. -M. Wang, C. -C. Wang, “Observation of Excess Heat and Tritium on Electrolysis of D2O,” (Proc. CF Symp., 8th World Hydrogen Energy Conf., July 22, 1990), p. 95.
22.Zhang, Z. L., B. Z. Yan, M. G. Wang, J. Gu, and F. Tan, “Calorimetric Observation Combined with the Detection of Particle Emissions During the Electrolysis of Heavy Water,” (Proc. Anomalous Nuclear Effects in Deuterium /Solid Systems, Provo, Utah, October 22, 1990), p. 572.
Other:
Storms, Edmund, “Critical Review of the “Cold Fusion” Effect,” (preprint, 1993). Subsequently updated in 2001 in Cold Fusion: An Objective Assessment, Table 2.
2. Aoki, T., Y. Kurata, and H. Ebihara, “Study of Concentration of Helium and Tritium in Electrolytic Cells with Excess Heat Generation,” (Trans. of Fusion Technology, vol. 26, no. 4T, pt 2), p. 214.
3. Appleby, A. John, J. Kim Young, Oliver J. Murphy, and Supramaniam Srinivasan, “Anomalous Calorimetric Results During Long-Term Evolution of Deuterium on Palladium from Alkaline Deuteroxide Electrolyte,” (First Annual ICCF-1, Nat. CF Institute, SLC, Utah, 1990), p. 32.
4. Bertalot, L., L. Bettinali, F. De Marco, V. Violante, P. De Logu, T. Dikonimos Makris, and A. La Barbera, “Analysis of Tritium and Heat Excess in Electrochemical Cells with Pd Cathodes,” (S.I.F., “The Science of CF”, Proceedings ACCF-2, June 29, 1991, Como, Italy), p. 3.
5. Bertalot, L., F. De Marco, A. De Ninno, A. La Barbera, F. Scaramuzzi, V. Violante, and P. Zeppa, “Study of Deuterium Charging in Palladium by the Electrolysis of Heavy Water: Search for Heat and Nuclear Ashes,” H. Ikegami, ed., (University Academy Press, Frontiers of CF, 1993). p. 365.
6. Bush, Robert T., “Cold ‘Fusion’: The Transition Resonance Model Fits Data on Excess Heat, Predicts Optimal Trigger Points, and Suggests Nuclear Reaction Scenarios,” (Fusion Technology, 19, 1991). p. 313. Eagleton, R. D., and R. T. Bush, “Calorimetric Experiments Supporting the Transmission Resonance Model for CF,” (Fusion Technology, 20, 1991), p. 239.
7. Celani, F. A., A. Spallone, P. Tripoli, A. Nuvoli, A. Petrocchi, D. DiGioacchino, M. Boutet, P.Marini, and V. Di Stefano, “High Power Microsecond Pulsed Electrolysis for High Deuterium Loading in Pd Plates” (Trans. of Fusion Technology, vol. 26, no. 4T, pt.2), p. 127. Celani, F., A. Spallone, P. Tripoli, and A. Nuvoli, “Measurements of Excess Heat and Tritium During Self-Biased Pulsed Electrolysis of Pd-D2O,” H. Ikegami, ed., (University Academy Press, Frontiers of C.F., 1993), p. 93.
8. Fleischmann, Martin, Stanley Pons, Mark R. Anderson, Lian Jun Li, and Marvin Hawkins, “Calorimetry of the Palladium—Deuterium—Heavy Water System” (Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry, 287, July 25, 1990), p. 293.
Fleischmann, Martin, Stanley Pons, and Marvin Hawkins, “Electrochemically Induced Nuclear Fusion of Deuterium,” (Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry, 261-2A, April 10, 1989), p. 301. Fleischmann, Martin, and Stanley Pons, “Heat After Death,” (Trans. of Fusion Technology, vol. 26, no. 4T, pt.2), p. 87.
9. Gozzi, D., P. L. Cignini, M. Tomellini, S. Frullani, F. Garabaldi, F. Ghio, M. Jodice, and G. M. Urciuoli, “Multicell Experiments for Searching Time-Related Events in CF,” (Proc. ACCF-2, Como, Italy, June 29, 1991 The Science of CF, vol. 33, (T. Bressani, E. Del Giudice, and G. Preparata, eds.), p. 21. Gozzi, D., P. L. Cignini, L. Petrucci, M. Tomellini, and G. De Maria, “Evidences for Associated Heat Generation and Nuclear Products Release in Pd Heavy-Water Electrolysis,” (Il Nuovo Cimento, 103, 1990), p. 143. Gozzi, D., R. Caputo, P. L. Cignini, M. Tomellini, G. Gigli, G. Balducci, E. Cisbani, S. Frullani, F. Garabaldi, M. Jodice, and G. M. Urciuoli, “Helium-4 Quantitative Measurements in the Gas Phase of CF Electrochemical Cells,” (EPRI, Proceedings: ICCF-4, vol. I), p. 6-1.
10.Guruswamy, S. J. G. Byrne, J. Li, and M. E. Wadsworth;, “Metallurgical Aspects of the Electrochemical Loading of Palladium with Deuterium,” (Workshop on CF Phenomena, Santa Fe, NM, May 23, 1989).
11.Hasegewa, N., N. Hayakawa, Y. Tsuchida, and Y. Yamamoto, “Observations of Excess Heat During Electrolysis of 1M LiOD in a Fuel Cell Type Closed Cell,” (EPRI, Proc. ICCF-4, vol. I, December 6, 1993), p. 3-1. Hasegawa, N., K. Kunimatsu, T. Ohi, and T. Terasawa, “Observation of Excess Heat During Electrolysis of 1M LiOD in a Fuel Cell Type Closed Cell,” H. Ikegami, ed., (Univ. Academy Press, Frontiers of CF, 1993), p. 377.
12.Hugo, Mark, “A Home CF Experiment,” (EPRI, Proceedings ICCF-4, vol. 2, December 12, 1993), p. 22-1.
13.Hutchinson, D. P., J. Bullock, C. A. Bennet, G. L. Powell, and R. K. Richards, “Initial Calorimetry Experiments in the Physics Division—ORNL,” (Oak Ridge Nat. Lab, ORNL/TM-11356, May 1990).
14.Bockris, John O’M., N. J. C. Packham, et al., “Sporadic Observation of the Fleischmann–Pons Heat Effect,” (Electrochemica Acta, vol. 34, no. 9, 1989), p. 1315.
15.Lewis, Derek; and Kurt Skold, “A Phenomenological Study of the Fleischmann–Pons Effect,” (Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry, 294, November 9, 1990), p. 275.
16.Okamoto, M., Y. Yoshinaga, M. Aida, and T. Kusunoki, “Excess Heat Generation Voltage Deviation and Neutron Emission in D2O-LiOD Systems,” (Trans. of Fusion Technology, vol. 26, no.4T, pt.2, 1994), p. 176.
17.Ota, K., H. Yoshitake, O. Yamazaki, M. Kuratsuka, K. Yamaki, K. Ando, Y. Iida, and N. Kamiya, “Heat Measurement of Water Electrolysis Using Pd Cathode and the Electrochemistry,” (Trans. of Fusion Technology, vol. 26, no. 4T, pt 2, 1994), p. 138.
19.Takahashi, A., T. Iida, T. Takeuchi, H. Miyamaru, and A. Mega, “Anomalous Excess Heat by D2O/Pd Cell Under L-H Mode Electrolysis,” H. Ikegami, ed., (Universal Academy Press, Frontiers of CF, 1993), p. 79. Takahashi, Akito, “Nuclear Products by D2O/Pd Electrolysis and Multibody Fusion,” (Elsevier, Proc Fourth Int ISEM Symposium on Nonlinear Phenomena in
Electromagnetic Fields, Nagoya, Japan 26, 1922, Supplement to vol. 3 of Int. J. of Applied Electromagnetics in Materials).
20.Yang, C. -S., C. -Y. Liang, T. -P. Perng, L. -J. Yuan, C. -M. Wang, C. -C. Wang, “Observation of Excess Heat and Tritium on Electrolysis of D2O,” (Proc. CF Symp., 8th World Hydrogen Energy Conf., July 22, 1990), p. 95.
22.Zhang, Z. L., B. Z. Yan, M. G. Wang, J. Gu, and F. Tan, “Calorimetric Observation Combined with the Detection of Particle Emissions During the Electrolysis of Heavy Water,” (Proc. Anomalous Nuclear Effects in Deuterium /Solid Systems, Provo, Utah, October 22, 1990), p. 572.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Phenomenology of Koan Meditation in Zen Buddhism
Phenomenological Psychology: _
Zen students described their experiences when working with koans, and a phenomenological method was used to identify the structure of those experiences. Zen koans are statements or stories developed in China and Japan by Zen masters in order to help students transform their conscious awareness of the world. Eight participants including 3 females and 5 males from Southern California with 1 to 30 years of experience in Zen answered open-ended questions about koan practice in one tape-recorded session for each participant. Reflection yielded the following thematic clusters: (a) motivation, (b) approaches to working with koans, (c) experiences while working with koans, (d) experiences of insight into koans, (e) working with a teacher, and (f) transformation. Participants described positive transformations including better control of emotions and concentration, better awareness of prejudices and biases with the ability to suppress those types of habitual associations, and a new relation to and acceptance of spiritual questions and doubts.
Zen students described their experiences when working with koans, and a phenomenological method was used to identify the structure of those experiences. Zen koans are statements or stories developed in China and Japan by Zen masters in order to help students transform their conscious awareness of the world. Eight participants including 3 females and 5 males from Southern California with 1 to 30 years of experience in Zen answered open-ended questions about koan practice in one tape-recorded session for each participant. Reflection yielded the following thematic clusters: (a) motivation, (b) approaches to working with koans, (c) experiences while working with koans, (d) experiences of insight into koans, (e) working with a teacher, and (f) transformation. Participants described positive transformations including better control of emotions and concentration, better awareness of prejudices and biases with the ability to suppress those types of habitual associations, and a new relation to and acceptance of spiritual questions and doubts.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Between the Reduction and Reflexivity: Explicating the "Phenomenological Psychologocal Attitude
Journal of Phenomenological Psychology
quote:
This article explores the nature of "the phenomenological attitude," which is understood as the process of retaining a wonder and openness to the world while reflexively restraining pre-understandings, as it applies to psychological research. A brief history identifies key philosphical ideas outlining Husserl's formulation of the reductions and subsequent existential-hermeneutic elaborations, and how these have been applied in empirical psychological research. Then three concrete descriptions of engaging the phenomenological attitude are offered, highlighting the way the epoché of the natural sciences, the psychological phenomenological reduction and the eidetic reduction can be applied during research interviews. Reflections on the impact and value of the researcher's stance show that these reductions can be intertwined with reflexivity and that, in this process, something of a dance occurs—a tango in which the researcher twists and glides through a series of improvised steps. In a context of tension and contradictory motions, the researcher slides between striving for reductive focus and reflexive self-awareness; between bracketing pre-understandings and exploiting them as a source of insight. Caught up in the dance, researchers must wage a continuous, iterative struggle to become aware of, and then manage, pre-understandings and habitualities that inevitably linger. Persistance will reward the researcher with special, if fleeting, moments of disclosure in which the phenomenon reveals something of itself in a fresh way.
quote:
This article explores the nature of "the phenomenological attitude," which is understood as the process of retaining a wonder and openness to the world while reflexively restraining pre-understandings, as it applies to psychological research. A brief history identifies key philosphical ideas outlining Husserl's formulation of the reductions and subsequent existential-hermeneutic elaborations, and how these have been applied in empirical psychological research. Then three concrete descriptions of engaging the phenomenological attitude are offered, highlighting the way the epoché of the natural sciences, the psychological phenomenological reduction and the eidetic reduction can be applied during research interviews. Reflections on the impact and value of the researcher's stance show that these reductions can be intertwined with reflexivity and that, in this process, something of a dance occurs—a tango in which the researcher twists and glides through a series of improvised steps. In a context of tension and contradictory motions, the researcher slides between striving for reductive focus and reflexive self-awareness; between bracketing pre-understandings and exploiting them as a source of insight. Caught up in the dance, researchers must wage a continuous, iterative struggle to become aware of, and then manage, pre-understandings and habitualities that inevitably linger. Persistance will reward the researcher with special, if fleeting, moments of disclosure in which the phenomenon reveals something of itself in a fresh way.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
On: What is the meaning of "Obliged to believe?"
ASK: On the Judgment of conscience
q:
"Once a Protestant studies, strives to understand what the Church teaches, and discerns that the Catholic Church is the True Church, then he IS obligated to believe ALL of what the Church teaches.
When we receive the Blessed Eucharist, we say Amen. This Amen not only means:
q:
"Once a Protestant studies, strives to understand what the Church teaches, and discerns that the Catholic Church is the True Church, then he IS obligated to believe ALL of what the Church teaches.
When we receive the Blessed Eucharist, we say Amen. This Amen not only means:
Yes, I believe that under the appearance of an unleavened host the priest will put on my tongue, I believe I am receiving Jesus himself.... It ALSO means: Amen:
I believe all that the Catholic Church teaches because it was founded by Jesus who is True God and True Man; and Jesus/God can neither deceive nor be deceived."
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Performing the Same Score: Repentance, Truth and Doctrine in Ecumenical Theology
New Blackfriars
q:
This article develops the fruitful metaphor of musical performance to think about church-dividing conflicts over doctrine. In particular, I show that just as there is more than one way for a score of music to be faithfully performed, so there can be more than one way for shared fundamental dogma to be faithfully articulated in different confessional or doctrinal traditions. When the disagreements between the Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian churches over christological doctrine are reframed as contrasting but not contradictory "performances" of one shared scriptural and Nicene dogma, possibilities for ecumenical reconciliation are strenghthened. Indeed, while not articulating its practice by means of the metaphor of a musical performance, the Roman Catholic magisterium is already approaching doctrinal reconciliation in just this way.
q:
This article develops the fruitful metaphor of musical performance to think about church-dividing conflicts over doctrine. In particular, I show that just as there is more than one way for a score of music to be faithfully performed, so there can be more than one way for shared fundamental dogma to be faithfully articulated in different confessional or doctrinal traditions. When the disagreements between the Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian churches over christological doctrine are reframed as contrasting but not contradictory "performances" of one shared scriptural and Nicene dogma, possibilities for ecumenical reconciliation are strenghthened. Indeed, while not articulating its practice by means of the metaphor of a musical performance, the Roman Catholic magisterium is already approaching doctrinal reconciliation in just this way.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Friday, November 02, 2007
Minvoul Travel Guide | Gabon
Minvoul Travel Guide
q:
Minvoul is a small town on the edge of the Gabonese-Cameroonian border along the Ntem River. It is in the heart of the equatorial jungle, although a dirt road connects it to Oyem. This dirt road is lined with scattered villages that sell bush meat hanging from poles... ie your dinner. Minvoul and the surrounding region is inhabited mostly by Fan people, a notoriously unwelcoming people during the colonial period. The Fan are friendly enough now and may even tell you about their spirit invocation ceremonies.
...
You can meet Pygmies at Edzengui, a small organization that promotes ecotourism within this neglected corner of the country. Edzengui is the name that the Baka people (Pygmies) have given to the protective spirit of the forest. Edzengui is located across the road from the Minvoul market.
...
q:
Minvoul is a small town on the edge of the Gabonese-Cameroonian border along the Ntem River. It is in the heart of the equatorial jungle, although a dirt road connects it to Oyem. This dirt road is lined with scattered villages that sell bush meat hanging from poles... ie your dinner. Minvoul and the surrounding region is inhabited mostly by Fan people, a notoriously unwelcoming people during the colonial period. The Fan are friendly enough now and may even tell you about their spirit invocation ceremonies.
...
You can meet Pygmies at Edzengui, a small organization that promotes ecotourism within this neglected corner of the country. Edzengui is the name that the Baka people (Pygmies) have given to the protective spirit of the forest. Edzengui is located across the road from the Minvoul market.
...
Gabon decouverte - CDK, Gabon
Gabon decouverte - CDK
q:
Baka pygmy, Fang, Kota and Kwèl populations live in the vicinity of the park. These populations possess a very rich cultural heritage, e.g. the Kota mask, the forest spirit, Baka Edzengui, or the Kwel Deke dance …
...
q:
Baka pygmy, Fang, Kota and Kwèl populations live in the vicinity of the park. These populations possess a very rich cultural heritage, e.g. the Kota mask, the forest spirit, Baka Edzengui, or the Kwel Deke dance …
...
three Pygmy organisations
IPACC - Central Africa Region
...
"There are now three nationally recognised Pygmy organisations in Gabon: MINAPYGA, Edzengui and ADCPPG"
...
...
"There are now three nationally recognised Pygmy organisations in Gabon: MINAPYGA, Edzengui and ADCPPG"
...
Field Trip Earth , Baka in Gabon
Field Trip Earth
q:
...
Hope has been on the horizon. Since 1998, World Wildlife Fund’s work with the Baka community of Minvoul has led to the creation of an association called Edzengui aimed at advocating for Baka rights. In addition, the Minkebe project has absorbed a couple of Bakas offering them short-term but renewable job opportunities. The project team believes this is having a positive effect on biodiversity as the people become more independent economically and realise the benefits of conservation.
Peter Ngea is the Communication Manager for the World Wildlife Fund - Central African Region.
q:
...
Hope has been on the horizon. Since 1998, World Wildlife Fund’s work with the Baka community of Minvoul has led to the creation of an association called Edzengui aimed at advocating for Baka rights. In addition, the Minkebe project has absorbed a couple of Bakas offering them short-term but renewable job opportunities. The project team believes this is having a positive effect on biodiversity as the people become more independent economically and realise the benefits of conservation.
Peter Ngea is the Communication Manager for the World Wildlife Fund - Central African Region.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Phenomenal Theology
New Blackfriars
q:
We no longer believe that the mind is a blank slate that simply records sense-data as given. Over the last two centuries, we have become increasingly aware of the fact that we bring something to what is given to us in experience. It is what we bring to our experience in the form of our conceptual perspective that molds and shapes our understanding or interpretation of the experience. This is especially true of religious experience. What is given in our God experiences is from God, but our interpretive understanding and reaction to our God experiences are uniquely our own. This paper considers several aspects of religious experience from such a phenomenal perspective.
q:
We no longer believe that the mind is a blank slate that simply records sense-data as given. Over the last two centuries, we have become increasingly aware of the fact that we bring something to what is given to us in experience. It is what we bring to our experience in the form of our conceptual perspective that molds and shapes our understanding or interpretation of the experience. This is especially true of religious experience. What is given in our God experiences is from God, but our interpretive understanding and reaction to our God experiences are uniquely our own. This paper considers several aspects of religious experience from such a phenomenal perspective.
Saturday, September 08, 2007
Temporal Parts
Philosophy Compass
q:
This article discusses recent work in metaphysics on temporal parts. After a short introduction introducing the notion of a temporal part, we examine several well-known arguments for the view that ordinary material objects such as tables, trees, and persons have temporal parts: (1) positing temporal parts makes it possible to solve puzzles of coincidence (e.g., the statue/lump puzzle); (2) positing temporal parts makes it possible to solve the problem of intrinsic change over time; and (3) the existence of temporal parts can be demonstrated based on considerations about vagueness in composition. We conclude by examining briefly a recent argument that the dispute over whether there are temporal parts is merely verbal.
q:
This article discusses recent work in metaphysics on temporal parts. After a short introduction introducing the notion of a temporal part, we examine several well-known arguments for the view that ordinary material objects such as tables, trees, and persons have temporal parts: (1) positing temporal parts makes it possible to solve puzzles of coincidence (e.g., the statue/lump puzzle); (2) positing temporal parts makes it possible to solve the problem of intrinsic change over time; and (3) the existence of temporal parts can be demonstrated based on considerations about vagueness in composition. We conclude by examining briefly a recent argument that the dispute over whether there are temporal parts is merely verbal.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Where Does The God Delusion Come from? [Critique of Dawkins]
New Blackfriars
While Richard Dawkins' polemic against religion scores easy points against Christian fundamentalisms, he supposes his target to be much vaster: "I am not attacking any particular version of God or gods. I am attacking God, all gods". Given The God Delusion's lack of extended argument, historical ignorance and unfamiliarity with the literature, the praise it has received from some distinguished scientists is troubling.
This essay seeks, first, to examine some of the book's chief weaknesses – its ignorance of the grammar of "God" and of "belief in God"; the crudeness of its account of how texts are best read; its lack of interest in ethics – and, second, to address the question of what it is about the climate of the times that enables so ill-informed and badly argued a tirade to be widely welcomed by many apparently well-educated people.
...
While Richard Dawkins' polemic against religion scores easy points against Christian fundamentalisms, he supposes his target to be much vaster: "I am not attacking any particular version of God or gods. I am attacking God, all gods". Given The God Delusion's lack of extended argument, historical ignorance and unfamiliarity with the literature, the praise it has received from some distinguished scientists is troubling.
This essay seeks, first, to examine some of the book's chief weaknesses – its ignorance of the grammar of "God" and of "belief in God"; the crudeness of its account of how texts are best read; its lack of interest in ethics – and, second, to address the question of what it is about the climate of the times that enables so ill-informed and badly argued a tirade to be widely welcomed by many apparently well-educated people.
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Saturday, July 21, 2007
The Right connections: Acknowledging epistemic progression in talk [saying 'Right']
Language and Society
q:
It is proposed that the response token Right, in one important use, is a marker of epistemic dependency between two units of talk by a prior speaker, and that this talk has progressed the understanding by the Right producer of a complex activity involving much information transfer. Two other Rights as response tokens are considered: as an epistemic confirmation token similar to That's right, and as a change-of-activity token similar to Alright/Okay. In addition, Right is shown to be different from other response tokens, including the news receipt Oh, newsmarkers such as Really?, and continuers and acknowledgment tokens such as Mm hm and Yeah.
q:
It is proposed that the response token Right, in one important use, is a marker of epistemic dependency between two units of talk by a prior speaker, and that this talk has progressed the understanding by the Right producer of a complex activity involving much information transfer. Two other Rights as response tokens are considered: as an epistemic confirmation token similar to That's right, and as a change-of-activity token similar to Alright/Okay. In addition, Right is shown to be different from other response tokens, including the news receipt Oh, newsmarkers such as Really?, and continuers and acknowledgment tokens such as Mm hm and Yeah.
Tell me about when you were hitchhiking: The organization of story initiation by Australian and Japanese speakers
Language and Society
q:
The sequence that begins a story may be a rather small segment, but how one performs the segment may affect whether one achieves the goal of telling the story. The participants in this study are native speakers of Australian English and Japanese, and the stories were collected in both languages. In recipient-initiated stories, Australian speakers begin a story in concert with the recipient's topic presentation, but Japanese speakers build momentum through the building of rapport and trust. In speaker-initiated stories, Australian speakers use a conventional story preface to claim the conversational floor, but Japanese speakers insinuate a story in subtle ways. Such differences may be related to differences between Australian and Japanese social and cultural structures. The final section discusses implications for conversation analysis in addition to cross-cultural issues.
q:
The sequence that begins a story may be a rather small segment, but how one performs the segment may affect whether one achieves the goal of telling the story. The participants in this study are native speakers of Australian English and Japanese, and the stories were collected in both languages. In recipient-initiated stories, Australian speakers begin a story in concert with the recipient's topic presentation, but Japanese speakers build momentum through the building of rapport and trust. In speaker-initiated stories, Australian speakers use a conventional story preface to claim the conversational floor, but Japanese speakers insinuate a story in subtle ways. Such differences may be related to differences between Australian and Japanese social and cultural structures. The final section discusses implications for conversation analysis in addition to cross-cultural issues.
Inside Deaf culture
Language and Society
q:
Since its publication in 1988, Padden & Humphries's book Deaf in America: Voices from a culture (Harvard University Press) has been an important resource for people studying American Sign Language, Deaf studies, and the linguistics of signed languages. The book sheds light on the Deaf experience and on how American Deaf people construct themselves through stories and language play, including poetry and jokes. It is a positive, at times humorous window into Deaf culture and identity. Harvard University Press has just released the authors' much-anticipated second book, reviewed here. Although it is just as informative, engaging, and well-researched as their first book, Inside Deaf culture examines a much bleaker aspect of Deaf America: its encounter with hearing hegemony.
q:
Since its publication in 1988, Padden & Humphries's book Deaf in America: Voices from a culture (Harvard University Press) has been an important resource for people studying American Sign Language, Deaf studies, and the linguistics of signed languages. The book sheds light on the Deaf experience and on how American Deaf people construct themselves through stories and language play, including poetry and jokes. It is a positive, at times humorous window into Deaf culture and identity. Harvard University Press has just released the authors' much-anticipated second book, reviewed here. Although it is just as informative, engaging, and well-researched as their first book, Inside Deaf culture examines a much bleaker aspect of Deaf America: its encounter with hearing hegemony.
ROBBINS BURLING, The talking ape: How language evolved
Language and Society
q:
Among those who theorize about the evolution of language, there are several camps, including those who argue that language evolved slowly from primate gesture-calls, and those who surmise that syntax is so complicated that it must have come from a single genetic mutation. Robbins Burling agrees fully with neither and argues that language is a separate system from gesture-calls, but that language did evolve slowly through natural and sexual selection. He invites us to look at the social uses of language and the cultural value of its complicated, embellished nature
q:
Among those who theorize about the evolution of language, there are several camps, including those who argue that language evolved slowly from primate gesture-calls, and those who surmise that syntax is so complicated that it must have come from a single genetic mutation. Robbins Burling agrees fully with neither and argues that language is a separate system from gesture-calls, but that language did evolve slowly through natural and sexual selection. He invites us to look at the social uses of language and the cultural value of its complicated, embellished nature
NANETTE GOTTLIEB, Language and society in Japan
Language and society
q:
If Japanese sociolinguistics can be likened in range and complexity to a forest, this book by the sociolinguist and Japan specialist Nanette Gottlieb would best be described as a Kyoto rock garden. It is cool and calm. It lies within a circumscribed landscape and gives pause for thought.
q:
If Japanese sociolinguistics can be likened in range and complexity to a forest, this book by the sociolinguist and Japan specialist Nanette Gottlieb would best be described as a Kyoto rock garden. It is cool and calm. It lies within a circumscribed landscape and gives pause for thought.
ADAM KENDON, Gesture: Visible action as utterance
Language and Society
Written by one of the foremost authorities on the subject, this book gives a definitive account of gesture and its study. It is an excellent and thought-provoking work for all readers interested in everyday interactions across various disciplines. The book can be divided into two parts: The first six chapters present a detailed history of gesture studies dating back to Roman antiquity and continuing to the twentieth century, especially in the Western tradition. The latter half of the book provides micro-analyses of gesture practices occurring in everyday interactions in various settings.
Written by one of the foremost authorities on the subject, this book gives a definitive account of gesture and its study. It is an excellent and thought-provoking work for all readers interested in everyday interactions across various disciplines. The book can be divided into two parts: The first six chapters present a detailed history of gesture studies dating back to Roman antiquity and continuing to the twentieth century, especially in the Western tradition. The latter half of the book provides micro-analyses of gesture practices occurring in everyday interactions in various settings.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Scientific Structuralism: On the Identity and Diversity of Objects in a Structure
Blackwell Synergy - Supp Proc Arist Soc, Volume 81 Issue 1 Page 23-43, June 2007 (Article Abstract)
The identity and diversity of individual objects may be grounded or ungrounded, and intrinsic or contextual. Intrinsic individuation can be grounded in haecceities, or absolute discernibility. Contextual individuation can be grounded in relations, but this is compatible with absolute, relative or weak discernibility. Contextual individuation is compatible with the denial of haecceitism, and this is more harmonious with science. Structuralism implies contextual individuation. In mathematics contextual individuation is in general primitive. In physics contextual individuation may be grounded in relations via weak discernibility.
The identity and diversity of individual objects may be grounded or ungrounded, and intrinsic or contextual. Intrinsic individuation can be grounded in haecceities, or absolute discernibility. Contextual individuation can be grounded in relations, but this is compatible with absolute, relative or weak discernibility. Contextual individuation is compatible with the denial of haecceitism, and this is more harmonious with science. Structuralism implies contextual individuation. In mathematics contextual individuation is in general primitive. In physics contextual individuation may be grounded in relations via weak discernibility.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Mark Wilson - University of Pittsburgh
Department of Philosophy
Wandering Significance: An Essay on Conceptual Behavior (Oxford University Press, 2006).
"Predicate Meets Property," The Philosophical Review, October 1982.
"Can We Trust Logical Form?," Journal of Philosophy XCI, October, 1994.
"The Unreasonable Uncooperativeness of Mathematics in the Natural Sciences," The Monist 2000.
"Theory Facades," Proceedings of the Aristotlean Society, 2004.
"Ghost Points: A Context for Frege's Context Principle" in Erich Reck and Michael Beaney (ed.), The Routledge Companion to Frege (Routledge: 2006).
Wandering Significance: An Essay on Conceptual Behavior (Oxford University Press, 2006).
"Predicate Meets Property," The Philosophical Review, October 1982.
"Can We Trust Logical Form?," Journal of Philosophy XCI, October, 1994.
"The Unreasonable Uncooperativeness of Mathematics in the Natural Sciences," The Monist 2000.
"Theory Facades," Proceedings of the Aristotlean Society, 2004.
"Ghost Points: A Context for Frege's Context Principle" in Erich Reck and Michael Beaney (ed.), The Routledge Companion to Frege (Routledge: 2006).
Wandering Significance: An Essay on Conceptual Behaviour - by - Mark Wilson
Oxford Press
quoting:
* 'Wandering Significance is a brilliant and highly original contribution to some of the main classical problems of philosophy, employing a novel (and very learned) combination of philosophy of language with the history and philosophy of science. Wilson thereby presents a radically new version of a "neo-pragmatist" approach to concepts and conceptual mastery (in the tradition of Dewey, Quine, and the later Wittgenstein) which far surpasses all previous versions in depth and specificity of detail. A major intellectual breakthrough. ' - Michael Friedman, Stanford University
quoting:
* 'Wandering Significance is a brilliant and highly original contribution to some of the main classical problems of philosophy, employing a novel (and very learned) combination of philosophy of language with the history and philosophy of science. Wilson thereby presents a radically new version of a "neo-pragmatist" approach to concepts and conceptual mastery (in the tradition of Dewey, Quine, and the later Wittgenstein) which far surpasses all previous versions in depth and specificity of detail. A major intellectual breakthrough. ' - Michael Friedman, Stanford University
Documentary: THE DEVIL'S MINER . The Mountain
Independent Lens | PBS
“If El Tío is not fed, he will take matters into his own hands and feed on human flesh. But for many of Potosí’s citizens, El Tío is more trustworthy than their own government….” —Aaron Roesch, “Unearthing Potosi: The Enduring Plight of Bolivian Miners”
Deep inside the mines of Cerro Rico are hundreds of statues of the Devil in the shape of a goat. The Catholics of Potosí know him as El Tío (The Uncle), lord of the underworld. According to their traditions, he rules over the mines, simultaneously offering protection and destruction. Miners leave offerings for El Tío—tobacco, liquor, coca leaves—in hopes that he will spare their lives.
In THE DEVIL’S MINER, Basilio and Bernardino, the young miners, are shown to be fervent believers in the awesome power of El Tío, providing offerings every day in hopes of his intercession. At regular intervals, the villagers of Potosí offer a sacrifice to the devil in the mines, ritually slaughtering a llama and smearing the animal’s blood on the adit, the entrance to the mine, and one another, in hopes of slaking El Tío’s bloodlust that has claimed so many of their ancestors.
The legend of El Tío can be seen in other Catholic cultures that practice the religion of voudou, such as the related belief in Legba, the loa [God] of protection who is often represented as a statue. Like El Tío, Legba is seen as a guardian in Haiti and some cultures in New Orleans, and practitioners traditionally leave offerings of tobacco and rum in hopes of currying favor.
It’s not surprising that the miners of Potosí seek divine protection, be it from Jesus on the outside of the mine, or El Tío underground; it is estimated that Cerro Rico and the other Bolivian mines have resulted in 8 million deaths in the last 500 years. So the offerings continue—and so do the casualties.
...
“If El Tío is not fed, he will take matters into his own hands and feed on human flesh. But for many of Potosí’s citizens, El Tío is more trustworthy than their own government….” —Aaron Roesch, “Unearthing Potosi: The Enduring Plight of Bolivian Miners”
Deep inside the mines of Cerro Rico are hundreds of statues of the Devil in the shape of a goat. The Catholics of Potosí know him as El Tío (The Uncle), lord of the underworld. According to their traditions, he rules over the mines, simultaneously offering protection and destruction. Miners leave offerings for El Tío—tobacco, liquor, coca leaves—in hopes that he will spare their lives.
In THE DEVIL’S MINER, Basilio and Bernardino, the young miners, are shown to be fervent believers in the awesome power of El Tío, providing offerings every day in hopes of his intercession. At regular intervals, the villagers of Potosí offer a sacrifice to the devil in the mines, ritually slaughtering a llama and smearing the animal’s blood on the adit, the entrance to the mine, and one another, in hopes of slaking El Tío’s bloodlust that has claimed so many of their ancestors.
The legend of El Tío can be seen in other Catholic cultures that practice the religion of voudou, such as the related belief in Legba, the loa [God] of protection who is often represented as a statue. Like El Tío, Legba is seen as a guardian in Haiti and some cultures in New Orleans, and practitioners traditionally leave offerings of tobacco and rum in hopes of currying favor.
It’s not surprising that the miners of Potosí seek divine protection, be it from Jesus on the outside of the mine, or El Tío underground; it is estimated that Cerro Rico and the other Bolivian mines have resulted in 8 million deaths in the last 500 years. So the offerings continue—and so do the casualties.
...
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Physiological and Musico-Acoustic Correlates of the Chill Response
Music Perception
In this study, we examined the phenomenon of chills and its concomitant physiological reactions. In a preliminary study, experimenter-selected music excerpts were played to 27 participants, and musical passages especially apt toelicit chill experiences were identified on the basis of subjective ratings. In a subsequent study with 27 new participants, subjective chill experiences and physiological responses were recorded in real time. The highest numbers of chills were experienced during musical passages characterized by similar dynamic, harmonic, and structural characteristics, which coincided with distinct patterns of heart rate and skin conductance increases.
...
In this study, we examined the phenomenon of chills and its concomitant physiological reactions. In a preliminary study, experimenter-selected music excerpts were played to 27 participants, and musical passages especially apt toelicit chill experiences were identified on the basis of subjective ratings. In a subsequent study with 27 new participants, subjective chill experiences and physiological responses were recorded in real time. The highest numbers of chills were experienced during musical passages characterized by similar dynamic, harmonic, and structural characteristics, which coincided with distinct patterns of heart rate and skin conductance increases.
...
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