Points of View Beyond Models: Towards a Formal Approach to Points of View as Access to the World

According to Vázquez and Liz (Found Sci 16(4): 383–391, 2011), Points of View (PoV) can be considered in two different ways. On the one hand, they can be explained following the model of propositional attitudes. This model assumes that the internal structure of a PoV is constituted by a subject, a set of contents, and a set of relations between the subject and those contents. On the other hand, we can analyze points of view taking as a model the notions of location and access. If we choose to follow the second approach, instead of the first one, the internal structure of a PoV is not directly addressed, and the emphasized features of PoV are related to the function that PoV are intended to have. That is, PoV are directly identified by their role and they can solely be understood as ways of accessing the world that bring some kind of perspective about it. Having this in mind, we would like to propose a notation that explains how to understand such access as a sort of models (that can allow the creation of concepts), independently of whether the precise PoV under consideration is impersonal or non-impersonal, its kind of content, and its subjective or objective character. First, we will present an account of some previous approaches to the study of points of view. Then, we will analyze what kind of structure the world is assumed to posses and how the access to it is possible. Third, we will develop a notation that explains PoV as qualitative dimensions by means of which it is possible to valuate objects and states of the world.     

Theory of Knowledge in System Dynamics Models

Having entered into the problem structuring methods, system dynamics (SD) is an approach, among systems’ methodologies, which claims to recognize the main structures of socio-economic behaviors. However, the concern for building or discovering strong philosophical underpinnings of SD, undoubtedly playing an important role in the modeling process, is a long-standing issue, in a way that there is a considerable debate about the assumptions or the philosophical foundations of it. In this paper, with a new perspective, we have explored theory of knowledge in SD models and found strange similarities between classic epistemological concepts such as justification and truth, and the mechanism of obtaining knowledge in SD models. In this regard, we have discussed related theories of epistemology and based on this analysis, have suggested some implications for moderating common problems in the modeling process of SD. Furthermore, this research could be considered a reword of system dynamics modeling principles in terms of theory of knowledge.     

Points of View: A Conceptual Space Approach

Points of view are a central phenomenon in human cognition. Although the concept of point of view is ambiguous, there exist common elements in different notions. A point of view is a certain way to look at things around us. In conceptual points of view, things are looked at or interpreted through conceptual lenses. Conceptual points of view are important for epistemology, cognitive science, and philosophy of science. In this article, a new method to formalize conceptual points of view is introduced. It is based on the conceptual space approach, where concepts are regions of multi-dimensional quality spaces. Points of view, as defined in this article, consist of a selection of relevant dimensions, referred to here as determinables, and of a certain supposition, referred to here as a theory, about the subject content. After considering some early efforts to formalize points of view, the notion of conceptual space is defined and explored. One concept of point of view is defined and developed in the framework of conceptual space, and a new logic for points of view is also outlined. The problem of mind–body correlation is discussed as an example of the application of the notion of points of view. To conclude, the meaning and applications of the new concepts and tools developed in the article are discussed.     

论费曼的科学文化观

R．Feynman（1918-1988）作为最杰出的物理学大师之一，他不仅对物理理论做出了杰出的贡献，对科学文化和教育的贡献也是巨大的。因而对费曼科学文化思想的整理和研究，具有重要的理论意义。本文围绕费曼关于科学价值、科学探索、科学传承、科学与人生，几个方面深入发掘，以展示费曼丰富多彩的科学文化思想，并从中领悟他的科学智慧。     

略论科学研究规则对自然观假定的依赖性

本文发挥了费耶阿本德关于科学研究标准和规则对世界结构的依赖性的观点，提出在科学研究活动中存在着解释学循环。在对主体间性原则、实验原则和可重复性原则进行了细致的分析之后，本文指出这些貌似不证自明的原则的有效性依赖于其背后的自然观假定，揭示了这些原则和假定的相对性和局限性。     

Spatio-Cultural Evolution as Information Dynamics: Part I

A view of evolution is presented in this paper (a two paper series), intended as a methodological infrastructure for modeling spatio-cultural systems (the design outline of such a model is presented in paper II). A motivation for the re-articulation of evolution as information dynamics is the phenomenologically discovered prerequisite of embedding a meaning-attributing apparatus in any and all models of spatio-cultural systems. An evolution is construed as the dynamics of a complex system comprised of memory devices, connected in an ordered fashion (not randomly) by information-exchanges. An information-exchange transpires when the recipient system adopts a strategy (a continuum of events) that eventually changes its structure; namely, after the exchange, it contains and conveys different information. These memory devices??sub-systems??are also similarly constructed complex system. Only a part of the information is retained by a system in its physical-memory storage, which eventually loses this function too, when the ability to retrieve a common enough structure is lost. The entire amount of information is a system??s structure of connections (information exchanges); it is contained (apparently stored) dynamically when a system is observed in a temporarily stable state. This temporary permanence??robustness and resilience??is attained dynamically; namely, enabled by changes taking place in its sub-systems and in each of their sub-systems. Therefore, for modeling such a system a multi-layer/multi-scale approach is preferable. It enables the addition and subtraction of an interim scale and the consideration of such a scale as a micro or a macro (thus initiating a maneuver up or down scale) according to an ad-hoc requirement of the model, which imitates an envisaged sub system (called an ??Inner World??), to which a certain range of decisions is relegated. This dynamics is driven (in time) by dynamically originated information growth, as defined by Shannon; i.e. by the fact that each of certain state transitions have occurred sometime in the past of the system just so and not otherwise, and by the fact that they have occurred in a certain order. Therefore, each ??history?? and memory retrieval availability of information is unique, and thus can be used to differentiate meanings. Hence, there cannot be a comprehensive solution to the meaning attribution model-design challenge. However, the observation that at the core of each envisaged complex system, moving in time according to a rounded logic, there is an information manipulating device, operating necessarily according to a Boolean logic, can be copied into the design of a model. This observation enables, therefore, the embedding of a specific, locally fitted, meaning attributing device, which is an information manipulating mechanism (it splices/attaches one segment of information to another??its meaning). However, this is just a framework; the actual solution has still to be found locally??for each subject system. Such a solution is demonstrated for the change in location or layout in the Israeli city in paper II.     

The Emergence of Symbolic Algebra as a Shift in Predominant Models

Historians of science find it difficult to pinpoint to an exact period in which symbolic algebra came into existence. This can be explained partly because the historical process leading to this breakthrough in mathematics has been a complex and diffuse one. On the other hand, it might also be the case that in the early twentieth century, historians of mathematics over emphasized the achievements in algebraic procedures and underestimated the conceptual changes leading to symbolic algebra. This paper attempts to provide a more precise setting for the historical context in which this decisive step to symbolic reasoning took place. For that purpose we will consider algebraic problem solving as model-based reasoning and symbolic representation as a model. This allows us to characterize the emergence of symbolic algebra as a shift from a geometrical to a symbolic mode of representation. The use of the symbolic as a model will be situated in the context of mercantilism where merchant activity of exchange has led to reciprocal relations between money and wealth.

考察转基因农业模式的两种视角——以印度Bt棉争议为例

印度自2002年正式批准转基因Bt棉商业化种植,十年来其所引起的争议几乎从未停止过。本文以印度Bt棉争议为例,对争议中反映出的两种考察视角以及二者之间的主要分歧做出分析。本文认为,与大多数新品种(尤其是外来品种)的引进一样,转基因农作物的商业化种植并不只是品种替换的问题,更是一种农业经营方式的更替乃至经济秩序的重建。在这一过程中,Bt棉种子所扮演的角色是生物技术跨国公司在贸易自由化与全球化背景下藉以实现资本增值的工具,这也正是导致印度农民悲剧的原因。     

巨人的对抗——作为笛卡尔反驳者的莱布尼茨动力学初探

本文试图从活力之争这段著名的科学史公案入手,探究莱布尼茨与笛卡尔的力的概念之差别的根源。通过对两个体系的比较研究,我们将阐明动力学核心概念的物理学含义及其形而上学基础,从而对这种新科学的基本特征做出初步的刻画。     

自然观的历史唯物主义基础--论马克思的自然观

马克思的自然观是建立在历史唯物主义基础之上的自然观。历史性原则、生存论原则是它的基本解释原则。作为哲学世界现的自然观不同于自然科学，人与自然的关系是哲学自然观的基本问题。马克思所关注的不是与人无关的自在的自然界，而是进入人的生存领域的自然界。生存论是马克思自然观的终极解释原则。     

Iterative Design of Experiments by Non-Linear PLS Models. A Case Study: The Reservoir Simulator Data to Forecast Oil Production

In this paper we present a way of conducting design of experiments by Multivariate Additive Partial Least-Squares Splines models, in short MAPLSS. In the framework of optimal experimental design based on small samples, in order to select the most informative MAPLSS model, we process an adaptive incremental selection of observations by a particular bootstrap procedure. Why MAPLSS models? Because they inherit the advantages of the PLS regression that permits to capture additively non-linear main effects and relevant interactions in the difficult framework of small samples. The effectiveness of this approach is illustrated on the reservoir simulator data used to forecast oil production.     

创造性溯因推理与科学发现——以现代原子模型的早期发展为例

科学实验中的经验反常往往激起科学家强烈的好奇心,引导科学家进行扩展性探索,以创造解释性假说去合理解释之.创造性溯因是创造新假说的重要机制.现代原子模型的早期发展体现了经验反常、创造性溯因与科学发现之间的密切关系.     

创新:持续与活力之间的张力

技术发展中存在着两个相互彼此相关的核心要素，即技术发展的持续性(旧)与技术活力(新)，而技术创新则构成了技术的持续性与技术活力之间的张力。本文以著名经济学家熊彼特技术创新理论为主线，对技术创新，以及技术创新中的新旧关系做了具体的论述，并得出新依赖于创造性；新观念不可预测；新的理解需要以旧的知识为基础；新的并不必然就是进步等结论。     

认知的具身观

在认知科学中存在一个具身认知的运动。认知的具身观认为，我们的心智和理性能力是具身的。与认知的具身观相对立的是“第一代认知科学”的认知主义（cognitivism）的观念，这是一个基于“客观主义”意义的认知观。客观主义的意义理论认为认知过程和结果独立于进行认知活动的人的身体结构和认知发生于其中的认知情境。与之相对，认知的具身观认为认知是身体一主体在实时的环境中的相互作用活动。认知科学的当代发现表明，意义在认知中处于中心地位：我们的认知活动是通过意义和世界紧密关联的。心智的本质在于它构成意义的活动。     

The Dynamics of Change in Everyday Life: Final Response

Due to Swedish history, to date there has been a common understanding of the meaning of volunteering in Sweden. However, it seems as if the meaning of volunteering is changing in Sweden, at least in some atypical hybrid organizations. However, this change presupposes that there is a conception of volunteering that has been institutionalized by tradition. Hence, to understand this change, one has to capture the institutionalized meaning of volunteering. In the academic debate there is sometimes an implied opposition between conceptual meaning and existential meaning. It is argued that this divide is unfortunate, the existential aspect presupposes the conceptual aspect of meaning. The study of the meaning of volunteering is an attempt to uncover existential meaning in everyday life. Neither the cognitive meaning nor the existential meaning of volunteering is an objective fact but fragile and dependent upon contextual factors.     

数学中的经验:认识论上的紧张视角

就形式数学来说,它是脱离经验,在内涵上是一种社会建构。计算机技术提高了人们的计算能力,对数学的这一社会建构平添了紧张,加强了“作为计算的数学”与“作为证明的数学”之间的不平衡性。在历史上,相似的认识论上的争论表现在计算或实践的印度数学与精神或形式的西方数学之间。我们认为,认识论上的紧张,可通过以下方式得以消解:认同数学是基于经验、可错的观点,并据此引领数学课程标准的基本理念。     

The Radical Constructivist View of Science

From the constructivist perspective, science cannot transcend thedomain of experience. Scientific theories are seen as models that helpto order and manage that domain. As the experiential field expands,models are replaced by others based on novel conceptual constructs. Thepaper suggests the substitution of ‘viability’ or ‘functional fit’ forthe notions of Truth and objective representation of anexperiencer-independent reality. This by-passes the sceptics'incontrovertible arguments against certain real-world knowledge andproposes the Piagetian conception of cognition as the function thatgenerates ways and means for dealing with the world of experience.     

组织创新的整合观

分工和分权只是企业组织创新的一个方面,作为分工和分权对立面的整合也是组织创新的重要内容。整合具有层次性,它可以从两个方面促进企业核心能力的增长。一方面,整合能力本身就是企业能力体系的重要组成;另一方面,整合有利于企业中组织资本的形成,加强企业的技术基础与管理基础,提升企业的能力。对我国企业来说,职能部门之间的事例尤其具有现实意义,外部环境变化的剧烈程度、规模的扩张状况和组织结构复杂程度是企业选择整合机制时应该考虑的主要因素。     

智能表中自动读表系统的概念及运行模式

介绍了智能表中自动读表系统的概念及运行模式，并分析了自动读表系统在家用智能表中的发展趋势。随着环保意识以及自动化要求的提高，智能表自动读表系统势必在不久的将来实现全面普及。     

维特根斯坦:颜色逻辑视角下的现象世界

维特根斯坦在《关于颜色的评论》中阐明颜色概念的逻辑主要有两点:一是颜色感知在逻辑上先于颜色概念,二是颜色概念不具备确定的感知规定性。这一逻辑引申出正常的视觉现象不能被描述,同时语言游戏的语法也决定了正常的视觉能力不能被描述。这两点表明,一方面视觉现象独立于语言游戏,具有非概念的内容;另一方面视觉现象又通过被命名和使用,在语言游戏中体现其意义。维特根斯坦对视觉现象和语言游戏关系的澄清把现象世界从传统二元论的框架中解放出来,体现了对认识论的发展。