Vollkommene Syllogismen und reine Vernunftschlüsse: Aristoteles und Kant. Eine Stellungnahme zu Theodor Eberts Gegeneinwänden. Teil 1

In an earlier article (s. J Gen Philos Sci 40:341–355, 2009), I have rejected an interpretation of Aristotle’s syllogistic which (since Patzig) is predominant in the literature on Aristotle, but wrong in my view. According to this interpretation, the distinguishing feature of perfect syllogisms is their being evident. Theodor Ebert has attempted to defend this interpretation by means of objections (s. J Gen Philos Sci 40:357–365, 2009) which I will try to refute in part [1] of the following article. I want to show that (1) according to Aristotle’s Prior Analytics perfect and imperfect syllogisms do not differ by their being evident, but by the reason for their being evident, (2) Aristotle uses the same words to denote proofs of the validity of perfect and imperfect syllogisms („apodeixis“, “deiknusthai” etc.), (3) accordingly, Aristotle defines perfect syllogisms not as being evident, but as “requiring nothing beyond the things taken in order to make the necessity evident“, i.e. as not “requiring one or more things that are necessary because of the terms assumed, but that have not been taken among the propositions” (APr. I. 1), (4) the proofs by which the validity of perfect assertoric syllogisms can be shown according to APr. I. 4 are based on the Dictum de omni et nullo, (5) the fact that Aristotle describes these proofs only in rough outlines corresponds to the fact that his proofs of the validity of other fundamental rules are likewise produced in rough outlines, e.g. his proof of the validity of conversio simplex in APr. I. 2, which usually has been misunderstood (also by Ebert): (6) Aristotle does not prove the convertibility of E-sentences by presupposing the convertibility of I-sentences; only the reverse is true.     

Vollkommene Syllogismen und reine Vernunftschlüsse: Aristoteles und Kant. Eine Stellungnahme zu Theodor Eberts Gegeneinwänden. Teil 2

In an earlier article (see J Gen Philos Sci (2010) 41: 341–355) I have compared Aristotle’s syllogistic with Kant’s theory of “pure ratiocination”. “Ratiocinia pura” („reine Vernunftschlüsse“) is Kant’s designation for assertoric syllogisms Aristotle has called ‘perfect’. In Kant’s view they differ from non-pure ratiocinia precisely in that their validity rests only on the validity of the Dictum de omni et nullo (which, however, in Kant’s view can be further reduced to more fundamental principles) whereas the validity of non-pure ratiocinia additionally presupposes the validity of inferences which Kant calls consequentiae immediatae. I have argued that Kant’s view is in some (not in all) essential features in accordance with Aristotle’s view concerning perfect syllogisms and certainly leading to a tenable and interesting logical theory. As a result I have rejected not only the interpretation of Aristotle adopted by Theodor Ebert, but also the objections he has raised against Kant’s logical theory. As far as Aristotle is concerned, Ebert has attempted to defend his position in the first part of his reply to my article published in J Gen Philos Sci (2009) 40: 357–365, and I have argued against this defence in issue 1 of the J Gen Philos Sci (2010) 41: 199–213 (cf. Ebert’s answer in the same issue pp. 215–231). In the following discussion I deal with Eberts defence of his criticism of Kant published in the second part of his reply to my article (see J Gen Philos Sci (2009) 40: 365–372). I shall argue, that Kant’s principle ‘nota notae est nota rei ipsius’ and his use of technical vocabulary stand up to the objections raised by Ebert. His attempts to prove that Kant’s logical theory is defective are based on several misinterpretations.     

Philosophie und Geometrie. Zur jüngeren Protophysik-Kritik

The critique of my protophysical approaches to operational foundation of geometry by Lucas Amiras (Journal for General Philosophy of Science Vol. 34 (2003)) concerns my first publication from 1976 but not the further 30 years of work. It does not offer any argument leading from the (erroneous) judgement “lacking success” to the conclusion “impossible”. And it is, in general, based on a philosophical defect: it ignores the principle of methodical order as leading for constructivist protophysics.     

Vom Glück zu dritt

The transition to parenthood is a normative, age-based transitional phase in life. Contrary to the romantic idea of “happiness for three”, empirical research indicates sometimes massive impairments of the quality of the partnership from the time of pregnancy up to 1 year or longer after the birth of the first child. Different influencing factors interact together and can lead to an increase in the strain of each individual and change the previous relationship of a couple. Very few couples expect the birth of their first child to have negative consequences on their relationship. Some typical challenges that a loving couple face when becoming parents are illustrated in this article by a case vignette.     

Was sind “ek-statische Maschinen”? (Gedanken aus und zu: M. K. Mamardašvili,Wissenschaft und Kultur)

Ohne ZusammenfassungM. K. Mamardavili, Nauka i kul'tura, inMetodologieskie problemy istorikonaunych issledovanij, M., Nauka, 1982, str. 38–58. Zitate aus diesem Aufsatz werden im Text mit der in Klammern gesetzten Seitenzahl ausgewiesen.     

Unerwünschte Wirkungen, Nebenwirkungen und Fehlentwicklungen

This paper is based on the observation that side effects, unwanted effects and undesirable developments in psychotherapy are still rarely discussed. Following an attempt to classify the phenomena some instruments which allow their assessment are described. Finally, studies indicating results about the frequency of the individual phenomena and their correlates are summarized. Focusing on side effects and unwanted effects of psychotherapy should start early and persist continuously throughout psychotherapeutic training.     

Wahrheit und Selbstrückbezüglichkeit

This paper is intended to discuss the problems occurring in the relation between the notion of truth and the question of self-reference. To do this, we shall review Tarski's (T) convention and its related terminology. We shall clarify the relation between truth and extension in order to lead into the question of semantic paradoxes appearing in the theoretical models concerned with truth. Subsequently, we shall review the logical system which develops in the reformulation of the modal proposal of the (T) convention. In closing, we shall critically examine Kripke's interpretation from the proposals made by Tarski.     

Traumata, traumatogene Faktoren und pathologisches Glücksspielen

This study compared 100 female pathological gamblers with 100 male pathological gamblers with respect to sociological data, previous trauma and potential traumatogenic factors. All pathological gamblers were inpatients of the German clinic of Muenchwies. The female sample showed later onset of gambling, faster progression into a pathological disorder and higher rates of traumatisation in childhood as well as in adult age (e.g. parental neglect, physical and sexual abuse). Furthermore, significantly higher rates of maternal violence, younger age at the time of parental divorce, higher rates of violence in a partnership and addiction of the partner also differentiated the female sample from the male sample.     

Wirkung vorgeburtlicher und früh-nachgeburtlicher Umwelteinflüsse auf Gehirn und Psyche

The psyche of a human being is formed in strict correlation with the development of the brain. Genetic, epigenetic regulatory and prenatal influences through the brain of the mother as well as postnatal influences, predominantly as early childhood attachment experiences are all intertwined with each other. This takes place at three “limbic levels”: a lower level at which the infantile temperament resides, a middle level of early childhood impressioning experiences and an upper limbic level of socialization. The cognitive language level develops in a relatively independent manner. At the three limbic levels six psychoneural systems are operative, namely the stress processing, the self-calming, the impulse inhibiting, the motivation, the attachment and the reality and risk perception systems. Mental disorders are characterized throughout by disorders of the first two systems, predominantly in the form of greatly increased cortisol levels and greatly reduced serotinin levels. These then induce deficits in other systems; however, in less severe cases compensatory processes can occur via an attachment-related increased release of oxytocin. Similar processes also occur within the “therapeutic alliance” in the patient-therapist relationship.