Knowledge spaces from a topological point of view

In this paper we consider the operations of restriction, extension and gluing of pre-topologies, antimatroids, neighborhood systems and heritage choice functions. Pre-topologies are also known as knowledge spaces in knowledge space theory, and some of these operations were recently discussed in a paper by Falmagne [Falmagne, J.-C. (2008). Projections and symmetric expansions of a learning space. arXiv:0803.0575]. We introduce the notion of a separator, which allows us to decompose such objects into simpler parts, or conversely, to assemble them from simpler parts.     

Religious celibacy from the celibate's point of view

What do celibates consider the adaptive and maladaptive aspects of their celibate religious lifestyle? What role has celibacy played in understanding the differences between those who persevere and those who choose to resign from celibate religious life and/or ordained ministry? Using data from extensive interviews, this exploratory study begins to focus some of the perceived effects of celibacy upon personal development for both those who persevere in celibate religious life and those who resign.     

从患者角度看循证医学

循证医学是一门发展中的朝阳学科,其哲学思想正发生着演绎。在临床医学领域中,其定义也在不断拓展、深化。当前,更加强调:循证医学应是一种人性化的医学实践方法,在临床决策中,仅靠证据还远远不够,应有效地融合病人的价值观及意愿选择。从患者的角度来认识循证医学的理念与方法,探讨循证实践中病人的价值观及意愿选择。     

The idea of emancipation from a cosmopolitan point of view

R. Rorty uncouples cosmopolitanism from emancipation and rejects the latter on both phylogenetic and ontogenetic grounds. Thus: 1. There is no human nature to be emancipated, and 2. The notion of a rational, transcendental and conditioning subject (presupposed by traditional theories of emancipation) is obsolete. He preserves the idea of cosmopolitanism, which, in an effort to avoid foundationalisrn, he associates only with the development and progress of liberal societies. His cosmopolitanism relies on the distinction between persuasion and force and his preference for conversation over rational discourse. In this paper, I discuss Rorty's claims and trace residues of biologism, positivism, and behaviourism in them. By putting forward an immanent critique of Rorty's account of cosmopolitanism and emancipation, I defend a non-foundationalist notion of redemption as self-realization and propose a new justification of Rorty's distinction between force and persuasion.     

The conflict over creation from a medieval point of view

Many theological terms such as ‘causation’ and ‘creation’ carried technical meanings during the late thirteenth century but these same terms are often treated commonly in modern discourse. When the tension between creationism and evolution is examined in light of what well known medieval theologians wrote, it appears that the current debates related to evolution often lapse into the fallacy of equivocation. One unfortunate consequence of this breakdown is that the root of the problem, the subtle language involved, often remains unexposed. Moreover, the level of passionate discourse surrounding evolution suggests that a nearly scholastic approach is required if further confusion is to be limited.     

Scientific problems and questions from a logical point of view

Scientific knowledge systems function as effective and specialized apparatus for formulating, analyzing and solving scientific problems. In science, problems become internal parts of the knowledge systems; thus they acquire new forms and properties in comparison with common-sense problems. Definite theoretical structures connected with problems and questions appear in the theory. Among them are erotetic expressions and languages, calculi and algebras of problems. On the basis of the structure-nominative reconstruction of a theory, the unified treatment of these structures is given. Methods of the theory of named sets are used in the logical analysis of problems and their systems. As a consequence a new formalized model of the problem part of theory is constructed.