Is constructional apraxia primarily an interhemispheric disconnection syndrome?

Abstract.— An attempt is made to show that the errors traditionally associated with the constructional activity of patients with left- or right-sided cerebral lesions correspond closely to the faults observed in drawings by the left and right hand of split-brain patients. Based on this evidence, it is discussed whether unilateral lesions may cause callosal disconnection to such an extent that constructional apraxia will appear. Finally, some major objections to the hypothesis that constructional apraxia is an interhemispheric disconnection syndrome are evaluated.     

What Is a Parergon?

Despite important recent work, the rehabilitation of parergon as a critical concept in the history of art has yet to be fully broached. From the time Jacques Derrida introduced the term into contemporary critical theory in The Truth in Painting, its character and function have been largely understood as referencing a threshold or boundary—in particular, that of the border of the artwork. Yet a review of the term's long history suggests a meaning that differs in significant ways from its current near‐univocal characterization as a synonym for a frame. In particular, premodern art theory and criticism identifies a parergon with matters such as the background action in a history painting, the inclusion in a landscape of picturesque embellishments, or, following Kant, the addition of ornament to a painting, a statue, or a building. This article therefore proposes we ask again: What is a parergon?     

Is psychoanalysis a science?

Freud Among the Philosophers: the Psychoanalytic Unconscious and its Philosophical Critics, by Donald Levy, New Haven: Yale University Press, 1996, 189 pages.     

Is alcoholism a disease?

Commentators have repeatedly attacked the traditional view that alcoholism is a disease. Their arguments that alcoholism is a central aspect of life, a deviant life style, or a form of learned behavior are examined in the light of the history and philosophy of medicine as well as current bio-behavioral research. Our conclusion is that alcoholism, as a lawful pattern of observable signs and symptoms that deviate significantly from a norm of health, is a bio-psychosocial disease.     

What Is Music? Is There a Definitive Answer?

Philosophers frequently defend definitions by appealing to intuitions and contemporary folk classificatory norms. I raise methodological concerns that undermine some of these defenses. Focusing on Andrew Kania's recent definition of music, I argue that the way in which it has been developed leads to problems, and I show that a number of other definitions of interest to philosophers of art (and others) run into similar problems.     

Is Xunzi a utilitarian? Revisiting a disagreement

ABSTRACT

In Chinese scholarship, Xunzi is often regarded as an eclectic Confucian master who accepted some form of utilitarian thoughts (e.g. Fung Yu-lan, Mou Zongsan and Xu Fuguan). This characteristic was also observed by some western scholars such as Benjamin I. Schwartz. In a recent study, I argued that the basic character of Xunzi’s philosophy is utilitarianism in a broad sense based on an examination on his intellectual criticism and political criticism. Xunzi asserts that humans are innately driven by self-interested desires, and he evaluates all intellectual works and political behaviours by their utility. However, he does not limit utility to only basic animal desires such as food and sex. In Xunzi’s view, humans also have innate emotions; hence, these emotions should also be accounted for in their utility. This is similar to John Stuart Mill’s redefinition of Bentham’s concept of utility. Are Xunzi’s and Mill’s concepts of utility exactly the same? This question has yet to be examined. This article is a comparative study between utilitarianism and Xunzi’s philosophy which especially explores the compatibility of these two philosophies.     

Is cluttering a motor disorder?

A 15-year-old-boy was referred on account of a fluency disorder that was not thought to be stuttering. The problems of the lack of an adequate definition of cluttering are discussed along with the inherent problems of providing a wide-based assessment of this client group. Assessments were conducted on the motoric, linguistic, and intellectual abilities of this client, and the findings are discussed.     

Is Washing a Prepared Ritual?

Abstract

Though numerous acts can be carried out in a ritualistic fashion, compulsive ritualising very often involves washing or cleaning behaviour. To explain this selectivity and non-randomness of compulsive ritualising, it was hypothesised that washing behaviour is a form of displacement behaviour and, as such, is intrinsically discomfort-reducing. This hypothesis was tested by having normal subjects either wash or rub their hands after a discomfort-induction procedure. The induction of discomfort was successful in that self-reported mood deteriorated and basal skin conductance increased. A significant improvement in mood occurred when subjects washed their hands. However, the same effect occured when controls rubbed their hands. The data do not support the hypothesis that washing behaviour, has an intrinsically discomfort-reducing effect.     

Is Socrates Essentially a Man?

Philosophical Studies -