THE FATE OF INDEPENDENT THOUGHT IN TRADITIONAL CHINA

China, like a huge dragon, gobbles all in its path. Like a huge vat, dyes all the same color. Sun Jingxuan, A Spector Prowls Our Land (1980)     

A JUNGIAN VIEW OF EVIL

Abstract. On the one hand Jungian John Sanford criticizes Carl Jung for underestimating the importance granted evil by at least some strains of Christianity. On the other hand Sanford follows Jung in assuming that psychology is entitled to criticize Christianity whenever it fails to grant evil its due. Like Jung, Sanford contends that he is faulting Christianity on only psychological grounds: for failing to cope with evil in man–the shadow archetype. In fact, Sanford, like perhaps Jung as well, is also criticizing Christianity on metaphysical grounds: for failing to acknowledge not just psychological but also ontological evil. Whether Sanford is thereby using psychology to assess Christian metaphysics is the issue.     

TRANSHUMANISM AND THE FATE OF NATALITY: AN INTRODUCTION

Transhumanist thought on overpopulation usually invokes the welfare of present human beings and the control over future generation, thus minimizing the need and meaning of new births. Here we devise a framework for a more thorough screening of the relevant literature, to have a better appreciation of the issue of natality. We follow the lead of Hannah Arendt and Brent Waters in this respect. With three overlapping categories of words, headed by “natality,” “birth,” and “intergenerations,” a large sample of books on transhumanism is scrutinized, showing the lack of sustained reflection on the issue. After this preliminary scrutiny, a possible defense of natality in face of modern and transhumanist thought is marshaled, evoking a number of desirable human traits. One specific issue, the impact of modern values on natality, is further explored, reiterating that concerns about overpopulation and enhanced humans should keep in sight the natural cycle of birth and death.     

A CONTEXTUALIST VIEW OF THE NATURE OF INTELLIGENCE

A contextualist view of intelligence is presented and discussed. The presentation and discussion are divided into four main parts. First, I define and explicate just what I mean by a contextualist view of intelligence. Second, I consider some common criticisms of the contextual view, and respond to these criticisms at the same time that I elaborate upon the contextual view. Third, I consider how intelligence can be specifically defined, measured, and trained within a given socio-cultural milieu. Finally, I draw some conclusions about intelligence and the contextual approach to it. In particular, it is claimed that this approach is compatible with a variety of kinds of theorizing (e.g., psychometric and cognitive) but that it enables one to escape from certain vicious circularities that have plagued intelligence research when it has not been placed in a contextual perspective.     

STANDARDS OF EQUALITY AND HUME'S VIEW OF GEOMETRY

It has been argued that there is a genuine conflict between the views of geometry defended by Hume in the Treatise and in the Enquiry: while the former work attributes to geometry a different status from that of arithmetic and algebra, the latter attempts to restore its status as an exact and certain science. A closer reading of Hume shows that, in fact, there is no conflict between the two works with respect to geometry. The key to understanding Hume's view of geometry is the distinction he draws between two standards of equality in extension.     

在诸帝国和欧洲夹缝中生存——摩尔多瓦的悲剧命运

本文是根据1993年6月对摩尔多瓦的不同社会角色所做的访谈写成的一篇多重呼声的综合报道.那是在这个共和国宣布独立后三年,最终导致这个国家分裂成两个独立国家--外德涅斯特共和国和摩尔多瓦共和国的外德涅斯特内战后一年.这两个实体--一个合法的实体和另一个没有得到国际共同体承认的实体,然后重新进入了一个极其困难的过渡过程.曾经是前苏联的一个重要和特殊环链的摩尔多瓦共和国,[1]尽管得到120个国家的承认,建立了大量的外交关系,但实际上将面临若干难题,殊难真正割断其同俄罗斯的联系纽带,其中的各种不同原因乃是本文将力求诠释的.     

THE FATE OF AGGRESSION IN MASO‐MASOCHISTIC RELATIONSHIPS

This paper examines an underexplored dimension of interpersonal relating: the relationship formed between two individuals who relate to each other in masochistic ways. The common assumption is that a sadist forms an alliance with a masochist, and that a balance is struck between an individual who is “one up” and another who is “one down.” However, relationships are frequently established between two people who both experience themselves as chronically “one down,” each playing victim to the other's aggression. This paper explores disavowed aggression in this type of couple, the implications of this disavowal for treatment, and the sadomasochistic reverberations within the therapist.