What are the phenomena of physics?

Depending on different positions in the debate on scientific realism, there are various accounts of the phenomena of physics. For scientific realists like Bogen and Woodward, phenomena are matters of fact in nature, i.e., the effects explained and predicted by physical theories. For empiricists like van Fraassen, the phenomena of physics are the appearances observed or perceived by sensory experience. Constructivists, however, regard the phenomena of physics as artificial structures generated by experimental and mathematical methods. My paper investigates the historical background of these different meanings of “phenomenon” in the traditions of physics and philosophy. In particular, I discuss Newton’s account of the phenomena and Bohr’s view of quantum phenomena, their relation to the philosophical discussion, and to data and evidence in current particle physics and quantum optics.     

Behandlungs- und Kunstfehler in der Psychoanalyse

Failures and transgressions in psychoanalyses are nowadays more often published and also ascribed to mistakes made by the therapists. In German professional literature, however, no difference is made between treatment errors due to the special method and serious malpractice. The authors show in case studies transgressions in the psychoanalytic setting und discuss their causes and consequences.     

?Du sollst dir kein Bildnis machen��

??The Progress in Spirituality??, a short section of Freud??s last major work ??Moses and Monotheism?? (1939) received special attention when his daughter read it on his behalf in 1938 at the last International Psychoanalytical Congress before the Second World War in Paris: it was almost like reading the will of the founder of psychoanalysis. ??The Progress in Spirituality?? is an implicit reflection on the core of psychoanalysis and its technique of eliminating vision. The image of God reflected there??the establishment of Jewish monotheism, of a nameless, aniconic, abstract God and the ethical demands imposed by him??exhibits all the characteristics of a cultural revolution in which all the existing traditions were thrown away. In it seems hidden what was for Freud the mysterious feature in the Jewish tradition. Through the prohibition of images Mosaic monotheism enforced a higher level of intellectuality and encouraged introspection. In the psychoanalytical setting the prohibition of images seems to reappear in the form of the ??cultural memory??. The denial demanded of the patient and the renunciation of instincts demanded from both corresponds to ??The Progress in Spirituality?? in which Freud??s Moses finds his culmination point.     

Zeitlosigkeit und Verg?nglichkeit (in) der Psychoanalyse

The author shows that the accessible psychoanalytic unconscious is not timeless. Freud??s ??timeless unconscious??, which was ontologized by himself and his successors, proves to be fiction with negative consequences. Assuming ??timeless?? primary processes psychoanalysis as a therapy would bite the hand which feeds it. Instead of contrasting linear time to the cyclic personal experience of time, the author suggests to speak about the ??emergence of lived time?? and the ??new moments?? of encounter in the therapeutic situation, to emphasize the importance of the opportune moment for change in contrast to the cyclic repetition of transference. In order to understand and approach disorders of time perception knowledge of unconscious conflicts and defense processes remains crucial. Even dreams are not timeless. While our conscious mind works according to chronological patterns, the pictorial representation in the particular form of thinking asleep, dreaming, makes it possible to map different memory traces simultaneously. Freud??s speculations about the ??timeless unconscious?? and Nirvana may originate from a longing for redemption. In contrast the author??s final chapter deals with the potential life span and transience of some central psychoanalytic concepts. Not even those who prove to be very close to observation can be attributed with ??eternal life??.     

Das Unheimliche der Ambivalenz

This essay??s main concern consists of a critical survey of the coherences, alliances and associative entanglement between psychic ambivalences, encounters of the uncanny and the connections to the issues of death. References for the considerations presented here are Freuds??s seminal papers ??The antithetical meanings of primal words?? (1910), ??The uncanny?? (1919) and ??Beyond the pleasure principle?? (1920). The axis formed by these essays is being crisscrossed by the phenomen of the uncanny valley, an issue widely discussed within the cyber scene which may introduce a new perspective in order to extend the analysis of the concept and structure of ambivalences with new questions. This approach adverts to an inherent paradox which seems to be constitutive for ambivalence itself.     

Ambivalenz und gleichschwebende Aufmerksamkeit

Starting from some aspects of a case study the clinical significance of the concept of ambivalence will be exposed. It will be shown that beyond all the different symptoms ambivalence plays an important role in evenly-suspended attention, a concept which was developed by Freud at nearly the same time as ambivalence itself. As far as this attention is not freely suspended, ambivalence means that the suspension is always threatened by the danger of a crash. When it is right, that from a psychoanalytical viewpoint the achievement of the subject lies particularly in a misachievement, in the Freudian slip, the promise of efficiency and cure in an analysis will prove itself in its failure. The young man in the case study tells the psychoanalysis about the ambivalences it is involved in and in this he is very efficient. Ambivalence as an essential part of the evenly-suspended attention will reveal itself as a strong means of deconstructing efficiency.     

Kommentare zu ?Ambivalenz weiterschreiben��

The authors comment on the results of the Zürich symposium with varied weighting. Ambivalence is brought into relation with a hypothetical genesis of human thinking and understood as a reflection of the fundamental dialogical structure, which owes itself to an exchange of symbolic messages. A further consideration describes that the ??valley of the uncanny??, whose connection to death Lilly Gast has shown, could also have a fundamental connection with sexuality bared of all bonds, which releases the same fears as death. A difficulty would lie in the inflationary use of the term: every ambiguousness or diversity would sometimes generally be subsumed under ambivalence and therefore all selectivity would become lost. Also discussed is the ambivalence of the term, or the question, whether the term has not lost significance. Finally its relevance in pediatric and adolescent-specific perspectives will be examined.     

Attitudes About Internet Support Groups Among Adolescents and Young Adults with Neurofibromatosis Type 1 and their Parents

Youth with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) have multiple, complex symptoms associated with physical, social-emotional, and cognitive difficulties. In addition, caring for a child with NF1 can be extremely challenging for parents. Since research with other chronic illness populations suggests that social support, including internet support groups (ISGs), can be beneficial, this survey study aimed to determine the attitudes and preferences of adolescents and young adults with NF1 and parents of a child with NF1 regarding ISGs. Thirty patients and 30 caregivers completed a 24-item survey about ISGs. Many patients and parents are not aware of any ISGs for NF1, but are interested in using one in the future for a variety of reasons, including to get answers to their questions about NF1, to find out about research studies, and to discuss problems and concerns about NF1. Specific concerns of interest include physical, social-emotional, and cognitive aspects of NF1. ISGs have potential as a social support intervention within the NF1 community. ISGs for the NF1 population should include patients with NF1 (or parents of children with NF1) as well as a health professional, and both chat rooms and discussion boards likely would be well-received.