Zur Rekonstruktion der Philosophischen Hermeneutik

Towards a reconstruction of philosophical hermeneutics. Following Nietzsche, Heidegger and, on the other hand, Cassirer and Wittgenstein, a philosophy of interpretation, i.e. a relativism of world-views, is at present increasing in continental as well as in analytical philosophy. From the basis of a critical fallibilism the shortcomings of the new epistemological antirealism are pointed out in general, and, hence, consequences are drawn for the more specialized case of metahermeneutics (hermeneutics being defined as a sort of pragmatical semiotics). A combination of realistic and antirealistic elements is recommended as unevitable. According to this, firstly, the key-concepts of hermeneutics must be differentiated, and, secondly, a fundamental set of criteria can be established that bridges the gap between metahermeneutics and hermeneutical practice.

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Der Artikel führt den überwiegend kritisch gerichteten Beitrag Thesen zur Philosophischen Hermeneutik, Internationale Zeitschrift für Philosophie 1993/1, 173–188 nach der konstruktiven und systematischen Seite hin weiter.     

Monitor yourself! Deficient error-related brain activity predicts real-life self-control failures

Despite their immense relevance, the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying real-life self-control failures (SCFs) are insufficiently understood. Whereas previous studies have shown that SCFs were associated with decreased activity in the right inferior frontal gyrus (rIFG; a region involved in cognitive control), here we consider the possibility that the reduced implementation of cognitive control in individuals with low self-control may be due to impaired performance monitoring. Following a brain-as-predictor approach, we combined experience sampling of daily SCFs with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in a Stroop task. In our sample of 118 participants, proneness to SCF was reliably predicted by low error-related activation of a performance-monitoring network (comprising anterior mid-cingulate cortex, presupplementary motor area, and anterior insula), low posterror rIFG activation, and reduced posterror slowing. Remarkably, these neural and behavioral measures predicted variability in SCFs beyond what was predicted by self-reported trait self-control. These results suggest that real-life SCFs may result from deficient performance monitoring, leading to reduced recruitment of cognitive control after responses that conflict with superordinate goals.     

The neural correlates of alcohol-related aggression

Alcohol intoxication is implicated in approximately half of all violent crimes. Over the past several decades, numerous theories have been proposed to account for the influence of alcohol on aggression. Nearly all of these theories imply that altered functioning in the prefrontal cortex is a proximal cause. In the present functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experiment, 50 healthy young men consumed either a low dose of alcohol or a placebo and completed an aggression paradigm against provocative and nonprovocative opponents. Provocation did not affect neural responses. However, relative to sober participants, during acts of aggression, intoxicated participants showed decreased activity in the prefrontal cortex, caudate, and ventral striatum, but heightened activation in the hippocampus. Among intoxicated participants, but not among sober participants, aggressive behavior was positively correlated with activation in the medial and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. These results support theories that posit a role for prefrontal cortical dysfunction as an important factor in intoxicated aggression.     

Visions of In Vitro Meat among Experts and Stakeholders

In vitro meat (IVM) is presented by innovators as the most realistic and sustainable solution to the problems of current meat production and consumption. The innovators argue that in vitro meat could be more environmentally friendly, animal friendly, healthier, and safer than conventional meat. The paper elaborates different reactions of experts and stakeholders from science, civil society, economy, and politics to the innovators’ reasoning. The semi-structured interviews were conducted for the project “Visions of in vitro meat. Analysis of technical and societal aspects and visions of in vitro meat” (VIF) funded by the German Ministry of Education and Research. In this paper we will show how our interview partners positioned themselves in relation to the innovators’ vision on IVM and which other visions they brought into the discussion about IVM and the future of meat. The project was based on a concept of visions as socio-epistemic practices that are increasingly recognised as important elements in innovation and transformation processes. The analysis of these visions conducted in interviews with experts and stakeholders provided new knowledge for the conceptualisation and appraisal of in vitro meat beyond the innovators’ rhetoric.     

Importance of Morality in Mindfulness Practice

As the result of secularization and adaption of mindfulness practices from Buddhism, elements specific to culture and religion have been removed, now drawing criticism that mindfulness training has lost its original ethical characteristics. This article argues that the lack of formal coverage of morality in mindfulness‐based programs does not imply that morality plays no part, and that participants independently contextualize their mindfulness practice by drawing on their own sense of morality. Therefore, awareness of the role of morality in mindfulness practice is important for counselors, who can assist their clients with integrating their mindfulness practice with their own worldviews and ethical frameworks.     

Gewalttaten psychisch Kranker

Only a minority of mentally ill persons become conspicuous due to acts of violence. Nevertheless, from time immemorial there has been a certain fear of the alleged unpredictability of the mentally ill, particularly of people who suffer from a psychosis. The creation of psychiatry as an independent medical discipline was designed from the very beginning to separate people deemed to be dangerous from society and to detain them in institutions in order to heal them, to make relevant improvements or to keep them indefinitely. The movement of dehospitalization since the 1970s, which in turn was a consequence of revolutionization of treatment options through modern neuroleptic and antidepressive drugs, led to a distinctive separation between general psychiatry and forensic psychiatry, institutionally (general psychiatric institutions with periods of hospitalization of a few weeks and psychiatric forensic committment lasting many years) as well as increasingly more in scientific discourses; however, a close cooperation is necessary for healthcare treatment, which meets the requirements of patients and also public security. In this respect general psychiatry must still undertake substantial safety reponsibilities, which it can learn from forensic psychiatry, whereas forensic committment must rapidly acquire the therapy experience of general psychiatry.     

Die Beurteilung der Steuerungsfähigkeit bei psychischen Störungen

Psychiatric assessment of culpability is conducted in two steps: firstly, the psychiatric diagnosis is to be made and attributed to one of the legal terms that entail the requirements for diminished or lack of legal responsibility. Secondly, one has to assess from a psychiatric perspective whether the mentally disturbed suspect who was aware of the unlawfulness of the actions was also able to act in accordance with awareness and to refrain from unlawful actions. The latter is called the capacity for self-control. The ultimately legal normative term of capacity for self-control corresponds to psychobiological concepts of executive and motivational self-control as well as to the psychological models of intentional control of actions (Goschke) and ”disactualization” (Janzarik). These concepts and models are outlined and discussed, particularly with regards to paraphilia and behavioral disorders. In the context of these conditions we sometimes find free-floating considerations about the capacity for self-control without even addressing the question whether the severity of the disorder has crossed the threshold for diminished legal responsibility. The author argues the case for an overall view of the suspect’s personality and abilities, weaknesses and decisions as displayed in the history of the criminal act.