Distinctively Political Normativity in Political Realism: Unattractive or Redundant

Ethical Theory and Moral Practice - Political realists’ rejection of the so-called ‘ethics first’ approach of political moralists (mainstream liberals), has raised concerns about...     

The more you have,the more you want? Higher social class predicts a greater desire for wealth and status

Traditional theories have focused on the intentions of lower-class individuals to climb on the social ladder, yet they have paid relatively little attention to the motivations of upper-class individuals to ascend even higher. Addressing this issue, Studies 1 and 2 provided cross-national evidence that higher social class is associated with a greater desire for wealth and status. Moreover, by manipulating perceived social class, Studies 3 and 5 experimentally confirmed that compared to people in the lower-class group, those in the upper-class group express a stronger desire for wealth and status. Furthermore, in line with self-categorization theory predictions, Studies 3–5 showed that upper-class individuals tend to see and use wealth and status as important attributes in defining and categorizing self, and this tendency explains the effect of social class on desire for wealth and status. Together, our findings demonstrate a “having more—wanting more” relationship, and its consequences are further discussed.     

Vital exhaustion,temperament, and the circumplex model of affect during laboratory-induced stress

The present study examined the relationship between vital exhaustion, Cloninger's temperament dimensions, and state affects during experimentally induced stress among participants aged 22–37 years. Larsen and Diener's circumplex model of affect was used to structure the self-reported affects. Temperament was measured by the Temperament and Character Inventory. Feelings of exhaustion were assessed by the Maastricht Questionnaire. Stressors used were an aversive startle task, an appetitive mental arithmetic task, and an aversive choice-deadline reaction time task. The results showed that the level of vital exhaustion among healthy persons is related to unpleasant state affects other than state fatigue. Temperament also modified the relationship between vital exhaustion and affects. In addition, vital exhaustion was related to a tendency to behavioural inhibition (harm avoidance). Our findings suggest that temperament is related to feelings of exhaustion and is likely to predispose to negative affectivity when accompanied by exhaustion.     

系统理论中的范式转换

社会诸系统的一般性理论在区分开概念的抽象与自我抽象的基础上,划分了系统的三个层次,从而清除了以往社会学讨论中的典型错误与不确定性.实现系统理论中的范式转换的关键在于区分开超级理论与主导差别.第一步是用系统与环境的差别来代替整体与部分的传统差别.这一方式的反思关系不仅使古典的主体-客体-认识论得以革命化,不仅使科学理论摆脱教条并使之"自然化",而且通过一个更为复杂的理论设计而产生出对其对象的更为复杂的理解.在自我参照系统的理论中,归于系统的一切都被包容在自我生产中,因而对于观察者来说,一切神秘的东西都被消除了.     

经济系统中的双循环

作者认为,经济系统的功能是通过创建其自我创生的再生产形式来实现的;当支付的期待成为可能,并且货币的使用形成一种制度、达到一定规模时,货币才能产生;经济的自我创生是通过货币这个媒介获得经济职能的;每一次支付都产生自相矛盾的两种东西:有支付能力和无支付能力.如何重新获得支付能力,经济系统通过"双循环"自行解决."内"循环代表支付方向的支付能力的传递,"外"循环代表相反方向的无支付能力的传递;收益条件把外循环与内循环联系在一起.内循环与外循环互为条件.收益、税收与劳动共同起作用,使这个双循环继续进行下去.