科学变革中的进化与连续性

一、不可通约性与意义 最有影响的实证主义的意义理论曾经认为,意义的基本单位就是个体的词项或陈述,到了本世纪50年代,这些理论转而认为,理论的或语言的关系域决定着个体词项的意义。     

One-Handed Juggling: A Dynamical Approach to a Rhythmic Movement Task

The skill of rhythmically juggling a ball on a racket was investigated from the viewpoint of nonlinear dynamics. The difference equations that model the dynamical system were analyzed by means of local and nonlocal stability analyses. These analyses showed that the task dynamics offer an economical juggling pattern that is stable even for open-loop actuator motion. For this pattern, two types of predictions were extracted: (a) Stable periodic bouncing is sufficiently characterized by a negative acceleration of the racket at the moment of impact with the ball, and (b) a nonlinear scaling relation maps different juggling trajectories onto one topologically equivalent dynamical system. The relevance of these results for the human control of action was evaluated in an experiment in which subjects (N = 6) performed a comparable task of juggling a ball on a paddle. Task manipulations involved different juggling heights and gravity conditions of the ball. The following predictions were confirmed: (a) For stable rhythmic performance, the paddle's acceleration at impact is negative and fluctuations of the impact acceleration follow predictions from global stability analysis; and (b) for each subject, the realizations of juggling for the different experimental conditions are related by the scaling relation. These results permit one to conclude that humans reliably exploit the stable solutions inherent to the dynamics of the given task and do not overrule these dynamics by other control mechanisms. The dynamical scaling serves as an efficient principle for generating different movement realizations from only a few parameter changes and is discussed as a dynamical formalization of the principle of motor equivalence.     

Within-session Changes In Responding During Concurrent Variable-interval Schedules

Five rats and 4 pigeons responded for food delivered by several concurrent variable-interval schedules. The sum of the rates of reinforcement programmed for the two components varied from 15 to 480 reinforcers per hour in different conditions. Rates of responding usually changed within the experimental session in a similar manner for the two components of each concurrent schedule. The within-session changes were similar to previously reported changes during simple schedules that provided rates of reinforcement equal to the sum of all reinforcers obtained from the concurrent schedules. The number of changeovers also changed within sessions in a manner similar to the changes in instrumental responding. These results suggest that changeovers are governed by the same variables that govern instrumental responding. They also suggest that the within-session change in responding during each component of a concurrent schedule is determined by approximately the sum of the reinforcers obtained from both components when both components provide the same type of reinforcer.     

对人的尊严的挑战——试论P.辛格的优先权——实利主义

一个社会对其成员重视和承认的程度,首先表现为这个社会如何对待其成员中的弱者和受歧视的人。而在每个社会遭受歧视的人中,无疑也包括那些由于先天或后天的缘故患有精神上或肉体上的疾病而需要特别照顾的人。1989年以来,首先是这一社会群体的代言人,对他们的遭遇提出了强烈的抗议。而他们的抗议,又引发了德国舆论界对澳大利亚哲学家彼得·辛格的关注。特别是辛格关于可以对残疾人(既包括先天不足的婴儿,也包括老年人)施行强制性安乐死的论述,点燃了论战的烽火,更激起了一部分人的强烈抗议。残疾人的代盲人指出,辛格的“实用伦理学”不仅是对“残疾人”,而且从根本上讲是对人的错误认识。     

外向性格、场独立性及认知作业的操作

 取120名12岁儿童作被试.(a)调查外向性格、神经过敏症及场独立性之间的关系.(b)调查外向性格和场依存性对两个认知作业(推理和回忆散文)的影响.(c)研究人格特点和言语——表象学习方式之间的关系.     

The development of the Telic Dominance Scale

The development of a 42-item measure of a number of personality features derived from the theory of psychological reversals is reported. These personality features are (a) the extent to which a person is serious-minded, (b) the extent to which a person plans ahead and organizes himself in the pursuit of goals, and (c) the extent to which a person seeks to avoid arousal. These features together are seen to constitute a personality trait which is described as telic dominance. Data concerning the test-retest reliability, criterion-related and construct validity of the Telic Dominance Scale are presented, together with the scale and scoring key.