An exploration of afterlife beliefs in religiously-and secularly-oriented adults

One of the ways that religion helps individuals to find meaning and purpose in life is through the enrichment of the concept of an afterlife. Afterlife beliefs are more likely to be held by religious than non-religious individuals. However, research findings also suggest that even individuals that are self-characterised as non-religious, also endorse the continuation of several psychological states in the afterlife. The present study aimed to investigate whether secularly- and religiously-oriented individuals hold one, common representation about the afterlife or if more than one concepts of afterlife exist. One-hundred and seventy-five adults participated in the study (97 females). Participants were interviewed individually with a vignette and a questionnaire that explored the endorsement of perceptual, psychobiological and emotional capacities, desires, and communication aspects of a dead agent and to provide justification for their answers. Their level of religiosity was also assessed. All participants were Greeks and members of the Greek Orthodox Church. By applying a Two-Step Cluster Analysis, we identified four clusters/representations of the afterlife that range from the conception of death as the end of human existence to the conception of an afterlife where numerous human capacities continue to exist. Religious orientation related to the four conceptions in different ways.     

内隐学习意识性研究的两种理论取向:二分与渐进

传统的内隐学习研究范式大多致力于意识与无意识加工的操作性分离。随着学习任务和测量手段的改进,越来越多的研究发现量化渐变比二元分离能更好地兼容实验数据。本文对认知领域中与二分和渐进两种取向相关的理论框架和实证研究进行介绍和评价,指出意识的二分与渐进假设是源自不同的概念定义层次的理论框架,即功能性概念和解释性概念,因而对现象学数据具有不同的解释效力。它们的共存提供了不同的研究视角,丰富了我们对内隐学习活动的认识。     

Frame Based Formulas for Intermediate Logics

In this paper we define the notion of frame based formulas. We show that the well-known examples of formulas arising from a finite frame, such as the Jankov-de Jongh formulas, subframe formulas and cofinal subframe formulas, are all particular cases of the frame based formulas. We give a criterion for an intermediate logic to be axiomatizable by frame based formulas and use this criterion to obtain a simple proof that every locally tabular intermediate logic is axiomatizable by Jankov-de Jongh formulas. We also show that not every intermediate logic is axiomatizable by frame based formulas. Presented by Johan van Benthem     

盲童心中的颜色概念及其组织

以黑、白、红、橙、黄、绿、蓝、紫、棕、灰、粉红11种基本颜色词为材料,运用颜色概念测试和颜色词分类的方法,研究了盲童的颜色概念及其组织。被试是85名盲校学生。结果表明：（1）盲童的颜色概念测试通过的顺序和明眼儿童的颜色命名的顺序既相似,又存在着差异;（2）盲童的基本颜色词的语义空间中有两个维度：①“彩色/非彩色”;②“实物色/背景色”。(3)盲童的颜色概念组织具有主题关联和slot-filler联系的性质,即根据自身的知识和经验,强调事物的功能、语境以及事件之间的联系     

青少年聋生的分类学联系

了考察青少年聋生分类学联系的特点,使用不同类别的基本水平概念,完成了语义归类和错误再认２个实验,并同健听生的结果进行比较。结果表明：⑴聋生和健听生有类似的类别意识,但聋生的类别意识较健听生为弱。⑵与健听生比,呈现方式对聋生的反应影响较小。聋生的分类学概念有较强的形象化倾向。青少年聋生分类学联系的特点与他们语言能力发展迟缓、使用自然手语有关。因此,应加强聋生的规范手语教学,重视培养聋生的抽象思维能力     

Understanding and using the implicit association test: V. measuring semantic aspects of trait self‐concepts

Implicit Association Tests (IATs) often reveal strong associations of self with positive rather than negative attributes. This poses a problem in using the IAT to measure associations involving traits with either positive or negative evaluative content. In two studies, we employed non‐bipolar but evaluatively balanced Big Five traits as attribute contrasts and explored correlations of IATs with positive (e.g. sociable vs. conscientious) or negative (e.g. reserved vs. chaotic) attributes. Results showed (a) satisfactory internal consistencies for all IATs, (b) explicit–explicit and implicit–implicit correlations that were moderate to high and comparable in strength after both were corrected for attenuation and (c) better model fit for latent variable models that linked the implicit and explicit measures to distinct latent factors rather to the same factor. Together, the results suggest that IATs can validly assess the semantic aspect of trait self‐concepts and that implicit and explicit self‐representations are, although correlated, also distinct constructs. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Intermediaries and intervenients in normative systems

Many concepts in legal texts are “intermediaries”, in the sense that they serve as links between statements of legal grounds, on one hand, and of legal consequences, on the other. In our paper, an algebraic representation of normative systems is used for distinguishing between different kinds of intermediaries and making the idea of a joining between grounds and consequences more precise.In Section 1, the idea of intermediaries is presented and earlier discussions of the subjects are outlined. In Section 2, we introduce the algebraic framework and develop the formal theory. After introducing our approach to the representation of a normative system, we here present a theory of “intervenients”, seen as a tool for analysing intermediaries. In Section 3, dealing with applications, after presenting a model of the formal theory, suited for the analysis of concepts in normative systems, we apply the theory to a number of examples, introduced in the first part. Finally, in Section 4, we make some remarks on the methodology of intermediate concepts.     

A RESPONSE TO ERVIN LASZLO: QUANTUM AND CONSCIOUSNESS

Abstract. I respond to Ervin Laszlo's suggestions and criticism regarding my essay in this issue of Zygon. Virtual atomic orbitals are used as a model to illustrate the existence of a general realm of potentiality in physical reality from which the actual world emanates. Laszlo's suggestions for “paradigm repair” are supported and accepted as essentially being in agreement with my intentions and as offering highly useful clarifications. I compare virtual states to historic ideas of forms as metaphysical principles of being that inspire thoughts regarding the actions of a Cosmic Consciousness in the processes of the universe. Metaphysical and theological interpretations of the results of scientific research are defended, provided that they are not used to interfere a priori with the technical program of scientific research.     

试论张仲景辩病结合辩证的辨证论治方法的先进性

张仲景辩病结合辩证的辨证论治方法,与现代医学认识疾病的思想非常近似,通过比较现代医学认识疾病思想与张仲景疾病认识概念在疾病诊治过程中的相似性,为研究<金匮要略>古代疾病与西医现代病的对应性结合、提高病证结合论治在临床的效验,有很大意义.     

中国古代形上学中数字观念的发展

数字观念的源起很早,《易》占可能是已知最早的源头,自先秦经两汉至宋明,数字观念问题意识有较大转变．先秦思想家以数字观念解释万物的生成,建构其宇宙观．汉代数字观念继续朝向神秘化、复杂化的方向发展,以卦气观念为核心的思想影响所及,几无处不在．为回应玄学和佛学的冲击,宋明儒者注重以数字观念建构形上学,既运用数字描述形质世界的秩序和意义,又处处强调数字所表述的形上本体的普遍性和超越性．而且,宋儒的数字形上学和汉儒的数字观念有若干传承的关系．