Open Problems in the Philosophy of Information

Abstract: The philosophy of information (PI) is a new area of research with its own field of investigation and methodology. This article, based on the Herbert A. Simon Lecture of Computing and Philosophy I gave at Carnegie Mellon University in 2001, analyses the eighteen principal open problems in PI. Section 1 introduces the analysis by outlining Herbert Simon's approach to PI. Section 2 discusses some methodological considerations about what counts as a good philosophical problem. The discussion centers on Hilbert's famous analysis of the central problems in mathematics. The rest of the article is devoted to the eighteen problems. These are organized into five sections: problems in the analysis of the concept of information, in semantics, in the study of intelligence, in the relation between information and nature, and in the investigation of values.     

Differential ability antecedents of general and specific dimensions of declarative knowledge: More than g

The purpose of the current study is to test the proposition that the relative contribution of narrow abilities (but not of g) may have been obscured in prior research due to a failure to employ fully multidimensional latent variable analyses. The current study corrects for these deficiencies and examines the relationships between cognitive abilities and domain-specific declarative knowledge. Results show that when observed criterion test scores were individually regressed on abilities, only g was consistently related to the criteria. However, when a latent variable analysis was applied to the same data, both g and narrow ability factors accounted for substantial portions of variance in different latent criterion constructs. Implications are discussed.     

Perceived emotional intelligence and self-efficacy among Chinese secondary school teachers in Hong Kong

One hundred and fifty-eight secondary school teachers were assessed on their perceived emotional intelligence (Schutte et al., 1998) and general self-efficacy and self-efficacy toward helping others ( Schwarzer, 1993). An item factor analysis yielded four dimensions of perceived emotional intelligence, leading to the construction of four corresponding empirical scales. Teachers scored most highly on positive utilisation and emotional appraisal, followed by empathic sensitivity and positive regulation. Using the four components of perceived emotional intelligence as predictors of self-efficacy beliefs, positive regulation emerged as the significant predictor in predicting general self-efficacy whereas empathic sensitivity emerged as the significant predictor in predicting self-efficacy toward helping others. Implications of the findings for exploring the relationships between various components of perceived emotional intelligence and various specific self-efficacy beliefs for different groups of teachers and the need for further studies using longitudinal data are discussed.     

Toleration vs. Doctrinal Evil in Our Time

Our time is characterized by what seems like an unprecedented process of intense global homogenization. This reality provides the context for exploring the nature and value of toleration. Hence, this essay is meant primarily as a contribution to international ethics rather than political philosophy. It is argued that because of the non-eliminability of differences in the world we should not even hope that there can be only one global religion or ideology. Further exploration exposes conceptual affinity between the concepts of intolerance, ideology, and doctrinal evil. The last concept is developed in contrast to pure evil and average evil, and under the assumption of the metaphysical necessity of free will. Doctrinal evil is found to represent the main source of intolerance as a result of a mechanism that tends to confuse doctrinal evil (or the competing conceptions of the good) with pure evil. This connection between doctrinal evil and pure evil provides ideologies with their forcefulness. Tolerance cannot be properly understood in terms of a simple opposition to intolerance, however. Tolerance emerges as a sort of vigilance, conscientiousness, and non-negligence based not on a supposedly correct interpretation of the good, but rather on the acceptance of the fallibility of any such attempted definition. Conversely, the principal evil in doctrinal evil is found in arrogance that accompanies the intolerance-inducing irresponsible thoughtlessness. With this conceptual topology in mind the paper also addresses questions regarding religious tolerance, the ideology of human rights and democracy, the right to self-defense, ways to face evil, the dialectics of using old names for novel evils, and related issues. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Dweck成就目标取向理论的发展及其展望

简单介绍了Dweck成就目标取向理论的形成过程,以突出其理论的主要价值。文章重点分析了国内外研究者对目标取向理论的发展,主要体现在两方面：一是对目标取向模型本身的探讨,二是目标取向的动态调节作用。在此基础上,文章指出Dweck理论的精髓在于能力观,而能力观培养是目前研究所欠缺的,应成为未来研究的一个重要方向。该文分析了能力观培养的可能途径,并指出应从儿童自身发展的角度探索能力观的培养方法。     

Shavinina的智能测评观述评

近来Shavinina等人通过一系列研究,提出了一种新的智能结构观,认为智能主要包含两个部分：认知经验和智能表现。在此基础上,他们分析了未来智能测验应遵循的一系列原则,并进行了初步的测验编制尝试,提出了一些富有创意的测验方法,如“完美计算机”、“概念整合”以及“问题建构”等测验。Shavinina等人所提出的新智能观以及关于智能测验的新技术具有很强的启发性,代表了智能研究的又一新方向。     

儿童对情绪表达规则的认知发展

情绪表达规则知识的建构是儿童社会化和情绪健康发展过程中的一项重要任务,该文考察了情绪表达规则的概念及个体对其认知发展的相关理论和测量。同时,对情绪表达规则的认知发展从3个方面进行了探讨：儿童对情绪表达规则认知发展的关键阶段是小学,并且具有显著的年龄差异和性别差异;家庭情绪环境分别从不同方面对儿童情绪表达规则的认知发展水平有显著影响;儿童对情绪表达规则的认知发展水平与其社会能力有显著的正相关。     

摹仿与原始社会中的伦理道德

摹仿在人类原始文化中的作用和功能是什么 ?传统的解释多集中在美学领域。从文化人类学的角度 ,探讨摹仿在原始社会物质生产和精神生产中的巨大作用及其在原始社会伦理道德意识的起源、形成和传承中作用是有重要意义的。     

Personality Changes Associated with Localized Brain Injury in Elderly Populations

Emotional disturbances following brain damage have been frequently reported in the literature. However, systematic investigation of these disorders and their specific causes were not common until the last 30 years. However, the number of research studies into this area remains slight compared to the voluminous literature on the cognitive effects of brain injury. The completed research has fallen into 3 major areas: (1) The study of clients with localized brain injuries to evaluate whether the site of the injury predicts the emotional reactions; (2) the effect of time poststroke on personality changes; and (3) the relation of neuropsychological deficits to emotional changes. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the research that has been completed in this area with elderly subjects along with an analysis of the current state of the knowledge in this area. Future directions for research to further our understanding are discussed.     

大学生元认知特点与非智力因素关系的研究

研究考察大学生元认知各成份特点与学生学习动机、坚持性、学习方法等非智力因素之间的相互关系。研究表明学生元认知各成份之间的发展并不均衡,元认知的监控能力较薄弱。在元认知整体水平上存在性别差异。元认知的发展水平与非智力因素之间存在着正相关。