THE PROBLEM OF NATURAL DIVINE CAUSATION AND THE BENEFITS OF PARTIAL CAUSATION: A RESPONSE TO SKOGHOLT

In this article, I defend my previous argument that natural divine causation suffers under the problem of causal overdetermination and that it cannot serve as a line of demarcation between theistic evolution (TE) and intelligent design (ID). I do this in light of Christoffer Skogholt's critique of my article. I argue that Skogholt underestimates the naturalistic ambitions of some current thinkers in TE and fails, therefore, to adequately respond to my main argument. I also outline how partial causation better serves as a model for the relationship between God's providence and evolution.     

KANT ON RELIGION AND SCIENCE: INDEPENDENCE OR INTEGRATION?

Abstract. Immanuel Kant's theoretical knowledge and practical knowledge tempt conclusion that natural science and religion are two independent discourses of a dualistic system. To be sure, knowledge is anchored in two kinds of causality. Theoretical knowledge is governed by physical causality. Practical knowledge is concerned with the human capacity to initiate a sequence of events that nature could not accomplish on its own—although in conformity with, not independent of, natural causality. Furthermore, the two realms presuppose a common totality of order not of humanity's creation. Without these presuppositions, we could not experience the world as we do, and it would never occur to us to engage in a scientific investigation of the natural world. Hence, we should first exhaust our attempts at explanation on the basis of physical causality before turning to the aid of teleology. The anomalous becomes an occasion to seek a physical law not yet known whereas the miraculous hinders search for a natural law. However, higher than knowledge of “what is” is our capacity to discern “what should be.” This is an inclusive moral capacity that establishes what it means to be human and unites all moral agents in an invisible kingdom of ends that constitutes a moral culture in the physical world uniting religion and science.     

JOHN HAUGHT—FINDING CONSONANCE BETWEEN RELIGION AND SCIENCE

John Haught has awarded the debates between religion (Christianity in particular) and science a central place in his ongoing corpus of work. Seeking to encourage and enhance the conversation, Haught both critiques current positions and offers his own perspective as a potential ground for continuing the discussion in a fruitful manner. This essay considers Haught's primary criticisms of the voices on both sides of the debate which his work connotes as polarizing or conflating the debate. It also extrudes from Haught's work themes that provide alternative visions. The essay concludes with two questions for further consideration.     

Self-referenced interpersonal similarity phenomena: Theoretical specification and assessment at the individual,dyadic and group levels

A basic interpersonal task is assessing if another is similar to oneself, and is even observed among prelinguistic infants. In 450 highly acquainted dyads (150 from family, friend, co-worker groups), participants judged others' similarity to themselves, and predicted others' similarity ratings of them. Assumed reciprocity and reciprocity of similarity judgments were observed; the former was much stronger than the latter. Specific others were judged as uniquely similar; in families these judgments were reciprocated. People inaccurately predicted others', and specific others', similarity judgments. Common members of these groups (key person) judged others as similar to themselves, and predicted others' reciprocated similarity judgments, although they did not. Social relations modeling showed that interpersonal similarity assessments in different groups are multiple phenomena at multiple levels of analysis and should not be treated as a single, unitary phenomenon.     

Designing and evaluating an intelligent augmented reality system for assisting older adults’ medication management

Intelligent Assistive Systems (IASs) provide personalised support to individuals to increase their autonomy and competence in performing activities. The personalisation of such technology represents a particular challenge, for the individuals abilities typically change over time. The aim of this research was to explore a theory-based, activity-centred framework for the development of IASs that both facilitate the active involvement of caregivers and target users and allow for adaptation to the individual over time.Medication management was focused on as a case study. Three older adults and two caregivers were involved in a co-design process of an IAS prototype system, the MED-AR, which uses projection-based augmented reality as the user interface technology. The theoretical framework for the design and evaluation of the MED-AR was activity theory. For the decision-making process of the MED-AR, formal argumentation theory was used. The major contributions of the study are (i) a formal framework for understanding the level of independence in activities and the way an IAS can tailor support to an individual and a situation, including caregivers; and (ii) a model for involving older adults and caregivers in a co-design process in the first phases of developing IASs.     

中医“六淫”病因的逻辑思维特点及其科学意义

中医“六淫”病因学理论是中医学理论体系的重要组成部分, 是在“天人合一”的整体观指导下形成的, 这种整体观念也决定了古人在认识和总结病因理论时运用了独特的逻辑思维方法, 包括比较、分类、类比等, 这些逻辑思维方法的运用既有其优势也兼具不足。对其逻辑思维特点进行细致的剖析是深刻理解中医理论认识特点的重要切入点, 也有利于在教学中正确阐释中医病因学理论, 并且能够对中医“六淫”病因的相关科研设计提供方法学的借鉴和启发。     

儿童中期攻击行为测评的多质多法分析

以2695名小学三、四年级的儿童(平均年龄 10.06 ± 0.54岁)作为被试, 使用同伴评定、同伴提名和教师评定对这些儿童的三种攻击行为(身体、言语、关系)进行了测评, 采用相关分析与结构方程模型对儿童攻击行为的多质多法数据进行统计处理。多质多法模型的分析结果显示, 三种方法对儿童攻击行为的测评具有一定的会聚效度, 但区分效度较低; 同伴测评儿童攻击行为的有效性优于教师测评, 其中同伴评定的有效性好于同伴提名。     

基于RSM对Q矩阵相同的无锚题测验的等值

传统锚题-非等组设计下的测验等值,等值要求的满足具有主观性,并且由于锚题失效或难以获得等因素的影响,则该方法的使用受到了限制。因此,本研究基于规则空间模型的Q矩阵理论,生成两个Q矩阵相同但无锚题的测验的共同受测者,使用共同组设计,利用同时性估计的方法对测验进行等值,并考虑了作答失误率和测验结构对等值稳定性的影响。结果表明:共同组设计同时估计方法的等值稳定性取得了优于或等于锚题-非等组同时估计方法;失误率的增大也会导致等值稳定性的下降;并且不同的测验结构也对等值稳定性产生了影响,其中直线型和收敛型结构稳定性较好,发散型和无结构型较差。