Humean dispositionalism

Humean metaphysics is characterized by a rejection of necessary connections between distinct existences. Dispositionalists claim that there are basic causal powers. The existence of such properties is widely held to be incompatible with the Humean rejection of necessary connections. In this paper I present a novel theory of causal powers that vindicates the dispositionalist claim that causal powers are basic, without embracing brute necessary connections. The key assumptions of the theory are that there are natural types of causal processes, and that manifestations of powers are identified with certain kinds of causal processes. From these assumptions, the modal features of powers are explained in terms of internal relations between powers themselves and the process-types in which powers are manifested.     

A Paraprofessional's View of Supervision

The experience of a black paraprofessional community worker is presented in this paper with special emphasis on the problems of shifting to a family-oriented point of view in her work. Problems associated with the supervisory relationship and with the worker's use of herself as a therapeutic person are discussed as well.     

从参照到敬重:道家与自然界

作为哲学的道教读者们都知道,“道教”这个术语即代表“哲学”,也指“宗教”教义和实践。由于我本人关注作为哲学的道教,所以我先介绍“道家”与广义的道教的关系。与儒家有一个主要的创立者不同,道家是事后的追溯。在公元前2世纪被历史学家司马谈第一次命名为一个学派。司马谈对学派的分类主要依据于它们对治国的贡献,没有提到后来追认的两个主要的道家思想家庄子与老子的关系。对“道家”的进一步说明则源于“道家”与“道教”的区分,后者一般认为始于公元142年。道教指有组织的宗教,延续至今。直到最近,道教学者,尤其是西方的道教学者,在…     

The Relationship Between Religiosity and Narcissism

Intrinsic religiosity correlated negatively and specifically with the maladaptive exploitiveness dimension of narcissism. Data are discussed in terms of the contemporary controversy regarding humanistic-theistic values.