Realism and relativism in modern physics

The standpoint of realism has been widely used to argue in favour of, or against, particular physical theories. An analysis is made of the adequacy of such arguments, taking an argument by Einstein as a starting point.Some reflexions are given on relativism and invariance. Invariances can be seen as generators of both regularity and paradox in physics.Work on this paper was supported by the Swedish Natural Science Research Council (contract no. F-TV 4775-300).     

Discrete tense logic with infinitary inference rules and systematic frame constants: A Hilbert-style axiomatization

The paper deals with the problem of axiomatizing a system 1 of discrete tense logic, where one thinks of time as the set Z of all the integers together with the operations +1 (immediate successor) and -1 (immediate predecessor). 1 is like the Segerberg-Sundholm system W1 in working with so-called infinitary inference rules; on the other hand, it differs from W1 with respect to (i) proof-theoretical setting, (ii) presence of past tense operators and a now operator, and, most importantly, with respect to (iii) the presence in of so-called systematic frame constants, which are meant to hold at exactly one point in a temporal structure and to enable us to express the irreflexivity of such structures. Those frame constants will be seen to play a paramount role in our axiomatization of 1.The present contribution reports research done under the auspices of the Swedish Council for Research in the Humanities and the Social Sciences (HSFR), project On the Legal Concepts of Rights and Duties: an Analysis Based on Deontic and Causal Conditional Logic. I wish to thank the anonymous referee for his/her extremely patient and accurate revision work, and Krister Segerberg for his helpful suggestions.     

Time errors are perceptual

Summary Methods for the measurement of time-errors (TEs) in the comparison of successive stimulus magnitudes are discussed. Combining a Thurstonian scaling method with the assumption of a fixed subjective width of the equal category, independent of stimulus level, a ratio scale for subjective differences within pairs of successive stimuli is derived. In a tone duration comparison experiment, with the TE defined in the terms of these subjective duration differences, data from four experimental groups were compared, the groups using different modes of judging and responding. Only minor effects of this factor were found, and hence it is concluded that the TE is a true perceptual phenomenon rather than an effect of response bias, criterion bias, or mediating verbal responses to the absolute level of stimulation. The quantitative results are interpreted in terms of a general model for the comparison of successive stimuli, employing the concepts of adaptation and differential weighting of sensation magnitudes.This investigation was supported by grants to the author from the University of Stockholm and from the Swedish Office of Administrative Rationalization and Economy (for computer time), and by grants to Mats Björkman and Hannes Eisler from the Swedish Council for Social Science Research, whose free consultation service at the Department of Statistics, University of Stockholm, also benefited the author.     

A token economy program for chronic schizophrenic patients

Abstract.— A token economy program was applied on a ward for 12 chronic schizophrenic patients. An ABABC-design, i.e. a group reversal design with a noncontingent reinforcement phase at the end, was used to evaluate the treatment. The patients' activity-level increased from baseline to the treatment phase. During the reversal period the activity-level decreased but it increased again when the token economy was reintroduced. The non-contingent reinforcement resulted in the predicted decrease for two of the six behaviors recorded. Five of the twelve patients were discharged from the ward during the 8-month program period and none of them had been readmitted at the end of the one year follow-up. Individual treatment programs for two of the patients concerning aggressive acts, deficient eye-contact and lip-biting are described.     

略论《周易》对中国古代历法的影响--兼与李申先生商榷

在古代历法的发展过程中,<周易>起了积极的作用,而且这种作用在不同时期有着不同的特征.早期主要表现为用易数解释历数,这种作用在唐以后逐渐消失;"卦气说"曾在一段时期内被作为历法的内容;而<周易>的"治历明时"思想对于历法研究一直起着积极的作用,成为重要的治历原则之一.无论如何,<周易>对于古代历法发展的作用是不可低估的.     

民国时期白寿彝的朱熹易学研究

白寿彝以史学而著称,同时在民国时期对朱熹易学也有深入的研究。他对朱熹易学文献的考辨,对程、朱易学差异的论述,对朱熹《周易本义》与《河图》、《洛书》关系的分析,对朱熹《周易本义》基本观念的阐发,以及对朱熹易学贡献的概括,都具有相当的学术分量。而且从今天的朱熹易学研究来看,他所提出的学术问题以及对于问题的研究和所提出的观点,仍具有重要的学术价值。