The authors' review of alternative models for reading is of great value in identifying issues and progress in the field. More emphasis should be given to distinguishing between models that offer an explanation for behavior and those that merely simulate experimental data. An analysis of a model's discrete structure can allow for comparisons of models based upon their inherent dimensionality and explanatory power.

Although Phillips & Singer's proposal of commonalities seems sound, information theory and artificial neural network modeling omit important detail. An example is given of a distributed neural transformation that has been characterized mathematically and found to have both overall commonalities and differences of detail in different regions. P&S's contextual field is compared to inclusive regions in a formalism relevant for modeling bodily-kinaesthetic intelligence.

Although the idea that cognitive structure changes as we learn is welcome, a variety of mathematical structures are needed to model the neural and cognitive processes involved. A specific example of bodily-kinaesthetic intelligence is given, building on a formalism given elsewhere. As the structure of cognition changes, previous learning can become tacit, adding to the complexity of cognition and its modeling.

Just as physics determines physically viable movements, the spatial distribution of input excitations allows the cerebellum to choose physiologically viable beams. Cerebellar–motor coherence implies that the ordering and modes of combination of cerebellar beams reflect (1) the way movement invariants are ordered and combined in movement and (2) the way physical principles are integrated in learning to move.

The mathematical approach to such essentially biological phenomena as perseverative reaching is most welcome. To extend these results and make them more accurate, levels of analysis and neural centers should he distinguished. The navigational nature of sensorimotor control should be characterized more clearly, including the continuous dynamics of neural processes hut not limited to it. In particular, discrete conditions should be formalized mathematically as part of the biological process.

Many mathematicians have a rich internal world of mental imagery. Using elementary mathematical skills, this study probes the mathematical imagination's sensorimotor foundations. Mental imagery is perturbed using body position: having the head and vestibular system in different positions with respect to gravity. No two mathematicians described the same imagery. Eight out of 11 habitually visualize, one uses sensorimotor imagery, and two do not habitually used mental imagery. Imagery was both intentional and partly autonomous. For example, coordinate planes rotated, drifted, wobbled, (...) or slid down from vertical to horizontal. Parabolae slid into place or, on one side, a parabola arm reached upward in gravity. The sensorimotor foundation of imagery was evidenced in several ways. The imagery was placed with respect to the body. Further, the imagery had a variety of relationships to the body, such as the body being the coordinate system or the coordinate system being placed in front of the eyes for easy viewing by the mind's eye. The mind's eye, mind's arm, and awareness almost always obeyed the geometry of the real eye and arm. The imagery and body behaved as a dyad, so that the imagery moved or placed itself for the convenience of the mind's eye or arm, which in turn moved to follow the imagery. With eyes closed, participants created a peripersonal imagery space, along with the peripersonal space of the unseen environment. Although mathematics is fundamentally abstract, imagery was sometimes concrete or used a concrete substrate or was placed to avoid being inside concrete objects, such as furniture. Mathematicians varied in the numbers of components of mental imagery and the ways they interacted. The autonomy of the imagery was sometimes of mathematical interest, suggesting that the interaction of imagery habits and autonomy can be a source of mathematical creativity. (shrink)

A review of the work of David Finkelstein and others on quantum topology is given, the intention being to present physical ideas and a progress report, which will help readers with the more detailed papers. Some new approaches involving walks on graphs are presented.

Nervous systems are intricately organized on many levels of analysis.The intricate organization invites the development of mathematicalsystems that reflect its logical structure. Particular logical structures and choices of invariants within those structures narrowthe ranges of perceptions that are possible and sensorimotorcoordination that may be selected. As in quantum logic, choicesaffect outcomes.Some of the mathematical tools in use in quantum logic havealready also been used in neurobiology, including the mathematicsof ordered structures and a product like a tensor product. Astheoretical neurobiology is (...) developed on its own foundation, wemay expect a rich dialogue between theoretical neurobiology andquantum logic. (shrink)

In recent years, several cases about the legal personhood of nonhuman animals garnered global attention, e.g. the recognition of ‘basic rights’ for the Argentinian great apes Sandra and Cecilia. Legal scholars have embraced the animal turn, blurring the once sovereign boundaries between persons and objects, recognising nonhuman beings as legal subjects. The zoonotic origins of the Covid-19 pandemic stress the urgency of establishing ‘global animal law’ and deconstructing anthropocentrism. To this end, it is vital to also consider the extensive premodern (...) legal history that humans share with other animals. Over 200 so-called animal trials have been documented in premodern Europe. In these proceedings, certain nonhuman animals—particularly domestic pigs—were prosecuted, often resulting in their capital punishment or anathema. This paper takes a history of ideas approach to these historical instances where Western philosophy of law and philosophical anthropology intersect, problematising the notion that such trials constitute wholesome precedents of the kind of legal personhood presently debated in jurisprudence. My counter-hegemonic analysis of the legal prosecution and execution of several pigs in fifteenth-century France demonstrates that late mediaeval notions of criminality transcended the alleged human-nonhuman divide whilst reaffirming and reifying human distinctiveness. I propose that pig trials were local laboratories where Christian communities reflected upon the natural hierarchy of God’s creation. Ensuing the apparent breach of the prescribed boundaries of nature, these communities renegotiated and re-naturalised everyday interspecies sociability by utilising the offending animals to exemplify particular norms about what it means to be human, generally to the animals’ detriment. (shrink)

Volume 20, Issue 9, September 2020, Page 36-38.

In Epistemic injustice, Miranda Fricker employs the critical concept of hermeneutical injustice. Such injustice entails unequal participation in the epistemic practices of a community that often results in an inability of dominated subjects to understand their own experiences and have them understood by their community. I argue that hermeneutical injustice can be an aspect of institutions as well communites?to the extent that they too engage in epistemic practices that seek to understand the problems and experiences of their constituents. My primary (...) example is the case of development theory and international development agencies where human beings were objectified in undesirable ways by the prevailing neoliberal economic theories that guided development practice. Here economic theory and the power to achieve its vision of unconstrained economic growth were combined in various organizations. Consequently such organizations systematically misunderstood the problems of the very people they were supposed to help. I argue that if hermeneutical injustice can be the result of the intersection of science and organizations, we need to create more participatory ways of gleaning information about social ills to alleviate institutionally mediated hermeneutical injustice. (shrink)

Volume 19, Issue 10, October 2019, Page 94-96.

In the new physics and in the new field of cosmometry, 1 it is the fundamental pattern that results in the motion from which all is created. Everything starts with the point of infinite potential. The tetrahedron at the point gives birth to the cuboctahedron ; its motion and structure result in the creation of the torus structure. The torus structure is self-referencing on a moment by moment basis since all must pass through the center. But isn't self-referencing the basis (...) for consciousness? It is said that all of creation has awareness, but at different levels. We know plants are aware of threats and of death to other living creatures by the work of Cleve Backster. We know we influence random number generators from the PEAR studies at Princeton. We know baby chicks will influence the movement of robots programed to do a random walk from the work of Rene Peoc'h. Quantum physics has embraced geometry with the work in the equations which explain the Feynman diagrams where particles come in and out of existence; those equations form a structure called the Amplituhedron - which is a quarter of a star tetrahedron. We also know that the tetrahedron can form the star tetrahedron and that each point of the star tetrahedron can form its own star tetrahedron, which can go on infinitely. That is, there is infinity in the finite. As in the fractal and holographic universe, each point or tetrahedron is connected to every other point. If each point has awareness due to formation of the torus, then Hermes teaching of "As above, as below" has meaning in the torus structure. If the torus is the fundamental unit of self-reference, is that the fundamental unit from which consciousness arises? The torus or double torus appears to be fundamental to all of creation - from galaxies to planets to atoms to photons. (shrink)

When a scientific paper, dissertation or thesis is published the author have a duty to report who has contributed to the work. This recognition can take several forms such as authorship, relevant acknowledgments and by citing previous work. There is a growing industry where publication consultants will work with authors, research groups or even institutions to help get their work published, or help submit their dissertation/thesis. This help can range from proof reading, data collection, analysis, helping with the literature review (...) and identifying suitable journals/conferences. In this opinion article we question whether these external services are required, given that institutions should provide this support and that experienced researchers should be qualified to carry out these activities. If these services are used, we argue that their use should at least be made transparent either by the consultant being an author on the paper, or by being acknowledged on the paper, dissertation or thesis. We also argue that publication consultants should provide an annual return that details the papers, dissertations and thesis that they have consulted on. (shrink)

Die Aussagen der Konfirmanden habe ich, wie im Anfang bereits erwähnt, in verschiedene Sachgebiete aufgeteilt. Die aufgeführten Aussagen stehen für eine Reihe von Konfirmanden, die hinsichtlich der Sachgebiete in übereinstimmender Weise reagiert haben. Zu A) Zweifel an der Existenz Gottes Der auf die Realität des konkreten Alltags ausgerichtete Konfirmand vermißt eine sichtbare und greifbare Offenbarung Gottes. Der Glaube ist noch nicht gefestigt genug, um an den unsichtbaren Gott, an seinem Wort Halt zu finden. Diese Kinder erhoffen, daß Gott doch für (...) sie da ist, auch wenn sie noch nicht glauben können, nicht im Glauben Gottes Gegenwart erfahren. Anstoß und Ärgernis ruft die als unverständlich gewertete Ausdrucksweise der Bibel hervor, die ihnen Gottes Nähe eher verdunkelt, anstatt zu erhellen. Zu B) Sinn des Leides und Leidens Leid und Leiden sind schon recht verständig eingeordnet in den Heilsplan Gottes mit den Menschen im Erdendasein. Es wird als eindringlicher Fingerzeig auf die Führung und Fügung Gottes angesehen, als eine Wegweisung aus der Anonymität kirchlicher Gleichgültigkeit in die persönliche Nähe Gottes und ehrfürchtige Anbetung seines Namens. Sie sehen es auch an als eine Prüfung der Glaubensstärke und Beständigkeit. Zu C) Existenzielle Wandlung durch Gottes Wort Das Vorbild, das "Fremderleben", die Erfahrung der Umkehr zum Glauben, erlebt am Mitmenschen, bewirkt bei den Konfirmanden eine Eigenbesinnung. Ob es sich um die innere Wandlung eines Religionslehrers, um die erreichte Gebetsfähigkeit eines Gliedes der Evgl. Jungschar oder um glaubenweckende Diskussionen innerhalb der Konfirmandengemeinschaft handelt, spielt dabei keine Rolle. Zu D) Bekennen und Verleugnen Das persönliche Bekenntnis zum Christenglauben in der Öffentlichkeit wird, von Ausnahmen abgesehen, als undurchführbar abgelehnt. Der Verlust des Ansehens bei den Schulkameraden und Freunden wird als zu hoher Preis gegenüber dem Wert des öffentlichen Christusbekenntnisses eingeschätzt. Das Verhalten gegenüber spöttisch lachenden Kameraden bewegt sich zwischen Widerspruch, Mitmachen, einem Sich-still-Verhalten und einem Bedauern des Spötters bei den an sich glaubensernsten Konfirmanden. Zu Hause, abends in der Stille der Stube ohne Beisein Gleichaltriger kommt es zum Bekenntnis. Es ist neben der Bekenntnisscheu auch guter Vorsatz vorhanden, im Leben Halt im Glauben zu finden. Zu E) Der säkularisierte Mensch unserer Tage vergißt Gott Auch hier ist die Skala der Aussagen zwischen extremen Höhen- und Tiefpunkten von sehr kontrastierenden Auffassungen ausgefüllt. Einmal die Ablenkung des Menschen von Gott durch fortschreitende Technisierung und Automatisierung des alltäglichen Lebens - bis hin zum Götzendienst an einer verselbständigten, zur Allmacht erhobenen Technik! Daneben das Aufzeigen der Grenze zwischen menschlicher Ohnmacht und göttlicher Macht im Versagen menschlicher Erfindungen, wenn Gott es will! . Zu F) Stimme des Guten und Bösen im Gewissen Das schlechte Gewissen im Frühstadium des Glaubens hat noch Angst vor Strafe zum Inhalt, ist also ganz diesseitig bestimmt. Darum kann sich dann "in einer gewissen Kraft" von außen allmählich das göttliche Eingreifen manifestieren, und auch Mut machen zum öffentlichen Bekennen des begangenen Unrechts. Die psychische Entlastung und Erleichterung nach dem Schuldbekenntnis wirkt sich physisch aus: "als löse die Last der Sünde sich auf meinen Schultern auf"16. Neben der Angst vor Strafe findet sich auch die Erkenntnis: Strafe ist notwendig, damit Wiederholung von Unrecht vermieden werde. Wird alles mit dem Samtmäntelchen verzeihender Scheinliebe zugedeckt, kann es zur Nivellierung des Gewissens, zum Einschläfern seiner lebendigen Funktion führen. Zu G) Kritik am elterlichen Einsegnungsverständnis als traditionsgebundene, kirchlich-gesellschaftliche Verpflichtung Das nachdenkliche, für Glaubensfragen aufgeschlossene Konfirmandenkind spürt sehr bald, wenn die Eltern in der kirchlichen Erziehung inkonsequent sind, d. h. wenn sie die Zurüstung und die Konfirmation nur als eine äußere Form ansehen. Der Konflikt entsteht, wenn bei den Konfirmanden aufgrund von persönlichen Gruppengesprächen und Einzelgesprächen mit dem Pfarrer eine tiefere Bindung an Gottes Wort und Gemeinde sich anbahnt, die über die zwei Konfirmandenjahre hinausreicht. Hart stoßen sich die Gegensätze zwischen den Generationen: Das kirchlich-gesellschaftliche Verständnis von Unterricht und Einsegnung bei den Eltern- die geistlich ausgerichtete Kontaktsehnsucht nach bleibender Gemeinschaft in Gottes Wort und Kirche bei dem Konfirmandenkind. Zu H) Jesus als Nothelfer Neben Rettung vor dem Erstickungstod beim Bau einer unterirdischen Erdhöhle oder der Bewahrung eines Arbeiters vor einem tödlichen Betriebs-unfall in einer Gießerei, sind besonders eindrücklich die Glaubensaussagen der Konfirmandenkinder in der Kriegs- und unmittelbaren Nachkriegszeit. Der Schrecken des letzten Krieges, die Entbehrungen danach prägen sich hier im Bewußtsein der 14/15jährigen Konfirmanden sehr plastisch aus. Die Panik in einer Kohlengrube während eines Fliegerangriffes, der Mangel an Brot und Feuerung, die Bestürzung über den Verlust einer Lebensmittel-karte, und überall Jesus als Helfer, das ist sehr echt und realistisch dem Leben nachgebildet. (shrink)

Although features of the dentition figure prominently in discussions of early hominid phylogeny, remarkably little is known of the developmental basis of the variations in occlusal morphology and dental proportions that are observed among taxa. Recent experiments on tooth development in mice have identified some of the genes involved in dental patterning and the control of tooth specification. These findings provide valuable new insight into dental evolution and underscore the strong developmental links that exist among the teeth and the jaws (...) and cranium. The latter has important implications for cladistic studies that traditionally consider features of the skull independently from the dentition. BioEssays 23:481–493, 2001. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (shrink)

The Bible in Arabic: The Scriptures of the “People of the Book” in the Language of Islam. By Sidney H. Griffith. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2013. Pp. xiii + 255. $29.95.

Sensitive readers of Dewey will note that his style and the confidence with which he expresses his views often obscure their radical nature. Dewey fully understood that Darwin overthrew both the necessity of human progress and the fixity of nature. Nonetheless, Dewey has been saddled by some critics with a naive intransigence about the hopeful prospects for human inquiry. Fortunately, Melvin Rogers has provided Dewey scholarship with a recovery of the Darwinian grounds of Dewey’s philosophy and its broader consequences for (...) Deweyan thought. Simply put, because the world is fraught with prospects for both failure and success, or evolution and extinction, this makes active inquiry into morality and science all the .. (shrink)