Summary A new reply to the old question as to meaning and foundations of the Lorentz transformations is given by passing over to non-linear equations. Thus, it is possible to show that the theory of special relativity can be based upon the Galilei transformations, i. e. on the classical assumptions concerning space and time, if terms of the fourth order are neglected. The new theory will probably give rise to a revision of relativistic mechanics.

Kepler hat zwei Generationen vor Newton auf der Grundlage des Aristotelischen Bewegungsgesetzes eine Himmelsmechanik entwickelt, die eine dynamische Begründung der drei von ihm entdeckten Planetengesetze lieferte. Leibnizens Himmelsmechanik folgt zwar durch Berücksichtigung der Beschleunigung der Newtonschen Dynamik, stimmt aber andererseits in wesentlichen Zügen auch mit der Keplerschen Version überein. Die drei Himmelsmechaniken Keplers, Newtons und Leibnizens stehen gemäß der Kuhnschen Terminologie in einem revolutionären Verhältnis zueinander. Gleichwohl können Argumente angeführt werden, die die Bevorzugung der Newtonschen Himmelsmechanik gegenüber ihren Konkurrentinnen im (...) Sinne des kritischen Rationalismus berechtigt erscheinen lassen. (shrink)

Kepler hat zwei Generationen vor Newton auf der Grundlage des Aristotelischen Bewegungsgesetzes eine Himmelsmechanik entwickelt, die eine dynamische Begründung der drei von ihm entdeckten Planetengesetze lieferte. Leibnizens Himmelsmechanik folgt zwar durch Berücksichtigung der Beschleunigung der Newtonschen Dynamik, stimmt aber andererseits in wesentlichen Zügen auch mit der Keplerschen Version überein. Die drei Himmelsmechaniken Keplers, Newtons und Leibnizens stehen gemäß der Kuhnschen Terminologie in einem revolutionären Verhältnis zueinander. Gleichwohl können Argumente angeführt werden, die die Bevorzugung der Newtonschen Himmelsmechanik gegenüber ihren Konkurrentinnen im (...) Sinne des kritischen Rationalismus berechtigt erscheinen lassen. (shrink)

Das zweite Newtonsche Bewegungsaxiom, über dessen logischen Status seit Newton die verschiedensten Ansichten kursieren, wird durch Angabe von Meßvorschriften für die darin enthaltenen Größen als empirisch prüfbare Hypothese ausgewiesen. Es wird als Naturgesetz bezeichnet, weil es sich bei Benutzung dieser Meßvorschriften bewährt. Es erscheint allerdings als eine Definitionsgleichung, wenn es durch induktive Verallgemeinerung auf Bereiche übertragen wird, die eine unmittelbare Anwendung der Meßvorschriften nicht zulassen.

Summary Boltzmann's principle is part of classical physics, and one of the corner-stones of Planck's quantum theory. It is shown, why Planck's theory of radiation can be derived from this principle without abandoning classical physics, if due regard is taken of atomism. Finally, there is given an outline of a quantum theory completely based on statistical axioms without any appeal to nonclassical physical principles.

Boltzmann's principle is part of classical physics, and one of the corner-stones of Planck's quantum theory. It is shown, why Planck's theory of radiation can be derived from this principle without abandoning classical physics, if due regard is taken of atomism. Finally, there is given an outline of a quantum theory completely based on statistical axioms without any appeal to nonclassical physical principles.

By way of mathematical demonstration proof is given that the Lorentz transformations can completely be based upon the theory of absolute time, i. e. upon the Galilei transformations . Thus, it becomes evident that the theory of special relativity does not imply a revolution of classical kinematics, let alone of idealistic theory of knowledge.

Proceeding from the principles of Euclidean geometry and absolute time a generalization of the classical theory of gravitation for high velocities is given. The new theory is applied to the redshift of spectral lines, the deviation of light passing the sun, and the secular motion of the perihelion of Mercury. A comparison with the results obtained from the theory of general relativity, though not beyond any doubt, seems to be favourable for the new theory, and to support the view, formerly (...) held by Driesch, Dingler, May, and other philosophers of science, that the foundations of classical physics need not be given up. (shrink)

Summary On the Theory of the Lorentz transformations. A Reply.

Ulrich Meyer defends a novel theory about the nature of time, and argues against the consensus view that time and space are fundamentally alike. He presents the first comprehensive defense of a 'modal' account, which emphasizes the similarities between times and possible worlds in modal logic, and is easily reconciled with the theory of relativity.

In this paper, we argue that ‘good care’ in residential nursing homes is enacted through different care practices that are either inspired by a ‘professional logic of care’ that aims for justice and non-maleficence in the professional treatment of residents, or by a ‘relational logic of care’, which attends to the relational quality and the meaning of interpersonal connectedness in people’s lives. Rather than favoring one care logic over the other, this paper indicates how important aspects of care are constantly (...) negotiated between different care practices. Based on the intricate everyday negotiations observed during an ethnographic field study at an elderly nursing home in Germany, the paper puts forth the argument that care is always a matter of tinkering with different, sometimes competing ‘goods’. This tinkering process, which unfolds through ‘intuitive deliberation’, ‘situated assessment’ and ‘affective juggling’ is then theorized along the conceptualization of a ‘practical ethics of care’: an ethics which makes no a priori judgments of what may be considered as good or bad care, but instead calls for momentary judgments that are pliable across changing situations. (shrink)

Using a Web search engine is one of today’s most frequent activities. Exploratory search activities which are carried out in order to gain knowledge are conceptualized and denoted as Search as Learning. In this paper, we introduce a novel framework model which incorporates the perspective of both psychology and computer science to describe the search as learning process by reviewing recent literature. The main entities of the model are the learner who is surrounded by a specific learning context, the interface (...) that mediates between the learner and the information environment, the information retrieval backend which manages the processes between the interface and the set of Web resources, that is, the collective Web knowledge represented in resources of different modalities. At first, we provide an overview of the current state of the art with regard to the five main entities of our model, before we outline areas of future research to improve our understanding of search as learning processes. (shrink)

Acknowledgements Andrea Scarantino, Nicholas Shea, Mark Sprevak, and three anonymous referees provided incisive and constructive comments, for which I am very grateful. In 2012, earlier versions of this paper were delivered in Edinburgh, at the Joint Session in Stirling, and at a workshop on natural information in Aberdeen. I thank participants for their feedback.

The discourse on climate politics so far is an expert and elitist discourse in which peoples, societies, citizens, workers, voters and their interests, views and voices are very much neglected. So, in order to turn climate change politics from its head onto its feet you have to take sociology into account. There is an important background assumption which shares in the general ignorance concerning environmental issues and, paradoxically, this is in corporated in the specialism of environmental sociology itself — this (...) is the category of ‘the environment’. If ‘the environment’ only includes everything which is not human, not social, then the concept is sociologically empty. If the concept includes human action and society, then it is scientifically mistaken and politically suicidal. (shrink)

Toen Ulrich Libbrecht vanaf de jaren 1970 Vlaanderen en Nederland inspireerde met ‘oosterse wijsheid voor de westerse mens’ was dit pionierswerk. Ondertussen heeft de globalisering zich verder voltrokken, is boeddhisme en meditatie geen exotisme meer en is China dichterbij gekomen. Hoe kijkt de filosoof nu tegen deze ontwikkelingen aan? Dit boek is ontstaan uit gesprekken waarin Libbrecht op een meesterlijke wijze oosterse en westerse inzichten integreert tot een nieuw antwoord op actuele vragen en universele thema’s. Hierin benadrukt hij de (...) waarde van natuur, wetenschap en religieus bewustzijn in de betekenis van re-ligare: herverbinden. In dit boek zet hij geen theorie uiteen, maar neemt de lezer mee op de boeiende weg van het denken, doortrokken van ontroering en een rijke levenservaring. (shrink)

Modern science is, to a large extent, a model-building activity. But how are models contructed? How are they related to theories and data? How do they explain complex scientific phenomena, and which role do computer simulations play here? These questions have kept philosophers of science busy for many years, and much work has been done to identify modeling as the central activity of theoretical science. At the same time, these questions have been addressed by methodologically-minded scientists, albeit from a different (...) point of view. While philosophers typically have an eye on general aspects of scientific modeling, scientists typically take their own science as the starting point and are often more concerned with specific methodological problems. There is, however, also much common ground in middle, where philosophers and scientists can engage in a productive dialogue, as the present volume demonstrates. (shrink)

In Hermann Samuel Reimarus (1694–1768): Classicist, Hebraist, Enlightenment Radical in Disguise, Ulrich Groetsch offers a vivid portrayal of the Enlightenment radical Hermann Samuel Reimarus (1694-1768) and his debt to earlier traditions of scholarship.