The size, shape, stacking patterns, and internal architecture of deepwater deposits control reservoir fluid flow connectivity. Predicting deepwater stratigraphic architecture as a function of position along a deepwater slope from seismic-reflection data is critical for successful hydrocarbon exploration and development projects. Stratigraphic architecture from confined and weakly confined segments of a deepwater sediment-routing system is analyzed in outcrop from the Tres Pasos Formation, southern Chile. Outcrop observations are the basis of two geocellular models: confined channel deposits at Laguna Figueroa and (...) weakly confined channel and scour deposits at Arroyo Picana. Key stratigraphic surfaces and facies relationships observed in outcrop are forward seismic modeled at high to low resolution to bridge the gap in subseismic scale interpretation of deepwater reservoirs and demonstrate challenges associated with identification of varied reservoir architecture. The outcrop-constrained geometry of architectural elements, their stacking arrangement, and the varied internal distribution of facies each impart a strong influence on seismic reflectivity. Key outcomes from the analysis include stratigraphic architecture transitions down-paleoslope from vertically aligned low-aspect-ratio channel elements to a more weakly confined depocenter characterized by a breadth of laterally offset low- and high-aspect-ratio channel and scour elements. Seismic reflections, down to 30 Hz frequencies, record aspects of these stratigraphic changes. Key seismic reflections are often comprised of multiple outcrop-constrained stratigraphic surfaces. Tuning effects result in composite seismic surfaces that are vertically offset from the known position of sedimentary units; this hinders accurate interpretation of stratigraphic surfaces from seismic-reflection data. This is particularly problematic in the weakly confined system in which shifted stratigraphic surfaces, which bound deposits characterized by numerous similar architectural elements, can alter the interpretability of sandstone connectivity within and across zones. Furthermore, misinterpretation of surfaces is problematic when they are flow barriers draped with debris flows, slumps/slides, or thin-bedded turbidites. Tuning effects also impart significant control on volume-based interpretations from seismic data. In particular, calculations of gross rock volume from seismic reflection data that do not consider the tuning or architectural element stacking pattern can overestimate actual volumes by 10%–50%, with implications for reservoir prediction and hydrocarbon volume estimation. (shrink)

The size, shape, stacking patterns, and internal architecture of deepwater deposits control reservoir fluid flow connectivity. Predicting deepwater stratigraphic architecture as a function of position along a deepwater slope from seismic-reflection data is critical for successful hydrocarbon exploration and development projects. Stratigraphic architecture from confined and weakly confined segments of a deepwater sediment-routing system is analyzed in outcrop from the Tres Pasos Formation, southern Chile. Outcrop observations are the basis of two geocellular models: confined channel deposits at Laguna Figueroa and (...) weakly confined channel and scour deposits at Arroyo Picana. Key stratigraphic surfaces and facies relationships observed in outcrop are forward seismic modeled at high to low resolution to bridge the gap in subseismic scale interpretation of deepwater reservoirs and demonstrate challenges associated with identification of varied reservoir architecture. The outcrop-constrained geometry of architectural elements, their stacking arrangement, and the varied internal distribution of facies each impart a strong influence on seismic reflectivity. Key outcomes from the analysis include stratigraphic architecture transitions down-paleoslope from vertically aligned low-aspect-ratio channel elements to a more weakly confined depocenter characterized by a breadth of laterally offset low- and high-aspect-ratio channel and scour elements. Seismic reflections, down to 30 Hz frequencies, record aspects of these stratigraphic changes. Key seismic reflections are often comprised of multiple outcrop-constrained stratigraphic surfaces. Tuning effects result in composite seismic surfaces that are vertically offset from the known position of sedimentary units; this hinders accurate interpretation of stratigraphic surfaces from seismic-reflection data. This is particularly problematic in the weakly confined system in which shifted stratigraphic surfaces, which bound deposits characterized by numerous similar architectural elements, can alter the interpretability of sandstone connectivity within and across zones. Furthermore, misinterpretation of surfaces is problematic when they are flow barriers draped with debris flows, slumps/slides, or thin-bedded turbidites. Tuning effects also impart significant control on volume-based interpretations from seismic data. In particular, calculations of gross rock volume from seismic reflection data that do not consider the tuning or architectural element stacking pattern can overestimate actual volumes by 10%–50%, with implications for reservoir prediction and hydrocarbon volume estimation. (shrink)

In this volume--the first, focused study of Hume on time and identity--Baxter focuses on Hume’s treatment of the concept of numerical identity, which is central to Hume's famous discussions of the external world and personal identity. Hume raises a long unappreciated, and still unresolved, difficulty with the concept of identity: how to represent something as "a medium betwixt unity and number." Superficial resemblance to Frege’s famous puzzle has kept the difficulty in the shadows. Hume’s way of addressing it makes sense (...) only in the context of his unorthodox theory of time. Baxter shows the defensibility of that theory against past dismissive interpretations, especially of Hume’s stance on infinite divisibility. Later the author shows how the difficulty underlies Hume’s later worries about his theory of personal identity, in a new reading motivated by Hume’s important appeals to consciousness. Baxter casts Hume throughout as an acute metaphysician, and reconciles this side of Hume with his overarching Pyrrhonian skepticism. (shrink)

The first critical edition of the _Syncategoreumata_ by the thirteenth-century philosopher Peter of Spain, accompanied by a facing-page English translation to make its contents accessible to modern readers. The introduction gives an account of all the manuscripts used for the edition. Extensive indexes have been added to facilitate the reader's orientation in the book.

Building on the recent scholarship of Bonnie Kent, Christian Trottmann, and especially L.M. de Rijk, this volume gathers together studies by other specialists on Odonis, covering his ideas in economics, logic, metaphysics, ethics, natural ...

This volume not only provides the first critical edition with an English translation of the famous correspondence of Nicholas of Autrecourt (c. 1300-1369), but also an assessment of his views and the views of those to whom the letters were ...

Paperback. This volume is a new interpretation of Plato's earlier and later Theory of Ideas, starting from a detailed analysis of the dialogue, The Sophist.The way in which Plato announces his novel Metaphysics has been puzzling scholars for a long time. Did Plato really introduce Change into the Transcendent World and thus abandon his Theory of Unchangeable Forms?Many of Plato's commentators have claimed that the use of modern techniques of logico-semantical analysis can be a valuable aid in unravelling this problem, (...) as well as other difficulties Plato raised and attempted to solve. In this commentary, Plato's own logico-semantical approach to metaphysical problems is followed. (shrink)

The best-interests standard is a widely used ethical, legal, and social basis for policy and decision-making involving children and other incompetent persons. It is under attack, however, as self-defeating, individualistic, unknowable, vague, dangerous, and open to abuse. The author defends this standard by identifying its employment, first, as a threshold for intervention and judgment (as in child abuse and neglect rulings), second, as an ideal to establish policies or prima facie duties, and, third, as a standard of reasonableness. Criticisms of (...) the best-interests standard are reconsidered after clarifying these different meanings. (shrink)

Stefanie Rocknak has written an ambitious and challenging book1 in which she argues for a new interpretation of Hume's account of how we come to believe in external objects, and what it is we believe in. I am hampered by the fact that she and I seem to agree on so little. Thus, my criticisms run the danger of simply not seeing what she is up to.A preliminary terminological point: where Rocknak uses the word "object," I will often use the (...) word "body," since I think Hume sometimes uses "object" in a more general sense that includes perceptions.If I understand correctly, Rocknak's Hume argues that we come to believe in bodies through a special kind of causal reasoning. We reason what must exist in order to cause... (shrink)

May discovered Diderot's copiously annotated copy of this anti-materialist tract by Hemsterhuis, known to many contemporaries as "the Dutch Plato"; this edition contains May's interesting introduction, a facsimile of the original text, and a transcription of all of Diderot's comments. The comments bear on infelicities of style as well as of thought, though the latter preponderate: the Lettre is not, alas, the product of a first-rate philosophical intellect. Diderot's strong objections to Hemsterhuis' crude theory of a moral organ can be (...) taken as complementing his Refutation of Helvetius, which dates from the same period.—W. L. M. (shrink)

Admitting to some departure from the Aristotelian classification, Jolivet divides human activities into three sorts: labor, play, and contemplation. He warns against the naturalizing effect of the Marxist notion of labor, defends play as the essentially superfluous, and argues for including art in his third category. A proper conception of human wisdom involves all three activities, although the speculative remains the highest, and the love of God is wisdom's fullest perfection. Based on a lecture series, the book is a clear, (...) rather non-technical, and contemporary re-working of some venerable ideas.--W. L. M. (shrink)

For Brun, the separation of men from existence, which expresses itself in various forms of anxiety, is the central concern of philosophy. While the separation of men from one another can be partly overcome by language and by modern technology's "conquests," the ontological separation cannot, the philosophic attitude of wonder can never be entirely replaced by nihil mirari. He takes issue with the philosophies of praxis which regard human action as the potential remedy for all separation. The thesis is defended (...) capably and passionately.--W. L. M. (shrink)

Cook et al. argue that mirror neurons originate from associative learning processes, without evolutionary influence from social-cognitive mechanisms. We disagree with this claim and present arguments based upon cross-species comparisons, EEG findings, and developmental neuroscience that the evolution of mirror neurons is most likely driven simultaneously and interactively by evolutionarily adaptive psychological mechanisms and lower-level biological mechanisms that support them.

Pucelle tries to show how the idea of personal liberty is central to Green's ethics. Green's criticisms of other philosophers and the historical context of his philosophy are especially well handled. --W. L. M.

Composition is the relation between a whole and its parts--the parts are said to compose the whole; the whole is composed of the parts. But is a whole anything distinct from its parts taken collectively? It is often said that 'a whole is nothing over and above its parts'; but what might we mean by that? Could it be that a whole just is its parts?This collection of essays is the first of its kind to focus on the relationship between (...) composition and identity. Twelve original articles--written by internationally renowned scholars and rising stars in the field--argue for and against the controversial doctrine that composition is identity. An editor's introduction sets out the formal and philosophical groundwork to bring readers to the forefront of the debate. (shrink)