Spontaneous mirror self-recognition is achieved by only a limited number of species, suggesting a sharp “cognitive Rubicon” that only few can pass. But is the demarcation line that sharp? In studies on monkeys, who do not recognize themselves in a mirror, animals can make a difference between their mirror image and an unknown conspecific. This evidence speaks for a gradualist view of mirror self-recognition. We hypothesize that such a gradual process possibly consists of at least two independent aptitudes, the ability (...) to detect synchronicity between self- and foreign movement and the cognitive understanding that the mirror reflection is oneself. Pigeons are known to achieve the first but fail at the second aptitude. We therefore expected them to treat their mirror image differently from an unknown pigeon, without being able to understand that the mirror reflects their own image. We tested pigeons in a task where they either approached a mirror or a Plexiglas barrier to feed. Behind the Plexiglas an unknown pigeon walked at the same time toward the food bowl. Thus, we pitched a condition with a mirror-self and a foreign bird against each other, with both of them walking close toward the food bowl. By a detailed analysis of a whole suit of behavioral details, our results make it likely that the foreign pigeon was treated as a competitor while the mirror image caused hesitation as if being an uncanny conspecific. Our results are akin to those with monkeys and show that pigeons do not equal their mirror reflection with a conspecific, although being unable to recognize themselves in the mirror. (shrink)

In this article, I will look into the possibilities of ‘authenticity’ in sports participation, based on the discussions of previous papers published on the topic and suggest some new ideas. For the...

Osmanlı sanatçıları tarafından, zamanla bozulan nüshalardan çıkarmak suretiyle ya da müzayedelerde satışa sunulan hat ve minyatürleri bir şekilde temin edip, daha fazla yok olmalarının önüne geçmek amacıyla uygulanan onarım işlemine vassale tekniği, bu tekniği uygulayan sanatçıya da vassal adı verilmiştir. XVII. yüzyılda Kalender Paşa tarafından hazırlanan I. Ahmed Albümü ile öne çıkan vassalecilik, XVIII. yüzyılda gelişerek devam etmiş, özellikle koleksiyoner Mehmed Emin Efendi ve adı bilinmeyen vassallar tarafından onarım tekniği olarak uygulanmıştır. Ancak onarım işlemi olarak başlayan bu teknik, Kalender Paşa (...) ile birlikte sanata dönüşmüş ve başta murakkalar olmak üzere çok sayıda resimli nüshalar hazırlanmıştır. Bu makalede, XVIII. yüzyılda Osmanlı kitap sanatlarında karşılaşılan farklı bir şekilde uygulanması nedeniyle, önemli bir yere sahip vassale tekniğinin incelenmesi amaçlanmaktadır. Bu kapsamda, söz konusu yüzyıllarda karşılaşılan ve kitapları onarmak amacıyla kullanılan vassale tekniğinin yüzyıllara bağlı olarak sanatçılar ve koleksiyonerler tarafından uygulanış biçimi, Osmanlı kitap sanatları içinde önemli bir yeri olan murakka ve resimli elyazmaları üzerinden seçilen örnekler ışığında incelenmiştir. Araştırma kapsamında ulaşılan örnekler arasından seçilen nüshalar; “Topkapı Sarayı Müzesi Kütüphanesi B.408 numaralı I. Ahmed Albümü, H.1115 numaralı Hamse-i Nizami, H.2155 numaralı Albüm, H.2135 numaralı Murakka ve İstanbul Üniversitesi Nadir Eserler Kütüphanesi Türkçe Yazmalar Koleksiyonu 06131, 06132, 06133 numaralı Şehnâme Tercümesi” adlı koleksiyonlarda yer almaktadır. (shrink)

It is rather difficult to detail the history of Abyssinian Judaism. Although there is no clear information on the subject, the existence of a Jewish ethnic group in Abyssinia is generally explained as the result of contact with members of the ancient Jewish community. Recent research point out a much more different and complex picture of Judaism in Abyssinia. First of all, it is important to know that in the early stages of Abyssinia, an ethnically and religiously differentiated (distinguishable) Jewish (...) community has yet been encountered. What should be questioned in the study of Abyssinian Judaism is the Ethiopian Orthodox Tawhid Church (Abyssinian Orthodox Church) itself, which for many years served as a vehicle for transmitting Hebrew elements. In that sense Abyssinian Orthodox Christianity offers one of the most unique expressions of world Christianity; is still observing the Sabbath and still continuing to circumcise boys. Moreover, it maintains the belief that the Ark of the Covenant was brought to Ethiopia before the destruction of the Solomon’s Temple. If Abyssinian Christianity which has a Judeo-Christian tradition is to be igno-red and a separate history of Abyssinian Judaism (as a community) is to be established with evidence, it is understood that the starting point could be after the 14th century. The claim of the study is that the formation process of Abyssinian Juda-ism may have been a development formed by Abyssinia's own choice with the acceptance of Christianity rather than a direct continuation of a Jewish group. The weight of Jewish influence in the Falasha community, which is claimed to be the present representative of Abyssinian Judaism, is related to the orientation of the local monks after the 15th century and the result of the texts they convey (transfer). When the ethnic and religious positions of the Falashas are evaluated objectively, the Falashas are directly embedded in the Judeo-Christian tradition of Abyssinia. Therefore, it is understood that Falashas cannot be held responsible for Jewish influence in the face of Abyssinian Christianity which has followed a Judeo-Christian tradition for many years. (shrink)

William Booth's 'On the Idea of the Moral Economy' (1994) is a scathing critique of the economic historians labelled as 'moral economists', chief among them Karl Polanyi, whose The Great Transformation is the groundwork for much of the later theorizing on the subject. The most devastating of Booth's criticisms is the allegation that Polanyi's normative prescriptions have anti-democratic, Aristotelian and aristocratic undertones for being guided by a preconceived notion of 'the good'. This article presents an attempt to rescue Polanyi from (...) this charge by reinterpreting his view of the relationship between the economic and the political, while elucidating the practical meaning of a moral economy. (shrink)

This paper compares and contrasts Nietzsche's conceptualization of the "artistic Socrates" with Kierkegaard's vision of the "knight of faith". The paper argues that Nietzsche and Kierkegaard attempted to transcend the rational-ethical sphere of human action in favor of a more spontaneous, yet deeper understanding of the universe. Nietzsche believes that the thread of causality and the principle of sufficient reason, embodied as they are in the personality of Socrates, are not capable of explaining our existence in its entirety. Hence he (...) suggests the tragic insight and the subsequent artistic worldview as a remedy. Nietzsche's vision is encapsulated in his eulogy of madness and humor as manifestations of an artistic worldview with the tragic insight. The paper argues that Kierkegaard deals with the same problem that Nietzsche faces in that he also wants to incorporate the recognition of the world beyond rational comprehension into our understanding of the Universe. Hence, both philosophers are attempting to comprehend what is beyond human comprehension. The paper claims that Kierkegaard is more successful in this endeavour because he introduces the virtue of the absurd as an organizing principle of the irrational space (space beyond the Grenzenpunkte). With a movement of infinite resignation the knight of faith renounces the world and moves beyond the Grenzenpunkte, but then with a movement of faith he embraces back the world he renounced. The theme that captures the condition of the knight of faith is anxiety and fear, rather than madness and humor as it was with Nietzsche. The paper concludes by emphasizing Kierkegaard's vision for offering a more comprehensive understanding of the Universe and of the human agency and action operating within it. (shrink)

Aristotle, who has come to the forefront with the significant contributions to the development of logic throughout the history, has been the source of different perspectives for his subsequent studies with his philosophical system and logic. Many thinkers and logicians, including Russell, have come face to face with Aristotle and his ideas, regardless of whether they are positive or negative. The aim of this study is to explain the meaning of Aristotle's syllogism theory from Russell's point of view. In accordance (...) with this aim, firstly the effects of the theory of syllogism on the development of logic and then Aristotle's own explanations are given. The study continues by examining the formal and contextual details of syllogism inferences from Russell's consideration. In the conclusion part, it is stated how studies in logic, which grew in size with the important contributions of Aristotle, reached a different point with the tradition in which Russell was involved. In the light of all these explanations, it will be seen that Aristotle and Russell look for ways to think correctly and consistently in their work, and they want to express the validity of inferences according to formal patterns. (shrink)

Dil, dünya ile düşünce ilişkisini dil aracılığıyla kurma ve dil bağlamında bilgiye açıklık kazandırma amacını güden mantıkçı pozitivizm, 20. yüzyılın önemli düşünsel eğilimlerinden biridir. Bu anlayışa göre başta felsefe olmak üzere disiplinlerdeki çeşitli konu ve problemler, yeni mantığın metotları eşliğinde geliştirilen dilsel çözümleme bağlamında tahlil edilmelidir. Bu çerçevede, bilgi değeri taşıyan anlamlı tümceler ile bilgi değeri taşımayan anlamsız tümceler arasına çizilebilecek sınırın işareti olan “anlam kriteri”, mantıkçı pozitivist düşünürlerin temel meselesi haline gelmiştir. Buna dayanarak bilgi değeri taşımamaları ve anlamsız olmaları (...) nedeniyle metafiziğin tümcelerini, felsefeden elimine etme girişimleri ortaya çıkmıştır. Çalışma içerisinde dikkate alınacak olan hususlar, bahsi geçen bu girişimin ilk oluşturucularından olan ve anlamı, yeni mantık çerçevesinde öncelikli bir şekilde inceleyen Frege, Russell ve Wittgenstein’ın yaklaşımlarını incelemektir. Öyle ki bu düşünürlerin izinden giden mantıkçı pozitivistler, anlam sorunu etrafında metafiziğin felsefeden elenmesi çabasını taşımış ve ilerletmişlerdir. Dolayısıyla “anlam”ın yeni mantığın metotları bağlamında nasıl temellendirildiği konusu, bu girişimin kökenlerinin açıklığa kavuşturulması noktasında oldukça mühim bir yere sahiptir. Çalışmanın sınırları içerisinde mantıkçı pozitivist düşünürlerden, dilin mantıksal sentaksına bağlı bir şekilde “doğrulama ile anlam” arasındaki ilişkiyi vurgulayan Carnap’ın ve “anlam kriteri ile doğrulama ilkesi” arasında kurulan bağ ile ön plana çıkan Ayer’in düşüncelerine değinilecektir. (shrink)

This paper compares and contrasts Nietzsche's conceptualization of the "artistic Socrates" with Kierkegaard's vision of the "knight of faith". The paper argues that Nietzsche and Kierkegaard attempted to transcend the rational-ethical sphere of human action in favor of a more spontaneous, yet deeper understanding of the universe. Nietzsche believes that the thread of causality and the principle of sufficient reason, embodied as they are in the personality of Socrates, are not capable of explaining our existence in its entirety. Hence he (...) suggests the tragic insight and the subsequent artistic worldview as a remedy. Nietzsche's vision is encapsulated in his eulogy of madness and humor as manifestations of an artistic worldview with the tragic insight. The paper argues that Kierkegaard deals with the same problem that Nietzsche faces in that he also wants to incorporate the recognition of the world beyond rational comprehension into our understanding of the Universe. Hence, both philosophers are attempting to comprehend what is beyond human comprehension. The paper claims that Kierkegaard is more successful in this endeavour because he introduces the virtue of the absurd as an organizing principle of the irrational space (space beyond the Grenzenpunkte). With a movement of infinite resignation the knight of faith renounces the world and moves beyond the Grenzenpunkte, but then with a movement of faith he embraces back the world he renounced. The theme that captures the condition of the knight of faith is anxiety and fear, rather than madness and humor as it was with Nietzsche. The paper concludes by emphasizing Kierkegaard's vision for offering a more comprehensive understanding of the Universe and of the human agency and action operating within it. (shrink)

The paper discusses situation-specific justifications for temporary curtailment of particular human rights, Asian justifications for Western values and human rights practices, and the plausibility of a distinctively East Asian conception of human interest and welfare that may justify a distinctively East Asian human rights regime. The paper argues that the so-called East Asian challenge is the prioritization of social and economic rights over civil and political rights and hence does not represent a culturally specific challenge but rather addresses a debate (...) between commi. ütarians and liberals which already exists in the Western scholarly community. Marxist and other nonliberal critiques of civil and political rights are invoked and it is suggested that the relative weakness of the left intelligentsia since the end of the Cold W-r is responsible for the resurfacing of the formerly communitarian and Marxist emphasis on social and economic rights in cultural relativist disguise. The article further chums that it was through the industrial revolution and the corresponding discourse of modernity that these rights emerged within the theocentric cultural traditions of Wesiern Europe, and that the flourishing of human rights discourse in non-Western socie.!;.es will also follow and correspond to their economic development. (shrink)

The paper discusses situation-specific justifications for temporary curtailment of particular human rights, Asian justifications for Western values and human rights practices, and the plausibility of a distinctively East Asian conception of human interest and welfare that may justify a distinctively East Asian human rights regime. The paper argues that the so-called East Asian challenge is the prioritization of social and economic rights over civil and political rights and hence does not represent a culturally specific challenge but rather addresses a debate (...) between commi. ütarians and liberals which already exists in the Western scholarly community. Marxist and other nonliberal critiques of civil and political rights are invoked and it is suggested that the relative weakness of the left intelligentsia since the end of the Cold W-r is responsible for the resurfacing of the formerly communitarian and Marxist emphasis on social and economic rights in cultural relativist disguise. The article further chums that it was through the industrial revolution and the corresponding discourse of modernity that these rights emerged within the theocentric cultural traditions of Wesiern Europe, and that the flourishing of human rights discourse in non-Western socie.!;.es will also follow and correspond to their economic development. (shrink)

Summary Today's “Topkapi” in Istanbul is generally accepted as the Gate of Saint Romanos. A newly noticed inscription on the lintel above the entrance of so called fourth minor gate clearly indicates that not Topkapi but this gate was originally the Gate of Saint Romanos.

Im Garten des Museums von Afyon, dem antiken Akronion, befinden sich zwei Teile eines monumentalen Kapitells. Seine beträchtlichen Maße und das Kaisermonogramm (s.u.) lassen in ihm den Rest eines Ehrenmonuments erkennen (Höhe ca. 1.00 m, obere Breite ca. 1.00 m). Nach Auskunft der Museumsleitung wurde es Mitte der 80er Jahre in Huhut (das antike Synada, 26 km südlich von Akronion/Afyon) bereits beschädigt entdeckt und war während des Transports ins Museum in zwei Teilen zerbrochen. Weitere Schäden enstanden an der Halspartie, an (...) zwei Schauseiten sowie an der oberen Platte. Auf der Oberseite befinden sich keinerlei Einlassungen für eine Statue oder einen Kämpfer. Das Kapitell wurde aus „synadischem Marmor” gefertigt, der tatsächlich in den Marmorbrüchen des phrygischen Dokimaion (heutige Isçehisar, 21 km nordöstlich von Afyon) gewonnen wird. Der weiße Marmor von Dokimaion wird im heutigen türkischen Sprachgebrauch als „Afyon-Kaymak/Afyon-Sahne”, „Afyon-Beyaz/Afyon-Weiss” oder „Afyon-Şeker/Afyon-Zucker” bzw. als „Afyon-Çizgisiz-Şeker/Afyon-Zucker ohne Linien” bezeichnet. (shrink)

Although a number of aspects of earlier experiences correlate with later civic engagement (Sherrod 2007), the role of different factors in driving the level of young people’s engagement is not clearly understood. This qualitative study set out to understand those factors in Turkey. Eight focus groups were conducted with 55 young Roma and Turkish people, with different groups being conducted according to participants’ ethnicity, gender and age (16–18 year olds vs. 20–26 year olds). Analysis revealed specific themes in terms of (...) the political and civic engagement of different sub-groups. However, almost all participants expressed that they did not have enough information about their rights and obligations as citizens. They also identified the different barriers which they perceived as impeding their political involvement and participation. (shrink)

Tarihin başlangıcından itibaren insan ile yaşamış olduğu mekân arasındaki ilişki ve sosyal olarak inşa ettiği bu mekândan kopuş dikkat çekici bir meseledir. Bu ilişki sadece inşa edilen sosyal mekândan kopuş ile cereyan etmemekte, mekânsal değişikliğin ardından gelinen yerdeki sosyal inşa da yeni bir ilişkinin ve sosyal değişimin kapısını aralamaktadır. Bu bağlamda, insanlığın varoluşundan itibaren temel ihtiyacı olan güvenli çevre oluşturma gayretinin toplumsal değişime ve göç olgusuna olan etkisi, günümüzde özellikle Avrupa devletlerinde klasik güvenlik anlayışının dışında Kopenhag Okulu’nun sosyal inşacı bir (...) anlayış ile ortaya koyduğu “güvenlikleştirme” yaklaşımının ana unsurları olan siyasal, ekonomik, çevresel ve toplumsal anlamda bir güvenlik tehdidi olarak ele alınmaktadır. Avrupa ülkelerinde son yıllarda politika yapıcılar, devlet dışı aktörler ve göçmenlerin varlığından rahatsız olan kitleler göçü toplumsal güvenliğin alt unsuru olan kültürel güvenliklerine bir tehdit olarak görmektedir. Güncel politikalarında ve gelecek stratejilerinde bu olguyu dikkate almışlardır. Politika yapıcıların kültürel güvenliğe ilişkin yaklaşımlarını hem literatür derlemesi hem de göç karşıtı söylemler üzerinden analiz eden bu çalışmanın temel amacı, toplumsal güvenlik içerisinde yer alan kültürel güvenlik ile göç arasındaki ilişkiyi ortaya koymaktır. Çalışmanın argümanı göçün güvenlik unsuru haline getirilmesi sürecinde kültür konusunun niçin ve nasıl ele alındığına açıklık getirmektedir. Göçmenlerin genellikle söylemsel olarak hedef ülkenin sosyal uyum, kültürel doku ve kimliğine bir tehdit olarak sunulması, devamında “yabancı istilası” olarak güvensizlik yaratan bir sosyal aktör gibi düşünülmesi; çalışmanın yöntemi olan eleştirel söylem analizinin mikro boyutu ile çıkarım yaratma aracına karşılık gelmektedir. (shrink)

The so-called Artukid bowl is the only enameled object which includes both an Arabic and a Persian inscription. According to the Arabic inscription the Artukid ruler Rukn ed Devle Davud was the owner of this object. Although its provenance is still unclear, the technique and material show similarities to several Byzantine examples. For this reason the bowl has been interpreted as a royal gift from Constantinople to the Artukid ruler. It has also been attributed to Georgia or to Mesopotamia. The (...) Arabic inscription includes a long list of titles of Rukn ed Devle Davud, like "Katl al Kafara" or "Samsam al Milla" . I, however, cannot imagine that a Christian emperor would address an Islamic ruler with such terms. The sender of the bowl was most likely another Islamic monarch. In addition, the Persian inscription leads to suspect that the sender had a close relationship with the Persian language and culture. Most probably he was a member of the royal Seljuk family in Anatolia. What was the reason for sending such a gift to a minor local ruler ? The written sources inform us that the daughter of the Seljuk Sultan Kiliç Aslan I. , Sacide Hatun , was married with Rukn ed Devle Davud, owner of our bowl. Furthermore the sources tell us that bowls were sometimes a part of the dowries. All these factors lead me to suggest that the so-called Artukid bowl was produced as a wedding gift in a Greek atelier of Seljuk Anatolia. (shrink)