Conceptual Conflicts Research Articles

The allure of machinic life: cybernetics, artificial life, and the new AI

In The Allure of Machinic Life, John Johnston examines forms of nascent life that emerge through technical interactions within human-constructed environments--machinic life--in the sciences of cybernetics, artificial life, and artificial intelligence. With the development of such research initiatives as the evolution of digital organisms, computer immune systems, artificial protocells, evolutionary robotics, and swarm systems, Johnston argues, life has achieved a complexity and autonomy worthy of study in its own right. Drawing on the publications of scientists as well as a range of work in contemporary philosophy and cultural theory, but always with the primary focus on the objects at hand--the machines, programs, and processes that constitute life--Johnston shows how they come about, how they operate, and how they are already changing. This understanding is a necessary first step, he further argues, that must precede speculation about the meaning and cultural implications of these forms of life. Developing the concept of the computational assemblage (a machine and its associated discourse) as a framework to identify both resemblances and differences in form and function, Johnston offers a conceptual history of each of the three sciences. He considers the theory of machines proposed by cybernetics from several perspectives, including Lacanian psychoanalysis and machinic philosophy. He examines the history of the science of artificial life and its relation to theories of evolution, emergence, and complex adaptive systems (as illustrated by a series of experiments carried out on various software platforms). He describes the history of artificial intelligence as a series of unfolding conceptual conflicts--decodings and recodings--leading to a new AI that is strongly influenced by artificial life. Finally, in examining the role played by neuroscience in several contemporary research initiatives, he shows how further success in the building of intelligent machines will most likely result from progress in our understanding of how the human brain actually works.

対立を用いた法的知識の整合性検証

In this paper, we propose a verification methodology of large-scale legal knowledge. With a revision of legal code, we are forced to revise also other affected code to keep the consistency of law. Thus, our task is to revise the affected area properly and to investigate its adequacy. In this study, we extend the notion of inconsistency besides of the ordinary logical inconsistency, to include the conceptual conflicts. We obtain these conflictions from taxonomy data, and thus, we can avoid tedious manual declarations of opponent words. In the verification process, we adopt extended disjunctive logic programming (EDLP) to tolerate multiple consequences for a given set of antecedents. In addition, we employ abductive logic programming (ALP) regarding the situations to which the rules are applied as premises. Also, we restrict a legal knowledge-base to acyclic program to avoid the circulation of definitions, to justify the relevance of verdicts. Therefore, detecting cyclic parts of legal knowledge would be one of our objectives. The system is composed of two subsystems; we implement the preprocessor in Ruby to facilitate string manipulation, and the verifier in Prolog to exert the logical inference. Also, we employ XML format in the system to retain readability. In this study, we verify actual code of ordinances of Toyama prefecture, and show the experimental results.

An Indian logic-based argument representation formalism for knowledge-sharing

Knowledge-sharing is the fundamental aspect of learning from ancient days. By exchanging questions and answers in a debate fashion, knowledge is explored. Argumentation can be thought of as a knowledge-sharing mechanism where construction of arguments and counter-arguments towards reaching mutually agreed upon conclusions is modelled after the rational discussion of knowledge-sharing. The procedural approach of generation and exchange of arguments is with the intention of reaching a definite conclusion at the end of discussion irrespective of the winning or losing of the individual arguments. A procedural argumentation system for knowledge-sharing, similar to the one discussed above will be of immense use only when the representational facts of world knowledge are well captured and represented as identical with the representation of natural intelligence. Indian Philosophy suggests various rules for classifying and representing the world knowledge to enhance the procedure of argumentation in reaching new inferences. This paper discusses a new mathematical model that caters to the special requirements of classification and hypothetical argumentative reasoning (tarka) of Indian philosophy. The main focus is the emphasis given to the existence of relations between concepts and foundation of invariable connection between concepts/relations of the arguments that is indicated by the philosophy. The extracted knowledge from the arguments exchanged is captured using ‘Indianised logics’, an Indian Logic based argument representation formalism. The arguments are deeply analysed for the presence of conceptual and relational conflicts. This is achieved by referring to the presence and/or absence of invariable concomitance, so that, the decision of justifying the represented invalid knowledge with or without proof shall be made clear in knowledge-sharing through rational discussion.

EC Competition Law and International Arbitration in the Light of EC Regulation 1/2003—Conceptual Conflicts, Common Ground, and Corresponding Legal Issues

The arbitration–competition interplay, its legal framework, and its future prospects are examined in the light of the modernized EC competition law and its private enforcement scheme. The aim of the present study is threefold: first, to highlight the interaction between these two legal fields; secondly, to underline the most problematic scenarios arising out of the application of EC competition rules by arbitrators; and finally, to argue that under certain circumstances arbitral tribunals and national courts could constitute complementary riders of the EC competition law private enforcement tandem. The discussion is conducted in the light of EC Regulation 1/2003, the Modernization Regulation, which significantly changed the EC competition law enforcement landscape and tacitly, albeit arguably, invited arbitration to the private enforcement of EC competition rules. Overall, a fresh and insightful contribution is attempted which takes into account the peculiarities of each legal order without ever losing touch with both current legal practice and business reality.

Interactive patterns and conceptual convergence during student collaborations in science

AbstractThis study examines cognitive and social processes in group interactions that shape collaborative learning in science classrooms. Three small groups of students were observed while working collaboratively on explaining the burning of a candle under a jar. The learning environment served as a context for examination of conceptual convergence, a process wherein students construct shared meanings for science concepts through gradual refinement of ambiguous, partial meanings presented in group space. Despite engaging in the same activity with very similar instructional supports, the groups displayed very different patterns of interaction and achieved varied degrees of conceptual convergence. One group collaborated effectively and displayed evidence of individual conceptualizations of science content converging to establish a more well‐informed shared conceptualization. The other groups were not as successful, each for unique reasons. Problems demonstrated in one group included lack of self‐confidence, poor monitoring of group learning, and active avoidance of potentially fruitful conceptual conflicts. The other group struggled primarily because of a combative social context. The major educational significance of this study was the identification of social context and interactive patterns, group approaches to conceptual conflicts, and instructors' roles in collaborative activities as crucial aspects of productive group learning. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 45: 634–658, 2008

Seismic Performance of a 62-Story Steel Frame Hotel Tower

This paper introduces the seismic design and performance of a 62-story hotel tower in Beijing, China, and discusses conceptual conflicts that arose during the design process between code provisions and expected seismic behavior. For instance, while the IBC 2000 requires such a tower to be designed as a Special Moment Resisting Frame, pushover analysis studies (not permitted by FEMA 350 for such a tall building, but allowed by the design review board for collapse analysis during this design process) suggested that inelastic rotation demands were on the order of the 2002 AISC requirements for Intermediate Moment Resisting Frames. Furthermore, while axial force demands in the columns resulting from the pushover analyses exceeded the demands calculated according to the AISC building overstrength factor of 3.0, these high axial load demands clearly resulted from the pushover analysis loading pattern derived from the tower's fundamental mode shape. Time history analyses showed that both the extent of plastic hinging and the magnitude of overturning forces under actual earthquake demands were significantly lower than the levels produced from response spectrum and pushover analyses. Finally, in a capacity spectrum assessment under maximum considered earthquake (MCE) response spectrum loads, ductile capacity in the beams did very little to enhance the tower's performance. Several of these results were easily explained by the fact that the Chinese Code response spectrum controlling the design was artificially high for longer periods. This code requirement implied that increased strength, not increased ductility, would improve the tower's ability to withstand MCE demands according to a capacity spectrum assessment. The purpose of this paper is to identify these conflicts in the context of a real project where circumstances prevented the coordination of consistent seismic design criteria.

Designing a polarity therapy protocol: Bridging holistic, cultural, and biomedical models of research

Summary One of the methodological challenges of conducting CAM therapies research and in particular, biofield/touch therapies research is the development and use of methods that are compatible with the holistic nature of the therapy. Biomedical scientists claim that the “gold standard” of research must be the randomized clinical trial (RCT), which includes a standardized protocol. Conducting an RCT on a biofield/touch therapy often results in structural and conceptual conflicts with the clinical standards necessary to holistic therapies. This paper discusses a polarity therapy protocol designed as an intervention for the reduction of stress in American Indian family caregivers of patients with dementia. The protocol is designed to maximize efficacy and cultural congruency, adhering to the integrity of the holism, while addressing challenges arising from randomized controlled trial methods. The protocol developed for this study is presented and discussed.

New Learning Environments and Constructivism: The Students’ Perspective

Research into students’ perceptions of their learning environments reveals the impact of these perceptions on the way students cope with these learning environments. Consequently, students’ perceptions affect the results of their learning. This study aims to investigate whether students in a new learning environment (NLE) perceive it to be more constructivist when compared with the perceptions students have of a conventional lecture-based environment. Using a questionnaire consisting of seven key factors of constructivist learning environments, the results show that students in the NLE perceive it to be more constructivist when compared to the perceptions of students in a conventional lecture-based environment. The difference was statistically significant for four of the seven factors. According to the effect size, as measured by the d-index, the difference in perception between the two groups was greatest for the factor ‘conceptual conflicts and dilemmas’.

Should we use colours as symbolic representations of hot and cold?

People usually talk about 'hot and cold' colours without really thinking of the impact these definitions may have on scientific understanding. These colours are associated with the human sensations of hot and cold, and this idea is consistent with commonsense and daily experience. Interacting with students, we detect conceptual conflicts when they have to interpret phenomena whose origin is the emission of radiation. The contradiction between the scientific explanation for blackbody radiation and their understanding of 'hot and cold' colours, reinforced by the coloured images in textbooks, leads frequently to misconceptions and to the remembering of facts and interpretations that are based on context and not on scientific knowledge. In this article we show the difficulties experienced by students with these concepts and make some suggestions of strategies that teachers should use when dealing with them.

Are DNA tests infallible?

Modern technology has strongly influenced most fields of knowledge and forensic sciences do not escape this reality. With the advent of the application of molecular biology to human identification by means of DNA typing, conceptual conflicts were introduced. After over 15 years of worldwide experience, the robustness and reliability of DNA analysis was demonstrated. However in Latin America, judges, prosecutors and defenders, due in part to different educational background as compared to scientists, may ignore potential restrictions concerning DNA profiling results. Since its beginnings, DNA testing was surrounded by an aura of infallibility. Nowadays, a big number of highly polymorphic genetic markers, included in commercial kits, as well as automated devices for DNA extraction and purification, PCR amplification, electrophoresis and data analysis are available. Nevertheless, errors may occur. This work describes the main causes for errors in DNA testing in forensic laboratories that simultaneously processes hundreds or thousands of samples a month and makes suggestions to prevent each particular problem. It is important to underscore that DNA testing should be considered one more piece of evidence within the context of a criminal or forensic investigation, and that the judicial sentences should be based on the evidence as a whole and not just on the genetic studies.

Great Feuds in Medicine: Ten of the Liveliest Disputes Ever

Back to table of contents Previous article Next article Book Forum: History of PsychiatryFull AccessGreat Feuds in Medicine: Ten of the Liveliest Disputes EverSANDER L. GILMAN, SANDER L. GILMANSearch for more papers by this author, Chicago, Ill.Published Online:1 Oct 2002https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.159.10.1797AboutSectionsView EPUB ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack Citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail The older I get, the more I love lists. I must not be alone because the number of books of lists has grown exponentially as my generation of baby boomers has aged. Hal Hellman has now contributed a second book of lists to complement his earlier Great Feuds in Science(1). Popularly written, these books summarize intellectual and conceptual conflicts. (No violence—not even Ludwig Wittgenstein gesturing with a poker at Karl Popper.) In this installment we have Harvey versus Primrose; Galvani versus Volta; Semmelweis versus everyone; Bernard versus everyone; Pasteur versus Liebig, Pouchet, and Koch; Golgi versus Rámon y Cajal; Freud versus everyone; Sabin versus Salk; Franklin versus Wilkins; and Gallo versus Montagnier.Medicine from the 17th century to the present, from high theory to laboratory practice, from the nature of the neural net to the primacy of discovery, is presented in vignettes that are readable and accurately summarize the science of these debates. (All of Hellman’s sources are serious works on the history of medicine.)Yet the very notion of right versus wrong in these pairings means that there was a predetermined victor, even in those moments (as with Semmelweis) when those who were right were destroyed by their claims. All of the victors are Muhammed Ali, and all of the vanquished are stumblebums. Medicine is heroic in that it always overcomes errors, moving toward the light of truth.Such a presentation of the history of medicine assumes that the players are the heroic characters that confront each other on the stage of history. In medicine (at least since the 19th century) the very notion of the laboratory and the team has meant that such positions are always collective, producing no truly world historical figures. Even in the history of psychoanalysis, Freud comes out of the neurological laboratories of Vienna (which, according to Hellman, shaped him more than anything else) to create psychoanalysis—the one true one-man operation in 19th-century medicine. But it is also true that another collective is also at work in the history of medicine. There is always a consensus-building acknowledgment of what is good medicine and what is quackery, and this consensus comes as much from the general culture as from the medical culture.Hellman’s accounts are readable, but they really miss the point of such pairings. It is not that one was right and that the other was wrong. Medicine tries over time to accommodate all positions, casts off those which are perceived as too weak by the various collectives in which it functions, and is willing to return to these or demonize them over time. This relationship also shifts as new discoveries, inventions, and beliefs are added to the art and science of medicine. What is true at one moment in medicine becomes anathema the next and then returns in triumph again (e.g., the history of ECT from 1950 until today).I love lists. I enjoyed reading Hellman’s work. But if you want the nuances and the flux, read the books he lists in his bibliographies.By Hal Hellman. New York, John Wiley & Sons, 2001, 237 pp., $24.95.Reference1. Hellman H: Great Feuds in Science: Ten of the Liveliest Disputes Ever. New York, John Wiley & Sons, 1998Google Scholar FiguresReferencesCited byDetailsCited ByNone Volume 159Issue 10 October 2002Pages 1797-1797 Metrics History Published online 1 October 2002 Published in print 1 October 2002

Constructivist pedagogy in conventional on-campus and distance learning practice: an exploratory investigation

This study attempts to identify characteristics of constructivism and their presence in face-to-face and open and distance learning (ODL) environments. In phase 1 of this study, a 6-week discussion through an electronic mailing list was carried out to explore the concept of constructivism, the process underlying constructivist learning and its facilitation. In the second phase, a questionnaire was developed and later analysed to ascertain the presence of constructivist principles in formal higher education instructional activities. The results of these studies were very similar and foregrounded the following seven components of constructivist teaching and learning: (1) arguments, discussions, debates, (2) conceptual conflicts and dilemmas, (3) sharing ideas with others, (4) materials and measures targeted toward solutions, (5) reflections and concept investigation, (6) meeting student needs, and (7) making meaning, real-life examples. Based on tutorials analysis (phase 1) and surveys (phase 2) in one university, the findings indicate that these components are not sufficiently present in any of the settings which were investigated, despite the positive intentions that instructional designers had in their planning phase.

On equivalence of dual‐porosity poroelastic parameters

This paper elicits an in‐depth discussion on equivalence of current dual‐porosity poroelastic (DPP) models in terms of their parametric compatibilities, which are shown to break down when physical implications of each model are further probed. The majority of existing DPP models envision the elastic parameters either as those characterizing the matrix blocks only or as the lumped ones delineating for both the matrix blocks and fractures. The flaw of the former characterization is that it neglects the important impact of fracture deformation which should be substantially larger than the matrix deformation because of its greater compressibility; the drawback of the latter delineation is that it omits the significant difference between the matrix and fracture deformations which cannot offer a clear vision for the relevant experimental studies. As a remedy to these approaches, modifications of the parametric relationships in the existing DPP models are provided to accommodate the compatibility requirements. In addition, as an effort to minimize conceptual conflicts in the associated DPP models, sensible formats of the effective stress laws for the dual‐porosity media are presented. The revised effective stress law facilitates the extension of the DPP model to multiporosity poroelastic formulations.

A Drug Problem?

Matt Curran, Probation Officer with Northumbria Probation Service, identifies the conceptual confusions and definitional conflicts surrounding probation work with drug users. Drawing on his extensive experience in Blyth, Curran seeks models, stories and motives beyond the conventional medical perspective and suggests alternative ways of addressing drug users as people, not as bad patients.

Teaching as a Physicist at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago

The author describes his personal experience teaching technology to artists. It appears necessary to participate rather than ‘teach’, yet it is also necessary to provide goals and methods to guide student development. This apparent conflict is complicated by issues that stem from the conceptual conflicts between the arts and sciences. Perceptions of artistic achievement and creativity can easily become confused with the challenge of mastering the methods and media. This article seeks to clarify some of these problems and offers some suggestions to instructors working in this field.

Decision‐making theories as tools for interpreting student behavior during a scientific inquiry simulation

AbstractThe study investigated the predictive ability of two sociological theories of group decision making, the social decision scheme (SDS) and the valence distribution (DV) model. The theories were applied to a normal classroom setting of grade‐9 and ‐10 students (N = 159) involved in a scientific inquiry—a simulation of scientific decision making. In their attempt to resolve conceptual conflicts concerning a pendulum's period, the students worked towards a consensus. It was discovered that student beliefs at the end of the simulation deviated from this group consensus. Neither the SDS or the DV theories could account for this result, except in one extreme case. The psychological state of the decision makers (vigilant, hypervigilant, etc.) was mildly associated with this deviation. The predictive function of the SDS and DV models was apparently severely hampered by the natural complexities common to classroom interactions. However, the study did illuminate factors that likely affect conceptual change in the context of classroom group decision making; and the study discovered strategies which students invented in order to maintain their alternative conceptions of motion related to the pendulum, in the face of conflicting evidence. These results are discussed in terms of the students' participation in the scientific inquiry.

Fiscal Equity in Urban Mass Transit Systems: A Geographic Analysis

Abstract The issue of equity in the delivery of public services is complicated both by conceptual conflicts and competing methodologies. In spite of the considerable interest in, and practical and theoretical importance of, public service equity assessment, relatively few studies have evaluated the geographic distribution of subsidies, especially at the metropolitan level where the central city-suburb distinction dominates. This study clarifies a number of conceptual and methodological questions related to public service equity by analyzing the geographic flow of fiscal subsidies for mass transit operations using King County (Seattle), WA as a case study. The analysis focuses on three issues. First, cross-subsidies (subsidies between users) are considered for users defined by their social groups and residential locations. Second, the distribution of non-farebox (tax) revenues is determined for income groups and geographic areas. Third, the total net subsidy, considering costs, fares, and non-farebox reven...

The World System and World Trade: an Empirical Exploration of Conceptual Conflicts

Within the growing number of analysts who employ the world system perspective on national development, theoretical disagreements have evolved which may only be settled by examination of available d...

The World System and World Trade: an Empirical Exploration of Conceptual Conflicts*

The World System and World Trade: an Empirical Exploration of Conceptual Conflicts*

Self-consistent field theories of the polymer excluded volume problem. III. A self-consistent solution

We summarize the self-consistent field (SCF) approach of the excluded volume problem developed in two earlier articles. We emphasize that this approach leads to a hierarchy of SCF theories and that it resolves apparent conceptual conflicts between earlier SCF theories developed by Edwards and Reiss. We present an approximate solution to the simplest member of that hierarchy, and we demonstrate self-consistency for the dominant part of the solution. From that solution we show the asymptotic dependence of the mean square end separation vector on chain length to be 〈R2〉 ∼ L6/(d+2) for 1?d<4 (in d dimensions). Corrections to this asymptotic dependence, explicitly derived for d=2,3, demonstrate the crossover from the 6/5 law to the unperturbed (〈R2〉 ∼ L) behavior for finite chain lengths and for sufficiently weak excluded volume.