Contemporary Mainstream Research Articles

Exploring the existence of free will: A neuroscientific investigation

Free will, an age-old philosophical concept, is integral to our understanding of human autonomy, ethical responsibility, and the legal system. Its presence or absence fundamentally influences our decisions and the fabric of societal norms. In recent years, the advancement of neuroscience has made re-evaluating free will increasingly important. This paper reviews philosophical perspectives from ancient to modern times, integrates neuroscientific experiments, and analyzes psychological research to comprehensively explore the issue of the existence of free will. It enumerates contemporary mainstream views on the existence of free will, discusses the sources of the sense of free will, and highlights its profound implications for both individual and collective societal structures. The paper finds that current discussions on the existence of free will remain controversial. In the end, it summarizes the findings and provides an outlook on future research. New technologies and further interdisciplinary studies are expected to offer new perspectives and evidence for understanding free will.

Why news organizations “platform” illiberal politics: Understanding news production, economic insolvency, and anti-democratic pressure through CNN’s 2023 Trump Town Hall

This article discusses how the economic insolvency of the contemporary mainstream media makes it particularly vulnerable to manipulation by illiberal political actors. Through a case study of CNN’s 2023 Trump Town Hall event, this article argues that democratic backsliding itself has become a potent constraint structuring news production routines and news decision-making. The metajournalistic discourse about the event maligned the role of CNN in “platforming” the former president, underscoring how platform logics have hijacked newsroom decision-making and news judgment. Journalists and other commentators pointed to the continuing power of Trump to dominate coverage and the continued inability of mainstream media to cover his threat to democracy via traditional norms of press/politics. Because news values continue to prioritize coverage of knowns over unknowns, news production routines highlight politicians with illiberal politics, who are in turn able to use the media’s discursive power to undermine democratic norms.

Towards a Critical Race Criminology: Decolonising Criminological Practice

This article presents a rationale and strategy for bringing urgent attention to ‘minority’, ‘excluded’, and ‘marginalised’ perspectives within contemporary mainstream criminology. Russell (2022) has previously called for the development of ‘Black criminology’, whilst Phillips and Bowling (2003) further argued that there is a need to develop ‘minority perspectives’ within mainstream criminology. In allyship with these traditions, this article applies a Critical Race Theory lens to provide a rationale for a new criminological perspective presented here as Critical Race Criminology (CRC). CRC is applied here to demonstrate the necessity for centring on ‘race and the racialization of crime’ within the discipline of criminology specifically, and within a global context more widely. It further calls for the development and articulation of a ‘counter narrative’ around race and crime within the discipline of criminology itself. Achieving this requires transcending the binary of the Global North–South divide, moving towards a unifying ‘Critical Race Criminology’ (CRC).

The motifs of radical embodied neuroscience.

In this paper, I analyse how the emerging scientific framework of radical embodied neuroscience is different from contemporary mainstream cognitive neuroscience. To do so, I propose the notion of motif to enrich the philosophical toolkit of cognitive neuroscience. This notion can be used to characterize the guiding ideas of any given scientific framework in psychology and neuroscience. Motifs are highly unconstrained, open-ended concepts that support equally open-ended families of explanations. Different scientific frameworks-e.g., psychophysics or cognitive neuroscience-provide these motifs to answer the overarching themes of these disciplines, such as the relationship between stimuli and sensations or the proper methods of the sciences of the mind. Some motifs of mainstream cognitive neuroscience are the motif of encoding, the motif of input-output systems, and the motif of algorithms. The two first ones answer the question about the relationship between stimuli, sensations and experience (e.g., stimuli are input and are encoded by brain structures). The latter one answers the question regarding the mechanism of cognition and experience. The three of them are equally unconstrained and open-ended, and they serve as an umbrella for different kinds of explanation-i.e., different positions regarding what counts as a code or as an input. Along with the articulation of the notion of motif, the main aim of this article is to present three motifs for radical embodied neuroscience: the motif of complex stimulation, the motif of organic behaviour and the motif of resonance.

Characteristics of Poststructuralism in Jesse Shera’s Social Epistemology

ABSTRACT Jesse Shera (1903–1982) was a twentieth-century American librarian and information scientist. This article discusses Shera’s social epistemology (SE) and its similarities with structuralism and poststructuralism. Previous research on Shera’s SE has clarified its position and influences. John Budd has pointed out that his SE was sociological rather than philosophical, resembling a sociology of knowledge, while Jonathan Furner adduced similarities between Shera’s SE and related areas, such as the sociology of science, and showed that Shera’s SE was influenced by Paul Otlet. Patrick Wilson frames his body of research as an extension of Shera’s SE. Accordingly, I show that Shera’s SE exhibits characteristics of structuralism and poststructuralism. Shera argued that the semantic relationship between two groups of written materials depends on the perceptions of the individuals (or groups) involved, rejecting traditional library classification methodology aimed at a universal classification of knowledge that was the contemporary mainstream. This article discusses the background of Shera’s poststructuralism.

Contemporary Research on Agency in Education: A Systematization of Key Concepts and Developments

The task of developing individual "agency" (autonomy, proactivity, initiative, etc.), in education is widely discussed in scientific and practical circles. To systematize multi-disciplinary research elaborations in the field of "agency" as an umbrella concept, an analysis was carried out using keywords in the main scientific database Scopus. The analysis includes both publications that directly use the concept, and works using other close terms (resistance, autonomy, initiative, etc.). In addition, a sample of scientific publications of researchers, most authoritative in the field of practical educational policy was separately considered. The systematization of the key concepts and constructs was based on four main criteria: 1) the distinction between “agentic” action and intention/perspective, 2) the scale of the action, 3) the strategic/non-strategic nature of the intention/perspective, 4) the universal/local applicability of the concept or construct. The analysis showed a dominating focus on the "agentic perspective" in the discovered works, as well as a focus on micro-level and local manifestations and effects of “agentic” behavior or plans. From the point of view of empirical indicators of "agency" and related concepts, necessity for operationalization of the action-based and "strategic" manifestations of agency are revealed, which raises the question of the fundamental adequacy of the current approaches to measuring a human being dominating in contemporary mainstream of social sciences.

Counter-Discourses of Lower-Caste Intellectuals in Colonial and Postcolonial India: Mainstream Hindu Discourses and the Phule-Ambedkar Ideology

This study examines the nature of discourse formation in the Dalit movement by analysing two different historical stages: 1) the nineteenth-century upper-caste discourse on Aryan race theory and the counter-discourse advocated by Phule; and 2) the early twentieth-century mainstream nationalist discourse and the counter-discourse proposed by B. R. Ambedkar. However, the ideologies of Phule and Ambedkar, which have often been combined and called the ‘Phule-Ambedkar ideology’, contain heterogeneous and conflicting elements, especially concerning lower-caste identity and perceptions of the upper castes. Counter-discourses have been produced through interaction with and responses to the contemporary mainstream discourse in different times and contexts

A wind power forecasting model based on data decomposition and cross-attention mechanism with cosine similarity

In the context of societal advancement, escalating energy demands underscore the critical significance of exploring renewable resources. The accurate prediction of wind power is crucial for maximizing the utilization of wind energy and ensuring the smooth operation of wind farms. Currently, the majority of models are built upon architectures such as Transformer and Long-Short Term Memory (LSTM). However, Transformer-type models are not well-suited for time series forecasting, and LSTM often focuses on historical sequence information, exhibiting limited capability in capturing the relevant information between weather factors and power. Recognizing this inadequacy, this study proposes a novel model—a linear network architecture featuring a cosine-related cross-attention mechanism. The signal decomposition is carried out utilizing variational mode decomposition, with the determination of the optimal decomposition count guided by sample entropy analysis, named Improved Variational Mode Decomposition (IVMD). Subsequently, the conventional self-attention mechanism is replaced with a cross-attention mechanism. Contemporary mainstream models are primarily based on improved versions of core algorithms such as LSTM, Transformer, and Extreme Learning Machines. Experimental results show significant performance enhancements compared to these models across different timescales. In short-term, medium-term, and long-term forecasts, accuracy improves by more than 40 %, 20 %, and 5 %, respectively.

Femininity, Humor, and TV Comedies: The Wit of Fran Fine, Lorelai Gilmore, and Mrs. Maisel

Women and wit seem to belong together in contemporary TV comedies. But looking more closely at wit reveals that it has undergone a series of transformations in its cultural value as a type of humor, its moral implications, and its meaning. In this article, I bring these shifting, often contradictory, gendered meanings of humorous wit into conversation with the often conflicting representational strategies that have informed the construction of femininity in contemporary mainstream TV comedies, such as Fran Drescher’s The Nanny, and Amy Sherman-Palladino’s Gilmore Girls and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. In my readings of the shows’ central characters, I analyze how certain tropes, such as romance, motherhood, self-defense, or deflection reconcile the sharpness of female wit with traditional femininity.

Marketing and Business Operations Analysis of Modern Mainstream Sports Events: A Comparative Study of NBA and CBA

This study delves into the marketing strategies and business operations of contemporary mainstream sports events, focusing on a comparative analysis between the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). In today's globalized world, sports have evolved beyond mere competition into lucrative entertainment businesses. The NBA and CBA stand as two prominent examples of sports leagues that have garnered massive fan followings and commercial success, albeit in distinct ways. The research investigates the multifaceted aspects of marketing employed by these leagues. It explores how the NBA's international expansion strategies and well-orchestrated marketing campaigns have enabled it to establish a strong global presence. Meanwhile, the CBA's unique approaches to catering to its domestic audience and its collaboration with local brands are scrutinized for their impact on the league's marketability. Furthermore, the study dissects the business operations behind these sports leagues. It analyzes revenue generation models, including ticket sales, broadcasting rights, merchandise, and sponsorship deals, to discern their efficiency and sustainability. By comparing the revenue structures and financial performances of the NBA and CBA, this research aims to provide valuable insights into optimizing the business side of modern sports events. Through this comparative analysis, we hope to shed light on the key factors contributing to the success of sports leagues in the contemporary era. The findings are expected to be of interest to sports industry stakeholders, marketers, and businesses seeking to understand the dynamics of sports marketing and business operations in a global context.

The Management of Shvitra (Leukoderma) with Rakta mokshna (Jalauka vidhi) and Vaman vidhi: A Case Study

Background A frequent autoimmune condition that results in pigmentation all over the body is vitiligo. It is quite significant from a socio-medical perspective. A lack of melanocytes caused white patches to form on the body. In Ayurveda, it is comparable to Shvitra or Shweta Kushta. Finding some safe and efficient medications from alternative medical sciences is necessary because of the side effects and restrictions of modern contemporary practice. Vitiligo has a significant influence on patients’ quality of life; many of these people experience stigma and depression as a result of their disease. There is a lot of potential for Ayurveda to heal such autoimmune skin conditions. Treatment for Shvitra in Ayurveda includes Panchakarma and Shaman Chikitsa. Here is an example of a 27-year-old female patient with vitiligo who had Ayurvedic treatment, which included oral medication and treatments like vamana and after medicine there was a drastic change in patches. Methodology Vitiligo exerts a substantial impact on the quality of life for affected individuals, often inducing stigma and depression. Ayurveda demonstrates promising potential in addressing autoimmune dermatological conditions. Ayurvedic interventions for Shvitra encompass Panchakarma and Shaman Chikitsa. Results A recurrent autoimmune disorder leading to systemic pigmentation alterations is vitiligo, which holds considerable significance from a socio-medical standpoint. Depigmentation arises due to the absence of melanocytes, resulting in the manifestation of white patches on the integument. In the context of Ayurveda, vitiligo is akin to Shvitra or Shweta kushta. The exploration of safe and efficacious interventions from alternative medical disciplines becomes imperative due to the limitations and adverse effects associated with contemporary mainstream medical practices. Conclusion In this case study, a 27-year-old female patient diagnosed with vitiligo underwent Ayurvedic treatment, incorporating oral medications and therapeutic procedures like Vamana. Post-treatment, a remarkable transformation in depigmented patches was observed, underscoring the potential efficacy of Ayurveda in managing vitiligo.

The Academic Reception of Austrian, German and Swiss Reform Pedagogy Representatives in Hungarian Educational Science in the Interwar Period. Quantitative Content Analysis of the Magyar Paedagogia (1918–1939)

By remarkably dissenting from the contemporary mainstream educational thinking, reform pedagogy played a pivotal role in shaping the educational landscape of Europe and North America. This influence was also reflected in the professional periodicals of these geographical areas. Focusing on the Central European macroregion, my paper aims at examining the references to the different representatives of three (at least partly German-speaking) countries’ reform pedagogy within the pages of the prominent Hungarian educational journal, Magyar Pedagógia (Hungarian Pedagogy). The study applied computer-assisted deductive content analysis in order to identify the key figures of reform pedagogy in the text of the journal. The results indicate a notable increase in the number of the mentions subsequent to the Trianon Treaty. These reform pedagogy representatives frequently co-occurred in the same writings, with the work school (Arbeitsschule) being highlighted as a key nexus where their ideas converged.

Scarcity Concept in the contemporary mainstream economic science: an analysis of its ontological and epistemological ambiguity

Different economic schools have studied the scarcity concept, reaching otherexplanations. Accordingly, the discussion underlines that for the Classical School ofPolitical Economy (CSPE), scarcity is considered an empirical fact in contrast to theMarginalist School, which instead finds it as a theoretical consequence derived from itsaxioms. Following both schools, the Marshallian theorists introduce an ontological andepistemological ambiguity about scarcity. With this background, the article will try toclarify the concept and characteristics of scarcity. It examines the concept from differentschools of economic thought, considering a new ontological and epistemological path.The article concludes by highlighting that the scarcity characteristics of mainstreameconomics neglect the sociocultural, historical, and political dimensions, making theconsideration to abolish them through social, political, and economic changes aproblematic and, at times, vain option.

The Role of the Author in Literary Understanding

Abstract: The prevailing anti-authorial trend in contemporary mainstream literary theory and aesthetic anti-intentionalism produces different versions of "the death of the author" concept. Conversely, different forms of intentionalism in the analytic tradition strongly defend the relevance of authorial intentions. Although I agree with classic intentionalism on some key points, I find it untenable to believe that the meaning of a literary work is wholly dependent on the intentions of its creator. Rather I consider authorial meaning as one variety of literary meaning. My explanation of the part the author plays in literary understanding is consistent with Anders Pettersson's theory.

The Thanatopedagogical Context of the Multidimensionality of Mourning

Abstract Upbringing is one of the main elements of human activity, which prepares one for one’s future life, giving one an opportunity to gain experience and confront reality. Contemporary mainstream pedagogical literature omits the only element of human existence that must happen, i.e. death. This absence determines a number of problems of an ethical, intellectual, organizational and practical nature in pedagogical works and analyses. A certain answer to this silence in pedagogy is thanatopedagogy, emerging and developing in Poland, which, with its scope of considerations and practical activities, captures a wide spectrum of the experience of mourning. A thanatopedagogical approach to the subject of mourning allows us to look at it through spiritual and religious, biological and physical, medical, psychopedagogical, socio-cultural, legal and economic prisms. Such a broad interdisciplinary approach also allows us to look at mourning as an all-encompassing process of experiencing oneself as an individual as well as experiencing oneself as part of culture and society.

What has philosophy ever done for nursing: A discursive shift from margins to mainstream.

This paper is a personal dialogue of maneuvering the landscape of scholarship in the United States as a nurse faculty. The principal thesis of this paper is that a discursive shift from margins to mainstream literature has occurred within nursing discourse during the past 20 years as the result of a growing body of work by nurse philosophers. I utilize my own work in nursing philosophy as an exemplar and provide a narrative situated in a feminist-critical paradigm. This paper: (1) presents a historical background through a critical-feminist lens of the discursive shift using my own work and lived experiences as exemplars; (2) examines a contemporary mainstream 'authoritative' text as an exemplar of this discursive shift and (3) proposes both potential positive intersections and threats in the future development of nursing philosophy resulting from this discursive shift.

Cambridge Economics in the Post-Keynesian Era: How Mainstream Economics Replaced Cambridge Economics

Abstract The book Cambridge Economics in the Post-Keynesian Era: The Eclipse of Heterodox Traditions, by Ashwani Saith, explains how various approaches to the study of economics at Cambridge, UK, were replaced by mainstream economics, as practiced in leading North American universities. This article reviews the book, while also connecting the narrative provided in the book to central questions regarding the Cambridge economic tradition, and the various approaches that constitute it. The differences between the type of applied economics developed at Cambridge and in contemporary mainstream economics are also discussed. To do so, a distinction between Marshallian realism and Walrasian formalism is made here. Albeit this distinction is not emphasised in Saith’s book, it helps to supplement and understand the persuasive and important narrative provided by Saith.

Editors’ introduction to the Special Section: The ethics and politics of the Anthropocene

Editors’ introduction to the Special Section: The ethics and politics of the Anthropocene

Review: Kill the Documentary: A Letter to Filmmakers, Students, and Scholars, by Jill Godmilow

Review: <i>Kill the Documentary: A Letter to Filmmakers, Students, and Scholars</i>, by Jill Godmilow

Legislating Gender Prejudice: Religion and the Overturning of Roe v Wade

This paper explores the intersection of religion, gender identity, and gender prejudice within the American context of religious conservatism and the overturning of Roe v Wade. Discussion considers the overturning as a dangerous move that negates the rights and religious liberties of women, with adverse implications also for the rainbow community. Notably, this legislative context depicts the power of conservative Christian ideology to sustain hierarchical gender norms anchored in a binary consciousness, which privileges and empowers men (typically white, elite, heterosexual men), while diminishing and disempowering women and gender-diverse persons as non-normative and subsidiary. Discussion further conveys that this male-centred/androcentric ideology continues the oppressive legacy of male-dominant, fundamentalist biblical interpretation — a mode of interpretation heavily criticised within contemporary mainstream biblical scholarship as flawed and grievous in its promotion of gender prejudice. Accordingly, the overturning of Roe v Wade is relevant to the Australian context, for the same androcentricity and legacy of biblically-justified gender prejudice underpins all Western cultures. That is, manifold people, knowingly or reflexively, religious or otherwise, adhere to this biased interpretation and prejudicial gender consciousness through entrenched psychosocial Western norms. Not least, much scholarship has stressed that the issue of gender bias deeply pervades the structures of Australia’s justice system. Ultimately, this paper emphasises that understanding androcentricity and the legacy of injurious androcentric biblical interpretation is necessary to the tasks of negotiating religious freedom for all persons and cultivating non-sexist social and legal structures that uphold the rights of multiple gender identities and subjectivities.