Era Of Civilization Research Articles

Religious Beliefs, Practices, and Representations as Humanly Enacted Realities: Lucian (circa 120-200) Addresses Sacrifices, Death, Divinity, and Fate

Lucian of Samosata (circa 120-200) may be primarily envisioned as a poet-philosopher from the classical Roman era. However, the material he develops on religion not only anticipates important aspects of contemporary pragmatist/constructionist approaches to the sociology of religion but also provides some particularly compelling insights into religion as a humanly engaged realm of reality. Following an introduction to a pragmatist approach to the study of religion, this paper presents a synoptic overview of several of Lucian’s texts on religion. In addition to the significance of Lucian’s materials for comprehending an era of Roman and Greek civilization, as well as their more general sources of intellectual and aesthetic stimulation, these texts also provide an array of valuable transhistorical reference points and alert scholars in the field of religion to some ways in which the study of religion could be more authentically approached within the social sciences. The paper concludes with a consideration of the affinities of Lucian’s depictions of religion with pragmatist, interactionist, and associated approaches as this pertains to the study of religion as a realm of human involvement.

Evolution of Ancient Chinese Village Governance

Agricultural civilization lasted for nearly five thousand years in ancient China. The long agricultural civilization era and the rich village governance experiences have been second to none. To study the evolution of ancient Chinese village governance can help dig the wisdoms of ancient Chinese, and even offer some references to the contemporary world.

How to Invent Strong A Framework

One of the most important outputs of human mind has been continuous stream of inventions over many eras of civilization. However, human mind has been inventing using what is called “trial and error” methods on its evolutionary journey. As our world becomes more complex, inventing through trial and error is unsustainable. Theory of Inventive problem solving (TRIZ in Russian acronym) has been developed through analysis of patents describing the logic of inventions. It categorized the inventions into five increasing levels of inventiveness based on sources of solutions and the quantum of change they created compared to existing systems. In this paper, we describe set of tools for thinking to invent strong, i.e., to invent at level 3 and above of TRIZ five levels. Thinking about new operating principles to deliver the functions, making the existing systems closer to an ideal system and resolving deeply embedded conflict in the system called physical contradiction are the key elements from TRIZ that we have included in the framework for invent strong. Three real case studies - for cracking of hydrocarbons, improving the digestive abilities of the cattle and choosing the stronger paths using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to invent - are described to give a flavor of how the invent strong framework can be applied. We propose using TRIZ for inventing strong is essential need of the world as it becomes more complex and requires stronger innovative solutions quickly. The human mind has to quickly learn to adapt to inventing strong. The how to invent strong framework described in this paper with its associated tools has proven to be an effective method to generate novel solutions and can be utilized for application in multiple fields.

Sustainable Development as a Priority of Contemporary Cultural Policy

The human civilization as the planetary phenomenon is constantly occupied with justification of its socio-cultural bases. If the 21st century and the first half of the 20th century are considered to be the era of technical civilization, social cataclysms, the linear growth of the world population, urbanization, then from the 1950th the content of the planetary civilization processes has radically changed. One of the priority values of the new civilization is the concept of sustainable development. The principle of sustainable development is not limited by the environmental and economic factors. Sustainable development is an important part of modern culture in the world. To achieve sustainable and balanced development there should be taken some measures to stabilize the economic and population growth by ensuring the necessary volume of agricultural production, resource consumption per capita and the permissible level of pollution. In the scientific literature, also in the UNESCO documents concerning the world culture, sustainable development is understood as balanced state of the globalized world culture, where the desire to preserve the environmental sustainability is combined with actions aimed at poverty eradication, poorness, social and ethnic conflicts and cataclysms.

The body organs and their reconstruction power (regeneration) from the viewpoint of Iranian-islamic physicians.

Dear Editor, The purpose of the authors of this letter is to give a clear definition and classification of body parts from the viewpoint of Muslim and Iranian physicians during the Islamic Civilization era and to examine the views of Muslim scholars such as Ahvazi, Avicenna, and Amoli on the issue of the reconstruction power (regeneration) of organs. We aim to extract and bring into practice any useful and valuable points that can be found in their writings. Avicenna has discussed human body organs in the framework of the seven natural principles; elements, temperaments, humors, organs, vital spirits, faculties of power, and functions (1). The formation of the organs from the four humors takes place throughout the digestion steps in the body. Body organs are divided into two categories; simple organs and compound organs (2). In Avicenna’s view, simple organs are those organs whose constituting parts are of the same type, like bones and nerves (2, 3). Compound organs, on the other hand, are made up of several simple tissues, like hands and eyes (2, 3). Simple organs are either formed of semen (seminal) or formed of blood (sanguine) (2). Seminal organs are formed of the semen of the parents and the sanguine organs are formed of the blood of the mother and the child. For the latter group of organs, the semen of the mother and the menstrual blood are also to some extent responsible in forming the organs in the embryo (2, 3). Avicenna believes that every organ can be renewed as long as it is not very far from the fetal period, as in early years of childhood, because the power of the semen is still present in it (2, 3). Ageing changes the situation and reduces the reconstruction power. In sanguine organs, however, in case of abrasion or puncture, the organs are able to reconstruct again (2, 3). Today, the reconstruction power of most of the body organs of children, especially in the umbilical cord of newborns has been confirmed (2, 3). Another difference between seminal and sanguine tissues after birth is that seminal tissues cannot be repaired after injury unless these three conditions apply in addition juvenility: The organ must not be a movable organ. The organ must not be a sensitive organ. The organ must not be in very quick blood circulation If these conditions are not realized, the organ will be repaired with more delay (2-4). Seminal organs are describes as consisting of three subgroups: bones, nerves and vessels. Sanguine organs are divided into two subgroups: flesh and fat tissue (adipose) (2-6). Under the bones subgroup, different kinds of bones as well as cartilages and joints are discussed (2-6). The nerves subgroup includes nerves, ligaments, tendons, and membranes. In the vessels subgroup, veins, arteries, thick vessels and some nameless vessels are discussed (2-6). In the sanguine organs group, the flesh subgroup includes different kinds of flesh, muscles and glandular tissues and the subgroup contains fat tissues. These tissues together form the whole body and its compound organs such as the bones, the ribs, the heart and the liver (2-6). According to the experience of these physicians, most of the diseases which become chronic and difficult to cure happen during old age (7, 8). They related this to the decrease of natural heat and moist in seminal organs (7, 8). Both natural heat and natural moist are affected by circumstances such as mental stresses, food and medicines. Nowadays, some of these are taken into consideration for enhancing the immune system and organ renewal processes (7, 8). For example today Aloe vera could inhibit the anti-neoplastic immunitary response in patients treated with Phyto-therapy as major medicine use in Iranian traditional medicine (8, 9). The above reports reminds us of the situation of stem cells especially during the development period, since it has been shown today that stem cells are almost always present in different tissues of the body in different ages but they decline in quality and quantity as the person ages and various diseases harm the body. This is probably what Avicenna has considered the natural heat and moist of the body. With regard to the concentration of traditional physicians on the natural heat and natural moisture as the sources of regeneration especially in seminal organs, we suggest the development of culture environments using the medicines utilized by traditional physicians, in order to reduce the long-term effects of chronic and refractory diseases such as type 1 diabetes, blood cell malignancies, and diseases dealing with the regeneration of nerves, muscles, vessels and bones and will be very beneficial in future researches (Table 1). Table 1. Organ Regeneration and Their Reconstruction Power From the Viewpoint of Iranian-Islamic Physicians

Malaysian Observatories and Those of the Islamic Civilization Era: General Similarities

Observatories were first built to observe celestial objects such as stars and planets and to record their movement and they eventually become centres and institutions for research and education. The history of Malaysian observatories began in the early years of the 1980's with the construction of an observatory, built and systematically administered by the government for the purpose of research, education and tourism. This article discusses a study on the similarities between the Malaysian observatories and those built during the Islamic civilization era. The objective of this study was to analyze the general similarities between the two sets of observatories. A qualitative method was used in this study via instrument observation, interviews and document analyzes. The result of this study argues that all Malaysian astrofiqh observatories share specific similarities with their counterparts built during the Islamic civilization era encompassing a multitude of aspects, as in the establishment aims, landscape, instruments and name designation of observatories.

Between Colonial, Moslem, and Post-Independence Era, Which Layer of Urban Patterns should be Conserved?

Ancient maps reveal that Dutch colonial have covered alun-alun as the moslem city image like those in Jakarta, Surabaya, except in Semarang. Both Indonesian Moslem and colonial city experts cannot explain the phenomena. The alun-alun lama Semarang left its morphologic arthefac. Which layer of urban design should be conserved? To reveal the layer of the development, three dimensional picture by freehand modeling based on visual historical aprroach methode can be done as an early stage. The civilization era are in interaction, but tend to neglect the moslem city image. Further research is needed using a computer drawing, to get a clearly image of moslem city.

Green Development of Agriculture under the Principal-Agent Perspective

The essence of agricultural development not only is a green industrial revolution and the new technological revolution but also is the important symbol of human into the green civilization era. In the process of green development of agriculture, between the government and the farmers there is a principal-agent relationship, that the government (principal) commissioned farmers (agents) to implement green agriculture development; principal-agent target, there are two items, namely, the production of food and ensure food nutrition and environmental security; farmers(agents) obtain the income by to sale their produce food. Research shows that the government is dominant in green agricultural development; green agriculture because of its level of standardization of certification may become the main direction of agricultural green development. Green agricultural development is a long and complex systems engineering, and should be phased manner, and constantly improve the agricultural system environment that needed for green development. To improve the ability of green development of China's agriculture, to carry out agro-ecological capital operations may be a practical way.

Recognition of dementia in ancient China

A search of previous records in the literatures was done to summarize the opinions for dementia in ancient China. The earliest description of dementia was traced in the Yellow Emperor's Internal Classic, a book written 2000 years ago. Hua Tuo (AD 140–208) in Han Dynasty first denominated “dementia” in the book, Hua Tuo Shen Yi Mi Zhuan. The pathogenesis of dementia could be generalized as the insufficiency of Qi, a flowing energy; the stagnation of phlegm, a harmful liquid substance in the body; and the blood stasis, which were also regarded as therapeutic targets. Therefore, we can conclude that dementia has been recognized and investigated in traditional Chinese medicine, which is definitely before the industrial civilization era.

The Study on Government’s Ecological Responsibility in Ecological Civilization Era

The background of ecological civilization and the request of ecological environment have required the government to bear the new responsibility, that is ecological responsibility. Only when the relations of ecological civilization and sustainable development, ecological economics and ecological benefit, and so on, can be straightened out, government would recognize the major connotation of ecological responsibility and bear it for the society and the public in the new era.

Introducing medical humanities in the medical curriculum in Saudi Arabia: A pedagogical experiment

In a marked shift from the modern positivist materialist philosophy that influenced medical education for more than a century, Western medical educators are now beginning to realize the significance of the spiritual element of human nature. Consensus is currently building up in Europe and North America on the need to give more emphasis to the study of humanities disciplines such as history of medicine, ethics, religion, philosophy, medically related poetry, literature, arts and medical sociology in medical colleges with the aim of allowing graduates to reach to the heart of human learning about meaning of life and death and to become kinder, more reflective practitioners. The medicine taught and practiced during the Islamic civilization era was a vivid example of the unity of the two components of medical knowledge: natural sciences and humanities. It was also a brilliant illustration of medical ethics driven by a divine moral code. This historical fact formed the foundation for the three medical humanities courses presented in this article reporting a pedagogical experiment in preparation for starting a humanities program in Alfaisal University Medical College in Riyadh. In a series of lectures alternating with interactive sessions, active learning strategies were employed in teaching a course on history of medicine during the Islamic era and another on Islamic medical ethics. Furthermore, a third course on medically relevant Arabic poetry was designed and prepared in a similar way. The end-of-the-course feedback comments reflected effectiveness of the courses and highlighted the importance of employing student-centered learning techniques in order to motivate medical students to become critical thinkers, problem solvers, life-long learners and self-learners.

The Recent Doctors' Strikes in India: A Point of View

Health-care initiatives in recent years have led to the emergence of new forms of medical practices and new kinds of professional relationships. The relatively unrestricted autonomy that practitioners previously enjoyed has been undermined. Medical professionals in conflict with hospitals, health provision organizations and governmental agencies have translated their discontent with health systems into organized work slowdowns and strikes. These activities have generally been directed against governments for the purpose of preventing undesired structural changes in health-care delivery, preserving professional independence or extracting financial concessions. This paper presents the tale of two Indian cities where doctors have gone on strike. An analysis of the situations that might have induced the doctors to go on strike is made. The duties, obligations and legitimacy of doctors are discussed against a background of ethical, legal and moral concepts. A brief review of literature is made of the history and evolution of strikes in the modern era of human civilization.

Domestic Violence and the Education of the Nigeria Pre – School Child

Literature tells us about three different views of children each relating to different era of civilization. Thefirst is during the Greco – Roman times. During this period children were taken to be miniature adultand this depicted in the acts and paintings of that period. Children were not accorded any specialstatus. As miniature adults, they were allowed to work on the fields and farms with little or noattachments to parents.The second is the medieval period. With the decline of the Greco-Roman civilization, Christianity cameto the fore. Under the religious tenets, man was born evil and so children were regarded as sinful,immoral and therefore their sinful nature needed to be exorcised through religious teachings andpractices. As sinners, children were seen to be bad creatures and were subjected to various kind ofpunishment aimed at purging off their sinful nature.Thirdly, is the age of enlightenment which emerged with the decline of the church. One the greatphilosophers of the time – John Locke (1632 – 1604), believed that a child’s mind was a Tabular Rasa– a blank tablet on which experiences write, thereby determining the child’s future. According to Locke,children were not innately bad but required adult-directed experiences to become good adult in future.Locke’s proposition was opposed by another notable psychologist – Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712 –1778).

Operations and systems research in the era of knowledge civilization

This article discusses new and future challenges for operations and systems research during and after informational revolution, in the era of knowledge civilization. The concepts of the knowledge civilization era and its features are discussed: the informational revolution, the dematerialization of work, the conceptual revolution and the change of episteme. As an example of conceptual revolution, new micro-theories of knowledge creation and their relation to group decision processes are presented. An evolutionary theory of intuition, its tremendous power but also fallibility, is discussed. Other examples of conceptual revolution concern the multimedia principle, the emergence principle and a general spiral of evolutionary knowledge creation. Against this background, the issue of objective ranking is presented. Other challenges for operations and systems research might relate to the main conflicts and dangers in the era of information revolution, namely the main conflict of this era concerning the property of knowledge, the tension between the traditional individual combined with public property of knowledge, on the one hand, and the trend towards corporate privatization (or corporatization) of knowledge, on the other, or another important conflict the threat of computer and robot domination over humanity. Conclusions stress the need of new concepts and even change of paradigmatic basis (the hermeneutical horizon) in operations and systems research in response to the challenges, chances and threats of informational revolution.

Metallurgy Beyond Iron

AbstractMetallurgy is one of the oldest sciences. Its history can be traced back to 6000 BCE with the discovery of Gold, and each new discovery — Copper, Silver, Lead, Tin, Iron and Mercury — marked the beginning of a new era of civilization. Currently there are 86 known metals, but until the end of the 17th century, only 12 of these were known. Steel (Fe–C alloy) was discovered in the 11th century BCE; however, it took until 1709 CE before we mastered the smelting of pig-iron by using coke instead of charcoal and started the industrial revolution. The metallurgy of nowadays is mainly about discovering better materials with superior properties to fulfil the increasing demand of the global market. Promising are the Glassy Metals or Bulk Metallic Glasses (BMGs) — discovered at first in the late 50s at the California Institute of Technology — which are several times stronger than the best industrial steels and 10-times springier. The unusual structure that lacks crystalline grains makes BMGs so promising. They have a liquid-like structure that means they melt at lower temperatures, can be moulded nearly as easily as plastics, and can be shaped into features just 10 nm across. The best BMG formers are based on Zr, Pd, Pt, Ca, Au and, recently discovered, also Fe. They have typically three to five components with large atomic size mismatch and a composition close to a deep eutectic. Packing in such liquids is very dense, with a low content of free volume, resulting in viscosities that are several orders of magnitude higher than in pure metal melts.

The Bend: A Speculation on History and Science

The age of human civilization is given the name “the bend” based on a re-examination of the emergence of science, science theory content, and history. Civilization, existing over its course, in darkness to the nature of its partnership with the elements, oscillates in a romance that alternates between logical explanation, the rational, and illogical as they are presented to him from the external. Its’ course, set on the logical sorting of the worlds elements, life experience, necessarily reflects those conditions, and thus emerges to parallel perceptions in a similar manner. If in reflections alternate conditions do not exist that do not exceed his perceptions and physically applied cognitions a potentially blinded, self defining course exists. Both civilization and separate nature are, in this circumstance, though mutually equal as entities of perspective dependant logic and illogic, potentially pursue parallel though unequal courses. It is necessarily the case that actual path differentials, composed of logical and illogic are the real enumerator of life kinds footing. Prominent scholarly works, judged to be exemplary of historical behavior and that focus on the emergence of path will be critically examined in order to argue that civilization and its’ external spaces are modulated differentially-one, (civilization), by its’ own will as a construct of the experienced logical and illogical, the other (nature) by its’ empathy for the future, the open, a repulsion of the past but not the contiguity of its’ path. The era of human civilization will be named the “bend” to reflect both an innate property of nature and an evolved division between the course of nature and that of mankind.

Delays in Technology Development: Their Impact on the Issues of Determinism, Autonomy and Controllability of Technology

The paper provides a discussion of diverse delays occurring in technology development, and an explanation of reasons why, when seen holistically from outside, the process of technology development might appear as an autonomous, self-determining, uncontrollable process. When seen from inside, however, the process is far from being uncontrollable. This paradox is explained by the fact that technology development contains many processes with delays, in total amounting sometimes to fifty years; when seen from outside, such a process might appear uncontrollable, even if it is very much controllable when approached internally and in detail. Therefore, the definition and types of technology creation as well as stages of technological processes are discussed in some detail in this paper. Some aspects of the contemporary informational revolution and some recent results on micro-theories of knowledge and technology creation are also reviewed. It is suggested that one of possible ways of changing the paradigmatic attitude of philosophy of technology is to invite some such philosophers to participate in the development of modern tools of knowledge civilization era, such as software development and evaluation. The conclusions of the paper stress the need of essentially new approaches to many issues in the time of informational revolution.

From Local Experiments to National Policy: The Origins of China's Distinctive Policy Process

China's national policy formulation undergone economic transformation and shaped the making of policies in promotion of private business and stock market regulation. China's distinctive process of central-local interaction in policy generation is one of its core strengths in reforming its economy.

Tesla’s polyphase system and induction motor

nema

A step on the road to Hydrogen Civilization

The Third International Conference “Hydrogen Treatment of Materials” (HTM-2001), Donetsk, May 14–18, 2001 was the first international hydrogen meeting held under the effect of a new conception “From a Hydrogen Economy to a Hydrogen Civilization”, which was first developed by V.A. Goltsov and T.N. Veziroglu. That was a meeting of the representatives of three subcommunities of the world hydrogen movements: the hydrogen energy subcommunity, the hydrogen-materials subcommunities and the subcommunity of industrialists ensuring safety and efficiency of hydrogen use in terms of the up-to-date industry. More than 130 members from 60 organizations in the USA, Great Britain, Spain, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Libya and Japan took part in the conference. Such a participation let the conference cover the achievements of hydrogen economy, hydrogen treatment of materials, and global subjects of a transition to Hydrogen Civilization of the future. At the final plenary meeting, the participants discussed and adopted the memorandum calling upon the world community, peoples and states to unite their efforts and to contribute with all the expertise attained to the transition of the humankind to the era of Hydrogen Civilization.