Does the solar system compute the laws of motion?

The counterfactual account of physical computation is simple and, for the most part, very attractive. However, it is usually thought to trivialize the notion of physical computation insofar as it implies ‘limited pancomputationalism’, this being the doctrine that every deterministic physical system computes some function. Should we bite the bullet and accept limited pancomputationalism, or reject the counterfactual account as untenable? Jack Copeland would have us do neither of the above. He attempts to thread a path between the two horns of the dilemma by buttressing the counterfactual account with extra conditions intended to block certain classes of deterministic physical systems from qualifying as physical computers. His theory is called the ‘algorithm execution account’. Here we show that the algorithm execution account entails limited pancomputationalism, despite Copeland’s argument to the contrary. We suggest, partly on this basis, that the counterfactual account should be accepted as it stands, pancomputationalist warts and all

How functional programming mattered

In 1989 when functional programming was still considered a niche topic, Hughes wrote a visionary paper arguing convincingly ‘why functional programming matters’. More than two decades have passed. Has functional programming really mattered? Our answer is a resounding ‘Yes!’. Functional programming is now at the forefront of a new generation of programming technologies, and enjoying increasing popularity and influence. In this paper, we review the impact of functional programming, focusing on how it has changed the way we may construct programs, the way we may verify programs, and fundamentally the way we may think about programs

The Immutability of Artwork in the Age of Digital Reproduction: NFT from the insiders\u27 perspective

A Non-Fungible Token (NFT) is a combination of a digital object and its blockchain-based certificate that promise to solve problems of authentic- ity and traceability of digital objects. Focusing on art domain, this study ex- plores the operations and implications of NFT-based digital artwork markets through the viewpoint of artists and collectors. The first data were collected in 2021 from various insiders in the NFT community: the interviewees working and earning in this market segment are the most suitable profiles to delineate the structure of these activities; their responses were analyzed against the theo- retical framework that includes the notions of digital objects and blockchain technology, outlining NFT properties. The results were consistent, showing that blockchain technology can overcome the limitations of digital objects while opening up new challenges and possible risks

Continuity and change within the Persian Sufi tradition in later Timurid Iran : a study of Shams al-Dīn Lāhījī and his commentary upon the Gulshan e-Rāz

This dissertation brings to light unrecognised patterns of historical change and transformations that occurred within the wider Persian Sufi community of later medieval Iran, more specifically within the later Timurid and Āq Quyunlū era (851-906/1447-1501). Starting with A. J. Arberry, a prevailing sentiment has been that this Sufi tradition had exhausted its original and creative possibilities during the medieval period and had entered a period of stagnation, even decline. Scholars such as Alexander Knysh, Nile Green, and Devin Deweese have recently challenged this long-held and deeply rooted assumption. This thesis demonstrates that Sufism—especially in its manifestation within the Persianate world of later Medieval Iran—was still a highly dynamic tradition that enjoyed a mass following amongst all social classes of medieval Iranian society under both the Timurid and Āq Quyunlū polities. There is no doubt that Sufism—as an inseparable and fundamental aspect of Perso-Islamic civilization and medieval Iranian societies—was undergoing deep and permanent changes as a result of the social-political upheavals caused by the military and political conflicts between the various Turco-Mongol dynasties who had divided Iran between themselves during most of the fifteenth century. By providing a deep analysis of one of the most significant and influential works of Sufism written during this period, the Mafātīḥ al-eʿjāz fī Sharḥ Gulshan-e Rāz, by Shams al-Dīn Muḥammad Lāhījī (865-912/1433-1506-07), this thesis will show that profound and subtle changes took place within the Persian Sufi tradition as part of broader changes taking place in Iran during that historical period. Lāhījī played a definitive role as systematiser, consolidator, and transmitter of the entire intellectual heritage of the medieval Persian Sufi tradition that positively impacted future generations of Persian Sufis throughout the Persianate world. Especially for those Sufis living within the Safavid period, and even for Iranian Sufis living in contemporary times. His commentary was widely read and influential among Persian Sufi works but remains under-studied and largely ignored in Western academia. Lāhījī attempted to synthesise the entire intellectual heritage of the Persian Sufi tradition with his lengthy commentary on the Gulshan-e Rāz. The approach is a line-by-line reading and analysis of the entire text in its original language, Persian. Lāhījī’s magnum opus was undoubtedly a product of its time. As such, an in-depth analysis and contextualisation of this significant work of the Persian Sufi textual tradition can disclose distinguishing features and unique teachings of the Persian Sufi tradition as it existed during the later medieval period

Spartan Daily, October 3, 2007

Volume 129, Issue 21https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/spartandaily/10393/thumbnail.jp

Rethinking Clientelism: Demands, Discourses and Practices in Contemporary Brazil

It has been more than a decade since the Brazilian military relinquished its hold on the electoral process. Effective democratic governance has yet to be established, however. Traditional elites still dominate the scene, political parties remain weak, fragmented and unstable, and public administrations continue to pay lip-service to demands for citizens\u27 rights. The source of these various problems of democratic governance is, by all accounts, the widespread practice of exchanging votes for favours, otherwise known as clientelism. In this essay, I argue that clientelism is an essential and endearing feature of the Brazilian political landscape. I also argue, however, that both the form and the function of clientelism remain unexamined and that, as a consequence, its role in the political process has been misunderstood or ignored. Aunque ha pasado más de una década desde que los militares brasileños renunciaron a su control del proceso electoral, aún debe establecerse un gobierno democrático efectivo. Las elites tradicionales aún dominan la escena, los partidos políticos permanecen siendo débiles, fragmentados e inestables, y las administraciones públicas continúan apoyando, pero sólo de los dientes para afuera, las demandas de derechos ciudadanos. La fuente de estos problemas de administración democrática es, por donde se mire, la extendida práctica de canjear votos por favores, conocida de otro modo bajo el nombre de clientelismo. En este ensayo propongo que el clientelismo es un rasgo atractivo y esencial del paisaje político brasileño. Sin embargo, también sostengo que tanto la forma como la función del clientelismo permanecen sin ser estudiados y, como consecuencia, su papel en el proceso político ha sido mal entendido o ignorado

Decision-making and ante-natal screening for sickle cell and thalassaemia disorders : To what extent do faith and religious identity mediate choice?

When making decisions about prenatal diagnosis, couples not only draw on their understanding of the condition but also broader aspects of their cultural identity. This article looks at how faith and religion mediate attitudes towards screening, prenatal diagnosis and termination of pregnancy for sickle cell and thalassaemia disorders. The article specifically reports on a qualitative study, which used focus groups from a variety of faith communities (Muslim, Sikh, Hindu and Christian), at risk of haemoglobin disorders, living in England. Our findings suggest that the decision about whether or not to have diagnostic testing generally related to attitudes towards the termination of pregnancy. The consequences of the condition were as important as religious beliefs to most people. More generally, faith beliefs emerged as negotiable and contingent: realized within a broader moral framework. Religion was felt not to be prescriptive and reproductive decisions were seen as personal. When making decisions, people utilize faith within a broader context of individual, family and social relationships

All ye need to know? Aesthetics from a design perspective

Design