25,667 research outputs found
From meaning to morality in Kovesi and Harrison
The chapter shows that Bernard Harrison and Julius Kovesi are complementary thinkers, interested in similar questions, and arriving at closely comparable answers. It summarizes the theory of concepts and meaning that they shared and the way they have used this theory to make sense of morality
Explaining the unobserved: why quantum mechanics is not only about information
A remarkable theorem by Clifton, Bub and Halvorson (2003)(CBH) characterizes
quantum theory in terms of information--theoretic principles. According to Bub
(2004, 2005) the philosophical significance of the theorem is that quantum
theory should be regarded as a ``principle'' theory about (quantum) information
rather than a ``constructive'' theory about the dynamics of quantum systems.
Here we criticize Bub's principle approach arguing that if the mathematical
formalism of quantum mechanics remains intact then there is no escape route
from solving the measurement problem by constructive theories. We further
propose a (Wigner--type) thought experiment that we argue demonstrates that
quantum mechanics on the information--theoretic approach is incomplete.Comment: 34 Page
Explaining the Unobserved: Why Quantum Theory Ain't Only About Information
A remarkable theorem by Clifton, Bub and Halvorson (2003) (CBH) characterizes quantum theory in terms of information--theoretic principles. According to Bub (2004, 2005) the philosophical significance of the theorem is that quantum theory should be regarded as a ``principle'' theory about (quantum) information rather than a ``constructive'' theory about the dynamics of quantum systems. Here we criticize Bub's principle approach arguing that if the mathematical formalism of quantum mechanics remains intact then there is no escape route from solving the measurement problem by constructive theories. We further propose a (Wigner--type) thought experiment that we argue demonstrates that quantum mechanics on the information--theoretic approach is incomplete
Basic Knowledge First
An infuential twenty-first century philosophical project posits a central role for
knowledge: knowledge is more fundamental than epistemic states like belief and
justification. So-called âknowledge firstâ theorists find support for this thought
in identifying central theoretical roles for knowledge. I argue that a similar methodology supports a privileged role for more specific category of basic knowledge.
Some of the roles that knowledge first theorists have posited for knowledge generally
are better suited for basic knowledge
Locke's Natural and Religious Epistemology
in their famous correspondence, Stillingfleet objects that Locke's definition of knowledge, by limiting certainty to the perception of the agreement or disagreement of ideas, lessens the credibility of faith. Locke replies that his definition of knowledge does not affect the credibility of an article of faith at all, for faith and knowledge are entirely different cognitive acts: The truth of the matter of fact is in short this, that I have placed knowledge in the perception of the agreement or disagreement of ideas. This definition of knowledge, your lordship said, "might be of dangerous consequence to that article of faith, which you have endeavored to defend." This I denied, and gave this reason for it, viz...
Physics as Information Processing
I review some recent advances in foundational research at Pavia QUIT group.
The general idea is that there is only Quantum Theory without quantization
rules, and the whole Physics---including space-time and relativity--is emergent
from the quantum-information processing. And since Quantum Theory itself is
axiomatized solely on informational principles, the whole Physics must be
reformulated in information-theoretical terms: this is the "It from Bit of J.
A. Wheeler. The review is divided into four parts: a) the informational
axiomatization of Quantum Theory; b) how space-time and relativistic covariance
emerge from quantum computation; c) what is the information-theoretical meaning
of inertial mass and of , and how the quantum field emerges; d) an
observational consequence of the new quantum field theory: a mass-dependent
refraction index of vacuum. I will conclude with the research lines that will
follow in the immediate future.Comment: Work presented at the conference "Advances in Quantum Theory" held on
14-17 June 2010 at the Linnaeus University, Vaxjo, Swede
Making Sense of EU State-aid Requirements; The case of Green Services
This article describes the establishment of a new local governance arrangement called `Green ServiceÂż in the Netherlands. Under this programme, farmers are financially rewarded - by both public and private bodies - for their nature and landscape management and development activities. Despite a general positive stance, it has taken considerable efforts and time for these programmes to take off, in particular due to uncertainties and discussions on whether these activities would be feasible under the EU state aid regime. The multi level setting in which these rules had to be complied with contributed much to the long lasting discussion on how to interpret these rules and threatened the credibility of this new governance arrangement. We will describe and explain this process by using a so-called `processual institutionalÂż approach and more specifically by drawing on the socio-cognitive literature on conflict escalation (Pruitt and Rubin 1986; Rubin, Pruitt et al. 1994)
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