240 research outputs found
Mahdollisuus, vÀlttÀmÀttömyys ja luodut ikuiset totuudet Descartesin filosofiassa
TĂ€ssĂ€ artikkelissa kĂ€sittelen Descartesin ikuisten totuuksien vĂ€lttĂ€mĂ€ttömyyteen liittyvÀÀ ongelmaa. Teoksessa MietiskelyjĂ€ ensimmĂ€isestĂ€ filosofiasta (1641â1642) Descartes nostaa esiin kĂ€sitteen ikuisista totuuksista, kĂ€yttĂ€en esimerkkinÀÀn kolmiota. Kolmion muuttumattomaan ja ikuiseen luontoon kuuluu esimerkiksi, ettĂ€ sen kolme kulmaa ovat yhteenlaskettuna 180°. Se on totta kolmiosta, vaikka yhtÀÀn yksittĂ€istĂ€ kolmiota ei olisi koskaan ollutkaan olemassa. ErÀÀt ajattelemieni asioiden piirteet ovat siis Descartesin mukaan ajattelustani riippumattomia. Ikuisia totuuksia ovat ainakin
matemaattiset ja geometriset tosiseikat sekĂ€ ristiriidan laki. Samoin Descartesin kuuluisa lause âajattelen, siis olenâ lukeutuu ikuisten totuuksien joukkoon. Descartesin ikuiset totuudet olisivatkin siis loogisesti vĂ€lttĂ€mĂ€ttömiĂ€. NiillĂ€ on kyseinen olemus riippumatta ulkoisten kohteiden olemassaolosta tai siitĂ€, ajattelenko niitĂ€ lainkaan. Kuitenkin kirjeenvaihdossaan Descartes pitÀÀ itsepintaisesti kiinni kĂ€sityksestÀÀn, ettĂ€ ikuiset totuudet ovat Jumalan vapaasti luomia ja Jumala olisi voinut luoda ne erilailla. NĂ€in ollen luodut ikuiset totuudet eivĂ€t tarkkaan ottaen olisikaan vĂ€lttĂ€mĂ€ttömiĂ€ vaan kontingentteja. Ne voisivat olla myös toisella tavalla. Artikkelin alkuun esittelen Descartesin modaalista metafysiikkaa sekĂ€ luotujen ikuisten totuuksien kontingenttiudesta seuraavia tulkinnallisia vaikeuksia. TĂ€mĂ€n jĂ€lkeen pureudun kolmeen erilaiseen ratkaisuyritykseen kommentaarikirjallisuudessa (Frankfurt 1977; Curley 1984 & Bennett 1994) ja osoitan, miksi ne eivĂ€t riitĂ€ vastaamaan ongelmaan. Lopussa vedĂ€n johtopÀÀtöksiĂ€ ja luonnostelen mahdollisen ratkaisun
Dressed Counterions: Poly- and monovalent ions at charged dielectric interfaces
We investigate the ion distribution and overcharging at charged interfaces
with dielectric inhomogeneities in the presence of asymmetric electrolytes
containing polyvalent and monovalent ions. We formulate an effective "dressed
counterion" approach by integrating out the monovalent salt degrees of freedom
and show that it agrees with results of explicit Monte-Carlo simulations. We
then apply the dressed counterion approach within the framework of the
strong-coupling theory, valid for polyvalent ions at low concentrations, which
enables an analytical description for salt effects as well as dielectric
inhomogeneities in the limit of strong Coulomb interactions on a systematic
level. Limitations and applicability of this theory are examined by comparing
the results with simulations.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figure
A Many-Body Hamiltonian for Nanoparticles Immersed in a Polymer Solution
We developed an analytical theory for the many-body potential of mean force (POMF) between N spheres immersed in a continuum chain fluid. The theory is almost exact for a T polymer solution in the protein limit (small particles, long polymers), where N-body effects are important. Polydispersity in polymer length according to a SchulzFlory distribution emerges naturally from our analysis, as does the transition to the monodisperse limit. The analytical expression for the POMF allows for computer simulations employing the complete N-body potential (i.e., without n-body truncation; n < N). These are compared with simulations of an explicit particle/polymer mixture. We show that the theory produces fluid structure in excellent agreement with the explicit model simulations even when the system is strongly fluctuating, e.g., at or near the spinodal region. We also demonstrate that other commonly used theoretical approaches, such as truncation of the POMF at the pair level or the Asakura Oosawa model, are extremely inaccurate for these systems
Attraction between Neutral Dielectrics Mediated by Multivalent Ions in an Asymmetric Ionic Fluid
We study the interaction between two neutral plane-parallel dielectric bodies
in the presence of a highly asymmetric ionic fluid, containing multivalent as
well as monovalent (salt) ions. Image charge interactions, due to dielectric
discontinuities at the boundaries, as well as effects from ion confinement in
the slit region between the surfaces are taken fully into account, leading to
image-generated depletion attraction, ion correlation attraction and
steric-like repulsive interactions. We investigate these effects by employing a
combination of methods including explicit-ion and implicit-ion Monte-Carlo
simulations, as well as an effective interaction potential analytical theory.
The latter incorporates strong ion-image charge correlations, which develop in
the presence of high valency ions in the mixture. We show that the implicit-ion
simulations and the proposed analytical theory can describe the explicit
simulation results on a qualitative level, while excellent quantitative
agreement can be obtained for sufficiently large monovalent salt
concentrations. The resultant attractive interaction between the neutral
surfaces is shown to be significant, as compared with the usual van der Waals
interactions between semi-infinite dielectrics, and can thus play a significant
role at the nano scale.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figure
EpÀilijöitÀ ja tiedon etsijöitÀ
Kirja-arvio: Malin Grahn-Wilder (toim.): Skeptisismi: EpÀilyn ja etsimisen filosofia. Gaudeamus, Helsinki 2016. 453 sivua.
MitÀ on tieto ja kellÀ sitÀ on? Voimmeko tietÀÀ miten asiat todella ovat? Voimmeko ylipÀÀtÀÀn tietÀÀ mitÀÀn? Malin Grahn-Wilderin toimittama teos Skeptisismi on kattava lÀpileikkaus skeptisismin historiasta antiikin juuriltaan aina nykyajan keskusteluihin saakka. Samalla se sisÀltÀÀ ensimmÀistÀ kertaa suomeksi kÀÀnnettynÀ useammankin (skeptisistisen) filosofian historialle ehdottoman olennaisen kirjoituksen
Miesvallan murtajat
Reuter, Martina (toim.): Miesvaltaa murtamassa: Varhaisten feministien filosofisia kirjoituksia. Gaudeamus 2021
Of Dreams, Demons, and Whirlpools: Doubt, Skepticism, and Suspension of Judgment in Descartes's Meditations
I offer a novel reading in this dissertation of RenĂ© Descartesâs (1596â1650) skepticism in his work Meditations on First Philosophy (1641â1642). I specifically aim to answer the following problem: How is Descartesâs skepticism to be read in accordance with the rest of his philosophy? This problem can be divided into two more general questions in Descartes scholarship: How is skepticism utilized in the Meditations, and what are its intentions and relation to the preceding philosophical tradition?
I approach the topic from both a historical and a text-based analysis, combining textual and contextual research. I examine Descartesâs skepticism against two main traditions in the historical analysis: philosophical skepticism and Aristotelian Scholasticism. I argue that skepticism in the Meditations is intended to oppose and upheave both Scholasticism and skepticism. The intended results of the work are not merely epistemological but also metaphysical and even ethical. Furthermore, these ambitions cannot be neatly distinguished but merge into each other.
The third historical context against which the skeptical meditations are examined is the literary genre of meditative exercises, particularly from the 1500â1600âs, which, while religiously and spiritually oriented, likewise provided the practitioner with an enlightened understanding of self-knowledge and their cognitive place in the world on the way to closer spiritual proximity to God. I argue by this reading that the skepticism of the Meditations is an attentive, meditational cognitive exercise that is not merely instrumental and methodological but is to have a genuine and serious (psychologically real) effect on our thinking. The skeptical meditation is not simply a theoretical thought experiment but is to be seriously practiced as a transformative process of reorienting oneâs cognitive framework to discover truth, certainty, and a way to a happy, tranquil, and virtuous life.
I offer a close reading in the textual analysis of the first three meditations of the Meditations. I argue that the meditative skepticism employed in the work does not reject the previous beliefs but suspends judgment on them, withdrawing assent until further evidence can be found. I introduce a new term into Descartes scholarship in this analysis, based on the terminology of ancient skepticism: Cartesian epochÄ (gr. epochÄ, suspension, withdrawal). Instead of rejecting previous beliefs or assenting to the probably false, the skeptical procedure of the Meditations is argued to emulate in important ways the suspension of judgment on equally balanced reasons in ancient Pyrrhonian skepticism. Novel interpretations are presented along the way of the willâs freedom, of the First Meditationâs skeptical scenarios, of the cogito, and of the vindication of metaphysical certainty, as well as a clarification of the Cartesian Circle problem.
Reinterpreting the relation of Descartesâs skepticism to the preceding historical and literary traditions leads to a new look at the skeptical method itself. Presenting a new interpretation of skepticism in the Meditations leads at the same time to a new look at its relation to the historical context. The two research questions are, then, intrinsically tied together.
My focus in the study is on the Meditations, but I also reference and discuss Descartesâs other philosophical works, as well as his correspondence, when necessary
EpÀily, skeptisismi ja arvostelmasta pidÀttÀytyminen Descartesin MietiskelyissÀ
EpÀily, skeptisismi ja arvostelmasta pidÀttÀytyminen Descartesin MietiskelyissÀ
Teresaâs Demons: Teresa of Ăvilaâs Influence on the Cartesian Skeptical Scenario of Demonic Deception
Recent research in Baroque Scholastic and early modern meditational exercises has
demonstrated similarity between Descartesâs Meditations and St. Teresa of Ăvilaâs
El Castillo Interior. While there is growing agreement on the influence of Catholic
meditations on Descartes, the extent of Teresaâs role is debated. Instead of discussing
the full extent of Teresaâs influence, this paper concentrates on one example of the
considered influence: the skeptical scenario of demonic deception, having clear
anticipation in Teresaâs work where the exercitant faces off against deceiving demonic
forces, which confound and temporarily halt the meditative progress. The paper
analyzes Teresaâs use of deceptive demons and its influence on the Cartesian Evil
Demon scenario, while contrasting both with a discussion of demonic deception in the
late Medieval and Baroque Scholastic context, arguing that demonological discussions
in 1500s allowed both Teresaâs and Descartesâs deceivers to not only cause diversions
but to make the deception laborious to resist
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