Deconstructing Emmanuel Levinas’ Aesthetics : A Reading of The Seagram Murals

Emmanuel Levinas on ranskanjuutalainen filosofi, jonka filosofia keskittyy etiikkaan ja toisen kohtaamiseen. Tämä pro gradu keskittyy Levinaksen estetiikkaan, joka on riippuvainen hänen ”ensimmäisestä filosofiastaan”, eli etiikasta. !Työn tutkimuskysymykset ovat Kuinka Levinaksen estetiikka on muodostunut sekä kuinka Mark Rothkon Seagram Murals-maalauksia tulisi arvioida Levinaksen estetiikan pohjalta. Tämän lisäksi työ pohdiskelee juutalaisen filosofian mahdollisuutta ja fiosofian luonnetta. !Pro gradussa arvioidaan ensin Levinaksen laajempaa filosofiaa feministisen dekonstruktion avulla, joka paljastaa filosofian näennäisen rationaalisuuden ja Levinaksen naisvihamielisen paikantumisen. Tämän jälkeen gradussa arvioidaan Levinaksen estetiikkaa ja pohditaan Levinaksen estetiikan rajoja ensin tarkastelemalla Levinaksen argumenttien koherenttiutta hyväksikäyttäen Jacques Derridan kuva — merkki-analyysia, ja tämän jälkeen soveltamalla feministisen dekonstruktion paljastamia ongelmia spesifisti estetiikkaan. Lopuksi analysoin Mark Rothkon The Seagram murals-maalauksia käyttäen Levinaksen estetiikkaa, sekä vertaan sitä Rothkon omiin kirjoituksiin. !Tämä työ tulee siihen tulokseen, että Levinaksen etiikka sekä estetiikka pohjaa juutalaisuuteen, ja näin ollen on oikeutettua puhua juutalaisesta filosofiasta. Levinaksen etiikkaa kuitenkin heikentää hänen naisvihamielisyytensä, joka heikentää hänen esteettisiä argumenttejaan. Levinaksen pohjalta Rothkoa ja hänen töitään tulisi arvioida mukavuustuotteena, joka ei kuitenkaan täytä Levinaksen eettisen toiminnan määreitä

Complex Processes from Dynamical Architectures with Time-Scale Hierarchy

The idea that complex motor, perceptual, and cognitive behaviors are composed of smaller units, which are somehow brought into a meaningful relation, permeates the biological and life sciences. However, no principled framework defining the constituent elementary processes has been developed to this date. Consequently, functional configurations (or architectures) relating elementary processes and external influences are mostly piecemeal formulations suitable to particular instances only. Here, we develop a general dynamical framework for distinct functional architectures characterized by the time-scale separation of their constituents and evaluate their efficiency. Thereto, we build on the (phase) flow of a system, which prescribes the temporal evolution of its state variables. The phase flow topology allows for the unambiguous classification of qualitatively distinct processes, which we consider to represent the functional units or modes within the dynamical architecture. Using the example of a composite movement we illustrate how different architectures can be characterized by their degree of time scale separation between the internal elements of the architecture (i.e. the functional modes) and external interventions. We reveal a tradeoff of the interactions between internal and external influences, which offers a theoretical justification for the efficient composition of complex processes out of non-trivial elementary processes or functional modes

Time Scale Hierarchies in the Functional Organization of Complex Behaviors

Traditional approaches to cognitive modelling generally portray cognitive events in terms of ‘discrete’ states (point attractor dynamics) rather than in terms of processes, thereby neglecting the time structure of cognition. In contrast, more recent approaches explicitly address this temporal dimension, but typically provide no entry points into cognitive categorization of events and experiences. With the aim to incorporate both these aspects, we propose a framework for functional architectures. Our approach is grounded in the notion that arbitrary complex (human) behaviour is decomposable into functional modes (elementary units), which we conceptualize as low-dimensional dynamical objects (structured flows on manifolds). The ensemble of modes at an agent’s disposal constitutes his/her functional repertoire. The modes may be subjected to additional dynamics (termed operational signals), in particular, instantaneous inputs, and a mechanism that sequentially selects a mode so that it temporarily dominates the functional dynamics. The inputs and selection mechanisms act on faster and slower time scales then that inherent to the modes, respectively. The dynamics across the three time scales are coupled via feedback, rendering the entire architecture autonomous. We illustrate the functional architecture in the context of serial behaviour, namely cursive handwriting. Subsequently, we investigate the possibility of recovering the contributions of functional modes and operational signals from the output, which appears to be possible only when examining the output phase flow (i.e., not from trajectories in phase space or time)

Distinct Timing Mechanisms Produce Discrete and Continuous Movements

The differentiation of discrete and continuous movement is one of the pillars of motor behavior classification. Discrete movements have a definite beginning and end, whereas continuous movements do not have such discriminable end points. In the past decade there has been vigorous debate whether this classification implies different control processes. This debate up until the present has been empirically based. Here, we present an unambiguous non-empirical classification based on theorems in dynamical system theory that sets discrete and continuous movements apart. Through computational simulations of representative modes of each class and topological analysis of the flow in state space, we show that distinct control mechanisms underwrite discrete and fast rhythmic movements. In particular, we demonstrate that discrete movements require a time keeper while fast rhythmic movements do not. We validate our computational findings experimentally using a behavioral paradigm in which human participants performed finger flexion-extension movements at various movement paces and under different instructions. Our results demonstrate that the human motor system employs different timing control mechanisms (presumably via differential recruitment of neural subsystems) to accomplish varying behavioral functions such as speed constraints

Joint dyadic action: Error correction by two persons works better than by one alone

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Discrete and rhythmic movements &#x2014\mathsemicolon Just a bifurcation apart?

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Cortical sensorimotor activity in the execution and suppression of discrete and rhythmic movements

International audienceAlthough the engagement of sensorimotor cortices in movement is well documented, the functional relevance of brain activity patterns remains ambiguous. Especially, the cortical engagement specific to the pre-, within-, and post-movement periods is poorly understood. The present study addressed this issue by examining sensorimotor EEG activity during the performance as well as STOP-signal cued suppression of movements pertaining to two distinct classes, namely, discrete vs. ongoing rhythmic movements. Our findings indicate that the lateralized readiness potential (LRP), which is classically used as a marker of pre-movement processing, indexes multiple pre- and in- movement-related brain dynamics in a movement-class dependent fashion. In- and post-movement event-related (de)synchronization (ERD/ERS) observed in the Mu (8–13 Hz) and Beta (15–30 Hz) frequency ranges were associated with estimated brain sources in both motor and somatosensory cortical areas. Notwithstanding, Beta ERS occurred earlier following cancelled than actually performed movements. In contrast, Mu power did not vary. Whereas Beta power may reflect the evaluation of the sensory predicted outcome, Mu power might engage in linking perception to action. Additionally, the rhythmic movement forced stop (only) showed a post-movement Mu/Beta rebound, which might reflect an active "clearing-out" of the motor plan and its feedback-based online control. Overall, the present study supports the notion that sensorimotor EEG modulations are key markers to investigate control or executive processes, here initiation and inhibition, which are exerted when performing distinct movement classes