110 research outputs found
Husserl, Dummett, and the linguistic turn
Michael Dummett famously holds that the “philosophy of thought” must proceed via the philosophy of language, since that is the only way to preserve the objectivity of thoughts while avoiding commitments to “mythological,” Platonic entities. Central to Dummett’s case is his thesis that all thought contents are linguistically expressible. In this paper, I will (a) argue that making the linguistic turn is neither necessary nor sufficient to avoid the problems of psychologism, (b) discuss Wayne Martin’s argument that not all thought-contents are linguistically communicable, and (c) present another, stronger argument, derived from Husserl’s early account of fulfillment, that establishes the same conclusion
Recombinant human preproinsulin expression, purification and reaction with insulin autoantibodies in sera from patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
A novel prokaryotic expression vector pGEX-6T was designed for high-level expression of recombinant fusion protein with a histidine-hexapeptide and glutathione-S-transferase at its N-terminus and the recombinant human preproinsulin at its C-terminus. Efficiency of expression was investigated in the Escherichia coli strain CAG456. The synthesized protein was sequestered in an insoluble form in inclusion bodies and was purified to homogeneity by one-step affinity chromatography based on the specific complex formation of the histidine-hexapeptide and a chelating matrix which was charged with Ni2+ ions. The antigenic nature of the purified recombinant preproinsulin fusion protein was evaluated by ELISA screening for insulin autoantibodies in selected sera from patients with recent-onset type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus classified by the existence of additional autoantibodies reactive against glutamic acid decarboxylase. 14% of the tested sera (n=43) conttained insulin autoantibodies which strongly recognized the recombinant human preproinsulin. Comparable measurements with both recombinant human preproinsulin and mature insulin suggested that the observed autoantigenicity of preproinsulin was mediated by the C-peptide or/and signal peptide
H alpha rotation curves of Low Surface Brightness galaxies
We present high-resolution rotation curves of a sample of 26 low surface
brightness galaxies. From these curves we derive mass distributions using a
variety of assumptions for the stellar mass-to-light ratio. We show that the
predictions of current Cold Dark Matter models for the density profiles of dark
matter halos are inconsistent with the observed curves. The latter indicate a
core-dominated structure, rather than the theoretically preferred cuspy
structure.Comment: Accepted for A&A, full version with high-res figures available at
http://www.atnf.csiro.au/~edeblok/papers/bosma.ps.g
Spatiotemporal variability of hydrologic soil properties and the implications for overland flow and land management in a peri-urban Mediterranean catchment
Planning of semi-urban developments is often hindered by a lack of knowledge on how changes in landuse
affect catchment hydrological response. The temporal and spatial patterns of overland flow source
areas and their connectivity in the landscape, particularly in a seasonal climate, remain comparatively
poorly understood. This study investigates seasonal variations in factors influencing runoff response to
rainfall in a peri-urban catchment in Portugal characterized by a mosaic of landscape units and a humid
Mediterranean climate. Variations in surface soil moisture, hydrophobicity and infiltration capacity were
measured in six different landscape units (defined by land-use on either sandstone or limestone) in nine
monitoring campaigns at key times over a one-year period.
Spatiotemporal patterns in overland flow mechanisms were found. Infiltration-excess overland flow
was generated in rainfalls during the dry summer season in woodland on both sandstone and limestone
and on agricultural soils on limestone due probably in large part to soil hydrophobicity. In wet periods,
saturation overland flow occurred on urban and agricultural soils located in valley bottoms and on
shallow soils upslope. Topography, water table rise and soil depth determined the location and extent
of saturated areas. Overland flow generated in upslope source areas potentially can infiltrate in other
landscape units downslope where infiltration capacity exceeds rainfall intensity. Hydrophilic urban
and agricultural-sandstone soils were characterized by increased infiltration capacity during dry periods,
while forest soils provided potential sinks for overland flow when hydrophilic in the winter wet season.
Identifying the spatial and temporal variability of overland flow sources and sinks is an important step in
understanding and modeling flow connectivity and catchment hydrologic response. Such information is
important for land managers in order to improve urban planning to minimize flood risk
Husserl’s covert critique of Kant in the sixth book of Logical Investigations
In the final book of Logical Investigations from 1901, Husserl develops a theory of knowledge based on the intentional structure of consciousness. While there is some textual evidence that Husserl considered this to entail a critique of Kantian philosophy, he did not elaborate substantially on this. This paper reconstructs the covert critique of Kant’s theory of knowledge which LI contains. With respect to Kant, I discuss three core aspects of his theory of knowledge which, as Husserl’s reflections on Kant indicate, Husserl was familiar with. These are (i) the cooperation of two faculties for the justification of beliefs; (ii) the concept of a priori structures of knowledge Kant operated with; and (iii) the delivered transcendental proof of these structures. Regarding Logical Investigations, I first briefly outline the intentional structure of consciousness as presented in the fifth book and then turn to the theory of knowledge in the sixth book. I then clarify, partially on the basis of manuscripts and lecture notes, the covert critique of the three core aspects of Kant’s theory which the sixth book contains
Is Seeing Intentional? A Response to Travis
This is a response to Charles Travis's article "Is Seeing Intentional?" In it, I argue that while seeing differs from other intentional states in a variety of ways, seeing is indeed intentional, at least in the philosophically central sense of "intentional" introduced to us by Brentano and Husserl. Seeing is, quite often at least, the consciousness of something. I spend the majority of the paper discussing Travis's arguments that it is not, and providing reasons for thinking they are inconclusive. That seeings do not harbor ambitions and that "sees (NP)" is not an intensional context do not entail that seeings are not intentional. Furthermore, I argue that Travis's contention that states of seeing are relational is inconclusive, and also argue that even if that is so, the proper conclusion to draw is not that seeing is not intentional, but that some intentional states are relational
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