A More Explicit Framework for Evaluating Objectivity and (Inter)Subjectivity in Modality Domain

In this paper we propose a more explicit framework for definition and evaluation of objectivity and (inter)subjectivity in the modality domain. In the proposed operational framework, we make a basic distinction between the modality notions that serve an ideational function (i.e., dynamic modal notions) and those with an interpersonal function (i.e., deontic and epistemic evaluations). The modality notions with ideational and interpersonal functions are content and person-oriented, respectively. While all dynamic modal notions are characterized by objectivity, deontic and epistemic modal notions may display a degree of (inter)subjectivity depending on their embedding context. Our main claim is that (inter)subjectivity can hardly be argued to be the inherent property of certain modality forms and types, but rather it is essentially a contextual effect. We functionally-operationally define (inter)subjectivity as the degree of sharedness an evaluator attributes to an epistemic/deontic evaluation and its related evidence/deontic source. (Inter)subjectivity is realized by (at least) one or a combination of three contextual factors, viz. the embedding syntactic pattern, the linguistic context and the extralinguistic context of a modality marker. Since both descriptive and performative modal evaluations involve a degree of (inter)subjectivity, performativity, which refers to speaker’s current commitment to his evaluation, is viewed as an independent dimension within modal evaluations and plays no part in the expression of (inter)subjectivity

Phenomenological models of inter-subjectivity: the position of Michel Henry

In this paper, I would like to provide some of the elements necessary for a comprehension of Michel Henry’s position within the context of the phenomenological debate on inter-subjectivity. This apparently straightforward task is, in reality, extremely difficul

Towards a Lacanian group psychology: the prisoner's dilemma and the trans-subjective

Revisiting Lacan's discussion of the puzzle of the prisoner's dilemma provides a means of elaborating a theory of the trans-subjective. An illustration of this dilemma provides the basis for two important arguments. Firstly, that we need to grasp a logical succession of modes of subjectivity: from subjectivity to inter-subjectivity, and from inter-subjectivity to a form of trans-subjective social logic. The trans-subjective, thus conceptualized, enables forms of social objectivity that transcend the level of (inter)subjectivity, and which play a crucial role in consolidating given societal groupings. The paper advances, secondly, that various declarative and symbolic activities are important non-psychological bases—trans-subjective foundations—for psychological identifications of an inter-subjective sort. These assertions link interesting to recent developments in the contemporary social psychology of interobjectivity, which likewise emphasize a type of objectivity that plays an indispensible part in co-ordinating human relations and understanding

Feeling cold is contagious

Seeing someone plunge into an ice-cold bath induces feelings of cold. However, it was recently demonstrated that viewing another's skin temperature change also induces a small congruent temperature change in the observer. This synchronization suggests top-down influences on peripheral temperature regulation mechanisms and lends supports to somatic-simulation theories of inter-subjectivity

Evolutionary Advantages of Inter-Subjectivity and Self-Consciousness through Improvements of Action Programs

Evolutionary advantages of consciousness and intersubjectivity are part of current philosophical debates on the nature of consciousness.\ud Both are linked and intersubjectivity is sometimes considered as a form of consciousness [1]. Regarding the evolution of consciousness, studies tend to focus on phenomenal consciousness [2].\ud We would like here to bring the focus on self-consciousness and continue the build up of a corresponding evolutionary scenario. We also propose to introduce a possible evolutionary link between self-consciousness and phenomenal\ud consciousness.\ud Our starting point is the evolutionary scenario based on the evolution of intersubjectivity that goes thru the identification with conspecifics at pre-human primate time frame [3, 4, 5]. The scenario considers that such identification with conspecifics brought the non self-conscious auto-representation carried by our prehuman\ud primate ancestors to merge with the representations of conspecifics. The latter transferred to the auto-representation the characteristics of an entity existing in\ud the environment, and by this way introduced some first elements of self-consciousness for our pre-human ancestors. In addition, an anxiety increase coming from the identification with suffering or endangered conspecifics produced an evolutionary engine based on anxiety limitation. We want here to complement this evolutionary approach by introducing the improvement of action programs as a contributor to the evolutionary advantages of intersubjectivity and self-consciousness.\ud We look at the possibility for a subject to improve the action programs that conspecifics implement. The performance of identification with conspecifics allows the subject to consider that errors made by conspecifics are\ud potentially her own errors, and consequently allows the subject to correct the errors of conspecifics for her own benefit. We describe the process of non successful action\ud identification from the perspective of an observer and present the synergetic action program improvements with their contribution to the evolution of intersubjectivity and\ud self-consciousness. We add this contribution to the existing evolutionary scenario on self-consciousness and introduce a possible evolutionary link between self-consciousness and phenomenal consciousness. We use for that the relation existing between phenomenal consciousness and pre-reflexive self-consciousness [6] and propose to link the latter to the proposed evolutionary nature of self-consciousness.\ud We finish by summarizing the points addressed and by introducing some possible continuations.\u

The Space of Reception: Framing Autonomy and Collaboration

In this paper we analyse the ideas implicit in the style of exhibition favoured by contemporary galleries and museums, and argue that unless the audience is empowered to ascribe meaning and significance to artwork through critical dialogue, the power not only of the audience is undermined but also of art. We argue that galleries and museums preside over an experience economy devoid of art, unless (i) indeterminacy is understood, (ii) the critical rather than coercive nature of art is facilitated, and (iii) the conditions for inter-subjectivity are met

A study of inter-annotator agreement for opinion retrieval

Evaluation of sentiment analysis, like large-scale IR evalu- ation, relies on the accuracy of human assessors to create judgments. Subjectivity in judgments is a problem for rel- evance assessment and even more so in the case of senti- ment annotations. In this study we examine the degree to which assessors agree upon sentence-level sentiment anno- tation. We show that inter-assessor agreement is not con- tingent on document length or frequency of sentiment but correlates positively with automated opinion retrieval per- formance. We also examine the individual annotation cate- gories to determine which categories pose most di±culty for annotators

Moving the gender agenda or stirring chicken’s entrails?: where next for feminist methodologies in accounting?

Purpose – The paper critiques recent research on gender and accounting to explore how feminist methodology can move on and radicalise the gender agenda in the accounting context. Design/methodology/approach – After examining current research on gender and accounting, the paper explores the nature of feminist methodology and its relation to epistemology. It explores three inter-related tenets of feminist methodology in detail: Power and Politics, Subjectivity and Reflexivity. Findings – The paper suggests that much research in the accounting is concerned with gender-as-a-variable, rather than being distinctly feminist, thus missing the opportunity to radicalise the agenda. It makes suggestions for how a feminist approach to methodology could be applied to the accounting context. Originality/value – The paper calls for a wider application of a feminist approach to accounting research and where this might be applied. Keywords – feminism, methodology, epistemology, gender, accounting, power, reflexivity, subjectivity Paper type – conceptual paper

Results of the CoreOrganic-Workshop on animal based parameters in Trenthorst, Germany (04.02.08-08.02.2008)

It was the aim of this meeting to train the assessors of several CoreOrganic-Partners (i.e. Austria, Germany, Denmark and Norway) with regard to the methods which are going to be applied in the course of the project on-farm assessments. Training involved animal-based parameters, a resource checklist and a management questionnaire. After a theoretical and practical introduction, inter-observer reliability (IOR) of the main animal-based parameters was tested. This included gait scoring/lameness, body condition, cleanliness and integument alterations. The scoring systems for gait scoring, cleanliness and integument alterations had been adapted from the WelfareQuality® protocol; body condition was scored according to Metzner et al. (1993). Subjective scoring systems which are used in many epidemiological studies have the advantage that they do not require any equipment but - due to the subjectivity of the assessment - it is necessary to achieve acceptable inter-observer reliability (IOR) before and after the study to ensure valid data