bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification and Characterization of Memory Allocation Anomalies in High-Performance Computing Applications
Authors: Gomes Antonio Tadeu , Molion Enzo , Souto Roberto Pinto , Méhaut Jean François
Published: November 2019

A memory allocation anomaly occurs when the allocation of a set of heap blocks imposes an unnecessary overhead on the execution of an application. In this paper, we propose a method for identifying, locating, characterizing and fixing allocation anomalies, and a tool for developers to apply the method. We experiment our method and tool with a numerical simulator aimed at approximating the solutions to partial differential equations using a finite element method. We show that taming allocation anomalies in this simulator reduces the memory footprint of its processes by 37.27% and the execution time by 16.52%. We conclude that the developer of high-performance computing applications can benefit from the method and tool during the software development cycle.
Optimization of Halide Image Processing Schedules with Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Pecenin Marcelo , Maidl André Murbach , Weingaertner Daniel
Published: November 2019

Writing efficient image processing code is a very demanding task and much programming effort is put into porting existing code to new generations of hardware. Besides, the definition of what is an efficient code varies according to the desired optimization target, such as runtime, energy consumption or memory usage. We present a semi-automatic schedule generation system for the Halide DSL that uses a Reinforcement Learning agent to choose a set of scheduling options that optimizes the runtime of the resulting application. We compare our results to the state of the art implementations of three Halide pipelines and show that our agent is able to surpass hand-tuned code and Halide’s auto-scheduler on most scenarios for CPU and GPU architectures.
Arquitetura Heterogênea CPU+FPGA para Análise Formal de Conceitos
Authors: Maciel Lucas , Novais João Paulo , Souza Matheus , Song Mark , Freitas Henrique Cota
Published: November 2019

Algoritmos para análise formal de conceitos são amplamente estudados para extrair padrões de inteligência computacional e descoberta de conhecimento. No entanto, eles exigem processamento de alto desempenho devido às suas caracterı́sticas combinatórias. Neste trabalho, foi projetada e avaliada uma arquitetura heterogênea de CPU+FPGA para acelerar a extração de conceitos em grandes conjuntos de dados. Os resultados encontrados mostram um speedup de até 3,95x com até 120,63x mais operações por Watt em relação a uma versão executada em CPU. Em comparação com o software In-Close2-BDD, essa arquitetura é mais rápida (e.g. 4,06x) para vários conjuntos de dados, processando até 1 milhão de objetos.
Investigating Parallel Programming Paradigms in HeMPS MPSoC Platform
Authors: Lopes Geaninne , Mello Aline , Carvalho Ewerson , Marcon César
Published: November 2019

This work investigates the use of parallel programming paradigms in the development of applications targeting a Multiprocessor System-on-Chip (MPSoC). We implemented Matrix Multiplication, Image Manipulation and Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) applications in the Master-Slave, Pipeline and Divide-and-Conquer paradigms, and applied execution time and power dissipation as criteria for evaluating the performance of the applications executing according to the paradigms on an MPSoC architecture. The obtained results allowed ​us to conclude that there are optimal application-paradigm relations. Pipeline presents lower execution time and lower power dissipation for the Image Manipulation application; whereas, Master-Slave performs better for the Matrix Multiplication and AES applications. However, when the input size of the applications increases, the Divide-and-Conquer paradigm tends to minimize the execution time for Matrix Multiplication application. ​The main contributions of this work are the development of applications, considering different paradigms, and the impact evaluation of these paradigms on MPSoC architecture.
Geração procedural de mapas dungeon crawl baseada em gramática de grafos para uso em jogos roguelike
Authors: Souza Renã , Junior Braz , Foss Luciana , Cavalheiro Gerson Geraldo , Cavalheiro Simone
Published: November 2019

Este artigo apresenta a concepção e a implementação de um motor de geração procedural de mapas, baseado em gramáticas de grafos, para jogos do tipo roguelike. A implementação realizada explora a programação multitarefa sobre arquiteturas multiprocessadas, viabilizando o uso desta ferramenta em tempo de execução, tendo em vista o alto custo computacional decorrente do uso de gramática de grafos. Os resultados obtidos foram muito positivos, tanto no que se refere ao ganho de desempenho quanto no sucesso em geração de mapas, viabilizando o uso dessa técnica de geração de mapas dungeon crawl em tempo de execução. Estes resultados são ilustrados com a apresentação da instanciação de um jogo e de uma discussão sobre o desempenho da execução paralela em um computador com configuração gamer.
Priorização no Balanceamento de Réplicas em Instâncias Heterogêneas do HDFS baseada na Capacidade dos Nodos
Authors: Fazul Rhauani , Barcelos Patricia Pitthan
Published: November 2019

O HDFS Balancer é o balanceador de réplicas nativo do Apache Hadoop, que opera em redistribuir os blocos de dados armazenados no sistema até que a utilização de todos os nodos do cluster fique dentro de um determinado threshold. Entretanto, a ferramenta não é otimizada para o balanceamento de instâncias do Hadoop executando em ambientes heterogêneos. Esse trabalho apresenta uma customização na polı́tica de operação padrão do HDFS Balancer que faz com que o reposicionamento das réplicas seja realizado considerando diferenças nas capacidades dos nodos. Dessa forma, nodos com alta capacidade são priorizados para o recebimento de um maior volume de dados.
Avaliação das estruturas de arquivo para processamento de dados sísmicos com alto desempenho na nuvem computacional
Authors: Andrietta Murilo , Rodamilans Charles , Guimarães Antonio , Borin Edson
Published: November 2019

As aplicações computacionais na área de sismologia processam dados até a ordem de centenas de terabytes e seus desempenhos podem ser fortemente afetados pelas operações de Leitura e Escrita. Este artigo generaliza as principais estruturas de arquivos para armazenamento de dados sı́smicos e avalia seus desempenhos. São apresentadas uma análise teórica do carregamento de dados na memória e uma análise de desempenho na nuvem computacional, utilizando diferentes tecnologias de armazenamento (HDD, SSD e EFS). A partir delas, obteve-se que a escolha adequada da estrutura de arquivo para um caso de uso tı́pico permite uma redução de até 193 vezes na quantidade de dados lidos. Observou-se também que a melhor estrutura avaliada desempenha até 139 vezes mais rapidamente do que a estrutura adotada pelo formato SEG-Y, usado como padrão pela Agência Nacional de Petróleo do Brasil. Por fim, nos experimentos com armazenamento em rede, concluiu-se que o uso de instâncias mais custosas, mas com maior capacidade de transmissão de dados, não traz benefı́cios significativos.
Impulsionando Árvores Extremamente Aleatórias em Paralelo para a Classificação de Dados Textuais
Authors: Pires Julio , Martins Wellington
Published: November 2019

Os algoritmos de aprendizado usando conjuntos de árvores de decisão têm se destacado na classificação de documentos, mas não sem pagar um alto custo computacional. A exploração de paralelismo tem sido uma alternativa para viabilizar o uso destes algoritmos mais sofisticados. Neste trabalho propomos um algoritmo paralelo para acelerar a construção destas árvores de decisão utilizadas num método recente que demonstrou superar os classificadores de última geração para dados textuais. Resultados experimentais, utilizando bases de dados textuais padronizadas, mostram que o algoritmo implementado em uma arquitetura manycore (GPU) é capaz de reduzir o tempo de execução em até 26 vezes em comparação a um algoritmo sequencial equivalente.
Uma implementação do algoritmo LCS em FPGA usando High-Level Synthesis
Authors: Jorge Carlos Antonio , Nery Alexandre , Melo Alba
Published: November 2019

Este trabalho apresenta uma implementação do algoritmo Longest Common Subsequence (LCS) para comparação de duas sequências biológicas utilizando linguagem de alto nı́vel High Level Synthesis (HLS) para FPGAs. Foram comparados resultados entre a execução em uma CPU Intel Core i73770 e uma FPGA Xilinx® ADM-PCIE-KU3 que possui uma Xilinx Kintex® UltraScale XCKU060-2. Os resultados mostraram que a implementação em CPU consumiu 6,8x mais energia em relação à FPGA.
Poluição de Cache e Thrashing em Aplicações Paralelas de Alto Desempenho
Authors: Krause Arthur , Moreira Francis , Girelli Valéria , Navaux Philippe Olivier
Published: November 2019

Conforme os processadores evoluem, o desempenho dos sistemas computacionais se torna cada vez mais limitado pelo tempo de acesso à memória. Caches são empregadas a fim de contornar este problema, mas é necessária uma gerência inteligente dos dados que são armazenados nelas para impedir que problemas como poluição e thrashing degradem seu desempenho. Neste trabalho é apresentada uma análise da poluição de cache e thrashing em aplicações paralelas de alto desempenho. Os resultados mostram que caches com maior associatividade sofrem mais com estes problemas. Até 28% dos cache misses na L1 poderiam ser evitados com uma política de substituição de cache mais inteligente, chegando a até 62% na cache L2 e 98% na LLC. As processors evolve, the performance of computer systems becomes increasingly limited by the memory access time. Caches are employed in order to get around this problem, but an intelligent management of the data that is stored in them is necessary to prevent problems such as pollution and thrashing from degrading their performance. In this work, an analysis of cache and thrashing pollution in high performance parallel applications is presented. The results show that caches with greater associativity suffer more from these problems. Up to 28% of cache misses in the L1 cache could be avoided with a smarter replacement policy, up to 62% in the L2 cache and 98% in the LLC.
Acelerando a construção de vocabulário e matriz de co-ocorrência em bases textuais
Authors: Barros Chayner , Martins Wellington
Published: November 2019

Duas tarefas que se destacam no pré-processamento de textos são a construção de um vocabulário e a geração de uma matriz de co-ocorrências de palavras. Para um volume de dados crescente e não estático, estas tarefas requerem um alto custo computacional. Neste artigo, exploramos paralelismo para viabilizar este processamento. Apresentamos algoritmos paralelos para extrair o vocabulário e produzir a matriz de co-ocorrências e implementamos os mesmos em arquiteturas multicore e manycore (GPU). Os experimentos, utilizando uma base de dados padrão, mostram que nossa implementação consegue ser até 21x mais rápida que uma solução estado-da-arte (GloVe) sequencial na realização das mesmas tarefas.
Hegel and the Elephant
Authors: Marshall George J.
Published: November 2019

One of the most difficult philosophical works ever written is Hegel’s Phenomenology of Spirit. In the "Introduction" to this work, Hegel attempts to aid his readers by describing the project that he carries out. But like so many things written by Hegel, the "Introduction" itself is formidable and very difficult to understand. In this paper, I attempt to "make sense" of the "Introduction" and, thus, contribute to the understanding of the Phenomenology. To achieve this end, I take the great liberty of comparing philosophers with blind men and Reality with an elephant. I take a series of claims made by Hegel in the "Introduction" and show how they make sense of his project once they are seen in the context of John Godfred Saxe’s poem, "The Blind Men and the Elephant." In doing so, I explain the similarity of problems presented in the poem and the Phenomenology. Further, I show how the nature of both problems places the same kind of restrictions on anyone trying to overcome either. While Saxe’s poem urges an acceptance of the fact that total truth is always beyond your grasp, Hegel’s goal is to achieve such a truth. What you will see is that all the characteristics that would have stopped most philosophers and Saxe, become the means by which Hegel thinks he can ultimately achieve knowledge of the Elephant.
Information as the Basis for Representation
Authors: Buczkowska Janina
Published: November 2019

The article presents a proposal to use the notion of information and a model of its transmission for analysis of the structure and basic functions of a sign. This is to point to the relation between information and the basic function of a sign, that is, a 'representation.' A sign is understood, in accordance with Peirce's theory, as a triadic relation of representation. One of the consequences of this theory is limitation of representation to the area of internal objects of a sign, that is, to ideal intentional objects. The relationship between a sign and the external world remains unexplained, which allows one to perceive a sign as a barrier in comprehension of the external world. A more complete justification is also required for both the relationship between object and meaning of the sign and the very arising of representation as a unity of three elements. The article analyzes the triadic relation of representation on the basis of the notion of information close to the one proposed by C.F. von Weizsacker. It is shown that representation can be understood as a specific, complex information flow. Processes of information flow determine the structure of representation as well as the relationships between the world of signs and the world beyond signs. Such approach allows one to give a more complete justification to the ability of sign systems to represent the external world.
On Naming and Possibility in Kripke and in the Tractatus
Authors: Cerezo María
Published: November 2019

Raymond Bradley has put forward an essentialist interpretation of the ontology of Wittgenstein's Tractatus Logico-philosophicus and aims to develop the model dimension that is implicit therein. Among other theses, Bradley maintains that tractarian names can be interpreted as Kripkean rigid designators; this idea enables him to approach the Tractus from the perspective of possible worlds semantics. I reassess Bradley's thesis by examining the tractarian notion of name and the Kripkean concept of rigid designator in Naming and Necessity, and consider whether an interpretation of tractarian names as rigid designators is possible. I also discuss similarities and differences between the two theories of meaning.
The Reference of Theoretical Terms
Authors: Duerr Renate
Published: November 2019

A popular explanation of the success of theories of science is that of scientific realism. It maintains, besides that the theories of a mature science are typically approximately true, that observational terms and theoretical terms refer to or denote entities. Therefore it is part of the realistic claim that "reference" explains "success." But if the realist is not able to clarify "reference" and a fortiori the reference on theoretical objects, the realist comes to a vicious circle, for there is no further criterion as the success of the theory to show that the term is referential. So it is necessary to clarify the notion "reference." Needless to say, "reference" is a relational term; but it easily becomes a problem that we are not only habituated to imagine the elation but we are convinced that a relation is just a relation between entities in a strict (viz., Quinian) sense. There are different kinds of references. For example, one is usually called "intentionality." If we, considering the traditional separation between reference and meaning, analyze meaning, we will find at least one referential component (intentional object). Such a referential process is not a meaningless aspect of linguistic reference, but now and then is the subject of the kind of relation called "denotation." The notion of meaning and the concept of reference are nonsubstantial constructions of interpretation. Nevertheless, I argue for a reference-theoretical approach.
A Unified Theory of Names
Authors: Justice John
Published: November 2019

Theoreticians of names are currently split into two camps: Fregean and Millian. Fregean theorists hold that names have referent-determining senses that account for such facts as the change of content with the substitution of co-referential names and the meaningfulness of names without bearers. Their enduring problem has been to state these senses. Millian theorists deny that names have senses and take courage from Kripke's arguments that names are rigid designators. If names had senses, it seems that their referents should vary among possible worlds. However, the Millians have the enduring problem of explaining the apparent cognitive content of names. I argue that Mill's original theory, when purged of confusion, provides word-reflexive senses for names. Frege failed to notice senses of this particular sort. Moreover, it is these senses that account for names' rigid designation. When the views of Mill and Frege are understood as complementary, the problems that have faced the divided theorists of names vanish.
Can a truth value have causal power?
Authors: Papst Josefine
Published: November 2019

John Gibbons tries to show that the notion of similarities and differences between different cases of events reveals the relevance of relational properties, which are of causal relevance. Based on such considerations, Gibbons' main claim is that the truth value somebody assigns to his or her beliefs has causal power. This means that the deflationary theory of truth becomes false. The questions therefore are: (1) What are the similarities and differences between different cases? (2) What kind of properties are relational properties? (3) What is the causal relevance of such relational properties, and why should the truth value be of causal relevance? (4) Why can Gibbons not show that the truth value has the relevant causal power?
Hegel and the Russian Constitutional Tradition
Authors: Fesenko Alexander S.
Published: November 2019

This paper advances the idea that Russian constitutionalism developed through a reinterpretation of Russian history in terms of Hegel's concept of the World Spirit. Russians implicitly viewed their nation as the embodiment of Hegel's World Spirit, which would have a unique messianic mission for humanity. However, the specifics of Russia's historical development diverged from Hegel's critical stage of ethical development, in which individuals would be mutually recognized as free beings. For this reason, the rights of the individual in Russia were seen until recently as originating exclusively in the state and valid only insofar as a given individual constituted an organic part of the whole or collective. I give examples from all six Russian and Soviet constitutions. I also demonstrate how the 1993 post-Soviet constitution represents a major breakthrough in the advancement of individual rights in Russia.
The Moral Core of U.S. Constitutional Bans on Hate Speech Codes
Authors: Fischer Norman
Published: November 2019

The striking down of the Stanford University Hate Speech Code on February 27, 1995 demonstrated the strong animus in U.S. First Amendment decisions against such codes. Judge Peter Stone, applying the U.S. Supreme Court decision in R.A.V. ruled, first, that the Stanford Code was too broad, and second, that the state cannot censor content by picking out some "fighting words" to prohibit. I argue that the moral basis for banning overbroad codes combines a nonconsequential emphasis on the value of liberty with a consequentialist analysis of what happens when liberty that should be protected is entangled in codes reflecting liberty that should not be protected. In contrast, the moral basis for content neutrality does not depend on consequentialist thinking, but shows that the very search for a moral basis for banning the purest acts of hateful speech logically makes the speech protected by elevating it to a viewpoint.
Dworkin’s Wishful-Thinkers Constitution
Authors: Wenz Peter S.
Published: November 2019

Developing ideas first put forth in my Abortion Rights as Religious Freedom, I argue against Ronald Dworkin's liberal view of constitutional interpretation while rejecting the originalism of Justices Scalia and Bork. I champion the view that Justice Black presents in his dissent in Griswold v. Connecticut.
Mathematical Models of Spacetime in Contemporary Physics and Essential Issues of the Ontology of Spacetime
Authors: Gos Maciej
Published: November 2019

The general theory of relativity and field theory of matter generate an interesting ontology of space-time and, generally, of nature. It is a monistic, anti-atomistic and geometrized ontology — in which the substance is the metric field — to which all physical events are reducible. Such ontology refers to the Cartesian definition of corporeality and to Plato's ontology of nature presented in the Timaeus. This ontology provides a solution to the dispute between Clark and Leibniz on the issue of the ontological independence of space-time from distribution of events. However, mathematical models of space-time in physics do not solve the problem of the difference between time and space dimensions (invariance of equations with regard to the inversion of time arrow). Recent research on space-time singularities and asymmetrical in time quantum theory of gravitation will perhaps allow for the solution of this problem based on the structure of space-time and not merely on thermodynamics.
The Cartesian Doubt Experiment and Mathematics
Authors: Turan Halil
Published: November 2019

The view that Descartes called mathematical propositions into doubt as he impugned all beliefs concerning common-sense ontology by assuming that all beliefs derive from perception seems to rest on the presupposition that the Cartesian problem of doubt concerning mathematics is an instance of the problem of doubt concerning existence of substances. I argue that the problem is not 'whether I am counting actual objects or empty images,' but 'whether I am counting what I count correctly.' Considering Descartes's early works, it is possible to see that for him, the proposition '2+3=5' and the argument 'I think, therefore I am,' were equally evident. But Descartes does not found his epistemology upon the evidence of mathematical propositions. The doubt experiment does not seem to give positive results for mathematical operations. Consciousness of carrying out a mathematical proposition, however, unlike putting forth a result of an operation, is immune to doubt. Statements of consciousness of mathematical or logical operations are instances of 'I think' and hence the argument 'I count, therefore I am' is equivalent to 'I think, therefore I am.' If impugning the veridicality of mathematical propositions could not pose a difficulty for Descartes's epistemology which he thought to establish on consciousness of thinking alone, then he cannot be seen to avoid the question. Discarding mathematical propositions themselves on the grounds that they are not immune to doubt evoked by a powerful agent does not generate a substantial problem for Descartes provided that he believes that he can justify them by appeal to God's benevolence.
The Simulation Theory and Explanations that ‘Make Sense of Behavior’
Authors: Arkway Angela J.
Published: November 2019

Underlying the current debate between simulation theory and theory theory is the assumption that folk psychological explanations of behavior are causal. Simulationists Martin Davies, Tony Stone, and Jane Heal claim that folk psychological explanations are explanations that make sense of another person by citing the thoughts important to the determination of his behavior on a given occasion. I argue that it is unlikely these explanations will be causal. Davis et al. base their claim on the assumption that a certain isomorphism obtains between the cognitive mechanisms of human beings. Investigation into the nature of the isomorphism required reveals that it is of a sort that is unlikely to obtain. I suggest that in order to maintain their challenge to theory theory, simulationists must either motivate and describe a non-causal simulation-based account of folk psychological explanation or else delineate a causal account that attributes a nonessential, heuristic role to simulation.
On Images
Authors: Dallett James
Published: November 2019

Concrete images are like pictures in the mind's imagination which have been transferred from real objects through the eyes. Abstract images also exist in the imagination, but are not easily described or communicated. Both images interplay in various ways as a person experiences emotional, dream and pure thought states of consciousness. Despite the interplay, the two kinds of images do not merge or meld into a third image type as a graduation between the two. Concrete images change, sometimes drastically. They never become abstract images, however deformed they are. Abstractions are somewhat assumed and exist as spontaneous and at times irrational images in the mind's eye. Light, reason, infinity and nothing are examples of abstract images which cannot be given accurate visual representation. Images take on different meanings with regard to language, death, prayer and society or politics; but the two types remain distinct. All human beings experience both concrete and abstract imagery. However, the level of ability to think abstractly varies from person to person.
Belief, Rationality and Psychophysical Laws
Authors: Jackman Henry
Published: November 2019

Davidson argues (1) that the connection between belief and the "constitutive ideal of rationality" (2) precludes the possibility of their being any type-type identities between mental and physical events. However, there are radically different ways to understand both the nature and content of this "constitutive ideal," and the plausibility of Davidson’s argument depends on blurring the distinction between two of these ways. Indeed, it will be argued here that no consistent understanding of the constitutive ideal will allow it to play the dialectical role Davidson intends for it.
Double Disjunctivitis
Authors: Mariano Luciano B.
Published: November 2019

Direct Informational Semantics, according to which [X]s represent (express/mean) X if ‘Xs cause [X]s’ is a law, and Fodorian naturalistic semantics both suffer from double disjunctivitis. I argue that robustness, properly construed, characterizes both represented properties and representing symbols: two or more properties normally regarded as non-disjunctive may each be nomologically connected to a non-disjunctive symbol, and two or more non-disjunctive symbols may each be nomologically connected to a property. This kind of robustness bifurcates the so-called disjunction problem into a Represented-Disjunction Problem, of which Fodor was aware, and a Representer-Disjunction Problem, of which he was on the whole oblivious. Fodor fails to solve these problems: his solution to the former, the Asymmetric Dependence Condition, presupposes a successful solution to the latter, while possible responses that Fodor might make to the latter either beg the former or cannot be met or else flout the Naturalistic Requirement and the Atomistic Requirement. Even setting the Representer-Disjunction Problem aside, the Represented-Disjunction Problem does not get solved, because the robustness involving phonological/orthographic sequences (tokens and types) guarantees that nothing can meet the Asymmetrical Dependence Condition. Indeed there is a serious problem of individuating phonological/orthographic tokens and types in a manner that satisfies Fodor’s expectations. This is made manifest by the presence of orthographic tokens embedded in larger tokens.
Computational Complexity and the Origin of Universals
Authors: Perlovsky Leonid I.
Published: November 2019

This paper establishes close relationships between fundamental problems in the philosophical and mathematical theories of mind. It reviews the mathematical concepts of intelligence, including pattern recognition algorithms, neural networks and rule systems. Mathematical difficulties manifest as combinatorial complexity of algorithms are related to the roles of a priori knowledge and adaptive learning, the same issues that have shaped the two-thousand year old debate on the origins of the universal concepts of mind. Combining philosophical and mathematical analyses enables tracing current mathematical difficulties to the contradiction between Aristotelian logic and Aristotelian theory of mind (Forms). Aristotelian logic is shown to be the culprit for the current mathematical difficulties. I will also discuss connections to Gödel’s theorems. The conclusion is that fuzzy logic is a fundamental requirement for combining adaptivity and apriority. Relating the mathematical and philosophical helps clarifying both and helps analyzing future research directions of the mathematics of intelligence.
To Resurrect a Ghost
Authors: Poochigian Donald V.
Published: November 2019

Cartesian dualism has largely been replaced by empirical theories of the mind. Central to this development is Gilbert Ryle’s criticism of an immaterial ‘ghost’ inhabiting the material ‘machine’ of the body. A metaphysical self is incredible, and even if it is credible, both it and its manifestation in phenomenal experience are unknowable by others. Failure of this approach occurs when it is realized that existence of the physical is just as incredible as existence of the metaphysical. Free will is also inconceivable without the assumption of a metaphysical self, it being the ‘ghost in the machine’ after all. As for consciousness, it is presupposed by the empirical. What counts as physical manifestations of mind are the effects or causes of phenomenal experience. Without this criterion the individual is a unity, it being impossible to separate the psychological since effectively it encompasses every aspect of the individual. Additionally, it is in phenomenal experience that the empirical is observed, and observation is the basis of empirical verification. To advocate the scientific method of intersubjective verification while denying the existence or significance of the phenomenal is inconsistent. At root, the mental attributes are ontologically distinct. Limited to only one ontological substance, empiricists either redefine or exclude troublesome attributes, commiting the error of confusing distinct kinds of substances. Dualism can accommodate all of the properties of mind in a single coherent theory by acknowledging these kinds of substances.
Blindsight and the Role of the Phenomenal Qualities of Visual Perceptions
Authors: Schumacher Ralph
Published: November 2019

The aim of this paper is to defend a broad concept of visual perception, according to which it is a sufficient condition for visual perception that subjects receive visual information in a way which enables them to give reliably correct answers about the objects presented to them. According to this view, blindsight, non-epistemic seeing, and conscious visual experience count as proper types of visual perception. This leads to two consequences concerning the role of the phenomenal qualities of visual experiences. First, phenomenal qualities are not necessary in order to see something, because in the case of blindsight, subjects can see objects without experiences phenomenal qualities. Second, they cannot be intentional properties, since they are not essential properties of visual experiences, and because the content of visual experiences cannot be constituted by contingent properties.
Truth and Religion Reconsidered
Authors: Bronk Andrzej
Published: November 2019

I discuss some of the problems of the application of the notion of truth to religion. After introductory remarks on the problem called truth and religion to show the peculiarity and the actuality of the problem discussed, I examine the different meanings of the notions of truth and religion, in order to formulate some comments on the different concepts of the truth of religion. I name the main types of religious truth, and consider the competencies of the diverse types of the study of religion to determine the truth of religion, and to analyze how to understand the truth of distinct types of religion. I conclude with some remarks on the appropriate approach to the question of the truth of religion. The considerations show that there is no simple answer to the question of the truth of religion in general or in particular. As it turns out the answer requires some relativizations, among others to the notion of truth and of religion. The notions of true religion and credibility of religion, though at first sight distinct, seem to condition each other. The notion of the truth of religion can be a valuable instrument of interpretation of religious phenomena not only in philosophy and theology of religion, but in the social sciences of religion too.
The Concept of Transcendence in Heidegger
Authors: Capelle Philippe
Published: November 2019

The history of Heideggerian commentaries confront us with a string of parallel concepts: metaphysics and theology, onto-theology and Christian theology, thought and faith, Being and God, and so on. It should also be noted that these different dual concepts have served, in various ways, several strategies for the interpretation of Heidegger. These various strategies are summarized as follows: the relation between philosophy and theology in the thought of Heidegger is threefold and should be read to the rhythm of his thinking according to the themes of facticity and transcendence.
The Statute of the Man in the Modern Catholic Anthropology
Authors: Kaltchev Ivan
Published: November 2019

In what follows, I examine the renaissance of the idea of freedom as a fundamental measure of humanity in the work of Karol Voitila (Pope John Paul II). I examine as well Karol Voitila's concept of the human person as found in his work "Love and Responsibility" as well as the encyclical Evangelium vitae, which affirms the incomparable value of the human person. I also consider the celestial predestination of the human person as discussed in the documents of the Second Vatican Council.
A Neglected Argument
Authors: Kessler Gary E.
Published: November 2019

Charles S. Peirce sketches "a nest of three arguments for the Reality of God" in his article "A Neglected Argument for the Reality of God." I provide careful analysis and explication of Peirce's argument, along with consideration of some objections. I argue that (1) there are significant differences between Peirce's neglected argument and the traditional arguments for God's existence; (2) Peirce's analysis of the neglected argument into three arguments is misleading; (3) there are two distinct levels of argument that Peirce does not recognize; and (4) it is doubtful whether the argument meets all the criteria set by Peirce himself.
Contextualism, Decontextualism, and Perennialism
Authors: Mahoney Timothy A.
Published: November 2019

This paper addresses religious epistemology in that it concerns the assessment of the credibility of certain claims arising out of religious experience. Developments this century have made the world’s rich religious heritage accessible to more people than ever. But the conflicting religious claims tend to undermine each religion’s central claim to be a vehicle for opening persons to ultimate reality. One attempt to overcome this problem is provided by "perennial philosophy," which claims that there is a kind of mystical experience common to all religious traditions, an experience which is an immediate contact with an absolute principle. Perennialism has been attacked by "contextualists" such as Steven Katz who argue that particular mystical experiences are so tied to a particular tradition that there are no common mystical experiences across traditions. In turn, Robert Forman and the "decontextualists" have argued that a certain kind of mystical experience and process are found in diverse traditions, thereby supporting one of the key elements of perennialism. I review the contextualist-decontextualist debate and suggest a research project that would pursue the question of whether the common ground of the world’s mystical traditions could be expanded beyond what has been established by the decontextualists. The extension of this common ground would add credibility to the claims arising out of mystical experience.
The Integral Humanism of Mahatma
Authors: Mehta Geeta S.
Published: November 2019

Humanism as a theistic, pragmatic theory was first conceived around 2000 BCE in India. It is a this-worldly, human-centered, secular philosophical outlook. Gandhi understands religion as connoting the individual’s integrity and society’s solidarity. Free-will for him is freedom of the "rational self." Morality is not a matter of outward conformity, but of inward fulfillment. His integral humanism is indicated by his enumerated seven social sins: (1) politics without principles; (2) wealth without work; (3) commerce without morality; (4) knowledge without character; (5) pleasure without conscience; (6) science without morality; and (7) worship without sacrifice. The eleven vows recited in his Ášrama prayer began with Truth and Non-Violence as foundational for the integration of moral, social, political and economic values. Non-Violence should be a creed rather than a policy. Gandhi’s Truth meant freedom of self-actualization for societal development. He fulfilled these two principal themes of humanism in the civic function of religion and religious tolerance which aimed at evolving moral individuals in moral societies. "The twenty-first century should bring a synthesis of science and spirituality, socialism with human rights, social-change with nonviolence. And this is Gandhi."
Critical Comments on Laudan’s Theory of Scientific Aims
Authors: Cíntora Armando
Published: November 2019

I criticize Laudan's constraints on cognitive aims as presented in Science and Values. These constraints are axiological consistency and non-utopianism. I argue that (i) Laudan's prescription for non utopian aims is too restrictive because it excludes ideals and characterizes as irrational or non-rational numerous human contingencies. (ii) We aim to ideals because there is no cogent way to specify in advance what degree of deviation from an ideal is acceptable. Thus, one cannot dispense with ideals. (iii) Laudan does not distinguish difficult from impossible goals, making his injunction against utopianism imprecise. It is "semantically utopian" and, furthermore, a prescription for conservatism and mediocrity. (iv) Goals often contradict each other or are at least partially incompatible. Since Laudan does not say how to prioritize incompatible aims, axiological consistency is an utopian desideratum. Thus, his constraints on cognitive aims contradict one another. Finally, (v), Laudan's axiological constraints are too weak and in order to strengthen them, he must invoke without justification some implicit pre-philosophical cognitive aims. This opens the logical possibility of axiological relativism, which Laudan attempted from the beginning to avoid.
Is Popularization of Science Possible?
Authors: Cornelis Gustaaf C.
Published: November 2019

If the philosophy of science wants to pass along its views adequately to the public, it is important that the latter have a basic general understanding of science. Only in this way can "popularization of science" be meaningful from a philosophical and educational point of view. Is "good" popularization a possibility or merely a utopian phantasm. I conclude that popularization of science is possible if certain conditions are met. Scientists have to take responsibility and be honest in their efforts, both toward science as well as the public.
La Complejidad: Consideraciones Epistemológicas y Filosóficas
Authors: Riera Elba del Carmen
Published: November 2019

La ciencia no puede escapar al condicionamiento cultural. Desde hace unos treinta años ha surgido un interés particular por una nueva línea de investigación que privilegia un objeto de estudio interdisciplinar: los sistemas complejos. Se trata de una respuesta al cambio cultural frente a conceptos como los de desorden y caos que estaban desplazados del ámbito de la ciencia clásica, por ser considerarlos informes y vacíos de significación. Hoy hay toda una revalorización de los mismos. Los sistemas complejos se ubican entre la categoría de orden entendida como sinónimo de determinismo y previsibilidad total de la naturaleza y el caos, concebido como azar y desorden total, donde nada puede ser previsto. La complejidad, en cambio, supone irreversibilidad, temporalidad, no-linealidad, aleatoriedad, fluctuaciones, bifurcaciones, autoorganización, probabilidad y extrae de esta nueva información, una enorme riqueza de posibilidades para hacer crecer la ciencia. Intentamos resumir los caracteres fundamentales de este nuevo paradigma que, por medio de un nuevo lenguaje epistemológico postula la creación de categorías y conceptos diferentes para la ciencia actual, lo que se está traduciendo en una ampliación de la racionalidad científica
The Search for Scientific Truth Leads to God
Authors: Kulakov Yury I.
Published: November 2019

At the dawn of the twenty-first century, many now realize that the opposition of science and religion has been exhausted. Today, unification of the two is imperative. The first step in this direction is recognizing that science is not the only source of knowledge; experience, spiritual discernment and spiritual experience constitute the unified process of cognizing the world.
New Physical Properties
Authors: Liz Manuel
Published: November 2019

Discussions about physicalism, reduction, special sciences, the layered image of reality, multiple realizability, emergence, downward causation, etc., typically make the ontological presupposition that there is no room for new properties in the physical world. The domain of physical properties would thus have been established once and for all. It is my purpose in this paper to explore the alternative hypothesis that there can be, and that in fact there are, new physical properties. In the first section, I propose a brief analysis of the notions of property, physical property, and new physical property. In the second section, I present four general situations in which it would be plausible to speak of the existence of new physical properties. All of this is used to evaluate the content and scope of the hypothesis of physical novelty. Lastly, I examine certain interesting consequences of such a physical novelty in relation to some of the above mentioned topics.
Abduction and Hypothesis Withdrawal in Science
Authors: Magnani Lorenzo
Published: November 2019

This paper introduces an epistemological model of scientific reasoning which can be described in terms of abduction, deduction and induction. The aim is to emphasize the significance of abduction in order to illustrate the problem-solving process and to propose a unified epistemological model of scientific discovery. The model first describes the different meanings of the word abduction (creative, selective, to the best explanation, visual) in order to clarify their significance for epistemology and artificial intelligence. In different theoretical changes in theoretical systems we witness different kinds of discovery processes operating. Discovery methods are "data-driven," "explanation-driven" (abductive), and "coherence-driven" (formed to overwhelm contradictions). Sometimes there is a mixture of such methods: for example, an hypothesis devoted to overcome a contradiction is found by abduction. Contradiction, far from damaging a system, help to indicate regions in which it can be changed and improved. I will also consider a kind of "weak" hypothesis that is hard to negate and the ways for making it easy. In these cases the subject can "rationally" decide to withdraw his or her hypotheses even in contexts where it is "impossible" to find "explicit" contradictions and anomalies. Here, the use of negation as failure (an interesting technique for negating hypotheses and accessing new ones suggested by artificial intelligence and cognitive scientists) is illuminating
Philosophy of Science and the Theory of Natural Selection
Authors: Losee John
Published: November 2019

Toulmin, Hull, Campbell, and Popper have defended an "Evolutionary-Analogy" view of scientific evaluative practice. In this view, competing concepts, theories and methods of inquiry engage in a competitive struggle from which the "best adapted" emerge victorious. Whether applications of this analogy contribute to our understanding of science depends on the importance accorded the disanalogies between natural selection theory and scientific inquiry. Michael Ruse has suggested instead an "Evolutionary-Origins" view of scientific evaluative practices in which scientific inquiry is directed by application of epigenetic rules that have become encoded in homo sapiens in the course of evolutionary adaptation. Among these rules are "formulative theories that are internally consistent," "seek severe tests of theories," (Popper) and "achieve a consilience of inductions" (Whewell). As a descriptive theory of science, the "Evolutionary-Origins" view is prima facie inconsistent with evidence that human beings often make decisions that violate the "genetically-hard-wired rules." As a normative-prescriptive philosophy of science, the "Evolutionary-Origins" view is limited by the fact that in biological evolution, adaptation to present pressures may be achieved at the expense of a loss of adaptability (the capacity to respond creatively to future changes in environmental conditions).
Epistemological Turn in European Scientific Rationality
Authors: Pavlenko Andrew N.
Published: November 2019

If the 17th century could be considered the century of the reformation of science, the present century is one of counterreformation in every sense of the word. The ideology of this century can be seen in the titanic efforts to complete the development of science which foundation was laid in the 17th and 18th centuries, in the outright failures, and in attempts at reconstructing the foundation (e.g., Hilbert's formalization program, Gödel's incompleteness theorem, Charlier's theory of a hierarchic universe, Fridman's evolutionary cosmology, Newton's mechanics, relativistic and/or quantum mechanics in physics, the logical turn of the Vienna circle and epistemological anarchism in methodology). Our task is to reveal the essence of the turning points in 20th century science and to determine at least the general outlines, if not the cause, of the new type of rationality that is replacing the old one. I will focus on the history of cosmology, or rather on its three paradigms that have succeeded each other in this century: Newtonian, Fridmanian and the inflationary paradigms. By outlining the problem, I will pose a possible solution from clarifying changes in the value orientations, ideals and norms of scientific research to their possible generalization.