Chinese Philosophical Epistemology and Its Defects

The“University”proposes the proposition of“investigating things to acquire knowledge”,presenting the rudimentary form of Chinese philosophical epistemology.Over the following 2,500 years,it has undergone numerous debates on the relationship between knowledge and action;however,no philosopher has developed a comprehensive epistemological system that explores the nature,source,formation,application,truth,testing,structure of human knowledge,as well as the relationship between language and thinking.The concept of“know”in the philosophy of“investigating things to attain knowledge”is equivalent to concepts such as“idea”and“meaning”in Western philosophy.However,the cognitive state of“know”has not been fully explored and expanded upon,nor has the distinction between empirical and rational recognition of“know”been made.Confucianism advocated the“learning”of language communication as one of the ways to acquire knowledge,but it failed to evolve a method of using language to conduct formal logical reasoning to acquire knowledge and test truth.The“eight trigrams”deduction and yin-yang and five elements theory in the“I Ching”have stifled the emergence of modern scientific epistemological methods in China in terms of thinking mode.Confucian epistemology:focuses on“reason”and interpersonal relationships,with an emphasis on the establishment of moral ethics and social order.Taoist epistemology:pursues a realm beyond experience and social conventions,understanding the world through introspection and insight;it focuses on grasping“Tao”,providing vague guidance for determining universal truths and acquiring precise knowledge;it is prone to falling into the dilemma of nihilism and relativism.The concept of unity between heaven and man and unity between knowledge and action has led to the lack of differentiation in Chinese philosophical epistemology regarding the study of the relationship between subject and object,not involving the way in which the subject understands the object,the limitations of understanding,and the interaction between subject and object in the process of understanding.

A Critical Analysis of the Educational Impact of Steve Fuller＇s Social Epistemology

In this paper, I examine Steve Fuller＇s ＂sociological＂ social epistemology that must be distinguished from its ＂philosophical＂ counterpart. Fuller＇s sociological social epistemology can prompt deep philosophical analyses of the conditions for knowledge that themselves bear on what should count as knowledge. That is, it can be a vital prelude to developing an interdisciplinary investigation into educational issues. This paper looks at the three features that form an integral part of Fuller＇s social epistemology, which is partly elucidatory and partly critical： naturalistic, normative, and organizational aspects. It goes on to explore whether and to what extent Fuller＇s criticism of an ＂always already＂ thesis in philosophy and his idea of ＂knowledge management＂ afford an understanding of human knowledge in particular and human development in general. This paper concludes with an observation that Fuller＇s social epistemology is flawed in some respects but nonetheless is of relevance to the philosophical study of education.

Formal Inferring the Law of Conservation of Energy from Assuming A-Priori-ness of Knowledge in a Formal Axiomatic Epistemology System Sigma

The research purpose is invention (construction) of a formal logical inference of the Law of Conservation of Energy within a logically formalized axiomatic epistemology-and-axiology theory Sigma from a precisely defined assumption of a-priori-ness of knowledge. For realizing this aim, the following work has been done: 1) a two-valued algebraic system of formal axiology has been defined precisely and applied to proper-philosophy of physics, namely, to an almost unknown (not-recognized) formal-axiological aspect of the physical law of conservation of energy;2) the formal axiomatic epistemology-and-axiology theory Sigma has been defined precisely and applied to proper-physics for realizing the above-indicated purpose. Thus, a discrete mathematical model of relationship between philosophy of physics and universal epistemology united with formal axiology has been constructed. Results: 1) By accurate computing relevant compositions of evaluation-functions within the discrete mathematical model, it is demonstrated that a formal-axiological analog of the great conservation law of proper physics is a formal-axiological law of two-valued algebra of metaphysics. (A precise algorithmic definition of the unhabitual (not-well-known) notion “formal-axiological law of algebra of metaphysics” is given.) 2) The hitherto never published significantly new nontrivial scientific result of investigation presented in this article is a formal logical inference of the law of conservation of energy within the formal axiomatic theory Sigma from conjunction of the formal-axiological analog of the law of conservation of energy and the assumption of a-priori-ness of knowledge.

Views of epistemology from Locke and Confucius

In the history of humanity,there are so many great thinkers contributing a lot to our lives.In education area,thinkers in both eastern and western countries left so many master pieces to later generation.Are there any difference between their ideas of learning? What makes the differences between Chinese learner and those from western countries? In this paper,I will try to explain these by compare the views of epistemology from Locke and Confucius.From that we may find the answer.

Descartes’General Epistemology:A Contemporary Assessment

There is a broad distinction in Descartes’writings between doctrine and method.The staying power of these two elements has been unequal.Descartes’doctrinal influence on contemporary epistemology has been largely as a foil against which some of its major currents have been developed.The situation is brighter on the methodological side.Here Descartes’practice of beginning with common sense and moving,step by step,to philosophical conclusions is a practice much admired by contemporary philosophers.Still,the negative verdict on doctrine stands as the main verdict overall.I maintain that this verdict is undeserved.I first distinguish between Descartes’general epistemology and the purpose to which he puts it—the quest for certainty.I then argue for a positive verdict for his general epistemology.I do so by showing that Descartes has a non-normative account of knowledge but an“ethics of belief”in which the knowing comes first.Descartes thus anticipates what Sylvan calls the“knowledge-first”approach in general epistemology,which I defend.Relying on Audi’s distinction between“sources”and“reasons,”I show that Descartes’analysis of knowledge proper,which I also defend,anticipates and improves the“factive access”analysis of knowledge due to McDowell.

As the Medium and Sub-culture:Rethink the MOOC’s Explorations in the Liberal Arts in a University From the Perspectives of Social Epistemology

In this paper,the researcher examines lessons from massive open online courses(MOOCs)in the liberal art in a university.It intends to define a research agenda into the social epistemology impact of MOOCs,in order to reflect on changes in academic sub-culture and on learning measurement among students in university.For this reason the researcher suggests focusing attention on three features of MOOC phenomenology:MOOCs as a social epistemology—an active policy initiative to promote greater democratization of education;MOOCs as a medium and an academic sub-cultural artifact(mediated texts,videos,interface,platform functionalities)able to convey learning to distant learners;and,lastly,MOOCs as a measurement—in other words as instrumentation(i.e.,learning statements,analytics,algorithms,visualizion tools,dashboards etc.)that allows students to monitor,analyze,and optimize the effectiveness of online teaching and learning.The paper also highlights their limits in these regards based on the perspectives of social epistemology.

Rorty＇s Point of Departure from Mainstream Pragmatist Approach to Epistemology

Our main focus in this paper is to try to show Rorty＇s point of departure from mainstream pragmatist treatment of epistemology. In his pragmatic approach to epistemology, Rorty urges that a good pragmatist should abandon epistemology as a foundational and rational discipline and instead opt for conversation, the view that knowledge is an expression of judgment of a historically conditioned social group） According to Rorty, the view that we should disentangle ourselves from rigid canons of epistemology is the quest of classical pragmatism traceable to the writings of William James and John Dewey. On this showing, Rorty argues that conversationalism is consistent with mainstream or original pragmatism. Contrary to Rorty＇s claim we try to show, in the following pages, that his pragmatic approach to epistemology is a deviation from mainstream pragmatism. We establish that mainstream or classical pragmatists do not repudiate epistemology.

Informal Logic： Between Logic and Epistemology

Nowadays researchers working in various fields study the issues of argument. They represent different approaches which distinguish with theoretical and practical comprehension of argument problems. Informal study of argument is one of the approaches. The key reason of its appearance was the criticism of formal logic in the late 20th century. Researchers consider the argument from the different point of view. Formal dialectics and pragma-dialectics were based on dialectics. Contemporary rhetorical theories of argument were created on the rhetorical grounds; theory of speech acts on the basis of practical philosophy etc.. This paper is devoted to some theoretical problems of informal logic which was formed on the logic background in the late 70＇s. In spite of numerous papers, books, and text-books on informal logic published over the last thirty years, logicians has not achieved consensus so far on many issues. Among the numerous problems are： what is the subject matter of informal logic？ Does informal logic belong to the realm of logic？ Is it applied epistemology？ What is a real argument？ And what are the criteria for evaluating of such arguments？

How Do You Know What You Know: Epistemology in Software Engineering

Ubiquitous computing emphasizes the notion of automation in the daily human experience. With the ease, comes the responsibility of knowing, the knowledge of the intrinsic nature of the machine and the evolution of human-computer interaction (HCI). The quest for knowledge is engrained in the act of questioning itself. “How?” “What? “Why?” dominates the vocabulary of every scientist and models the endlessness of our natural inquisitiveness. For example, an interaction of software systems in the case of a user who withdraws money from the ATM and automatically gets a text message and an e-mail containing notification of the transaction, engenders questions about how it all works;in technical terms, the nature of the special science that enables wireless communications. Knowledge that derives from aphorisms or other self-evident truths is easier to acknowledge, for example, the knowledge of “multiplication” is justified by the truthfulness of “addition”—the Apriori. However, in Software Engineering (SE), the Apriori is more obscure. The investigation of the nature of knowledge in SE requires an expansion of the general idea of the Apriori in establishing knowledge.

Anatomical Retrofitting:Pi(脾)as Spleen and the Persistence of Ontological Ambivalence

Over the past decade,medical researchers in China have debated whether the Pi(脾)corresponds to the biomedical spleen or pancreas.This debate exemplifies a broader phenomenon of“anatomical retrofitting”,or the anachronistic imposition of contemporary categories onto living historical objects.“Anatomical retrofitting”as a means of rectifying cases of mistranslation further positions the biomedical spleen and pancreas as representing ahistorical,universal truths.This framework gives rise to a conceptual binary:while the biomedical spleen is universalized as what philosophers may describe as“logical”ontology,the Pi connects to a different nature of reality,or“metaphysical”ontology.Far from being an object of imprecision,the Pi was a dynamic vessel that also shared characteristics with the humoral spleen.Given that scholars in China have already subjected Pi to historical scrutiny,this paper urges scholars to do the same with biomedical anatomy.For instance,historically situating the humoral spleen demonstrates that it became less known and less articulated as it transformed into the biomedical spleen.Meanwhile,the pancreas remained an unstable epistemic object that took on the dynamic functions of the humoral spleen in nineteenth-century organotherapy.Through primary source analysis and literature review,this paper contends that the apparent ontological incommensurability between Pi and spleen is neither mutually exclusive nor irreconcilable.Instead,the dynamic nature of internal viscera,their many functions,and their participation in epistemic practices contribute to an ongoing ontological ambivalence that persists despite the forced certainty of anatomical retrofitting.

The Axiology of Consciousness in Mocombeian Consciousness Field Theory

This work explores the axiology of consciousness in Mocombe’s consciousness field in the material world.The paper critically assesses Mocombe’s consciousness field theory(CFT)within the larger body of contemporary ontological debates regarding the nature,origin,and constitution of consciousness in the universe.The work goes on to highlight the manifestation of Mocombe’s consciousness field in the material resource framework that is the earth,and the nature and origins of ethics and values.

Ontological Epistemology: William James and the Chinese Traditional Philosophy of Experience

William James's understanding of the concept of experience has much in common with ideas in Chinese traditional philosophy. This connection, however, has remained unexplored. Here we introduce the idea of ontological epistemology as a way to bring these important commonalities into view. By highlighting two features of the concept of experience in Chinese philosophy, we suggest that the perspectives of holism and relationism are common to both James and the Chinese tradition. With regard to the personal and impersonal characteristics of radical experience and its commensurability with Chinese philosophy, we will pay attention to the self-dissolving aspect of both. However, there are still some theoretical complexities that remain unresolved, which clearly show the possibility of further research in the comparative study of contemporary pragmatism and Chinese philosophy.

The hierarchies of social epistemology and the essences of library system

Social Epistemology,initially developed by Jesse Hauk Shera and some other scholars,aims at providing a theoretical foundation for Library and Information Science(LIS).However,due to deficiencies in the follow-up research,the relationship between professional activities of librarianship and the optimization of the different levels of social intelligence remain vague.

Thinking,a Diverse and Inclusive Process:An Epistemological Look

Inclusive education is the transformation of the system,it highlights difference and diversity,to strengthen the development of skills,under the premise of respect for difference and diversity(Barton L,(2013).Today,educational inclusion is carries out and attends to the educational needs of students individually,where the actors of the educational process contribute to learning while respecting the differences and diversity of each individual,by fulfilling the transforming and integrating role that improves skills and breaks with barriers to learning.Contemporary education has taken on the challenge of promoting different programs aimed at promoting inclusive teaching-learning processes that facilitate attention to diversity.It is evident that the integration of students with special needs in regular educational centers has caused significant changes in the curriculum,infrastructure,and training among teachers.In the last 10 years,educational inclusion has made significant progress,but much remains to be done to expand inclusive spaces.

Hegel and the Antidialectic

This work,using the case study of the Haitian Revolution,positions Paul C.Mocombe’s theory of antidialectic within Hegel’s dialectical reasoning.Mocombe posits that the antidialectical position in Hegel’s dialectic is the position of each self-consciousness when they initially encounter each other at the onset of the master/slave dialectic.Whereas,the master seeks to move to the dialectical position in order to dominate and eliminate the original(antidialectical)position of the slave,the slave remains in this antidialectical position so long as they seek to fight against their enslavement for the purpose of maintaining and reproducing their original,antidialectical,position,which is social,political,economic,and ideological.In any other instances,they(the slaves)are either in the dialectical,seeking to maintain the status quo,or negative dialectical,seeking to integrate the status quo on equal footing with the master,positions.

The Haitian Revolution:An Insignificant Revolution?

This work posits that the Haitian Revolution became an insignificant Revolution the minute that it was usurped by the Affranchis class,the mulatto elites and petit-bourgeois creole blacks,seeking equality of opportunity,recognition,and distribution with their former colonial masters,from the Africans who commenced the event on the night of August 14th,1791.Whereas the Africans,I conclude,sought total freedom from the mercantilist and liberal order of the whites,which made the Haitian Revolution significant,the vindicationism sought by the Affranchis class undermined the agential initiatives of the Africans rendering the Revolution revolutionarily insignificant.

Consciousness Field Theory and Antihuman Psychology

Against behaviorism,humanism,and cognitive psychology,this work explores Mocombe’s antihuman psychology as a product of his consciousness field theory.The paper critically assesses Mocombe’s consciousness field theory within the larger body of contemporary ontological debates regarding the nature,origin,and constitution of consciousness,especially human consciousness,vis-à-vis their relations to the psychological theories of behaviorism,humanism,and cognitivism,concluding that consciousness field theory posits an alternative psychological theory of the mind,i.e.,antihuman psychology,to behaviorist,humanist,and cognitivist conceptions of the mind.

Gede and Homosexuality

This article argues that the Haitian Vodou spirits(lwas)of fertility and death,Gede,do not promote homosexuality or the fluidity of sexuality in Haitian culture.The latter position is a Western reading of Gede grounded in postmodern and post-structural identity theorizing.Gede in Haitian ontology and epistemology is lwas of fertility and death not sexual identity confusion or fluidity.

DEBRA: On the Unsupervised Learning of Concept Hierarchies from (Literary) Text

With this work, we introduce a novel method for the unsupervised learning of conceptual hierarchies, or concept maps as they are sometimes called, which is aimed specifically for use with literary texts, as such distinguishing itself from the majority of research literature on the topic which is primarily focused on building ontologies from a vast array of different types of data sources, both structured and unstructured, to support various forms of AI, in particular, the Semantic Web as envisioned by Tim Berners-Lee. We first elaborate on mutually informing disciplines of philosophy and computer science, or more specifically the relationship between metaphysics, epistemology, ontology, computing and AI, followed by a technically in-depth discussion of DEBRA, our dependency tree based concept hierarchy constructor, which as its name alludes to, constructs a conceptual map in the form of a directed graph which illustrates the concepts, their respective relations, and the implied ontological structure of the concepts as encoded in the text, decoded with standard Python NLP libraries such as spaCy and NLTK. With this work we hope to both augment the Knowledge Representation literature with opportunities for intellectual advancement in AI with more intuitive, less analytical, and well-known forms of knowledge representation from the cognitive science community, as well as open up new areas of research between Computer Science and the Humanities with respect to the application of the latest in NLP tools and techniques upon literature of cultural significance, shedding light on existing methods of computation with respect to documents in semantic space that effectively allows for, at the very least, the comparison and evolution of texts through time, using vector space math.

Yin Yang Cosmology

Inspired by Niels Bohr’s adoption of the Taijitu symbol of Yin Yang in his quantum complementarity worldview, this original paper introduces Yin Yang cosmology as an original epistemic quantum information theoretic model of the cosmos. The model is relation-based (not object-based) and is fundamentally established on foundations of positive and negative correlations between correlates. Adopting the holographic principle of ‘t Hooft, the fundamental dualistic processes of Yin Yang cosmology are interacting self-assembly (host) and self-disassembly (virus) subroutines in a superposition algorithm that cooperate in a phase portrait on a holographic boundary. This cooperative self-assembly and self-disassembly Yin Yang cosmology is formalized in a pair of differential equations that plot as orthogonal swirling Taijitu, and which together form an epistemic information-accreting unit-circle limit-cycle. Formal and natural descriptions are given for the continuously evolving saturation of quantum information entropy production under Yin Yang theoretic unit circle limit cycle dynamics. This original paper includes a short discussion on the known cosmos, from Big Bang to thermodynamic Big Chill, which is a quarter-cycle in Yin Yang cosmology. Our known thermodynamic cosmos is contextualized within a Yin Yang full-oscillation stationary wave that self-evolves, both its content (correlations between correlates) and its emergent laws, all-at-once in superposition. In a general theory of thermodynamics, the four superposed quarter-cycles of Yin Yang cosmology are: thermodynamic (the known cosmos), cryodynamic, anti-thermodynamic and anti-cryodynamic. Yin Yang cosmology guided by its epistemic limit cycle, self-evolves towards a self-referential symbolic ouroboros of quantum cosmological intelligence and generates Hawking’s ex post facto configurations for Life.