The Relevance of Vygotsky＇s Developmental Perspective to the Debate on Methodology in Psychological Science

Throughout his work, Lev S. Vygotsky （1896-1934） pursued the objective of reformulating psychological theory. His historical-cultural analysis of the ＂crisis in psychology＂ showed that, beyond contradictions between the two main methodological currents---＂objective/explanatory＂ and ＂subjective/intuitive＂--psychology is primarily influenced by its empirical-sensory foundations. This influence is actually at the origin of the disagreement since it maintains the obligation for the two currents to make reference to empirical-sensory data. Only a general model of the developing human being, assessed by its usefulness, will allow reorienting psychology towards a broader science. This would lead to a general theory of psychology, which could then facilitate the search for tools for an indirect method enabling it to go beyond empiricism.

Study of Multistage Project Risk Identification-Assessment Process Based on Objective Orientation

Risk management of projects is about the real time ev aluation and making of decisions proactively in order to maximize the probabilit y of achieving or surpassing the targets set for project objectives. Project objective generally includes three elements: time, cost, quality. Risk occurrin g in the projects will affect these three factors to some various degrees in the end. There are different emphases in each stage and integrated balanced goals b etween the three factors. A large complex engineering project generally consists of several stages each of which has variable objective combinations leading to variable important risks. In order to achieve strategic goals on the schedule under the restriction of lim ited resources, the paper gives the analysis of the so-called risk identificati on-assessment process on the basis of objective orientation. In this paper the set of involved mostly hazards is presented in terms of given objective weight v ector, and so is the model of risk ranking .By reducing the range of risk factor s step by step, risk manager could pay more attention to important ventures and effectively control of them. According to different objective combination at different stages, primary risk f actor sets at different stages are given. With the probability and their various effects to project objectives, evaluation of these sets is made aiming to r educing of the scope of risks and providing decision maker with a better decisio ns support. Successful projects are those, which focus on the relevant business objectives t hroughout the whole process and seek to information integration across project l ife cycle. This paper also introduces the idea of real time process of risk iden tification-assessment and presents a flow chart as a demonstration.

From the Definition of the Consumers' Expectations to the Instrumental Validation: How to Objectivize Perceptions in Conception Products ?

In answer to the important technological deployment, consumers express a need of physical reassuring and tangible contact. The perceived quality exceeds the role of brand image’s vector by perceptions’ differentiation to constitute an irrational link between objective characteristics (power engine, resistance) and subjective perceptions (facilitated hand grip, hardness of a steering wheel). The emotional expectations’ controls turn out many fields. It supposed to know and understand the perceptions of its customers. Its feelings must be objectively identified and quantified to be reproduced. The touch is the most solicited sense after the sight during the exploration of a product but it still undertaken in account. After an explication of sensory data’s integration to products’ conception, we resume different techniques to objectivize perceptions and how to link them to consumers’ preference. Then we present a new philosophy Touch design, which attest that the characterisation of the tactile feeling transmitted by a product is an important challenge. At least, we insist on the necessary coordination between design and technical engineering leading to the development of sensory communication tools and sensory-instrumental correlations.

THE IMPORTANCE OF MULTIMEDIA PRINCIPLE AND EMERGENCE PRINCIPLE FOR THE KNOWLEDGE CIVILISATION AGE

The paper discusses two basic principles derived from results of studies concerning foundations of micro-theories of knowledge creation; these are Multimedia Principle and Emergence Principle. Their epistemic, systemic and metaphysical importance is discussed, together with their relations to the episteme of technology treated as a separate cultural sphere. A spiral of evolutionary knowledge creation is presented, in which an extended Falsification Principle plays the role of an objectifying feedback; this spiral is related to an episteme of Evolutionary Constructive Objectivism proposed earlier for the coming knowledge civilisation age.

A Subjectivist Defense of Radioman

Warren Quinn’s Radioman example makes vivid one of the strongest objectivist critiques of subjectivism:that an agent’s desires lack the power to rationalize her actions.The force of Radioman,however,derives from making the subjectivist commit to defining desires as dispositional states of action.Without this commitment,a subjectivist can escape Quinn’s argument and even save Radioman’s agency.In this paper,I will first present Quinn’s Radioman example and explain why it renders subjectivism inconsistent,then,I will offer a new conception of desires that stays within subjectivist parameters while avoiding the pitfall that doomed Radioman.I will go on to explain the flaw in Quinn’s argument against the power of desires to rationalize action,and,finally,I will present a modified version of Radioman who is indeed a rational agent.