The Astrocyte as a Mediator for Self-Reflexive Agents

A model of synapse-astrocyte interactions is proposed which enables repeated neuron-to-neuron connections from the single synapse to the network level. Specifically, the possibility that astrocytes may be organized in networks and processes of a single astrocyte may enable intracellular signaling loops via gap junctions is suggested as a plausible biophysical correlate for hierarchical signaling organization of cyclic pathways. This process ultimately translates to abstract planning, intention and execution of complex actions. The formalism applied is called proemial counting and it enables the generation of cycles of various length in the astroglial network, interpreted as intended action programs. Furthermore, the implementation of a model of the reticular formation in a robot brain based on glial-neuronal interactions is suggested. Finally, the implementation of robot brains with self-reflexive capabilities is discussed.

The Self-Reflexive Logic of Aesthetic Education and Its Mitigation

The core function of aesthetic education is to promote the free development of human beings,and the mechanism of realizing its function includes awakening the subjective consciousness of human beings,activating the rational self-consciousness of human beings and strengthening the reflective spirit of human beings.However,the problems of standardization of educational contents and intellectualization of educational models in aesthetic education have profoundly affected the promotion of human free development by aesthetic education and produced a serious self-reflexive logic.The discussion of the self-reflexive logic of aesthetic education is essentially a discussion of whether aesthetic education is possible or whether the concept of aesthetic education is valid.If this issue is not identified and clarified,then our aesthetic education may remain in educational misconceptions due to its self-reflexive logic.In order to mitigate the self-reflexive logic of aesthetic education,we should gradually weaken the compulsory nature of aesthetic education and try to transcend the intellectualization trap of aesthetic education.

Leaming to Be a Tea Art Practitioner： An Anthropologist＇s Self-Reflection

Becoming a tea art practitioner, or charen （茶人）, involves cultivation of body and mind. This paper attempts to document the long-term process of bodily and mindful cultivation from an anthropological, participant-observation, and self-reflective point of view. I will describe my experiences from entering the world of Taiwan Residents tea art through learning the great variety of teas and the techniques for making them, designing my own tea sets, and performing in tea gatherings. This learning process has gone well beyond what is required of a researcher, or a good observer, because it has not only allowed me to understand, interpret, and analyze the aesthetics and ritual of Taiwan Residents tea art but it has also required that I ＂designs＂ or be creative in presenting Taiwan Residents tea art to my own cultural members. This substantially changes my status from the objective observer my profession requires, to a dedicated performer and even a designer/creator of my own culture. My self-reflexivity in this process points to not only methodological issues but also theoretical ones, including recent academic interest in materiality, cultural performance, lifestyle, bodily discipline, and the senses. Through self-reflection, I intends to reveal connections among them.

The Pragmatics of Cross-cultural Contact and Some False Dichotomies in Translation Studies

本文认为作为一门新兴学科的翻译研究不局限于人文学科,而是一般知识运动的一部分。文章用大量的语言学例句来勾勒翻译研究作为一种跨学科的知识的特征,强调翻译研究不将自己摆在其他学科的对立面,而是承认其他学科的存在并关心一些共同的课题和研究方向.