In international relations theory （maybe more than in any other discipline of social sciences）, the paradigmatic construction of Thomas Kuhn and his model of incommensurability might be applied to the theoretical in...In international relations theory （maybe more than in any other discipline of social sciences）, the paradigmatic construction of Thomas Kuhn and his model of incommensurability might be applied to the theoretical interpretation of phenomena; and it is one of the cornerstones of the methodological toolkit for the interpretation in this field. The paper explores the reason why Kuhn＇s understanding of incommensurability seems to be necessary for the conception of knowledge in international relations： the concept of incommensurability can be considered typical as it is meant to indicate a conflict, of one form or another, between theories. And the discipline of international relations is more than a perfect ground for considering this concept when one is having in mind the high degree of polarized debate among rivalry theoretical schools （for interpreting and describing the identical phenomena） that is present from the very beginning of the discipline. Recalling the Kuhnian conception of science in paradigmatic view with an aim for understanding--international relations theory, the paper analyzes furthermore his rejection of the traditional dichotomy between “objectivisn”and ＂subjectivism.＂展开更多
Through analyzing the paradigmatic and syntagmatic relations and exploring the case study of"red"and"black"in thedifferent culture backgrounds, the problems in the comprehension are put forward for...Through analyzing the paradigmatic and syntagmatic relations and exploring the case study of"red"and"black"in thedifferent culture backgrounds, the problems in the comprehension are put forward for the purpose of enhancing the learners' abilityof words comprehension based on a complex meaning system.展开更多
Mechanisms of animal learning and memory were traditionally studied without reference to niche-specific functional considerations. More recently, ecological demands have informed such investigations, most notably with...Mechanisms of animal learning and memory were traditionally studied without reference to niche-specific functional considerations. More recently, ecological demands have informed such investigations, most notably with respect to foraging in birds. In parallel, behavioural ecologists, primarily concerned with functional optimization, have begun to consider the role of mechanistic factors, including cognition, to explain apparent deviations from optimal predictions. In the present paper we discuss the application of laboratory-based constructs and paradigms of cognition to the real-world challenges faced by avian foragers. We argue that such applications have been handicapped by what we term the ＇paradigmatic assumption＇ - the assumption that a given laboratory paradigm maps well enough onto a congruent cognitive mechanism （or cognitive ability） to justify confiation of the two. We present evidence against the paradigmatic assumption and suggest that to achieve a profitable integration between function and mechanism, with respect to animal cognition, a new conceptualization of cognitive mechanisms - functional cogni- tion - is required. This new conceptualization should define cognitive mechanisms based on the informational properties of the animal＇s environment and the adaptive challenges faced. Cognitive mechanisms must be examined in settings that mimic the im- portant aspects of the natural environment, using customized tasks designed to probe defined aspects of the mechanisms＇ opera- tion. We suggest that this approach will facilitate investigations of the functional and evolutionary relevance of cognitive mecha- nisms, as well as the patterns of divergence, convergence and specialization of cognitive mechanisms within and between species .展开更多
文摘In international relations theory （maybe more than in any other discipline of social sciences）, the paradigmatic construction of Thomas Kuhn and his model of incommensurability might be applied to the theoretical interpretation of phenomena; and it is one of the cornerstones of the methodological toolkit for the interpretation in this field. The paper explores the reason why Kuhn＇s understanding of incommensurability seems to be necessary for the conception of knowledge in international relations： the concept of incommensurability can be considered typical as it is meant to indicate a conflict, of one form or another, between theories. And the discipline of international relations is more than a perfect ground for considering this concept when one is having in mind the high degree of polarized debate among rivalry theoretical schools （for interpreting and describing the identical phenomena） that is present from the very beginning of the discipline. Recalling the Kuhnian conception of science in paradigmatic view with an aim for understanding--international relations theory, the paper analyzes furthermore his rejection of the traditional dichotomy between “objectivisn”and ＂subjectivism.＂
文摘Through analyzing the paradigmatic and syntagmatic relations and exploring the case study of"red"and"black"in thedifferent culture backgrounds, the problems in the comprehension are put forward for the purpose of enhancing the learners' abilityof words comprehension based on a complex meaning system.
文摘Mechanisms of animal learning and memory were traditionally studied without reference to niche-specific functional considerations. More recently, ecological demands have informed such investigations, most notably with respect to foraging in birds. In parallel, behavioural ecologists, primarily concerned with functional optimization, have begun to consider the role of mechanistic factors, including cognition, to explain apparent deviations from optimal predictions. In the present paper we discuss the application of laboratory-based constructs and paradigms of cognition to the real-world challenges faced by avian foragers. We argue that such applications have been handicapped by what we term the ＇paradigmatic assumption＇ - the assumption that a given laboratory paradigm maps well enough onto a congruent cognitive mechanism （or cognitive ability） to justify confiation of the two. We present evidence against the paradigmatic assumption and suggest that to achieve a profitable integration between function and mechanism, with respect to animal cognition, a new conceptualization of cognitive mechanisms - functional cogni- tion - is required. This new conceptualization should define cognitive mechanisms based on the informational properties of the animal＇s environment and the adaptive challenges faced. Cognitive mechanisms must be examined in settings that mimic the im- portant aspects of the natural environment, using customized tasks designed to probe defined aspects of the mechanisms＇ opera- tion. We suggest that this approach will facilitate investigations of the functional and evolutionary relevance of cognitive mecha- nisms, as well as the patterns of divergence, convergence and specialization of cognitive mechanisms within and between species .
