JOURNAL OF DIALECTICS OF NATURE
A Comprehensive, Academic Journal of the Philosophy, History, Sociology and Cultural Studies of Science and Technology
Author Information
ZHOU Liqian
Information
<p>Department of Philosophy & Religion</p><p>Nanjing University</p><p>skyzhouapple@126.com</p>
Research Articles
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A Review on Approaches of Western Information Studies Abstract: Because of the important roles played by the concept of information, different disciplines deal with it with different approaches according to their different purposes and historical background. Western information studies can be classified into nine types with respect to their research approaches. Mathematic approach aims to provide accurate mathematic methods of measuring the quantity of information represented by the mathematic theory of communication, theory of computation and combination theory. Semantic approach handles the semantic aspect of information ignored by mathematic approach, providing a method of measuring the quantity of semantic content of information. Logic approach applies the concept of information into logic studies which brings logic new lights. Dynamic theories of information concern with the causal dynamic processes of information that aim to articulate the relations between information and causation providing a scientific foundation for science of information. Theory of signaling game tries to solve the problem of emergence of signals with cooperation game theory in naturalistic spirit. Pan-informationalism treats information as a basic property of the universe like matter and energy. Information is not the one which needs to be explained but an explanation for other things. Following steps of Peircean semiotics, semiotic approach proposes insightful theories of information. Philosophical approach focuses on the concept of information and philosophical implications of information including philosophical reflection of information and philosophy of information as first philosophy. Transdisciplinary approach thinks that information is a complex phenomenon with multiple emergent levels and thus needs transdisciplinary studies. Although the concept of information has different meanings in different approaches, they can learn from each other laying solid foundation for future studies of information.Issue:Volume 39, lssue 1, January 2017Page: 137-154
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Does Cognitive Science Need to Naturalize Phenomenology? Abstract: The explanatory gap in cognitive science drives people to naturalize phenomenology in order to make cognitive science capture the part it previously could not. The explanatory gap is produced by ontological, epistemological and methodological differences between mind and physical phenomena. The content of phenomenology overlaps in quite a high degree with the part that cognitive science was incapable of. However, phenomenology is essentially anti-naturalist because of its epistemological concern and unique methodology. Thus, it needs to naturalize phenomenology to make up cognitive science. However, current approaches of naturalizing phenomenology either have changed the very essence of phenomenology or have changed nothing. Hence, cognitive science needs not to naturalize phenomenology. Nevertheless, phenomenology can still contribute to cognitive science.Issue:Volume 40, lssue 12, December 2018Page: 20-27
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Whether Life Understanding is Helpful for Mind Understanding: On the Inherent Limitation of Autopoietic Enactivism Abstract: Autopoietic enactivism develops a strong thesis of life-mind continuity in organizational and phenomenological dimensions, providing a general account of life and mind. However, there are immanent deficiencies in the two dimensions. Organizationally, autopoiesis which is seen as the basic organizational property of life and cognition is still too complex to be basic, the way to extend the logic underlying autopoiesis to cognition is suspicious. Phenomenologically, the phenomenological continuities between life and mind are inferred analogously while analog inference is not sound. The shortcomings of autopoietic enactivism come from the tension between biogenic and anthropogenic approaches to mind and cognition. Key Words: Autopoietic enactivism; Autopoiesis; Phenomenology; Life-mind continuityIssue:Volume 43, lssue 5, May 2021Page: 21-29
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Biological Functions and Their Teleological Implications Abstract: The widespread acceptance of natural selection has led to the belief that telos in the natural world can be explained by physical processes. However, teleological statements persist in current biology. This paper examines the teleological implications of different conceptions of function and their connections with scientific explanations. Early attempts to reduce functional statements to logical relations failed, leading to two main approaches: the selected effect function and the causal role function. The former grounds function in actual evolutionary history, legitimizing an account of biological teleology, while the latter defines function through physical causation in a target system, eliminating the normative aspect of function and biological teleology. Subsequent discussions explore the relationships between the two approaches in which the teleological implications of normative function have changed from evolutionary history to the persistence of organisms. Key Words: Function; Biological teleology; Functional explanation; Selected effect function; Causal role functionIssue:Volume 46, lssue 7, July 2024Page: 1-10
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