JOURNAL OF DIALECTICS OF NATURE
A Comprehensive, Academic Journal of the Philosophy, History, Sociology and Cultural Studies of Science and Technology
Author Information
LIU Chuang
Information
Research Articles
-
Supertasks: Modern Zeno’s Paradoxes Abstract: Supertasks are processes which consist of infinitely many actions performed in a finite amount of time. They refer to a series of Zeno-like puzzles. This article combs the history of supertasks starting from mid 20th century and mainly introduces the historical context of origination of supertasks, Thomson’s Lamp, an important thesis at the early stage, Earman and Norton’s conclusive solution and the new tendency towards integration of supertasks and various research fields. Key Words: Supertasks; Zeno’s paradoxes; Mathematical resolutionIssue:Volume 44, lssue 12, December 2022Page: 32-40
-
Predictive Processing and Testimonial Injustice Abstract: This paper comprehensively discusses the relationship between the predictive processing model (PP model) of animal perception and the problem of testimonial injustice in social epistemology, and demonstrates the cognitive contribution of the former to the latter in detail. Firstly, this paper explains that testimonial injustice is a common and neglected social phenomenon, and then clarifies the background, root cause (bias), solution (testimonial sensibility) of testimonial injustice proposed by Fricker. Then we introduce PP theory, and demonstrate how PP model explains bias and testimonial perception, and finally a preliminary answer is given to the difficulties faced by solving testimonial injustice under such an explanation. Key Words: Testimonial injustice; Predictive processing; Prejudice; Stereotype; Testimonial sensibilityIssue:Volume 46, lssue 3, March 2024Page: 64-72
-
Extremum Principles: A New Take on Teleological Explanations in Science Abstract: In contemporary science, causal explanation usually means proximate causal explanation. However, teleological explanation or explanation by “ultimate cause” still plays a role, especially in such disciplines as evolutionary biology or social sciences. Yet, philosophically, there is a question about whether teleological explanations, though useful on occasions, are legitimate scientific explanations, or whether they can eventually be replaced by proximate causal explanations. We believe teleological explanations are bona fide legitimate explanations because they are a form of the “extremum principles” – principles of minimum or of maximum. We argue that not only are such explanations legitimate in biological and social sciences, but in fact they are intrinsic to all of sciences, including quantum mechanics and relativity theories. Key Words: Scientific explanation; Stationary-action principle; Law of entropy increase; Evolutionary game theory; Replicator equation; Predictive processing, Free energy principleIssue:Volume 47, lssue 4, April 2025Page: 26-39
-
Can Causal Bayesian Networks Be Applied to Quantum Mechanics? Abstract: This article explores the applicability of causal Bayesian networks in the causal interpretation of quantum mechanics, with a focus on the compatibility of quantum entanglement with causal principles. To address the quantum entanglement problem within the framework of causal Bayesian networks, it is necessary to abandon assumptions such as causal locality, exogeneity of control variables, or temporal ordering. The non-locality of quantum entanglement and the no-signaling theorem cannot simultaneously satisfy the core principles of causal Bayesian networks—namely, the causal Markov condition and the faithfulness principle. Of these two principles, the faithfulness principle can be relinquished. Among the various causal structures that abandon specific assumptions, retrocausality emerges as the most compatible with the structure of causal Bayesian networks. Further analysis of the feasibility of retrocausal interpretations reveals that, while it aligns with the acyclicity requirement of causal Bayesian networks, existing physical models have already exceeded the descriptive capabilities of traditional causal graphs. The article contends that quantum causal research must develop new tools beyond classical causal Bayesian networks to provide a unified interpretation of the causal essence of both quantum and classical phenomena. Key Words: Causal Bayesian Network; Quantum entanglement; Retrocausation; Non-Faithfulness; EPR ExperimentIssue:Volume 48, lssue 5, May 2026Page: 28-35
JOURNAL OF DIALECTICS OF NATURE
- Contact Us
- Address: No.19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China
- Phone: +86-10-88256007
- Email:jdn@ucas.ac.cn
Follow Us
© 2014 Copyright of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
© 2014 Copyright of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
