JOURNAL OF DIALECTICS OF NATURE
A Comprehensive, Academic Journal of the Philosophy, History, Sociology and Cultural Studies of Science and Technology
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The Dimensions of Writing in Francis Bacon’s Notion of “Experience” Abstract: From the perspective of historical epistemology, this article situates Bacon within his 16th-to 17th-century context, and points out that “writing” was a central element that Bacon invoked in constructing his notion of “experience”. At the practical level, Bacon drew on the humanist tradition of “loci/topics” to establish the passage between writing, memory and experience as an axis for generating knowledge. He also proposed, under the possible influences of the Llullist ars combinatoria, “tabulation” as the process for discovering the “spelling-book of nature”, which was, in essence, to restore the orderly states of the mind through a structured and reiterative process of experience by writing. Bacon’s conception regarding this kind of “writing-experience” further suggests that early modern “empiricism(s)” may be revealed as a complex genealogy, rather than any straightforward evolution of a consistent philosophical stance. A first step is to rethink Bacon as something other than the stereotypical “inductionism” whose method is based on representational “ideas of things”. Key Words: Francis Bacon; Experientia literata; Textual practice; Order in writingpage: 1-13The Studies on the Primitive Ontology Approach to Quantum Mechanics Abstract: The primitive ontology approach to quantum mechanics aims to construct a universal explanatory framework, enabling macroscopic entities and their behaviors in the 3D space to be explained based on the microscopic entities and their behaviors in the 3D space. Bohmian mechanics and the Random Discontinuous Motion of Particles (RDMP) are two primitive ontology theories of quantum mechanics. Bohmian mechanics posits its primitive ontology based on certain a priori principles and explains the wave function on this basis. In contrast, the RDMP theory, combining new empirical facts provided by protective measurements and the universally valid reality criteria in physics (the Ontological Model Framework), adopts a more general and rigorous methodological principle in exploring the ontology of quantum mechanics, emphasizing the correspondence between the formalism of physical theories, physical ontology, and human experience. Key Words: Quantum realism; Primitive ontology approach; Bohmian mechanics; Theory of Random Discontinuous Motion of Particles; Ontological model frameworkpage: 40-48“If You Were Skilled in ‘Catoptrics’”: John Dee’s Early Immersion in Mixed Mathematics Abstract: This paper aims to understand Dee’s early scientific ideas (1550s-70s) on their own terms and within the context of early modern disciplinary complexities. I argue that Dee developed his new mixed-mathematical approach to physics not only to engage with the sixteenth-century European movement to break the disciplinary barriers between mathematics and physics, but as his own way to manifest the scholastic “occult virtues”. The paper claims that for Dee the key to calculate and manipulate celestial hidden qualities or influences within his newly developed discipline of “astrological physics”, was to be adept in geometrical optical methods such as in “catoptrics”. The foundation of Dee’s optical approach is shown to be indebted to traditions of both Medieval light metaphysics and Renaissance natural magic. Key Words: John Dee; Mixed mathematics; Occult virtues; Light metaphysics; Geometrical opticspage: 67-80Paradoxes and Paradigm Shifts in the Logical Presuppositions of Algorithmic Governance Abstract: The application of artificial intelligence algorithm technology in government governance practices has led to the emergence of a new governance form known as “algorithmic governance”. This study argues that algorithmic governance rests on “algorithmic rationality” and “algocracy”, yet faces paradoxes of uncertainty, value trade-offs, self-fulfilling prophecy, and de-politicization. These paradoxes generate deep algorithmic risks and undermine its legitimacy. To address these challenges, the paper calls for a reconstruction of its logical presuppositions and a paradigm shift: reestablishing its rational basis in the context of uncertainty, advancing the re-politicization and political control of algorithmic systems, and orienting algorithm design toward the public good. Key Words: Algorithmic governance; Algorithmic risks; Logical presuppositions; Paradoxespage: 93-100JOURNAL OF DIALECTICS OF NATURE
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