Hasil untuk "Philosophy"

J. Fleetwood

C. Hartshorne, P. Weiss

Alain Badiou

W. David Wick

Now that we have reached the centennial of Erwin Schrodinger's seminal paper introducing the wavefunction theory of matter, it is right and proper to inquire as to its legacy. It is undeniable that today every paper in atomic physics cites his 1926 equation in the first paragraph. But the philosophy undergirding the wavefunction seems to have fallen into the shadows. And Schrodinger left his program incomplete. I will argue here that recent developments in nonlinear mathematics, including so-called "chaos theory", permit finishing the task. It turns out that one nonlinear addition to his equation from 1926 can resolve both the Measurement Problem and the Randomness Problem. With this emendation, the wavefunction alone suffices to explain the outcomes of many experiments (and it is particles that can be relegated to the shadows).

Karen Crowther

The search for a new scientific theory is typically prompted by an encounter with something in the world that cannot be explained by current theories. This is not the case for the search for a theory of quantum gravity, which has been primarily motivated by theoretical and philosophical concerns. This Element introduces some of the motivations for seeking a theory of quantum gravity, with the aim of instigating a more critical perspective on how they are used in defining and constraining the theory sought. These motivations include unification, incompatibilities between general relativity and quantum field theory, consistency, singularity resolution, and results from black hole thermodynamics.

Giorgio Parisi

This paper traces the historical and conceptual journey from Bjorken scaling to the discovery of scaling violations in deep inelastic scattering, culminating in the development of Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD). Beginning with the challenges faced by early strong interaction theories in the 1950s, we explore the emergence of agnostic approaches such as the bootstrap philosophy and current algebra, which sought to describe hadronic phenomena without relying on specific field theories. The pivotal role of experimental results from SLAC in the late 1960s is highlighted, leading to Bjorken's proposal of scaling in deep inelastic scattering and Feynman's parton model. We then delve into the theoretical breakthroughs of the 1970s, including Wilson's operator product expansion and the renormalization group, which provided the framework for understanding scaling violations. The discovery of asymptotic freedom in non-Abelian gauge theories by Gross, Wilczek, and Politzer marked a turning point, establishing QCD as the theory of strong interactions. Finally, we discuss the formulation of the Altarelli-Parisi equations, which elegantly describe the evolution of parton distribution functions and scaling violations, and their profound impact on the study of hard processes in particle physics. This paper not only recounts the key developments but also reflects on the interplay between theory and experiment that drove the field forward.

Mordecai Waegell, Kelvin J. McQueen

Bell's theorem demonstrates that any physical theory that is consistent with the predictions of quantum mechanics, and which satisfies some apparently innocuous assumptions, must violate the principle of local causality. It may therefore be possible to maintain local causality by rejecting one of these other assumptions instead. One possibility that has recently received significant attention involves rejecting the principle of statistical independence (SI). In this paper, we consider the frequency interpretation of SI, which states that $ρ(λ) \approx ρ(λ| Z)$, where $ρ(λ)$ is the relative frequency of an element of an ensemble being in the state $λ$, and $Z$ is a label that separates the ensemble into apparently randomly selected sub-ensembles. SI is violated when the sub-ensemble frequency $ρ(λ| Z)$ fails to be representative of the ensemble frequency $ρ(λ)$. We argue that physical theories that systematically violate SI should all be understood as superdeterministic. This perspective on SI sheds light on a number of issues that are being debated in the superdeterminism literature, especially concerning its scope and philosophical consequences. Regarding scope, we argue that superdeterministic theories fall into three categories, deterministic theories with fine-tuned initial conditions, fluke theories, and nomic exclusion theories. We also argue that retrocausal and invariant set theories need not violate SI, which is contrary to how they are normally presented. Regarding philosophical implications, we argue that superdeterminism is incompatible with free will according to some prominent compatibilist accounts. We also argue that although superdeterminism is conspiratorial, it is not unscientific, but pre-scientific.

Elisabeth Valmyr Bania, Toril Sørheim Nilsen, Mikael Thastum et al.

IntroductionSchool absenteeism represents a concern for students, educators, and parents alike. Teachers’ involvement is vital to students’ school life. Consequently, integrating schools and teachers effectively in absenteeism interventions is of great importance. However, few studies have investigated teachers’ perspectives on participating in manual-based, indicated interventions to promote school attendance. This study aimed to explore teachers’ experiences with the manual-based Back2School (B2S) intervention, which is based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).MethodsSeven primary and lower secondary school teachers agreed to participate in individual interviews following their involvement in the intervention. These teachers engaged in various aspects of the intervention, including data collection, school sessions, and school meetings involving students, parents, and B2S group leaders.ResultsThe results indicate that some of the informants experienced increased competence and self-efficacy regarding school absenteeism following the intervention, while other informants did not have this experience.DiscussionThere is a need for more clarity and enhanced teacher involvement in future B2S interventions.

Philipp Berghofer, Jordan François

There is solid consensus among physicists and philosophers that, in gauge field theory, for a quantity to be physically meaningful or real, it must be gauge-invariant. Yet, every "elementary" field in the Standard Model of particle physics is actually gauge-variant. This has led a number of researchers to insist that new manifestly gauge-invariant approaches must be established. Indeed, in the foundational literature, dissatisfaction with standard methods for reducing gauge symmetries has been expressed: Spontaneous symmetry breaking is deemed conceptually dubious, while gauge fixing suffers the same limitations and is subject to the same criticisms as coordinate choices in General Relativity. An alternative gauge-invariant proposal was recently introduced in the literature, the so-called "dressing field method" (DFM). It is a mathematically subtle tool, and unfortunately prone to be confused with simple gauge transformations, hence with standard gauge~fixings. As a matter of fact, in the physics literature the two are often conflated, and in the philosophy community some doubts have been raised about whether there is any substantial difference between them. Clarifying this issue is of special significance for anyone interested in both the foundational issues of gauge theories and their invariant formulation. It is thus our objective to establish as precisely as possible the technical and conceptual distinctions between the DFM and gauge fixing.

Lorenzo Lorenzetti

The use of statistical methods to model gravitational systems is crucial to physics practice, but the extent to which thermodynamics and statistical mechanics genuinely apply to these systems is a contentious issue. This paper provides new conceptual foundations for gravitational thermodynamics by reconsidering the nature of key concepts like equilibrium and advancing a novel way of understanding thermodynamics. The challenges arise from the peculiar characteristics of the gravitational potential, leading to non-extensive energy and entropy, negative heat capacity, and a lack of standard equilibrium. Hence it has been claimed that only non-equilibrium statistical mechanics is warranted in this domain, whereas thermodynamics is inapplicable. We argue instead that equilibrium statistical mechanics applies to self-gravitating systems at the relevant scale, as they display equilibrium in the form of metastable quasi-equilibrium states. We then develop a minimal framework for thermodynamics that can be applied to these systems and beyond. Thermodynamics applies in the sense that we can devise macroscopic descriptions and explanations of the behaviour of these systems in terms of coarse-grained quantities like energy and temperature within equilibrium statistical mechanics.

Cocić Nikola Z.

This study examines the relationship between self-efficacy , perceived organizational support, and job satisfaction, with pay satisfaction as a mediator. The sample is convenient and consists of 269 respondents (139 male and 136 female), aged 19 to 43 (M= 25.8, Sd= 4.3), working in an organizational or industrial environment. Out of the 269 respondents, 223 indicated their monthly income was average, 45 reported it as above average, and 1 stated it was below average. The instruments used for data collection were Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ), General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE), Perceived Organizational Support Scale, and respondents' pay satisfaction was assessed using a single question. A statistically significant correlation was found between all the variables included in the study (p < 0.01). Pay satisfaction had a mediating influence on the relationship between self-efficacy and job satisfaction, while perceived organizational support was a direct, statistically significant predictor of job satisfaction. The model proved to be sustainable. The study results are discussed in relation to relevant theoretical assumptions and their practical applications. The limitations of the study, such as sample adequacy, online administration, and the work environments, are stated. Recommendations are made for further research, including the exploration of additional variables to enhance the current model.

Konstantin S. Kondratenko

The article introduces a new concept designed to describe the social and sociotechnical processes that were triggered by digital transformation and, in their turn, resulted in Industry 5.0. The author described and modelled egocentric, communicative, convergent, and cause-and-effect rational-semantic networks, in which rationality relies on the semantic model of the system and forms some rational concern for its values and meanings to be implemented in behavior. The theoretical side of the research could be represented as a pyramid of conceptual levels that concentrate from philosophy and general science to particular research with statistical, network, and other methods. The author introduced the term of rational-semantic system to study the network contexts of behavior, including that of social network users. The term was also applied to the phenomena and effects of network interaction, e.g. the legitimacy of network power and its effect on user behavior patterns. The methodological character of this research allows for a broader study of social and political networks. The network context revealed some congruence issues, i.e., compatibility of rational-semantic systems. The author believes that eventually all systems can be combined into a single whole.

Martina Barbera, Amelia Rizzo

Although previous studies have investigated factors contributing to compulsive shopping, the specific role of alexithymia and its influence on emotional regulation in predicting this behavior remains underexplored. The study explores the link between alexithymia and compulsive shopping in young adults, focusing on whether emotional regulation difficulties predict problematic shopping behavior. A sample of 220 Italian young adults was assessed using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and the Shopping Behaviour Scale (SBS). Multiple regression analysis revealed that alexithymia's three dimensions explained 4.8% of the variance in compulsive shopping. Externally oriented thinking was the only significant predictor, while difficulty identifying and describing feelings were not. The findings suggest that individuals more focused on external realities are at higher risk for compulsive shopping. Improving emotional awareness and regulation may help reduce this behavior in young adults.

Sabirin Sabirin, Aulia Azimi, Harry Wahyudi

Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui pengaruh etika profesi auditor dan fee audit terhadap kualitas audit. Desain / metodologi / pendekatan: dalam penelitian ini dilakukan analisis statistik deskriptif dengan pendekatan kuantitatif yang menggunakan teknik analisis regresi linear berganda dengan alat analisis SPSS 24. Temuan Penelitian: Hasil dari penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa etika profesi dan fee audit memiliki pengaruh terhadap kualitas audit. Kontribusi Teoretis / Orisinalitas: Perbedaan penelitian ini dengan penelitian sebelumnya adalah pada teknik analisis yang digunakan, selain itu objek penelitian juga berbeda, pada penelitian ini yang menjadi objek penelitian adalah Kantor Akuntan Publik yang berada di Kota Pontianak dan Bandung dan struktur bisnis yang kompleks sehingga menjadikan penelitian layak untuk diteruskan. Berdasarkan permasalahan di atas, dan melihat pentingnya etika profesi serta sangat sensitifnya fee audit penulis tertarik untuk meneliti kembali dengan fokus KAP di Pontianak Bandung sebagai responden. Keterbatasan dan implikasi penelitian: Peneliti menyadari keterbatasan dalam penelitian ini yang tentunya memerlukan perbaikan dan pengembangan untuk penelitian selanjutnya. Keterbatasan dalam penelitian ini adalah Variabel independen dalam penelitian belum memberikan kontribusi yang baik terhadap variabel dependen. Hal tersebut terlihat dari analisis koefisien determinasi dimana nilai R2 sebesar 66,6%. Sisanya sebesar 33.4% dipengaruhi oleh variabel lain diluar model ini sehingga disarankan bagi peneliti selanjutnya untuk menambahkan variabel-variabel independen yang secara teoritis dapat berpengaruh lebih besar terhadap kualitas audit. Selain itu data yang dikumpulkan untuk diteliti dan dianalisis berdasarkan pada persepsi masing-masing responden terhadap item-item instrumen penelitian sehingga dapat memungkinkan terjadinya bias atau miss perseption.

Michael te Vrugt, Paul Needham, Georg J. Schmitz

It is a common view in philosophy of physics that thermodynamics is a non-fundamental theory. This is motivated in particular by the fact that thermodynamics is considered to be a paradigmatic example for a theory that can be reduced to another one, namely statistical mechanics. For instance, the statement "temperature is mean molecular kinetic energy" has become a textbook example for a successful reduction, despite the fact that this statement is not correct for a large variety of systems. In this article, we defend the view that thermodynamics is a fundamental theory, a position that we justify based on four case studies from recent physical research. We explain how entropic gravity (1) and black hole thermodynamics (2) can serve as case studies for the multiple realizability problem which blocks the reduction of thermodynamics. Moreover, we discuss the problem of the reducibility of phase transitions and argue that bifurcation theory (3) allows the modelling of "phase transitions" on a thermodynamic level even in finite systems. It is also shown that the derivation of irreversible transport equations in the Mori-Zwanzig formalism (4) does not, despite recent claims to the contrary, constitute a reduction of thermodynamics to quantum mechanics. Finally, we briefly discuss some arguments against the fundamentality of thermodynamics that are not based on reduction.

Adam Koberinski, Bridget Falck, Chris Smeenk

The (re)introduction of $Λ$ into cosmology has spurred debates that touch on central questions in philosophy of science, as well as the foundations of general relativity and particle physics. We provide a systematic assessment of the often implicit philosophical assumptions guiding the methodology of precision cosmology in relation to dark energy. We start by briefly introducing a recent account of scientific progress in terms of risky and constrained lines of inquiry. This allows us to contrast aspects of $Λ$ that make it relevantly different from other theoretical entities in science, such as its remoteness from direct observation or manipulability. We lay out a classification for possible ways to explain apparent accelerated expansion but conclude that these conceptually clear distinctions may blur heavily in practice. Finally, we consider the important role played in cosmology by critical tests of background assumptions, approximation techniques, and core principles, arguing that the weak anthropic principle fits into this category. We argue that some core typicality assumptions -- like the Copernican principle and the cosmological principle -- are necessary though not provable, while others -- like the strong anthropic principle and appeals to naturalness or probability in the multiverse -- are not similarly justifiable.

Eddy Keming Chen

A strongly deterministic theory of physics is one that permits exactly one possible history of the universe. In the words of Penrose (1989), ''it is not just a matter of the future being determined by the past; the entire history of the universe is fixed, according to some precise mathematical scheme, for all time.'' Such an extraordinary feature may appear unattainable in a world like ours. In this paper, I show that it can be achieved in a simple way and discuss its implications for metaphysics and philosophy of science, including natural properties, free will, explanation, and modality. First, I propose a precise definition of strong determinism. Next, I discuss its philosophical ramifications and a toy example. Finally, I provide a realistic example of a strongly deterministic (and simple) physical theory -- the Everettian Wentaculus. A surprising consequence is that whether or not our world is strongly deterministic may be empirically underdetermined.

Rabih Soubra, Ibrahim Hasan, Louna Ftouni et al.

Abstract Background Nowadays, social media have become central in the daily lives of people, including healthcare professionals. Fears arise that the accelerated growth of these social platforms was not accompanied by the appropriate training of the healthcare students and workers on the professional use of social media. This study primarily aimed to assess the awareness of the healthcare students at Beirut Arab University, Lebanon on the professional standards of social media. It also aimed to assess the presence of differences in the practices and attitudes of healthcare students according to gender and major. Methods A cross-sectional study was designed, and a paper-based questionnaire was distributed to healthcare students. Chi-Square test was used to analyse certain findings. Results Out of 1800 students approached, 496 participated in the questionnaire. All participants used social media. Only 19.5% (96/496) of them had received a structured education on the professional use of social media during their university study. The majority of students (349/488, 71.5%) thought that the professional standards on social media are distinct from those established in face-to-face interactions. Female students were more likely to get adequate answers in accordance with international guidelines. There were statistically significant differences in the practices and attitudes of students belonging to different majors (p value < 0.05). Conclusion The line between what is professional on social media, and what is not, remains blurred for healthcare students. This study uncovered the need for clear and updated evidence-based guidelines assisting students in making the most appropriate decisions in the various online scenarios faced in healthcare practice.

G. Samuel, D. Kennett

Genetic genealogy databases have become particularly attractive to law enforcement agencies, especially in the United States (US), which have started to employ genealogists to search them with unknown origin DNA from unidentified human remains (suicides, missing persons) or from a serious crime scene, to help identify the victim, or a potential suspected perpetrator, respectively. While this investigative genetic genealogy (IGG) technique holds much promise, its use – particularly during serious criminal investigations – has sparked a range of social and ethical concerns. Receiving consent for IGG from genetic genealogy database users has been argued as a way to address such concerns. While critiques of the importance of consent are well documented in the biomedical and forensic biobanking literature, this has not been explored for IGG. We sought to address this gap by exploring the views of UK stakeholders. Our research question was: what are UK public and professional stakeholders’ views about the importance of the consent process for IGG when used for serious criminal cases? The methodological approach was interview-based and exploratory. Our analysis identified that all interviewees stressed the importance of consent, though interviewees’ narratives pointed to inadequacies of individual-based consent as an ethical panacea for IGG.

J. Monod