An Introduction to Dialectics

An Introduction to Dialectics PDF Author: Theodor W. Adorno
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 0745679439
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 348

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Book Description
This volume comprises Adorno's first lectures specifically dedicated to the subject of the dialectic, a concept which has been key to philosophical debate since classical times. While discussing connections with Plato and Kant, Adorno concentrates on the most systematic development of the dialectic in Hegel's philosophy, and its relationship to Marx, as well as elaborating his own conception of dialectical thinking as a critical response to this tradition. Delivered in the summer semester of 1958, these lectures allow Adorno to explore and probe the significant difficulties and challenges this way of thinking posed within the cultural and intellectual context of the post-war period. In this connection he develops the thesis of a complementary relationship between positivist or functionalist approaches, particularly in the social sciences, as well as calling for the renewal of ontological and metaphysical modes of thought which attempt to transcend the abstractness of modern social experience by appeal to regressive philosophical categories. While providing an account of many central themes of Hegelian thought, he also alludes to a whole range of other philosophical, literary and artistic figures of central importance to his conception of critical theory, notably Walter Benjamin and the idea of a constellation of concepts as the model for an 'open or fractured dialectic' beyond the constraints of method and system. These lectures are seasoned with lively anecdotes and personal recollections which allow the reader to glimpse what has been described as the 'workshop' of Adorno's thought. As such, they provide an ideal entry point for all students and scholars in the humanities and social sciences who are interested in Adorno's work as well as those seeking to understand the nature of dialectical thinking.

An Introduction to Dialectics

An Introduction to Dialectics PDF Author: Theodor W. Adorno
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 0745679439
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 348

Get Book Here

Book Description
This volume comprises Adorno's first lectures specifically dedicated to the subject of the dialectic, a concept which has been key to philosophical debate since classical times. While discussing connections with Plato and Kant, Adorno concentrates on the most systematic development of the dialectic in Hegel's philosophy, and its relationship to Marx, as well as elaborating his own conception of dialectical thinking as a critical response to this tradition. Delivered in the summer semester of 1958, these lectures allow Adorno to explore and probe the significant difficulties and challenges this way of thinking posed within the cultural and intellectual context of the post-war period. In this connection he develops the thesis of a complementary relationship between positivist or functionalist approaches, particularly in the social sciences, as well as calling for the renewal of ontological and metaphysical modes of thought which attempt to transcend the abstractness of modern social experience by appeal to regressive philosophical categories. While providing an account of many central themes of Hegelian thought, he also alludes to a whole range of other philosophical, literary and artistic figures of central importance to his conception of critical theory, notably Walter Benjamin and the idea of a constellation of concepts as the model for an 'open or fractured dialectic' beyond the constraints of method and system. These lectures are seasoned with lively anecdotes and personal recollections which allow the reader to glimpse what has been described as the 'workshop' of Adorno's thought. As such, they provide an ideal entry point for all students and scholars in the humanities and social sciences who are interested in Adorno's work as well as those seeking to understand the nature of dialectical thinking.

Ergonomics in Developing Regions

Ergonomics in Developing Regions PDF Author: Patricia A. Scott
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1420079123
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 464

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Book Description
Industrially developing countries have the largest populations, the highest levels of poverty, poor health, and illiteracy, and the greatest need for improvement in working conditions. And as the marketplace and the workforce goes increasingly global, accountability with regard to the abuse of cheap labor in developing countries is becoming an issu

New Federalism

New Federalism PDF Author: United States. Congress. Joint Economic Committee
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Block grants
Languages : en
Pages : 678

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Book Description


Quantity and Quality in Higher Education

Quantity and Quality in Higher Education PDF Author: John Radford
Publisher: Readers Digest
ISBN: 9781853024337
Category : Education, Higher
Languages : en
Pages : 224

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Book Description
Explores changes taking place in British higher education, focusing on the educational functions of universities and how these may be preserved and developed in the climate of change. Part I reviews the changing purposes of higher education from its origins through the 20th century, and Part II analyzes standards and assessment, with chapters on the quality management debate, factors impacting academic standards, and the UK's external examiner system. Part III discusses priorities, and Part IV examines ends and means. For academic staff in higher education. Distributed by Taylor and Francis. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Solid State Physics

Solid State Physics PDF Author:
Publisher: Academic Press
ISBN: 0080865038
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 487

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Book Description
Solid State Physics

Bio-Mimetic Approaches in Management Science

Bio-Mimetic Approaches in Management Science PDF Author: Jacques-Marie Aurifeille
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1475728212
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 212

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Book Description
Management Science is often confronted with optimization problems characterised by weak underlying theoretical models and complex constraints. Among them, one finds data analysis, pattern recognition (classification, multidimensional analysis, discriminant analysis) as well as modelling (forecasting, confirmatory analysis, expert system design). In recent years, biomimetic approaches have received growing attention from Marketing, Finance and Human Resource researchers and executives as effective tools for practically handling such problems. Biomimetic approaches include a variety of heuristic methods - such as neural networks, genetic algorithms, immunitary nets, cellular automata - that simulate nature's way of solving complex problems and, thus, can be considered as numerical transpositions of true life problem solving. Bio-Mimetic Approaches in Management Science presents a selection of recent papers on biomimetic approaches and their application to Management Science. Most of these papers were presented at the last ACSEG/CAEMS International Congresses (Approches Connexionnistes en Sciences Economiques et de Gestion/Connectionnist Approaches in Economics and Management Science). All papers combine the discussion of conceptual issues with illustrative empirical applications, and contain detailed information on the way heuristics are practically implemented. The advantages and limits of the biomimetic approaches are discussed in several of the papers, either by comparing these approaches with more classical methods (logit models, clustering), or by investigating specific issues like overfitting and robustness. Synthesizing overviews are provided, as well as new tools for coping with some of the limitations of biomimetic methods.

Employment and Working Conditions and Competitiveness in the Leather and Footwear Industry

Employment and Working Conditions and Competitiveness in the Leather and Footwear Industry PDF Author:
Publisher: International Labour Organization
ISBN: 9221080692
Category : Competition
Languages : en
Pages : 218

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Book Description


Invariant Recognition of Visual Objects

Invariant Recognition of Visual Objects PDF Author: Evgeniy Bart
Publisher: Frontiers E-books
ISBN: 2889190765
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 195

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Book Description
This Research Topic will focus on how the visual system recognizes objects regardless of variations in the viewpoint, illumination, retinal size, background, etc. Contributors are encouraged to submit articles describing novel results, models, viewpoints, perspectives and/or methodological innovations relevant to this topic. The issues we wish to cover include, but are not limited to, perceptual invariance under one or more of the following types of image variation: • Object shape • Task • Viewpoint (from the translation and rotation of the object relative to the viewer) • Illumination, shading, and shadows • Degree of occlusion • Retinal size • Color • Surface texture • Visual context, including background clutter and crowding • Object motion (including biological motion). Examples of questions that are particularly interesting in this context include, but are not limited to: • Empirical characterizations of properties of invariance: does invariance always exist? How wide is its range and how strong is the tolerance to viewing conditions within this range? • Invariance in naïve vs. experienced subjects: Is invariance built-in or learned? How can it be learned, under which conditions and how effectively? Is it learned incidentally, or are specific task and reward structures necessary for learning? How is generalizability and transfer of learning related to the generalizability/invariance of perception? • Invariance during inference: Are there conditions (e.g. fast presentation time or otherwise resource-constrained recognition) when invariance breaks? • What are some plausible computational or neural mechanisms by which invariance could be achieved?

Psychology in Crisis

Psychology in Crisis PDF Author: Brian Hughes
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1350312525
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 263

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Book Description
Throughout the history of psychology, attempting to objectively measure the highly dynamic phenomenon of human behaviour has given rise to an underappreciated margin of error. Today, as the discipline experiences increasing difficulty in reproducing the results of its own studies, such error not only threatens to undermine psychology's credibility but also leaves an indelible question: Is psychology actually a field of irreproducible science? In this thought-provoking new book, author Brian Hughes seeks to answer this very question. In his incisive examination of the various pitfalls that determine 'good' or 'bad' psychological science – from poor use of statistics to systematic exaggeration of findings – Hughes shows readers how to critique psychology research, enhance its validity and reliability, and understand the strengths and weaknesses of the way psychology research is produced, published, and promulgated in the 21st century. This book is essential reading for students wanting to understand how to better scrutinise psychological research methods and results, as well as practitioners and those concerned with the replication debate.

Building the Flexible Firm

Building the Flexible Firm PDF Author: Henk W. Volberda
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0191645044
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
How do firms cope with changing environments? Is flexibility really the solution? How can we measure a firm's flexibility? Can a more flexible firm be created? Based on an Igor Ansoff Award-winning study and now available for the first time in paperback, Henk Volberda's Building the Flexible Firm shows how flexibility has become the new strategic challenge for contemporary firms. Although traditional organizational forms have worked well in the relatively stable environments of the past, the globalization of markets, rapid technological change, shortening product life cycles, and increasing aggressiveness of competitors have radically altered the ground rules for competing in the 1990s and beyond. Increased competition forces firms to move more quickly and boldly than before, and to experiment in ways that do not conform to traditional administrative theory. This book offers a wealth of insights into the way firms can increase their flexibility. It is based on extensive interviews with practitioners and supported by many longitudinal case studies on flexibility improvement within large corporations. The author provides a strategic framework which explains what types of flexibility are effective under different organizational conditions and environmental characteristics. He also demonstrates an integrated method for diagnosing a firm's flexibility and for guiding the transition to greater flexibility and responsiveness.