Drawing upon philosophy and social theory, Social Theory of International Politics develops a theory of the international system as a social construction. Alexander Wendt clarifies the central claims of the constructivist approach, presenting a structural and idealist worldview which contrasts with the individualism and materialism which underpins much mainstream international relations theory. He builds a cultural theory of international politics, which takes whether states view each other as enemies, rivals or friends as a fundamental determinant. Wendt characterises these roles as 'cultures of anarchy', described as Hobbesian, Lockean and Kantian respectively. These cultures are shared ideas which help shape state interests and capabilities, and generate tendencies in the international system. The book describes four factors which can drive structural change from one culture to another - interdependence, common fate, homogenization, and self-restraint - and examines the effects of capitalism and democracy in the emergence of a Kantian culture in the West.

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Social Theory of International Politics

Recently, the psychological construct mindfulness has received a great deal of attention. The majority of research has focused on clinical studies to evaluate the efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions. This line of research has led to promising data suggesting mindfulness-based interventions are effective for treatment of both psychological and physical symptoms. However, an equally important direction for future research is to investigate questions concerning mechanisms of action underlying mindfulness-based interventions. This theoretical paper proposes a model of mindfulness, in an effort to elucidate potential mechanisms to explain how mindfulness affects positive change. Potential implications and future directions for the empirical study of mechanisms involved in mindfulness are addressed.

/pdf/mechanisms-of-mindfulness-4z03v7wleq.pdf

Mechanisms of mindfulness.

I. the origin of species by means of natural selection

Interest in mindfulness and its enhancement has burgeoned in recent years. In this article, we discuss in detail the nature of mindfulness and its relation to other, established theories of attention and awareness in day-to-day life. We then examine theory and evidence for the role of mindfulness in curtailing negative functioning and enhancing positive outcomes in several important life domains, including mental health, physical health, behavioral regulation, and interpersonal relationships. The processes through which mindfulness is theorized to have its beneficial effects are then discussed, along with proposed directions for theoretical development and empirical research.

http://www.gruberpeplab.com/teaching/psych231_fall2013/documents/231_Brown2007.pdf

Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects

The principles of classification and a classification of mammals. Bulletin of the AMNH ; v. 85

Realism and Truth.

Language and reality

Part 1 Introduction. Part 2 Proposals: what is realism? what is truth? what has truth to do with realism? why be a commonsense realist? why do we need truth? why be a scientific realist?. Part 3 Polemics: Van Fraasen against scientific realism Kuhn, Feyerabend and radical philosophers of science Davidsonians agianst reference Rorty's mirrorless world the renegade Putnam constructivism and independence Dummett's anti-realism. Part 4 Conclusions. Appendix: list of named maxims and doctrines.

https://www.jstor.org/stable/info/3131026

Realism and truth

Coming to our Senses

The article defends the doctrine that Linnaean taxa, including species, have essences that are, at least partly, underlying intrinsic, mostly genetic, properties. The consensus among philosophers of biology is that such essentialism is deeply wrong, indeed incompatible with Darwinism. I argue that biological generalizations about the morphology, physiology, and behavior of species require structural explanations that must advert to these essential properties. The objection that, according to current “species concepts,” species are relational is rejected. These concepts are primarily concerned with what it is for a kind to be a species and throw little light on the essentialist issue of what it is for an organism to be a member of a particular kind. Finally, the article argues that this essentialism can accommodate features of Darwinism associated with variation and change.

https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/593566

Michael Devitt

Papers

Realism and Truth.

Language and reality

Realism and truth

Coming to our Senses

Resurrecting Biological Essentialism