P/P/324. Philosophical approaches to thinking and understanding

The paper reviews philosophical approaches to thinking arguing that thinking is not a mental inner process. Various descriptions of understanding are discussed including Wittgenstein’s view of understanding in terms of images, the description of understanding as an ability, etc.

P/P/265. Roots and ramifications of systemic thinking

The paper examines the concept of ‘systemic thinking’ revealing its biological roots and discussing its role in corporate environments. Ramifications of systemic thinking are described outlining the system’s components and arguing the importance of examining the system as an entity.

P/P/254. Is consciousness physical or mental phenomenon?

The paper examines the concept of consciousness arguing whether it can be considered as a physical phenomenon. Psychological definitions of consciousness are provided touching on the issues of free will, logical possibility, the difference between mental and physical processes, etc.

P/P/241. Self-identity in modern world

The paper examines the issues of self-identity in the modern world addressing the issues of social fragmentation, self-mutations, self re-evaluations, multiple ambiguity, etc. Philosophical theories on the outcomes of modern socio-structural transformations are reviewed focusing on Giddens theory.

P/PS/62. Theories of intelligence: comparative analysis

The paper analyses the concept of intelligence reporting on the evolution in philosophic and psychological perceptions of intelligence from traditional approaches by Spearman, Thurstone, Cattel, etc., to more recent theories by Guilford, Vernon & Carroll, Sternberg, Gardner, etc. Traditional and modern understanding of intelligence is compared.

P/P/223. Influence of ideas on public policies

The paper looks at the mechanisms that influence public policies focusing on the factors of time and power relationship between the key actors, and arguing that ideas generate change. Academic opinions on the force of ideas are reviewed including those of Kingdon, Allison, etc.

P/P/222. Circuit of Knowledge: theory and self-analysis

The paper investigates the circuit of knowledge describing the authors world outlook and views on universal knowledge, pluralism, objectivity, causality and the existence of the multiple self. Self analysis is performed in the context of other scientific circuits of knowledge, namely, the positivistic scientific view.

P/P/218. Is there a difference between external and personal time?

The paper addresses the philosophic issues of the time plurality discussing the difference between external and personal time. Academic opinions on the subject are reviewed; the possibility of time travel is argued.

P/P/215. Do we know the content of our thoughts?

The paper seeks to identify whether we have authoritative knowledge of our own minds, discussing externalist ideas on the relation between the thinker and the thinkers environment, and reviewing scholars opinions on the possibility of self-knowledge.

P/P/214. Do mental events supervene on physical events?

The paper reports on the debate about whether mental events depend upon physical events reviewing the theories of supervenience and physicalism, describing the types of physicalism and arguing the ‘primacy of the physical.

P/P/213. Do mental events cause physical events? Critique of physicalism

The paper poses a question if mental events may cause physical events revealing a conflict of ideas on the possibility of mental causation. A critical review of the physicalistic approach and identity theories is presented challenging the assumption that physics is a causally closed system.

S/P/33. Authority and self-knowledge

In this paper I begin with a brief account of some reasons we have for trying to construct models of self-knowledge. These reasons include questions such as ‘Is there a fundamental asymmetry between first and third person knowledge? and if so ‘Where does this asymmetry lie and can it be identified/explained by a certain model? depending on the answer given to these questions, we can perhaps look towards supplying an answer to the a pivotal question, that is ‘do we have authority, agency, free will and moral responsibility?'. I then look at the model constructed by Richard Moran in 'Authority and Estrangement', and address problems raised by his theory. I then present my own view of self-knowledge and address those same problems raised against Moran.

P/P/179. Do we know what we know?

The paper touches upon the philosophic aspects of semantics arguing about the meaning of meanings and the extent to which we know the contents of our thoughts. The doctrines of externalism and self-knowledge are compared; literature on conceptual mind frames is reviewed.

P/P/178. Relations between physical and mental states

The paper poses the question whether mental events are determined by physical events subjecting to criticism the physicalist (materialist) view that all mental properties are really physical. The concept of supervenience is applied not only to the relationship within a possible world but also across possible worlds.

P/P/165. Influence of consciousness on perception: Sartres phenomenology

The paper presents a critical analysis of Sartres philosophic conceptions of Realism, Idealism and Solipsism. The issues of reality, subjective knowledge and experience are discussed in the context of Sartres phenomenological ontology, touching upon the transphenomenal features of consciousness and our awareness of other minds. The theory of Heidegger is briefly reviewed. Phenomenological roots of sadism and masochism are commented on.

P/P/163. Technological development and human evolution

The dissertation studies the relationship between technology and human society seeking to identify whether technological advances are a form of the evolutionary development of mankind. A review of literature offers various definitions of technology highlighting instrumental, substantive and evolutionary approaches to technology. The three main theories are analysed and compared.

P/P/123. Can scientific theories be compared?

The paper seeks to explain the incompatibility, or incommensurability of scientific theories. The author seeks to understand if scientific language is translatable and if the ideas expressed through the language are comprehensible. The paper discusses how much translation depends on interpretation. An overview of the debate on the subject is given.

P/P/121. The concept of knowledge

The paper seeks to define the concept of 'knowledge' in terms of logic. The constituents of knowledge are outlined with reference to the theories of Edmund Gettier and Alvin Goldman. The strengths and weaknesses of both theories are discussed focusing on the role of causal element in perceptual knowledge and knowledge through memory.

P/P/111. What is the relation between thought and language?

The paper examines the philosophical issues of the correlation between thought and language. The study is based on the book ´TractatusÎ by Ludwig Wittgenstein. Quotes from Tractatus are critically analysed; the author claims that the notion of psychical constituents is unclear and argues that thoughts are logical while language is vague and can only simplify thoughts.

P/P/57. Nietzsche, Croce and Foucault and Their 'Knowledge', 'Truth'

The essay compares and assesses the ways in which Nietzsche, Croce and Foucault have challenged our understanding of the following concepts: 'knowledge' and 'truth'.

P/P/37. Chomsky Vs Putnam: Innateness of Language and Knowledge

This essay is analysing the debate between Chomsky and Putnam. The debate is concerned with is what aspects of language must be innate and is focused on the nature of what is innate rather than the existence of innate principles or strategies.

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