Sun Yat-Sen University
Department of Philosophy (Zhuhai)
Plotinus is known as both a philosopher and a mystic, and it is crucial to explain his mysticism of henosis in the light of his metaphysics of the One. In this dissertation I investigate Plotinus’ mysticism on this approach, while... more
This article inquires into the specific differences between Plotinus’ and Dionysius’ negative theologies and their contemporary philosophical significance. The comparative analysis looks beyond their general similarities to focus on their... more
It is often said that the best system account of laws (BSA) needs supplementing with a theory of perfectly natural properties. The 'strength' and 'simplicity' of a system is language-relative and without a fixed vocabulary it is... more
It has been argued that the fundamental laws of physics do not face a 'problem of provisos' equivalent to that found in other scientific disciplines (Earman, Roberts and Smith 2002) and there is only the appearance of exceptions to... more
This new study provides a refreshing look at the issue of exceptions and shows that much of the problem stems from a failure to recognize at least two kinds of exception-ridden law: ceteris paribus laws and ideal laws. Billy Wheeler... more
It has been argued that the use of big data in scientific research obviates the need for causal knowledge in making sound predictions and interventions. Whilst few accept that this claim is true, there is an ongoing discussion about what... more
Computer models and simulations have provided enormous benefits to researchers in the natural and social sciences, as well as many areas of philosophy. However, to date, there has been little attempt to use computer models in the... more
The algorithmic theory of laws claims that the laws of nature are the algorithms in the best possible compression of all empirical data. This position assumes that the universe is compressible and that data received from observing it is... more
Is it possible to gain knowledge about the real world based solely on experiences in virtual reality? According to one influential theory of knowledge, you cannot. Robert Nozick's truth-tracking theory requires that, in addition to a... more
We are becoming increasingly dependent on robots and other forms of artificial intelligence for our beliefs. But how should the knowledge gained from the "say-so" of a robot be classified? Should it be understood as testimonial knowledge,... more
Humans are becoming increasingly dependent on the 'say-so' of machines, such as computers, smartphones, and robots. In epistemology, knowledge based on what you have been told is called 'testimony' and being able to give and receive... more
That many of our most successful scientific theories involve one or more idealizations poses a challenge to traditional accounts of theory confirmation. One popular response amongst scientific realists is the "Improvement Model of... more
Machines, instruments and tools offer many benefits, but according to the classical Daoists-Laozi and Zhuangzi-they can also interfere with living a life in harmony with nature. Despite this, the Zhuangzi offers numerous stories of... more
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The issue of rationality has received significant attention in the study of classical Chinese philosophy from comparative perspectives. As classical Chinese philosophy is considered fundamentally different from Western philosophy, it is... more
This essay offers an experimental interpretation for Mengzi’s孟子ren-yi仁義 discourses, reading them as strategic prescriptions akin to those presented in classical strategic manuals. However, rather than arguing that it is the correct... more
My paper is divided into three sections, which discuss, in turn, the referents, connotations, and significances of the pejorative “ru-mo”. I argue in the first section that the expression “ru-mo” in early texts does not always... more
Anecdotal narrative as a rhetorical, hermeneutical, literary, or argumentative device, is ubiquitous in early Chinese texts. Throughout these texts, we encounter and re-encounter many anecdotes through re-narration and allusion. Many... more