L. Anthony

World-leading researchers, including Nobel Laureates and rising young stars, examine some of the most important and fundamental questions at the forefronts of modern science, philosophy, and theology, taking into account recent discoveries from a range of fields. This fascinating book is ideal for anyone seeking answers to deep questions about the universe and human life. The remarkable career of Charles H. Townes, inventor of the maser and laser for which he shared the 1964 Nobel Prize in Physics, has spanned seven decades. His interests have ranged from the origin of the Universe to the structure of molecules, always focusing on the nature of human life. Honoring his work, this book explores the most basic questions of science, philosophy, and the nature of existence: How did the Universe begin? Why do the fundamental constants of nature have the values they do? What is human consciousness, and do we have free will?

Plato uses the most rigorous logic, stories, and analogies in an effort to show what appears to be a mystical vision. Indeed, this is affirmed if we consider his aim of turning the cave dweller towards the light. In essence, as we have seen, this is a turning inward--or the self-reflecting on itself, which ultimately leads to a subject-to-object merging. It is through the cognitive progression, however, from image, to belief, understanding and knowledge that enlightenment is achieved. This, we have seen, corresponds to mystical experiences. Why is this occurring? If we follow Plato’s procession of knowledge, it follows logically that this must occur. The true nature of self (at the lower levels of the hierarchy) cannot be perceived unless directly perceived at the level of forms--where images dissolve. If we examine the dialogues closely, I believe clues can be found that point to the mystical experience. I propose that the merging into one with regard to the tripartite soul--with each component becoming aligned with the rational--which is really a way of “purifying us from the defilements of the passions…”as well as Socrates’ refutation of opinions or belief to find universals are both evidence of a synoptic perspective characteristic of mystics who have achieved a mystical experience.

In conversation analysis, prediction, in the form of the projectability of turn constructional units, is a central feature of the ways in which talk is structured in interaction. As such, prediction is an important part of what recipients do when listening to talk in progress. This article will examine a number of instances of collaborative talk in English and French in which both participants produce similar talk at roughly the same time. It will be shown that prediction is being exercised in these utterances to determine not only the form of the next lexical item but also to identify larger syntactic structures. The article will also assess the nature of the resources that participants in interaction draw on in order to be able to make their predictions about their interlocutor’s talk.

Evolutionäre Fortschritte, die nicht zum Menschen führen, etwa die Entwicklung der Elefanten, der Wale oder die künftige Evolution des Menschen, die jenseits der menschlichen Kultur stattfinden, müssen gleichwertig mit kulturellen Fortschritten eingestuft werden, damit die Kultur selbst weiterentwickelt werden kann. Angesichts modernster Forschungsergebnisse, die Großartiges in der Kultur und in der Natur nicht zu kurz kommen lassen, bietet diese Arbeit u.a. neue, ausführliche und sorgfältige Definitionen von «Fortschritt» und «Kultur». Bei der Beschreibung und Bewertung von kulturellen Fortschritten wird eine globale, nicht-eurozentrische Perspektive angewendet, woraus ein neues Bild von der Entwicklung der Menschheit Konturen annimmt.

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