In contrast with Kant's "Theory of Beauty" his "Analytics of the Sublime" has till now been paid meager systematic attention. This essay on the architectonics of the sublime proves three theses. (1) Beauty and sublime are not experiences of two different object classes, but of two contrary moods of mind. (2) Kant's exposition of the "mathematical-sublime" is based on not immediately evident premises. But these difficulties concerning the "comprehensio aesthetica" can be explained retrospectively from the "dynamical-sublime". For only in view (...) of a symbolically threatening nature its mere "extensively" immeasurable oversize is apperceived asan "intensively" overwhelming power, which evokes the feeling of reluctance. And even the (strictly thought) absurd idea of a "totallygiven infinity" is the playing retort of the imaginative power, by which a reversal of the proportions, a belittling of nature, and the restoration of pleasure is accomplished. (3) The symmetry of the fourmoments of judgment is novel, but plausible. (shrink)

Name der Zeitschrift: Das Mittelalter Jahrgang: 18 Heft: 2 Seiten: 73-97.

Somatic cell count is a diagnostic test of milk for mastitis in cows. Its specificity and sensitivity are less than 1.0, making test results uncertain. I discuss epistemological problems of the test such as underdetermination, undercalibration and underdiscrimination, in the solution of which biomedical and economic factors may play a role. Diagnostics of the SCC should be considered as an epistemological network, functioning in a network in which farmers, veterinarians, epidemiologists and milk industry shift their position following biomedical, technological and (...) economic changes, which is described as an actor-network to understand how human and non-human agents in mastitis may be associated. (shrink)

This paper analyzes the investigation of the distribution of the protein tenascin-C in canine mammary tumors. The method involved immunohistochemistry of tissue slices, performed by the application of an antibody to tenascin-C that specifically can be made visible for microscopic inspection. The first phase of the project is the making of the protocol, the second the deduction of a pattern of tenascin-C distribution in tumors and the third the writing of a paper. Each of the phases is analyzed separately, using (...) the concept of resistance and accommodation. My purpose is to show that in each phase of the process of producing knowledge, the scientist meets resistances which force him to accommodate by changing his conceptual, technical and methodological approaches. In reverse, the details of the non-human agent have to be accommodated to the wishes and expectations of the scientist. Through this interaction a situation of stability of knowledge is reached at the end of each phase.In the protocol phase, resistance is found in the antibody and tissue slices. In the phase of pattern deduction the resistance is in the pathological diagnosis of the tumors and the expectations and hypothesis with which the scientist had entered the project; in the criteria to be used for assigning the slices to a tenascin-C pattern; and in the responses of colleagues and supervisor. In the paper-writing phase the interaction is between the scientist and the scientific community which should take on board the knowledge from the research project.When stabilization of knowledge is obtained in one of the phases, the agents of resistance turn into allies in the next phase, giving support to accommodating the resistances in this later phase. Second, the stabilization of knowledge of the protocol is further enhanced when stabilization of the pattern is achieved; in addition, knowledge of the pattern is more definite when it has become stabilized and closed knowledge within the science community. (shrink)

Es gibt offensichtlich nicht nur Moden der Kleidung, der Frisur oder des Wohnens, sondern auch Moden in den Wissenschaften, in Kunst, Philosophie und vielleicht sogar in der Religion. Das heisst aber gerade in Bereichen, die doch eigentlich 'feste Prinzipien' gegen den Wechsel des Zeitgeistes und der Moden verteidigen. Aber was bedeutet dann in diesen Zusammenhängen "Mode"? Und wie lassen sich solche geistigen Moden erklären? Gehören "Mode" und "Moderne" zusammen? Der vorliegende Band versucht eine systematische Antwort auf diese Fragen, indem er (...) zunächst das Phänomen des Modischen auf seinen offenkundigen Feldern untersucht: den Kleidungsmoden, Wohnmoden, Körpermoden und den Moden in Freizeitgestaltung und Tourismus sowie im Sport. Von hier aus wird nach den spezifisch intellektuellen Moden in den Natur- und Geisteswissenschaften, in der Kunst, in der Philosophie und in der Religion gefragt. Mit Beiträgen von: Georg Bertram, Hubertus Busche, Yvonne Förster, Robert Gugutzer, Rainer Hartmann, Frank Hillebrandt, Paul Hoyningen-Huene, Irene Nierhaus, Daria Pezzoli-Olgiati, Verena Potthoff, Tim Rojek. (shrink)

The following reconstruction and critical evaluation of Georg Simmel's »Philosophy of Fashion« intends to show that until today this theory offers one of the clearest and most fruitful explanations of the modern periodical change of fashion. The close meshed knitted web of psychological, social, historical und economic factors of explanation used by Simmel allows – regardless of some lacking elements – a very instructive answer to the question, as to why fashion forms such a popular cosmos, and can easily be (...) related to contemporary debates on fashion. (shrink)

An analysis is presented of published methods that have been used by experimenters to justify the reliability of the theory of invasion of microorganisms into cultured cells. The results show that, to demonstrate this invasion, many experimenters used two or more methods that were based on independent technical and theoretical principles, and by doing so improved the reliability of the theory. Subsequently I compare this strategy of 'multiple derivability' with other strategies, discussed in the literature in relation to the mesosome, (...) a bacterial organelle that had been detected with the electron microsope, but which appeared later to be an artifact. I propose that different strategies have been applied in this problem, and multiple derivability may have been the decisive one. Finally I discuss the idea that multiple derivability may help to anchor theories in a larger network of theories. (shrink)

Book Reviewed in this article:Book Reviews the Barometer of Modern Reason. On the Philosophies of Current Events. By Vincent Descombes. Trans. By Stephen Adam Schwartz.Making Theory/Constructing Art. On the Authority of the Avant‐Garde. By Daniel Herwitz.Hannah Arendt: Politics, History and Citizenship By Phillip Hansen.