Transformations in cognitive science: Implications and issues posed.

Cognitive science currently offers models of cognition that depart substantively from those of information processing models and classical artificial intelligence, while it embraces methods of inquiry that include case-based, ethnographic, and philosophical methods. To illustrate, five overlapping approaches that constitute departures from classical representational cognitive science are briefly discussed in this paper: dynamical cognition, situated cognition, embodied cognition, extended mind theory, and integrative cognition. Critical responses to these efforts from members of the self-proclaimed cognitive science orthodoxy are also summarized. The paper then discusses ethical and epistemological implications arising from the “new” cognitive science and from critical responses to it and considers the broader importance of this literature for theoretical and philosophical psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effect of an ultraviolet/ozone treatment on the surface texture and functional groups on polyacrylonitrile carbon fibres

The effect of an ultraviolet generated ozone treatment (UV/O₃), on the surface and near surface functionality and structure of polyacrylonitrile based carbon fibres has been studied using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. Results were compared to electrochemically treated fibres. The UV/O₃ treated fibres showed increased levels of oxygen functionalities. Levels of oxygen comparable to a high level electrochemical shear treatment were achieved within 5 min of treatment (O/C 0.11 ± 0.03 for both treatments). XPS O1s/C1s ratios as high as 0.3 were produced, with saturation occurring at approximately 40 min exposure. The main functional groups introduced were, in addition to hydroxyl species, alkoxides (ca. 286.5 eV), carbonyl (288.0 eV), and carboxyl (289.5 eV). Examination of the full width half maximum of the graphite peak from XPS C1s showed some disorder was introduced to the first few layers of the fibre with treatment but the effect was not evident in the Raman, i.e. in the bulk of the fibre.     

Direct apprehension and social construction: Revisiting the concept of intuition.

Reviews the role of intuition or an analogous concept within several divergent philosophical systems (including those in which claims concerning the certainty of what is intuited are not relevant) and argues that the salient feature common to various accounts of intuition is its non-inferential status. As such, it is argued to be highly relevant to contemporary theory. The paper offers several examples of points of compatibility with contemporary theory, including perception of social affordances, the apprehension linguistic rules and the construction of social norms. In claiming specific ways in which the concept of intuition is relevant to contemporary theoretical psychology, the paper moves toward developing a more comprehensive and historically informed framework for intuition than is currently offered. It also underscores the historical underpinnings of contemporary debates. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)