Chemistry: Facts not Fiction

Abstract

Brecht has said that ‘the task of science is to lighten the laboriousness of human existence’ and some examples are given of the way chemistry has contributed to this task. Yet great challenges remain – atomic war and the population explosion – and it is essential to achieve a just and informed balance between benefits and risks. Uninformed criticism of chemistry in the media is roundly condemned, and tribute is paid to antipollution measures taken by the chemical industry. The common language which unites scientists from all nations must be used to further peace and understanding in the world.     

历史事实与法律事实:司马光《资治通鉴考异》的方法、地位及其镜鉴

司马光《通鉴考异》方法最为直接的借鉴渊源,应为当时日益完备的"实录"纂修过程中的程序规则,其具体包括证实订伪、以常理进行推断、两存其说、参取、阙疑,可谓钱大昕等人"考异"的先驱和精神导师。历史事实和法律事实都是相对于客观事实而言的,中国古代考据学的发展和法律实践密切相关,法学中证据法规则与历史学中的考据法则存在极其相似的"底层语法规则"。     

Tibetan Environment: Facts and Figures

Ｔｉｂｅｔａｎ　Ｅｎｖｉｒｏｎｍｅｎｔ：　Ｆａｃｔｓ　ａｎｄ　ＦｉｇｕｒｅｓＴｉｂｅｔａｎＥｎｖｉｒｏｎｍｅｎｔ：ＦａｃｔｓａｎｄＦｉｇｕｒｅｓ￥ＣＨＦＮＧＦＡＮＴｉｂｅｔｉｓｆｒｅｅｆｒｏｍｅｎｖｉｒｏｎｍｅｎｔａｌｐｏｌｌｕｔｉｏｎ．ｉｔｓｃｕｌ...     

历史事实:史学家建构过去的图景

中外历史哲学界对“历史事实”存在严重的争论,主要问题是关于历史事实的应用范围与含义上的分歧。其实,“历史事实”只能限制在历史认识论的范围内才有意义,而历史事实与史料中的事实也不能等同。从历史学家与“历史事实”的关系来看,历史事实依历史学家的存在而存在,“历史事实”是史学家建立的关于过去的图景,是一个关于过去历史实际的知识体系。     

Casting the Riace Bronzes: Modern Assumptions and Ancient Facts

This article argues that classical archaeologists have seriously underestimated the output of heat required to melt a large quantity of bronze and therefore have wrongly reconstructed the ancient casting process. The idea that sufficient metal for casting a bronze of monumental proportions could be heated in a crucible with a charcoal fire ventilated by bellows is not realistic. The following observations are based on solid foundry experience: Nigel Konstam, a bronze sculptor, for many years supervised the casting of monumental bronzes comparable in size to those from Riace. This article has been written by Herbert Hoffmann drawing on Konstam's notes     

All in the Family

The authors look at how family income depends on family structure. Using data from the 1973, 1979, and 1987, Current Population Survey, the authors examine four income sources (earnings, property, child support, and government transfers) among seven family types for all families and for Latino, black, and white householder families. The authors find large income differences among families–primarily due to differences in earnings–but little change within family types over time. Increasing the work hours of adult members or relying on income support from nonresident family members is unlikely to substantially remedy the differences in income among family types, and specifically to improve the very low income of single-mother families. Other family policies are suggested.     

‘Not All That Is White Is Lime’—White Substances from Archaeological Burial Contexts: Analyses and Interpretations

Archaeological burial contexts may include a variety of white substances, but few analyses have been published. This study reports on the physico‐chemical characterization of such residues from seven archaeological sites. It is often assumed that white materials from burial contexts are lime. Our findings demonstrate that they can be gypsum, calcite (chalk), aragonite, brushite, degraded metal, natural (gum) resins or synthetic polymer–based products. These may be present as the result of diagenetic processes, funerary practices or modern contamination. This paper provides an analytical approach for the holistic investigation of white materials encountered in burial contexts.     

Ancient Greek Mercenaries: Facts,Theories and New Perspectives

This article presents an overview of the historiography of Greek mercenaries and the proliferation of the phenomenon during the fourth century BC. It evaluates theoretical approaches to the political, economic and military roles that mercenaries played in Classical Greece during that century. In doing so, it considers the ways that interstate relations between the poleis shaped the development and recruitment of this form of soldier. The article disentangles the mercenary from a rich body of scholarship in economic history, demonstrating that analysis of the roles and functions of this figure can shed light on other dimensions of the Classical period, including international relations. Finally, it signals paths that the study of Greek mercenaries might take in the coming years.     

用事实说话:看日本右翼教科书如何美化侵略

战后60年来,日本右翼势力从未停止过为侵略战争翻案的活动,并不断对日本历史教科书进行攻击,指责教科书宣传"自虐史观",丧失了日本的民族尊严.近年来,右翼学术团体编写的教科书严重歪曲历史事实、美化侵略战争,为日本军国主义罪行开脱罪责,为此,受到包括中国、朝韩在内的亚洲许多国家的强烈抗议和谴责.然而,日本右翼势力的活动非但没有被阻止,而且变本加厉,在教科书问题上继续右倾化.因此,对当前日本历史教科书问题的实质以及当前日本社会的政治走向有更深刻更清醒的认识是十分必要的.     

SANGZHUB:Master Balladeer Known to All

In 1984 when I went to Lhasafor the Gesar Singing Party, Icame across Sangzhub whoseperformance lied deeplyembedded in my mind. In 1985 whenhe went to Beijing for further trip toChifeng, Inner Mongolia, where hewould attend the Seminar on KingGesar, I showed him around in thecity. In the ensuing years, we hadfurther contacts.Sangzhub does not talk a lot.However, we found we had much toexchange whenever we met. He isvery humorous, and impressed me asa talkative old Tibetan man.LEARNIN…     

No Angst and All Play: Postmodernism and the Humanities

Abstract

There is widespread disagreement about Tocqueville's conception of human nature, some going so far as to say that Tocqueville possessed no unified conception of human nature at all. In this paper, I aim to provide the essential principles of Tocqueville's conception of human nature through an examination of the way in which he describes the power of human circumstances, such as physical environment, social state, and religion, to shape human character by extracting the principles underlying these transformations. There is no “natural man” or man “in the state of nature” but instead a set of psychic operations that reveal a picture of human nature in which human freedom, or the ability to initiate action in pursuit of important objects, lies at the heart of human life.