Joseph Priestley and the Argument from Design

ABSTRACT

Although Joseph Priestley was notorious for rejecting much of orthodox Christianity and replacing it with a materialistic Unitarianism, in another respect he was an orthodox theist of his time in that he passionately upheld the Argument from Design. The Argument from Design was the heart of his “rational religion”. He contended that natural order, especially biological order, could only be successfully explained by intentional agency. At the time, however, the Argument was coming under attack, first from David Hume, then from Matthew Turner, and lastly from Erasmus Darwin. Priestley replied to each of these critics. This article surveys his replies. The three critics of the Argument contended that intelligent agency could offer only a weak explanation of natural order, that natural order is self-explanatory, or that natural mechanisms can explain biological order. Priestley in turn critiqued all three contentions, arguing that the Argument is a strong explanation; that natural order cannot be self-explanatory; and that the proposed natural explanations conflict with the empirical evidence.     

Dynamiques hydrogéomorphologiques historiques et actuelles d'une rivière perturbée par les activités de la drave et analyse des impacts d'un démantèlement de barrage

In Quebec, the fluvial dynamics of the Escoumins River have been disturbed by the forestry industry for over a century. Most specifically, a dam was built near the mouth of the river in 1846 and dismantled in 2013. These disturbances had significant repercussions on the equilibrium of the river and Atlantic salmon habitat. This study therefore proposes to characterize the fluvial dynamics of the Escoumins River and to analyze the impacts of the dam dismantling from the perspective of restoring hydrogeomorphological processes and improving Atlantic salmon habitat. The results suggest that the trajectory of the river evolved differently depending on the fluvial style and the grain size composition of each of its homogeneous segments. However, log drive activities in river and dam removal appear to have been the most important controlling factors on the evolution of the stream trajectory. The dismantling notably allowed the restoration of hydrogeomorphological processes and the free movement of salmonids. A better procedure for dam removal and monitoring should be put in place in Canada to encourage this practice.     

中国城市群“文—旅—科”产业融合发展水平攀升规律的定量模拟与验证

在城市群的形成发育过程中，伴随着城市群内部文化、旅游、科技产业资源优化再配置和协同集聚效应的共同作用，城市群“文化—旅游—科技”产业融合发展水平表现为随时间序列呈指数式增长的攀升态势。本文通过对城市群“文—旅—科”产业融合发展水平攀升规律的基本原理进行分析，建立相关数理模型得到几何表达式；继而构建城市群“文—旅—科”产业融合发展的评价指标体系，运用引入时间调整系数改进的耦合协调度模型，计算得到中国城市群及所辖城市的产业融合发展水平并进行时空演化分析；最后使用模拟验证的方法对中国城市群“文—旅—科”产业融合发展水平攀升规律进行拟合验证，探究中国城市群的产业融合发展路径。     

“南海Ⅰ号”出水漆器残片的成分结构分析

为了用现代化学分析手段来剖析“南海Ⅰ号”漆器的髹漆工艺,以“南海Ⅰ号”出水的3片不同髹漆工艺的漆片为例,采用显微镜(OM)、X射线衍射仪(XRD)、扫描电子显微镜-能谱仪(SEM-EDS)、傅里叶红外光谱仪(FT-IR)、共聚焦拉曼光谱仪(Raman)等科学测试仪器进行研究,从髹漆的层数、显色材料的成分、漆膜的成分、漆灰的结构和成分、胎体的结构等方面来深度剖析“南海Ⅰ号”出水漆器残片的结构及制作工艺。表面显微观察显示漆片花纹精致美观,细部处理到位;截面显微观察显示剔红样品共有9层,分别是外漆5层,内漆1层,内外漆灰各1层,胎体1层;剔犀样品共7层,分别是外漆3层,内漆1层,内外漆灰各1层,胎体1层;褐漆样品共6层,分别是外漆和内漆各1层,内外漆灰各1层,内漆灰中加杂1层编织物层,胎体1层。拉曼测试结果表明3块漆片中红色显色材料为朱砂(HgS),黄色显色材料为雌黄(As_(2)S_(3)),黑色显色材料为炭黑(C)。样品中内外漆灰成分为羟基磷酸钙[Ca_(5)(PO_(4))_(3)(OH)]、石英(SiO_(2))和水合草酸钙[CaC_(2)O_(4)(H_(2)O)_(2.375)]等常见物质。漆膜的成分是生漆中添加了少量的石英颗粒,没有添加桐油作为助剂。     

Design and self-assembly of information systems

ABSTRACT

The existence of biological information systems is generally taken as given in discussions of their function. However, any theory of such systems must be considered incomplete unless it can also explain how the system comes to exist. This article describes the ways in which complex functional systems in general can be created through design, self-assembly and evolution. The differences and relationship between physical and informational entities, organization, processes and dimensionality are also discussed. Through comparison with information technologies, whose origins we understand, conclusions are drawn concerning the creation of functional biological neural networks: specifically, that this involves the self-assembly of information entities into a number of strongly emergent levels of organization. Finally, potential approaches are considered to overcome the hurdles to scientific investigation of emergent information-based systems and the processes by which they are created.     

唐苏同家族墓出土陶质彩绘天王俑胎体的科学分析

In April 2021, several exquisitely decorated figurines of Heavenly Kings were unearthed from the Tang Dynasty tombs of Su Tong's family in Xianyang, Shanxi Province. However, for each figurine, the outer side was unevenly red and black, and the center and interior of the body black, and the mechanical properties extremely poor (disintegrated by water). To scientifically restore and conserve the polychrome pottery figurines of Heavenly Kings, we carried out scientific analyses of their materials and their firing process. The composition, structure, firing temperature and mechanical properties of the figurine remnants were determined and analyzed using an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer, an X-ray diffractometer, a simultaneous thermal analyzer, a thermal dilatometer, an X - ray photoelectron spectrometer, a universal testing machine and a hardness tester. The experimental results show that 1) the figurines were made of fusible clay containing quartz, albite, calcite, muscovite, clinochlore and other minerals; 2) the figurines were sintered between 300 ~400 °C in an oxidizing atmosphere, the internal sintering degree being lower than that of the external surface and the uneven atmosphere leading to the differences in color among various parts of a figurine ； 3 ) the mechanical strength of the figurines was low, with a flexural strength of about 2 MPa and a hardness of 54 〜71 HD. The study provides a scientific basis for the effective conservation and reasonable preservation of the polychrome pottery figurines of Heavenly Kings and of other similar kinds of cultural relics. © 2023, Sciences of Conservation and Archaeology. All Rights Reserved.     

旅游乡村治理演变机理及模式研究——陕西袁家村1949-2019年纵向案例研究

乡村治理是乡村研究的显题，研究发展新兴产业的乡村治理对振兴乡村意义重大，但较为匮乏。本研究基于对陕西省袁家村1949—2019年的治理历程的梳理，探讨旅游乡村治理的演变机理以及成功模式。研究发现：①中国乡村治理经历“宗族自治”、“寡头他治”两个阶段，良性的治理模式需要内生动力和外生要素的共同作用。②旅游乡村治理的主体更加多元、目标更聚焦于集体发展、机制更追求正义、系统更不稳定。③有效的旅游乡村治理需要构建“集体共治”模式和动态开放的治理系统，注重社区精神的约束力，促进旅游乡村发展健康可持续。     

Gmo Neighbourhoods – Will Co‐Existence Be A Geographically Realistic Possibility?

In Denmark, there has been widespread opposition to the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) as a result of which rules have been developed relating to the co‐existence of GM, conventionally and organically produced crops. This has been in the form of a spatially elaborated implementation of the precautionary principle adopted in the Maastricht Treaty from 1992 by the EU. We concretized these rules in relation to actual landscape practices among primary producers of sugar beet in Denmark, and simulated the co‐existence of GM and conventional sugar beet in an area of intensive sugar beet production in Lolland, South Eastern Denmark. The theoretical basis for our work finds three major sources of inspiration; namely Ulrich Beck's theory of the ‘risk society’, Torsten Hägerstrand's concept of ‘the process landscape’ and its relation to the social practices of land users, and Bri‐an Wynne's studies of the discrepancy between theoretical and practical knowledge related to environmental risk. The farmers, who were involved in the study, were interviewed concerning their opinions on land‐use practices in cases of co‐existence. Interviews were carried out both before and after the study took place. It is concluded that although the farmers are positive towards the possibility of introducing GM sugar beet, it is not realistic to expect the rules of co‐existence to be observed, which makes the risk assessment behind the new rules unrealistic. Further studies of social practice in relation to trends and geographical variations in the distribution of structure, size and fragmentation of agricultural holdings are recommended in order to investigate possibilities for realistic co‐existence.     

高质量发展视角下黄河流域城市网络的结构演变与影响因素研究

城市作为人口、产业等要素聚集地，基于多要素解构城市网络对明确城市高质量发展的内涵具有重要作用。本文通过修正经典引力模型和社会网络方法，分析了高质量视角下黄河流域城市网络结构演变特征，利用QAP方法探求其影响因素。结果表明：(1)黄河流域城市网络基本形成了以郑州、西安、济南、太原、兰州等省会城市为核心，辐射至周边城市的网络结构，网络密度逐渐增大但整体较低，网络通达度相对较高且稳定。(2)城市网络社群内部关联高于社群间关联，说明高质量发展视角下黄河流域城市网络社群溢出效应主要以社群内溢出为主，社群外溢作用较少。(3)区位条件、交通基础设施、产业结构、政府支持强度、科技创新的差异对黄河流域高质量发展的城市网络演变有显著影响。     

Investigation and analysis of ancient brick carvings of the Liuhe Pagoda in Hangzhou

The Liuhe Pagoda in Hangzhou, China, has a large number of brick carvings from the Southern Song Dynasty (1152 ce ), covering an area of 464 m². However, the exquisite brick carvings in the Liuhe Pagoda have deteriorated due to natural weathering and a high-humidity environment. Through laboratory analysis and on-site nondestructive testing, the physical and chemical properties of the brick carvings of Liuhe Pagoda were investigated, and the weathering mechanism of the brick carvings was further analyzed. The brick carving of Liuhe Pagoda is composed of brick, white plastering and black coating. CaCO₃ is the main component in white plastering, and the black coating on the top surface contains Chinese lacquer. The weathering products of the brick were analyzed and a trace of CaSO₄.2H₂O was found. In addition, the brick carvings with high water content have low Leeb hardness and severe weathering. Therefore, water and soluble salt are the main factors in weathering of the brick carvings of the Liuhe Pagoda.