John Ostrowick
Biographic Data
| ID | 6298426 |
|---|---|
| NAME | John Ostrowick |
| GIVEN NAMES | John |
| FAMILY NAME | Ostrowick |
| SIGNATURE | OSTROWICK J |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Cape Town |
| VERIFIED | No |
| TOTAL WORKS | 6 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 1 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 6 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2007 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2021 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Moral risks and government policy in South Africa in the context of 4IR
South Africa, among other nations in Africa, most notably Kenya, Nigeria and Rwanda, is aiming to take a lead in the implementation of policy intended to address the challenges represented by the fourth Industrial Revolution. We take the South African Constitution’s Bill of Rights as our guide on the moral obligations of the government, from the logic of both consequentialist and deontological moral frameworks. With this in mind, we consider whet…
A scientific model of pantheism
Given the scientific possibility of Boltzmann Brains, and the theory from philosophy of mind known as Functionalism, it is quite possible to construct a model of pantheism which is not as implausible as restricted theism or traditional models of pantheism. The aim of this article is to explain how this might work, but also to say why, in the end, it will not do the same job as restricted theism, even if it turned out to be true. The article does …
What is chaos and how is it relevant for philosophy of mind
This paper argues, in agreement with Neuringer, Beggs and others, that if we wish to scientifically characterise human choice, we have to work with a probabilistic or chaos-derived model. This has a number of implications for philosophy of mind. Firstly, it is in theory possible to describe human behaviour with some form of law-like equation; it is just a matter of figuring out what equation best captures the states of our central nervous system.…
Can Bayes' Theorem, given the evidence of this universe, be used to support theism
Given ht as the hypothesis of theism, hm as the hypothesis of materialism, and e as the evidence of a complex life-bearing universe, Richard Swinburne presents these arguments in The Existence of God: (1) that this ordered universe is a priori improbable, given the stringent requirements for life and the Second Law of Thermodynamics; (2) that this universe's structure is evidence for theism, and that theism therefore explains this universe; Swinb…
Is Theism a Simple, and hence Probable, Explanation for the Universe
Richard Swinburne, in his The Existence of God (2004), presents a cosmological argument in defence of theism (Swinburne 1991: 119, 135). God, Swinburne argues, is more likely to bring about an ordered universe than other states (ibid.: 144, 299). To defend this view, Swinburne presents the following arguments: (1) That this ordered universe is a priori improbable (2004: 49, 150, 1991: 304 et seq.), given the stringent requirements for life (cf. a…
The Timing Experiments of Libet and Grey Walter
The neurological experiments conducted by Benjamin Libet (1985) and Grey Walter (1993, in Dennett) provide evidence that our actions are caused by non-conscious brain events beyond our conscious awareness. Normally, we assume that our conscious choices lead us to do things. If these researchers have interpreted their evidence correctly, it may be that we lack free-will, for we could not control a non-conscious brain state. Libet however provides …
The Timing Experiments of Libet and Grey Walter
The neurological experiments conducted by Benjamin Libet (1985) and Grey Walter (1993, in Dennett) provide evidence that our actions are caused by non-conscious brain events beyond our conscious awareness. Normally, we assume that our conscious choices lead us to do things. If these researchers have interpreted their evidence correctly, it may be that we lack free-will, for we could not control a non-conscious brain state. Libet however provides …
The Timing Experiments of Libet and Grey Walter
The neurological experiments conducted by Benjamin Libet (1985) and Grey Walter (1993, in Dennett) provide evidence that our actions are caused by non-conscious brain events beyond our conscious awareness. Normally, we assume that our conscious choices lead us to do things. If these researchers have interpreted their evidence correctly, it may be that we lack free-will, for we could not control a non-conscious brain state. Libet however provides …
Is Theism a Simple, and hence Probable, Explanation for the Universe
Richard Swinburne, in his The Existence of God (2004), presents a cosmological argument in defence of theism (Swinburne 1991: 119, 135). God, Swinburne argues, is more likely to bring about an ordered universe than other states (ibid.: 144, 299). To defend this view, Swinburne presents the following arguments: (1) That this ordered universe is a priori improbable (2004: 49, 150, 1991: 304 et seq.), given the stringent requirements for life (cf. a…
Can Bayes' Theorem, given the evidence of this universe, be used to support theism
Given ht as the hypothesis of theism, hm as the hypothesis of materialism, and e as the evidence of a complex life-bearing universe, Richard Swinburne presents these arguments in The Existence of God: (1) that this ordered universe is a priori improbable, given the stringent requirements for life and the Second Law of Thermodynamics; (2) that this universe's structure is evidence for theism, and that theism therefore explains this universe; Swinb…
What is chaos and how is it relevant for philosophy of mind
This paper argues, in agreement with Neuringer, Beggs and others, that if we wish to scientifically characterise human choice, we have to work with a probabilistic or chaos-derived model. This has a number of implications for philosophy of mind. Firstly, it is in theory possible to describe human behaviour with some form of law-like equation; it is just a matter of figuring out what equation best captures the states of our central nervous system.…
A scientific model of pantheism
Given the scientific possibility of Boltzmann Brains, and the theory from philosophy of mind known as Functionalism, it is quite possible to construct a model of pantheism which is not as implausible as restricted theism or traditional models of pantheism. The aim of this article is to explain how this might work, but also to say why, in the end, it will not do the same job as restricted theism, even if it turned out to be true. The article does …
Moral risks and government policy in South Africa in the context of 4IR
South Africa, among other nations in Africa, most notably Kenya, Nigeria and Rwanda, is aiming to take a lead in the implementation of policy intended to address the challenges represented by the fourth Industrial Revolution. We take the South African Constitution’s Bill of Rights as our guide on the moral obligations of the government, from the logic of both consequentialist and deontological moral frameworks. With this in mind, we consider whet…
Epistemology (5 works) · Philosophy (5 works) · Philosophy and Theoretical Science (3 works) · Physics (3 works) · Theism (3 works) · Existence of God (2 works) · Materialism (2 works) · Neuroethics, Human Enhancement, Biomedical Innovations (2 works) · Paranormal Experiences and Beliefs (2 works) · Theology and Philosophy of Evil (2 works)