About existing and not existing referents of proper names – anthropocentrism in onomastics

In the article the author widely covers the problem of names’ reference, especially proper names. The phenomenon of reference is discussed on the basis of Ogden/Richards triangle, showing the tri-elemental relation between the symbol, the concept and the referent. The author is pointing out the practice of inaccurate use of terms in the scientific discourse of research into reference and he sorts it out in the terminology by showing the difference between, among others, the reference, the designation and the denotation. The author’s considerations are full of examples which illustrate the essence of these terms and their relations. From the conclusion about the symbol and the concept he moves to the description of reality whose elements are the nominated objects. The extra-linguistic reality in which objects – capable of becoming the referents of various expressions – occur is described in accord with Kantian anthropocentric philosophical thought.

ORIGINS, CURRICULUM ASSUMPTIONS AND ACTIVITIES OF THE PERESTROIKA MOVEMENT IN AMERICAN POLITICAL SCIENCE

Model of methodological and theoretical pluralism, developed after the behavioral revolution, allows different methods and purposes of approach in research of political spheres of social life. For many years, it seemed that the current consensus is not threatened, that the acceptance of the status quo is widespread. As it turned out, however, post-behavioral order and peace were hiding under the surface of old conflicts and contradictions, and generated new ones. Somewhat like 100 years ago, at the beginning of the new century, they flowed on the surface – colliding with each other – as completely different visions of policy research, based on a different meaning of objectivity and truth and the role that the gained knowledge plays in the society.
In October 2000, to a dozen American political scientists and publishers of professional magazines there was sent an e-mail, signed “Mr. Perestroika”, containing harsh criticism of the system of forces existing in the American political science, under which there is a strong dominance of representatives of science-oriented mathematical modeling and quantitative methods, and representatives of other approaches are being discriminated against. This letter, commonly called the “Perestroika Manifesto”, has rapidly spread in the network, gaining a few hundred followers within a few weeks. It became the nucleus of an informal Perestroika Movement, which brought together a larger group of political scientists dissatisfied with the current model of discipline.
They performed against the domination of investigator-driven assumptions of logical positivism and radical behaviorism, based on the assumption that it is possible to predict the political behavior on the basis of the theories of rationality. They also questioned focusing on discovering universal, independent of context, truths about politics, based on testing causal hypotheses with regard to the behavior of political actors and the quest to build a general theory. Th is results in their opinion that there is the marginalization of other studies aimed at clarifying and resolving specifi c issues and, on the other hand, the need of search for a more explicit link between theory and practice.
Supporters of the Perestroika Movement do not reject entirely quantitative methods, only tend to criticize their absolutizing character, involving the complete discrediting of approaches which are not referring to the quantifi cation of data or treating this type of treatment only as a complementary knowledge considerations based on normative narrative. Th erefore, they generally tend to the concept of methodological triangulation, in which quantitative techniques may complement and partially be a form of verifi cation of qualitative methods in various research issues, of course, if you can combine both types of approaches.
Th ey are clearly in favor of the primacy of the essence of research method. From this point of view, based on compliance with the applicable rules of methodological research, they do not have to be in this respect particularly innovative, hyper-precise or mathematicised. Th ey should, however, contain a well-constructed argumentation, allowing reliably resolve important issues. Th e result should be to restore compounds research and theoretical knowledge with the real problems of political life, moving away from the extreme containment and academic character towards the relationship of knowledge about politics of social practice.

The purpose of the work is to establish the methodological foundations of the study of the essence of the category «administrative act». In the course of the research it was established that the methodological component is a set of research methods by which science achieves its fundamental goal - the acquisition and formation of new knowledge about the studied phenomena and processes. It is emphasized that the arsenal of scientific methods used in administrative law is extremely wide and includes both empirical methods - measure ment, observation, comparison - and purely theoretical. It was found that the administrative act, being the main form of activity of public authorities, is the basic, central concept of the science of administrative law; which is correlated with many other administrative and legal categories (administrative procedure, public-power relations, etc.). Based on the presence of polysemantic research links of the studied category with other administrative and legal institutions, the difficulty of choosing the appropriate methodological basis is emphasized, which requires a comprehensive approach to the choice of scientific tools of various theoretical constructions. Taking into account the established tradition in administrative and legal research, the expediency of using a three-level methodological model of scientific knowledge of the essence of the concept of administrative act, consisting of philosophical, general and special legal levels. It is concluded that the high heuristic potential of dialectical and systemic approaches is characterized by the possibility of considering the system of administrative law, which is an administrative act, on several levels: as a subsystem of society, as a component of modern law, as a separate system. It is emphasized that depending on the objectives of the study, their refinement and specification in the course of analytical work, the optics of the system approach can be changed, relatively speaking, by scaling the individual elements of the system as objects of study.

Autorzy ukazują obszary badań z zakresu myśli politycznej analizowane przez polskich naukowców. Szukają przy tym odpowiedzi na pytanie, czy polskie badania nad myślą polityczną odbiegają od trendów prezentowanych w krajach anglosaskich. Artykuł ukazuje różnorakie spojrzenia na samą definicję myśli politycznej i kategorii pokrewnych, jak doktryna czy też ideologia. Analizując różne ujęcia badań nad myślą polityczną w Polsce, autorzy starają się odpowiedzieć na pytanie, czy możliwe jest uporządkowanie metod i technik badawczych na tyle, aby stanowiły uniwersalny model, którym mogą się posługiwać badacze. W polskim dyskursie naukowym w ostatnich latach mocno zaznacza się potrzebę wypracowania takich metod w obszarze nauk społecznych, które pozwolą unikać interpretacjonizmu. W artykule przyjrzano się wybranej i ograniczonej liczbie publikacji z obszaru badań nad myślą polityczną i ideologią w krajach anglosaskich, aby porównać, z jakimi problemami badawczymi mierzą się naukowcy w Wielkiej Brytanii czy też w USA. Autorzy zaprezentowali własną propozycję konceptualizacji w ujęciu linearnym etapów myślenia politycznego. W podsumowaniu stwierdzili, że odnosząc się do treści artykułów naukowych, można dostrzec podobieństwo analizowanych problemów zarówno w Polsce, jak i w krajach anglosaskich. Skonkludowali, że nie istnieje uniwersalny model badań myśli politycznej. Zdaniem autorów w Polsce nadal będzie się toczyła dyskusja na temat przedmiotu zainteresowania myśli politycznej, a także będą trwały poszukiwania definicji odróżniającej myśl polityczną od ideologii i doktryny politycznej.

Artykuł zawiera argumentację na rzecz wykorzystania w nauce o stosunkach międzynarodowych metod badawczych opartych na analizie struktur sieciowych. Wychodząc od ogólnej definicji sieci jako struktury złożonej z połączonych relacjami elementów, ukazuje jej odpowiedniość do opisu procesów i zjawisk o charakterze transgranicznym. Idąc dalej, rozważa komplementarność sieci w stosunku do kategorii badawczej systemu międzynarodowego i metody analizy systemowej, która przedstawia się jako szczególny przypadek szerszej klasy sieciowych metod badawczych. Analiza dotychczasowych, udanych prób adaptacji w naukach społecznych matematycznej teorii grafów, pozwala na zaproponowanie ogólnego modelu analizy sieciowej, który może okazać się użyteczny przy badaniu stosunków międzynarodowych.

Aktualnie antropologia pedagogiczna staje się integralną dyscypliną w procesie edukacyjnym. Człowiek jest badany z punktu widzenia historii i kultury, w okresie przemian politycznych i ekonomicznych oraz na każdym poziomie rozwoju społecznego. Współczesny świat jest niezwykle różnorodny i niejednoznaczny. Narastają nierówności społeczne na wszystkich poziomach, rośnie liczba ubogich, pojawiły się nowe światowe problemy migracji i uchodźców. Zobowiązuje to również antropologię pedagogiczną, aby pomagała pedagogom w szybkim i skutecznym rozwiązywaniu palących problemów związanych z edukacją i wychowaniem. Artykuł pokazuje, jak prace naukowe rosyjskiego filozofa Jerzego Szczedrowickiego mogą pomóc współczesnej antropologii pedagogicznej. Podano ogólną ocenę wkładu J. Szczedrowickiego w rozwój antropologii pedagogicznej i zwrócono uwagę na aktualność praktyk naukowych naukowca, które nie straciły aktualnie na znaczeniu i mogą być wykorzystywane zarówno w pedagogice, antropologii pedagogicznej, jak i edukacji międzykulturowej.

Art and science of creating a questionnaires in quantitative research. New reality and new challenges

The text enriches the theoretical reflection on the standardization of measurement tools in the methodology of social sciences. The need for this text is also, to some extent, didactic and organizing the reflection so far. This article presents the original concept of analyzing questionnaire questions on three following levels: content-related, logical, and psychological. The substantive / content-related level refers to the division according to the way of construction - structure, format - questions and/or answers. On the other hand, the logical plane is a division according to the functions given questions or groups of questions fulfilled in a broader context, i.e. concerning the whole questionnaire. The psychological plane was distinguished due to the intended or unintended but unavoidable emotional reactions evoked by the respondent). In the last part of the text, a reflection on the most common errors in research tools is presented and recommendations for avoiding them are formulated.

The development of quantum physics and formulation of complementarity and uncertainty principles gave rise to numerous interpretational problems. For the first time microworld laws were formulated in probabilistic rather than deterministic language. In the philosophy of nature there was a need for revision of views on realism, determinism, reductionism and the role of the observer in the conduct of research. However the question whether the perceived boundaries of knowledge are the result of the nature essence or of actual cognitive abilities remains open. In the social sciences, after years of dispute about the research methodology, the need for a complementary use of quantitative and qualitative approaches has been accepted. Qualitative researchers, however, continue to criticize legitimacy of quantitative research. At the same time the assumptions of qualitative approach build on neo-positivist interpretation already outdated in the light of naturalists new discoveries. The article aims to demonstrate that the changes that have taken place in the theory of knowledge as a result of naturalists discoveries lead to convergence between the two research approaches. Taking into account these changes will end the polemic with assumptions already outdated in the natural sciences.

Systemic Geopolitical Analysis in the research of power distribution in Eastern Europe

The article presents Systemic Geopolitical Analysis, which as a scientific method can be an important tool for studying the distribution of power in Eastern Europe, supporting the assumptions of structural realism with an element of quantitative research. This region, as a place where spheres of influence and the ensuing economic and potentially military conflicts meet, is an area where the knowledge of the most precise distribution of power may be a crucial element in the analysis of the genesis of conflicts, the shifts in power distribution during their course, as well as in the prediction of future flashpoints. Being the first attempt to correlate Systemic Geopolitical Analysis with the issue of conflicts in Eastern Europe, the paper contains a hypothesis that Systemic Geopolitical Analysis is a research method that enables an effective analysis of the geopolitical reality in the region because of: 1) the conflicts occurring in the system due to differences in power distribution; 2) the nature of the components of power, measurable by the means of Systemic Geopolitical Analysis. Confirming the above hypothesis, the article points to the economic aspect, linked to the Russian natural gas exports, and the military aspect, by taking into account the characteristics of contemporary tensions in the region, which reduce the role of supra-systemic reserves.

The article is an attempt to characterize the methodology of multidisciplinary empirical research, designed and implemented within technical, exact, natural, social, and humanistic sciences. Three paradigms have been characterized: Education 4.0, Industry 4.0, and Society 5.0. The author’s attention was drawn to the need for a clear formulation of detailed concepts as well as their content and context. The types of possible empirical research and the methods and techniques used in them were presented, attention was also drawn to the importance of the model used in the research. It was considered necessary to disseminate methodological knowledge for the reliable execution of empirical research, allowing for its repeatability, verification, and evaluation.

Ethical standards of the work of historians in the specific context of historical cognition

The existing „Code of Ethics for Employees” in Poland, as well as other documents prepared by representatives of all sciences gathered in research institutes of the appropriate reputation, do not in themselves distinguish between the specific characteristics of particular fields, especially between the humanities and nature sciences, The scientist in itself based on the general ethical standards in force in the European cultural circle. The purpose of this article is to attempt to exemplify the ethical dangers inherent in its scientific activity, and which derives from the specificity of the theory of historical cognition, whose verification differs fundamentally from the verification of conclusions formulated by rigorous sciences or social sciences based on statistical methods. This task was also undertaken with an indication of differences in the intensity of problematic ethical issues depending on the intent and object of historical research.

Methodology of historical-military research in the modern era. Selected issues

The article focuses on selected issues relating to the methodology of military historical research of the modern era. The considerations revolve around the way in which this research is framed today, based on previous findings, with particular attention to gaps in the study of particular military actions, weapons, logistics, etc. This has been highlighted at the various Forums of Military Historians since the first meeting in 1994.

The conducted research indicates the elements characteristic of power relations among states in Eastern Europe by describing them in mathematical terms. Using existing assumptions and resulting universal powermetric models, the study adapts them to the specifics of the region, enabling the implementation of the negative role of the imports of Russian energy resources in calculating the power of individual states. The role of trade links based on the two main energy resources – natural gas and crude oil – has been indicated. Imports of these raw materials from Russia, which constitute a significant part of the balance of resources used in the energy sectors of the importing countries, are the source of reduction of the geopolitical position of these states in the region, in relation to the position held by the Russian Federation. By taking into account the negative impact of trade in energy resources due to their use by the Russian Federation as a tool in achieving geostrategic goals, the conclusions obtained in the study allow for an increase in the accuracy of existing powermetric models in research on power distribution in Eastern Europe.

The article is devoted to the theoretical substantiation of contextual methodology of formation of diagnostic competence of future officers – specialists of physical training and sports in higher military educational institutions. Scientific approaches of foreign and domestic scientists to the concept of “methodology” are analyzed and generalized and the author’s definition of the concept “methodology of forming diagnostic competence of future officers – specialists of physical training and sports in the process of professional and pedagogical training” is proposed. Research methods: theoretical analysis of scientific literature; generalization and interpretation of the obtained theoretical and empirical data; design of contextual methodology of diagnostic competence formation. It contains the leading idea or principle, goals, objectives, stages, content, methods, methodological techniques and means of its formation in the process of professional-pedagogical education. The importance of introducing the special course “Diagnostic competence of future officers – specialists in physical training and sports and its formation in higher military educational institutions” is revealed and substantiated. It synthesizes, systematizes and concretizes the content of all their professional-pedagogical competence on the implementation of their diagnostic function in their future position in the troops. The content of the special course includes the following topics: Topic 1. Future officer – specialist of physical training and sport: concept, content and structure as a subject of educational activity in higher military educational institutions. Theme 2. Diagnostic activity of an officer – specialist of physical training and sport as a subject of military-professional activity in higher military educational institutions. Topic 3: Diagnostic competence of officers – specialists of physical training and sport as a component of military- -professional competence in military units. Theme 4. Methodology of formation of diagnostic competence of future officers – specialists in physical training and sports as subjects of diagnostic activity in higher military educational institutions. The following stages of method realization are defined: diagnostic-motivational; cognitive-activational; evaluative- resultant.

Historically there have been inequities in access to school in South Africa. Differences in languages have also contributed to difficulties. In the present study a Grade One class was observed for a term as they entered formal schooling. Cultural psychology was used as the method, developing a description of the context and narrowing the observations to ten and then five children. Five school homes visits were done and one of these case studies is described here. Given the socio-economic literacy context, the child did extremely well, being self-motivated and supported by an aware single parent. The usefulness of the Cultural Psychological method is described.

The present study is focussing on the leadership potential at schools that goes unnoticed, unacknowledged and un-nurtured. Traditionally, schools focus on children/learners whose leadership traits are encouraged and developed through conventional structures such as the prefect system and the leadership schools/camps that selected candidates are sent on. By developing the concept of Leadership Cocoons, this study is drawing attention to individuals whose potential for leadership lies hidden in a chrysalis form that is masked for leadership selection by pervasive, generic, norm-generated criteria. Such individuals are trapped in a situation of Perpetual Peripheral Participation around communities of leaders. As a means to explore the above issues, the paradigm of Cultural Psychology has been selected.

History, archaeology and ethnography as disciplines unsuitable for the study of Slavic beliefs according to Dariusz Andrzej Sikorski in his „Religions of the ancient Slavs”

For the author of the book presented below, the topic of Slavic beliefs is only a pretext for formulating writing technique-related postulates. A discussion with D.A. Sikorski should not take place in the field of methodology, or the field of the substance, and even less in the field of extra-academic research motivations. A historian should give voice to the source accounts (which does not necessarily mean considering them historically reliable), and this is made possible by appropriate methods. D.A. Sikorski, on the other hand, believes that the method is secondary, as long as it leads to results that are consistent with the ‘state of the facts’, which in practice have nothing to do with the sources. His proposal, however, is unacceptable for it is characterised by unreliability, one-sidedness, undermining of source testimony and replacing it with one’s own fantasies in accordance with a preconceived thesis that „it is not known how it actually was, but it is known that the Slavs did not have their own beliefs”. The result is a methodological trap: positivism has been taken to its ultimate consequences and turned upside down, becoming voluntarism within which you can undermine whatever you see fit.