Care, Social Practices and Normativity. Inner Struggle versus Panglossian Rule-Following

Contrary to the popular assumption that linguistically mediated social practices constitute the normativity of action (Kiverstein and Rietveld, 2015; Rietveld, 2008a,b; Rietveld and Kiverstein, 2014), I argue that it is affective care for oneself and others that primarily constitutes this kind of normativity. I argue for my claim in two steps. First, using the method of cases I demonstrate that care accounts for the normativity of action, whereas social practices do not. Second, I show that a social practice account of the normativity of action has unwillingly authoritarian consequences in the sense that humans act only normatively if they follow social rules. I suggest that these authoritarian consequences are the result of an uncritical phenomenology of action and the fuzzy use of “normative”. Accounting for the normativity of action with care entails a realistic picture of the struggle between what one cares for and often repressive social rules

Overcoming the Disunity of Understanding

I argue that embodied understanding and conceptual-representational understanding interact through schematic structure. I demonstrate that common conceptions of these two kinds of understanding, such as developed by Wheeler (2005, 2008) and Dreyfus (2007a, b, 2013), entail a separation between them that gives rise to significant problems. Notably, it becomes unclear how they could interact; a problem that has been pointed out by Dreyfus (2007a, b, 2013) and McDowell (2007) in particular. I propose a Kantian strategy to close the gap between them. I argue that embodied and conceptual-representational understanding are governed by schemata. Since they are governed by schemata, they can interact through a structure that they have in common. Finally, I spell out two different ways to conceive of the schematic interaction between them—a close, grounding relationship and a looser relationship that allows for a minimal interaction, but preserves the autonomy of both forms of understanding

Concern and the Structure of Action: The Integration of Affect and Understanding

I develop a theory of action inspired by a Heideggerian conception of concern, in particular for phenomenologically-inspired Embodied Cognition (Noë 2004; Wheeler 2008; Rietveld 2008; Chemero 2009; Rietveld and Kiverstein 2014). I proceed in three steps. First, I provide an analysis that identifies four central aspects of action and show that phenomenologically-inspired Embodied Cognition does not adequately account for them. Second, I provide a descriptive phenomenological analysis of everyday action and show that concern is the best candidate for an explanation of action. Third, I show that concern, understood as the integration of affect and embodied understanding, allows us to explain the different aspects of action sufficiently

Towards cloud-aware policy enforcement with universal cloud classification as a service (UCCaaS) in software defined networks

Network services are a critical component of today's networks. They apply critical functions (e.g. security, routing or quality of service) to traffic to enhance the network operators and application consumers experience. Today these services are inserted physically on the data-forwarding plane without providing much flexibility to deal with different traffic types or affiliations. Cloud Computing, however, demands policy enforcement on a per-Provider, per-Service and/or per-Tenant basis. In addition, there is an increasing need for dynamic transparent network chaining independent of the underlying transport infrastructure. We first introduce the concept of Universal Cloud Classification as a Service (UCCaaS). Followed by highlighting how it can be leveraged in conjunction with Network Service Headers (NSH) to address above challenges. UCC provides an addressing scheme to isolate traffic streams on a per-provider, per-service and/or per-tenant basis. To enable bi-directional policy enforcement in network functions we extend the UCC proposal by adding source and destination support. NSH is a way to steer network traffic dynamically across a set of network functions. We demonstrate the feasibility and advantages of our UCCaaS + NSH proposal with an example application, where a service chain defines Access Control Lists and traffic rate limiting on a per-Service and per-Tenant basis. Our proposal opens a door for a wide range of cloud-aware network services and functions

Mathematische S(pr)achaufgaben – Eine Analyse möglicher sprachlicher Hürden bei der Erarbeitung von Textaufgaben

Im Rahmen des vom Mercator Institut geförderten Projekts wird untersucht, wie sich ein sprachsensibler Mathematikförderunterricht methodisch gestalten lässt, der sowohl sprachlich als auch fachlich fördert. Die Untersuchung soll Erkenntnisse über den Einsatz der Fördermaterialien und -konzepte in realem Förderunterricht liefern, um daraus Konsequenzen für den Regelunterricht abzuleiten. In diesem Beitrag werden erste Überlegungen einer Aufgabenanalyse vorgestellt

A Novel Approach To Classify Cloud Entities: Universal Cloud Classification (UCC)

One of the fundamental requirements of Cloud Computing is the capability to provide scalable, transparent and isolated networks. This is achieved by using L2 segmentation via 802.1Q VLANs or overlay approaches such as 802.1ad, VxLAN, ”Stateless Transport Tunneling” (STT) or ”Network Virtualization using Generic Routing Encapsulation” (NVGRE). All of these technologies struggle to provide the required level of scalability, flexibility, performance and network isolation within a Data Center. Research efforts in the area of classification have fundamentally approached these challenges by introducing identifiers for segmentation or providing overlay solutions to tunnel traffic. However, these research approaches are too specific without tackling the actual Cloud Computing classification challenges. Here, we investigate classification approaches with the goal of introducing a scalable, optional, hierarchical, end-to-end and transparent Layer 3 provider, service and tenant isolation scheme. This proposal addresses major challenges and limitations of current cloud classification schemes by offering these five advantages: (1) hierarchical endto-end classification, (2) transparency to upper-layer protocols, (3) optional for en-route and endpoint evaluation, (4) flexibility, and (5) improved performance over current overlay technologies. The solution proposal will be implemented and evaluated based on its feasibility, functionality, performance and usability in cloud-related use-cases

Concept empiricism: vehicle, meaning and intentionality

In the following Magisterarbeit I am going to develop a Concept Empiricist model of conceptual thought, which is in its technical core primarily inspired and motivated by Larry Barsalou‘ s Perceptual Symbol Systems Theory (PSST) (1999, 2008a). But it is not a theory of concepts in the genuine sense only, but it also expands naturally on related topics like the ontology of mind and the problem of intentionality. This is not arbitrarily chosen, but a natural consequence of any contemporary Concept Empiricist theory, for those theories are in kind direct outgrowths of an embodied approach to cognition which yields these consequences – the natural extension to related topics – as will be shown. The roadmap for the Magisterarbeit is going to look like this: First I will delineate the embodied cognition framework. Within embodied cognition there is a plethora of differing attempts at explaining the diverse phenomena of higher and lower cognition which differ in the meanwhile tremendously from each other. Therefore it will be very useful to set clear boundaries between the differing approaches, which range from strong neural embodiment on the one side to a very promiscuous extended mind hypothesis on the other side, in order to make a clear case for Concept Empiricism. It will be also very helpful to set my favoured version of grounded cognition off against classical attempts at the phenomena which are to be explained. Following that I am going to present Larry Barsalou‘s Perceptual Symbol Systems Theory in more detail. I will do that to an extent which allows for an appropriate discussion of concept related phenomena, but which is not too lengthy. I will spare the reader with unnecessary psychological or neurobiological details as long as it is not really necessary for explaining or clarifying the phenomena with which I deal here. Having done this I will discuss at great length conceptual meaning. In doing so I will present a presentational theory of meaning which is anti-realist, internalist and imaginistic. In advertising for this theory I will recur to conceptual methods, intuition as well as to the empirical record. Next and related to this I will develop a resemblance based theory of intentionality which differs also widely from the already established theories of intentionality so far given. Indeed it possess a feature which makes it very distinct and this is, besides its reliance on pattern mapping, the statistical grounding of resemblance which allows a cognitive theory of resemblance which is definite and therefore not open to the counterarguments generally mashalled against related theories, which stress the importance of resemblance. A very distinctive feature of this theory of intentionality is additionally that intentionality is seen as a capacity which emerges naturally form the mental mechanism involved. As we will see, this is a distinctive advantage of it in comparison to other proposal in the field. A discussion of the ontology of mental states follows which is however primarily a discussion of mechanistic explanations and Bechtel‘s and McCauley‘s Heuristic Identity Theory (HIT). Those theories from philosophy of science and philosophy of cognitive science do not only deliver models for the ontology of mental states, but also epistemic criteria for evaluating a theory as superior or inferior. Especially the idea of productive continuity plays a role of pivotal importance in my Magisterarbeit. It might be a bit unfortunate that that an important consideration is discussed nearly at the end of the Magisterarbeit, since I refer to it very often, however, I considered it as equally unfortunate to delay the discussion of meaning and intentionality, which is already protruded by the overview chapter and the more technical parts, even more. Therefore I plead the reader to refer to later parts of the Magisterarbeit when it is necessary in order to understand earlier parts. In the course of writing I have gotten second thoughts regarding the adequacy of an ontology of mental states altogether, especially from the background of the theory of meaning and intentionality delivered here. Therefore I tried to accommodate for ontological concepts by means of a tentative phenomenological interpretation of them. Similar ideas influenced my deliberations regarding meaning too. I hope that this transition towards Phenomenology runs smoothly and that the high level of coherence which is my primary concern and something which I always strive for first is preserved. Further, I have dedicated a main chapter of the Magisterarbeit for possible and actual critics of the ideas brought forth by me. Besides the more classic standard objections there you can find a recent critique of the authors on which I refer most often. Naturally I try to refute any single criticism brought forth and I hope that the reader will approve my objection to the objections. I will round off the Magisterarbeit with some concluding remarks and prospects for future research.In der hier vorliegenden Magisterhausarbeit entwickele ich eine Theorie von Begriffen und somit auch von Bedeutung und Intentionalität, die in dem Embodied and Embedded Mind Paradigma verankert ist. Dabei beziehe ich mich maßgeblich auf die Begriffstheorie von Lawrence Barsalou, die sogenannte Perceptual Symbol Systems Theorie. Neben einer allgemeinen Darstellung des Paradigmas, stelle ich zu Beginn der Arbeit die Perceptual Symbol Systems Theorie von Barsalou dar, sowie weitere begriffliche Werkzeuge, die es möglich machen, eine im Körper gegründete Begriffstheorie zu entwickeln: Simulation, Emulation und Neuronale Ausbeutung (neural exploitation). Dieser Teil ist primär darstellend. Der daraufhin folgenden Abschnitte der Magisterarbeit entwickeln primär eine Konzeption von Begriffsempirismus, so wie ich ihn mir vorstelle. Dabei diskutiere ich ausführlich das Phänomen "Bedeutung" und komme dabei zum Schluss, dass es sich bei Bedeutung um etwas handelt, das radikal verschieden von dem ist, wie es speziell die analytische Tradition in der zeitgenössischen Philosophie gezeichnet hat. Bedeutung ist demnach primär ein sensomotorisches Phänomen, dass für Handlungen evolvierte und dass auf quasi-imaginistischen Mechanismen ruht. Bedeutung ist primär weniger repräsentational als vielmehr phänomenal präsentational und internalistisch. Ich entwickele diese Theorie von Bedeutung vor dem Hintergrund von philosophischen Argumenten wie dem symbol grounding Argument oder dem chinese room argument als auch vor dem Hintergrund neuropsychologischer Theorien wie z.B. der mental imagery Theorie von Kosslyn oder der Begriffstheorie von Barsalou. Neben dem positiven Teil der Theorieentwicklung, diskutiere ich auch eine Vielzahl von Einwänden, die gegen klassische Theorien vorgebracht wurden, die teilweise größere Ähnlichkeit zu der hier entwickelten Theorie haben. Im Anschluss daran, versuche ich, eine Theorie von Intentionalität auszuarbeiten, die es ermöglicht, dass Intentionalität als quasi emergentes Phänomen entsteht und nicht, wie es üblich ist, durch umständliche und problematische ad hoc Erklärungen eingebracht wird. Dabei gehe ich davon aus, dass die biologischen Mechanismen, die auch Bedeutung erklären, größtenteils dazu beitragen, Intentionalität zu erklären, wobei Intentionalität eine konkrete Relation zwischen einem Ding in der Welt, einem Perzept und einem Begriff ist. Die stark objektivistische und metaphysisch realistische Tendenz klassischer Referenz und Intentionalitätstheorien wird dabei zurückgewiesen. Für die Kritik an klassischen Theorien arbeite ich 12 Punkte heraus, die es erlauben, schwere Zweifel hinsichtlich eben jener klassischen Theorien zu haben. Ich schließe die Intentionalitätsdiskussion mit einer Betrachtung des Pseudophänomens intentional-intensionaler Kontexte ab und schlage ein Modell vor, dass dieses Phänomen zurückweist. Daraufhin behandele ich ontologische Probleme hinsichtlich meiner Position. Ich gebe dabei praktisch zwei Lösungsvorschläge ab. Der eine ist maßgeblich durch das Mechanistische Paradigma und die Heuristische Identitätstheorie aus der Wissenschaftstheorie motiviert und setzt Phänomene und Mechanismen in ein enges Verhältnis. Der andere weist ontologische Fragestellungen zurück und bezieht sich dabei vor allem auf die phänomenologische Tradition. Den letzten großen Teil der Magisterhausarbeit macht eine Zurückweisung von konkreter Kritik am Begriffsempirismus aus. Dabei diskutiere ich neben der klassischen Kritik von Fodor und Pylsyshyn, die relativ generell ist, hauptsächlich Edouard Macherys Kritik, die sich konkret gegen Barsalou und Prinz richtet. Die Magisterhausarbeit schließt mit einem Resümee, das vor allem die Probleme, die sich aus meiner Position ergeben, darstellt und schildert, was zukünftig in den Fokus philosophischer Diskussion rücken sollte

PATH INFORMATION-DRIVEN QUIC PATH_CHALLENGE TO OPTIMIZE PATH SELECTION IN 5G NETWORKS

Proposed herein are techniques that make use of an extended Quick UDP Internet Connection (QUIC) PATH_CHALLENGE frame to perform dynamic path selection operations within a 5G Wi-Fi/cellular network to optimize end-to-end performance. The techniques presented herein expands the capabilities of the current PATH_CHALLENGE function, as defined in the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) QUIC drafts. The additional information gathered as part of the PATH_CHALLENGE and the PATH_RESPONSE frame are used to understand path characteristics and dynamically optimize traffic flows accordingly

MANUFACTURER USADGE DESCRIPTION (MUD) LAYER 2 (L2) SUPPORT FOR ENHANCED SECURITY AND FUNCTIONALITY FOR MULTIPLE NETWORK INTERFACES

The growth of Internet of things (IoT) devices is increasing dramatically. IoT devices often have multiple interfaces and connectivity options, but these may not be communicated to a network in an automated fashion. Techniques are presented herein that extend the Manufacturer Usage Description (MUD) artifact so that it may be used to effectively communicate information about an IoT device’s multiple connectivity options to a network in an automated manner and to notify the network of possible interface vulnerabilities so that any number of different actions (e.g., alerts, configuration checks, etc.) may be performed

OBFUSCATION AND ANONYMIZATION TECHNIQUES FOR NETWORK DATA SETS FOR MACHINE LEARNING

Techniques are described herein for securing data used for a machine learning algorithm. The frequency or top-k values calculated over time of the respective network traffic feature data sets are used instead of the actual data or a set thereof (this can also be extended to any other data sets). Here, the frequency represents the actual data and thereby obfuscates potential sensitive information that should not be used within an oftentimes shared cloud machine learning application