Reply to Nathan: How to reconstruct the causal argument

Nicholas Nathan tries to resist the current version of the causal argument for sense-data in two ways. First he suggests that, on what he considers to be the correct re-construction of the argument, it equivocates on the sense of proximate cause. Second he defends a form of disjunctivism, by claiming that there might be an extra mechanism involved in producing veridical hallucination, that is not present in perception. I argue that Nathan’s reconstruction of the argument is not the appropriate one, and that, properly interpreted, the argument does not equivocate on proximate cause. Furthermore, I claim that his postulation of a modified mechanism for hallucinations is implausibly ad hoc.     

Silver nitrate-acetonitrile and iodine-benzene complexes as studied by NMR in thermotropic liquid crystals

Silver nitrate-acetonitrile and π iodine-benzene complexes in thermotropic liquid crystals have been studied by ¹H, ²H, and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and by optical microscopy. Evidence for at least two silver complexes in each liquid crystal is presented.     

Kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of indigo carmine by hypohalites

Kinetics of oxidation of indigo carmine (IC) by sodium hypohalites, NaOX (X ? Cl or Br), in alkaline buffer of pH 9–11 has been studied spectrophotometrically at λ = 610 nm. The experimental rate law obtained is ?d[IC]/dt = k[OX^?][IC][OH^?]^x where x <1. Variation of ionic strength or dielectric constant of the medium had no effect on the reaction rate while the addition of halide ions slightly retarded the rate. A most plausible mechanism proposed on the basis of experimental results involves the formation of isatin sulphonate which undergoes further oxidation to anthranilate. Activation parameters have been evaluated.     

Pit your wits against young minds!

This column is a place for those bits of contagious mathematics that travel from person to person in the community, because they are so elegant, suprising, or appealing that one has an urge to pass them on. Contributions are most welcome.