Recommended Source

Under the "More on Philosophies of Copyright" section, I recommended adding the scholarly article by Chinese scholar Peter K. Yu that explains how Chinese philosophy of Yin-Yang can address the contradictions in effecting or eliminating intellectual property laws. One of the contradictions is in intellectual property laws protecting individual rights while challenging sustainability efforts for future generations (as climate change destroys more natural resources.

Yu, Peter K., Intellectual Property, Asian Philosophy and the Yin-Yang School (November 19, 2015). WIPO Journal, Vol. 7, pp. 1-15, 2015, Texas A&M University School of Law Legal Studies Research Paper No. 16-70, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2693420

Below is a short excerpt from the article that details Chinese philosophical thought on IP and sustainability:

"Another area of intellectual property law and policy that has made intergenerational equity questions salient concerns the debates involving intellectual property and sustainable development. Although this mode of development did not garner major international attention until after the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, the Yin-Yang school of philosophy—which “offers a normative model with balance, harmony, and sustainability as ideals”—provides important insight into sustainable development."

This reminds me of analysis by Yang et al. They suggest that often social network that includes many other drinkers or even one drinker, an individual's risk of relapse increases. I wonder how this analysis may apply to egocentric network. They also mention how Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) help drinkers with their social networks, they help reshape their network with those who may be role models. They try to reduce pro-drinking ties and increase pro-abstinent social ties. I feel like applying SNA in such networks can really produce positive results on both individual and community level.

I think this week's readings by Yang et al were really helpful in understanding how addictive behavior can spread through the network. A study by Cohen and Lemay (2007) suggested that there is a link between having less diverse social networks and getting influenced into drinking and smoking. It will be really interesting to see the results of this study. Especially, how the network dynamics might change since this is a egocentric network.