Purpose This paper aims to examine whether there are morally defensible reasons for using or operating websites that offer distributed denial-of-service attacks on a specified target to users for a price. Booters have been linked to some of the most powerful DDoS attacks in recent years. Design/methodology/approach The authors identify the various parties associated with booter websites and the means through which booters operate. Then, the authors present and evaluate the two arguments that they claim may be used to justify (...) operating and using booters: that they are a useful tool for testing the ability of networks and servers to handle heavy traffic, and that they may be used to perform DDoS attacks as a form of civil disobedience on the internet. Findings The authors argue that the characteristics of existing booters disqualify them from being morally justified as network stress testing tools or as a means of performing civil disobedience. The use of botnets that include systems without the permission of their owners undermines the legitimacy of both justifications. While a booter that does not use any third-party systems without permission might in principle be justified under certain conditions, the authors argue that it is unlikely that any existing booters meet these requirements. Practical/implications Law enforcement agencies may use the arguments presented here to justify shutting down the operation of booters, and so reduce the number of DDoS attacks on the internet. Originality/value The value of this work is in critically examining the potential justifications for using and operating booter websites and in further exploring the ethical aspects of using DDoS attacks as a form of civil disobedience. (shrink)

The Legal Knowledge Engineering is a new topic of investigationof Artificial Intelligence. This paper discusses some relevant problems relatedto this new area in a summarized way. Within the Normative Law Theory,one question that arises naturally is that of contradiction, like for example:articles conflicting with other articles inside the same code, codes conflictingwith codes, codes conflicting with jurisprudence, and in general, treatmentswith conflicting propositions in Normative Law Theory. This paper suggeststo treat directly inconsistencies in the Legal Knowledge Engineering; thisengineering has as (...) underlying logic a paraconsistent annotated deontic logic.There are three main approximations in Legal Knowledge Engineering basedon: cases, rules and logic. In this paper, we consider the approximationbased on logic. It is considered a paraconsistent annotated deontic logic.Based on this logic, it is established a new proposal that is called Paraconsistent Legal Knowledge Engineering. For this proposal, it it is suggested ameta-interpreter to support the deontic operators as well as inconsistency —entitled on this paper Paralog D that can be used as a base to handle withthe issues discussed. (shrink)

Efforts to embed anti-heterosexist curriculum at the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) can become confused and contradictory because of the persistent subjection of the student to the curriculum, and by maintaining sex as a subject of danger and prohibition. Examples from the new TDSB anti-discrimination curriculum resource that were perceived as politically controversial in 2011 are briefly assessed with the popular queer(ed) theories of Foucault (1978/1990), Butler (1990; 1993), and Rubin (1984/1993). Deleuze's (1988) interpretation of Spinoza’s work is also plumbed (...) to explain the consequences of heterosexist discourse in schools. The Deleuzian-Spinozan example of the caricatures of the “moralist trinity” shows that heterosexist discourses promote the production of “sad passions” throughout social relationships by creating “sad” characters within each individual. Finally, anti-heterosexist action in schools is described as modelling consent in curriculum and exposing relationships of subjection. (shrink)

NAVEGAR É PRECISO; VIVER NÃO É PRECISO: A LIBERDADE DE LOCOMOÇÃO NA INTERNET.

A pesquisa demonstra que a nova magia na contemporaneidade se dá por meio da ritualização de programas, que são estruturados com a clara intenção de programar o comportamento idolátrico da sociedade. A partir da teorização de Vilém Flusser examina-se o processo idolátrico das imagens que transforma as pessoas em sombras das imagens, presas ao desejo da imortalidade. O problema reside em saber como o ser humano se ocupará de símbolos, códigos, sistemas e como será sua vida nesse ambiente imaterial. Até (...) que nível a sociedade atual está programada? Os aparelhos vão resolver os problemas, ou seja, eles funcionarão em função da sociedade? Em primeiro lugar, explicita-se a lógica do funcionamento dos aparelhos. Depois, como a ciência se automatizou e transformou o programador em programado: de sujeito a objeto do processo ao transferir ao programa do aparelho todo o seu poder, tornando a sociedade em massa programada, que funciona em função dos aparelhos. O processo de idolatrização está em curso, entretanto o que se percebe é que a humanidade caminha para um totalitarismo programador. (shrink)

O texto tem por objetivo analisar e desenvolver uma crítica filosófica sobre o sistema capitalista globalizado, que atinge a vida de muitos no mundo todo influenciando não apenas o campo econômico, mas a vida concreta das pessoas, tendo como base teórica pensadores da Escola do DEI, Costa Rica. Trata-se de um processo injusto apadrinhado pelas teorias econômicas e pela realidade da escassez dos bens econômicos, que articula dois polos opostos: um que ao mesmo tempo domina, explora e exige sacrifícios, provoca (...) a adesão e fascínio das pessoas através do consumo de mercadorias; e outro cuja fundamentação mítica impõe como legítimo a exigência de sacrifícios humanos. Ao mesmo tempo que fascina e seduz, envolve a sociedade num caráter sacrifical, sedutor e de injustiça social. Assim, é possível destacar que nem o Estado, nem o mercado se apresentam capazes de evoluir para uma sociedade mais humana, justa e democrática. Atualmente a democracia e a justiça econômica amparam, sobretudo, os favorecidos e satisfeitos, cujo modelo prioriza a política do imediatismo da acomodação do pensamento econômico e político, levando a sociedade à regressão social e antropológica. (shrink)

A pesquisa apresenta o fenômeno da “idolatria” através de um diálogo interdisciplinar entre teologia e a filosofia. O aporte conceitual examina a idolatria enquanto expressão da divindade que oprime e exige a imolação de sacrifícios humanos. O problema consiste em saber se a idolatria acontece somente através do culto aos ídolos ou pode se desenvolver mesmo sem imagens? A idolatria consiste em qualquer realidade divinizada pelo homem. Ela constitui-se ao substituir o divino por algo que a represente. Enfim, a idolatria (...) esconde e legitima a opressão, especialmente, dos mais pobres, causando assimetrias e exclusão social. (shrink)

In this paper we present an overview of Professor Newton C. A. da Costa’s work in logic, emphasizing the main results obtained by him in the several areas of his research activity. The text furnish a detailed bibliographic reference of his works, which are listed in the last section.

Book ARAÚJO, João Pedro Gonçalves. Histórias, tradições e pensamentos batistas. São Paulo: Fonte Editorial, 2015. 208p. ISBN 978-85-6825-209-3.

Resenha: CRUZ, Eduardo Rodrigues da. Religião e ciência. São Paulo: Paulinas, 2014.

Resenha do livro: REIMER, Haroldo. Liberdade Religiosa na História e nas Constituições do Brasil. São Leopoldo: Oikos, 2013.

For philosophy to criticize the concept of reality requires self-criticism. Throughout history many thinkers that have systematized a critique of both reality and philosophy. In this article we will analyze the Kantian and Hegelian systems by showing the failure in their respective critique to exercise sufficient self-criticism, resulting in unfinished critiques. Going a step further, Tanabe’s proposal was to plunge philosophy into a kind of «absolute disruption» that would drive thought beyond itself by means of an absolute critique in which (...) being and nothingness are seen to interpenetrate each other, thus opening up the possibility of positing absolute nothingness as «a foundation that is not a foundation.». (shrink)

This text aims to show that the way of aesthetic knowledge in Schopenhauer functions as a critic to the instrumetnal rationality of the science under the regency of the principle of suffciente reason.O presente texto intenta mostrar que o modo de conhecimento estético em Schopenhauer funciona como um poder de crítica à racionalidade instrumental da ciência regida pelo princípio de razão.

Trata-se neste artigo de mostrar como se dá a recepção de alguns elementos da filosofia schopenhaueriana, como a oposição entre intelecto e vontade, na literatura de Machado de Assis. Com efeito, examinado o conto “Noite de almirante”, pode-se dizer que a personagem Genoveva faz as vezes da vontade, ao passo que Deolindo é guiado pelo intelecto.

O presente texto examina a definição de loucura de amor em Schopenhauer para, a partir do exemplo literário da personagem Ofélia do Hamlet de Shakespeare, dado pelo Boddhishatva de Frankfurt, fazer uma conexão com a loucura de amor da personagem Rubião do romance Quincas Borba de Machado de Assis.

O presente texto intenta mostrar que o modo de conhecimento estético em Schopenhauer funciona como um poder de crítica à racionalidade instrumental da ciência regida pelo princípio de razão.

Este artigo intenta mostrar as bases conceituais de uma metafísica do irracional em Schelling e Schopenhuaer, quando ambos os autores identificam na vontade a essência cega e irracional do mundo.

O artigo pretende mostrar que o pensamento do eterno retorno do mesmo de Nietzsche não é seu pensamento mais abismal (abgründlicher). como diz Ecce homo. mas na verdade tem um Grund (fundamento) bem localizado na filosofia de Schopenhauer. em especial nos textos estéticos.

Este texto procura mostrar como a concepção de linguagem de Schopenhauer implica uma delimitação para o poder da razão na teoria do conhecimento. Noutras palavras, a investigação da estrutura da linguagem jamais pode expressar o sentido do mundo. PALAVRAS-CHAVE – Schopenhauer. Schelling. Linguagem. Expressão. Verdade. Realidade. ABSTRACT This text aims to show how the language conception of Schopenhauer implies a delimitation for the power of reason in the theory of knowledge. In other words, the investigation of language’s structure never can (...) express the meaning of the world. KEY WORDS – Schopenhauer. Schelling. Language. Expression. Truth. Reality. (shrink)

O artigo mostra como se originou a Naturphilosophie , filosofia-da-natureza, de Schelling a partir do seu confronto crítico com a biologia de Kielmeyer, as concepções de natureza de Goethe e sobretudo com a teoria do organismo da Terceira Crítica de Kant.

This paper deals with the reception of some elements of Schopenhauerian philosophy, such as the oposition between intellect and will, in the literature of Machado de Assis. Indeed, if we examine the short story "Noite de almirante", we can see that the character Genoveva represents the will, while Deolindo is guided by the intellect.Trata-se neste artigo de mostrar como se dá a recepção de alguns elementos da filosofia schopenhaueriana, como a oposição entre intelecto e vontade, na literatura de Machado de (...) Assis. Com efeito, examinado o conto "Noite de almirante", pode-se dizer que a personagem Genoveva faz as vezes da vontade, ao passo que Deolindo é guiado pelo intelecto. (shrink)

Background The Regional Committee for Africa of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2001 expressed concern that some health-related studies undertaken in the Region were not subjected to any form of ethics review. In 2003, the study reported in this paper was conducted to determine which Member country did not have a national research ethics committee (REC) with a view to guiding the WHO Regional Office in developing practical strategies for supporting those countries. Methods This is a descriptive study. The (...) questionnaire was prepared and sent by diplomatic pouch to all the 46 Member States in the WHO African Region, through the WHO country representatives, for facilitation and follow up. The data were entered in Excel spreadsheet and subsequently exported to STATA for analysis. A Chi-Squared test (χ 2) for independence was undertaken to test the relationship between presence/absence of Research Ethics Committee (REC) and selected individual socioeconomic and health variables. Results The main findings were as follows: the response rate was 61% (28/46); 64% (18/28) confirmed the existence of RECs; 36% (10/28) of the respondent countries did not have a REC (although 80% of them reported that they had in place an ad hoc ethical review mechanism); 85% (22/26) of the countries that responded to this question indicated that ethical approval of research proposals was, in principle, required; and although 59% of the countries that had a REC expected it to meet every month, only 44% of them reported that the REC actually met on a monthly basis. In the Chi-Squared test, only the average population in the group of countries with a REC was statistically different (at 5% level of significance) from that of the group of countries without a REC. Conclusion In the current era of globalized biomedical research, good ethics stewardship demands that every country, irrespective of its level of economic development, should have in place a functional research ethics review system in order to protect the dignity, integrity and safety of its citizens who participate in research. (shrink)

Este artículo aborda el antiguo problema de la diferencia entre filosofía y poesía partiendo de una interpretación del arte narrativo personificado por Ulises en la Odisea. Una lectura del episodio de las Sirenas permite reconstruir la trama de voces diversas que compone el relato homérico y comprender la significación de esta estructura polifónica en el imaginario odiseico. Frente a la neta oposición entre autofonía y alofonía que propone la filosofía platónica, la poesía homérica implica una idea de heterofonía que apunta (...) más allá de una lógica binaria y sugiere la irreductibilidad de la voz poética a un juego entre extremos contrarios. La heterofonía consiste más bien en una voz figural que crea la «lógica difusa» del mundo ficcional mediante la neutralización de las diferencias entre sujetos enunciativos. (shrink)

Jaśkowski [3] presented a new propositional calculus labeled “discussive propositional calculus”, to serve as an underlying basis for inconsistent but non-trivial theories. This system was later extended to lower andhigher order predicate calculus . Jaśkowski’s system of discussiveor discursive propositional calculus can actually be extended to predicatecalculus in at least two ways. We have the intention using this calculus ofbuilding later as a basis for a discussive theory of sets. One way is thatstudied by Da Costa and Dubikajtis. Another one (...) is developed in this paperas a solution to a problem formulated by Da Costa. In this work we study afirst order discussive predicate calculus J∗∗.The paper consists of three parts. In the first part we introduce thecalculus J∗∗ and, following Prof. D. Makinson’s suggestion, we show that itis not identical with the predicate calculus [2] of Da Costa and Dubikajtis.An axiomatization of J∗∗ is presented. In the second one, we introduce newdiscussive connectives and study some of the properties. We observe thatthe usual Kripke semantics can be adapted to the calculus J∗∗. (shrink)

Based on published works and unpublished materials, this article analyses how cybernetics was received by two Spanish thinkers exiled in Mexico: José Gaos (1900–1969) and Eduardo Nicol (1907–1990). This reception is particularly intriguing especially when considering the substantial presence and social impact that Norbert Wiener had in Mexican society because of his friendship with Arturo Rosenblueth. Gaos and Nicol are the first philosophers to develop a complex and original diagnosis of cybernetics in Mexico. It will be shown how the (...) exiled thinkers take on the philosophical implications of this science in the light of their respective theoretical projects, and finally, it will be defended how the critical perspective they develop is particularly significant for Mexico’s political and academic context since it illuminates some negative aspects of cybernetics that Wiener did not foresee and that had not been reported there until then. (shrink)

In this paper I will argue that when Aristotle uses the word ‘ἀρχή’ he is often referring to what we call a condition, whether necessary, sufficient or necessary and sufficient. To this end I will discuss how conditions for being, change, and knowledge, as identified by Aristotle, can be equated to ontological, physical and noetic principles, respectively.