Far from having overcome the human, all too human essence of knowledge the West has replaced its modern objectifying subjectivity by what may be called a postmodern subjectifying subjectivity. The modern will to power and its drive for controlling the Other has given way to a postmodern form of 'unavailability', a key concept in the ethical reflections of the Christian Socratic philosopher Gabriel Marcel. This paper attempts to highlight the degree to which fundamental features of Postmodernity, from instrumental technology (...) to fragmented temporality and decentered subjectivity are infiltrating our existential condition. It is argued that one of the most striking symptoms of such a phenomenon is unavailability, especially in the artistic sphere. (shrink)

Ever since Plato's condemnation of the poets who did not deserve a place in his ideal city poetry has, in areas of the Western world, drawn suspicion as for its ability to convey the "truth." Philosophy, then, was thought to be a better candidate assuming that the truth in question could only be "discursive" as opposed to "poetic." In the West, the tension between poetry and philosophy reached a quasi-chiasmatic peak with modernism, a period during which the poem asserted in (...) the most radical way its own mode of thinking. Alain Badiou in his Que pense le poème? qualifies the singularity of poetic thought in terms of "musical silence." Yet, in spite of the depth and beauty of the image, the poem falls short of being considered as philosophical thought proper. By moving away from a conception of philosophy centred on logos as method, the poem may conceivably reveal a profoundly philosophical nature. Such is the case with the poetic prose of French contemporary writer Christian Bobin. Starting from Badiou's conception of "musical silence" in poetry this essay reflects on the extent to which emptitude at work in Bobin amounts to a uniquely philosophical mode of thinking. (shrink)

Frailty is an age-related dynamic status, characterised by a reduced resistance to stressors due to the cumulative decline of multiple physiological systems. Several researches have highlighted a relationship between physical frailty and cognitive decline; however, the role of specific cognitive domains has not been deeply clarified yet. Current studies have hypothesised that physical frailty and neuropsychological deficits may share systemic inflammation and increased oxidative stress in different neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. However, the role of the executive (...) dysfunction should be investigated in a more detailed way using a multidimensional approach. With this aim, we conducted a review of the literature on the few experimental articles published to discuss the existence of a relationship between frailty and cognitive impairment in neurocognitive disorders, particularly focusing on the domain of executive dysfunction. The data suggest that physical frailty and cognitive decline, especially executive dysfunction, are two aspects strongly linked in mild and major neurocognitive disorders due to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. In light of this, a new framework linking ageing, cognitive decline, and neurodegenerative diseases is needed. In order to analyse the effects that ageing processes have on neural decline and neurocognitive disease, and to identify relevant groups of users and patients, future longitudinal studies should adopt a multidimensional approach, in the field of primary prevention and in the continuum from mild to major neurocognitive disorder. (shrink)

This book examines the epistemic function of perception and the relation between language and conceptual thought, and provides new ways of conceptualizing the Buddhist defense of the reflexivity thesis of consciousness: namely, that each cognitive event is to be understood as involving a pre-reflective implicit awareness of its own occurrence.

The classic programme of conceptual engineering (Cappelen, Herman. 2018. Fixing Language: An Essay on Conceptual Engineering. Oxford: Oxford University Press; Eklund, Matti. 2021. “Conceptual Engineering.” In The Routledge Handbook of Social and Political Philosophy of Language, edited by Justin Khoo, and Rachel Sterken, 15–30. London: Routledge) envisages a two-stage ameliorating process. First, we assess ‘F’ and determine what the term should express. Second, we bring it about that ‘F’ expresses what it should express. The second stage gives rise to a (...) practical challenge: the implementation challenge. Engineering advocates need to explain by what means they can implement specific conceptual changes in the natural language shared by a community – a feat Herman Cappelen (2018. Fixing Language: An Essay on Conceptual Engineering. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2020; “Conceptual Engineering: The Master Argument.” In Conceptual Engineering and Conceptual Ethics, edited by Alexis Burgess, Herman Cappelen, and David Plunkett, 132–151. Oxford: Oxford University Press) argues to be beyond our understanding and control both on an externalist and on an internalist meta-semantics. I devise a new answer to the implementation challenge. Enlisting the influential theory of social norms by Cristina Bicchieri, I argue that engineering social norms in Bicchieri’s technical sense amounts to an effective, specific, and feasible means to implement specific conceptual change, at least on internalist premises. I also argue that Bicchieri’s social norms are an essential addition to the more familiar conventions and moral norms when it comes to conceptual engineering. (shrink)

This paper maps out various options for thinking about two issues: the structural relationship between practical wisdom and the moral virtues, and the various functions of practical wisdom. With the help of a case study of the virtue of honesty, three main concerns are raised for what I call the Standard Model of practical wisdom. Two other models, the Socratic Model and the Fragmentation Model, are also critically evaluated. I end by taking seriously an eliminativist approach according to which the (...) trait of practical wisdom does not exist. (shrink)

Humean Laws for Human Agents presents cutting-edge research by leading experts on the Humean account of laws, chance, possibility, and necessity. A central question in metaphysics and philosophy of science is: What are laws of nature? Humeans hold that laws are not sui generis metaphysical entities but merely particularly effective summaries of what actually happens. The most discussed recent work on Humeanism emphasizes the laws' usefulness for limited agents and uses pragmatic considerations to address fundamental and long-standing problems. The current (...) volume develops and critically examines pragmatic Humean accounts, with innovative new work on the epistemology of laws and chance, the problem of induction, counterfactuals, special science laws, and a Humean account of essence. Taken together, the papers provide a roadmap for developing pragmatic Humeanism and connate views, setting the agenda for future research. (shrink)

This article examines the methodology of a core branch of contemporary political theory or philosophy: “analytic” political theory. After distinguishing political theory from related fields, such as political science, moral philosophy, and legal theory, the article discusses the analysis of political concepts. It then turns to the notions of principles and theories, as distinct from concepts, and reviews the methods of assessing such principles and theories, for the purpose of justifying or criticizing them. Finally, it looks at a recent debate (...) on how abstract and idealized political theory should be, and assesses the significance of disagreement in political theory. The discussion is carried out from an angle inspired by the philosophy of science. (shrink)

How should you decide what to do when you're uncertain about basic normative principles (e.g., Kantianism vs. utilitarianism)? A natural suggestion is to follow some "second-order" norm: e.g., "comply with the first-order norm you regard as most probable" or "maximize expected choiceworthiness". But what if you're uncertain about second-order norms too -- must you then invoke some third-order norm? If so, it seems that any norm-guided response to normative uncertainty is doomed to a vicious regress. In this paper, I aim (...) to rescue second-order norms from this threat of regress. I first elaborate and defend the suggestion some philosophers have entertained that the regress problem forces us to accept normative externalism, the view that at least one norm is incumbent on agents regardless of their beliefs or evidence concerning that norm. But, I then argue, we need not accept externalism about first-order (e.g., moral) norms, thus closing off any question of what an agent should do in light of her normative beliefs. Rather, it is more plausible to ascribe external force to a single, second-order rational norm: the enkratic principle, correctly formulated. This modest form of externalism, I argue, is both intrinsically well-motivated and sufficient to head off the threat of regress. (shrink)

A pioneer in the field, Christian Metz applies insights of structural linguistics to the language of film. "The semiology of film . . . can be held to date from the publication in 1964 of the famous essay by Christian Metz, 'Le cinema: langue ou langage?'"--Geoffrey Nowell-Smith, Times Literary Supplement "Modern film theory begins with Metz."--Constance Penley, coeditor of Camera Obscura "Any consideration of semiology in relation to the particular field signifying practice of film passes inevitably through a (...) reference to the work of Christian Metz. . . . The first book to be written in this field, [ Film Language ] is important not merely because of this primacy but also because of the issues it raises . . . issues that have become crucial to the contemporary argument."--Stephen Heath, Screen. (shrink)

Most people who are regular consumers of psychoactive drugs are not drug addicts, nor will they ever become addicts. In neurobiological theories, non-addictive drug consumption is acknowledged only as a “necessary” prerequisite for addiction, but not as a stable and widespread behavior in its own right. This target article proposes a new neurobiological framework theory for non-addictive psychoactive drug consumption, introducing the concept of “drug instrumentalization.” Psychoactive drugs are consumed for their effects on mental states. Humans are able to learn (...) that mental states can be changed on purpose by drugs, in order to facilitate other, non-drug-related behaviors. We discuss specific “instrumentalization goals” and outline neurobiological mechanisms of how major classes of psychoactive drugs change mental states and serve non-drug-related behaviors. We argue that drug instrumentalization behavior may provide a functional adaptation to modern environments based on a historical selection for learning mechanisms that allow the dynamic modification of consummatory behavior. It is assumed that in order to effectively instrumentalize psychoactive drugs, the establishment of and retrieval from a drug memory is required. Here, we propose a new classification of different drug memory subtypes and discuss how they interact during drug instrumentalization learning and retrieval. Understanding the everyday utility and the learning mechanisms of non-addictive psychotropic drug use may help to prevent abuse and the transition to drug addiction in the future. (shrink)

El artículo estudia las fuentes orientales de la teología de Juliano de Eclana en sus obras Ad Turbantium y Ad Florum. De la obra primera, se estudia un texto de Juan Crisóstomo y uno Pseudo-Basiliano. Del Ad Florum, se estudia la exaltación de la ortodoxia de Juan Crisóstomo, Basilio y Teodoro de Mopsuestia.

El artículo estudia la fuente varroniana de la exposición que de las artes liberales hace san Agustín en la segunda parte del "De ordine". Primero demuestra que la interpretación que de esa sección da I. Hadot es excesivamente neoplatónica. Después presenta argumentos nuevos a favor de la inspiración varroniana del discurso agustiniano sobre las artes liberales.

El artículo trata los aspectos literarios de los seis libros conservados del "Ad Florum", de Juliano de Eclana, para señalar cómo san Agustín, por su progresiva profundización en la fé cristiana, llegó a asumir una actitud cada vez más crítica ante los modelos culturales clásicos, mientras que Juliano siguió sólidamente anclado en ellos.

El artículo demuestra las huellas que existen en los Diálogos de Casiciaco de los comentariuos paulinos de Mario Victorino, particularmente en la exposición de la doctrina trinitaria, así como en la formulación de la fe cristiana.

El artículo versa sobre la polémica cristológica entre San Agustín y Juliano de Eclana, y se estudian tres asuntos: si son exactos los conocimientos que sobre el apolinarismo tenía Juliano; si es posible descubrir la fuente de estas informaciones, y si esta fuente es el camino por el que llegaron a Juliano algunos conceptos aristotélicos, característicos de sus argumentaciones teológicas.

El artículo versa sobre las fuentes inspiradoras del "De immortalitate animae", partiendo de las teorías clásicas que existen al respecto. Señala que, en la época que precedió al bautismo, la cultura de Agustín no se ajustaba al neoplatonismo tanto como se le ha presentado y que, a sus ojos, además de la novedad de la fé cristiana, todavía contaban mucho las sugerencias provenientes de la lectura de los clásicos latinos, no sólo Cicerón, sino también Varrón. Para demostrarlo se someten a (...) examen algunos pasajes del escrito, indicando las fuentes en las que se ha inspirado. (shrink)

El artículo viene a completar las anteriores investigaciones del autor sobre las fuentes de la antropología agustiniana. Entre éstas se ha subrayado el influjo del modelo antropológico de Antíoco de Ascalón, conocido a través de Varrón y Cicerón. Este ensayo rastrea las huellas del "De philosophia" de Varrón en los escritos de Agustín anteriores a "De ciuitate Dei", para evaluar la medida y el peso de esta presencia.

El artículo estudia el esquema de los "tria uitia" en el marco de la concepción antropológica que de ellos se puede recabar principalmente del "De uera religione", para buscar después sus fuentes literarias y filosóficas. Se señalan especialmente las que provienen de los estoicos, de la antigua Academia y de Antíoco de Ascalón, transmitidas al mundo latino por Cicerón y Varrón. Para ello se hacen el análisis y comparación de diversos textos del "De uera religione" con otros de Cicerón y (...) Varrón. (shrink)

El artículo expone el modelo antropológico y moral que Varrón presenta en su "De philosophia", y que se atribuye a Antíoco de Ascalón. Después muestra cómo Agustín, en sus primeras obras, especialmente "De moribus", "De ordine", "De animae quantitate", "De libero arbitrio" tiene en cuenta dicho modelo, de sabor ecléctico, pero fuertemente inspirado en la filosofía estoica y peripatética.

El artículo versa sobre las fuentes inspiradoras del modelo antropológico presentado por Agustín en el libro I de las "Confesiones", que no son las de los filósofos neoplatónicos, sino las de la Antigua Academia, según la versión particular dada por Antíoco de Ascalón, entremezclado con muchos elementos peripatéticos y estoicos, y transmitido a la cultura latina por Cicerón y Varrón. Y para demostrarlo, se hace el estudio de diversos pasajes del libro I de las "Confesiones".

En el artículo se ofrece un comentario breve y sustancioso del desarrollo de la reflexión teológica en los primeros siglos de la Iglesia, buscando resaltar los momentos más sobresalientes y los personajes ligados a las mayores novedades doctrinales. Se toma como línea de referencia el concilio de Nicea (325), y se distinguen una fase precedente y, otra, subsiguiente a dicho concilio.

El artículo presenta la respuesta que san Agustín da al problema del mal. En primer lugar, en "De ordine", contra las ideas plotinianas de la necesidad y eternidad del mal, examina sus textos y argumentos principales. Posteriormente aborda este mismo asunto desde la polémica antimaniquea y con relaión a la doctrina expuesta por san Agustín a los cristianos, para dar una respuesta desde la perspectiva bíblica, según la cual Dios permite el mal con previsión de la victoria del bien.

El artículo estudia el influjo de Porfirio en los primeros escritos de Agustín, señalando los puntos de separación e incluso de contraposición existentes entre ambos autores. M. Cutino, al investigar este asunto, señala ya en los diálogos de Casiciaco una polémica de san Agustín contra cierto elitismo y escepticismo de fondo, propio de Porfirio y de los intelectuales seguidores suyos. El artículo retoma sólo en parte la lectura de los textos ya examinados por Cutino, para precisar mejor la naturaleza y (...) extensión del conflicto entre Porfirio y san Agustín en las obras tempranas de éste. (shrink)

¿Qué relación guardan forma y significado en la experiencia artística? Frente a la tendencia objetivadora de fenomenólogos como Geiger y Dufrenne, este trabajo niega que quepa separar ambas cosas. Los conceptos de "figural", "morfismo" y "exmorfismo" desempeñarán una función capital en el curso de la argumentación.

El artículo pretende demostrar que el pensamiento de san Agustín sobre el tema "acción y contemplación" se ve a la luz de un modelo antropológico que se remonta a Antíoco de Ascalón, y que Agustín conoce a través de las obras de Varrón y de Cicerón. Según tal modelo, el hombre está compuesto de alma y cuerpo y no sólo de alma racional; el alma es impulsada a la acción por un "appetitus" natural, como naturalmente es llevada también a vivir, (...) a conocer con los sentidos y el intelecto, en la vida humana, estos "appetitus" se satisfacen de manera diversa, según el progreso de la edad, de modo que en cada edad se alcanza o se debe alcanzar un acuerdo, una especie de "coniugium" entre los "appetitus" y el alma, y entre el conocimiento y la acción. (shrink)