Christian Baatz argues that individuals have an imperfect duty to take reasonable steps to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, and that governments should be working to implement st...

Relational Quantum Mechanics is an interpretation of quantum theory based on the idea of abolishing the notion of absolute states of systems, in favor of states of systems relative to other systems. Such a move is claimed to solve the conceptual problems of standard quantum mechanics. Moreover, RQM has been argued to account for all quantum correlations without invoking non-local effects and, in spite of embracing a fully relational stance, to successfully explain how different observers exchange information. In this work, (...) we carry out a thorough assessment of RQM and its purported achievements. We find that it fails to address the conceptual problems of standard quantum mechanics—related to the lack of clarity in its ontology and the rules that govern its behavior—and that it leads to serious conceptual problems of its own. We also uncover as unwarranted the claims that RQM can correctly explain information exchange among observers, and that it accommodates all quantum correlations without invoking non-local influences. We conclude that RQM is unsuccessful in its attempt to provide a satisfactory understanding of the quantum world. (shrink)

Four experiments supported the hypothesis that ordinary people understand free will as meaning unconstrained choice, not having a soul. People consistently rated free will as being high unless reduced by internal constraints (i.e., things that impaired people’s mental abilities to make choices) or external constraints (i.e., situations that hampered people’s abilities to choose and act as they desired). Scientific paradigms that have been argued to disprove free will were seen as reducing, but usually not eliminating free will, and the reductions (...) were because of constrained conscious choice. We replicated findings that a minority of people think lacking a soul reduces free will. These reductions in perceived free will were fully explained by reductions in people’s perceived abilities to make conscious decisions. Thus, some people do think you need a soul to have free will—but it is because they think you need a soul to make conscious decisions. (shrink)

Los Estados confederados proyectan la existencia de un doble sistema normativo: federal y local. Esto provoca el surgimiento de colisiones y contradicciones entre ambos sistemas, lo que se pensaría debería ser resuelto por el derecho internacional, atendiendo el principio de subsidiariedad, no obstante, esto no siempre es así, ya sea porque el derecho internacional no regule ese caso concreto o bien, porque el Estado en cuestión no haya otorgado su consentimiento y la respuesta no le sea vinculante. Estas reflexiones invitan (...) a contrastar la naturaleza de las normas del derecho local y del derecho internacional, pues mientras que las primeras son asociativas, dado que no necesariamente requieren ser consentidas para ser vinculantes, las segundas, aparentemente, sí requieren el consentimiento de los Estados para que tengan efectos vinculantes. En este artículo pretendemos postular una posible solución al problema del conflicto entre los distintos órdenes normativos, partiendo desde una postura cuasi-voluntarista. Las obligaciones cuasi-voluntarias son aquellas que no surgen del consentimiento, pero tampoco completamente de los roles que tienen los Estados en el sistema internacional. Estas obligaciones nacen en el núcleo de grupos dominantes, a los que llamaremos grupos autocontenidos en el ámbito internacional, que tienen como rol la creación y socialización de las normas y obligaciones de derecho internacional, logrando que los otros grupos simplemente las sigan como si tuvieran un deber de hacerlo. Para ello, servirá como referencia el análisis del caso de las disimiles normas migratorias entre California y Texas dentro de Estados Unidos. (shrink)

El presente artículo indaga si ¿es el sujeto un ser autónomo en la deliberación política o sonlos pensamientos, las posturas y las formas de la organización política mediadas por las distintas herramientas comunicacionales a las que se ve expuesto quienes lo determinan? Así, analiza larelación que existe entre mass media y política, con la capacidad deliberativa del individuo altomar decisiones en el contexto político, a partir de Chomsky y Han. La metodología es cualitativa con diseño documental, el instrumento son fichas (...) bibliográficas aplicadas a fuentes primarias y secundarias. Se usan bases de datos con el algoritmo: “Neoliberalismo, psicopolítica, big data, medios de comunicación de masas y democracia”. Se analizan 13 libros y 20 artículos. Se identifican las nuevas formas y herramientas de organización política y la relación entre política y medios de comunicación. Se concluye que: 1) el neoliberalismo direcciona la idea de libre mercado hacia el individuo mismo, 2) es necesaria una ciudadanía crítica que tenga un rol más activo en lademocracia, 3) se identifica a la psicopolítica como una nueva forma de organización política, 4) lanueva herramienta de la política es el big data, 5) se evidencia que la relación entre política y massmedia está vinculada con los grupos de poder y 6) la emocionalización de la comunicación políticadisminuye la autonomía individual. (shrink)

This paper raises a principled objection against the idea that Bayesian confirmation theory can be used to explain the conjunction fallacy. The paper demonstrates that confirmation-based explanations are limited in scope and can only be applied to cases of the fallacy of a certain restricted kind. In particular; confirmation-based explanations cannot account for the inverse conjunction fallacy, a more recently discovered form of the conjunction fallacy. Once the problem has been set out, the paper explores four different ways for the (...) confirmation theorist to come to terms with the problem, and argues that none of them are successful. (shrink)

We show that if an agent reasons according to standard inference rules, the truth and introspection axioms extend from the set of non-epistemic propositions to the whole set of propositions. This implies that the usual axiomatization of partitional possibility correspondences is redundant, and provides a justification for truth and introspection that is partly based on reasoning.

Eric Voegelin’s writings on the historical development of the concept of race in the early 1930s are important to philosophy today in part because they provide a model upon which scholars can further integrate modern philosophy with the critical philosophy of race. In constructing his history, Voegelin’s methodological orientation depends on the centrality of both Kant’s work and the problem of the mind–body union to the concept of race. This essay asks how one might hold these premises if Kant seems (...) to reject the dominant approach to the mind–body union in the mid-eighteenth century, physical influx, and then go on to publish several essays on race that do not thematize that doctrine in any way. I argue that Kant’s racial union of mind and body cannot be understood as an interaction in space, as his contemporaries had presumed. Rather, the union must be approached as a repetition in time. In this way, Kant’s four racial categories are not merely a part of the mind–body problem, but instead each is a veritable mind–body union. This permits the conclusion that ‘race’, as Kant understood it, is a viable solution to the mind–body problem. (shrink)

Light upon Light: Essays in Islamic Thought and History in Honor of Gerhard Bowering brings together studies that explore the richness of Islamic intellectual life in the pre-modern period. Leading scholars around the world present nineteen studies that explore diverse areas of Islamic Studies, in honor of a renowned scholar and teacher: Professor Dr. Gerhard Bowering (Yale University). The volume includes contributions in four main areas: (1) Quran and Early Islam; (2) Sufism, Shiism, and Esotericism; (3) Philosophy; (4) Literature and (...) Culture. These areas reflect the enormous breadth of Professor Bowering's contributions to the field over a lifetime of scholarship, teaching, and mentoring. Contributors: Hussein Ali Abdulsater, Mushegh Asatryan, Shahzad Bashir, Jonathan Brockopp, Yousef Casewit, Jamal Elias, Janis Esots, Li Guo, Matthew Ingalls, Tariq Jaffer, Mareike Koertner, Joseph Lumbard, Matthew Melvin-Koushki, Mahan Mirza, Bilal Orfali, Gabriel Reynolds, Nada Saab, Amina Steinfels & Alexander Treiger. (shrink)

A primeira parte do artigo trata das discussões sobre a possibilidade de leitura de Políbio por parte de Maquiavel. Na segunda, aponta-se o limite epistemológico exposto pela teoria política do historiador grego, que coloca as causas externas de corrupção da cidade no lugar de ininteligível. Assinala-se, ainda, a centralidade da ideia de equilíbrio e concórdia entre as partes da cidade. Na última seção, indica-se como Maquiavel insere as relações internacionais na equação política da cidade, ponto em que entra em discussão (...) a dinâmica do povo. (shrink)

A respectiva pesquisa procurou estabelecer a relação de influência da filosofia de Søren Kierkegaard sobre a construção teológica de Paul Tillich. Para tanto, utilizamos como pano de fundo ou estrutura argumentativa o conceito de Desespero humano de Kierkegaard, comparando-o ao conceito de Alienação do ser de Tillich. Objetivamos com isso, demonstrar o entrelaçamento dialogal composto no desenvolvimento da chamada doutrina do pecado original em ambos os autores. Isto é, como o desdobramento da antropologia kierkegaardiana problematizou os fundamentos da teologia sistemática, (...) sobretudo, na questão da harmatiologia, e, como esta mesma problematização, foi capaz de padronizar o modus operandi que determinou a elaboração feita por Tillich sobre o mesmo assunto. Obviamente, que, no decorrer dessa investigação, não se pretendeu “desqualificar” ou “eliminar” a originalidade dos autores, nem tampouco transformar seus argumentos em uma espécie de amálgama conceitual. Assim, antes de uma suposta crítica de ter se proposto uma “fusão arbitrária de ideias”, buscamos, mais uma vez apontar soluções de dialéticas e centros comuns, que apontem para aqueles elementos de convergência, aonde de fato, o diálogo é possível. (shrink)

Resenha do livro A filosofia do judaísmo.

A pesquisa vem demonstrar como é possível, a partir do pensamento de Jaques Derrida, estabelecer uma filosofia da Religião. Embora a investigação seja feita de maneira análoga e indireta, justamente porque o fenômeno da religiosidade não foi o principal objeto de sua observação, é plausível, mesmo assim, que suas teorias tais como: desconstrução, differense e o logocentrismo sirvam, e muito, como instrumento filosófico para pensar a complexidade que compõe as fronteiras da religião. É sobre algumas dessas diversas fronteiras que fala (...) esse artigo. (shrink)

A propósito do Livro SWINBURNE, Richard. Deus Existe? Tradução de Agnaldo Cuoco Portugal. Brasília: Academia Monergista, 2015. 192p.

Foundations of Relational Realism presents an intuitive interpretation of quantum mechanics, based on a revised decoherent histories interpretation, structured within a category theoretic topological formalism. -/- If there is a central conceptual framework that has reliably borne the weight of modern physics as it ascends into the twenty-first century, it is the framework of quantum mechanics. Because of its enduring stability in experimental application, physics has today reached heights that not only inspire wonder, but arguably exceed the limits of intuitive (...) vision, if not intuitive comprehension. For many physicists and philosophers, however, the currently fashionable tendency toward exotic interpretation of the theoretical formalism is recognized not as a mark of ascent for the tower of physics, but rather an indicator of sway—one that must be dampened rather than encouraged if practical progress is to continue. -/- In this unique two-part volume, designed to be comprehensible to both specialists and non-specialists, the authors chart out a pathway forward by identifying the central deficiency in most interpretations of quantum mechanics: That in its conventional, metrical depiction of extension, inherited from the Enlightenment, objects are characterized as fundamental to relations—i.e., such that relations presuppose objects but objects do not presuppose relations. The authors, by contrast, argue that quantum mechanics exemplifies the fact that physical extensiveness is fundamentally topological rather than metrical, with its proper logico-mathematical framework being category theoretic rather than set theoretic. -/- By this thesis, extensiveness fundamentally entails not only relations of objects, but also relations of relations. Thus, the fundamental quanta of quantum physics are properly defined as units of logico-physical relation rather than merely units of physical relata as is the current convention. Objects are always understood as relata, and likewise relations are always understood objectively. In this way, objects and relations are coherently defined as mutually implicative. The conventional notion of a history as “a story about fundamental objects” is thereby reversed, such that the classical “objects” become the story by which we understand physical systems that are fundamentally histories of quantum events. -/- These are just a few of the novel critical claims explored in this volume—claims whose exemplification in quantum mechanics will, the authors argue, serve more broadly as foundational principles for the philosophy of nature as it evolves through the twenty-first century and beyond. (shrink)

O livro do Prof. Marcelo Dascal enfoca a significação (em textos literários, jurídicos, científicos) com um compromisso metodológico explícito. É providencial para quem argumenta, sistematicamente, em favor de uma compreensão sobre interações sociais particulares (face a face) e recorrentes, como fazemos no campo da pedagogia. Aborda muitos temas (digressões, metáforas, controvérsias, mal entendidos, leis, chistes, sonhos, arte, entre outros recortes), mas com um fio condutor. Esse fio é “uma teoria da comunicação essencialmente griceana” (p.6), levando o (a) leitor(a) a compartilhar (...) o tratamento epistemológico da pragmática, sobre uma base filosófica e lingüística. (shrink)

The category-theoretic representation of quantum event structures provides a canonical setting for confronting the fundamental problem of truth valuation in quantum mechanics as exemplified, in particular, by Kochen–Specker’s theorem. In the present study, this is realized on the basis of the existence of a categorical adjunction between the category of sheaves of variable local Boolean frames, constituting a topos, and the category of quantum event algebras. We show explicitly that the latter category is equipped with an object of truth values, (...) or classifying object, which constitutes the appropriate tool for assigning truth values to propositions describing the behavior of quantum systems. Effectively, this category-theoretic representation scheme circumvents consistently the semantic ambiguity with respect to truth valuation that is inherent in conventional quantum mechanics by inducing an objective contextual account of truth in the quantum domain of discourse. The philosophical implications of the resulting account are analyzed. We argue that it subscribes neither to a pragmatic instrumental nor to a relative notion of truth. Such an account essentially denies that there can be a universal context of reference or an Archimedean standpoint from which to evaluate logically the totality of facts of nature. (shrink)

Este artículo tiene como objetivo exponer el pensamiento del filósofo nortesantandereano Pbro. José Rafael Faría Bermúdez en torno de la apologética cristiana y la importancia de la discusión entre la religión y el marxismo en los años cuarenta en Colombia. Ese momento es importante en la medida en que la enseñanza de la religión se ve concretamente afectada por la incidencia de las doctrinas materialistas y comunistas en el pensamiento cristiano colombiano y nortesantandereano. -/- Faría afirma que partiendo de postulados (...) comunistas el marxismo enseña: la negación de toda propiedad privada, la igualdad absoluta de los hombres, el odio de los pobres a los ricos y la guerra a Dios y a toda religión. Esta doctrina se torna una amenaza para el pensador cristiano pues formula un falso sistema cuyas enseñanzas son detestables. Partiendo de esta idea Faría defiende al cristianismo del ataque al que se ve expuesto el pueblo de Dios. (shrink)

O tema da liberdade é de capital importância não só para filosofia, mas, sobretudo, também para tradição cristã. Como doutrina bíblica o conceito de liberdade tem sido estudado e pesquisado por diversos pais da igreja ao longo dos séculos, dentre os quais se destaca os trabalhos realizados por Agostinho. Nesse sentido, o respectivo artigo procura analisar e compreender a maneira como esse autor descrever a temática, preferencialmente a partir de sua célebre obra o Livre-Arbítrio.

The essay provides an overview of what will be the call ecotheology. The main idea, grounded in this post show that the criticisms made by some environmentalists of the twentieth century theology in the exercise of its functions, has established a reading of canonical texts, heavily influenced, in a hermeneutic stance of ecological character. The relevance in relevance in addressing an issue with that, is something of great importance, especially in that it is precisely in Latin America where you have (...) large barns theorists of Christian thought, eminently geared to the current ecological crisis. (shrink)

This timely work brings together a group of the nation's leading experts in genetics, medicine, history of science, health, law, philosophy of science, and medical ethics to assess the current state of modern human genetics, and to begin to chart the legal and ethical guidelines needed to prevent the misuse of human genetics from leading to the abuse of human beings. The six sections of the book, read together, map the social policy con tours of modern human genetics. The first (...) part describes the science of the Human Genome Project. The second addresses specific social policy implications, including the relevance of recombinant DNA history, the eugenics legacy, military applications, and issues of race and class in the context of genetic discrimination. Broader philosophical issues, including reductionism and determinism, the concept of disease, and using germline gene therapy to "improve" human beings are discussed in the third part. (shrink)

Contemporary scientific perspectivism is primarily viewed as a methodological framework of how we obtain and form scientific knowledge of nature, through a broadly perspectivist process, especially, with reference to quantum mechanics. In the present study, this is implemented by representing categorically the global structure of a quantum algebra of events in terms of structured interconnected families of local Boolean probing frames, realized as suitable perspectives or contexts for measuring physical quantities. The essential philosophical meaning of the proposed approach implies that (...) the quantum world can be consistently approached and comprehended through a multilevel structure of locally variable perspectives, which interlock, in a category-theoretical environment, to form a coherent picture of the whole in a non-trivial way. (shrink)

This study examines self-legitimation and other-delegitimation in the online radio broadcasts of Nnamdi Kanu, the Supreme Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Using Theo van Leeuwen’s (2008) legitimation approach, the paper analyses four speeches he delivered in Israel following his ‘reappearance’ in 2018. The analysis reveals that Kanu uses three legitimation strategies, namely authorisation, moralisation and rationalisation to justify his sudden escape from Nigeria, call for Biafra’s self-rule and boycott of elections and to discredit alleged cloning of the (...) president, electoral malpractices, marginalisation of the Igbo and corruption and brutality among security agents. These strategies are linguistically realised by self-glorification, exclusive and inclusive pronominalisations (us-them dichotomy), polarisation, derogatory nomination (labelling), and hyperbolic expressions. They are aimed at presenting Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB positively as fighting a legitimate cause. (shrink)

Les places où eurent lieu les contestations du soulèvement du 17 octobre au Liban ont connu l’émergence d’expressions populaires de dissidence, de colère et d’espoir. Les messages furent portés à travers différents médias, en particulier les graffitis, la musique, les chants. Cet épisode est particulier en ce que ces expressions transcendèrent les clivages sectaires et politiques habituels. Ce texte revisite, archive et analyse les différents moyens d’expression qui furent abondamment utilisés au cours de ce mouvement.

The category-theoretic representation of quantum event structures provides a canonical setting for confronting the fundamental problem of truth valuation in quantum mechanics as exemplified, in particular, by Kochen-Specker’s theorem. In the present study, this is realized by representing categorically the global structure of a quantum algebra of events in terms of sheaves of local Boolean frames forming Boolean localization functors. The category of sheaves is a topos providing the possibility of applying the powerful logical classification methodology of topos theory with (...) reference to the quantum world. In particular, we show that the topos-theoretic representation scheme of quantum event algebras by means of Boolean localization functors incorporates an object of truth values, which constitutes the appropriate tool for the definition of quantum truth-value assignments to propositions describing the behavior of quantum systems. Effectively, this scheme induces a contextualist account of truth in the quantum domain of discourse. The philosophical implications of the resulting account are analyzed. Such an account essentially denies that there can be a universal context of reference or an Archimedean standpoint from which to state the totality of facts of nature. (shrink)

Neste artigo, buscamos um entendimento mais aprofundado do _Comunitarismo_. Para tanto, dividimos o artigo em quatro partes. Na primeira, nos debruçamos sobre o pensamento comunitarista, traçando suas raízes históricas, seus principais argumentos, suas críticas ao liberalismo e, também, suas fragilidades. Na segunda parte, voltamos nosso olhar para a realidade próxima e, assim, analisando casos específicos das comunidades pomeranas na zona sul do Rio Grande do Sul e seus dilemas, buscamos abordá-los sob a ótica comunitarista e ver de qual modo esta (...) vertente filosófica pode nos auxiliar. No terceiro ponto, damos voz ao pensamento liberal, permitindo não só que traga soluções aos problemas das comunidades estudadas, como também rebata os argumentos comunitaristas. Por fim, no ponto quatro, traremos algumas considerações finais sobre os argumentos levantados. (shrink)

Recent scandals such as those involving Enron and WorldCom (USA), Nortel and Crocus (Canada), and Parmalat and Royal Ahold (EU) exposed failures in corporate governance that shook the capital markets in developed countries and put the spotlight on weak corporate governance in developing, emerging and transitional economies. Companies from developing economies with weak financial transparency and governance will find it difficult to raise capital and attract foreign investors. We investigate the challenges and evaluate the progress of corporate governance in Egypt. (...) Using historical, empirical and interview data, we review the development of stock markets and accounting and financial reporting standards. We analyse the structure of capital markets, major players in the economy, the privatisation policy, board structure and the cultural and legal environment of corporate governance. We review initiatives and impediments for improving corporate governance, including the establishment of the Egyptian Institute of Directors. The implications of this study are important for Egypt, developing countries and global investors seeking international diversification. (shrink)