The interplay between the virus, infected cells and immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 is still under debate. By extending the basic model of viral dynamics, we propose here a formal approach to describe neutralisation versus weak (or non-)neutralisation scenarios and compare them with the possible effects of antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE). The theoretical model is consistent with the data available in the literature; we show that both weakly neutralising antibodies and ADE can result in final viral clearance or disease progression, but that (...) the immunodynamics are different in each case. As a significant proportion of the world’s population is already naturally immune or vaccinated, we also discuss the implications for secondary infections after vaccination or in the presence of immune system dysfunctions. (shrink)

In this essay, we focus on Max Weber’s concept of rationalization to understand and make sense of the rise of bureaucratic, corporate governance and online learning in higher education. We reveal the distinct disconnect between human interaction and online platforms and how such disconnection is antithetical to higher learning. We also show how Weber’s analysis helps us recognize the uniquely crass commercialism embedded in the very rationalization that makes online learning in universities thinkable and actionable. Our use of online learning (...) is only one illustration of Weber’s concept of rationalization, but it provides an important understanding of the nefarious effects rationalization has on human interaction. The nexus of marketization, technology, and higher education represents, on our view, a juggernaut against faculty autonomy, academic freedom, and humane learning and should be directly challenged. One difficulty this challenge faces is the degree to which online learning has become ubiquitous and taken-for-granted. It has, as Weber clarifies, been rationalized. (shrink)

This edition of Marcel's inspiring Homo Viator has been updated to includle fifty-seven pages of new material available for the first time in English, making this the first English-language edition to conform to the standard French edition. Here, Christianity's foremost existentialist of the twentieth century gives us a prodigious personal insight on `man on the way' that will reinforce and commend our own pilgrimages in hope. "Homo Viator - "Homo Viator - or as Marcel calls him, `itinerate man' - is (...) an outstanding example of the philosophy concerned, not with technical problems, but with the urgent problems of man. Marcel talks to our condition, emphasizing our urgent need of hope, thus discovering beyond the lack of stability the values on which we may depend. "A subtle mind, a dramatist as well as a philosopher, close to the texture of human experience, he goes far beyond current platitudes to show that our Western tradition contains living truths that are as essential to our contemporary life as they were to our ancestors when they discovered them." - Eliseo Vivas "The theme of Marcel's Homo Viator is close to the center of all preoccupations: man in his pilgrim condition. With great virtuosity in the use of his own philosophical method, he probes into interpersonal relations and the threat to ethical values. Marcel excels here in his concrete analyses of the attitude of hope, the family community in its temporal and supratemporal aspects, and the forgotten virtue of personal fidelity." - James Collins. (shrink)

In NIP theories, generically stable Keisler measures can be characterized in several ways. We analyze these various forms of “generic stability” in arbitrary theories. Among other things, we show that the standard definition of generic stability for types coincides with the notion of a frequency interpretation measure. We also give combinatorial examples of types in NSOP theories that are finitely approximated but not generically stable, as well as ϕ-types in simple theories that are definable and finitely satisfiable in a small (...) model, but not finitely approximated. Our proofs demonstrate interesting connections to classical results from Ramsey theory for finite graphs and hypergraphs. (shrink)

For n≥3, define Tn to be the theory of the generic Kn-free graph, where Kn is the complete graph on n vertices. We prove a graph-theoretic characterization of dividing in Tn and use it to show that forking and dividing are the same for complete types. We then give an example of a forking and nondividing formula. Altogether, Tn provides a counterexample to a question of Chernikov and Kaplan.

En el presente artículo se analiza la visión de Leocata sobre el cogito cartesiano. Se destaca su lectura del sum desde el acto de ser del creacionismo de Santo Tomás y su mayor evidencia para el intelecto humano, al mismo tiempo que una nueva versión de la “idea de ser infinito” que lleva a una nueva reconsideración del argumento ontológico de Descartes. Se concluye con un llamado al debate sobre esta relectura.

This biography of Emil du Bois-Reymond, the most important forgotten intellectual of the nineteenth century, received an Honorable Mention for History of Science, Medicine, and Technology at the 2013 PROSE Awards, was shortlisted for the 2014 John Pickstone Prize (Britain's most prestigious award for the best scholarly book in the history of science), and was named by the American Association for the Advancement of Science as one of the Best Books of 2014. -/- In his own time (1818–1896) du Bois-Reymond (...) grew famous for his groundbreaking research in neuroscience and his provocative addresses on politics and culture. His discovery of the electrical transmission of nerve signals, his innovations in laboratory instrumentation, and his reductionist methodology all helped lay the foundations of modern neuroscience. -/- In addition to describing the pioneering experiments that earned du Bois-Reymond a seat in the Prussian Academy of Sciences and a professorship at the University of Berlin, this book also recounts du Bois-Reymond’s family origins, private life, public service, and lasting influence. In talks that touched on science, philosophy, history, and literature, du Bois-Reymond introduced Darwin to German students (triggering two days of debate in the Prussian parliament), asked on the eve of the Franco-Prussian War whether France had forfeited its right to exist, and proclaimed the mystery of consciousness, heralding the age of doubt. The first modern biography in any language, "Emil du Bois-Reymond" recovers an important chapter in the history of science, the history of ideas, and the history of Germany. (shrink)

We define a formula φ in a first-order language L , to be an equation in a category of L -structures K if for any H in K , and set p = {φ;i ϵI, a i ϵ H} there is a finite set I 0 ⊂ I such that for any f : H → F in K , ▪. We say that an elementary first-order theory T which has the amalgamation property over substructures is equational if every quantifier-free (...) formula is equivalent in T to a boolean combination of equations in Mod, the category of models of T with embeddings for morphisms. Thus, we develop a theory of independence with respect to equations in general categories of structures, which is similar to the one introduced in stability but which, in our context, has an algebraic character. (shrink)

This article seeks to contribute to a vision for leadership in business based on a recovery of virtue. The vision for leadership articulated here draws principally on the writings of the classical philosopher Aristotle and of the contemporary philosopher Josef Pieper. Without discounting the ever-increasing complexity of modern business, this essay will attempt to reconstruct Aristotle’s emphasis on virtue and moral character, and argues for the philosopher’s relevance to modern management and corporate leadership. The paper concludes that the message of (...) virtue is a message of hope and attempts to find plain language to articulate its value to those engaged in business or concerned with the formulation of government policy. (shrink)

Part I of Frege’s Grundgesetze is devoted to the “exposition [Darlegung]” of his formal system.

The topic of this paper is the semantic structure of belief reports of the form 'a believes that p'. it is argued that no existing theory of these sentences satisfactorily accounts for anaphoric relations linking expressions within the embedded complement sentence to expressions outside. a new account of belief reports is proposed which assigns to embedded expressions their normal semantic values but which also exploits frege's idea of using senses to explain the apparent failures of extensionality in the reports.

We argue that not all cases of before-effect involve causation and ask how to demarcate cases of before-effect in which the events that follow exert causal influence over the before-effect from cases in which they do not.

The music theory of Leibniz was thought to be by most of the scholars a part of the Pythagorean philosophical tradition. This opinion was maintained without a founded knowledge of the Pythagorean sources nor a proper consideration of the contemporary scientific background, upon which Leibniz wrote. The purpose of this article consists of analysing to what extent the Pythagorean tradition in music theory had still an influence in a philosophical age, whose music had already thoroughly abandoned the main statements of (...) the Pythagoreans. Questions belonging to the Pythagorean conception of music, such as the Tetraktys theory, the number proportions regarding musical intervals and the music of the spheres, are discussed here upon the background of the 17th century music theory. After that, Leibniz' considerations of these subjects turn out to be quite different from those of the Pythagorean tradition. Leibniz criticises it or translates it in an utterly modern language. He proposes a contemporary conception of harmony as an anticipation of beauty through the conjunction of the opposites, which emerges in the music theory of his time and will lead to the aesthetics substituting for the mystic. Dissonance, contrast and mistune are the new concepts to be taken into account. (shrink)

Le 'Journal métaphysique', qui, primitivement, n'était pas destiné à la publication, est constitué par un ensemble de notes philosophiques rédigées au jour le jour. L'évidente différence de style entre les deux parties tient au fait que sous la pression de la guerre la pensée de l'auteur s'est tournée de plus en plus résolument vers le concret, vers l'existentiel, qui a trouvé dans le Journal métaphysique une des premières expressions qu'il ait revêtues en France. Il ne faut d'ailleurs pas parler de (...) l'existentialisme, mais une thématique de l'existence considérée dans sa spécificité tend à s'y constituer par une réflexion qui se concentre de plus en plus sur le corps propre (par opposition au corps-objet ou instrument), sur la sensation traitée non plus comme message mais comme façon d'être au monde, sur la mémoire, sur la volonté, etc. Des phénomènes métaphysiques tels que la télépathie, la lecture de pensées, etc. sont considérés avec une attention particulière et l'auteur va jusqu'à se demander s'il ne conviendrait pas d'inverser la relation communément pré-supposée entre le psychologique et le métapsychique et si la clef des phénomènes dits normaux ne devrait pas être cherchée dans le supra-normal. (shrink)

The paper begins with the assumption that psychological event tokens are identical to or constituted from physical events. It then articulates a familiar apparent problem concerning the causal role of psychological properties. If they do not reduce to physical properties, then either they must be epiphenomenal or any effects they cause must also be caused by physical properties, and hence be overdetermined. It then argues that both epiphenomenalism and over‐determinationism are prima facie perfectly reasonable and relatively unproblematic views. The paper (...) proceeds to argue against Kim’s (Kim, 2000, 2005) attempt to articulate a plausible version of reductionism. It is then argued that psychological properties, along with paradigmatically causally efficacious macro‐properties, such as toughness, are causally inefficacious in respect of their possessor’s typical effects, because they are insufficiently distinct from those effects. It is finally suggested that the distinction between epiphenomenalism and overdeterminationism may be more terminological than real. (shrink)

Demonstrating that in George Berkeley's last major work, Siris, Berkeley had converted to a belief in the usefulness of the concept and existence of minute particles, Moked here posits that Berkeley developed a highly original brand of corpuscularian physics.

The Husserlian phenomenological approach to organisational research as a way to understand how collectives experience and mean their work context, is rarely used although, when it is, it often functions as a negative criticism of objectivist methods. The sociological potential of phenomenological concepts to enable understanding of subjective experience of social contexts, and the characterisation of those social contexts through ideal type construction, deserves to be used more extensively in a positive proposal of organisational research methodologies. However, a consistent phenomenological (...) approach—with its inherent qualities that enable the transcendental understanding of subjective phenomena and social objectivity—can be sociologically fruitful only if it benefits from accumulated sociological knowledge, realised by various approaches that discuss macro and micro aspects of organisations. The proposed phenomenological methodology considers both aspects. It takes account of social theories that consider the influences of both the macro environment and institutionalisation on structure and culture through their relationship with collective and individual action. Also, it performs collaboration between two close perspectives which recognise the importance of the subjective meanings of the individuals constituting the collective: Husserl’s transcendental phenomenology and Weber’s ideal type construction. It also discusses context, participant selection, the concepts of saturation and generalisation, and the applicability of the methodology. (shrink)

Imagine a world where machines can see and understand the world the way humans do. Rapid progress in artificial intelligence has led to smartphones that recognize faces, cars that detect pedestrians, and algorithms that suggest diagnoses from clinical images, among many other applications. The success of computer vision is founded on a deep understanding of the neural circuits in the brain responsible for visual processing. This book introduces the neuroscientific study of neuronal computations in visual cortex alongside of the psychological (...) understanding of visual cognition and the burgeoning field of biologically-inspired artificial intelligence. Topics include the neurophysiological investigation of visual cortex, visual illusions, visual disorders, deep convolutional neural networks, machine learning, and generative adversarial networks among others. It is an ideal resource for students and researchers looking to build bridges across different approaches to studying and developing visual systems. (shrink)

Multinational enterprises (MNEs) have long had a reputation of not doing enough for their host communities in developing countries. This study critically examines the role of MNEs in community development initiatives in developing countries, using the Nigeria oil industry and the South African mining industry as case study. Specifically, the study assessed the usefulness of MNE-supported community development projects as a means of demonstrating corporate social responsibility. The findings suggest that expectations for community development projects are greater in developing countries. (...) This study introduced new information on MNEs'local development programs that were drawn from interviews with MNEs'managers, government officials, and local communities. (shrink)

El objetivo de este trabajo es interpretar la Germania de Tácito en tanto texto etnográfico y autoetnográfico, i.e. como crítico de la sociedad romana. Se rechazan los presupuestos filosóficos de “No Place like Rome: Identity and Difference in The Germania of Tacitus” de Ellen O’Gorman (§1), se analiza la escritura etnográfica de Tácito a través de la guerra y el comercio, enfatizando las ideas de forma, belleza, materia, mores y mente (§2). Por último, se destaca el uso utópico y de (...) crítica interna que adquiere el texto de Tácito (§3). (shrink)

Partiendo de una experiencia supuestamente ‘liberadora’ del ser del hombre en la modernidad, correlato de la secularización, en este trabajo presentamos algunos trazos esenciales de la profunda crítica antihumanista -avanzado el siglo XX- a este hombre ideal ya en aguda crisis. En este sentido, la experiencia cultural actual considera en gran medida que este ‘hombre’ se ‘construye’ a sí mismo desde su voluntad y libertad desancladas de Dios y de la verdad, con el objetivo de una vida posthumana. Sostenemos que (...) se trata de un neopaganismo, caracterizado por un pensamiento inmanentista, postmetafísico y materialista que no reconoce la realidad del hombre y su trascendencia -licuada en gran medida en el poder y lo político o bien en el poder de la tecnociencia del ideal transhumanista-, verdad en la que únicamente puede vivir digna y felizmente. Se defenderá la importancia de restaurar la matriz cristiana -y más precisamente católica- para una formación integral de la persona como auténtico humanismo. (shrink)

Apologizing for Socrates places some of the Platonic and Xenophontic writings in the context of contemporary controversies over Socrates, providing a perspective in which many of the philosophic and literary features of the text can be explained. In addition, it sheds light on the apologetic techniques used by Plato and Xenophon.

Amidst the recent threat of COVID-19, home gardens have surged in popularity as seed companies and nurseries find it challenging to keep their supplies fully stocked. The victory garden movement that emerged during WWII has today re-emerged as COVID victory gardens. Yet, the global changes and cognitive shifts associated with COVID-19 have differential impacts. The narrative of COVID victory gardens depoliticizes urban agriculture. It is blind to its long history in marginalized, oppressed, and displaced communities where home gardens have always (...) been part of a struggle for identity, autonomy, and self- and communal-determination. I argue the blindness embedded in the narrative of COVID victory gardens violates our “food-related obligations,” which are our responsibilities to ourselves, our food, and each other. Silencing how communities of color have historically grown food in pursuit of dignity disregards how home gardens in communities of color are not merely a reactionary response to crisis but part of a historical legacy whereby people of color have grown food for generations to create and recreate sustainable ways of living that validate their cultures, knowledges, and ways of being. (shrink)