At the core of anthropomorphism lies a false-positive cognitive bias to over-attribute the pattern of the human body and/or mind. Anthropomorphism is independently discussed in various disciplines, is presumed to have deep biological roots, but its cognitive bases are rarely explored in an integrative way. I present an inclusive, multifaceted interdisciplinary approach to refine the psychological bases of mental anthropomorphism. I have integrated 13 conceptual dissections of folk finalistic reasoning into four psychological inference systems (physical, design, basic-goal and belief stances); (...) the latter three are truly teleological and thus prone to anthropomorphisms. I then have empirically integrated the cross-disciplinary genetic, neural, cognitive, psychiatric, developmental, comparative and evolutionary/adaptive evidence that converge supporting the nature of the distinct stances. The over-reactive calibration of the three teleological systems is framed as an evolved design feature to avoid harmful ancestral contexts. Nowadays, these stances easily engage with scientific reasoning about bio-evolutionary matters with negative and positive consequences. Design, basic-goal, and belief stances benefit biology by providing cognitive foundations, expressing a high-powered explanatory system, promoting functional generalization, fostering new research questions and discoveries, enabling metaphorical/analogical thinking and explaining didactically with brevity. Hence, it is neither feasible nor advantageous to completely eliminate teleology from biology. Instead, we should engage with the eight classes of problems in bio-philosophy and bio-education that relate to the three stances: types of anthropomorphism, variety of misunderstandings, misleading appeal, legitimacy controversy, gateway to mysticism, total prohibition and its backfire effect. Recognizing the distinction among design, basic-goal, and belief stances helps to elucidate much of the logic underlying these issues, so that it enables a much more detailed taxonomy of anthropomorphisms, and organizes the various misunderstandings about evolution by natural selection. It also offers a solid psychological grounding for anchoring definitions and terminology. This tripartite framework also shed some light on how to better deal with the over-reactive stances in bio-education, by organizing previous pedagogical strategies and by suggesting new possibilities to be tested. Therefore, this framework constitutes a promising approach to advance the debate regarding the psychological underpinnings of anthropomorphisms and to further support regulating and clarifying teleology and anthropomorphism in biology. (shrink)

Retractions of COVID-19 literature in both preprints and the peer-reviewed literature serve as a reminder that there are still challenging issues underlying the integrity of the biomedical literature. The risks to academia become larger when such retractions take place in high-ranking biomedical journals. In some cases, retractions result from unreliable or nonexistent data, an issue that could easily be avoided by having open data policies, but there have also been retractions due to oversight in peer review and editorial verification. As (...) COVID-19 continues to affect academics and societies around the world, failures in peer review might also constitute a public health risk. The effectiveness by which COVID-19 literature is corrected, including through retractions, depends on the stringency of measures in place to detect errors and to correct erroneous literature. It also relies on the stringent implementation of open data policies. (shrink)

The blogosphere is full of personalities with masks, or pseudonyms. Although not a desired state of public communication, one could excuse the use of pseudonyms in blogs and social media, which are generally unregulated or weakly regulated. However, in science publishing, there are increasingly strict rules regarding the use of false identities for authors, the lack of institutional or contact details, and the lack of conflicts of interest, and such instances are generally considered to be misconduct. This is because these (...) violations of publishing protocol decrease trust and confidence in science and bring disrepute to those scientists who conform to the rules set out by journals and publishers and abide by them. Thus, when cases are encountered where trust and protocol in publishing are breached, these deserve to be highlighted. In this letter, I focus on Neuroskeptic, a highly prominent science critic, primarily on the blogosphere and in social media, highlighting the dangers associated with the use of pseudonyms in academic publishing. (shrink)

Este artigo estabelece algumas relações fundamentais entre evolução, a teoria do cérebro triuno e a relevância que esta pode ter para a fundamentação empírica de uma filosofia da mente e das emoções. Inicialmente, será especialmente considerada a posição do filósofo Ronald de Sousa no seu já clássico artigo “The Mind’s Bermuda Triangle: Philosophy of Emotions and Empirical Science”, parte do Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Emotions. A segunda seção discute a validade da teoria do “cérebro triuno” como abordagem neuroetológica evolutiva, (...) delineando sua divisão tripartite do cérebro e analisando críticas e elogios às suas ideias, além de considerações de neurocientistas importantes no campo do estudo das emoções como Ledoux e Panksepp sobre tal tema. Na terceira seção, trato de um trabalho de Pollen e Hofmann que nos serve de apresentação de novas abordagens contemporâneas para a compreensão da evolução do cérebro. Como conclusão delineio um marco de trabalho na forma de uma agenda de pesquisa para as relações entre biologia evolutiva, neurociência e o estudo filosófico das emoções. (shrink)

Meditation has been for long time avoided as a scientific theme because of its complexity and its religious connotations. Fortunately, in the last years, it has increasingly been studied within different neuroscientific experimental protocols. Attention and concentration are surely among the most important topics in these experiments. Notwithstanding this, inhibition of emotions and discursive thoughts are equally important to understand what is at stake during those types of mental processes. I philosophically and technically analyse and compare results from neuroimaging studies, (...) produced by leading authorities on the theme, dealing with two types of meditation: "one-pointed concentration" and "compassion meditation". Analysing "one-pointed concentration", I show the differences between novice and expert meditation practitioners in terms of brain activity and connectivity, considering the relationship among increased attention and concentration and decreased activity in areas related to discursive thought and emotion. Analysing "compassion meditation", I show the importance of the limbic circuitry in emotion sharing. I follow the same strategy of comparing novice and expert meditation practitioners. The conclusion establishes a common structure to those different ways of dealing with emotion during meditation. (shrink)

El artículo presenta un análisis comparativo de los últimos parágrafos de la Vida de Pirrón de Diógenes Laercio (9.107-8) y de un capítulo del Adversus ethicos de Sexto Empírico ( _M_ 11.[5].141-67). Los resultados de este análisis harán plausible la hipótesis de una fuente común, reproducida parcialmente en DL, pero elaborada y refinada en Sexto. En ambos textos son centrales las nociones de fin y de elección. Se presentan las diferencias entre ambos textos entorno a la primera, y las tensiones (...) internas co munes que implica el tratamiento de la segunda. (shrink)

Philosophie des expérientes radicales, livro recém-publicado pelo filósofo pragmatista e professor da Universidade de Lyon III, Stéphane Madelrieux, propõe uma maneira original e inovadora de ler a filosofia francesa do século XX. Sem abordá-la por caminhos tradicionais, tais como a sucessão cronológica de gerações (1860, 1900, 1900, etc), conceitos típicos (espírito e vida; existência e transcendência; dialética e práxis; estrutura e descontinuidade; diferença e desconstrução, etc.), correntes hegemônicas (espiritualismo bergsoniano, filosofias da vida; existencialismos; hegelianismos, marxismos; estruturalismo, epistemologia histórica; pós-estruturalismo ou (...) pós-modernismo, etc.), Madelrieux elege seis autores franceses (Henri Bergson, Jean Wahl, Gilles Deleuze, Georges Bataille, Maurice Blanchot e Michel Foucault), todos do século XX, para, em seguida, analisá-los pelo prisma do "empirismo metafísico". O que interessa a Madelrieux é apontar a presença de um programa inédito, não trabalhado na literatura filosófica, que amarra experiência e metafísica, e que explica uma parte importante da filosofia do século XX, notadamente na França. (shrink)

RESUMENLas posturas estéticas de Hölderlin y Schiller convergen en un decisivo punto de confluencia: la voluntad de reconciliación entre lo finito y lo infinito, entre lo definido y lo ilimitado. El objetivo último pretendido por esta armonización de potencias opuestas radica en el intento de restañar la originaria fisura entre la subjetividad incondicionada y el mundo natural que se alza ante ella como resistencia y obstáculo. El presente estudio trata de mostrar el modo en el que ambos artistas-pensadores intentan favorecer (...) tal conciliación a través de una común referencia al vínculo estético existente entre lo indeterminado y lo finito.PALABRAS CLAVESchiller, Hölderlin, determinabilidad, reconciliación, formaABSTRACTHölderlin and Schiller´s aesthetical stances concur on a decisive point of confluence: the will to reconciliation between the finite and the infinite, between the defined and the unlimited. The last aim sought by this harmonization of opposed powers has its root in the attempt to stanch the original fissure between the unconditioned subjectivity and the natural world that arises in front of it as a resistance and as an obstacle. The present study tries to show the way in which both artist-thinkers attempt to favor such conciliation through a common reference to the aesthetical bond that exists between the indeterminate and the finite.KEYWORDSSchiller, Hölderlin, determinability, reconciliation, form. (shrink)

En el contexto del cambio de una concepcion sustancialista a una concepcion desustancialista, en la cual se pierde de vista el fundamento mismo de la persona, el autor de este estudio cree que el problema de la identidad humana exige un replanteamiento y una reconstruccion. Es preciso entonces emprender un camino que conduzca a reconstruir al hombre, sacandolo del anonimato nihilista en el que lo habia sumido la modernidad al exagerar indebidamente el intelectualismo de la filosofia tradicional precedente. La antropologia (...) actual podra reivindicar la autenticidad de la propia persona y el verdadero alcance de la libertad humana en su configuracion. Jaime Calderon Calderon nacio en 1966 en Churintzio, Michoacan (Mexico). Ordenando sacerdote en 1991. Obtuvo el doctorado en filosofia en la Pontificia Universidad Gregoriana de Roma con la presente disertacion. (shrink)

Selective attention depends on goal-directed and stimulus-driven modulatory factors, each relayed by different brain rhythms. Under certain circumstances, stress-related states can change the balance between goal-directed and stimulus-driven factors. However, the neuronal mechanisms underlying these changes remain unclear. In this study, we explored how psychosocial stress can modulate brain rhythms during an attentional task and a task-free period. We recorded the EEG and ECG activity of 42 healthy participants subjected to either the Trier Social Stress Test, a controlled procedure to (...) induce stress, or a comparable control protocol, flanked by an attentional task, a 90 s of task-free period and a state of anxiety questionnaire. We observed that psychosocial stress induced an increase in heart rate, self-reported anxiety, and alpha power synchronization. Also, psychosocial stress evoked a relative beta power increase during correct trials of the attentional task, which correlates positively with anxiety and heart rate increase, and inversely with attentional accuracy. These results suggest that psychosocial stress affects performance by redirecting attentional resources toward internal threat-related thoughts. An increment of endogenous top-down modulation reflected an increased beta-band activity that may serve as a compensatory mechanism to redirect attentional resources toward the ongoing task. The data obtained here may contribute to designing new ways of clinical management of the human stress response in the future and could help to minimize the damaging effects of persistent stressful experiences. (shrink)

En este artículo se sitúa el tema de la muerte en el contexto de la antropología filosófica de Julián Marías: así, se estudian los aspectos que conciernen al hombre, sus peligros, los elementos del morir, las interpretaciones en torno a la muerte y por último la razonabilidad de la esperanza en la vida futura.

In the Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus the identity signal is excluded from any meaningful language use, because expressions such as “a = a” and “a = b” cannot be elementary and necessary propositions at the same time. Hence, the identity is used as a operation. That use does not intended to be be meaningful, but only to indicate the intersubstitutable nature of the signs involved.

En oposición al escepticismo declarado por Callender y Cohen respecto de la existencia de algún problema en torno a la representación científica, el objetivo de este artículo es mostrar un conjunto de características peculiares de la representación científica, aunque no exclusivas, que una teoría satisfactoria debe explicar. Estas son: la predicación, la posibilidad de ser una representación incorrecta, el razonamiento subrogatorio y la independencia entre el contenido y la denotación. Además, se argumenta que una teoría satisfactoria de la representación debe (...) ofrecer una definición de sus medios representacionales, es decir, de lo que es un modelo científico. Finalmente, se propone que para dar cuenta de estas características basta responder la pregunta: ¿Cómo nos permiten los modelos científicos ganar información sobre el objeto representado? (shrink)

Esse artigo é fruto de um projeto de pesquisa, que busca estabelecer um diálogo Sul-Sul entre o pensamento do educador Paulo Freire e o sociólogo Boaventura Santos, com foco nos temas da democracia e da educação pública na atualidade da sociedade brasileira (2014-2020). Essa pesquisa se assentou numa abordagem qualitativa, priorizando a pesquisa bibliográfica e documental. No entanto, para fins de delimitação desse artigo e de socialização de alguns resultados, centro a análise na contribuição do pensamento de Paulo Freire a (...) partir das margens do Sul, tomando como base seu conceito de “ser mais”, para debater sobre essa crise da democracia e da educação pública na atualidade do país. Ao tomar como base esse conceito de “ser mais”, foi possível identificar tanto os limites estruturantes da democracia liberal na sociedade, em particular na educação, e a necessidade de fazer emergir outras interpretações não eurocêntricas a respeito desses temas, bem como evidenciar um cenário de agudo retrocesso democrático, que demonstra avançar na condição do “ser menos” e, por conseguinte, distorcer, profundamente, a vocação ontológica de ser mais. Palavras-Chave: Paulo Freire; Ser mais; Democracia; Educação Pública; Margens do Sul. Democracy and education crisis in Brazil: a contribution of freirean thought to the debate Abstract: This article is the result of a research project, which seeks to establish a South-South dialogue between the thought of educator Paulo Freire and sociologist Boaventura Santos, focusing on the themes of democracy and public education in the current situation of Brazilian society (2014-2020). This research was based on a qualitative approach, prioritizing bibliographic and documentary research. However, for the purpose of delimiting this article and sharing some results, I focus the analysis on the contribution of Paulo Freire's thought from the Southern margins, based on his concept of “being more”, to debate this crisis of democracy and public education in the country's current situation. Based on this concept of “being more”, it was possible to identify both the structuring limits of liberal democracy in society, in particular in education, and the need to bring out other non-Eurocentric interpretations of these themes, as well as showing a scenario of acute democratic setback, which demonstrates advancing in the condition of “being less” and, therefore, profoundly distorting the ontological vocation of being more. Keywords: Paulo Freire; Being more; Democracy; Public education; Southern margins. Crisis de la democracia y educación en Brasil: una contribución del pensamiento freireano al debate Resumen: Este artículo es el resultado de un proyecto de investigación, que busca establecer un diálogo Sur-Sur entre el pensamiento del educador Paulo Freire y el sociólogo Boaventura Santos, centrándose en los temas de la democracia y la educación pública en la sociedad brasileña actual (2014-2020). Esta investigación se basó en un enfoque cualitativo, dando prioridad a la investigación bibliográfica y documental. Sin embargo, para efectos de delimitación de este artículo y socialización de algunos resultados, centro el análisis en el aporte del pensamiento de Paulo Freire desde los márgenes del Sur, tomando como base su concepto de "ser más", para discutir esta crisis de la democracia y la educación pública en la situación actual del país. Tomando como base este concepto de "ser más", fue posible identificar los límites estructurales de la democracia liberal en la sociedad, particularmente en la educación, y la necesidad de sacar a la luz otras interpretaciones no eurocéntricas de estas cuestiones, así como poner de manifiesto un escenario de aguda regresión democrática, que demuestra avanzar en la condición de "ser menos" y, en consecuencia, desvirtuar profundamente la vocación ontológica de ser más. Palabras clave: Paulo Freire; Ser más; Democracia; Educación Pública; Márgenes del Sur. Data de registro: 18/02/2022 Data de aceite: 26/10/2022. (shrink)

O presente artigo tem como objetivo analisar a cooperação militar entre Brasil e Suriname. Nas últimas décadas a América do Sul tornou-se plataforma estratégica de inserção internacional, modernização da defesa nacional e amadurecimento das relações regionais nos temas de segurança e defesa. Nosso recorte temporal é entre o ano de 1975, ano de independência do Suriname e de inicio de suas relações diplomáticas com o Brasil, até o ano de 2014, final do primeiro mandato da presidente Dilma Rousseff. A metodologia (...) consistiu em análise bibliográfica, levantamento e análise dos acordos de cooperação militar entre o Brasil e Suriname, análise documental e de declarações oficiais, discursos e posicionamentos dos atores sociais e políticos da região sobrea cooperação militar. Nossa análise demonstra que mesmo o Suriname apresentando uma baixa interação diplomática com o Brasil, o país ocupa posição de destaque na cooperação militar. (shrink)