This article reconstructs Habermas hypothesis that in the sacral complexity the rite precedes the myth and that could explain the permanence of religion as archaic source of solidarity even in the context of the secular world. Mythical narratives, in confrontation with science, shall lose the capacity to explain the world while the religious rites are still able to produce social integration and to collaborate for the construction of identities, at least for those who manifest such sensibility. Confrontation is stablished with (...) Charles Taylor positions, not directly about the hypothesis mentioned above but about the assumptions, that inspires it. Taylor sees the religious experience as generated in the present, an opening to transcendence of the internal modern immanent order, capable to offer therapy to pathologies of a modernity that, even accomplished great advances, has the risk of self-encapsulation. (shrink)

A vexing puzzle about vagueness, rationality, and evolution runs, in crude abbreviation, as follows: vague language use is demonstrably suboptimal if the goal is efficient, precise and cooperative information transmission; hence rational deliberation or evolutionary selection should, under this assumed goal, eradicate vagueness from language use. Since vagueness is pervasive and entrenched in all human languages, something has to give. In this paper, we focus on this problem in the context of signaling games. We provide an overview of a number (...) of proposed ways in which vagueness may come into the picture in formal models of rational and evolutionary signaling. Most argue that vague signal use is simply the best we can get, given certain factors. Despite the plausibility of the proposals, we argue that a deeper understanding of the benefits of vagueness needs a more ecological perspective, namely one that goes beyond the local optimization of signaling strategies in a homogeneous population. As an example of one possible way to expand upon our current models, we propose two variants of a novel multi-population dynamic of imprecise imitation where, under certain conditions, populations with vague language use dominate over populations with precise language use. (shrink)

Este artigo apresenta a pesquisa como princípio formativo e destaca a sua relevância para a dimensão do conhecimento e da aprendizagem, trazendo evidências que ela é o modo humano de conhecer e compreender. Objetiva-se chamar a atenção para diferentes dimensões formativas da pesquisa e que, em certo sentido, podem ser situadas como pressupostas ou anteriores a quaisquer modalidades, métodos, tipos ou estratégias de sua realização específica. Nessa direção, a pesquisa pode ser compreendida, em termos gerais, como constituidora do modo de (...) ser humano e, em termos específicos, do modo de ser estudantil e, também, docente. Para tanto, argumenta-se que a linguagem é um traço distintivo dos humanos que lhes permite simbolizar, interpretar, compreender e transformar; tais aspectos permitem dizer que a constituição do mundo humano é uma autocriação. Por fim, destaca-se a pesquisa como esforço em compreender as situações práticas mediante o recurso a categorias teóricas e/ou interpretativas e como uma atividade humana de fundamental importância e que tem nas instituições educativas um lugar privilegiado para a sua otimização, na medida em que inter-relaciona o ensino, a pesquisa e a experiência prática da vida. (shrink)

Reunindo o contributo de autores oriundos de múltiplas áreas, incidindo sobre a filosofia, as tradições religiosas e sapienciais, a história, a literatura, a linguística, a literatura oral, a obra que agora se publica, sob a égide do Centro de Estudos Clássicos e do Centro de Estudos Comparatistas da Faculdade de Letras da Universidade de Lisboa, constitui uma visão plural sobre a sabedoria, sobre o lugar da memória na compreensão sábia da realidade, enfim, sobre o modo como a sabedoria e a (...) memória se cruzam. (shrink)

Pensar o pensamento: a leitura e a reconstrução do imaginário social na formação superior Resumo: O artigo reflete sobre a formação humana em cursos superiores na perspectiva da capacitação crítico-reflexiva que prepare para a vida em sociedade. Trata-se de pesquisa qualitativa com reflexão a partir de estudo teórico que tematiza a condição humana, a noção de imaginário social instituinte e o desafio do desenvolvimento do pensamento mediante o exercício da leitura. Analisa que na época atual, em que o ensino convive (...) com as novas tecnologias da informação e comunicação, há uma relativização do compromisso do próprio sujeito para com o desenvolvimento de suas capacidades de leitura e de reflexão a partir da interpretação da linguagem. Indica que a universidade deve ter a preocupação essencial de formar o sujeito de forma integral, para além formação profissional, exigindo um repensar do ensino e da aprendizagem a partir do desafio da construção de uma sociabilidade solidária e sustentável. Palavras-chave: Autonomia. Ensino superior. Educação. Formação humana. Imaginário social. Think the thought: the reading and the reconstruction of the social imaginary in higher education: The article reflects on human training in higher education in the perspective of critical-reflexive training that prepares for life in society. It is a qualitative research with reflection from a theoretical study that thematizes the human condition, the notion of social imaginary instituting and the challenge of the development of the thought through the exercise of reading. It analyzes that in the present time, in which teaching coexists with the new technologies of information and communication, there is a relativization of the commitment of the subject itself with the development of its reading and reflection abilities from the interpretation of the language. It indicates that the university should have the essential concern to train the subject in an integral way, besides professional training, requiring a rethink of teaching and learning from the challenge of building a solidary and sustainable sociability. Keywords: Autonomy. Higher education. Education. Human formation. Social imaginary. Pensar el pensamiento: la lectura y la reconstrucción del imaginario social en la educación superior Resumen: El artículo refleja sobre la formación humana en cursos superiores en la perspectiva de la capacitación crítico-reflexiva que prepare para la vida en sociedad. Se trata de una investigación cualitativa con reflexión a partir del estudio teórico que tematiza la condición humana, la noción de imaginario social instituyente y el desafío del desarrollo del pensamiento mediante el ejercicio de la lectura. En la época actual, en la que la enseñanza convive con las nuevas tecnologías de la información y comunicación, hay una relativización del compromiso del propio sujeto para con el desarrollo de sus capacidades de lectura y de reflexión a partir de la interpretación del lenguaje. Indica que la universidad debe tener la preocupación esencial de formar al sujeto de forma integral, además de formación profesional, exigiendo un repensar de la enseñanza y del aprendizaje a partir del desafío de la construcción de una sociabilidad solidaria y sostenible. Palabras clave: Autonomía. Enseñanza superior. Educación. Formación humana. Imaginario social. Data de registro: 06/02/2019 Data de aceite: 24/04/2020. (shrink)

In Ludwig Wittgenstein’s Philosophical Investigations, one can find a number of remarks that could be seen as antithetical to classic philosophical analysis. There are passages seemingly rejecting the ideas of concept decomposition, regression to first principles, and semantic substitution. The criticism, I argue, is aimed not at analysis in particular, but rather at some idealizations that pervade a certain picture of philosophy. This picture can be contrasted with Wittgenstein’s pragmatist view of explanations of meaning which, I believe, can inform a (...) different attitude towards philosophical method that aligns well with a vision of philosophy as conversation. If we think of philosophy as engaging in the development and exchange of explanations of meaning, we can see how various methods can coexist insofar as they are useful, and as long as the urge to sublimate them beyond our practices can be avoided. (shrink)

Signalling games are popular models for studying the evolution of meaning, but typical approaches do not incorporate vagueness as a feature of successful signalling. Complementing recent like-minded models, we describe an aggregate population-level dynamic that describes a process of imitation of successful behaviour under imprecise perception and realization of similar stimuli. Applying this new dynamic to a generalization of Lewis’s signalling games, we show that stochastic imprecision leads to vague, yet by-and-large efficient signal use, and, moreover, that it unifies evolutionary (...) outcomes and helps avoid sub-optimal categorization. The upshot of this is that we see ‘as-if’-generalization at an aggregate level, without agents actually generalizing. _1_ Introduction _2_ Background _2.1_ Sim-max games and conceptual spaces _2.2_ Vagueness in sim-max games and conceptual spaces _2.3_ Vagueness, functional pressure, and transmission biases _3_ Imprecise Imitation _3.1_ Replicator dynamic in behavioural strategies _3.2_ Noise-perturbed conditional imitation _4_ Exploring Imprecise Imitation _4.1_ Setting the stage _4.2_ Simulation set-up _4.3_ Measures of interest _4.4_ Results _5_ Discussion _5.1_ Levels of vagueness _5.2_ Evolutionary benefits of imprecision _5.3_ Related work _6_ Conclusion Appendix. (shrink)

The ways in which languages have come to divide the visible spectrum with their color terminology, in both their variety and the apparent universal tendencies, are still largely unexplained. Building on recent work in modeling color perception and categorization, as well as the theory of signaling games, we incrementally construct a color categorization model which combines perceptual characteristics of individual agents, game-theoretic signaling interaction of these agents, and the probability of observing particular colors as an environmental constraint. We also propose (...) a method of transparent evaluation against the data gathered in the World Color Survey. The results show that the model’s predictive power is comparable to the current state of the art. Additionally, we argue that the model we suggest is superior in terms of motivation of the principles involved, and that its explanatory relevance with respect to color categorization in languages is therefore higher. Our results suggest that the universal tendencies of color categorization cannot be explained solely in terms of the shape of the color space induced by our perceptual apparatus. We believe that only by taking the heterogeneity of the phenomenon seriously can we acquire a deeper understanding of why color categorization takes the forms we observe across languages. (shrink)

Objective: The study was designed to substantiate the obligations to the human embryo that can be established from the standpoint of autonomy, by showing the human embryo to be a subject of rights. Materials and Methods: Documentary research was done, supplemented with content from in-depth interviews conducted with a team of leading experts in medicine, law and philosophy. A script was used as a research tool, but with the freedom to expand on some of the issues with new questions suggested (...) by the person being interviewed or by the research team, as relevant to each interview. Results: Eight experts were interviewed: two in medicine, three in rights and three in philosophy. The interviews clearly showed there is an objective basis for the human rights of the embryo, which now are being violated by so-called legal abortion, through decriminalization via exceptions and decriminaliza-tion based on terms. Conclusion: We live in a society that has lost sight of the very foundation of common sense when it comes to protecting the unborn, especially in its embryonic stage, appealing to the bioethical principles of dignity, integrity and vulnerability. (shrink)

The COVID-19 pandemic and the quarantine undergone by children in many countries is a stressful situation about which little is known to date. Children and adolescents' behaviors to cope with home confinement may be associated with their emotional welfare. The objectives of this study were: to examine the coping strategies used out by children and adolescents during the COVID-19 health crisis, to analyze the differences in these behaviors in three countries, and to examine the relationship between different coping modalities and (...) adaptation. Participants were 1,480 parents of children aged 3–18 years from three European countries. The children's mean age was 9.15 years. Parents completed an online survey providing information on symptoms and coping behaviors observed in their children. The most frequent coping strategies were accepting what is happening, collaborating with quarantine social activities, acting as if nothing is happening, highlighting the advantages of being at home, and not appearing to be worried about what is happening. Compared to Italian and Spanish children, Portuguese children used a sense of humor more frequently when their parents talked about the situation. Acting as if nothing was happening, collaborating with social activities, and seeking comfort from others were more likely in Spanish children than in children from the other countries. Compared to Portuguese and Spanish children, Italian children did not seem worried about what was happening. Overall, an emotional-oriented coping style was directly correlated with a greater presence of anxious symptoms, as well as to mood, sleep, behavioral, and cognitive alterations. Task-oriented and avoidance-oriented styles were related to better psychological adaptation. Results also show that unaffected children or children with a lower level of impact were more likely to use strategies based on a positive focus on the situation. This study provides interesting data on the strategies to be promoted by parents to cope with the COVID-19 health crisis in children. (shrink)

IntroductionRegular exercise has long been shown to positively impact the immune system responsiveness and improve mental well-being. However, the putative links between biomarkers of mental health and immune efficiency in exercising subjects have been scarcely investigated. The aim of this study was to verify the effect of a 14-week combined chair-based exercise program on salivary steroid hormones and anti-microbial proteins, functional fitness, and MWB indexes in pre-frail older women.MethodsThe participant women were randomly divided into the exercising group and the non-exercising (...) control group. The pre/post assessment included: salivary anti-microbial proteins lysozyme; and immunoglobulin-A ; salivary steroid hormones of testosterone and cortisol ; functional fitness ; MWB questionnaires.ResultsSignificant differences with large Cohen’s effect sizes were found on increased salivary TT after exercise intervention. The results revealed a decrease in IgA levels after CEP. The increase in subjective happiness levels and decrease of stress perception and depressive state were found after intervention in the CEP group. Robust statistical differences in gait speed and balance tests were also found in the CEP group. In control, COR increased moderately while no changes were found for the other indicators. Correlation analyses showed inter-dependence between pre–post variations of MWB, biochemical indexes, and fitness function.ConclusionThe CEP program was able to improve functional-fitness performance, decrease feelings of stress, and increase happiness. The CEP also induced clinically relevant hormonal and immune responses, which suggests that chair exercises that combine muscular strength, balance, and gait speed training are promising interventions to improve physical and mental health of older pre-frail adults. (shrink)

The purpose of the present study is to examine the attitudes of Portuguese chartered accountants with respect to questions of ethical nature that can arise in their professional activity. Respondents were asked to respond to the Ethics Position Questionnaire developed by Forsyth (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 39(1), 175–184, 1980), in order to determine their idealism and relativism levels. Subsequently, they answered questions about five scenarios related to accounting practices, with the objective of measuring their ethical judgments. Based on (...) the idealism and relativism levels of our respondents, they were classified into one of four groups, representing different ethical ideologies (absolutism, exceptionism, subjectivism, and situationism). The results indicated that age was the major determinant of relativism. Contrary to previous research, older respondents revealed themselves significantly more relativistic than younger ones. Gender seems to be the most important determinant of ethical judgments; against expectations, men evidenced significantly stricter judgments than women in two of the five scenarios. Findings also indicated that respondents’ ethical judgments did not differ significantly based on their ethical ideology, supporting the idea that ethical ideology is not an important determinant of ethical judgments. (shrink)

A pesar de las «discrepancias radicales» entre ambos autores, este ensayo muestra cómo fueron leídas e interpretadas las Reflexiones sobre la violencia de G. Sorel por Ortega y Gasset. Sin embargo, una mirada crítica nos ofrece cómo el éthos orteguiano y el recurso a la huelga de G. Sorel son estructuras distintas, pero convergentes en sus filosofías. Asimismo descubrimos la misma reflexión en torno al cristianismo y al Renacimiento como metáforas culturales para comprender el desarrollo vital de la razón histórica (...) en épocas de crisis como las que vivieron los dos pensadores. (shrink)

El presente trabajo recupera, caracteriza y evalúa el marco antropológico subyacente en la Declaración de los Derechos Humanos de 1948. Para este propósito, se utilizó como metodología el análisis del discurso y una evaluación antropológica de su contenido en relación directa con la Bioética contemporánea y sus problemas más sobresalientes. doi: 10.5294/pebi.2015.19.2.4.

This book clarifies the meaning of the most important and pervasive concepts and tools in bioethical argumentation and assesses the methodological suitability of the main methods for clinical decision-making and argumentation. The first part of the book is devoted to the most developed or promising approaches regarding bioethical argumentation, namely those based on principles, values and human rights. The authors then continue to deal with the contributions and shortcomings of these approaches and suggest further developments by means of substantive and (...) procedural elements and concepts from practical philosophy, normative systems theory, theory of action, human rights and legal argumentation. Furthermore, new models of biomedical and health care decision-making, which overcome the aforementioned criticism and stress the relevance of the argumentative responsibility, are included. (shrink)

El autor de este trabajo expone un diagnóstico crítico de Europa apoyándose en la lectura de tres libros diferentes. El triunfo del nihilismo se levantaría, a su juicio, sobre el olvido de tres fundamentos íntimamente conectados entre sí: la Filosofía, el Cristianismo y Europa.

This descriptive study gathers and questions general evidence on the quality of life experienced by medical residents during postgraduate training. The information was obtained from five databases during a period of four months in 2014. For the most part, it highlights dozens of studies that call attention to burnout as a condition that affects the quality of life of medical residents and health workers. The emphasis on deterioration in quality of life focuses on the symptoms of professional attrition that negatively (...) impact a person's health and their subjective sense of personal satisfaction. Although most quality-of-life scales are focused on patients, some of them could be used to assess the learning and working conditions of medical residents, so as to bring them in line with the objectives of legislation, ethics and the universal aspiration for health. The conclusion is that reconsideration is necessary, based on principles of ethics, health and organizational psychology that could benefit the physician in training and have an impact on the quality of health care. (shrink)

A formação técnico-profissional é parte integrante do ODS da educação (ODS 4) e o seu papel transversal para uma transformação global é amplamente reconhecido. O presente estudo avalia a efetividade do modelo de formação técnico profissional baseado em competências (MFPBC) e sua influência setorial. O estudo emprega dados de questionário de satisfação aplicado a quinhentos (500) intervenientes (gestores das Instituições do Ensino Profissional (IEPs), formadores, formandos, pais/encarregados de educação e alguns empregadores) no sistema de educação profissional (EP) em Moçambique, referentes (...) a 2019-2020. As avaliações usam a estatística descritiva e o teste de qualidade de ajuste qui-quadrado para analisar as diferenças do valor esperado do valor observado das variáveis em estudo. Os resultados da pesquisa apontam para necessidade de revisão do MFPBPC introduzido em Moçambique no ano de 2019, pois revela incongruências na sua implementação. As incongruências estão relacionadas à falta de comunicação entre as partes interessadas, nomeadamente: formandos, IEPs, empregadores e órgão regulador, fenômeno que foi evidenciado por mais de 60% dos respondentes que avaliaram negativamente o modelo em quase todas as questões. Existe divergência entre o contexto real e o objetivo do governo proposto na Lei nº 23/2014, qual seja, formar em qualidade e quantidade profissionais para responder os desafios do mercado de trabalho. Em relação à introdução da MFPBC, verificou-se uma relação positiva entre o número de graduados e o número de empregados/empreendedores. Em relação ao nível de empregabilidade dos alunos formados no MFPBC, 77,4% responderam negativamente, em contraste com a Lei nº 23/2014 que preconiza ser objetivo do MFPBC melhorar as perspectivas de empregabilidade e de emprego dos formandos e graduados da educação profissional. Os intervenientes avaliaram o nível de domínio do MFPBC negativamente, o que pode estar associado à dificuldade de comunicação entre o órgão regulador, as IEPs, os empregadores e os alunos. Para que se encontre a excelência do modelo, é necessário que todos os intervenientes participem na planificação, execução e controle da formação com vista a se alcançar as expectativas e competências específicas para que cada graduado possa desempenhar o seu trabalho com sucesso. Deste modo, recomenda-se a implantação de currículos por competências baseados em situações concretas para garantir o desenvolvimento económico e social. (shrink)

El hecho de que este año 2004 se cumpla el tercer centenario de la muerte de J. Locke ya de por sí es una ocasión para repasar su pensamiento como uno de los más influyentes en la tradición filosófica, especialmente en la anglosajona. Más oportuno aún es repensarlo a la luz de las consecuencias de sus planteamientos no sustancialistas. En el terreno gnoseo lógico, si de la sustancia no tenemos una idea clara y distinta entonces se alza con toda crudeza (...) el problema del correlato de nuestras ideas: su significado y su referencia. De la consideración de las ideas como signos surge una visión de las posiciones de Locke, inicialmente catalogadas de representacionistas, que las sitúa en el ámbito de la expresión. (shrink)