When describing motion along both the horizontal and vertical axes, languages from different families express the elements encoding verticality before those coding for horizontality (e.g., going up right instead of right up). In light of the motor grounding of language, the present study investigated whether the prevalence of verticality in Path expression also governs the trajectory of arm biological movements. Using a 3D virtual-reality setting, we tracked the kinematics of hand pointing movements in five spatial directions, two of which implied (...) the vertical and horizontal vectors equally (i.e., up right +45° and bottom right −45°). Movement onset could be prompted by visual or auditory verbal cues, the latter being canonical in French (“en haut à droite”/up right) or not (“à droite en haut”/right up). In two experiments, analyses of the index finger kinematics revealed a significant effect of gravity, with earlier acceleration, velocity, and deceleration peaks for upward (+45°) than downward (−45°) movements, irrespective of the instructions. Remarkably, confirming the linguistic observations, we found that vertical kinematic parameters occurred earlier than horizontal ones for upward movements, both for visual and congruent verbal cues. Non-canonical verbal instructions significantly affected this temporal dynamic: for upward movements, the horizontal and vertical components temporally aligned, while they reversed for downward movements where the kinematics of the vertical axis was delayed with respect to that of the horizontal one. This temporal dynamic is so deeply anchored that non-canonical verbal instructions allowed for horizontality to precede verticality only for movements that do not fight against gravity. Altogether, our findings provide new insights into the embodiment of language by revealing that linguistic path may reflect the organization of biological movements, giving priority to the vertical axis. (shrink)

Da qualche anno il piccolo mondo dei Presocratici è in movimento, se non in subbuglio, e a smuovere le acque interviene ora un cospicuo volume scritto in catalano, Saviesa grega arcaica, che è curato da un autorevole grecista di Barcellona, Pórtulas, e da un suo valido allievo, Grau. Il volume si distingue anzitutto per il fatto di circoscrivere il suo campo di osservazione al periodo delle guerre persiane (così da spingersi fino ad Eraclito e Parmenide, ma non oltre) e di (...) riservare molta att... (shrink)

Valoración e investigación en el continuo de la experiencia. Desde el pragmatismo de John Dewey al debate sobre el ideal de ciencia libre de valores. Resumen de tesis de doctorado en Filosofía de Livio Mattarollo.

This fascinating exploration of the great discoveries of history's most important mathematicians seeks an answer to the eternal question: Does mathematics hold the key to understanding the mysteries of the physical world?

Primeiro trabalho sistemático no Brasil sobre a obra do filósofo racionalista holandês, esta tese de livre-docência, considerada um clássico da filosofia nacional, é, para a filósofa Marilena Chauí, a maior especialista brasileira no assunto, uma referência indispensável, no qual Teixeira "interpreta com originalidade, rigor e clareza" as idéias do mestre do século XVII, especialmente no que diz respeito aos polêmicos termos "razão" e "abstração".

En el marco del debate sobre el ideal de ciencia libre de valores, Philip Kitcher propone un ideal de ciencia bien ordenada. La fundamentación política y meta ética del ideal tiene dos versiones: la primera se inspira en el enfoque de John Rawls mientras que la segunda refiere a la idea de democracia como experiencia conjunta comunicada de John Dewey. El artículo sostiene que el planteo de Kitcher evidencia ciertas tensiones con la visión deweyana pues aquel mantiene una concepción formal (...) de la democracia y una visión objetivista de sus valores estructurales precisamente dos puntos que intentaba superar refiriendo a Dewey. (shrink)

This paper analyses and compares some of the automated reasoners that have been used in recent research for compliance checking. Although the list of the considered reasoners is not exhaustive, we believe that our analysis is representative enough to take stock of the current state of the art in the topic. We are interested here in formalizations at the _first-order_ level. Past literature on normative reasoning mostly focuses on the _propositional_ level. However, the propositional level is of little usefulness for (...) concrete LegalTech applications, in which compliance checking must be enforced on (large) sets of individuals. Furthermore, we are interested in technologies that are _freely available_ and that can be further investigated and compared by the scientific community. In other words, this paper does not consider technologies only employed in industry and/or whose source code is non-accessible. This paper formalizes a selected use case in the considered reasoners and compares the implementations, also in terms of simulations with respect to shared synthetic datasets. The comparison will highlight that lot of further research still needs to be done to integrate the benefits featured by the different reasoners into a single standardized first-order framework, suitable for LegalTech applications. All source codes are freely available at https://github.com/liviorobaldo/compliancecheckers, together with instructions to locally reproduce the simulations. (shrink)

The overarching theme of causality in behavioral genetics is discussed on epistemological grounds. Evidence is offered in favor of a continuum spectrum in causality, in contrast to discrimination between causal factors and associations. The risk of invalidating exploratory studies in behavior genetics is discussed, especially for the potential impact on those fields of medicine interested in complex behaviors.

El artículo pretende evaluar la crítica de Robert Talisse a la noción de democracia de John Dewey según la cual dicha noción sería incompatible con el pluralismo razonable de corte rawlsiano y devendría opresiva pues se funda en el ideal moral del crecimiento. Para ello, se reconstruye la “objeción pluralista” de Talisse. Posteriormente, se consideran los argumentos centrales con que Dewey sostiene su perspectiva, a saber: el argumento experimentalista y el argumento formativo. En este marco, se sostiene que la idea (...) de democracia como cooperación social y la idea de crecimiento como fin moral, comprendidas en términos deweyanos, dan lugar al pluralismo por derecho propio. (shrink)

O projeto de John Dewey sobre a filosofia social não tem sido considerado como uma peça importante de seu pensamento. Entretanto, seus textos sobre esse tópico constituem um notável esforço para articular diversos novos conceitos e ideias, os quais não podem ser encontrados em outra parte de sua extensa obra filosófica. Inserida nesse contexto, a nova edição de suas “Palestras em filosofia política e social” – série de palestras que Dewey apresentou quando esteve na China – fornece um material único (...) para revisar seu ponto de vista social. Levando-se em consideração que o pragmatista introduz uma “figura normativa” e que ele identifica um conjunto de necessidades humanas básicas de maneira a compreender plenamente esse critério normativo. Como hipótese, considero que a filosofia social está principalmente associada com juízos práticos e que é plausível interpretar essas necessidades humanas básicas como valores. Para sustentar essas afirmações, primeiro, reconstruo a proposta de Dewey sobre um terceiro tipo de pensamento social. Segundo, examino sua posição sobre valores e normas. Terceiro, analiso a “figura normativa” e considero a “leitura antropológica” apresentada por Roberto Frega. Por fim, ofereço uma análise complementar, argumentando que é possível explicar o padrão normativo de Dewey de maneira coerente com respeito aos propósitos do seu pensamento social – e, além disso, que é possível evitar qualquer compromisso essencialista. (shrink)

Corpus linguistics grew up in the domain of written (and literary) varieties, while its recent methodological revolution is due to the computer-assisted capacity of elaborating massive amounts of text data. On the other hand, the so-called ‘low-density varieties’, including spoken varieties as well as varieties spoken in minority communities, have been confined to a rather marginal role. Among others, this is due to the technical problems connected to the scarce degree of normalization in linguistic –including graphemic– terms, as well as (...) to the scarcity of language resources for automatic processing. In this paper, we will exploit the possibilities opened by corpus linguistics for acquiring and analyzing the textual patrimony of the Walser German communities of Piedmont and Aosta Valley. The varieties of Highest Alemannic spoken there, dramatically exposed to language decay, provide a limited but significant amount of data, which is accompanied by a substantial lexical documentation due to the active collaboration of the speakers’ communities in collecting and compiling local dictionaries. After briefly introducing our archive and discussing the peculiar solutions adopted for the construction of the platform, we will also present corpus-based morphological investigations regarding the representation of verbal prefixes, of the clitic group, as well as of the inflectional behaviour of verb classes. (shrink)

Durante las primeras décadas del siglo XX el filósofo pragmatista John Dewey perfila una filosofía social que incluye una teoría del conflicto social. Estas ideas encuentran su mejor desarrollo en las conferencias dictadas en China (1919-1921). En este marco, el presente artículo busca (i) introducir el “tercer tipo” de filosofía social propuesto por Dewey, abocada a resolver problemas concretos mediante la convergencia entre método científico y propósitos morales; (ii) reconstruir la teoría del conflicto social, teoría que presta especial atención a (...) los conflictos de intereses y de principios de organización social entre grupos determinados; (iii) comparar el estándar normativo de evaluación del desarrollo social presentado en las conferencias con la noción de democracia como “experiencia conjunta comunicada” planteada por Dewey en Democracia y Educación (1916); y finalmente (iv) sopesar los aportes de la teoría del conflicto social al pensamiento filosófico-político del pragmatista. Desde allí se afirma que el estándar normativo de las conferencias es consistente con el enfoque conceptual en curso y que la teoría del conflicto social, aun cuando fuera posteriormente abandonada, fortalece la perspectiva deweyana pues incorpora una dimensión de análisis indispensable para todo tratamiento descriptivo-normativo de la sociedad y ofrece herramientas promisorias para abordar problemas sociales contemporáneos. (shrink)

SÍNTESE - Em consonância com o método fenomenológico- hermenêutico traçado por Martin Heidegger em Sein und Zeit, a expressão prático-auto-referencial "eu sou" [sum] deve anteceder toda predicação sobre o humano ser/estar-aí-no-mundo. A este pertence a culpa/ dívida [Schuld] enquanto sentir-se/compreender-se e confessar-se como ser-culpado/devedor [Schuldigsein]. "Sou culpado por" resulta da junção de "sou responsável por" com o "não" implícito na idéia de falta. O responder ativo-projetivo do ser-aí [Dasein] por seu ter-queser está marcado, prévia e ontologicamente, pela impossibilidade de autofundação (...) e pela possibilidade, sempre iminente, de não--ser/estaraí- no mundo; e, no plano ôntico, está permeado pela necessária restrição de possibilidades de ação e pelo inelutável retraimento a possibilidades alternativas. O texto explicita algumas potencialidades de incidência corretiva deste conceito ontológico-existencial de culpa sobre a autocompreensão do homem contemporâneo. (shrink)

This article proposes a new logical framework for NL quantification. The framework is based on Generalized Quantifiers, Skolem-like functional dependencies, and Maximality of the involved sets of entities. Among the readings available for NL sentences, those where two or more sets of entities are independent of one another are particularly challenging. In the literature, examples of those readings are known as Collective and Cumulative readings. This article briefly analyzes previous approaches to Cumulativity and Collectivity, and indicates (Schwarzschild in Pluralities. Kluwer, (...) Dordrecht, 1996) as the best proposal so far to deal with these readings. Then, it incorporates its insights in the logical framework defined in Robaldo (J Philos Log 39(1):23–58, 2009a), leading to a scalable logical account for NL quantification. (shrink)

Patient-centered pharmacy practice involves increased pharmacist engagement in patient care. This increased involvement can sometimes require diverse decision-making when handling various situations, ranging from simple matters to major ethical dilemmas. There is literature about pharmacy ethics in developed Western countries. However, little is known about pharmacists’ practices in many developing countries. For example, there is a paucity of research conducted in the area of pharmacy ethics in Jordan. This study aimed to explore the manner in which ethical dilemmas were handled (...) by Jordanian pharmacists, the resources used and their attitudes towards them. Semi-structured, face to face interviews were carried out with 30 Jordanian registered pharmacists. The transcribed interviews were thematically analysed for emerging themes. Four major themes were identified: legal practice; familiarity with the code of ethics; personal judgement, cultural and religious values; and Experience. Findings showed that ethical decision-making in pharmacy practice in Jordan was decisively influenced by pharmacists’ personal moral values, legal requirements and managed by exercising common sense and experience. This pointed to gaps in Jordanian pharmacists’ understanding and application of basic principles of pharmacy ethics and highlighted the need for professional ethics training, incorporating pharmacy ethics courses in pharmacy undergraduate curricula, as well as professional development courses. This study highlighted that paternalism, personal values and legal obligations were major drivers influencing decision-making processes of Jordanian pharmacists. Findings also highlighted an inclination towards lack of respect for patient autonomy. This illuminated the need for increasing pharmacists’ literacy in professional ethics. (shrink)

En el contexto del debate contemporáneo sobre el ideal de ciencia libre de valores, el propósito general del artículo es recuperar la pregunta por la dimensión valorativa tradicionalmente denominada extra-epistémica de la investigación científica desde el marco teórico del filósofo pragmatista John Dewey. Mediante la reconstrucción de distintos sentidos de continuidad entre investigación científica, valoración y valores, se pretende sostener que el enfoque deweyano da cuenta de la efectiva incidencia de valores sociales, morales y políticos en la investigación, y que (...) bajo ciertas condiciones esa incidencia es legítima pues la consideración del amplio círculo de consecuencias no-científicas de la investigación es parte de su prueba completa, razón por la cual se afirma que dicho tipo de valores son constitutivos de la investigación científica. Finalmente, se sugiere que la perspectiva de Dewey ofrece bases sólidas para una filosofía política de la ciencia. ARK: ark:/s18537960/kiuut6ebr. (shrink)

Algunos autores han sostenido que es posible que en el pasaje de la mano invisible, en La teoría de los sentimientos morales, Smith esté contestando a Rousseau. Esta hipótesis se basa en una fraseología similar que usan tanto Smith como Rousseau en el Discurso sobre el origen de la desigualdad. En esta nota se mostrará que es posible realizar una distinción importante con relación al período histórico que Smith está analizando en el pasaje de la mano invisible de TSM IV: (...) 10 y el que Rousseau está analizando en el Discurso sobre el origen de la desigualdad, a pesar de la fraseología similar con relación a las rudas selvas de la naturaleza. Some authors have contended that it is possible that Smith is answering Rousseau in The Theory of Moral Sentiments. This hypothesis is based on a similar phraseology used both by Smith and by Rousseau in the Discourse on the Origin of Inequality. In this note, a clear distinction will be made. In the aforementioned works, Rousseau and Smith refer to different periods of time, in spite of the similar phraseology used in relation to "the rude forests of nature". (shrink)

En el campo de la epistemología política, un problema clave es cómo balancear los compromisos epistémicos para tomar decisiones políticas adecuadas con los compromisos morales sustantivos. El presente artículo se propone abordar este problema desde el enfoque del pragmatista clásico John Dewey, habida cuenta de que en su pensamiento es posible identificar un argumento epistémico y un argumento formativo en favor de la democracia. Para ello, en primer lugar se reconstruye el argumento epistémico y se analizan las críticas respecto de (...) su presunto carácter instrumental. En segundo lugar, se reconstruyen las líneas centrales del argumento formativo y se consideran tanto las condiciones para el cumplimiento del ideal moral de crecimiento como el carácter educativo de la democracia. Desde aquí se sostiene (i) que la fundamentación epistémica y la fundamentación “sustantiva” son convergentes y que la noción de crecimiento hace las veces de _pivote _entre ambos; y (ii) que la educación en general y la educación formal en particular fungen como _ámbito _de la convergencia entre ambas justificaciones de la democracia. Esto se presenta como un elemento de enorme potencial práctico para la epistemología política y permite enfatizar –una vez más– la centralidad de la educación en el proyecto filosófico-político de Dewey. (shrink)

De acuerdo con Larry Hickman, el estudio de las prácticas tecnológicas constituye la base y el modelo del proyecto filosófico de John Dewey: el análisis y la crítica de la experiencia humana. En la lectura de Hickman y dada la concepción transaccional de la experiencia de Dewey, la tecnología se caracteriza por su capacidad de transformación del ambiente y del propio ser humano. Así, la perspectiva deweyana permitiría comprender a la tecnología en términos de instrumentos o herramientas. Más aún, según (...) Hickman toda forma de investigación o deliberación tanto a nivel material como conceptual sería tecnológica dado su carácter instrumental. Una de las preguntas más acuciantes que abre esta interpretación es si la tecnología como instrumento está libre o cargada de valores extra-epistémicos. El objetivo de este artículo es señalar que desde el punto de vista de Dewey la tecnología no es un instrumento valorativamente neutral. Para ello, en primer lugar se recupera la concepción deweyana de investigación y se exploran los distintos sentidos en que la tecnología es efectivamente instrumental. En segundo lugar, se analiza la tesis de la continuidad entre medios y fines y se afirma que estos últimos no pueden tomarse como términos aislados cuya carga valorativa queda disociada. En tercer lugar, se ofrece una lectura de los sentidos de tecnología como instrumento a la luz de la teoría de la valoración y de la noción de experiencia de Dewey y se afirma que esta perspectiva promueve una reflexión política sobre los fines de la tecnología y los valores que la deberían orientar. (shrink)

Within the context of the discussion about value-free science ideal, Heather Douglas claims that in several cases non-epistemic values are needed for good reasoning in science. In this article I aim at recovering her viewpoint in order to examine the research driving to the Genetic Grandparent Inclusion-Probability Index, a crucial element to restitute the identity of children who were abducted during Argentinean dictatorship. Thus, my purposes are to reconstruct Douglas´ main theoretical contributions, specifically her reasons to reject the ideal as (...) well as the distinction between direct and indirect roles for values in science; and to analyze the scientific paper resulting from the “Grandparent-Inclusion Index” research. The main hypothesis is that several decisions of this research, particularly the establishment of what is to be considered sufficient evidence, should be explained by reference to social, ethical and political values. Both because of the non-epistemic consequences of the inquiry related to its inductive risk and because such inquiry is a case in which there is legitimate and necessary integration between epistemic and non-epistemic values and that it is also a case in which Douglas’ criteria of objectivity is reached. By virtue of these reasons, the significance of Douglas’ contribution to the analysis of the relationship between science and politics is emphasized. (shrink)

Within the context of the discussion about value-free science ideal, Heather Douglas claims that in several cases non-epistemic values are needed for good reasoning in science. In this article I aim at recovering her viewpoint in order to examine the research driving to the Genetic Grandparent Inclusion-Probability Index, a crucial element to restitute the identity of children who were abducted during Argentinean dictatorship. Thus, my purposes are to reconstruct Douglas´ main theoretical contributions, specifically her reasons to reject the ideal as (...) well as the distinction between direct and indirect roles for values in science; and to analyze the scientific paper resulting from the “Grandparent-Inclusion Index” research. The main hypothesis is that several decisions of this research, particularly the establishment of what is to be considered sufficient evidence, should be explained by reference to social, ethical and political values. Both because of the non-epistemic consequences of the inquiry related to its inductive risk and because such inquiry is a case in which there is legitimate and necessary integration between epistemic and non-epistemic values and that it is also a case in which Douglas’ criteria of objectivity is reached. By virtue of these reasons, the significance of Douglas’ contribution to the analysis of the relationship between science and politics is emphasized. (shrink)

RESUMEN En el marco del debate sobre el ideal de ciencia libre de valores, Philip Kitcher propone un ideal de ciencia bien ordenada. La fundamentación política y meta-ética del ideal tiene dos versiones: la primera se inspira en el enfoque de John Rawls mientras que la segunda refiere a la idea de democracia como experiencia conjunta comunicada de John Dewey. El artículo sostiene que el planteo de Kitcher evidencia ciertas tensiones con la visión deweyana pues aquel mantiene una concepción formal (...) de la democracia y una visión objetivista de sus valores estructurales -precisamente dos puntos que intentaba superar refiriendo a Dewey. ABSTRACT Within the general debate about free-value science ideal, Kitcher proposes a well-ordered science ideal. Its political as well as meta-ethical foundations present two different versions: the first is inspired by John Ralws' view whereas the second refers to John Dewey's idea of democracy as conjoint communicated experience. This article argues that Kitcher's view is not in tune with Dewey's but, on the contrary, it presents several tensions because it preserves a formal conception of democracy and an objectivistic view of values -precisely two points that Kitcher intended to avoid by quoting Dewey. (shrink)