Even though the Bohmian trajectories given by integral curves of the conserved Klein-Gordon current may involve motions backwards in time, the natural relativistic probability density of particle positions is well-defined. The Bohmian theory predicts subtle deviations from the statistical predictions of more conventional formulations of quantum theory, but it seems that no present experiment rules this theory out. The generalization to the case of many particles or strings is straightforward, provided that a preferred foliation of spacetime is given.

A common understanding of quantum mechanics (QM) among students and practical users is often plagued by a number of “myths”, that is, widely accepted claims on which there is not really a general consensus among experts in foundations of QM. These myths include wave-particle duality, time-energy uncertainty relation, fundamental randomness, the absence of measurement-independent reality, locality of QM, nonlocality of QM, the existence of well-defined relativistic QM, the claims that quantum field theory (QFT) solves the problems of relativistic QM or (...) that QFT is a theory of particles, as well as myths on black-hole entropy. The fact is that the existence of various theoretical and interpretational ambiguities underlying these myths does not yet allow us to accept them as proven facts. I review the main arguments and counterarguments lying behind these myths and conclude that QM is still a not-yet-completely-understood theory open to further fundamental research. (shrink)

The author examines the “veil of ignorance” thought experiment and the principles of justice of John Rawls via two main directions of criticism. First, although Rawls constructs a veil of ignorance with Kantian categories, the author derives Rawls’s motivation from the link between justice and the tradition of curbing pleonexic human nature, arguing that in this context Rawls’s Kantian rhetoric is actually driven by the Hobbesian fear of instability arising from the problem of cooperation in the social contract tradition. Second, (...) the veil of ignorance is a cunning instrument of the privileged to preserve their previously acquired advantages, control stability, and cover up socio-political injustices. At the same time, the principle of difference that derives from it does not reduce the gap of inequality – economic and historical – but legitimizes and establishes it. In fact, Rawls’s bourgeois liberalism and its theoretical constructs serve to hedge the well-off by securing and increasing what they already have. (shrink)

The article examines whether countries should legalize euthanasia and assisted suicide. Firstly, context of the debate is provided by defining the key terms and giving the overview of how the debate evolved throughout history. The arguments in favor of legalizing euthanasia and assisted suicide are addressed, namely the argument from autonomy and self–determination and the claim for the “right to die with dignity”. The consequences which were showed to occur in the countries which legalized euthanasia and/or assisted suicide are analyzed, (...) and the case study on the Netherlands and Belgium is made. Finally, the model for the dignity–respecting health–care is proposed followed by the call for bigger accessibility and funding for palliative care. (shrink)

(1996). Stereotype discourse in Israel. The European Legacy: Vol. 1, Fourth International Conference of the International Society for the study of European Ideas, pp. 680-688.

(1996). The recovery of French revolutionary theater. The European Legacy: Vol. 1, Fourth International Conference of the International Society for the Study of European Ideas, pp. 1190-1193.

Since Bohmian mechanics is explicitly nonlocal, it is widely believed that it is very hard, if not impossible, to make Bohmian mechanics compatible with relativistic quantum field theory. I explain, in simple terms, that it is not hard at all to construct a Bohmian theory that lacks Lorentz covariance, but makes the same measurable predictions as relativistic QFT. All one has to do is to construct a Bohmian theory that makes the same measurable predictions as QFT in one Lorentz frame, (...) because then standard relativistic QFT itself guarantees that those predictions are Lorentz invariant. I first explain this in general terms, then I describe a simple Bohmian model that makes the same measurable predictions as the Standard Model of elementary particles, after which I give some hints towards a more fundamental theory beyond standard model. Finally, I present a short story telling how my views of fundamental physics in general, and of Bohmian mechanics in particular, evolved over time. (shrink)

(1996). The contribution of communist states to the proscription of racist speech. The European Legacy: Vol. 1, Fourth International Conference of the International Society for the study of European Ideas, pp. 801-811.

Američki filozof Stanley Lewis Jaki, analizirajući kreativne momente u povijesti znanosti, zaključuje da staze kreativne znanosti i filozofski putovi prema Bogu sačinjavaju jedinstveni intelektualni pravac. Taj zaključak temelji na činjenicama da znanstvena metoda pretpostavlja koherentnu racionalnost kozmosa, te da je epistemologija svih kreativnih znanstvenika umjereni realizam. Inkorporiranje tih elemenata u filozofsko promatranje, prema našem autoru, nužno vodi ka klasičnim aposteriornim metafizičkim dokazima za Božje postojanje. Posebnu potvrdu te teze vidi u Gödelovim teoremima, čija primjena u kozmologiji dokazuje kontingenciju svemira, temeljni (...) princip svih aposteriornih dokaza za Božje postojanje.American philosopher Stanley Lewis Jaki, analysing creative moments in the history of science concludes that the ways of creative science and philosophical paths to the God consists unique intellectual vector. His conclusion is based on two facts: scientific method proposes coherent rationality of the Cosmos and that moderate realism is epistemology of all creative scientists. Incorporating such elements in philosophical perspective, by author, necessary leads to classical a posteriori metaphysical proofs of existence of God. He finds special confirmation of his thesis in Gödel’s theorems and its application in cosmology that proves contingence of the Universe, which is a basic principle of all a posteriori proofs of God existence. (shrink)

(1996). Contract government and the academic intellectuals. The European Legacy: Vol. 1, Fourth International Conference of the International Society for the study of European Ideas, pp. 762-770.

(1996). Theory and practice in the economy of Albania (1912–1994) The European Legacy: Vol. 1, Fourth International Conference of the International Society for the study of European Ideas, pp. 842-848.

Name der Zeitschrift: Millennium Jahrgang: 13 Heft: 1 Seiten: 211-274.

Bioethical contents in the Croatian educational system are taught not only at the university level, but also in secondary schools. Namely, in 1995, as an alternative to confessional religious teaching, the Ethics was introduced as a separate school subject. Present teaching program of Ethics came into the force in 2003. Ethics is taught during all the four years of secondary schools, while the third year is dedicated to bioethical topics only. This presentation will firstly try to explain the context of (...) ethics and bioethics education in secondary schools in Croatia ; afterwards the teaching program of Ethics will be presented, with an accent on bioethical contents ; and finally, we will point to some problems with which the teaching of ethics and bioethics at this educational level is confronted. (shrink)

U članku se daje prikaz Schopenhauerovih razmišljanja o ljudskoj spolnosti i homoseksualnosti, te o ženama, koja je ovaj znameniti filozof iznio u svojim djelima Svijet kao volja i predodžba i Parerga i paralipomena. U prikaz je uključena i kritika Schopenhauerovih stavova, a postavlja se i načelno pitanje: može li se i u kojem smislu jedna filozofija smatrati »velikom« ukoliko su ne samo uz nju, nego i u njoj prisutni stavovi koji su obilježeni krajnjom proizvoljnošću i negativnim predrasudama?This paper presents Schopenhauer’s (...) views on human sexuality and women that were brought out in his works Die Welt als Wille und Vorstellung and Parerga und Paralipomena. The article contains a critique of his attitudesand it attempts to answer a principal question: is it possible to consider a philosophy as being ‘major’ if it contains, and not only incidentally,attitudes of extreme arbitrariness and negative prejudices. (shrink)

(1997). Introduction: “Poohness”; or, of Universals, paradigms, and literature. The European Legacy: Vol. 2, Fourth International Conference of the International Society for the Study of European Ideas, pp. 199-205.

(1996). Socialism and the “political question”. The European Legacy: Vol. 1, Fourth International Conference of the International Society for the study of European Ideas, pp. 532-537.

(1996). Rhetorical problems of emergent democracy: Political change and political discourse in Poland. The European Legacy: Vol. 1, Fourth International Conference of the International Society for the study of European Ideas, pp. 568-574.