On knowledge and practices: a manifesto -- The web of practices -- Agents and frameworks -- Complementarity in mathematics -- Ancient Greek mathematics: a role for diagrams -- Advanced math: the hypothetical conception -- Arithmetic certainty -- Mathematics developed: the case of the reals -- Objectivity in mathematical knowledge -- The problem of conceptual understanding.

Decision Theory and Rationality offers a challenging new interpretation of a key theoretical tool in the human and social sciences. This accessible book argues, contrary to orthodoxy in politics, economics, and management science, that decision theory cannot provide a theory of rationality.

Set theory deals with the most fundamental existence questions in mathematics—questions which affect other areas of mathematics, from the real numbers to structures of all kinds, but which are posed as dealing with the existence of sets. Especially noteworthy are principles establishing the existence of some infinite sets, the so-called “arbitrary sets.” This paper is devoted to an analysis of the motivating goal of studying arbitrary sets, usually referred to under the labels of quasi-combinatorialism or combinatorial maximality. After explaining what (...) is meant by definability and by “arbitrariness,” a first historical part discusses the strong motives why set theory was conceived as a theory of arbitrary sets, emphasizing connections with analysis and particularly with the continuum of real numbers. Judged from this perspective, the axiom of choice stands out as a most central and natural set-theoretic principle (in the sense of quasi-combinatorialism). A second part starts by considering the potential mismatch between the formal systems of mathematics and their motivating conceptions, and proceeds to offer an elementary discussion of how far the Zermelo—Fraenkel system goes in laying out principles that capture the idea of “arbitrary sets”. We argue that the theory is rather poor in this respect. (shrink)

The relevance of scientific knowledge for science and technology policy and regulation has led to a growing debate about the role of values. This article contributes to the clarification of what specific functions cognitive and noncognitive values adopt in knowledge generation and decisions, and what consequences the operation of values has for policy making and regulation. For our analysis, we differentiate between three different types of decision approaches, each of which shows a particular constellation of cognitive and noncognitive values. Our (...) objectives are to present a structured analysis of the varying functions that different kinds of values can adopt, as well as the value-related tensions and trade-offs they give rise to. We argue that the operation of noncognitive values in scientific knowledge generation, policy, and regulatory decision making can be understood as an enabling factor, rather than a limiting one. (shrink)

Reliabilist accounts of knowledge are widely seen as having the resources for blocking sceptical arguments, since these arguments appear to rely on assumptions about the nature of knowledge that are rendered illegitimate by reliabilist accounts. The goal of this book is to assess the main arguments against the possibility of knowledge, and its conclusions challenge this consensus. The book articulates and defends a theory of knowledge that belongs firmly in the truth-tracking tradition, and argues that although the theory has the (...) resources for blocking the main standard lines of sceptical reasoning, there is a sceptical argument against which the theory offers no defence, as it doesn’t rely on any assumptions that the theory would render illegitimate. The book ends with the suggestion that the problem might have a metaphysical solution—that although the sceptical argument may make no illegitimate epistemological assumptions, it does rest on a questionable account of the nature of cognition. (shrink)

In this paper we study collective identity functions that deal with formation of clubs. Usually the choice offered to individuals is to cast a vote in favor of qualification or not, and the final outcome is qualification or non-qualification. In this context we show that independent collective identity functions are naturally characterized by voting rules, and in particular, consent rules can be represented by one single collection of weighted majorities. In addition, we consider the extended model where voters are allowed (...) to abstain and we distinguish between disqualification and a neutral outcome. We show that this environment allows agents to act in different capacities that cannot be distinguished in the original formulation of the problem. (shrink)

In this paper, I try to facilitate the understanding of the concept of ‘omniscience’ by taking into account the terminology developed in Ludwig Wittgenstein’s On Certainty. Thus, I start by explaining why omniscience can be regarded neither as grounded knowledge nor as ungrounded or objective certainty. Instead, omniscience might be considered as subjective certainty, which has the advantage of leaving scope for a doubt that enables and strengthens religious faith. Lastly, I clarify how God’s omniscience would be enriched if He (...) were informed of—without needing to share—our objective certainties, in addition to which I highlight two paradoxes that would arise if we disagreed with God regarding some of our objective certainties. These paradoxes reveal that even though the believer could not understand literally God’s statement, it might strengthen her faith if she realized and accepted that a true and consistent commitment to such statement entails the suspension of her own capacity for judgment. (shrink)

O nosso objetivo é apresentar e discutir o método de interpretar as Escrituras desenvolvido e aplicado por Spinoza. Com efeito, já se encontrando na maturidade de seu pensamento, e envolvido na política a favor de seu pensionista Jan de Witt, chefe do partido liberal, Spinoza interrompe a sua obra suma, a Ética, para escrever o Tractatus thelogico-politicus, no qual irá defender a libertas philosofandi a partir da distinção entre os campos da razão e da fé, de maneira a associar esta (...) à função de mera instrutora do vulgo incapaz de ascender à virtude pela via da luz natural: caminho próprio do sábio que não age pelo medo de coação ou pela recompensa da ação, mas unicamente pelo amor intelectual ao summum bonum. É por isso que realizará uma interpretação da Sacra Scriptura e a proposta de um método capaz de explicá-la por ela mesma, de maneira imanente à semelhança de como as ciências estudam a natureza. (shrink)

O texto apresenta uma interpretação pouco comum da filosofia de Espinosa, pois recupera não só os elementos propriamente modernos sobre que ela se constitui, mas também a peculiar apropriação que o filósofo realiza de conceitos ligados à tradição neoplatônico-cristã como vida, amor Dei intellectualis, caridade ou a própria figura de Cristo consignados em sua correspondência. Neste sentido, a explicitação do conteúdo e da relação entre os conceitos de imanência e de amor surge como ponto de apoio para sublinhar que a (...) doutrina de Espinosa articula-se ao levar a cabo uma renovação de algumas das mais arcaicas posições religiosas judaico-cristãs — a concepção do amor ao outro como divinização do homem em Deus e como realização de Deus no homem, fundamentalmente —, que satisfazem as diretrizes de uma Modernidade que na afirmação da autonomia do sujeito encontra um dos pilares que asseguram sua emergência. (shrink)

Neste artigo introdutório pretendo contribuir com o debate a respeito da importância das discussões sobre a “antropologia” em Kant, na medida em que compreendo que a relação dessa com outras regiões do pensamento kantiano pode produzir uma interpretação mais próxima entre a filosofia de Kant e a realidade concreta. Para cumprir esse intento, sugiro que existe a possibilidade de se pensar a Filosofia Crítica sustentada por uma “teoria da subjetividade” que se aproxima de uma “reflexão transcendental sobre o homem”, a (...) qual permitiria certa “sistematicidade orgânica” à filosofia kantiana. Proponho igualmente os temas do conceito kantiano de filosofia e da constituição do problema do “transcendental” como elementos que auxiliam essa compreensão. (shrink)

El 17 de abril se cumplen cinco años del fallecimiento de Fray Antonio Royo Marín, OP. A lo largo de estos años hemos recibido numerosas muestras de admiración sobre los escritos publicados en vida por el Padre Royo. Instituciones religiosas, Escuelas de Teología, Grupos de reflexión teológica, catequistas, animadores de grupos cristianos, laicos anónimos, ... siguen consultando y estudiado sus libros, especialmente aquellos que versan sobre moral y espiritualidad. Muchas personas han demandado una biografía del gran predicador. Otras un resumen (...) sistemático sobre sus estudios teológicos, especialmente aquellos que hacen referencia a la espiritualidad cristiana. Ambos contenidos han sido publicados en la Revista como homenaje a quien fuera, en su día, un gran orador en su transmisión de la Palabra de Dios. Ofrecemos el recuerdo vivo de su memoria. Nos ayuda, para ello, la excelente biografía que escribió en Ciencia Tomista el profesor de Historia de lglesia José Barrado Barquilla, OP. Al final de la misma el lector podrá encontrar un elenco de las principales obras del P. Royo.También está a disposición en la red el artículo del Profesor Manuel Ángel Martínez Juan sobre 'La perfecciòn cristiana en el pensamiento de Antonio Royo Marín, OP', publicado igualmente en la Revista. (shrink)

Essays on Spanish-American philosophy, particularly Mexican. Part 2 includes selections from the works of José Vasconcelos, Antonio Caso, Samuel Ramos, Adolfo Menéndez Samara, Oswaldo Robes, Alfonso Reyes, Justino Fernández, Edmundo O'Gorman, J.D. García Bacca, Eduardo Nicol, José Medina Echevarría and Juan Larrea.

o amor e 0 6dio, dois sentimentos fundamentais do ser humano, estao ligados as fases evolutivas do desenvolvimento sexual infantil, as quais, por sua vez, sao sobredeterminadas pelas relacees intersubjetivas que a crianc;:a experimenta. Tentando precisar 0 significado do amor como 0 sentimento de unidade entre dois seres diferentes, no qual 0 amado assume uma importancia vital para 0 amante, somos levados a definir 0 6dio como 0 sentimento de oposicao entre diferentes seres que estao afetivamente ligados, onde 0 ser (...) odiado representa aquilo que deve ser eliminado, expulso, destruido. Se 0 amor liga-se a fase oral, ao 6dio compulsivo parace ligar-se em determinadas pessoas a uma certa consfituicao da fase anal, onde 0 comportamento transgressor surge como uma forma<;ao de compromisso entre a repeticao de uma viol!ncia sofrida e a tentativa de libertar-se dela. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: amor, 6dio, libido. (shrink)

This article discusses the concepts of collective subjectivity and collective causality as an alternative to methodological individualism, structuralism and functionalism. It resumes Aristotelian issues in a realist framework and applies, by way of example, its main concepts to criticize and suggest a distinct view of capabilities"" and ""freedom"" in connection with collective subjectivity.".

Estudio bibliográfico de: / A bibliographical study of: Ernesto Grassi, Vico y el humanismo. Ensayos sobre Vico, Heidegger y la retórica, Editorial Anthropos, Barcelona, 1999, pp. 237. Serie Humanismo, 1.

To the sceptic's contention that I don't know that I have hands because I don't know that there is an external world, the Moorean replies that I know that there is an external world because I know that I have hands. Crispin Wright has argued that the Moorean move is illegitimate, and has tried to block it by limiting the applicability of the principle of the transmission of knowledge by inference—the principle that recognising the validity of an inference from known (...) premises generates knowledge of the conclusion. I argue that, in the presence of some plausible assumptions, blocking the Moorean move does not require limiting the applicability of the transmission principle. Then I argue against Jim Pryor's contention that the Moorean argument transmits evidential support from its premises to its conclusion. (shrink)

A lo largo de este ensayo el autor pone de manifiesto el interés creciente que ha experimentado en nuestro panorama filosófico la asignatura de “Historia de la Filosofía Española”, especialmente a través de iniciativas variadas que tienen como protagonista a la “Asociación de Hispanismo Filosófico”, fundada en 1988. La conclusión es que hoy es posible “pensar en español”.

Can one reject copyright law and be a qualified observer of its dispositives? This question was taken up by Bertolt Brecht in an intriguing essay concerning the litigation surrounding the film adaptation ofThe Threepenny Opera(1928). Brecht here develops an experimental observation around the nature of film adaptation and cultural production in copyright. While an experimental approach to law was in itself a subversive gesture, the specific legal process enabled him to expose the paradoxical ways in which the copyright system worked.