SummaryThe European demand for platina in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries could not be met by the Spanish authorities who only authorized limited exports of the mineral, approximately 267 kg between 1750 and 1804. The lack of an adequate commercial structure generated direct trade between Latin America and Europe, particularly England. This article is an attempt to analyse and to quantify the three European sources of platina: exports from Spain, shipments of platina consigned by European travellers, and direct (...) trade. The reasons for the latter are studied, exemplified by the Wollaston case, and legal and direct trade are compared. (shrink)

This work seeks to contribute to the construction of a Postmodern Global Political Economy, applying to the study of the world economy a renovated version of the systemic analysis whose characteristics are picked up in a synthetic way. The main contribution of this work consists on the applicatio..

This article examines the future of social security in emerging economies, exploring the key challenges facing these countries and proposing potential solutions. Financial sustainability, universal coverage and equity are some of the main obstacles that must be overcome to ensure a robust and fair social security system. Through a literature review and case analysis, proposals are presented to improve the effectiveness and sustainability of these systems in the context of emerging economies.

Could global government be the answer to global poverty and starvation? Cosmopolitan thinkers challenge the widely held belief that we owe more to our co-citizens than to those in other countries. This book offers a moral argument for world government, claiming that not only do we have strong obligations to people elsewhere, but that accountable integration among nation-states will help ensure that all persons can lead a decent life. Cabrera considers both the views of those political philosophers who say we (...) have much stronger obligations to help our co-citizens than foreigners and those cosmopolitans who say our duties are equally strong to each but resist restructuring. He then outlines his own position, using the European Union as a partial model for the integrated alternative and advocating instituting EU-style supranational government, development aid, and free movement of persons in the Americas and other regions. Over time, Cabrera argues that the transformation of the global system into a cohesive network of democratic institutions would help ensure that anyone born anywhere could lead a decent life. This book will appeal to all those interested in political philosophy and the processes and potential of globalization. (shrink)

Kripke’s most important arguments in Naming and Necessity against the description theory of reference of proper names are the arguments from ignorance and error concerning names of historical figures. The aim of this paper is to put forward a reply to these arguments. The answer to them is grounded on the development of one component of the version of the description theory proposed by the authors that are regarded as the classical contemporary advocates of this theory, namely Searle and Strawson; (...) one of the targets of Kripke’s arguments is precisely the version of the description theory of reference submitted by these authors. The development of that component results in a sort of description theory of reference not affected by Kripke’s arguments from ignorance and error concerning the names of historical figures, deferential descriptivism. (shrink)

En este artículo intentamos recopilar las diferentes respuestas que se han dado al interrogante: ¿cuál es la naturaleza de la guerra en Colombia? Para ello, hemos estudiado seis formas de definir la violencia en Colombia: i) guerra anti/comunista; ii) conflicto agrario; iii) conflicto criminalizado; iv) guerra civil/guerra contra la sociedad; v) conflicto internacionalizado; vi) amenaza terrorista. Concluimos que los cambios de los actores armados, sus repertorios de violencia y del contexto internacional son respondidos por masas críticas con nuevas denominaciones. Las (...) denominaciones, así como la guerra misma, son dinámicas. Este artículo aporta una revisión de literatura sobre la naturaleza del conflicto y una perspectiva de análisis historiográfico útil para otras preguntas relacionadas con la guerra. (shrink)

Las empresas spin-off son una de las herramientas puestas a disposición de las universidades para comercializar y transferir el conocimiento científico generado en su seno, sustrato fundamental del proceso innovador que demanda el capital de las economías desarrolladas. Análogamente, constituyen un nuevo objeto de noticiabilidad en los medios de comunicación, que prestan ocasionalmente sus espacios informativos a dar cobertura mediática de la actividad desarrollada por tan singular tipología de empresas. El objeto de esta investigación estriba en analizar y comparar la (...) cobertura mediática recibida por las spin-off de dos de las universidades más prolíficas en la creación de estos entes económicos privados en el estado español, la Universidad de Granada y la Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. Se pretende, por esta vía, penetrar en la representación mediáticamente construida de tales outputs de la práctica tecnocientífica y, por extensión, del mismo modelo de transferencia del conocimiento actualmente implementado por las instituciones científicas financiadas con dinero público. (shrink)

This is a mathematical and computational intro to many-valued logics. The approach is mostly mathematical, namely algebraic (via the notion of logical matrix) and computational (via the satisfiability problem). An automated calculus -- the signed resolution calculus for many-valued logics -- is elaborated on.

The article explores the moral conflict between individual animal rights and the value of species conservation, using the culling of kangaroos to save earless dragons in Australia as a case study. The author argues that species do not possess nonderivative final value and thus cannot justify the infringement of individual rights. While recognizing the instrumental and contributory value of species, the paper rejects philosophical arguments that claim species have nonderivative value, such as the replication argument and the last person argument. (...) The author concludes that while there are important conservation duties, they should not violate individual rights, as exemplified by the kangaroo culling practice, which must be abolished. (shrink)

Este trabalho tem por objetivo analisar algumas relações de semelhan- ças e diferenças entre o idealismo de Berkeley e o de Kant, cujoproblema geral pode ser assim formulado: em que sentido a filosofia idea- lista de Berkeley e Kant se aproximam e se distanciam entre si? Tal resposta será focalizada sob quatro aspectos, divididos como segue. Quanto às aproxima- ções, analisar-se-á, de um lado, a concepção do sujeito em ambos os filósofos e, de outro, suas respectivas defesas do realismo. Quanto (...) aos distanciamentos, abordar-se-á, de uma parte, as críticas dos referidos filósofos ao idealismo e, de outra, suas devidas concepções do espaço e do tempo. (shrink)

It is possible to find in Machiavelli an expression of the original consent to explain the origin of the political communities. This paper investigates this hypothesis in the approach of the roman political thought. With Lucretius and Cicero, it is clear the terms of the pact, covenant, consensus, and the primitivism of the difference between man and beasts, the fear and the common safety to founder the political community under the leadership of one man. The paper also debates the Aristotelian (...) premises of the political nature of man and explores some examples of the Machiavellian time, that aims to confirms the existence of the language of the Aristotelianism within the original consent. It concludes that Machiavelli does not have a substantial theory to explain the origins of the political community, because politics and its study requires the research of the cities in the historical mean. This contractual language in accordance with that Aristotelian is used as a rhetoric strategy in the beginning of the Discourses. (shrink)

The adventure of philosophy began in Greece, where it was gradually developed by the ancient thinkers as a special kind of knowledge by which to explain the totality of things. In fact, the Greek language has always used the word onta , "beings," to refer to things. At the end of the sixth century BCE, Parmenides wrote a poem to affirm his fundamental thesis upon which all philosophical systems should be based: that there are beings. In By Being, It Is (...) , Nestor-Luis Cordero explores the richness of this Parmenidean thesis, which became the cornerstone of philosophy. Cordero's textual analysis of the poem's fragments reveals that Parmenides' intention was highly didactic. His poem applied, for the first time, an explicative method that deduced consequences from a true axiom: by being, it is . To ignore this reality meant to be a victim of opinions. This volume explains how without this conceptual base, all later ontology would have been impossible. This book offers a clear and concise introduction to the Parmenidean doctrine and helps the reader appreciate the imperative value of Parmenides's claim that "by being, it is." "This thorough and controversial book will certainly be valued highly by the international community of scholars devoted to the study of ancient philosophy as well as by educated readers worldwide." --Alfonso Gomez-Lobo, Georgetown University " By Being, It Is offers a meticulous discussion of one of the most puzzling theses in the history of philosophy. It is a highly challenging piece of work from a philosophical viewpoint, an outstanding model of philological work, and a contribution that causes anyone interested in philosophical matters to reflect." --Marcelo D. Boeri, National Council for Scientific and Technological Research, Argentina "Parmenides' importance consists in the fact that he represents an absolute beginning in history, and particularly in the history of thought. We can understand why, for more than twenty years now, N.L. Cordero has devoted tremendous efforts to understanding the few verses that remain to us of this Poem. The result is the present book, characterized by its completeness and its rigor. It is an essential work on a seminal author." --Luc Brisson, National Council for Scientific Research, France. (shrink)

Este artículo pretende establecer una comparativa de los conceptos de cuidado en dos tiempos distintos, pero en diálogo: de un lado la funcionalidad del cuidado como elemento constitutivo de la subjetividad barroca en la figura de Baltasar Gracián; del otro lado, la caracterización y el vínculo recíproco entre mundo y ethos, pensado eminentemente a partir de Heidegger y Sloterdijk. Sin desestimar las divergencias epocales, no completamente asimilables ni plenamente traducibles entre sí, se busca examinar las condiciones mínimas y compartidas acerca (...) del cuidado que en los casos presentados posibilitan la constitución del sujeto y del mundo. Con tal lectura pretende indagar en otra vinculación de nuestro presente con la modernidad: en vez de enfocarse en el las posibilidades de emergencia del sujeto autoconstituido y constituyente, se trataría más bien de repensar las condiciones de un ethos instalado en el mundo que se le presenta. (shrink)

The research conducted at Nuevo Rocafuerte High School evaluated the efficacy of the Movie Method, which is an app for learning English that focuses on English vocabulary development for tenth-year EFL students. Methodologically, the research integrated surveys with test performance analysis to gauge the impact of digital tools on language acquisition at the A1 proficiency level. Results demonstrated a marked preference for digital learning, with 60% of students favoring movie-based methods over traditional vocabulary learning strategies. The adaptability of the Movie (...) Method was a significant factor, reflected in its high average score for enhancing vocabulary retention and understanding of difficult words. Despite initial reductions in participation due to unfamiliarity with the method, engaged students displayed considerable gains in vocabulary comprehension and usage, affirming the potential of such applications in bolstering language proficiency. The study underscores the importance of integrating mobile technology in educational strategies and the necessity of accessible, user-centered educational resources. Further investigation is required to corroborate these findings and assess the long-term impact of digital tools in diverse educational settings. (shrink)

En 1588, el jesuita Luis de Molina publicaría su famosa Concordia liberi arbitrii cum gratiae donis, en la cual intenta defender –contra el fatalismo protestante- la libre determinación de la voluntad con respecto a su fin último sobrenatural. Sin embargo, las explicaciones teológicas del P. Molina suponen graves errores metafísicos, particularmente con respecto al concurso general o simultáneo de Dios sobre las causas segundas en las que Dios no obra in sino cum causa, donde la acción de la creatura (...) determina al Creador a producir conjuntamente un efecto. A partir de la Apología de los Padres Dominicos que recoge la doctrina de Santo Tomás acerca de la premoción física, procederemos en la crítica de esta tesis molinista: sólo Dios es Acto Puro y por eso es causa del movimiento actualizador tanto de las potencias naturales como espirituales, pues todo efecto –sea contingente o necesario– depende de la voluntad divina que trasciende todo orden de necesidad y contingencia: de allí que sólo Dios puede mover eficazmente nuestro intelecto y voluntad, y no por eso nuestros actos dejan de ser nuestros y personales. (shrink)

O objetivo deste artigo é explorar a noção de liberdade enquanto parte ontologicamente intransferível do direito natural humano. Não estamos falando da plena liberdade do sábio, que poucos têm de maneira prevalente, mas de uma liberdade de pensar imaginativamente, conforme seu próprio engenho, sua própria índole, e não apenas conforme o engenho do governante, ainda que este tenha o poder de definir o que é justo e piedoso. Examinaremos as bases ontológicas deste tipo de liberdade, bem como suas consequências políticas (...) retratadas no capítulo final do Tratado Teológico-político. Esta liberdade de opinar, decorrência necessária da natureza humana, é acompanhada da exigência de compartilhar as opiniões com os outros, exigência tanto maior quanto maior é a virtude do indivíduo. Desse modo, conforme afetos ativos embrionários operam no ânimo, a parte intransferível dessa liberdade amplia-se num movimento virtuoso que limita o poder do governante de reprimir a expressão pública das opiniões. (shrink)

Este volume oferece o primeiro conjunto de artigos exclusivamente dedicados à noção de «retomada», tal como a entendeu Eric Weil (1904-1977), escritos por investigadores oriundos de Portugal, França, Brasil, Itália, Roménia, Burkina Faso e Chile. Nascido na Alemanha, Eric Weil foi discípulo de Ernst Cassirer que o orien­tou no estudo dos filósofos do Renascimento, como Pietro Pomponazzi e Marsílio Ficino. Naturalizado francês, após ter sido obrigado a abandonar o país de origem, contra o qual...

Taking for granted that Marx’s economic theory enjoys a scientific status and, furthermore, that it installed a real Copernican revolution in sociology, the present paper explores the possibility of deriving a system of law deserving the name of “scientific” in so far as it would be in keeping with the theses of the latter scientific theory. In this context, the paper argues against a claim recently sustained by Fernández Liria and Alegre Zahonero, for whom a system of right compatible with (...) Marx’s theory would be compatible, too, with the classic juridical formulations conceived during the Enlightenment. The main reason why this paper testifies against such compatibility is that the enlightened concepts of “equality”, “liberty” and “autonomy” count with the individual as the realm for their juridical application. However, Marx’s subject matter being the social means of production (and not the individuals’ production of value), we conclude that the only juridical subject that could justifiably be derived from his economic investigation would be the “social class”. Finally, the paper suggests that the only way a scientific system of law could grant a juridical status to the individual would be by taking into account the other theory that also installed a Copernican revolution in the social sciences, though this time in the field of psychology: Freud’s psychoanalysis. Key words: Copernican revolution, science, scientific. (shrink)