Autonomy has been central to moral and political philosophy for millenia, and has been positioned as a critical aspect of both justice and wellbeing. Research in psychology supports this position, providing empirical evidence that autonomy is critical to motivation, personal growth and psychological wellness. Responsible AI will require an understanding of, and ability to effectively design for, human autonomy (rather than just machine autonomy) if it is to genuinely benefit humanity. Yet the effects on human autonomy of digital experiences are (...) neither straightforward nor consistent, and are complicated by commercial interests and tensions around compulsive overuse. This multi-layered reality requires an analysis that is itself multidimensional and that takes into account human experience at various levels of resolution. We borrow from HCI and psychological research to apply a model (“METUX”) that identifies six distinct spheres of technology experience. We demonstrate the value of the model for understanding human autonomy in a technology ethics context at multiple levels by applying it to the real-world case study of an AI-enhanced video recommender system. In the process we argue for the following three claims: 1) There are autonomy-related consequences to algorithms representing the interests of third parties, and they are not impartial and rational extensions of the self, as is often perceived; 2) Designing for autonomy is an ethical imperative critical to the future design of responsible AI; and 3) Autonomy-support must be analysed from at least six spheres of experience in order to approriately capture contradictory and downstream effects. (shrink)

‘Plant neurobiology’ has emerged in recent years as a multidisciplinary endeavor carried out mainly by steady collaboration within the plant sciences. The field proposes a particular approach to the study of plant intelligence by putting forward an integrated view of plant signaling and adaptive behavior. Its objective is to account for the way plants perceive and act in a purposeful manner. But it is not only the plant sciences that constitute plant neurobiology. Resources from philosophy and cognitive science are central (...) to such an interdisciplinary project, if plant neurobiology is to maintain its target well-focused. This manifesto outlines a road map for the establishment and development of a new subject—the Philosophy of Plant Neurobiology—, a new field of research emerging at the intersection of the philosophy of cognitive science and plant neurobiology. The discipline is herewith presented, introducing challenges and novel lines of engagement with the empirical investigation, and providing an explanatory framework and guiding principles that will hopefully ease the integration of research on the quest for plant intelligence. (shrink)

This book proposes, from a civil perspective —such as that developed by Stefano Zamagni— and a cordial perspective —such as that developed by Adela Cortina—, orientations to design an economy in tune with what the historical moment demands. Among other things, this comes from encouraging institutions, organisations and companies to include in their designs aspects as important for carrying out their activities as cordial reciprocity, mutual recognition of the communicative and affective capacities of the linked or linkable parties, public commitment (...) and the active participation of civil society. The book first shows the conceptualisation of the process of self-interest as operating for one’s own benefit and its inclusion in the orthodox economic model. In Chapter 2 it then displays some of the logical/formal and experimental limits of the axiomatic economics model to discover the possibility of building bridges between theoretical modelling and factual validation. Chapter 3 demonstrates the fragility of a rationality model based on the paradigmatic figure of homo oeconomicus. Chapter 4 reflects on the critical process that has identified reciprocity as a determining factor for human cooperation, turning this behaviour into a paradox in which the lack of a reasonable explanation from the selfish perspective becomes inconsistent in the predominant economic theory. Chapter 5 is from a moral point of view it describes and criticises the different approaches to reciprocity observed by sociologists, biologists, psychologists and economists. Chapter 6 analyses three mutual recognition proposals as possible foundations for human cooperation, highlighting one of them –cordial recognition, developed by Cortina– because it is more closely related to studies of reciprocity, particularly the most recent contributions from the neurosciences. Chapter 7 proposes cordial reciprocity as a horizon of meaning for the various approaches to reciprocity observed. Chapter 8 explores the possible emergence and development of cordial goods, a type of relational and communicative good that enables joint actions to take place in different contexts of human activity. Chapter 9 analyses the application and implementation of cordial reciprocity at the macro, meso and micro levels of the economy. And finally, it proposes guidelines for designing a monitoring and compliance system which, based on the communication, storage and processing of big data and the committed participation of stakeholders, offers businesses the possibility of inspecting their underlying dimensions of morality, emotions and responsibility. (shrink)

El trabajo analiza las razones para la acción. A partir de la distinción entre los enfoques de decisión racional y altruismo recíproco, el artículo examina sucesivamente ambos modelos, concluyendo con una breve observación sobre el poder de las profecías que se auto-cumplen. El texto argumenta que el enfoque de la decisión racional se basa en suposiciones erróneas sobre la naturaleza humana y, por consiguiente, conduce a predicciones igualmente equivocadas.

Patina is the word used for the green or brown film formed on the surface of old bronze, an excess of which can mask the true characteristics of the original masterpiece. Filippo Baldinucci used the word patina in a modern sense for first time in his book “Tuscan Vocabulary of the Art of Design”. Metaphors have been part of philosophical speech since the time of Plato. This figure of speech is used to attempt to provide a sensitive presence of an (...) idea to improve understanding and to make a more vivid perception of that concept. On analysing the creative process of contemporary re-search on health topics and its further dissemination, we defend the epistemological thesis that there is always some degree of patina on an original article and this may obscure the underlying scientific work. Conclusion: We consider that patina in scientific papers is very different from the concept of epidemiological bias. We think that any researcher who reads an original article acts as a restorer of knowledge. If a reader is aware of the existence of scientific patina, that reader will know how to look through it and see the masterpiece hidden underneath. (shrink)

Este artículo intenta aproximarse a la figura femenina de Hiparquia de Maronea, identificando su lugar dentro del cinismo antiguo, movimiento filosófico contestatario de finales del siglo iv a. C. Su figura sería ejemplo de una mujer “extradoméstica”, opuesta completamente a la imagen de la mujer ateniense que permanece recluida en el interior de la casa, respetando celosamente las leyes del silencio. Al respecto, para descifrar las claves de Hiparquia, es fundamental y muy significativo considerar el “matrimonio de perros” (kynogamía) como (...) la expresión más elevada del éros cínico. La kynogamía implica una ruptura radical con el matrimonio convencional, en cuanto institución religiosa, social y política que determina en el oîkos el lugar de las mujeres en la antigüedad, y constituye el punto culminante de la unión erótica cínica, al poner de manifiesto su “indiferencia” (adiaphoría) respecto al acto sexual. Hiparquia, comparada con Artemisa, se sitúa en los confines de lo salvaje, unida a su esposo, Crates de Tebas, vive en co-herencia según las leyes de la naturaleza. (shrink)

According to F. Adams [this journal, vol. 68, 2018] cognition cannot be realized in plants or bacteria. In his view, plants and bacteria respond to the here-and-now in a hardwired, inflexible manner, and are therefore incapable of cognitive activity. This article takes issue with the pursuit of plant cognition from the perspective of an empirically informed philosophy of plant neurobiology. As we argue, empirical evidence shows, contra Adams, that plant behavior is in many ways analogous to animal behavior. This renders (...) plants suitable to be described as cognitive agents in a non-metaphorical way. Sections two to four review the arguments offered by Adams in light of scientific evidence on plant adaptive behavior, decision-making, anticipation, as well as learning and memory. Section five introduces the ‘phyto-nervous’ system of plants. To conclude, section six resituates the quest for plant cognition into a broader approach in cognitive science, as represented by enactive and ecological schools of thought. Overall, we aim to motivate the idea that plants may be considered genuine cognitive agents. Our hope is to help propel public awareness and discussion of plant intelligence once appropriately stripped of anthropocentric preconceptions of the sort that Adams' position appears to exemplify. (shrink)

Introducción: la formación de profesionales competentes es una de las misiones esenciales de la Educación Médica Superior, esto exige que los tecnólogos posean habilidades comunicativas para un correcto desempeño laboral en aras del mejoramiento humano. Objetivo de la investigación: identificar las barreras que inciden en la comunicación tecnólogo - paciente en las carreras de Licenciatura en Traumatología, Podología, Terapia Física y Rehabilitación Social Ocupacional, en áreas de rehabilitación. Métodos: se presenta un estudio observacional, descriptivo longitudinal y retrospectivo entre junio de (...) 2008 y junio 2011 que consistió en la observación a exámenes estatales prácticos y a la educación en el trabajo, en las carreras de referencia, además se aplicó una encuesta a pacientes para la obtención de información acerca de las barreras que afectan el proceso de la comunicación entre tecnólogos y pacientes. Resultados: existen insuficiencias en la comunicación entre los futuros profesionales y pacientes. Conclusiones: se demuestra un insuficiente dominio de las habilidades comunicativas y por tanto barreras que interfieren en la comunicación como las semánticas y personales. Introduction: the training of competent professionals is one of the essential missions of higher medical education; this requires that technologists have communication skills in order to develop a proper job performance for the sake of human improvement. So the objective of the research is to identify barriers affecting technologist - patient communication in the careers of degree in Trauma, Podiatry, Physical Therapy, and Occupational Social Rehabilitation in areas of rehabilitation. Methods: an observational, longitudinal descriptive and retrospective study is presented between June 2008 and June 2011 that consisted on observation to practical state exams and training at work, in the reference degrees; in addition, a survey was applied to patients to obtain information about the barriers that affect the communication process between technologists and patients. Results: there are communication inadequacies between the future professionals and patients. Conclusions: An insufficient mastery of the communication skills is demonstrated and therefore barriers that interfere with communication as the semantic and personal barriers. (shrink)

El desarrollo de habilidades lectoras y el conocimiento de elementos teóricos para la comprensión de los textos científicos es una necesidad en la formación de todo profesional. Para que los futuros egresados puedan comprender esta tipología textual es necesario que cada docente, desde las diferentes asignaturas del currículo escolar, le ofrezcan las herramientas necesarias para interactuar con estos. Por tal motivo este trabajo tiene como objetivo realizar una revisión bibliográfica de los aspectos esenciales acerca de la comprensión lectora y en (...) particular de los textos científicos, sustentada en las concepciones vigotskianas, así como en categorías de la Lingüística Textual que posibilitan la interpretación y procesamiento de la información en el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje. The development of literacy skills and knowledge of theoretical elements for the understanding of scientific texts is a need in any professional training. In order that future graduates can understand this textual typology it is necessary that each teacher, from the different subjects of the school curriculum, offers the necessary tools to interact with these texts. For this reason this work is intended to carry out a literature review of the essential aspects of reading comprehension and in particular of scientific texts, supported in the vigotskians conceptions and categories of Textual Linguistics that make possible the interpretation and processing of information in the teaching-learning process. (shrink)

Las Sentencias de Porfirio, que constituyen un compendio de las Enéadas de Plotino, incluyen una revisión del locus vexatus de platonismo del siglo III, que tiene su origen en la interpretación de un controvertido pasaje del Timeo, 39e. Revisaremos los antecedentes de Porfirio, bajo la influencia de Longino, y la polémica suscitada con Plotino y Amelio a su llegada a Roma. Su posterior "retractación" le lleva a aceptar que la Inteligencia se identifica con la multiplicidad de los inteligibles que intelige. (...) La Inteligencia es sujeto inteligente y, al mismo tiempo, objeto inteligido, es decir, ejerce sobre sí misma su propia actividad intelectual. Nuestro análisis tratará de poner en conexión textos de las Sentencias, particularmente provenientes de la 43, con pasajes extraídos de los tratados plotinianos. The Sentences of Porphyry, that are a compendium of the Plotinus Enneads, include a review of the locus vexatus of the third century Platonism, which has its origin in the interpretation of a controversial passage of Timaeus, 39e. We will review the historical causes of Porphyry, under Longinus influence, and the controversy with Amelius and Plotinus on his arrival in Rome. His subsequent "retraction" takes him to accept that Intellect is identified with the multiplicity of intellections that intelligizes. Intellect is an intelligent subject and, at the same time, an intelligized object, that is, itself exerts on its own intellectual activity. Our analysis will seek to bring together texts of the Sentences, particularly from the 43, with excerpts from Plotinus treaties. (shrink)

Max Aub es uno de los escritores en lengua castellana que mejor analizó los movimientos fascistas europeos a lo largo de su obra. Particularmente significativo es su temprano trabajo Sobre algunos mitos fascistas publicado en Nueva Cultura. Siguiendo este texto, este artículo busca exponer el trabajo de Aub como intelectual comprometido con la lucha antifascista desde la crítica cultural, así como las ideas que sobre el fascismo y el totalitarismo posee al comienzo de la Guerra Civil española. Aub centra sus (...) reflexiones en la reconstrucción del mito por parte del fascismo, donde el racismo la biopolítica y las masas son claves para entender a los movimientos totalitarios europeos. Un análisis que el escritor desarrollará en su fecunda narrativa, construyendo uno de los corpus literarios que, de manera más compleja, intentarán comprender al totalitarismo en lengua castellana y que suma a Max Aub a la gran tradición de pensamiento europeo antifascista.Palabras clave: Max Aub, fascismo, mito, biopolítica, literatura antifascista, crítica cultural. (shrink)

En este artículo pretendemos estudiar el fenómeno de la realidad virtual SecondLife usando el método fenomenológico. Para ello partimos del análisis de lo que sucede en la actitud natural. En ésta, la realidad es el aquí-ahora fácticamente existente que se me da, y la realidad virtual conlleva una duplicación de planos: lo realreal y mi copia digital. Para desentrañar el entramado que sustenta el concepto de realidad es necesario aplicar la epojé. Mediante ésta, damos con la imbricación de un cuerpo (...) viviente y el mundo, relación que no se da en SecondLife, universo virtual cuyo punto cero es mi avatar u objeto físico que me representa. El artículo es el despliegue de las consecuencias de las ideas aquí expuestas. (shrink)

Este artículo pretende mostrar las líneas fundamentales de la teoría merleaupontyana acerca de la violencia, centrándonos en sus «escritos de guerra». Consta de cuatro epígrafes: una Introducción en la que describimos la situación histórica que influye en la propuesta de Merleau-Ponty, así como explicamos las expresiones «mains sales»-«mains propres». Un segundo apartado en el que caracterizamos las «manos limpias» en base al optimismo democrática el cual se apoya en una conciencia pura. En el tercer epígrafe hacemos patente la crítica merleau-pontyana (...) a los fundamentos teóricos de los «manos limpias» y señalamos su nuevo concepto de humanismo cuya figura central es Maquiavelo. Asimismo, nos detenemos en la ambigüedad existente entre la coexistencia primigenia y la violencia, de modo que una llama a la otra. Finalmente, concluimos definiendo a Merleau-Ponty como «filósofo de la Modernidad», concepto que adquiere un nuevo matiz en su obra.  . (shrink)

O presente artigo procura sintetizar o debate entre três autores sobre o Cristianismo e Religiões. Sendo o Cristianismo o tema central, a sua atitude em relação a outras religiões é apresentada numa forma mais ampla por Frei Félix Neefjes. Depois discute-se o Judaísmo (Reynaldo Luiz Calvo) e o Islamismo (Daniel José Fernandes Rocha) e as atitudes recíprocas entre essas três religiões.

It remains at best controversial to claim, non-figuratively, that plants are cognitive agents. At the same time, it is taken as trivially true that many animals are cognitive agents, arguably through an implicit or explicit appeal to natural science. Yet, any given definition of cognition implicates at least some further processes, such as perception, action, memory, and learning, which must be observed either behaviorally, psychologically, neuronally, or otherwise physiologically. Crucially, however, for such observations to be intelligible, they must be counted (...) as evidence for some model. These models in turn point to homologies of physiology and behavior that facilitate the attribution of cognition to some non-human animals. But, if one is dealing with a model of animal cognition, it is tautological that only animals can provide evidence, and absurd to claim that plants can. The more substantive claim that, given a general model of cognition, only animals but not plants can provide evidence, must be evaluated on its merits. As evidence mounts that plants meet established criteria of cognition, from physiology to behavior, they continue to be denied entry into the cognitive club. We trace this exclusionary tendency back to Aristotle, and attempt to counter it by drawing on the philosophy of modelling and a range of findings from plant science. Our argument illustrates how a difference in degree between plant and animals is typically mistaken for a difference in kind. (shrink)

El propósito del siguiente artículo consiste en elucidar algunos aspectos de la dinámica intersubjetiva de la expresión y el reconocimiento del dolor ajeno. Para ello se ha acudido a la noción artística de encarnación, presente en la tradición teatral moderna del realismo psicológico, en contraposición con su reinterpretación contemporánea en el arte de acción o performance. Mientras que en el primer caso la encarnación escénica del dolor remite a la encarnación de un personaje doliente, que implica un proceso de descorporización, (...) la encarnación performativa del dolor puede definirse, a la inversa, como un proceso de corporización de la vulnerabilidad. De la descripción y contraste de ambas propuestas dramáticas surgen interesantes consideraciones acerca de los posibles desajustes o desconexiones en el circuito intersubjetivo del dolor, así como también una comprensión de la retórica del dolor como estrategia de comunicación en la sociedad hipertecnológica. (shrink)

The concept of interpersonal emotion regulation refers to a variety of processes in which emotion regulation occurs as part of live social interactions and includes, among others, also those interpersonal interactions in which individuals turn to others to be helped or to help the others in managing emotions. Although IER may be a concept of interest in group therapy, specific theoretical insights in this field appear to be missed. In this article, we firstly provide a review of IER definitions, of (...) classifications of IER strategies, and of IER clinical conceptualizations. Afterwards, we discuss the relevance of considering IER for group therapy, both in terms of non-specific group therapeutic factors and of group therapy techniques promoting adaptive emotion regulation, underlining the potentially relevant role of IER behaviors as intrinsically involved in group experience. (shrink)

The focus is on the meaning of ὑπόϑεσις in Irenaeus of Lyons’ Adversus haereses. Our case is to argue that two different elements converge in ὑπόϑεσις or its translations in the Latin version of AH. The first stems from the Greek literary field, in which ὑπόϑεσις means the “subject” or “plot” of a dramatic or poetic composition. The second is related to the philosophical meaning of ὑπόϑεσις as “that which is placed under” or “foundation”. On the one hand, Irenaeus uses (...) ὑπόϑεσις theologically to express the plot of the historia salutis, so that the term can be understood as teaching or doctrine. On the other hand, this ὑπόϑεσις is at the same time a regula, the normative foundation of all the elements that take part in God’s economy of salvation. (shrink)

The field of neuroaesthetics attempts to identify the brain processes underlying aesthetic experience, including but not limited to beauty. Previous neuroaesthetic studies have focussed largely on paintings and music, while performing arts such as dance have been less studied. Nevertheless, increasing knowledge of the neural mechanisms that represent the bodies and actions of others, and which contribute to empathy, make a neuroaesthetics of dance timely. Here, we present the first neuroscientific study of aesthetic perception in the context of the performing (...) arts. We investigated brain areas whose activity during passive viewing of dance stimuli was related to later, independent aesthetic evaluation of the same stimuli. Brain activity of six naïve male subjects was measured using fMRI, while they watched 24 dance movements, and performed an irrelevant task. In a later session, participants rated each movement along a set of established aesthetic dimensions. The ratings were used to identify brain regions that were more active when viewing moves that received high average ratings than moves that received low average ratings. This contrast revealed bilateral activity in the occipital cortices and in right premotor cortex. Our results suggest a possible role of visual and sensorimotor brain areas in an automatic aesthetic response to dance. This sensorimotor response may explain why dance is widely appreciated in so many human cultures. (shrink)

En este texto me propongo discutir algunas de las líneas que parecen dibujarse en torno a una futura convergencia progenitora entre paternidad y maternidad. Para ello esbozaré en una primera sección los argumentos básicos que permiten sugerir esa futura convergencia hipotética. En la siguiente sección analizaré los riesgos institucionales que hoy amenazan a la responsabilidad progenitora, entre los que destacan en especial la prolongada obstrucción de la emancipación juvenil y el creciente distanciamiento intergeneracional. Y en la tercera y última abordaré (...) el riesgo de fracaso progenitor, apuntando el dilema trágico de la responsabilidad educativa.…. (shrink)

La modesta tesis que intentará defender este artículo es que el gran impulso que los géneros menores han experimentado en los últimos veinticinco años, sobre todo en la crítica pero también en la práctica escénica, es consecuencia, en buena parte, del clima cultural derivado de la postmodernidad. La coincidencia de ciertos hechos artísticos, culturales, literarios y hasta políticos ha sido determinante para que el canon teatral del Siglo de Oro, antaño demasiado condicionado por factores morales y religiosos, se haya abierto (...) a partir de los años ochenta al gusto más heterodoxo con que, en mi opinión, han de ser evaluadas las formas del teatro breve, sobre todo a partir del descubrimiento de Bajtín.…. (shrink)

La Sentencia 31 plantea una paradoja: el efecto permanece en su causa, pero al mismo tiempo la causa está “en todas partes y en ninguna” en su efecto. Nos centraremos en el análisis de la teoría del πανταχοῦ καὶ οὐδαμοῦ, deteniéndonos en la lectura porfiriana del argumento plotiniano de la anterioridad causal del Uno respecto a lo múltiple (III, 9 [13] 4, 1-9; V I 4 [22] 3), aplicado a Dios, al Intelecto y al Alma.

De la larga lista de comentarios que se han escrito sobre la teoría de la amistad en Aristóteles y, de modo más específico, en los estoicos, nos vamos a centrar en el análisis de una ambigüedad, productora de paradojas, que se inserta en la esencia misma de la amistad. La aporía aparece mencionada por el propio Aristóteles, y contiene unos rasgos de plena actualidad y novedad en el marco de nuestras sociedades: ¿se puede ser amigo de un extranjero, de un (...) bárbaro, de alguien que no forma parle de nuestra comunidad?; ¿pueden darse amistades transcomunitarias, o la amistad precisa de un nuevo tipo de comunidad, que transgreda las comunidades ya establecidas y consolidadas? De la teoría estoica de la amistad, que rompe los límites de la polis se desprende la concepción de una sociedad universal que reúne al género humano es una inmensa fraternidad fundada en la razón. [Fragmento]. (shrink)

This essay traces the genealogy and evolution of the category of the subject as it developed in the thought of Louis Althusser, Michel Foucault, and Alain Badiou. As will be seen, within the fruitful and complementary dialogue about the subject and subjectivity formation among these three French thinkers, there are major discrepancies in their approaches, from Althusser’s seemingly passive view of the subject as a victim of state oppression, to Foucault’s one, embedded in power but with the capacity of resistance, (...) and, finally, to Badiou’s understanding, in his book Théorie du sujet (Theory of the Subject, 1982), of the subject as the one who courageously takes risks to put into practice the truth brought about by the event in order to radically transform the present situation. (shrink)

El objetivo que me mueve al abordar las relaciones entre la institución familiar y la identidad masculina no es el de inscribirme dentro de la tradición abierta por Elisabeth Badinter, cuando caracterizó (si es que no caricaturizó) una presunta identidad de género, socialmente construida, que debiera ser atribuida a todos los varones occidentales por igual, en la medida en que se les invita a reconocerse en ella y a realizarla en su propia trayectoria personal; para luego, a partir de allí, (...) analizar las consecuencias que para el desempeño de los papeles de hijo, hermano, novio, marido, padre, tío, abuelo, etc., se derivarían de la existencia de semejante identidad colectiva... (shrink)

RESUMENEl autor se ocupa del análisis crítico de un reciente estudio sobre el marco y dimensiones estéticas de la violencia, y reflexiona en proyección a diversos temas y problemas de filosofía jurídico-penal y juridico-politicaPALABRAS CLAVEESTÉTICA-VIOLENCIA-FILOSOFIA JURIDICO-PENAL-DERECHO Y LITERATURAABSTRACTThe author analyses a recent study about framework and aesthetic dimensions of violence, and thinks in focus of topics and problemas about philosophy of criminal law and political philosophy. KEYWORDSAESTHETICS-VILENCE-LEGAL AND PENAL PHILOSOHPY-LAW AND LITERATURE.

Los comportamientos económicos no muestran una única fuente motivacional: el autointerés. Son más bien el resultado de múltiples causas, entre las cuales destacan los sentimientos prosociales y los principios y valores morales. Tales evidencias han permitido pensar en la posibilidad de encontrar un modelo económico alternativo, más humano, eficaz y beneficioso para todas las partes afectadas por la actividad. El objetivo de este trabajo es proponer desde una perspectiva civil -como la desarrollada por Stefano Zamagni- y cordial -como la desarrollada (...) por Adela Cortina- orientaciones para el diseño de una economía a la altura de aquello que el momento histórico exige, a través de instituciones, organizaciones y empresas que incluyan en sus diseños aspectos tan importantes como la compasión, el cuidado, la reciprocidad, el compromiso y la participación activa y comprometida de la sociedad civil. Economic behavior do not show a single motivational source: self-interest. They are rather the result of multiple causes, among which prosocial sentiments and principles and moral values. Such evidence has let himself think about the possibility of finding a more humane, effective and beneficial for all parties affected by the activity alternative economic model. The aim of this paper is to propose from a civil perspective, as developed by Stefano Zamagni, and cordial, as developed by Adela Cortina, guidelines for the design of an economy at the height of what the historical moment demands through institutions, organizations and companies to include in their designs such important aspects as compassion, care, reciprocity, commitment and active and committed participation of civil society. (shrink)

A novel non-classical mereological concept built up by blending the Metaphysics of Xavier Zubiri and the Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules of R. F. W. Bader is proposed. It is argued that this philosophical concept is necessary to properly account for what happens in a chemical reaction. From the topology of the gradient of the laplacian of the electronic charge density, \\) within the QTAIM framework, different “atomic graphs” are found for each atom depending on the molecular context, reflecting (...) how the whole molecule affects each atom. In this way, the whole molecular system imposes certain geometry onto each atom, and every atom exhibits different ontological modality. On the Metaphysical side, for X. Zubiri real things are system of different notes. The physical essence is the subsystem of essential notes with a coherence unity. Every note is grounded on the essence. The unity of the system is present somehow in every note-of beforehand, and every essential note-of turns towards the other. The essence determines the position of each note within the system, and hence is the grounding for modality of the notes. By conflating both “theories” and taking the atoms as essential notes, we propose the concept of “Molecule in atoms-of” or “atoms-of in Molecules”. Within the course of a chemical reaction the atoms-of modified their “of” as required by the new molecular unity being formed, and eventually change their modality. The validity to the Zubiri’s statements, is attained by evaluating necessity and possibility in a set-up of finite accessible “possible worlds”. (shrink)