A widespread view in physics holds that the implementation of time reversal in standard quantum mechanics must be given by an anti-unitary operator. In foundations and philosophy of physics, however, there has been some discussion about the conceptual grounds of this orthodoxy, largely relying on either its obviousness or its mathematical-physical virtues. My aim in this paper is to substantively change the traditional structure of the debate by highlighting the philosophical commitments underlying the orthodoxy. I argue that the persuasive force (...) of the orthodoxy can benefit from a relational metaphysics of time and a by-stipulation view on symmetries. Within such philosophical background, I submit, the orthodoxy of time reversal in standard quantum mechanics could find a fertile terrain to lay the groundwork for a more thorough conceptual justification. (shrink)

This paper argues that narrative elements from the science fiction (SF) literary genre are used in the discourse of Nanoscience and Technology (NST) to bridge the gap between what is technically possible today and its inflated promises for the future. The argument is illustrated through a detailed discussion of two NST texts. The paper concludes by arguing that the use of SF narrative techniques poses serious problems to the development of a critical analysis of the ethical and social implications of (...) NST. (shrink)

From its very beginning, sociological thought has been concerned with a topic central to our daily lives: social distance. Since inception, the concept of social distance has referred to the relationships of familiarity and strangeness between social groups, which is experienced in the social world in terms of “We” and “They”. This article covers the main tenets of a Schutzian phenomenological approach to the study of social distance and group relationships. Specific focus is placed on the different attitudes and valuations (...) of the in-group towards the out-group considered as a stranger, the invisible excess of meaning that emerges in these types of social relationships and the conceptual construction of the Other that explains the phenomenon of discrimination. (shrink)

El artículo aborda la pregunta por la tarea de la memoria histórica en Colombia desde una perspectiva filosófica, concentrada en los retos epistemológicos y éticos derivados de la elaboración e implementación de iniciativas de memoria en contex- tos de experiencia traumática. Se busca presentar y analizar estos retos desde las consecuencias conceptuales que los contextos traumáticos le plantean a los procesos de elaboración de memoria y a la práctica de escucha de testimonios provenientes de experiencias traumáticas. Se examinan los modos (...) para comprender, desde la filosofía, un aspecto de la tarea de la memoria que puede pasar desapercibido, con el propósito de imaginar e identificar cursos de acción y estrategias de escucha más responsables, inclusivas y plurales. (shrink)

The propositional calculus AoC, “Algebra of Classes”,and the extended propositional calculus EAC, “Extended Algebra ofClasses” are introduced in this paper. They are extensions, by additionalpropositional functions which are not invariant under the biconditional,of the corresponding classical propositional systems. Theirorigin lies in an analysis, motivated by Cantor’s concept of the cardinalnumbers, of A. P. Morse’s impredicative, polysynthetic set theory.

DePrince relates problems such as dissociation, revictimization and difficulties in social cognition. In particular, she states that individuals with dissociation or have been, by their own testimony, revictimized show obvious difficulties to solve selection tasks designed as social contracts or precautory problems. In my view, these facts mean that, if we accept the theories that there are mechanisms in human mind to regulate social exchanges and situations of risk, individuals with dissociation or revitimized may have altered such mechanisms. However, these (...) theories have been critized and we have no evidence that they are valid. Therefore, in this paper, not admitting the existence of these mechanisms, I try to show that DePrince’s outcomes can be interpreted from other perspectives. DePrince establece relaciones entre problemas como la disociación, la revictimización y ciertas dificultades en la cognición social. En concreto, afirma que las personas que padecen de disociación o que han sufrido, según su propio testimonio, episodios de revictimización manifiestan evidentes dificultades para resolver tareas de selección planteadas como contratos sociales o como problemas de precaución. En nuestra opinión, esto significa que, si aceptamos las teorías que defienden que existen mecanismos en la mente humana que regulan los intercambios sociales y las situaciones de riesgo, las personas que han sido diagnosticadas con disociación o que han sido revictimizadas pueden presentar alteraciones de tales mecanismos. No obstante, esas teorías han sido cuestionadas y no contamos con pruebas concluyentes de que sean válidas. Por ello, en este trabajo, no admitiendo la existencia de los mencionados mecanismos, intentamos mostrar que los resultados de DePrince pueden ser interpretados desde otras perspectivas. (shrink)

Abstract1 June 2018 marked a historic moment in Spanish politics, when the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (Partido Socialista Obrero Español, PSOE) announced a cabinet with the largest proportion of female ministers in the world. This announcement received extensive coverage in the traditional media. The objective of this research was to measure whether the news had an equivalent impact on Twitter users. To this end, we analyzed the reaction to the appointments based on the popularity of the hashtags #GobiernoSanchez (“Sanchez Government”), (...) #GobiernoFeminista (“Feminist Government”) and #ConsejoMinistras (“Council of Female Ministers”). The most significant findings are that women had even less visibility than they were given in traditional media because of what is not retweeted does not exist, and that the extreme polarization of political life and the media in the public sphere appears to extend to the digital environment of Twitter. (shrink)

This paper argues that our modern concept of biological heredity was first clearly introduced in a theoretical and practical setting by the generation of French physicians that were active between 1810 and 1830. It describes how from a traditional focus on hereditary transmission of disease, influential French medical men like Esquirol, Fodéré, Piorry, Lévy, moved towards considering heredity a central concept for the conception of the human bodily frame, and its set of physical and moral dispositions. The notion of heredity (...) as a natural force, with a wide ranging capabilities of transmitting differentially both fundamental and accidental characters was generalized by that generation of physicians with the help of contemporary naturalists and physiologists. By 1830 the term hérédité was widespread, and it shared the explanatory and semantic qualities of traditional medical concepts like constitution and temperament. An analysis is given of the main developments that led to the conception of biological (including human) bodies as consisting of a layered, hierarchical organization of characters, differentially affected by the laws of conservation (Heredity) and change (Inneity, Variation). The mid-century work of the French physician Prosper Lucas, Traité Philosophique et Physiologique de L'Hérédité Naturelle, is shown to be the culmination of the efforts of several generations of French physicians towards having a feasible, complexly structured notion of how heredity works. (shrink)

This brief article presents the introduction and draft of the fundamental ideas developed at length in the book of the same title, which gives a challenging point of view about science and its history/philosophy/sociology. Science is in decline. After centuries of great achievements, the exhaustion of new forms and fatigue have reached our culture in all of its manifestations including the pure sciences. Our society is saturated with knowledge which does not offer people any sense in their lives. There is (...) a loss of ideals in the search for great truths and a shift towards an anodyne specialized industry. (shrink)

El título del artículo alude a una controversia a propósito de la interpretación heideggeriana de Nietzsche. Dicho título proponemos entenderlo a partir del título de un artículo de José Jara donde en su primera parte está el guion que une y separa a Nietzsche y Heidegger y en la segunda parte, después de los dos puntos se encuentra otro título, aquel que corresponde a un aforismo de Nietzsche que es una alegoría. Consideramos que José Jara, sin decirlo, se propuso convertirse (...) en el guion de la controversia aludida, intentando someter a Nietzsche a una especie de catarsis que lo limpiara o rescatara de la interpretación del maestro de Friburgo. Así Nietzsche redivivo estaría en la actualidad, en la situación de poder exclamar una vez más: “ y volvemos a estar límpidos ”. (shrink)

ResumenLa autora introduce al lector en la sociofenomenología de la vida cotidiana de A. Schütz desde una lectura hermenéutica de “El Quijote”. Se detiene en el análisis schütziano de las estructuras de relevancias presentes en el universo quijotesco, ilustrando con citas de la obra de Cervantes y comentarios de las mismas las diversas construcciones sociales de los mundos de la vida habitados por los diferentes personajes, principalmente por Don Quijote y Sancho. Las articulaciones de estas realidades múltiples van aclarando el (...) sentido del subuniverso quijotesco y el lugar del mismo en el seno del mundo de la vida compartido. Esas articulaciones se traducen en diferentes relaciones intersubjetivas que van reconfigurando el mundo social de don Quijote. A modo de conclusión, la autora reinterpreta la “locura” quijotesca de acuerdo con la estructura de relevancias.Palabras clavesociofenomenología, Schütz, mundo de la vida, D. QuijoteAutor initiates reader into A. Schütz´s Sociophenomenology of the daily life by means of the phenomenological hermeneutics of “The Quixot”. She focusses on the schützian analysis of the structures of relevances in the quixotic universe. The different social constructions of the lifeworlds are illustrated through Cervantes book´s quotations and comments, mainly by the D. Quixot and Sancho inhabited worlds. The articulations of these multiple realities go clarifying the sense of the quixotic subuniverse and its place in the common lifeworld´s bossom. Such articulations are translated into different intersubjetive relationships which reshape the Quixot´s social world. As a conclusion, author reinterpretes the quixotic “madness” in line with the structure of the relevances.KeywordsSociophenomenology, Schütz, Lifeworld, D. Quixot. (shrink)

Resumen Es muy conocida la opinión de Kant en relación con la inmoralidad del suicidio. De ahí que, muchos autores lo consideren como un prohibicionista absoluto. Sin embargo, no hay hasta el momento un análisis puntual sobre la definición metafísica-conceptual del suicidio en la teoría kantiana. En este artículo propongo entender el suicidio en Kant como una muerte física, total, autorreferencial, voluntaria e inmoral. Esta definición contrastará con la privación de la vida, la cual no implica inmoralidad. Al ser voluntarios, (...) tanto la privación de la vida, como el suicidio son actos racionales y entendibles a partir de las máximas de acción. La inmoralidad del suicidio sólo surgirá al considerar la primacía de las razones morales por encima de razones no morales.It is common knowledge theposition of Kant regarding the immorality of suicide. Several authors attribute him an absolutist-forbidden criterion. Nerveless, there is no extended analysis about the metaphysical-conceptual definition of suicide in Kantian theory. In this paper I hold that suicide in Kant can be defined asphysical death, full, self-referential, voluntary, and immoral. This definition conflicts with the definition of deprivation of life which is not immoral. As voluntarily acts, both suicide and deprivation of life are rational acts that can be understood as maxims of action. The immorality property of suicide is due to the primacy of moral over non-moral reasons. (shrink)

En el presente trabajo se busca explicitar el papel que la posibilidad del discurso filosófico posee dentro del pensamiento platónico, acentuando la operatividad de la noción de teleología sobre la misma; ello se desenvuelve teniendo como trasfondo las tesis ontológicas parmenídeas y heraclíteas. Desde lo anterior se señala que sólo a través de la comprensión y mostración del cosmos como una totalidad organizada teleológicamente, Platón es capaz de dar cuenta de la participación que los seres humanos podemos tener de lo (...) eidético, fundando así la posibilidad de una ética. (shrink)

The following paper presents and discuses the epistemological premises of one of the relativistic expressions of the so-called constructivism i.e. the social constructionism. Firstly, we trace constructivism’s theoretical origins and later, we distinguish the main ideas of Kenneth Gergen’s social constructionist proposal. The analysis is done in the following way: (a) we analyse the epistemological premises and the philosophical problems arising from them, and (b) we analyse the problematic impact these premises have in the praxis of social sciences. Finally, we (...) conclude that the exclusion of clear philosophical distinctions inside social constructionism undermines social constructionism’s plausibility. El siguiente artículo presenta y discute los postulados epistemológicos de una de las expresiones relativistas del denominado constructivismo i.e. el construccionismo social. En primer momento, se rastrean los orígenes teóricos del constructivismo y, posteriormente, se distinguen los principales postulados del construccionismo social de Kenneth Gergen. El análisis se realiza del siguiente modo: (a) Se analizan los supuestos epistemológicos y los problemas filosóficos derivados de éstos, y (b) Se analizan las consecuencias que los postulados construccionistas tienen en la praxis que llevan a cabo las ciencias sociales. Finalmente, se concluye que la exclusión de distinciones filosóficas claras por parte del construccionismo social le resta plausibilidad al enfoque. (shrink)

The paper proposes and defends the following characterization of response dependent property: a property is response-dependent iff there is a response-dependence biconditional for a concept signifying it which holds in virtue of the nature of the property. Finding out whether a property is such is to a large extent a posteriori matter. Finally, colors are response dependent: they are essentially tied to issuing the relevant experiences, so that having those experiences does give access to their, dispositional, nature. Finally, some important (...) contrary views are critically discussed in the paper. (shrink)

Las referencias de Vico a Descartes y a los cartesianos son constantes a lo largo de su obra. A pesar de su oposición y de su polémica contra la filosofía cartesiana, pensamos que la influencia del cartesianismo en Vico es mayor de la que este autor hubiera podido reconocer. Tratamos de exponer, a grandes rasgos, la postura de Vico y de Descartes con respecto al conocimiento matemático, análisis que nos permite un mejor entendimiento de sus planteamientos filosóficos.Vico's references to Descartes (...) and the cartesians are kept constant along his work. Regardless of their opposition and also Vico's arguments against the philosophy of Descartes we think that the influence of the cartesianism in Vico is greater than what this author would have admitted. We are trying to show, in a broad approach, the position of both Vico and Descartes regarding the mathematical knowledge. This analysis will allow us a better understanding of their philosophical positions. (shrink)

the main relevant philosophical aspect in Suárez’s interpretation of the transcendentals is his doctrine of the notions res and aliquid . therefore, after analyzing the nature and the number of the transcendentals, as well as the relationship between them and the first principles, the article goes into a detailed historical analysis of the notions res and aliquid. With precedents in Avicenna and Duns Scotus, the ens is understood according to Suarez, negatively, as it is not nothing and, in such sense, (...) it is something ( aliquid ) and, positively, as it has got a quidditas and, therefore, it is res. the question of nothing ( nihil ) is thus introduced into modern metaphysics. What’s more, the said interpretation is one of the fundamental conditions of the transformation of metaphysics in modern ontology . thus, in the post- Cartesian context of Schulmetaphysik, and its aliquitas (as non-nihil ) and its quiditative character (as res ) being presumed, the ens will be understood as an intelligible . through that, a Copernican revolution commenced that anticipated Kant himself. (shrink)

There is a gap between the most abstract approach of Philosophy of language and the empirical information of language sciences. An intermediate level of abstraction and a bridge between Philosophy of language and language sciences is precisely Philosophy of languages. How can we come forward in philosophizing on language, if we are not able to philosophize on particular languages?. Language is nothing but the interrelated sum of languages. Philosophy of languages set out from the fact that every language has a (...) philosophical identity. Therefore, we should be much more conscious of the great relevance of every particular language for philosophical speech. A language is not a neutral tool for deep thinking. The core of a language is its Philosophy, a philosophicalperspective. Thus, a language has to give an implicit general orientation to whatever speech that is performed or written with its syntactic rules and concepts. A language is the framework, the atmosphere, the environment of every deep thinking (Philosophy or Theology). It is the deepest root of every deep thought. All of that can be analyzed in basic concepts like “to be” or “essence”. (shrink)

Ofrezco una reflexión sobre la virtud, entendida como clave del crecimiento humano, tanto en su faceta más genérica o filosófica como en su vertiente transcendente y cristiana. Primero, clarifico la pluralidad y la coordinación de las antropologías y de la ética de cara a una comprensión de la virtud como realización de valores. El resto de este ensayo se centra en las virtudes de la confianza, la esperanza y el amor. La unidad de éstas culmina en su específica dimensión cristiana. (...) Por fin, situados en esta antropología teológica de las virtudes, abordamos la racionalidad y la operatividad inherentes a dicha vivencia unitaria de la virtud en tres de sus más destacados aspectos. (shrink)

La pretensión de esto texto es mostrar que la condición de ‘amigos’ ha marcado la diferencia para la Academia de Platón, gracias al acercamiento que tiene el filosofo en sus viajes a la Magna Grecia, incluzo con la experiéncia del pitagorismo y su circulo selectivo. También Aristoteles ha tenido el pensamiento sobre los lazos de amistad mas allá de las emociones, al privilegiar la comunidad como hace Platón en las Leyes.

In Logical Forms Part II, Chateaubriand begins the Chapter on “Propositional Logic” by considering the reading of the ‘conditional’ by ‘implies’; in fact he states that:There is a confusion, as a matter of fact, and it runs deep, but it is a confusion in propositional logic itself, and the mathematician’s reading is a rather sensible one.After a careful, erudite analysis of various philosophical viewpoints of logic, Chateaubriand comes to the conclusion that:Pure propositional logic, as just characterized, belongs to ontological logic, (...) and it does not include a theory of deduction as a human activity. This is a part of epistemological logic, and is more closely connected to the applications of pure propositional logic.An implicit assumption in Chateaubriand’s reasoning appears to be that propositions have a timeless status. I will present arguments for the opposite viewpoint which leads to an analysis of Propositional Logic not covered under Chateaubriand’s monograph and perhaps resolves some conflicts therein; much as the conflict between the Intuitionist and Classical Mathematician on whether every function on the Reals is continuous is resolved by the realization that they are talking about different “entities”.Em Logical Forms II, Chateaubriand inicia o capítulo “Lógica Proposi-cional” considerando a leitura do ‘condicional’ como ‘implica’. De fato, ele diz o seguinte:Na verdade, existe uma confusão, e ela é profunda, mas é uma confusão na lógica proposicional ela mesma, e a leitura de um matemático é bastante sensível.Depois de uma análise cuidadosa e erudita dos vários pontos de vista filosóficos da lógica , Chateaubriand chega à conclusão que:A lógica proposicional pura, tal como aqui caracterizada, pertence à lógica ontológica, e não inclui uma teoria da dedução como atividade humana. Isto é parte da lógica epistemológica, e é mais intimamente conectada às aplicações da lógica proposicional.Uma premissa implícita no raciocínio de Chateaubriand parece ser a de que proposições têm um estatuto atemporal. Eu argumentarei em favor da visão oposta, que leva a uma análise da Lógica Proposicional não abordada no texto de Chateaubriand e que talvez resolva alguns conflitos. Muito do conflito entre Intuicionistas e Matemáticos Clássicos sobre se toda função sobre os números reais é contínua é resolvido pela compreensão de que eles estão falando de “entidades” diferentes. (shrink)

Este artículo analiza y critica los argumentos de Carl Schmitt contra la democracia liberal, y pone en cuestión su aprovechamiento por parte del pensamiento progresista contemporáneo. Primero se examina la conexión conceptual de la concepción schmittiana de lo político con la transformación del Estado liberal en el Estado totalitario. Luego se cuestiona el supuesto filosófico que subyace en la crítica de Schmitt al liberalismo: la tesis de la imposibilidad de alcanzar soluciones racionales y pacíficas a los conflictos políticos. Se analizan (...) en este contexto los dos recursos deliberativos más importantes de que dispone el liberalismo para abordar los conflictos políticos: los acuerdos y los compromisos de intereses. Por último, el artículo concluye con algunas reflexiones sobre el significado político del "neoschmittianismo" contemporáneo. This article analyses Carl Schmitt's arguments against liberal democracy, and questions the potential of these arguments for contemporary progressive political thought. The article shows the conceptual connection of the schmittian concept of the political with the transformation of the liberal State into a totalitarian State. Subsequently it tries to show that the main premise of Schmitt's critique of liberalism is false, namely the belief that it is impossible to reach a dialogical and peaceful solution to political conflicts, either by agreement or by compromise. Finally the article includes some reflections on the political significance of contemporary "neo-schmittianism". (shrink)