Certification of banana plantations is widely used as a device for protecting and improving socio-economic conditions of wageworkers, including their incomes, working conditions and—increasingly—voice [related to labour relations and workplace representation]. However, to date, evidence about the effectiveness of certification in these domains is scarce. We collected detailed field data on (1) economic benefits for improving household income, (2) social benefits for labour practices, and (3) the voice of wageworkers focusing on identity and identification issues amongst wageworkers at Fairtrade certified (...) banana plantations and comparable, non-certified plantations in the Dominican Republic. We used different types of regression models to identify significant relationships. Econometrical analysis of survey results complemented by field observations and outcomes from in-depth stakeholder interviews indicate that the impact of Fairtrade certification on wageworkers’ economic benefits is rather limited. However, the impact on the voice of wageworkers (job satisfaction, sense of ownership, trust), is more evident. On Fairtrade certified plantations workers are more satisfied with the course of life and better represented. Thus while the additional value of Fairtrade certification on primary wages seems limited, Fairtrade has relevant positive effects on the labour force, particularly by delivering in-kind benefits, offering a sense of job-security, improving voice and enabling private savings. Benefits of (Fairtrade) certification, but also other interventions with a similar purpose, might therefore not be discerned in terms of economic benefits such as wages or basic labour conditions that are under direct control of (inter)national law, but they should be identified in terms of social benefits and improved norms of conduct for wageworker engagement. (shrink)

O presente artigo procura analisar a influência da obra “Brasil, Coração do Mundo, Pátria do Evangelho”, psicografada por Chico Xavier, como capital simbólico que permitiu a Federação Espírita Brasileira se qualificar como porta-voz do espiritismo kardecista no Brasil junto ao governo de Getúlio Vargas em 1938 e marcar a presença da religião criada por Allan Kardec junto ao governo brasileiro. Em um momento de forte influência da Igreja Católica, representada na pessoa do Cardeal Leme, resgatando a influência e poder perdidos (...) na Proclamação da República, espíritas se uniram a protestantes para defender a laicidade do Estado e garantir a liberdade de culto. O espiritismo no Brasil, diferentemente do que aconteceu na França, ganhou espaço nas primeiras décadas do século XX com curas espirituais. No início dos anos 1930, por conta de acusações de curandeirismo, os espíritas deixaram de lado as curas, investindo em obras assistenciais e literatura consoladora. Pode-se considerar o livro de Chico Xavier mais que uma teologia de narrativa espírita; o livro foi parte importante na construção do mito fundador da nação brasileira em um momento histórico de forte nacionalismo, e serviu de ferramenta essencial em uma disputa por espaço no campo religioso brasileiro no Estado Novo. (shrink)

Cette étude défend l’idée que, contrairement à l’opinion de Latour sur la nécessité de laisser de côté l’épistémologie pour traiter de tout ce qui a de la valeur pour la science, Mario Bunge a systématiquement construit une épistémologie détaillée et approfondie. La stratégie argumentative consistera à montrer (a) qu’il est faux que nous n’avons jamais été modernes (b) que l’épistémologie est là pour de bon et (c) que Mario Bunge soutient un réalisme scientifique fort, une version du matérialisme, du (...) systémisme et de l’émergentisme, comportant une dimension morale (il existe des valeurs objectives comme la vérité, la paix et la justice qui méritent d’être étudiées). Ensuite, le réalisme de Bunge rejette la neutralité axiologique rendant les scientifiques responsables de leurs actions. Bunge a toujours été moderne et continue à enrichir ses propres positions. (shrink)

Desporto e jogo são dois conceitos proeminentes na contemporaneidade, cujos limites epistemológicos se tocam e se confundem. São dois conceitos com fortes ligações, que durante séculos significavam mais ou menos a mesma coisa – divertimento –, mas que no século XIX sofrem uma autonomização que nos obriga a procurar os limites conceptuais de cada um. Este trabalho visa, precisamente, distinguir o conceito de desporto do de jogo. Ao analisar o surgimento do desporto moderno português no último quartel do século XIX, (...) num contexto de profundo sentimento de decadência da “raça”, estudando os objectivos para que foi criado e as funções que foi adquirindo, chegamos à conclusão de que o conceito de desporto se vai distanciar do conceito de jogo devido à dimensão medicinal que vai ganhar com vista a regenerar a “raça”. O jogo, por seu turno, ao contrário do desporto, vai manter em definitivo a sua função meramente lúdica, sem o objectivo de interferir na “vida real” ou no robustecimento do corpo social. (shrink)

O propósito desse artigo é fornecer um tratamento formal para um tipo de ação até o momento negligenciada nas lógicas modais filosóficas da ação: ação em plano. Ao fazer isso nós seguimos a abordagem padrão nas lógicas modais da ação exemplificados pelos trabalhos de Belnap, Chellas and Pörn. Como nós acreditamos que existe uma relação forte entre plano, tempo e indeterminismo, nós usamos a teoria do tempo ramificado para investigar as características básicas da ação em plano. Além de introduzir uma (...) semântica do tempo ramificado, nós também apresentamos um cálculo correto e completo com relação a essa semântica. DOI:10.5007/1808-1711.2010v14n3p421. (shrink)

O discurso funcional é tanto ubíquo quanto central na ecologia contemporânea, principalmente no contexto das pesquisas sobre biodiversidade e funcionamento ecossistêmico, que emergiram nos anos 1990 em meio à crise da biodiversidade. Entretanto, a despeito dessa forte presença na ecologia, o discurso funcional ainda não tem sido investigado de maneira adequada nesta ciência, na medida em que muitos problemas fundamentais a respeito do tema ainda permanecem sem respostas claras. Por um lado, os ecólogos que lançam mão de explicações funcionais parecem (...) simplesmente tomar como dado ou autoevidente o conceito de função. Contudo, ele nada tem de trivial, tendo em vista os problemas filosóficos suscitados pela linguagem funcional ou teleológica nas explicações biológicas, pelo menos desde Aristóteles. Por outro lado, poucos filósofos da ciência têm se mostrado especialmente interessados nos problemas epistemológicos associados ao discurso funcional em ecologia. Tomando essa situação como ponto de partida, nossa abordagem neste artigo se dá em três etapas. Inicialmente, procedemos a uma análise conceitual de função na ecologia atual, com ênfase nos estudos que relacionam a biodiversidade às propriedades ecossistêmicas. Esboçamos três significados principais do conceito, mostrando os pressupostos e as implicações associados a cada um deles. Num segundo momento, procedemos a uma análise das razões que levam a suspeitas ou objeções contra a linguagem funcional na ecologia. Por fim, num terceiro momento, lançamos algumas sugestões sobre como fundamentar ou dar mais clareza ao discurso funcional na ecologia contemporânea. (shrink)

When faced with the charge that a given concept of God is contradictory, the standard move among philosophers and theologians has been to try to explain away the contradiction and show that the concept of God in question is consistent. This has to do, of course, with the Law of Non-Contradiction (LNC). Another option, which has recently generated interest among logicians and analytic philosophers of religion, is to reject such a move as unnecessary and defend what might be called the (...) contradictory God thesis. To be sure, something close to that can be found in philosophers such as Pseudo-Dionysius, Thomas Aquinas and Nicolaus de Cusa. However, it is only recently that this approach has gained momentum, certainly driven by the contemporary advance of dialetheism and glut theoretic approaches in general, and paraconsistent logic. Needless to say, a standard move among defenders of the contradictory God thesis is to challenge the LNC. The argumentation, however, is seldomly framed in conceptual terms. Instead, it is mostly framed in ontological terms, as God being a contradictory entity. From this perspective, the contradictory God thesis is the thesis that God is a contradictory object. My goal in this paper is to provide a conceptual assessment of the discussion surrounding the contradictory God thesis. To achieve this, I make use of a general and hopefully non-controversial meta-theory of concepts and adopt a semantic approach rather than a metaphysical one. Within this framework, I address the following questions: What are the different ways we can understand the contradictory God thesis? What grounds are there for rejecting a contradictory concept of God? What standard moves are available to defend oneself from such criticisms and how do they relate to the LNC? What challenges do they present? As a secondary goal, the paper introduces a novel defense of the contradictory God thesis, drawing on a specific interpretation of the theology of the 16th-century Indian thinker Jīva Gosvāmī, which avoids the need to challenge the LNC. I term this approach ‘non-dialetheic mystical contradictory theism.’. (shrink)

En este trabajo me propongo desarrollar un estudio crítico de la concepción mecanicista de la explicación científica. En primer lugar, argumento que la caracterización mecanicista de los modelos fenoménicos (no explicativos) es inadecuada, pues no ofrece un análisis aceptable de los conceptos de modelo científico y similitud, que son fundamentales para la propuesta. En segundo lugar, sostengo que la caracterización de los modelos mecanicistas (explicativos) es igualmente inadecuada, pues los análisis disponibles de la relación explicativa de relevancia constitutiva implican una (...) tesis metafísica que es rechazada por los mismos mecanicistas. Concluyo que el mecanicismo no ofrece todavía una elucidación aceptable de la explicación científica. In this paper, I offer a critical assessment of the mechanicist approach to scientific explanation. Firstly, I argue that the mechanicist characterization of (non explanatory) phenomenological models is inadequate, since it does not develop an explication of the concepts of scientific model and similarity, which are indispensable to the approach. Secondly, I claim that the mechanicist conception of (explanatory) mechanicist models is inadequate as well, since all the available analices of the explanatory relation of constitutive relevance imply a metaphysical thesis that is rejected by the mechanicists themselves. I conclude that mechanicism needs to be emended if it aims to be considered as a genuinely illuminating approach to scientific explanation. (shrink)

This article looks at the complexity of the thought processes that lead Seneca's Oedipus to choose the mors longa of blindness as punishment for his crime. It offers an analysis of the consolation of this existence on the threshold between life and death, notably with reference to the end of the Oedipus, but also of the sorrow of this liminal existence. The latter is described in Seneca's Phoenissae, which suggests an escape, by death stricto sensu, from the threshold represented by (...) blindness, by which Oedipus now feels trapped.By examining these three topics, the article shows how the threshold between life and death which Oedipus chooses at the end of Seneca's Oedipus and experiences in the Phoenissae mirrors the ambivalence and the errors of his life before he blinded himself. Ultimately, it also illustrates Oedipus’ continuing failure to achieve self-knowledge. (shrink)

The basis of stoic determinism (a) : everything has a cause -- The basis of stoic determinism (b) : causation is necessitating -- The threat of external determination -- Reflection and responsibility -- The three compatibilist theories of Chrysippus -- Epictetus on responsibility for unreflective action.

The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, it aims at introducing the ontological argument through the analysis of five historical developments: Anselm’s argument found in the second chapter of his Proslogion, Gaunilo’s criticism of it, Descartes’ version of the ontological argument found in his Meditations on First Philosophy, Leibniz’s contribution to the debate on the ontological argument and his demonstration of the possibility of God, and Kant’s famous criticisms against the (cartesian) ontological argument. Second, it intends to critically examine (...) the enterprise of formally analyzing philosophical arguments and, as such, contribute in a small degree to the debate on the role of formalization in philosophy. My focus will be mainly on the drawbacks and limitations of such enterprise; as a guideline, I shall refer to a Carnapian, or Carnapian-like theory of argument analysis. (shrink)

Comparação entre as duas versões da dedução kantiana dos conceitos puros do entendimento, a da 1ª edição de 1781 e a de 1787. Focam-se aqui principalmente as discrepâncias referentes à dedução objetiva, isto é, aquela encarregada de demonstrar que as categorias são as condições de possibilidade dos objetos de experiência.

In 2010, American sociologist John Levi Martin asserted that in-depth interviews are inadequate for the study of culture. This sparked a debate in the discipline over the legitimacy of interview methods for researchers of culture and others. Here, we contextualize and contribute to this debate. We review the ideas of Martin and argue that in-depth interviews are in fact valid, well-supported in the field, and useful for investigating cultural phenomena. We build this counter-argument on three angles: epistemological, theoretical and methodological. (...) Given this defense, we also explore how social scientists are implementing innovative ways to complement in-depth interview approaches, such as through social network analysis. En el año 2010, John Levi Martin, un reconocido sociólogo estadounidense dedicó una de sus publicaciones para aseverar que las entrevistas en profundidad eran inadecuadas para estudiar fenómenos culturales. Esto desató un debate en la disciplina respecto a la legitimidad de los métodos basados en entrevistas para aquellos investigadores estudiosos de la sociología de la cultura u otras áreas similares. En este trabajo, contextualizamos y contribuimos a este debate. Revisamos las ideas de Martin y defendimos la idea de que las entrevistas en profundidad realmente son válidas y que existen favorables antecedentes en su aplicación. Por lo tanto sí son necesarias al investigar este tipo de fenómenos. Construimos esta contra-respuesta desde tres ángulos: epistemológico, teórico y metodológico. Haciendo nuestra defensa de este tipo de entrevistas, también damos cuenta de la manera en que científicos sociales implementan formas innovadoras para complementar su función, tal como sucede en el análisis de redes sociales. (shrink)

Este artigo apresenta a teoria supervalorativista da vagueza e discute a objecção, que frequentemente lhe é dirigida, segundo a qual essa teoria não consegue dar conta do fenómeno da vagueza de ordem superior.

We study the interconnection between Physics and Mathematics in concrete instances, departing from the usual expression for the Coulomb electric field, produced by a point-like charge. It is scrutinized by means of six epistemology-intensive questions and radical answers are proposed, intended to widen one’s understanding of the subject. Our interventions act along two complementary directions. One of them regards ontology, since questions induce one to look closely at the electric charge, from different perspectives, promoting reflections about its nature and reinforcing (...) the corresponding concept. Formal manipulations rely on the identification of concepts with symbols, and the other direction concerns the spatial extension of mathematical structures. Our questions and their somewhat unusual answers help disclosing information which is not present in many textbooks, and show that Mathematics can be used as an efficient epistemological tool in Physics teaching. (shrink)

Este trabajo pretende exponer la recepción del atomismo de Epicuro y la reinterpretación dialéctica de la teoría del clinamen en la tesis doctoral de 1841 de Karl Marx, con el propósito de extraer algunas aportaciones para una teoría de la libertad. Para ello se analizan las implicaciones del enfoque dialéctico marxiano aplicado a la declinación epicúrea a la luz de las aportaciones del pensamiento filosófico de Schiller y la fenomenología hermenéutica de Ricoeur. Marx descubre en Epicuro una “ciencia de la (...) atomística” en la cual el clinamen es la autodeterminación formal del átomo respecto de la materia; su ley interna, por medio de la cual se abre la posibilidad de una libertad humana que transgrede el determinismo. Se intenta mostrar que causalidad natural y libertad no son excluyentes en un materialismo idealista como el epicúreo, en el que, conforme a la interpretación de Marx, idea y materia se integran en una síntesis dialéctica. (shrink)

Tradición patrimonial y administración señorial en la América Latina Aspectos básicos del liberalismo brasileño del siglo XIX - El pensamiento conservador en Colombia, a lo largo del siglo XIX - El pensamiento conservador en Colombia, a lo largo del siglo XX - Iberoamérica como totalidad - Clientelismo mesianismo y liberación en la cultura Latinoamericana - Catequesis misionera y "saber de salvación" en el Brasil colonial - La filosofía brasileña en los siglos XVII, XVIII y XIX - La filosofía brasileña en (...) el siglo XX - Positivismo y realidad Latinoamericana - Cinco concepciones de la integración Latinoamericana - Etica y política en la cultura brasileña - Catolicismo y modernidad : la función moralizadora de la iglesia. (shrink)

Em termos das proposições desenvolvidas por Jacques Derrida, introduz-se a deconstrução, no campo psicanalítico, de um de seus núcleos conceituais mais estabilizados, o complexo de Édipo. Revisa-se a contaminação mito-política desse conceito e os impasses que ele provoca na psicanálise tradicional. Colateralmente, consideram-se algumas implicações clínicas.En términos de las proposiciones largamente desarrolladas por Jacques Derrida, se introduce la desconstrucción en el campo psicoanalítico, a propósito y con objeto de uno de sus núcleos conceptuales más estabilizados, el de complejo de Edipo. (...) Se pasa revista a la contaminación mitopolítica de este concepto y a las impasses a las que lleva al psicoanálisis tradicional. Colateralmente se consideran algunas implicancias clínicas.Taking help in Jacques Derrida's ideas about desconstruction, this text introduces the practice of deconstructing in psychoanalitic field and theory. The main target here is the concept - not as a mere empirical fact - of Oedipus complex. The text develops a long series of points of contamination - in a myth-political sense - of that concept, as such as its impasses and - in a more colateral way - clinical consequences. (shrink)

El objetivo de esta investigación fue determinar el nivel predictivo de los factores técnico-docentes de la enseñanza media en el éxito académico en una universidad estatal chilena, desagregado en tres variantes: tiempo de titulación, rendimiento académico y relación titulado-desertor de cada carrera.Metodológicamente, se realiza un análisis descriptivo y correlacional, aplicando modelos de regresión. Se consideraron como factores técnico-docentes el colegio de proveniencia, la modalidad educacional y el promedio de notas.Los resultados indican que existe baja correlación entre las variables predictoras y (...) el rendimiento universitario y los análisis de regresión muestra un bajo nivel predic- tivo las variables predictoras. (shrink)

Resumo: Neste artigo, apresentamos uma reflexão e um diálogo entre a fenomenologia e o construtivismo como uma possibilidade de análise em pesquisas qualitativas. Iniciamos a discussão pela fenomenologia husserliana e, depois, nos aprofundamos nas ideias da fenomenologia social de Alfred Schutz. Por fim, adentramos o construtivismo piagetiano, com uma discussão sobre os conceitos básicos da Epistemologia Genética. Estabelecemos um diálogo entre a fenomenologia e o construtivismo, principalmente sobre o desenvolvimento da consciência e das relações sociais. Com isso, inferimos que existe (...) a consciência intersubjetiva e a consciência subjetiva, que se desenvolvem por meio da percepção sensorial, intuição e lógica operante, sendo estas etapas subsequentes. Com base nessa visão e em elementos de Bicudo (2011) e Sokolowski (2012), propusemos uma forma de reflexão que possui quatro procedimentos: recordação, reprodução, reconstrução e refinamento. O resultado desse processo é a essência do fenômeno, que será sustentada por fundamentos fenomenológicos e construtivistas. A fundamentação dessa reflexão social-fenomenológico-construtivista é, por si só, uma reflexão social-fenomenológico-construtivista, ou seja, uma metarreflexão. Palavras-chave: Reflexão; Fenomenologia; Construtivismo; Relações Sociais. Phenomenology and constructivism: possibilities for a theoretical-methodological proposal Abstract: In this article, we present a reflection and a dialog between phenomenology and constructivism as a possibility for analysis in qualitative research. We began the discussion with husserlian phenomenology and then delved into the ideas of Alfred Schutz's social phenomenology. Finally, we delve into piagetian constructivism, with a discussion of the basic concepts of Genetic Epistemology. We establish a dialog between phenomenology and constructivism, mainly on the development of consciousness and social relations. With this, we infer that there is intersubjective consciousness and subjective consciousness, which develop through sensory perception, intuition and operant logic, these being subsequent stages. Based on this vision and elements from Bicudo (2011) and Sokolowski (2012), we proposed a form of reflection that has four procedures: recollection, reproduction, reconstruction and refinement. The result of this process is the essence of the phenomenon, which will be supported by phenomenological and constructivist foundations. The foundation of this social-phenomenological-constructivist reflection is, in itself, a social-phenomenological-constructivist reflection, in other words, a meta-reflection. Keywords: Reflection; Phenomenology; Constructivism; Social Relations. Fenomenología y constructivismo: posibilidades para una propuesta teórico-metodológica Resumen: En este artículo, presentamos una reflexión y diálogo entre la fenomenología y el constructivismo como posibilidad de análisis en la investigación cualitativa. Comenzamos el debate con la fenomenología husserliana y, luego, profundizamos en las ideas de la fenomenología social de Alfred Schutz. Por último, pasamos al constructivismo piagetiano, con una discusión de los conceptos básicos de la Epistemología Genética. Establecimos un diálogo entre la fenomenología y el constructivismo, principalmente sobre el desarrollo de la conciencia y las relaciones sociales. Con esto, inferimos que hay conciencia intersubjetiva y conciencia subjetiva, que se desarrollan a través de la percepción sensorial, la intuición y la lógica operante, siendo éstas etapas posteriores. A partir de esta visión y elementos de Bicudo (2011) y Sokolowski (2012), propusimos una forma de reflexión que tiene cuatro procedimientos: recuerdo, reproducción, reconstrucción y refinamiento. El resultado de este proceso es la esencia del fenómeno, que se apoyará en fundamentos fenomenológicos y constructivistas. El fundamento de esta reflexión socio-fenomenológico-constructivista es, en sí misma, una reflexión socio-fenomenológico-constructivista, es decir, una meta-reflexión. Palabras clave: Reflexión; Fenomenología; Constructivismo; Relaciones Sociales. Data de registro: 04/02/2024 Data de aceite: 18/12/2024. (shrink)

In this paper we consider the modal logic with both $$\Box $$ and $$\Diamond $$ arising from Kripke models with a crisp accessibility and whose propositions are valued over the standard Gödel algebra $$[0,1]_G$$. We provide an axiomatic system extending the one from Caicedo and Rodriguez (J Logic Comput 25(1):37–55, 2015) for models with a valued accessibility with Dunn axiom from positive modal logics, and show it is strongly complete with respect to the intended semantics. The axiomatizations of the most (...) usual frame restrictions are given too. We also prove that in the studied logic it is not possible to get $$\Diamond $$ as an abbreviation of $$\Box $$, nor vice-versa, showing that indeed the axiomatic system we present does not coincide with any of the mono-modal fragments previously axiomatized in the literature. (shrink)

Sexting has been defined as sending, receiving, or forwarding sexually explicit messages, images, or photos to others through digital platforms, and can assume more consensual or more abusive and violent forms. This study aims to explore the prevalence of abusive sexting in Portuguese adolescents and the psychological characteristics of sexting abusers in terms of emotional and behavioral problems, potential markers of psychopathy, childhood trauma and maltreatment, and different forms of aggression. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 4,281 participants, aged 12–20 (...) years, of whom 204 engaged in abusive sexting behaviors and 182 self-identified as being a non-consensual sexting victim. Abusive sexting was more common among boys and middle adolescents, and abusive sexting victims were more likely to be children of single-parent families. Engaging in abusive sexting and being a victim of abusive sexting were also related to behavioral and emotional problems, callousness, experiences of neglect and abuse in childhood, and various forms of aggression. Implications for future research and intervention are discussed. (shrink)

This article examines the foundation myths of Brazil in the last two centuries, paying particular attention to the relationship between these myths and governmental attitudes toward the hybridity of Northern and Southern ethnic and technoscientific entities. Based upon this examination, the article argues that it is important to consider both the wider temporal frames and the shifts and sedimentations that have formed current foundation myths and shaped their relation to science and technology. Postcolonial science technology studies theories illuminate aspects of (...) this trajectory, but our analysis suggests a more complex scenario that involves internal political dynamics and the work of local intellectuals. We argue that the example of Brazilian social scientists should encourage scholars to go beyond the current focus on breaking the myths of technoscience and undertake mythmaking initiatives with wider societal resonances. (shrink)

The new features of the business environment have expanded the concept of organizational learning capability. In today’s competitive business environment, OLC has been recognized as an essential means to gain a sustainable competitive advantage. However, the effective development of that capability has not been sufficiently analyzed in the organizational learning literature. Prompted by a recent paradigm shift in the organizational sciences, this research explores the link between altruism and OLC testing a wider picture that includes two intermediate steps: Relationship Conflict (...) and Organizational Trust. To check our hypotheses, we used structural equations to analyze data from a survey of Spanish firms with recognized excellence in human resource management. Results indicate that organizational trust mediates on the altruism—OLC relationship; however, such linkage is not mediated by relationship conflict. Findings suggest that altruism and trust should be promoted in organizations in order to boost OLC. (shrink)

Este trabajo intenta resolver una tensión que existe en el modo en que Aristóteles concibe el apeiron de Anaximandro, la substancia a partir de la cual se genera el cosmos. En algunas partes del corpus, Aristóteles la presenta como un cuerpo básico que genera el cosmos por medio de un cambio de sus cualidades, pero en otras como un cuerpo compuesto de substancias básicas que el cual generaría el cosmos cuando éstas se separan la una de la otra. Como veremos, (...) sin embargo, sólo este segundo modelo es el que Aristóteles realmente le atribuye a Anaximandro. Al final, se propone una hipótesis respecto de quién podría ser entonces la persona, o grupo de personas, que Aristóteles tiene en mente cuando se refiere al primer modelo. (shrink)

Induction, conceived as the class of rational non-truth preserving inferences, has been a perennial problem in philosophy. Aside from the problem of justification of induction, a less debated issue is the problem of properly describing inductive inferences. The purpose of this book is to conceptually investigate this descriptive problem of induction from the standpoint of the nonmonotonic logical tradition raised inside the field of Artificial Intelligence in the last thirty years. As we try to show, an essential part of this (...) enterprise involves the analysis of a pragmatically oriented notion of probability, called by us inductive plausibility. This in turn is made from the viewpoint of paraconsistency ? which according to some is the unavoidable companion of nonmonotonicity ? and modal logic. We therefore put forward a nonmonotonic, paraconsistent and modal approach to induction and plausibility. The book shall be useful to philosophers, logicians and computer scientists interested in the problem of induction in general and in the logical analysis of induction and plausibility in particular. (shrink)

We discuss in this paper the scope of abduction in Economics. The literature on this type of inference shows that it can be interpreted in different ways, according to the role and nature of its outcome. We present a formal model that allows to capture these various meanings in different economic contexts.

This article examines scientific transnationalism as an art of engagement with, and avoidance of, the threats and promises of what was foreign to the nation. Portuguese racial anthropologists experienced a tension between remaining imperial-nationalistic in character, and internationalist in their activities simultaneously. They struggled to exclude foreigners from colonial field sites; they aimed at nativist authority based on total control of colonial data. Yet, they eagerly sought connections with foreign experts to capitalize provincial scientific authority within Portugal’s colonies. The essay (...) conceptualizes this mode of transnationalism as also a kind of isolationism, an inward oriented form of engaging with foreign sciences and scientists as ambivalently powerful and threatening strangers. (shrink)

This essay traces the connected histories of Portuguese and French anthropology in the late nineteenth century. By looking at a Portuguese scientific institution, the Carlos Ribeiro Society, it considers how French race science, known as anthropologie, was adopted and adapted across the European Latin world as a type of “stranger-science.” That is: as an authoritative outsider scientific formation, installed into national terrain in accordance with insider strategies for turning foreign elements into native forms of scientific sovereignty and modernity. French anthropology’s (...) international diffusion becomes meaningful in the light of the Portuguese incorporating what was foreign and modern as a means to generate vitality, and authority endogenously in their own national context. Hence, addressing the circulation of stranger-sciences can pave the way for an original conceptualizing of the transnational life of race science across and even beyond the Latin world. (shrink)

A comienzos del siglo XXI, América del Sur alberga la mayor biodiversidad del mundo para la mayoría de los grupos de plantas y animales, como también una variedad de movimientos en defensa del medio ambiente, que incluyen comunidades urbanas y rurales. La filosofía académica sudamericana, sin embargo, ha prestado escasa atención a este rico contexto biocultural. Para nutrir una filosofía ambiental regional emergente, identifico tres fuentes principales. Primero, una variedad de cosmovisiones y prácticas ecológicas, ancestrales y contemporáneas ofrecen un rico (...) espectro biocultural de pensamiento ambiental de América del Sur que puede ser examinado y valorado a través del trabajo de la antropología cultural, la filosofía de la liberación, la pedagogía de la liberación, la teología de la liberación, el ecofeminismo y la conservación biocultural. En segundo lugar, en las universidades de América del Sur se han formado recientemente algunos grupos interdisciplinarios académicos en la investigación y enseñanza de la filosofía ambiental, con el apoyo del Programa de las Naciones Unidas del Medio Ambiente, o gracias a los intereses individuales de algunos investigadores. En tercer lugar, expresiones artisticas y movimientos sociales han demandado cada vez más la incorporación de valores ambientales en las políticas regionales y en los procesos de toma de decisiones. Estas tres fuentes pueden fomentar el diálogo intercultural, internacional y transdisciplinario para seguir desarrollando una filosofía ambiental sudamericana que brote desde su extraordinaria diversidad biocultural. (shrink)