It has been suggested that there is a close relationship between visual attention span (VAS) and fluent reading. This relation may be modulated by participants’ age, and exhibits various patterns in different reading modes (i.e. oral v.s. silent reading) and different reading levels (e.g. sentence v.s. character/word levels). Moreover, the modulation effects from the above factors might be more remarkable in the framework of languages with a deep orthography. Therefore, the present study investigated the developmental pattern of the relationship between (...) VAS skills and reading fluency in Chinese, a language with particularly deep orthography, by recruiting 292 participants from primary schools, middle schools and universities. Two tests were utilized to assess fluent reading skills at the single-character and sentence levels with oral and silent reading modes. A visual 1-back task was adopted to reflect VAS capacity with non-verbal stimuli and no verbal response. Results showed that the VAS capacity of low-grade primary school students could significantly account for the variance in single-character reading fluency in the oral mode and that it was a significant predictor of sentence reading fluency in the oral mode among high-grade primary school students. VAS abilities of middle school students allowed a unique and stable prediction of their silent sentence reading. With increasing reading ability, VAS skills of adults showed significant and similar predictive power for estimating the variations in fluent sentence reading in both silent and oral modes. These results revealed developmental changes in the contribution of VAS to fluent reading in Chinese, and provided evidence unveiling whether the underlying mechanisms of oral and silent reading were shared or different. (shrink)

ORCA.IT, a new online test of online research and comprehension was developed for the Italian population. A group of 183 students attending various types of upper secondary schools in Northern Italy were tested with the new tool and underwent further cognitive and neuropsychological assessment. The different school types involved in the study are representative of the school population in the Italian system, but can also be easily compared with the educational systems of other countries. The new test turned out to (...) have good psychometric properties after accurate item construction and final selection. In particular, Version 1 showed better characteristics than Version 2. Subsequently, comparison with one-way ANOVAs were performed to test whether differences exist between different school types, between groups with and without reading difficulties, and between males and females. Such differences are sometimes reported in the literature, but many remain controversial. Further, Pearson’s bivariate correlations were calculated to analyze associations between scores on the ORCA.IT and cognitive/neuropsychological variables. Finally, a stepwise regression analysis was performed on aggregated scores to identify the predictors of performance on each of the two versions, The test, especially in the most complete version (Version 1), appears to accurately and reliably capture students’ web searching abilities and online reading comprehension. The tool could highlight differences in online search and comprehension ability between students with and without reading difficulties, not penalizing overall performance but allowing very specific weaknesses to be pointed out. Further, it seems to be able to capture differences due to both educational pathways (different school types) and social attitudes (differences between males and females). Most interesting, it shows to be clearly resting on specific cognitive and neuropsychological abilities, including language, memory and attentional skills, which explain a large portion of the total variance. Offline text reading comprehension is a crucial predictor of online reading performance, while decoding ability is not. Prior knowledge also influences the results, as expected. The new tool turns out to be rather independent from previous internet experience and to measure more cognitively grounded processes related to information gathering, processing and communicating. (shrink)

Enrique Leff sostiene que las causas profundas de la crisis ambiental se basan en formas dominantes de conocimiento, es decir, la crisis tiene sus raíces en las bases epistemológicas de la modernidad. Leff sistemáticamente se ha dedicado a proponer y construir conceptos que deconstruyen los supuestos modernos, y que al mismo tiempo, permiten nuevas formas de entender y aprehender el mundo. Su extensa obra ha logrado trascender y forjar un espacio para el pensamiento ambiental, no sólo en la educación y (...) la filosofía ambiental, sino también en las áreas de la economía, la sociología y el desarrollo. Su argumento central es que estos problemas son el resultado de una crisis de la civilización, e insta a todos a repensar los fundamentos de la racionalidad moderna que subyace a la sociedad global contemporánea. (shrink)

Enrique Leff sostiene que las causas profundas de la crisis ambiental se basan en formas dominantes de conocimiento, es decir, la crisis tiene sus raíces en las bases epistemológicas de la modernidad. Leff sistemáticamente se ha dedicado a proponer y construir conceptos que deconstruyen los supuestos modernos, y que al mismo tiempo, permiten nuevas formas de entender y aprehender el mundo. Su extensa obra ha logrado trascender y forjar un espacio para el pensamiento ambiental, no sólo en la educación y (...) la filosofía ambiental, sino también en las áreas de la economía, la sociología y el desarrollo. Su argumento central es que estos problemas son el resultado de una crisis de la civilización, e insta a todos a repensar los fundamentos de la racionalidad moderna que subyace a la sociedad global contemporánea. (shrink)

El propósito de este trabajo es mostrar, primero, cómo se formaron las ciencias sociales, con qué características y presupuestos, y comprender sus dificultades para entender y abordar los problemas ambientales. En un segundo momento se presentarán unas reflexiones en torno al conocimiento y su relación con el ambiente, así como la importancia de superar la escisión entre las llamadas ciencias duras y las sociales/humanas, y la necesidad de aportes como los de las ciencias de la complejidad, de los estudios culturales, (...) de modernidad/colonialidad, y del pensamiento ambiental, como desafíos y posibilidades para abordar el problema ambiental de manera integral. Este conjunto de aproximaciones representa un reto grande para las ciencias sociales, pero sin enfrentarlo será imposible abordar los problemas ambientales de manera adecuada. (shrink)

This article rereads some of Kant’s writings considered as pre-critical. It tries to investigate how in them the reflection about knowledge progressively takes a new direction against dogmatic positions. In order to do this, this article focuses on some of its specific aspects. We cannot assimilate these works to the revolution that the KrV will signify but we can read them as a preparation for that critical field. We share those interpretations which think that there is more continuity than breaking (...) off between the Kant considered pre-critical and his deployment clearly critical. (shrink)

Diese Studie der Deskription bei Franz Brentano lässt dessen Philosophie als ein «Programm der Deskription» erscheinen, das einen spezifischen Beitrag zur Gottesfrage leistet. Im Gegensatz zur scholastischen Tradition stellt er diese Frage auf sprachlicher Ebene und sucht dadurch erkenntnistheoretisch-metaphysische Engführungen zu überwinden. Er betont die deskriptive (nicht physikalische oder metaphysische) Bedeutung der Kausalität in ihrer Zeitgebundenheit und zeigt, dass die Existenz Gottes zeitlich bestimmt werden muss: Nur so ist eine sinnvolle Rede von Gott möglich. Brentanos Denken wurde in der Theologie (...) kaum wahrgenommen, aber die deskriptive Lösung des Problems von «esse et essentia», die Arten der Zeitlichkeit, die Betrachtung von Analogielehre und Univozität sind richtungsweisend. (shrink)

We introduce new proof systems for propositional logic, simple deduction Frege systems, general deduction Frege systems, and nested deduction Frege systems, which augment Frege systems with variants of the deduction rule. We give upper bounds on the lengths of proofs in Frege proof systems compared to lengths in these new systems. As applications we give near-linear simulations of the propositional Gentzen sequent calculus and the natural deduction calculus by Frege proofs. The length of a proof is the number of lines (...) in the proof. A general deduction Frege proof system provides at most quadratic speedup over Frege proof systems. A nested deduction Frege proof system provides at most a nearly linear speedup over Frege system where by "nearly linear" is meant the ratio of proof lengths is O) where α is the inverse Ackermann function. A nested deduction Frege system can linearly simulate the propositional sequent calculus, the tree-like general deduction Frege calculus, and the natural deduction calculus. Hence a Frege proof system can simulate all those proof systems with proof lengths bounded by O). Also we show that a Frege proof of n lines can be transformed into a tree-like Frege proof of O lines and of height O. As a corollary of this fact we can prove that natural deduction and sequent calculus tree-like systems simulate Frege systems with proof lengths bounded by O. (shrink)

This volume includes recent contributions to the philosophy of science from a historical point of view and of the highest topicality: the range of the topics covers all fields in the philosophy of the science provided by authors from around the world focusing on ancient, modern and contemporary periods in the development of the science philosophy. This proceedings is for the scientific community and students at graduate level as well as postdocs in this interdisciplinary field of research.

This is the first of two volumes comprising the papers submitted for publication by the invited participants to the Tenth International Congress of Logic, Methodology and Philosophy of Science, held in Florence, August 1995. The Congress was held under the auspices of the International Union of History and Philosophy of Science, Division of Logic, Methodology and Philosophy of Science. The invited lectures published in the two volumes demonstrate much of what goes on in the fields of the Congress and give (...) the state of the art of current research. The two volumes cover the traditional subdisciplines of mathematical logic and philosophical logic, as well as their interfaces with computer science, linguistics and philosophy. Philosophy of science is broadly represented, too, including general issues of natural sciences, social sciences and humanities. The papers in Volume One are concerned with logic, mathematical logic, the philosophy of logic and mathematics, and computer science. (shrink)

This book gives a state-of-the-art survey of current research in logic and philosophy of science, as viewed by invited speakers selected by the most prestigious international organization in the field. In particular, it gives a coherent picture of foundational research into the various sciences, both natural and social. In addition, it has special interest items such as symposia on interfaces between logic and methodology, semantics and semiotics, as well as updates on the current state of the field in Eastern Europe (...) and the Far East. (shrink)

This book gives a state-of-the-art survey of current research in logic and philosophy of science, as viewed by invited speakers selected by the most prestigious international organization in the field. In particular, it gives a coherent picture of foundational research into the various sciences, both natural and social. In addition, it has special interest items such as symposia on interfaces between logic and methodology, semantics and semiotics, as well as updates on the current state of the field in Eastern Europe (...) and the Far East. (shrink)

Dal "disegno su sabbia" delle donne australiane alle terrecotte delle donne del Camerun, dai retablos peruviani agli altari vodou degli immigrati haitiani a New York, dalla "Casa del popolo" del regno di Bandjoun alle "vetrinette" italiane degli anni Sessanta, dai malanggan e dai manufatti annodati dell'Oceania alla topologia dei nodi, dai bologan del Mali alla "Potlatch Collection" rimpatriata nei nuovi musei indigeni del Canada, dalle maschere gelede degli Yoruba alla figura ubiqua e mediatica di Mami Wata, i saggi di questo (...) volume evidenziano le valenze operative dell'arte: sia nell'arena sociale e politica contemporanea, cui appartengono anche le "tradizioni", sia nel campo cognitivo e religioso. A lungo confinata ai soli territori esotici delle culture "primitive" e limitata da un'eccessiva dipendenza dalle categorie interpretative occidentali, la riflessione antropologica sull'arte e sull'estetica trova oggi un nuovo respiro teorico, e un nuovo fascino. (shrink)

L’autrice sostiene che l’arte contemporanea etnicamente marcata – arte contemporanea africana, aborigena, nativa – è inclusa nell’arte contemporanea tout court – la categoria non-marcata e dominante – nella forma dell’eccezione agambeniana, ossia secondo quella logica di esclusione inclusiva che caratterizza anche le opposizioni privative in semantica cognitiva e le opposizioni gerarchiche di Louis Dumont (l’englobement du contraire). L’esame di alcuni esempi rivela come il diniego di coevità (Johannes Fabian) riservato agli Altri, prima che alla loro arte, sia tuttora operante e (...) si esprima anche in un certo discorso curatoriale, principalmente attraverso l’applicazione di coppie di opposti categoriali all’arte contemporanea marcata/non-marcata. Questo tipo di discorso, includendo paradossalmente l’arte etnicamente marcata nella contemporaneità proprio in virtù della sua temporalità diversa e disgiuntiva, riafferma surrettiziamente la differenza antropologica che ci divide dai suoi creatori. Un riesame critico delle dicotomie che qualificano il dualismo antropologico noi/altri nel paradigma storico-artistico dominante, conclude l’autrice, sembra premessa necessaria per apprezzare le altre estetiche: estetiche che sono a noi coeve, e che non necessariamente pertengono a ciò che, per noi, è arte. (shrink)

Spinoza no ha elaborado una doctrina sistemática sobre la tolerancia, sin embargo resulta manifiesta su preocupación por los efectos que tienen para el estado moderno tanto su carencia como una excesiva permisividad en este asunto. En el Tratado Teológico-político el filósofo censura la conducta pertinaz de los fariseos por su falta de tolerancia, al mismo tiempo que contempla con recelo la complacencia de algunos políticos holandeses que, en el presente, hacen gala de una tolerancia hipertrofiada. En el presente artículo consideraremos (...) la posición de Spinoza ante estas dos tradiciones, y su propuesta a favor de delimitar con claridad las fronteras de la tolerancia en el estado con el fin de proteger el imperium de la república y la libertad del ciudadano. (shrink)

The aim of this paper is to reflect the contribution of Philosophical Hermeneutics to Psychotherapy. We first start by clarifying the meaning of Philosophical Hermeneutics and by analyzing its object. Second, finding a support in the two most important names of contemporary Hermeneutics, both H.G. Gadamer and Paul Ricœur, we reject the naturalism to which Psychotherapy reduces itself insofar as it does not take into account the close connection between man ‘s world-of-life and its temporal, linguistic and narrative dimension. Indeed, (...) the very center of the contribution of Hermeneutics lies in the constitution of identity through ethical, linguistic and institutional mediation. (shrink)

This paper aims to present an approach to Frege and Husserl’s theories of meaning in order to integrate meaning in the broader context of intentionality. Intentionality and reference are two notions with affinities, despite their pertaining to different but not separated areas... When comparing Frege and Husserl’s theories of meaning and intentionality we may provide a fruitful and enriching perspective: some problems and concepts of Husserl’s thought may be elucidated if confronted with those of Frege. On the other hand, Husserl’s (...) theories of meaning and intentionality provide a broader and far-reaching scope to Frege’s ideas on meaning.. Husserl’s concept of intentionality provides a new perspective which allows to overcome some of the impasses of Frege’s theory of meaning. (shrink)

This article provides an intellectual history of the status of wage earners as conceptualized within the natural law paradigm by European writers both on the Continent and in Britain. Historians of political discourse have mostly investigated the consequences of such a status for the political rights of labourers. This article shows that the crucial moves were made by different authors analysing the relation of servant to master either in the domestic sphere or in private contracts. The article further contends that (...) that resulting deeply ambiguous analyses implied a far from complete personal freedom for wage earners. This had a decisive impact on different visions of commercial society in early modern times, and left a significant legacy for moderns. ☆ Apart from a few changes and some abridgment, this essay is the first chapter of my forthcoming book Vite da servi. Figure del lavoro salariato dalla giurisprudenza naturale all’economia politica (Servants’ Lives: Figures of Paid Labour from Natural Law to Political Economy). I am much indebted to Matthew Armistead for translating it, and to Marco Geuna and Gabriella Silvestrini for commenting on an earlier draft. (shrink)