Recent research on algebraic models of _quasi-Nelson logic_ has brought new attention to a number of classes of algebras which result from enriching (subreducts of) Heyting algebras with a special modal operator, known in the literature as a _nucleus_. Among these various algebraic structures, for which we employ the umbrella term _intuitionistic modal algebras_, some have been studied since at least the 1970s, usually within the framework of topology and sheaf theory. Others may seem more exotic, for their primitive operations (...) arise from algebraic terms of the intuitionistic modal language which have not been previously considered. We shall for instance investigate the variety of _weak implicative semilattices_, whose members are (non-necessarily distributive) meet semilattices endowed with a nucleus and an implication operation which is not a relative pseudo-complement but satisfies the postulates of Celani and Jansana’s strict implication. For each of these new classes of algebras we establish a representation and a topological duality which generalize the known ones for Heyting algebras enriched with a nucleus. (shrink)

In this note we introduce the variety $${{\mathcal C}{\mathcal D}{\mathcal M}_\square}$$ of classical modal De Morgan algebras as a generalization of the variety $${{{\mathcal T}{\mathcal M}{\mathcal A}}}$$ of Tetravalent Modal algebras studied in [ 11 ]. We show that the variety $${{\mathcal V}_0}$$ defined by H. P. Sankappanavar in [ 13 ], and the variety S of Involutive Stone algebras introduced by R. Cignoli and M. S de Gallego in [ 5 ], are examples of classical modal De Morgan algebras. (...) We give a representation theory, and we study the regular filters, i.e., lattice filters closed under an implication operation. Finally we prove that the variety $${{{\mathcal T}{\mathcal M}{\mathcal A}}}$$ has the Amalgamation Property and the Superamalgamation Property. (shrink)

In this paper we shall introduce the variety FWHA of frontal weak Heyting algebras as a generalization of the frontal Heyting algebras introduced by Leo Esakia in [10]. A frontal operator in a weak Heyting algebra A is an expansive operator r preserving finite meets which also satisfies the equation?? b V, for all a,b? A. These operators were studied from an algebraic, logical and topological point of view by Leo Esakia in [10]. We will study frontal operators in weak (...) Heyting algebras and we will consider two examples of them. We will give a Priestley duality for the category of frontal weak Heyting algebras in terms of relational spaces where is a WH space [6], and R is an additional binary relation used to interpret the modal operator. We will also study the WH- algebras with successor and the WTf- algebras with gamma. For these varieties we will give two topological dualities. The first one is based on the representation given for the frontal weak Heyting algebras. The second one is based on certain particular classes of WH-spaces. (shrink)

A Hilbert algebra with supremum is a Hilbert algebra where the associated order is a join-semilattice. This class of algebras is a variety and was studied in Celani and Montangie . In this paper we shall introduce and study the variety of $${H_{\Diamond}^{\vee}}$$ H ◊ ∨ -algebras, which are Hilbert algebras with supremum endowed with a modal operator $${\Diamond}$$ ◊ . We give a topological representation for these algebras using the topological spectral-like representation for Hilbert algebras with supremum given (...) in Celani and Montangie . We will consider some particular varieties of $${H_{\Diamond}^{\vee}}$$ H ◊ ∨ -algebras. These varieties are the algebraic counterpart of extensions of the implicative fragment of the intuitionistic modal logic $${\mathbf{IntK}_{\Diamond}}$$ IntK ◊ . We also determine the congruences of $${H_{\Diamond}^{\vee}}$$ H ◊ ∨ -algebras in terms of certain closed subsets of the associated space, and in terms of a particular class of deductive systems. These results enable us to characterize the simple and subdirectly irreducible $${H_{\Diamond}^{\vee }}$$ H ◊ ∨ -algebras. (shrink)

In this work we will study Tarski algebras endowed with a subordination, called subordination Tarski algebras. We will define the notion of round filters, and we will study the class of irreducible round filters and the maximal round filters, called ends. We will prove that the poset of all round filters is a lattice isomorphic to the lattice of the congruences that are compatible with the subordination. We will prove that every end is an irreducible round filter, and that in (...) a topological subordination Tarski algebra A, every irreducible round filter is an end iff A is a monadic subordination Tarski algebra. As corollary of this result we have that the variety of monadic Tarski algebra can be characterised as the topological Tarski algebras where every irreducible open filter is a maximal open filter. (shrink)

Hilbert algebras provide the equivalent algebraic semantics in the sense of Blok and Pigozzi to the implication fragment of intuitionistic logic. They are closely related to implicative semilattices. Porta proved that every Hilbert algebra has a free implicative semilattice extension. In this paper we introduce the notion of an optimal deductive filter of a Hilbert algebra and use it to provide a different proof of the existence of the free implicative semilattice extension of a Hilbert algebra as well as a (...) simplified characterization of it. The optimal deductive filters turn out to be the traces in the Hilbert algebra of the prime filters of the distributive lattice free extension of the free implicative semilattice extension of the Hilbert algebra. To define the concept of optimal deductive filter we need to introduce the concept of a strong Frink ideal for Hilbert algebras which generalizes the concept of a Frink ideal for posets. (shrink)

The present paper introduces and studies the variety [MATHEMATICAL SCRIPT CAPITAL W]ℋn of n-linear weakly Heyting algebras. It corresponds to the algebraic semantic of the strict implication fragment of the normal modal logic K with a generalization of the axiom that defines the linear intuitionistic logic or Dummett logic. Special attention is given to the variety [MATHEMATICAL SCRIPT CAPITAL W]ℋ2 that generalizes the linear Heyting algebras studied in [10] and [12], and the linear Basic algebras introduced in [2].

In this paper we shall discuss properties of saturation in monotonic neighbourhood models and study some applications, like a characterization of compact and modally saturated monotonic models and a characterization of the maximal Hennessy-Milner classes. We shall also show that our notion of modal saturation for monotonic models naturally extends the notion of modal saturation for Kripke models.

In this work, we study the relational representation of the class of Tarski algebras endowed with a subordination, called subordination Tarski algebras. These structures were introduced in a previous paper as a generalisation of subordination Boolean algebras. We define the subordination Tarski spaces as topological spaces with a fixed basis endowed with a closed relation. We prove that there exist categorical dualities between categories whose objects are subordination Tarski algebras and categories whose objects are subordination Tarski spaces. These results extend (...) the known dualities for modal algebras. Finally, we are going to characterise some algebraic conditions written in the quasi-modal language by means of first-order conditions. (shrink)

In this paper we shall introduce the variety FWHA of frontal weak Heyting algebras as a generalization of the frontal Heyting algebras introduced by Leo Esakia in [ 10 ]. A frontal operator in a weak Heyting algebra A is an expansive operator τ preserving finite meets which also satisfies the equation $${\tau(a) \leq b \vee (b \rightarrow a)}$$, for all $${a, b \in A}$$. These operators were studied from an algebraic, logical and topological point of view by Leo Esakia (...) in [ 10 ]. We will study frontal operators in weak Heyting algebras and we will consider two examples of them. We will give a Priestley duality for the category of frontal weak Heyting algebras in terms of relational spaces $${\langle X, \leq, T, R \rangle}$$ where $${\langle X, \leq, T \rangle}$$ is a WH -space [ 6 ], and R is an additional binary relation used to interpret the modal operator. We will also study the WH -algebras with successor and the WH -algebras with gamma. For these varieties we will give two topological dualities. The first one is based on the representation given for the frontal weak Heyting algebras. The second one is based on certain particular classes of WH -spaces. (shrink)

In this paper we introduce Hilbert algebras with Hilbert–Galois connections (HilGC-algebras) and we study the Hilbert–Galois connections defined in Heyting algebras, called HGC-algebras. We assign a categorical duality between the category HilGC-algebras with Hilbert homomorphisms that commutes with Hilbert–Galois connections and Hilbert spaces with certain binary relations and whose morphisms are special functional relations. We also prove a categorical duality between the category of Heyting Galois algebras with Heyting homomorphisms that commutes with Hilbert–Galois connections and the category of spectral Heyting (...) spaces endowed with a binary relation with certain special continuous maps. (shrink)

In this paper we shall introduce the variety WQS of weak-quasi-Stone algebras as a generalization of the variety QS of quasi-Stone algebras introduced in [9]. We shall apply the Priestley duality developed in [4] for the variety N of ¬-lattices to give a duality for WQS. We prove that a weak-quasi-Stone algebra is characterized by a property of the set of its regular elements, as well by mean of some principal lattice congruences. We will also determine the simple and subdirectly (...) irreducible algebras. (shrink)

In this paper we shall introduce the variety WQS of weak-quasi-Stone algebras as a generalization of the variety QS of quasi-Stone algebras introduced in [9]. We shall apply the Priestley duality developed in [4] for the variety N of ¬-lattices to give a duality for WQS. We prove that a weak-quasi-Stone algebra is characterized by a property of the set of its regular elements, as well by mean of some principal lattice congruences. We will also determine the simple and subdirectly (...) irreducible algebras. (shrink)

Resumo: A ausência de planificação educacional para as escolas rurais, a despeito de algumas iniciativas públicas e privadas em décadas anteriores, não possibilitou um processo que fortalecesse e garantisse o desenvolvimento sociocultural das populações campesinas. Excetuando o Ruralismo Pedagógico da década de 30, que pretendia uma educação rural desconexada da realidade, e as parcas manifestações do Ministério da Educação nos anos 40/50 sobre a escolaridade rural, as primeiras intenções e/ou propostas para uma política educacional direcionada aos centros não-urbanos, somente aconteceram (...) a partir dos Planos Setoriais de Educação na década 70/80. Com base nas questões econômicas internas, o I e II Plano Nacional de Desenvolvimento (PND) têm, na educação como um todo, apenas um referencial para análise do subdesenvolvimento em que se encontrava o país. Dada a ênfase urbano-industrial do ideário da época, a educação rural é incorporada aos programas de desenvolvimento global (assim como a educação urbana), não se levando em consideração, desse modo, suas necessidades e realidades próprias. Educação, nesse momento, significa condições para aceleração da produção e cristalização do modelo liberal-capitalista. [...] Palavras-chave: ruralismo; educação; política educacional rural. (shrink)

In the present paper we study systematically several consequence relations on the usual language of propositional intuitionistic logic that can be defined semantically by using Kripke frames and the same defining truth conditions for the connectives as in intuitionistic logic but without imposing some of the conditions on the Kripke frames that are required in the intuitionistic case. The logics so obtained are called subintuitionistic logics in the literature. We depart from the perspective of considering a logic just as a (...) set of theorems and also depart from the perspective taken by Restall in that we consider standard Kripke models instead of models with a base point. We study the relations between subintuitionistic logics and modal logics given by the translation considered by Došen. Moreover, we classify the logics obtained according to the hierarchy considered inAlgebraic Logic. (shrink)

In the present paper we study systematically several consequence relations on the usual language of propositional intuitionistic logic that can be defined semantically by using Kripke frames and the same defining truth conditions for the connectives as in intuitionistic logic but without imposing some of the conditions on the Kripke frames that are required in the intuitionistic case. The logics so obtained are called subintuitionistic logics in the literature. We depart from the perspective of considering a logic just as a (...) set of theorems and also depart from the perspective taken by Restall in that we consider standard Kripke models instead of models with a base point. We study the relations between subintuitionistic logics and modal logics given by the translation considered by Došen. Moreover, we classify the logics obtained according to the hierarchy considered inAlgebraic Logic. (shrink)

The present paper introduces and studies the variety WH of weakly Heyting algebras. It corresponds to the strict implication fragment of the normal modal logic K which is also known as the subintuitionistic local consequence of the class of all Kripke models. The tools developed in the paper can be applied to the study of the subvarieties of WH; among them are the varieties determined by the strict implication fragments of normal modal logics as well as varieties that do not (...) arise in this way as the variety of Basic algebras or the variety of Heyting algebras. Apart from WH itself the paper studies the subvarieties of WH that naturally correspond to subintuitionistic logics, namely the variety of R-weakly Heyting algebras, the variety of T-weakly Heyting algebras and the varieties of Basic algebras and subresiduated lattices. (shrink)

In this note we introduce and study algebras of type such that is a bounded distributive lattice and ⌝ is an operator that satisfies the condition ⌝ = a ⌝ b and ⌝ 0 = 1. We develop the topological duality between these algebras and Priestley spaces with a relation. In addition, we characterize the congruences and the subalgebras of such an algebra. As an application, we will determine the Priestley spaces of quasi-Stone algebras.

Tarski algebras, also known as implication algebras or semi-boolean algebras, are the \-subreducts of Boolean algebras. In this paper we shall introduce and study the complete and atomic Tarski algebras. We shall prove a duality between the complete and atomic Tarski algebras and the class of covering Tarski sets, i.e., structures \, where X is a non-empty set and \ is non-empty family of subsets of X such that \. This duality is a generalization of the known duality between sets (...) and complete and atomic Boolean algebras. We shall also analize the case of complete and atomic Tarski algebras endowed with a complete modal operator, and we will prove a duality for these algebras. (shrink)

We introduce a variety of algebras in the language of Boolean algebras with an extra implication, namely the variety of pseudo-subordination algebras, which is closely related to subordination algebras. We believe it provides a minimal general algebraic framework where to place and systematise the research on classes of algebras related to several kinds of subordination algebras. We also consider the subvariety of pseudo-contact algebras, related to contact algebras, and the subvariety of the strict implication algebras introduced in Bezhanishvili et al. (...) [(2019). A strict implication calculus for compact Hausdorff spaces. Annals of Pure and Applied Logic, 170, 102714]. The variety of pseudo-subordination algebras is term equivalent to the variety of Boolean algebras with a binary modal operator. We exploit this fact in our study. In particular, to obtain a topological duality from which we derive the known topological dualities for subordination algebras and contact algebras. (shrink)

Monotone modal logics have emerged in several application areas such as computer science and social choice theory. Since many of the most studied selfextensional logics have a conjunction, in this paper we study some distributive extensions obtained from a semilattice based deductive system with monotonic modal operators, and we give them neighborhood and algebraic semantics. For each logic defined our main objective is to prove completeness with respect to its characteristic class of monotonic frames.

A subresiduated lattice is a pair, where A is a bounded distributive lattice, D is a bounded sublattice of A and for every there exists the maximum of the set, which is denoted by. This pair can be regarded as an algebra of type (2, 2, 2, 0, 0), where. The class of subresiduated lattices is a variety which properly contains the variety of Heyting algebras. In this paper we study the subvariety of subresiduated lattices, denoted by, whose members satisfy (...) the equation. Inspired by the fact that in any subresiduated lattice whose order is total the previous equation and the condition for every are satisfied, we also study the subvariety of generated by the class whose members satisfy that for every. (shrink)

In this paper we shall define semantically some families of propositional modal logics related to the interpretability logic \(\mathbf{IL}\). We will introduce the logics \(\mathbf{BIL}\) and \(\mathbf{BIL}^{+}\) in the propositional language with a modal operator \(\square\) and a binary operator \(\Rightarrow\) such that \(\mathbf{BIL}\subseteq\mathbf{BIL}^{+}\subseteq\mathbf{IL}\). The logic \(\mathbf{BIL}\) is generated by the relational structures \(\left \), called basic frames, where \(\left \) is a Kripke frame and \(\left \) is a neighborhood frame. We will prove that the logic \(\mathbf{BIL}^{+}\) is generated (...) by the basic frames where the binary relation \(R\) is definable by the neighborhood relation \(N\) and, therefore, the neighborhood semantics is suitable to study the logic \(\mathbf{BIL}^{+}\) and its extensions. We shall also study some axiomatic extensions of \(\mathsf{\mathbf{BIL}}\) and we will prove that these extensions are sound and complete with respect to a certain classes of basic frames. (shrink)

Though it is held that some models in science have explanatory value, there is no conclusive agreement on what provides them with this value. One common view is that models have explanatory value vis-à-vis some target systems because they are developed using an abstraction process. Though I think this is correct, I believe it is not the whole picture. In this paper, I argue that, in addition to the well-known process of abstraction understood as an omission of features or information, (...) there is also a family of abstraction processes that involve aggregation of features or information and that these processes play an important role in endowing the models they are used to build with explanatory value. After offering a taxonomy of abstraction processes involving aggregation, I show by considering in detail several models drawn from different sciences that the abstraction processes involving aggregation that are used to build these models are responsible for their having explanatory value. (shrink)

Latin American and Latinx philosophers have a long and rich history of deep engagement in public life through a variety of different projects and venues. This chapter offers a brief survey of the historical development and practice of philosophy in public life in Latin American and Latinx traditions. Because of their unique histories, it engages public philosophy in Mexico and Argentina separately. The chapter shows that a guiding thread in Argentinian public philosophy is a deep‐rooted concern about the threats created (...) by political and intellectual authoritarianism and strategies for pushing back against this oppression by developing emancipatory practices and democratic alternatives. This work runs through a long line of Argentinian philosophers from José Ingenieros and Alejandro Korn to María Lugones and Diana Maffía. Public philosophy is clearly a vibrant and ongoing enterprise in contemporary Mexico. Argentina also possesses a long and rich tradition of public philosophy. (shrink)

Non-recent (historic) childhood sexual abuse is an important issue to research, though often regarded as taboo and frequently met with caution, avoidance or even opposition from research ethics committees. Sensitive research, such as that which asks victim-survivors to recount experiences of abuse or harm, has the propensity to be emotionally challenging for both the participant and the researcher. However, most research suggests that any distress experienced is usually momentary and not of any clinical significance. Moreover, this type of research offers (...) a platform for voices which have often been silenced, and many participants report the cathartic effect of recounting their experiences in a safe, non-judgemental space. With regard to the course of such research, lines of inquiry which ask adult participants to discuss their experiences of childhood sexual abuse may result in a first-time disclosure of that abuse by the victim-survivor to the researcher. Guidance about how researchers should respond to first-time disclosure is lacking. In this article, we discuss our response to one research ethics committee which had suggested that for a qualitative study for which we were seeking ethical approval (investigating experiences of pregnancy and childbirth having previously survived childhood sexual abuse), any disclosure of non-recent (historic) childhood sexual abuse which had not been previously reported would result in the researcher being obliged to report it to relevant authorities. We assess this to be inconsistent with both law and professional guidance in the United Kingdom; and provide information and recommendations for researchers and research ethics committees to consider. (shrink)

Background: Chronic Pain (CP) has serious medical and social consequences, and leads to economic burden that threatens the sustainability of healthcare services. Thus, optimized management of pain tools to support CP patients in adjusting to their condition and improving quality of life is timely. Although Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is considered an evidence-based psychological approach for CP, evidence for the efficacy of online-delivered ACT for CP is still scarce. At the same time, studies suggest that self-compassion mediates the change (...) in disability and psychopathological symptoms in ACT interventions for CP, although self-compassion is not a specific target in ACT. Thus, an explicit focus on self-compassion might increase the efficacy of ACT interventions for CP, although this hypothesis has not been tested. This study aims to develop an eHealth ACT and compassion-based self-management intervention for CP, the iACTwithPain, and to compare its efficacy in improving health outcomes to a similar ACT-only intervention and a waiting list group. Methods: The eHealth platform that will host the interventions will be developed using a flat design identity and will be interactive. The iACTwithPain intervention will comprise 8 weekly self-management sessions, and will be developed taking into consideration the psychological flexibility model applied to CP, with the addition of explicit compassion-based components. To analyse whether the iACTwithPain intervention will present superiority in improving CP’s impact and related health markers over the two other conditions, this study will follow a RCT design with three arms. CP patients will be recruited through direct contact with patient associations and healthcare services and a national press release in Portugal. Outcome measurement will be conducted at baseline, post-intervention and at 3- and 6-months follow-ups. The interventions’ acceptability will also be assessed. Discussion: The iACTwithPain intervention is expected to improve CP patients’ psychosocial functioning, quality of life, and empowerment, by promoting adaptive disease management and regulation of pain-related internal experiences. Results will contribute to a better understanding on the pertinence of adding compassion elements to ACT for CP and to reach an optimized intervention for CP. (shrink)

Ao considerarmos a conexão entre a vivência e o filosofar estabelecemos um ponto de partida espontâneo, relativo a uma determinada atitude, expressa na transposição a uma significação mais abrangente às nossas questões, ao serem estas existencialmente assumidas. Observamos, com isso, que o filosofar estabelece uma inter-relação produtiva entre o silêncio de eventos interiores, relativamente idiossincráticos, aos quais denominamos vivências, e as exigências de clarificação, ordenação e rigor, dentre outras, no âmbito lógico-lingüístico, por uma infinita aproximação entre estes dois pólos.

Recent studies have problematized on the lack of agreement between self-reported and proxied data in the field of road safety-related behaviors. Overall, and although these studies are still scarce, most of them suggest that the way we perceive our own road behavior is systematically different from the perspective from which we perceive others' behavior, and vice versa. The aim of this review paper was to target the number and type of studies that have researched the behavioral perceptions of different groups (...) of road users, contrasting self-reported behavioral data with those reported by other users, and their outcomes. This systematic review followed the PRISMA methodology, which allows for the identification of relevant articles based on the research term. A total number of 222 indexed articles were filtered, and a final selection of 19 articles directly addressing the issue was obtained. Search strategies were developed and conducted in MEDLINE, WOS, Scopus and APA databases. It is remarkable how road users perceive themselves as behaviorally “safer” than the rest of road users in what concerns the knowledge of traffic norms and their on-road performance. In addition, and regardless of the type of user used as a source, self-reported data suggest their perceived likelihood to suffer a traffic crash is lesser if compared to any other user. On the other hand, proxied reports tend to undervalue third users' performance, and to perceive riskier behaviors and crash-related risks among them. The outputs of this systematic review support the idea that the perception of road users' behavior and its related risks substantially differ according to the source. It is also necessary to increase the number, coverage and rigor of studies on this matter, perhaps through complementary and mixed measures, in order to properly understand and face the bias on road users' risk-related behaviors. (shrink)

A analogia, enquanto procedimento metodológico da dialética platônica, estabelece uma relação entre paidéia e dialética ascendente. O presente estudo limita-se ao diálogo Ménon e visa, ainda, articular a relação entre este diálogo e o conjunto de obra de Platão no que concerne à relação entre analogia e dialética.

This paper proposes an application of Enrique Dussel’s ethics of liberation to an issue of crucial importance to US minorities: the debate on affirmative action. Over the past fifty years, this debate has been framed in terms of the opposition between advocates of affirmative action who claim that it is needed in order to achieve the integration and participation of traditionally oppressed groups to society without which there is no equality of rights, and critics who argue that affirmative action violates (...) equality by enforcing a double standard that undermines the ideal of a color-blind society. In this paper, I show how the basic principles of Dussel’s ethical theory (which are best expounded in his book Ethics of Liberation) allow us to address what I take to be the main demands of both advocates and critics of affirmative action in a satisfactory way. (shrink)

O texto visa contribuir, por um lado, à investigação acerca dos processos psicológicos, aos níveis subjetivo, lógico e intersubjetivo, inerentes a uma postura filosofante, remetendo a considerações metodológicas com relação ao ensino de Filosofia. Por outro, visa questionar a relação entre o filosofar e a História da Filosofia, visando à conexão entre o diálogo filosófico e o diálogo com a História da Filosofia.

SÍNTESE - O texto visa contribuir ao debate sobre a relação entre a questão "o que é Filosofia" e o ensino/aprendizado de Filosofia com crianças, tecendo considerações acerca da metodologia de ensino.

O texto, em sua estrutura argumentativa, objetiva estabelecer as condições pelas quais a linguagem deveria remeter a um contexto que ultrapassa as exigências de uma razão que identifica verdade e universalidade. As questões o que é comunicar? e o que é pensar? orientam uma perspectiva de abordagem do problema, conduzindo à considerações críticas acerca da insuficiência de uma concepção da racionalidade que se funda na exclusão da alteridade.

SÍNTESE - Este texto visa contribuir ao debate sobre as condições para filosofar com crianças. Sugere que o aprendizado da relação é passivei a partir do resgate da nossa história pessoal e do exercício da admiração, o que se efetiva na relação com crianças. Tal aprendizado, configurando já uma postura filosófica, possibilita a reconstrução do dizer e do pensar, da relação entre o dizer e o pensar, do comunicar. Há uma perspectiva ética, à base do filosofar com crianças, a qual (...) relaciona a nossa história pessoal com a História. (shrink)

The present paper argues that the Venezuelan-Chilean philosopher Andrés Bello constitutes an important but heretofore neglected prefiguration of Richard Rorty. I argue for this thesis by articulating first an Inter-American philosophical narrative (based on previous work by Alex Stehn and Carlos Sanchez) that enables me to highlight certain common characteristics in philosophical projects that flourished across the Americas. Having done this, I show that Rorty’s anti-representationalism and anti-foundationalism are prefigured in Bello’s most important philosophical treatise, Filosofía del Entendimiento, to the (...) extent that Bello recognizes the problems posed by the ocular metaphors that are systematically used by Early modern philosophers such as Descartes or Locke, and suggests their elimination and replacement by other metaphors. Finally, I conclude that, if my arguments are correct, the intellectual geography of neo-pragmatism needs to be expanded beyond traditional geographies such as Europe and the US. (shrink)

Van Fraassen has presented in Scientific Representation an attractive notion of measurement as an important part of the empiricist structuralism that he endorses. However, he has been criticized on the grounds that both his notion of measurement and his empiricist structuralism force him to do the very thing he objects to in other philosophical projects—to endorse a controversial metaphysics. This paper proposes a defense of van Fraassen by arguing that his project is indeed a ‘metaphysical’ project, but one which is (...) very similar to Strawson’s ‘descriptive metaphysics’; if this is the case, van Fraassen’s project may be taken, following recent suggestions made by Ney and Paul, as a form of metaphysics that can potentially make a crucial contribution to scientific inquiry. (shrink)

A new approach to tackle Einstein equations for an isotropic and homogeneous Friedmann–Robertson–Walker Universe in the presence of a quintessence scalar field is devised. It provides a way to get a simple exact solution to these equations. This solution determines the quintessence potential uniquely and it differs from solutions which have been used to study inflation previously. It relays on a unification of geometry and dark matter implemented through the definition of a functional relation between the scale factor of the (...) Universe and the quintessence field. For a positive curvature Universe, this solution produces perpetual accelerated expansion rate of the Universe, while the Hubble parameter increases abruptly, attains a maximum value and decreases thereafter. The behavior of this cosmological solution is discussed and its main features are displayed. The formalism is extended to include matter and radiation. (shrink)

In recent decades, philosophers of science have devoted considerable efforts to understand what models represent. One popular position is that models represent fictional situations. Another position states that, though models often involve fictional elements, they represent real objects or scenarios. Though these two positions may seem to be incompatible, I believe it is possible to reconcile them. Using a threefold distinction between different signs proposed by Peirce, I develop an argument based on a proposal recently made by Kralemann and Lattman (...) (in Synthese 190:3397–3420, 2013) that shows that the two aforementioned positions can be reconciled by distinguishing different ways in which a model representation can be used. In particular, on the basis of Peirce’s distinction between icons, indices and symbols, I argue that models can sometimes function as icons, sometimes as indexes and sometimes as symbols, depending on the context in which they are considered and the use that they are developed for because they all have iconic, indexical and symbolic features. In addition, I show that conceiving models as signs enables us to develop an account of scientific representation that meets the main desiderata that Shech (in Synthese 192:3463–3485, 2015) presents. (shrink)

ABSTRACTUnmarried and childless women are frequently portrayed negatively in society. Social storytelling often renders them discriminated against, or in extreme cases, outcast by their kin or clan. Twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted with never married women to explore the concept of femininity, constructions of identity in daily-life, identity changes over time, marital status, and the interaction between having not married and womanhood. Data specifically relating to self-definitions of femininity and marital status concentrate on the speakers’ constructions of themselves as both (...) the subject and the object of their own reflective enquiry. Four key themes emerged through the analysis: ‘Being Never Married’; ‘Society’s Perceptions’; ‘Being Feminine’; and ‘The Self and Transitions’. This study facilitates understanding of never married women’s relationship with themselves, their gender identity, and marital status; and is key to understanding how this population discusses their marginalisation in society. (shrink)

In a recent paper, Ladyman (2011) has argued that the empirical stance, which has been championed by Van Fraassen (2002), and the materialist stance are compatible with each other –a thesis which is important for Ladyman since it paves the way for the project of developing a ‘radically naturalized metaphysics’ that he has defended along with Ross (2007). Though Ladyman puts forth a compelling case for the thesis that the two stances are compatible, I find his argument for the thesis (...) to be problematic. In this paper, I argue, pace Ladyman, that the two stances cannot be reconciled since there is an inconsistency between the epistemic requirements needed to adopt both stances. (shrink)

Van Fraassen has presented in Scientific Representation an attractive notion of measurement as an important part of the empiricist structuralism that he endorses. However, he has been criticized on the grounds that both his notion of measurement and his empiricist structuralism force him to do the very thing he objects to in other philosophical projects — to endorse a controversial metaphysics. This paper proposes a defense of van Fraassen by arguing that his project is indeed a ‘ metaphysical ’ project, (...) but one which is very similar to Strawson’s ‘ descriptive metaphysics ’; if this is the case, van Fraassen’s project may be taken, following recent suggestions made by Ney and Paul, as a form of metaphysics that can potentially make a crucial contribution to scientific inquiry. (shrink)

En la siguiente exposición se propone un comentario de la obra del filósofo cubano Pablo Guadarrama González, denominada Pensamiento filosófico latinoamericano. Humanismo, método e historia. La perspectiva humanista que es postulada contiene una serie de precisiones que son analizadas en sus implicaciones teóricas y prácticas. Asimismo, se extiende su estudio de las ideas filosóficas a distintos momentos del desarrollo particular seguido en América Latina, al igual que está acompañada esta tarea historiográfica de consideraciones metodológicas que resultan significativas. Desde el conjunto (...) de temas planteados por el autor se retoman sus aportes en relación a debates que se inscriben en el cruce disciplinario de la filosofía y la historia de las ideas, que se ubican inicialmente en el contexto latinoamericano pero aspiran a una proyección con alcances universales. We comment the Cuban philosopher Pablo Guadarrama González’s Latin American philosophical thinking. Humanism, method and history. The humanistic perspective posited therein contains some assumptions that we analyze in their theoretical and practical implications. Furthermore, we extend his study of philosophical ideas to different moments of Latin America’s particular development, being this historiographic task accompanied by significant methodological considerations. Of all the themes posed by this author, we take his contributions to the debates raised in the interdisciplinary intersection of philosophy and the history of ideas, initially located in a Latin American context but with universal projection. (shrink)