In this paper we try to identify the roots of the persistent contemporary problems in our modernized agriculture: overproduction, loss of biodiversity and of soil fertility, the risk of large animal disease, social controversies on the lack of animal welfare and culling of animals, etc. Attention is paid to the historical development of present-day farming in Holland as an example of European agriculture. We see a blinkered quest for efficiency in the industrialization of agriculture since the Second World War. Key (...) factor is the cultural mindset at the foundation of our modern society, originating from the ideas of the enlightenment. It makes people vulnerable to ideologies, causing them to focus on a certain goal without considering the consequences. Due to the overemphasis on efficiency, modern industrial agriculture has never been comfortably embedded in its ecological and social context, and as a result displays the characteristics of an ideology. The cause of the inability to solve today’s problems is therefore deeper than simply a failure to apply the right mix of standard remedies. Unless stakeholders in farming start to counter this very one-sided approach to efficiency, modernization will continue to cause all kinds of friction. The implications of the results for agricultural policy, farming and further research are discussed. (shrink)

Examina a relevância da Lei de Acesso à Informação – LAI na consolidação institucional do Ministério Público Federal - MP no Brasil. Analisa a sua a atuação durante o regime militar e no processo de redemocratização após a Constituição de 1988. Aponta a sua evolução como instituição permanente e essencial à função jurisdicional do Estado, responsável, perante o Judiciário, pela defesa da ordem jurídica e dos interesses indisponíveis da sociedade, assim como seu papel na investigação de fatos nacionais sobre os (...) perpetradores de violações aos direitos humanos. (shrink)

Lotman’s contribution to semiotic theory, anthroposemiotics, the study of artistic texts and defining the relationship between language and culture represent some of the most powerful work produced within the Tartu–Moscow School of Semiotics. The importance of translation is one of the central principles that unites all of Lotman’s work. In the following paper, we will consider Lotman’s definition of translatability in the context of (1) the definition of semiospheric internal and external boundaries and the importance of crossing these boundaries, (2) (...) the role of no fewer than two languages as a minimal unit of semiotic meaning-generation, (3) culture text-level generation of collective memory, and (4) the ever-present tension in the communication act. In our concluding section, we will offer an extended model of the communication act, based on the fundamental principles given in Jakobson, Sebeok and Lotman, in order to specify important moments of the translation process. (shrink)

Assembling the pieces : the neuroscience disciplines essential for the study of language and brain -- Building the basis : linguistic contributions to a theory of language and their relevance to the study of language and brain -- Neuroscience applications to the study of multilingualism -- Exploring the boundaries of cognitive linguistics and neurolinguistics : reimagining cross-cultural contributions -- Imaging technologies in the study of multilingualism : focus on BOLD fMRI -- Reassembling the pieces : languages and brains.

A partir do filme de Tim Robbins, Dead Man Walking, a autora busca entender os atos e a personalidade de Matthew Poncelet, personagem condenado à morte por um assassinato cruel. A relação do assassino com a freira que o acompanha, dando-lhe suporte baseado em empatia e verdade, permite a integração do seu self, com o reconhecimento e aceitação de sua finitude. Os conceitos teóricos de Winnicott sobre a origem da agressividade e do desenvolvimento infantil, bem como sobre a relação da (...) mãe com seu bebê, fundamentam as idéias aqui apresentadas.The author tries to understand the behavior and the personality of Matthew Poncelet, from a Tim Robbins' film called Dead Man Walking. This character was sentenced to death due to a cruel murder. In the film, the relationship between the killer and a nun gave him support based on empathy and truth. This permitted the integration of his self with the recognition and the acceptance of his finitude. The ideas presented in this paper were established based on Winnicott's concepts about the origin of aggressiveness and of infant development, as well as the relationship between the mother and her baby. (shrink)

Stem cell tourism is a small but growing part of the thriving global medical tourism marketplace. Much stem cell research remains at the experimental stage, with clinical trials still uncommon. However, there are over 700 clinics estimated to be operating in mostly developing countries – from Costa Rica and Argentina to China, India and Russia – that have lured many patients, mostly from industrialized countries, driven by desperation and hope, which in turn continue to fuel the growth of such tourism.While (...) much research has focused on such dimensions as the promotions that allow such businesses to make their services known, media coverage, some patient research, and regulatory conditions for developing country clinics, little attention has been paid to the non-affected members of the general population, the future potential users of such services. This empirical study based on five focus group discussions with a diverse group of healthy adults in a Canadian city, explored participant views of patients who use stem cell tourism services, the likelihood they would avail themselves of such services if they were to suffer similar illnesses, and the conditions under which they might do so, and the impact that admonitions and advice from international expert bodies might have on their decisions. Our findings suggest that these healthy adults are sympathetic to the drivers of hope and desperation, and, despite cautions about research limitations, may seek such treatments themselves under similar conditions. These findings are discussed in the context of the policy and ethical issues raised by this form of medical tourism. (shrink)

The paper tries to show that an evolutionary perspective helps us to address what is called the adaptation problem, that is, the remarkable coherence, and seemingly successful design, existing between our cognitive tools and the phenomena of the material world. It argues that a fine-grained description of the structure and function of experimental techniques—as a special type amongst evolving scientific practices—is a condition for a better understanding and, ultimately, an explanation of how adaptation among the heterogeneous elements of experimental knowledge (...) is attained. Some apparently contradictory features of techniques, such as their high context-dependency and their capabilities to reproduce and diversify outside their original contexts, are addressed with the help of the concepts of technical variation and the historical entrenchment of phenomena in techniques. In order to do so, a case-study on the construction of satellite-DNA and the evolution of nucleic acid hybridization, a research project carried out by Roy J. Britten and his colleagues in the 1960s, is presented in detail. This case illustrates the close relationship existing between the evolution of techniques and the stabilization of phenomena in experimental biology. (shrink)

The purpose of this paper is to articulate the central issues and controversies that currently dominate the study of the relationship between language and brain and, as a result, we will attempt to fundamentally redefine the way language is viewed by the neurosciences by recasting traditional linguistic definitions of human language. In order to achieve these goals, we will take into account important aspects of neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and neurofunctionality, the role of imaging technologies in formulating specific questions for testing hypotheses (...) about language and the brain, including what these technologies can and cannot do, and a discussion of the myths about the neurological representations of human language. Our conclusions will take into account evidence on aphasias and medial temporal lobe damage that directly affects the way we understand the relationship between language, brain, and memory. (shrink)

Resumo: Neste artigo, argumentamos a favor de uma versão sofisticada do realismo científico, tendo como eixo norteador a análise do desempenho do que consideramos ser o seu elemento de defesa estratégico: o “argumento do milagre”. O realismo científico é a perspectiva comprometida com as nossas melhores teorias científicas, isto é, com a existência de entidades, processos, relações etc., observáveis ou inobserváveis, indispensáveis para explicar o seu sucesso empírico, em particular, com aqueles componentes das teorias que são cruciais para se alcançar (...) novas previsões bem-sucedidas. O argumento do milagre é um tipo de abdução ou inferência da melhor explicação e se expressa na célebre formulação de Putnam : “O realismo científico é a única filosofia que não faz do sucesso da ciência um milagre.” Analisamos e rebatemos duas importantes modalidades de argumentação antirrealista: a indução pessimista e a circularidade viciosa da inferência da melhor explicação. Acreditamos estar justificados quanto à defesa da intuição básica do realismo científico, com o apoio de uma versão fortalecida e articulada do argumento do milagre, mediante as qualificações de novidade preditiva e fecundidade teórica: a ciência é bem-sucedida em explicar e prever fenômenos, inclusive novos, porque suas melhores teorias são verdadeiras e as entidades inobserváveis postuladas por essas teorias realmente existem. Concluímos que o argumento do milagre continua sendo basilar e estratégico na defesa do realismo científico.: In this article, we argue in favor of a sophisticated version of scientific realism, based on an analysis of what we consider to be the strategic element of its defense: the “miracle argument”. Scientific realism is the perspective applicable to our best scientific theories; that is, it applies to entities, processes, and relationships, etc., whether observable or unobservable, which are indispensable for explaining the empirical success of theories, and it applies particularly to those components of the theories that are crucial to achieving new and successful forecasts. The miracle argument is a type of abduction or inference to the best explanation, and is expressed in the famous formulation of Putnam : “[Scientific] realism is the only philosophy that doesn’t make the success of the science a miracle.” We analyze and refute two important modes of antirealist argument: pessimistic induction and vicious circularity of inference to the best explanation. We believe that we are justified in defending the basic intuition of scientific realism, supported by a strengthened version of the miracle argument, together with the attributes of predictive novelty and theoretical fecundity. From this perspective, science succeeds in explaining and predicting phenomena, including new phenomena, because its best theories are true, and the unobservable entities postulated by these theories actually exist. We conclude that the miracle argument continues to be basic and strategic in the defense of scientific realism. (shrink)

Xenotransplantation, or the use of animal cells, tissues and organs for humans, has been promoted as an important solution to the worldwide shortage of organs. While scientific studies continue to be done to address problems of rejection and the possibility of animal-to-human virus transfer, socio-ethical and legal questions have also been raised around informed consent, life-long monitoring, animal welfare and animal rights, and appropriate regulatory practices. Many calls have also been made to consult publics before policy decisions are made. This (...) paper describes the Canadian public consultation process on xenotransplantation carried out by the Canadian Public Health Association in an arm’s length process from Health Canada, the ministry overseeing government health policy and regulation. Focusing on six citizen fora conducted around the country patterned after the citizen jury deliberative approach, the paper describes the citizen panelists’ recommendations to hold off on proceeding with clinical trials and the rationales behind this recommendation. The consultation process is discussed in the context of constructive technology assessment, a framework which argues for broader input into earlier stages of technology innovation, particularly at the technology design stage. (shrink)

Our investigation on Hilary Putnam’s internal realist perspective(internalism) traces parallels and identifies differences between Putnam’s ideasand their antipodes: metaphysical realist (externalism) and radical relativist. Ourresearch has focused upon the contemporary debate in which it is inserted, par-ticularly, upon the challenge that radical relativism to impose on contemporaryepistemology. Such challenge will not be surmounted through classical project tofind absolute certainties. The history of science to point out that theories are notnets that to catch the reality as it is in itself. But (...) this do not to imply that our viewof knowledge are only determined for contingent aspects. In this scenery are hard enterprise but it is worthy-while to take into account efforts of philosophersas Putnam to propose a via media. (shrink)

O presente artigo analisa o projeto filosófico de John Dewey (1859-1952) que consta de uma crítica radical à epistemologia tradicional a partir da concepção pragmatista de experiência. O status científico da filosofia, conforme Dewey, não exigirá uma teoria científica passível de prova, mas um programa metafísico construído a partir de lógicas situacionais. O presente artigo apresenta as dimensões históricas e científicas da metafísica empírica de Dewey, argumentando a favor da articulação entre as duas abordagens que configuram o projeto de reconstrução (...) da filosofia. Dewey compreende que a busca dos fundamentos últimos tornou a filosofia prisioneira de uma imagem da mente como construtora de representações - algumas exatas, outras não, mas todas com a pretensão de serem estudadas por meio de métodos puros, não empíricos. Diferentemente dessa tradição que supõe uma ideia de superioridade intelectual do saber, revelado por meio de métodos não empíricos, Dewey argumenta a favor do empírico em filosofia e se coloca contra uma comum concepção da realidade como segura, regular e acabada. Palavras Chave: Experiência. Natureza. Metafísica empírica. Reconstrução filosófica. (shrink)

Stem cell tourism is a small but growing part of the thriving global medical tourism marketplace. Much stem cell research remains at the experimental stage, with clinical trials still uncommon. However, there are over 700 clinics estimated to be operating in mostly developing countries – from Costa Rica and Argentina to China, India and Russia – that have lured many patients, mostly from industrialized countries, driven by desperation and hope, which in turn continue to fuel the growth of such tourism.While (...) much research has focused on such dimensions as the promotions that allow such businesses to make their services known, media coverage, some patient research, and regulatory conditions for developing country clinics, little attention has been paid to the non‐affected members of the general population, the future potential users of such services. This empirical study based on five focus group discussions with a diverse group of healthy adults in a Canadian city, explored participant views of patients who use stem cell tourism services, the likelihood they would avail themselves of such services if they were to suffer similar illnesses, and the conditions under which they might do so, and the impact that admonitions and advice from international expert bodies might have on their decisions. Our findings suggest that these healthy adults are sympathetic to the drivers of hope and desperation, and, despite cautions about research limitations, may seek such treatments themselves under similar conditions. These findings are discussed in the context of the policy and ethical issues raised by this form of medical tourism. (shrink)

Dewey desenvolveu um programa doutrinário que visa mostrar como o conhecimento se funda na experiência. Essa é a dimensão científico-naturalista da sua obra. Nesse sentido, o seu projeto consiste numa rigorosa argumentação contra as explicações em que a experiência e a natureza são apresentadas com base em distinções arbitrárias. Na obra, Reconstruction in Philosophy [Reconstrução em Filosofia], Dewey desenvolveu seu projeto metafísico de dimensão historicista, propondo uma reconstrução para a filosofia. Em Experience and Nature [Experiência e Natureza], ele apresentou uma (...) visada científica para a metafísica. Nessa obra, Dewey tenta pensar um sistema desenvolvido a partir da aplicação do método científico à filosofia tendo como base uma concepção filosófica da experiência. As concepções de Dewey acerca do conhecimento, do uso inteligente da razão e da natureza social da filosofia concorrem para a constituição de sua concepção de ciência. Nas duas obras fica evidente a sua crítica à noção tradicional de conhecimento como representação da realidade. Contra isso, Dewey passa a designar o conhecimento como um conjunto de “crenças” e “proposições” tomadas como garantias de usos ou assertividade garantida. Dewey se opõe à forma pela qual o problema epistemológico é formulado pela tradição, ou seja, a partir de uma posição realista ingênua no qual o conhecimento é visto como representação, desconsiderando o processo de conexão entre as coisas e entre o conhecedor e as coisas. (shrink)

O presente artigo analisa a epistemologia realista e naturalista de John Dewey, discutindo sua contribuição para a epistemologia contemporânea. O ponto de partida da investigação consiste em articular os conceitos experiência e natureza da epistemologia de John Dewey às teorias de base naturalistas. Ao final pretendemos revelar que o realismo de Dewey por se caracterizar como naturalista traz contribuições importantes para a epistemologia atual quando se coloca numa vertente contrária ao objetivismo, mas sem prescindir da ciência. Ao se opor a (...) epistemologia clássica Dewey não pretende apartar-se totalmente dessa área da filosofia, mas postular um novo modelo teórico em que o conhecimento possa ser compreendido como mediado por relações naturais, causais, cognitivas e culturais. Revelaremos que esta perspectiva antecipa-se às vertentes contemporâneas do conhecimento cuja explicação passa pela noção de complexidade e holismo. (shrink)

RESUMO O presente trabalho resulta de uma pesquisa sobre a produção intelectual do educador brasileiro Anísio Spínola Teixeira, denominada “ A Influência do Pragmatismo Estadunidense na Filosofia da Educação de Anísio Teixeira: a dimensão político pedagógica na defesa da escola pública”. A pesquisa visa investigar a influência do pragmatismo estadunidense, de modo especial, a presença das ideias do filosófico de John Dewey na obra de Anísio Teixeira e nos movimentos renovadores da educação nacional no Brasil. O trabalho inicia conceituando o (...) pragmatismo e a concepção de filosofia da educação de Anísio Teixeira e, por fim, analisa o documento “Manifesto dos Pioneiros da Educação Nova” fazendo um cotejamento de análise com os ideais de filosofia pragmatista de Teixeira. Na primeira parte do trabalho encontra-se a discussão sobre a origem e natureza do pragmatismo, suas características e desenvolvimentos. E, desta abordagem, mostraremos como se configura a filosofia da educação de Anísio Teixeira e qual o impacto destas ideias no pensamento renovador da Educação Brasileira. O nosso objetivo consiste em identificar nesta concepção de filosofia da educação, a influência do pragmatismo americano, analisar se esta abordagem tem impactos no conteúdo do “Manifesto dos Pioneiros da Educação Nova” e, por fim, nosso propósito é revelar como o Manifesto dos Pioneiros da Educação Nova, enquanto e movimento histórico está ligado à ideia de sociedade democrática da defesa da educação pública como um direito social. Palavras Chave: Pragmatismo. Filosofia da Educação. Manifesto dos Educadores. (shrink)