A new feminist ideology can be outlined by examining the magazine “Lotta Continua”, official newspaper of the homonymous Italian extra-parliamentary group. Riots in factories and universities were closely reported in the magazine, which painted a society still affected by strong gender inequalities. Split between an opposition to official communism and the spontaneity of the working class conflict, women emerged from family isolation. The great achievements of the Italian feminist movement were reported according to the point of view of the dissident (...) communism. While in Italy the feminist movement was on the rise, the organisation was approaching its end, also due to its conflict with feminist protests. This paper wants to re-construct the image and the representation of left-wing feminism, in a crucial moment for the history of Italian society and communism. (shrink)

The elephant in the room -- Crabs and octopuses -- The central intelligence of a frog -- The cerebral cortex and consciousness -- Social consciousness -- Yoda and Darth: how can we find -- Consciousness in the brain? -- The hard problem and other perspectives on consciousness -- Conscious machines -- Uploading minds -- How to build visual consciousness.

This paper deals with the concept of simultaneity in classical and relativistic physics as construed in terms of group-invariant equivalence relations. A full examination of Newton, Galilei and Poincaré invariant equivalence relations in ℝ4 is presented, which provides alternative proofs, additions and occasionally corrections of results in the literature, including Malament’s theorem and some of its variants. It is argued that the interpretation of simultaneity as an invariant equivalence relation, although interesting for its own sake, does not cut in the (...) debate concerning the conventionality of simultaneity in special relativity. (shrink)

A new formulation of what may be called the “fundamental theorem of the theory of relativity” is presented and proved in -space-time, based on the full classification of special transformations and the corresponding velocity addition laws. A system of axioms is introduced and discussed leading to the result, and a study is made of several variants of that system. In particular the status of the group axiom is investigated with respect to the condition of the two-way isotropy of light. Several (...) issues which are ignored or misunderstood in the literature are emphasized. (shrink)

In Consciousness and the Social Brain, Princeton neuroscientist Michael Graziano lays out an audacious new theory to account for the deepest mystery of them all.

In the Prologue to the Commentary on St. John, Albert the Great uses the image of an eagle to describe the main feature of the Evangelist, that’s the contemplation. As an eagle John flew into the sky of Trinity going beyond creatural limitation and living a experience, that can be interpreted like a raptus. For better understanding the contemplation of John, some texts are very important: De resurrectione; Quaestio de visione dei in patria; Quaestio de raptu, in which the german (...) teacher explains in what sense the human intellect can know the divine infinity. About this problem it’s significant the distinction between “quid est” and “ut est” in God. The article closes showing how John represents a model of a dominican friar in some texts of the Commentary. (shrink)

An epistemological analysis of the decision, this book includes a critical analysis through the continuous reference to an interdisciplinary approach including a synthesis of philosophical approaches, biology and neuroscience.

Recently we proposed a theory of consciousness, the attention schema theory, based on findings in cognitive psychology and systems neuroscience. In that theory, consciousness is an internal model o...

Daniele Guastini’s book Immagini cristiane e cultura antica is one of the most significant contributions to the current debate on the role of Christian images. The choice of images made by Christianity since the third century – this is the main thesis of the work – represents one of the generative moments of the long-lasting process of secularization that came to characterize Western culture. This essay aims to discuss this thesis, contextualizing it both from a theological point of view and (...) in relation to its philosophical and cultural-historical significance. I then dwell on two questions more directly related to the interpretation of the Christian image in the first millennium: the relationship that the iconographic practice of the Christian origins has with the Jewish and pagan context, and the role that the interpretation of the “Byzantine turn” plays in the overall structure of the Guastini’s book. (shrink)

The current study provides data about the immediate risk perceptions and psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic among Italian participants. A sample of 1034 volunteers answered a web-based survey which aimed to investigate the many facets of risk perceptions connected to COVID-19 (health, work, economy, social and psychological), and risk-related variables such as knowledge, news seeking, perceived control, efficacy of containment measures, and affective states. Socio-demographic characteristics were also collected. Results showed that although levels of general concern are relatively high (...) among Italians, risk perceptions are highest with regards to the economy and work, and lowest concerning health. Cognitive and affective risk-related variables affected the several risk perception domains differently. COVID-19 knowledge did not affect any risk perception while the perceived control decreased health risk likelihood. The other risk-related variables amplified risk perceptions: News seeking increased work-economy risk; efficacy of containment measures increased all perceived risks; negative affective states of fear, anger and sadness increased health and psycho-social risks; anxiety increased only health risk, and uncertainty increased work-economy and psycho-social risk perceptions. Finally, positive affective states increased health risk perception. Socio-psychological implications are discussed. (shrink)

The attention schema theory explains how a biological, information processing machine can claim to have consciousness, and how, by introspection (by assessing its internal data), it cannot determine that it is a machine whose claims are based on computations. The theory directly addresses Chalmers' meta-problem of consciousness, the problem of why we think we have a difficult-to-explain consciousness in the first place.

Malgré bien des réductions journalistiques, la rationalité économique fondée sur l’idée de l’homo oeconomicus – un individu atome qui maximise son propre intérêt à travers un calcul utilitariste de coûts et de profits – est aujourd’hui l’objet de nombreuses critiques. L’article analyse ainsi deux types de critiques : une critique externe et une critique interne. Les deux soulignent que pour comprendre la rationalité économique, nous avons besoin d’un horizon anthropologique plus vaste, apte à mettre en discussion l’image de l’homme à (...) l’œuvre dans les diverses déclinaisons de l’économie. L’article met alors l’accent sur les recherches de l’anthropologie philosophique portant sur la nature humaine, qui montrent le caractère intrinsèquement relationnel des êtres humains, et peut mettre en discussion l’individualisme méthodologique de l’homo oeconomicus. Finalement, en décrivant la rationalité en termes de rationalité, et en mettant l’accent sur la catégorie de biens relationnels développée par l’approche fondée sur « l’économie sociale », l’article met en avant une façon possible de repenser la rationalité économique. (shrink)

Malgré bien des réductions journalistiques, la rationalité économique fondée sur l’idée de l’homo oeconomicus – un individu atome qui maximise son propre intérêt à travers un calcul utilitariste de coûts et de profits – est aujourd’hui l’objet de nombreuses critiques. L’article analyse ainsi deux types de critiques : une critique externe et une critique interne. Les deux soulignent que pour comprendre la rationalité économique, nous avons besoin d’un horizon anthropologique plus vaste, apte à mettre en discussion l’image de l’homme à (...) l’œuvre dans les diverses déclinaisons de l’économie. L’article met alors l’accent sur les recherches de l’anthropologie philosophique portant sur la nature humaine, qui montrent le caractère intrinsèquement relationnel des êtres humains, et peut mettre en discussion l’individualisme méthodologique de l’homo oeconomicus. Finalement, en décrivant la rationalité en termes de rationalité, et en mettant l’accent sur la catégorie de biens relationnels développée par l’approche fondée sur « l’économie sociale », l’article met en avant une façon possible de repenser la rationalité économique. (shrink)

The studies on the history of the notion of “personhood” have largely recognized that Christian thought had a central role in the development and significance of this concept throughout the history of Western civilization. In late antiquity, Christianity used some terms taken from the classic and Hellenistic vocabulary in order to express its own theological content. This operation generated a “crisis” of classical language, namely a semantic transformation in the attempt to address some aspects of reality which were not envisioned (...) by the previous usage of these words. The term person is a paradigmatic example of this process. In fact, from the outset, it played a strategic role in formulating the idea of Incarnation, one of the central doctrines of Christianity. This essay aims to show how, during the first centuries of Christianity, the terms commonly used in order to express the notion of “personhood” became pivotal elements for the formulation of the discourse about the Trinity and progressively acquired new meanings. The analysis focuses only on the initial stage of the elaboration of this concept in Christianity and, based on some of the most significant texts, tries to bring out a series of theoretical problems that may be useful to understand the subsequent debate. In order to do so, the author divides the text in two parts. In the first one, he analyses two features strictly connected to the theological use of the term “persona”, which remained central also when this term was later referred to man. These features are individuality and ontological stability, along with the structurally relational status of personhood. In the second part, the author offers more details about the theology of the Cappadocian Fathers, in particular of Basil of Caesarea, and analyses two sectorial languages—mathematical and iconic language—used by Basil in order to describe the intra-trinitarian relationships. (shrink)

During the course of life, it is common to make some decisions that prove to be correct. Some of these choices are made without a specific reason, but only out of habit or intuitively, while others are based on judgments and motivations. However, when we claim that a decision is “right”, what kind of judgment are we referring to? On the one hand, the term “right” (or “wrong”) often refers to abstract norms. Usually, truth and falsehood serve as criteria in (...) these cases. In such situations, judgments about what is “right” or “wrong” depend strictly on an accurate rational evaluation, which is instrumental in guiding individuals to undertake or avoid certain actions. On the other hand, there is a sense of justice that concerns ethics and values. In these circumstances, a decision is generally considered “right” if it is based on a criterion of judgment that allows individuals to make a decision freely, without being bound by an abstract norm, but rather by elaborating the choice as the realization of what they consider good and just. In this paper will examine and redefine the concept of “right choice”, acknowledging the above mentioned dual nature of its meaning. It will be argued there is a link between what abstract norms dictate to do, in order to reach a formally correct decision, and what, instead, depends on merely reasons and attitudes. This connection is indeed ensured by wise decisions. (shrink)

Malgré bien des réductions journalistiques, la rationalité économique fondée sur l’idée de l’homo oeconomicus – un individu atome qui maximise son propre intérêt à travers un calcul utilitariste de coûts et de profits – est aujourd’hui l’objet de nombreuses critiques. L’article analyse ainsi deux types de critiques : une critique externe et une critique interne. Les deux soulignent que pour comprendre la rationalité économique, nous avons besoin d’un horizon anthropologique plus vaste, apte à mettre en discussion l’image de l’homme à (...) l’œuvre dans les diverses déclinaisons de l’économie. L’article met alors l’accent sur les recherches de l’anthropologie philosophique portant sur la nature humaine, qui montrent le caractère intrinsèquement relationnel des êtres humains, et peut mettre en discussion l’individualisme méthodologique de l’homo oeconomicus. Finalement, en décrivant la rationalité en termes de rationalité, et en mettant l’accent sur la catégorie de biens relationnels développée par l’approche fondée sur « l’économie sociale », l’article met en avant une façon possible de repenser la rationalité économique. (shrink)

Malgré bien des réductions journalistiques, la rationalité économique fondée sur l’idée de l’homo oeconomicus – un individu atome qui maximise son propre intérêt à travers un calcul utilitariste de coûts et de profits – est aujourd’hui l’objet de nombreuses critiques. L’article analyse ainsi deux types de critiques : une critique externe et une critique interne. Les deux soulignent que pour comprendre la rationalité économique, nous avons besoin d’un horizon anthropologique plus vaste, apte à mettre en discussion l’image de l’homme à (...) l’œuvre dans les diverses déclinaisons de l’économie. L’article met alors l’accent sur les recherches de l’anthropologie philosophique portant sur la nature humaine, qui montrent le caractère intrinsèquement relationnel des êtres humains, et peut mettre en discussion l’individualisme méthodologique de l’homo oeconomicus. Finalement, en décrivant la rationalité en termes de rationalité, et en mettant l’accent sur la catégorie de biens relationnels développée par l’approche fondée sur « l’économie sociale », l’article met en avant une façon possible de repenser la rationalité économique. (shrink)

Malgré bien des réductions journalistiques, la rationalité économique fondée sur l’idée de l’homo oeconomicus – un individu atome qui maximise son propre intérêt à travers un calcul utilitariste de coûts et de profits – est aujourd’hui l’objet de nombreuses critiques. L’article analyse ainsi deux types de critiques : une critique externe et une critique interne. Les deux soulignent que pour comprendre la rationalité économique, nous avons besoin d’un horizon anthropologique plus vaste, apte à mettre en discussion l’image de l’homme à (...) l’œuvre dans les diverses déclinaisons de l’économie. L’article met alors l’accent sur les recherches de l’anthropologie philosophique portant sur la nature humaine, qui montrent le caractère intrinsèquement relationnel des êtres humains, et peut mettre en discussion l’individualisme méthodologique de l’homo oeconomicus. Finalement, en décrivant la rationalité en termes de rationalité, et en mettant l’accent sur la catégorie de biens relationnels développée par l’approche fondée sur « l’économie sociale », l’article met en avant une façon possible de repenser la rationalité économique. (shrink)

Malgré bien des réductions journalistiques, la rationalité économique fondée sur l’idée de l’homo oeconomicus – un individu atome qui maximise son propre intérêt à travers un calcul utilitariste de coûts et de profits – est aujourd’hui l’objet de nombreuses critiques. L’article analyse ainsi deux types de critiques : une critique externe et une critique interne. Les deux soulignent que pour comprendre la rationalité économique, nous avons besoin d’un horizon anthropologique plus vaste, apte à mettre en discussion l’image de l’homme à (...) l’œuvre dans les diverses déclinaisons de l’économie. L’article met alors l’accent sur les recherches de l’anthropologie philosophique portant sur la nature humaine, qui montrent le caractère intrinsèquement relationnel des êtres humains, et peut mettre en discussion l’individualisme méthodologique de l’homo oeconomicus. Finalement, en décrivant la rationalité en termes de rationalité, et en mettant l’accent sur la catégorie de biens relationnels développée par l’approche fondée sur « l’économie sociale », l’article met en avant une façon possible de repenser la rationalité économique. (shrink)

Economics takes an individualistic approach to human behaviour. This is reflected in the use of 'contingent valuation' surveys to conduct cost benefit analysis for economic policy evaluation. An individual's valuation of a policy is assumed to be unaffected by the burdens it places on others. We report a survey experiment to test this supposition in the context of climate change policy. Willingness to pay for climate change mitigation was higher when richer individuals were to bear higher costs than when, as (...) is usual, no explicit information was provided about cost distribution. This result is inconsistent with the usual interpretation of contingent valuation data. It also suggests that the data may be biased indicators of policy acceptance. Additional survey questions suggest that a collective mode of reasoning is common. (shrink)

The concept of an objective spatial direction in special relativity is investigated and theories assuming light-speed isotropy while accepting the existence of a privileged spatial direction are classified, including so-called very special relativity. A natural generalization of the proper time principle is introduced which makes it possible to devise non-optical experimental tests of spatial isotropy. Several common misunderstandings in the relativistic literature concerning the role of spatial isotropy are clarified.