Reichenbachian approaches to indexicality contend that indexicals are "token-reflexives": semantic rules associated with any given indexical-type determine the truth-conditional import of properly produced tokens of that type relative to certain relational properties of those tokens. Such a view may be understood as sharing the main tenets of Kaplan's well-known theory regarding content, or truth-conditions, but differs from it regarding the nature of the linguistic meaning of indexicals and also regarding the bearers of truth-conditional import and truth-conditions. Kaplan has criticized these (...) approaches on different counts, the most damaging of which is that they make impossible a "logic of demonstratives". The reason for this is that the token-reflexive approach entails that not two tokens of the same sentential type including indexicals are guaranteed to have the same truth-conditions. In this paper I rebut this and other criticisms of the Reichenbachian approach. Additionally, I point out that Kaplan's original theory of "true demonstratives" is empirically inadequate, and claim that any modification capable of accurately handling the linguistic data would have similar problems to those attributed to the Reichenbachian approach. This is intended to show that the difficulties, no matter how real, are not caused by idiosincracies of the "token-reflexive" view, but by deep facts about indexicality. (shrink)
The paper examines an alleged distinction claimed to exist by Van Gelder between two different, but equally acceptable ways of accounting for the systematicity of cognitive output (two “varieties of compositionality”): “concatenative compositionality” vs. “functional compositionality.” The second is supposed to provide an explanation alternative to the Language of Thought Hypothesis. I contend that, if the definition of “concatenative compositionality” is taken in a different way from the official one given by Van Gelder (but one suggested by some of his (...) formulations) then there is indeed a different sort of compositionality; however, the second variety is not an alternative to the language of thought in that case. On the other hand, if the concept of concatenative compositionality is taken in a different way, along the lines of Van Gelder's explicit definition, then there is no reason to think that there is an alternative way of explaining systematicity. (shrink)
Descriptive semantic theories purport to characterize the meanings of the expressions of languages in whatever complexity they might have. Foundational semantics purports to identify the kind of considerations relevant to establish that a given descriptive semantics accurately characterizes the language used by a given individual or community. Foundational Semantics I presents three contrasting approaches to the foundational matters, and the main considerations relevant to appraise their merits. These approaches contend that we should look at the contents of speakers’ intuitions; at (...) the deep psychology of users and its evolutionary history, as revealed by our best empirical theories; or at the personal-level rational psychology of those subjects. Foundational Semantics II examines a fourth view, according to which we should look instead at norms enforced among speakers. The two papers aim to determine in addition the extent to which the approaches are really rival, or rather complementary. (shrink)
Espino, Santamaria, and Garcia-Madruga (2000) report three results on the time taken to respond to a probe word occurring as end term in the premises of a syllogistic argument. They argue that these results can only be predicted by the theory of mental models. It is argued that two of these results, on differential reaction times to end-terms occurring in different premises and in different figures, are consistent with Chater and Oaksford's (1999) probability heuristics model (PHM). It is argued that (...) the third finding, on different reaction times between figures, does not address the issue of processing difficulty where PHM predicts no differences between figures. It is concluded that Espino et al.'s results do not discriminate between theories of syllogistic reasoning as effectively as they propose. (shrink)
In the last years there has been a great improvement in the development of computational methods for combinatorial chemistry applied to drug discovery. This approach to drug discovery is sometimes called a “rational way” to manage a well known phenomenon in chemistry: serendipity discoveries. Traditionally, serendipity discoveries are understood as accidental findings made when the discoverer is in quest for something else. This ‘traditional’ pattern of serendipity appears to be a good characterization of discoveries where “luck” plays a key role. (...) In this sense, some initial failures in combinatorial chemistry are frequently attributed to a naïf appropriation of a “serendipity model” for discovery (a “serendipity mistake”). In this paper we try to evaluate this statement by criticizing its foundations. It will be suggested that the notion of serendipity has different aspects and that the criticism to the first attempts could be understood as a “serendipity mistake.” We will suggest that “serendipity” strategies, a kind of blind search, can be seen sometimes as a “genuine part” of scientific practice. A discussion will ensue about how this characterization can give us a better understanding of some aspects of serendipity discoveries. (shrink)
ABSTRACTIn recent years, with Europe witnessing its worst refugee crisis since the Second World War, the process of applying for asylum in a foreign country has become the focus of numerous studies and research programs. The aim of the present article is to explore the subject through a case study of the issues and complexities surrounding the interpreting and translation services offered by the Spanish Asylum and Refugee Office. The data is based on two surveys: the first focused on the (...) professionals’ views of the role of translators and interpreters, and the second on translators and interpreters working in the field of international protection. The findings obtained from these studies may prove useful for improving the various interpreting and translation training programs and services that are crucial for managing the refugee crisis and the multiple problems associated with it. (shrink)
Este trabajo examina el diálogo entre neokantismo, fenomenología y hermenéutica en el conocido como Kriegsnotsemester impartido por Martin Heidegger en 1919, y lo hace a la luz de las posibilidades allí abiertas para una reformulación contemporánea de la filosofía trascendental. A tal fin se abordará el análisis de las aporías que entraña la filosofía del valor en Windelband y Rickert y cómo la respuesta del joven Heidegger descubre un nuevo «espacio de sentido» en el que se mueve gran parte de (...) la filosofía actual. Desde esa dimensión preteórica del sentido será posible dar con el modo de acceso adecuado a la filosofía como «ciencia originaria». (shrink)
I begin by comparing the question of what constitutes continuity of Personal Identity Online (PIO), to the traditional question of whether personal identity is constituted by psychological or physical continuity, bringing out the compelling but, I aim to show, ultimately misleading reasons for thinking only psychological continuity has application to PIO. After introducing and defending J.J. Valberg’s horizonal conception of consciousness, I show how it deepens our understanding of psychological and physical continuity accounts of personal identity, while revealing their shortcomings. (...) I then argue that PIO must also be understood against the backdrop of the horizonal conception, that this undermines sharp dichotomies between online and offline identity, and that although online psychological continuity might become necessary for the preservation of our personal identities, we cannot become our PIOs. Finally, I argue that if PIO is understood solely in terms of psychological continuity, any increasing identification with our PIOs assumes the form of a paradigmatic project of bad faith: a technological reduction of our self-consciousness, rather than the enhancement it should be. (shrink)
The United Nations World Tourism Organization has acknowledged 2020 as the worst year in tourism history due to the worldwide pandemic COVID-19. Destinations, tourists, local communities, stakeholders, and residents, and their daily activities were affected. Thus, wellbeing and resilience are two crucial variables to help the industry and the people recover. This research aims to analyze early positive approaches and attitudes to respond to the negative impact of COVID-19 in tourism everyday activities that have at its core wellbeing and resilience, (...) the two main variables of the Positive Psychology field of studies. A systematic literature review was conducted, following PRISMA guidelines to achieve this aim. The research was done using the Online Knowledge Library and all the available databases. The research led to 32 articles that were screened using the inclusion and exclusion criteria. A total of 18 scientific articles met all criteria. Overall, results show that a positive and resilient approach to deal with the adverse outcomes of the pandemic is a concern for stakeholders and the future of the organizations in the tourism and hospitality sector, as is tourists’ wellbeing. However, less research has been done on wellbeing and a clear lack of research regarding residents’ wellbeing and resilience is evident. A deeper study of wellbeing and resilience in tourism is needed, and actual practices and interventions to ensure that all tourism actors have the resources to overcome the pandemic and restart the industry’s daily lives feeling well and safe. (shrink)
Haciendo uso de las bases de datos del Proceso de Admisión a la Educación Superior en Chile del año 2013, se analiza el comportamiento que tienen los componentes de Trayectoria Escolar y puntajes PSU con base a las variables de segmentación socioeducativa de los postulantes. No obstante ambos factores estar en teoría alineados con el currículum, las puntuaciones informan de una reducida correlación entre ellos. El objetivo es explorar y analizar la distribución de los puntajes que obtienen los postulantes en (...) los diferentes factores de selección con base a sus características socioeconómicas y educativas, además del impacto que tiene la incorporación del Ranking de Notas en la diversificación e inclusión de la población de estudiantes que anualmente participa de los procesos de selección. Los componentes trayectoria escolar, en especial el Ranking que establece la posición relativa del alumno dentro de su respectivo establecimiento, presentan distribuciones menos sesgadas y con mayor concentración hacia más altos puntajes en comparación a los del componente PSU, y se evidencian menos influenciados por variables sociofamiliares o económicas. El Ranking, como expresión del buen desempeño escolar, el esfuerzo y dedicación al estudio por parte del alumno, compensa los indeseables sesgos de selección haciendo más inclusiva la opción universitaria, cuyos efectos en la modificación del perfil del alumno seleccionado dependerá de la valoración que asigne la institución universitaria a la trayectoria escolar, en detrimento del tradicional componente PSU. (shrink)
We examine the role of working memory's central executive in the mental model explanation of propositional reasoning by using two working memory measures: the classical “reading span” test by Daneman and Carpenter (1980) and a new measure. This new “reasoning span” measure requires individuals to solve very simple anaphora problems, and store and remember the word solution in a growing series of inferential problems. We present one experiment in which we check the involvement of the central executive in conditional and (...) disjunctive inference tasks and compare predictions of the new reasoning span test with those of the classical reading span test. The results of the experiment confirm that reasoning responses, which according to mental model theory require high cognitive work, are predicted by working memory measures. Results also show that some reasoning responses are probably obtained by means of superficial biases or strategies that do not load working memory. The reasoning span test, which involves the central executive to a greater degree, predicts reasoning performance better than the reading span test. The significance and possibilities of the new measure in studying reasoning are discussed. (shrink)
Por años, el sistema de selección universitaria ha enfrentado críticas por su intenso vínculo con características sociales y culturales de los y las postulantes, reproduciendo la segmentación que evidencia el espacio escolar. Para corregir estos sesgos, el año 2013 se incorporó el Ranking de notas como factor de ponderación, valorando componentes de trayectoria escolar y contexto educativo. El objetivo de este artículo es describir los impactos que ha tenido el Ranking de notas en el proceso de admisión 2018, en términos (...) de igualdad de oportunidades e inclusión de grupos. De metodología cuantitativa, este artículo usa bases de datos oficiales para realizar un análisis estadístico a los resultados de admisión 2018, construyendo índices y perfilando tendencias. Los resultados destacan el impacto positivo que ha tenido el Ranking sobre los puntajes ponderados y las tasas de selección, además de la compensación que hace a grupos históricamente relegados mediante la valoración del esfuerzo desplegado en contextos adversos. Las conclusiones argumentan que, si bien el Ranking es un eficiente mecanismo propulsor de mayor equidad en los procesos de selección universitaria, no es capaz de revertir la desigualdad y segmentación estructural del sistema educativo chileno. (shrink)