This study is based on the Acts of Peter, an apocryphal writing of the New Testament. The book, which is actually a work “pious”, popular and exemplary, recounts numerous episodes of magic. Of special interest to maintain the pulse Simon Peter vs Simon Magus, doing magic and miracles in Rome. The ideological background of the book is is an attack against the figure of the bad Roman emperors, whose model is Nerone, character ridiculed as murderer and persecutor of Christians.

This paper shows the brain correlates of Cloninger’s personality model during the presentation of social scenarios under positive or negative valence situations. Social scenarios were constructed when participants played the Dictator game with two confederates that had two opposites roles as the cooperator and non-cooperator. Later the same day during a fMRI scanning session, participants read negative and positive situations that happened to confederates in the past. Participants were asked to think “how do you think those people felt during that (...) situation?” A dissimilarity matrix between stimuli were obtained from fMRI results. Results shown that Harm Avoidance trait people make use of right middle frontal gyrus and left superior frontal gyrus to discriminate between Coop and NoCoop. Cooperation as a trait makes use of the right superior temporal gyrus and the right precuneus to discriminate between Coop and NoCoop in positive social scenarios. Finally, Self-directedness trait people make use of the right inferior parietal lobe to discriminate between Coop and NoCoop in negative social scenarios and the right precuneus to discriminate between Coop and Strangers. An intuitive link between discrimination findings and behavioral patterns of those personality traits is proposed. (shrink)

AI systems are bringing an augmentation of human capabilities to shape the world. They may also drag a replacement of human conscience in large chunks of life. AI systems can be designed to leave moral control in human hands, to obstruct or diminish that moral control, or even to prevent it, replacing human morality with pre-packaged or developed ‘solutions’ by the ‘intelligent’ machine itself. Artificial Intelligent systems (AIS) are increasingly being used in multiple applications and receiving more attention from the (...) public and private organisations. The purpose of this article is to offer a mapping of the technological architectures that support AIS, under the specific focus of the moral agency. Through a literature research and reflection process, the following areas are covered: a brief introduction and review of the literature on the topic of moral agency; an analysis using the BDI logic model (Bratman 1987); an elemental review of artificial ‘reasoning’ architectures in AIS; the influence of the data input and the data quality; AI systems’ positioning in decision support and decision making scenarios; and finally, some conclusions are offered about regarding the potential loss of moral control by humans due to AIS. This article contributes to the field of Ethics and Artificial Intelligence by providing a discussion for developers and researchers to understand how and under what circumstances the ‘human subject’ may, totally or partially, lose moral control and ownership over AI technologies. The topic is relevant because AIS often are not single machines but complex networks of machines that feed information and decisions into each other and to human operators. The detailed traceability of input-process-output at each node of the network is essential for it to remain within the field of moral agency. Moral agency is then at the basis of our system of legal responsibility, and social approval is unlikely to be obtained for entrusting important functions to complex systems under which no moral agency can be identified. (shrink)

A força actual da microeconomia enquanto chave para a compreensão da vida económica, e a predominância dos mercados sobre as instituições políticas na nova ordern mundial, coloca novos desafios à Ética Económica. Por outro lado, urna teoria da Justiça focalizada em instituições macrosociais dificilmente poderá responder de modo adequado a tais desafios. Neste sentido, o presente artigo tenta sobretudo explorar as enormes potencialidades associadas com a teoria Escolástica da Justiça, teoria essa que focaliza a sua atenção nas decisões dos agentes (...) económicos. Ora é precisamente em ordern a atingir tal objectivo que o autor do artigo recorre ao pensamento de Francisco de Vitoria como principal fonte de inspiração. Mostra-se, desta forma, até que ponto a tradição Escolástica de reflexão sobre o problema da Justiça se revela perfeitamente integrável nos temas e nas preocupações éticas associadas com a microeconomia do nosso tempo. De resto, é por isso mesmo que o autor do artigo sugere este tipo de abordagem como uma das linhas de resposta mais promissoras aos desafios lauçados ao pensamento, e à reflexão ética em particular, pelas novas realidades e pelas novas abordagens da Economia contemporânea. According to the author, the current strength of Microeconomics as a key for understanding economic life, and the predominance of markets over political institutions in the new world order, poses new challenges to Economic Ethics. On the other hand, it is also taken into account the fact that a theory of justice focused on macrosocial institutions is not particularly well suited to undertake those challenges. The article, therefore, aims at explodng some of the potentialities of the Scholastic theory of justice, a theory that is precisely focused on the decision of economic agents. By choosing the works of Francisco de Vitoria as his main reference, the author shows how one of the most distinctive marks of the Scholastic approach consists precisely in the way it facilitates, and promotes, a close integration with Microeconomics. The final purpose of the article, therefore, is to propose such programmatic idea as a promising line of answer to the challenges that the new realities and approaches of economics are now posing anew to the ethical reflection. (shrink)

En este artículo se fundamenta y promueve la necesidad de comprensión de lo local como escala de lo social, y como una producción social resultante de la acción e interacción de agentes que actúan desde diferentes escalas, intereses y objetivos. Se sostiene, además que ello ha sido un campo analítico de bajo desarrollo en Chile y América Latina, aunque se puede inventariar un conjunto de aproximaciones que directa o indirectamente se han referido a ello en el pasado. Por otro lado, (...) se incentiva y se problematiza una orientación política que, dentro de un plano de “estilos de desarrollo”, valorice las dinámicas endógenas locales, es decir con protagonismo de los agentes locales. Ello se fundamenta en la necesidad de hacer visible y proyectar poderes periféricos velados por un cierto “centralismo intelectual”, por la importancia que la calidad de los territorios locales tienen en nuestras vidas, por la necesidad de saldar cuentas con una construcción de “lo nacional” que oprimió diversidades y, finalmente, para evitar la imposición de racionalidades y agentes globales que, bajo un discurso de universalidad, impongan intereses particulares. (shrink)

En este trabajo analizamos las relaciones de complementación en la lengua toba hablada en el este de la provincia de Formosa en estrecha correlación con construcciones seriales simétricas. Se trata de dos tipos de cláusulas complejas cercanas –argumentos compartidos, los dos o más verbos son finitos, no existe marca evidente de subordinación en términos sintácticos– por lo cual los límites entre ambas no resultan evidentes. Por este motivo, proponemos un abordaje de tipo funcional de la subordinación. En línea con la (...) propuesta de Cristófaro, entendemos la subordinación como una relación asimétrica entre dos eventos y no como un tipo específico de cláusula. Proponemos que no existe la complementación en esta lengua como tipo de cláusula y que la “incrustación” no es un criterio que nos permita abordar el fenómeno. El corpus se compone de cinco horas de texto libre narrativo relevado en sucesivos trabajos de campo en las comunidades tobas de Barrio Nam Qom y la ex Colonia secular Bartolomé de Las Casas. (shrink)

Enlightening and entertaining, _Philosophical Tales_ examines a few of the fascinating biographical details of history’s greatest philosophers and highlights their contributions to the field. By applying the true philosophical approach to philosophy itself, the text provides us with a refreshing 'alternative history' of philosophy. Opens up new philosophical debate by applying the true philosophical approach to philosophy itself Provides summaries of the most celebrated and philosophically interesting tales, their backgrounds, and assessments of the leading players Explores philosophers and schools of (...) thought in one key philosophical text to supply a solid grounding in philosophical ideas and individuals Shakes some of the foundations of philosophy with the aim of encouraging the reinvigoration of philosophy itself. (shrink)

Enlightening and entertaining, _Philosophical Tales_ examines a few of the fascinating biographical details of history’s greatest philosophers and highlights their contributions to the field. By applying the true philosophical approach to philosophy itself, the text provides us with a refreshing 'alternative history' of philosophy. Opens up new philosophical debate by applying the true philosophical approach to philosophy itself Provides summaries of the most celebrated and philosophically interesting tales, their backgrounds, and assessments of the leading players Explores philosophers and schools of (...) thought in one key philosophical text to supply a solid grounding in philosophical ideas and individuals Shakes some of the foundations of philosophy with the aim of encouraging the reinvigoration of philosophy itself. (shrink)

The global market for biologics and biosimilar pharmaceutical products is experiencing rapid expansion, primarily driven by the continuous discovery of new molecules. However, information regarding Latin America’s biological market remains limited.

Cuando nos enfrentamos a una obra de autor normalmente queremos adjudicarnos la propiedad física de la misma, ya sea porque quien escribe representa un referente en las temáticas definidas o porque la denominación o título provoca una especie de comezón cognitiva, y hacer caso omiso de ella, podría provocarnos un colapso por privación de pertenencia. Sea cual fuera el caso, la obra de Raúl González se inscribe en una especie de síntesis de las dos situaciones antes expresadas. Es (...) uno de esos .. (shrink)

This reading companion and commentary on Lacan Seminar XXIII provides detailed analyses of Lacan's seminar while maintaining an overall continuity and consistency. This book does not purport to provide an exhaustive and systematic line-by-line reading of a very complex and varied seminar. Rather it selects key themes of Lacanian theory that are found present throughout his work. In addition, the book does not try to simplify Lacan's ambiguous style, leaving the text open to different interpretations, while providing theory, commentary, and (...) lines of analysis into some of Lacan's important insights. Finally, this book is not about Joyce the writer, but more about the use that Lacan makes of Joyce. Its purpose is not to apply psychoanalysis to a literary subject, but rather to use the literary text to illustrate and develop psychoanalytic theory, and Lacanian theory in particular. It is an analysis of topology and language, or a linguisterie, as Lacan called it, for clinicians. The references to neurosis and psychosis are always there. However, a Lacanian clinic can also be of service to those interested in literary theory and/or social studies to develop theory within their own respective fields of studies. (shrink)

The search for mechanisms has been a common practice in scientific research. However, since the empiricist critique of causality, and especially during the second third of the twentieth century, other non-mechanistic perspectives—especially deductivism—gained predominance. But the sustained effort of authors such as Michael Scriven, Mario Bunge and especially Wesley Salmon contributed to restoring the respectability of causality and mechanisms in philosophy of science. Some members of the causal family, usually lumped under the name of “new mechanistic philosophy”, emphasize the description (...) of mechanisms, especially causal ones, as a central aspect of explanation and other research practices in several areas of science. This approach offers viable solutions to the various ontological and methodological objections that are opposed to the two traditional approaches. In this work the basic characteristics of three philosophies that highlight the description of mechanisms as a central element to explanation and their suitability for the science of ecology are discussed. (shrink)

En el texto se presenta a la sofística como precursora de la filosofía práctica, y se la reconoce como anticipadora del pensamiento aristotélico. La vía por la que se muestra dicha relación es el reconocimiento del papel primordial que esta concede al lenguaje y en especial al que adquiere la forma de discursos que buscan persuadir, a la retórica como piedra angular de la formación ciudadana en cuanto preparación para la vida pública. De esta manera se reconoce la importancia que (...) la retórica tuvo para la filosofía en sus orígenes, y cómo perfilaba otra manera de entender la racionalidad, no como teórica sino como práctica. Después se pasa a mostrar cómo según Chaïm Perelman, a partir de una reinterpretación de cierta parte de la obra de Aristóteles, es plausible postular a la retórica como un modelo más adecuado para entender la filosofía. (shrink)

The year 1992 is a year for reflection, because whether or not the quincentenary celebration of the arrival of the Europeans to this continent seems justified, one cannot escape thinking about the impact of this event on our land.As archeology is my area of study, my reflections are directed toward the changes that came about in the relationship between man and animals after 1492, specifically toward what occurred in Mexico once the Spaniards established themselves in this territory.

This chapter argues that from a particularly weak recombination principle and plausible assumptions about the nature of parthood and location, it follows that it is possible that the mereological structure of the material world and that of space-time fail to correspond to one another in very radical ways. The chapter suggests, moreover, that rejecting the possibility of such failures of correspondence leaves us with a choice of no less unappealing alternatives. It also discusses a few ways in which their possibility (...) is relevant to various important debates in metaphysics. (shrink)

En base a una confrontación estrictamente racional con la tradición filosófica, Plotino establece un principio transcendente al ser y al pensamiento y que, sin embargo, funge como principio creador, constitutivo y diferenciador de todo lo existente: el Uno o la Unidad absolutamente simple. En sí mismo inaccesible, se manifiesta ya sea por revelación (la cual sólo es una hipótesis para Plotino) o por sus efectos. Por eso, el discurso filosófico sobre el Uno sólo es posible desde la perspectiva de la (...) multiplicidad y, por tanto, tiene un carácter aproximativo. La forma que este discurso asume es necesariamente la de las vías analogiae, eminentiae y negationis. De este modo, la razón misma nos remite por primera vez a un principio que le antecede y que, a la vez la funda, dándose así inicio a una segunda época en la historia de la filosofía. (shrink)

I argue that from a very weak recombination principle and plausible assumptions about the nature of parthood and location it follows that it's possible that the mereological structure of the material world and that of spacetime fail to correspond to one another in very radical ways. I defend, moreover, that rejecting the possibility of such failures of correspondence leaves us with a choice of equally radical alternatives. I also discuss a few ways in which their possibility is relevant to various (...) debates in metaphysics. (shrink)

We study whether robots can satisfy the conditions of an agent fit to be held morally responsible, with a focus on autonomy and self-control. An analogy between robots and human groups enables us to modify arguments concerning collective responsibility for studying questions of robot responsibility. We employ Mele’s history-sensitive account of autonomy and responsibility to argue that even if robots were to have all the capacities required of moral agency, their history would deprive them from autonomy in a responsibility-undermining way. (...) We will also study whether humans and technological artifacts like robots can form hybrid collective agents that could be morally responsible for their actions and give an argument against such a possibility. (shrink)

Raúl Arrabales, Int. J. Mach. Conscious., 06, 1 (2014). DOI: 10.1142/S1793843014400010.

I give shape to a neglected debate in metaphysics, the debate over the ontological priority between individuality and collectivity. I distinguish the debate from more familiar ones in the recent literature and articulate what I call ontological collectivism, the view that collectivity is prior to individuality. I defend the in-principle intelligibility of the view from forceful general objections and argue that not only is it coherent but also of significant interest to the literature: it allows for overlooked alternatives on a (...) variety of central discussions. (shrink)