In beliefs we live, we move and we are [...] the beliefs constitute the base of our life, the land on which we live [...] All our conduct, including the intellectual life, depends on the system of our authentic beliefs. In them [...] lies latent, as implications of whatever specifically we do or we think [...] the man, at heart, is believing or, which is equal, the deepest stratum of our life, the spirit that maintains and carries all the others, (...) is formed by beliefs...We know that the human being is a social animal. This is a common fact. Moreover, the human being is defined as a rational being. It is clear and nobody can deny that human creations include logic, mathematics, philosophy, science, and jurisprudence. These are all products of rationality or abstract thought. Nevertheless, human sociability goes further that the sociability of an animal herd. Societies were founded, cohere, develop, degenerate and die based on their belief systems. Reason cannot prove the .. (shrink)

In Ontology, quality determines beings. The quality-quantity bipolarity reveals that a conceptual logical comprehension that can include negation must be a dialectical logic. Quality is a precise characteristic of something capable of augmentation or diminution while remaining identical through differences or quantitative changes. Thus, quality and in opposition quantity are inextricably linked, giving definition to each other, so constituting a logical bipolarity. The theory is that a magnitude G is never separated from secondary qualities α and β, and therefore, a (...) measure depends on a concrete quality Gα or Gβ, that is to say on one pole of a logical bi-pole. However, the particular number, the unit, that expresses the result of a measure is the quality G alone. Examples drawn from physical and chemical experiments illustrate these ideas and elaborate the structure of the concept of opposition between the secondary qualities α and β of a magnitude G. (shrink)

In this paper, the authors attempt to prove there is a relationship between Borges’ “Argumentum ornithologicum” and Anselm’s argument “Argumentum ontologicum”. We suggest Borges, using the image of a flock of birds, with oriental reminiscences, half joking, half serious attempts to prove the existence of God. We demonstrate the fallacies incurred by Borges and why his “Argumentum” has no place within the traditional set of ontological arguments. However, it would easy to forget that Borges’ claim is not philosophical, nor theological, (...) nor apologetic, but rather ironic or paradoxical. (shrink)

In the Reality we know, we cannot say if something is infinite whether we are doing Physics, Biology, Sociology or Economics. This means we have to be careful using this concept. Infinite structures do not exist in the physical world as far as we know. So what do mathematicians mean when they assert the existence of ω? There is no universally accepted philosophy of mathematics but the most common belief is that mathematics touches on another worldly absolute truth. Many mathematicians (...) believe that mathematics involves a special perception of an idealized world of absolute truth. This comes in part from the recognition that our knowledge of the physical world is imperfect and falls short of what we can apprehend with mathematical thinking. The objective of this paper is to present an epistemological rather than an historical vision of the mathematical concept of infinity that examines the dialectic between the actual and potential infinity. (shrink)

In this paper the authors develop a logic of concepts within a mathematical linguistic theory. In the set of concepts defined in a belief system, the order relationship and Boolean algebra of the concepts are considered. This study is designed to obtain a tool, which is the metatheoretical base of this type of theory.

Human language has the characteristic of being open and in some cases polysemic. The word “infinite” is used often in common speech and more frequently in literary language, but rarely with its precise meaning. In this way the concepts can be used in a vague way but an argument can still be structured so that the central idea is understood and is shared with to the partners. At the same time no precise definition is given to the concepts used and (...) each partner makes his own reading of the text based on previous experience and cultural background. In a language dictionary the first meaning of “infinite” agrees with the etymology: what has no end. We apply the word infinite most often and incorrectly as a synonym for “very large” or something that we do not perceive its completion. In this context, the infinite mentioned in dictionaries refers to the idea or notion of the “immeasurably large” although this is open to what the individual’s means by “immeasurably great.” Based on this linguistic imprecision, the authors present a non Cantorian theory of the potential and actual infinite. For this we have introduced a new concept: the homogon that is the whole set that does not fall within the definition of sets established by Cantor. (shrink)

This reply to Gash’s (Found Sci 2014) commentary on Nescolarde-Selva and Usó-Doménech (Found Sci 2014b) answers the questions raised and at the same time opens up new questions.

The liar paradox is a famous and ancient paradox related to logic and philosophy. It shows it is perfectly possible to construct sentences that are correct grammatically and semantically but that cannot be true or false in the traditional sense. In this paper the authors show four approaches to interpreting paradoxes that illustrate the influence of: the levels of language, their belonging to indeterminate compatible propositions or indeterminate propositions, being based on universal antinomy and the theory of dialetheism.

sBuilding models as a practical aspect of ecological theory has as a principal purpose the determination of relations in formal language. In this paper, the authors provide a formalization of ecological models based on impure systems theory. Impure systems contain objects and subjects: subjects are human beings. We can distinguish a person as an observer that by definition is the subject himself and part of the system. In this case he acquires the category of object. Objects are significances, which are (...) the consequence of perceptual beliefs on the part of the subject about material or energetic objects with certain characteristics. The impure system approach is as follows: objects are perceptual significances of material or energetic objects. The set of these objects will form an impure set of the first order. The existing relations between these relative objects will be of two classes: transactions of matter and/or energy and inferential relations. Transactions can have alethic modality: necessity, possibility, impossibility and contingency. In this work we define measures which let us choose the more suitable variables to relate both the model with the ecosystem and with different models. In this way we define different comparison indexes. (shrink)

If the words in Spinoza’s Ethics are considered as symbols, then certain words in the definitions of the Ethics can be replaced with symbols from set theory and we can reexamine Spinoza’s first definitions within a logical–mathematical frame. The authors believe that, some aspects of Spinoza’s work can be explained and illustrated through mathematics. A semantic relation between the definitions of the philosopher and set theory is presented. It is explained each chosen symbol. The ontological argument is developed through modal (...) logic. And finally, we present some conclusions drawn from this work. (shrink)

In this paper, the authors try to clarify the relations between Meinong’s and Russell's thoughts on the ontological ideas of existence. The Meinongian theory on non-existent objects does not in itself violate the principle of non-contradiction, since the problem that this hypothesis offers to the theory of definite descriptions is not so much a logical problem as an ontological problem. To demonstrate this we will establish what we believe are the two main theses basic to the theory of descriptions: the (...) epistemological thesis and logical thesis. (shrink)

Suppes proposes an analysis of the structure and identity of empirical theories with his model-theoretical approach and undertakes effective reconstructions of theories in diverse disciplinary fields. Here the authors analyse the results of these examinations under the optics of questions concerning the assumed ontological commitments, and for how they satisfy economic and other criteria.

Impure systems contain Objects and Subjects: Subjects are human beings. We can distinguish a person as an observer (subjectively outside the system) and that by definition is the Subject himself, and part of the system. In this case he acquires the category of object. Objects (relative beings) are significances, which are the consequence of perceptual beliefs on the part of the Subject about material or energetic objects (absolute beings) with certain characteristics.The IS (Impure System) approach is as follows: Objects are (...) perceptual significances (relative beings) of material or energetic objects (absolute beings). The set of these objects will form an impure set of the first order. The existing relations between these relative objects will be of two classes: transactions of matter and/or energy and inferential relations. Transactions can have alethic modality: necessity, possibility, impossibility and contingency. Ontic existence of possibility entails that inferential relations have Deontic modality: obligation, permission, prohibition, faculty and analogy. We distinguished between theorems (natural laws) and norms (ethical, legislative and customary rules of conduct). (shrink)

A semiotic theory of systems derived from language would have the purpose of classifying all the systems of linguistic expression: philosophy, ideology, myth, poetry, art, as much as the dream, lapsus, and free association in a pluridimensional matrix that will interact with many diversified fields. In each one of these discourses it is necessary to consider a plurality of questions, the essence of which will only be comprehensible by the totality; it will be necessary to ask, in the first place, (...) what will be the purpose of this language, what function does it fulfill and for which reason has it been constructed. The concept of World vision (WV) is introduced and its relation with Generalized Collective Conscience (GCC) and Particularized Collective Conscience. Culture implies a particular WV. Culture creates GCC. The semantic field is a structure that formalizes the units of a certain culture constituting a portion of the vision of the Reality that owns this culture. An ecological case is explained. (shrink)

Reality contains information that becomes significances in the mind of the observer. Language is the human instrument to understand reality. But is it possible to attain this reality? Is there an absolute reality, as certain philosophical schools tell us? The reality that we perceive, is it just a fragmented reality of which we are part? The work that the authors present is an attempt to address this question from an epistemological, linguistic and logical-mathematical point of view.

This reply to Gash’s (Found Sci 2013) commentary on Nescolarde-Selva and Usó-Doménech (Found Sci 2013) answers the three questions raised and at the same time opens up new questions.

By justification we understand what makes a belief epistemologically viable: generally this is considered knowledge that is true. The problem is defining this with a higher degree of precision because this is where different conflicting conceptions appear. On the one hand, we can understand justification as what makes it reasonable to acquire or maintain a belief; on the other, it is what increases the probability that the belief is true. This work tries to prove that beliefs depend on other beliefs (...) that are epistemically justified and that such beliefs are the result of (i.e., they arise from) our privileged intuition of reality. For this, we examine the concept of epistemic regress. Epistemic reasons authorize a proposition P to be the conclusion of an argument in which such reasons function as premises and are vulnerable to epistemic regress. The three most important approaches to epistemic regress are Infinitism, Coherentism and Foundationalism. (shrink)

The concept of God is studied using the ontological argument of Anselm of Canterbury that proves God’s existence using a syllogism based on ontology. Unlike metaphysical arguments that demonstrate the existence of God through the study of being and its attributes, the ontological argument aims to reach this same goal based on a concept of God by means of the idea of an entity “greater than anything that can be conceived”. Descartes’ influence highlighted some of the philosophical difficulties with the (...) inherent dualism implicit in ontology. Logic does not say whether ideas are true or false, as Logic is concerned with right or wrong inference. We take a non-dualist approach in contrast to some of the approaches reviewed. To investigate belief and faith, a modal logical formalization is used, especially modal logic S5, which we find appropriate for presenting arguments. While mathematics and logic can convince, they do not help one to believe in God. This can make us think that reason is not enough to accept God, one must have faith to have access to Him. The relation between reason and faith needs clarification, and the ontological argument requires an unsustainable dualism. (shrink)

In this paper the authors provide an epistemological view on the old controversial random-necessity. It has been considered that either one or the other form part of the structure of reality. Chance and indeterminism are nothing but a disorderly efficiency of contingency in the production of events, phenomena, processes, i.e., in its causality, in the broadest sense of the word. Such production may be observed in natural and artificial processes or in human social processes (in history, economics, society, politics, etc.). (...) Here we touch the object par excellence of all scientific research whether natural or human. In this work, is presented a hypothesis whose practical result satisfies the Hegelian dialectic, with the consequent implication of their mutual reciprocal integration_._ Producing abstractions, without which, there is no thought or knowledge of any kind, from the concrete, that is, the real problem, which in this case is a given Ontological System or Reality. (shrink)

This paper refers to a subjective approach to Ecosystems, referred to as Impure Systems to capture a set of fundamental properties. There are four main phenomenological components: directionality, intensity, connection energy and volume. A fundamental question in this approach to Impure Systems is the intensity or forces of a relation. Concepts as the system volume, and propose a system thermodynamic theory based in the Law of Zipf and the temperature of information are introduced. It hints at the possibility of adapting (...) the fractal theory by introducing the fractal dimension of the system. (shrink)

In order to establish patterns of materialization of the beliefs we are going to consider that these have defined mathematical structures. It will allow us to understand better processes of the textual, architectonic, normative, educative, etc., materialization of an ideology. The materialization is the conversion by means of certain mathematical correspondences, of an abstract set whose elements are beliefs or ideas, in an impure set whose elements are material or energetic. Text is a materialization of ideology and it is any (...) representation of the Reality represented by symbolic means. In all text T we can observe diverse topological structures: Metric Textual Space, Textual Topology and a Textual Lattice. (shrink)

O artigo tem por objetivo problematizar o enunciado que diz da importância de ensinar matemática usando jogos. O material de pesquisa abrange todos os exemplares da Educação em Revista (ER), periódico do Sindicato do Ensino Privado do RS. Servindo-se de ferramentas teóricas oriundas do pensamento de Foucault, o artigo examina entrelaçamentos do enunciado estudado com outros do campo educacional, que geram efeitos de verdade no discurso da educação matemática contemporânea. O trabalho investigativo permitiu identificar: a) os vetores de sustentação do (...) referido enunciado encontram-se nas produções acadêmicas da área da Educação Matemática e em documentos oficiais; b) uma reatualização do enunciado evidenciando fortes aproximações entre os jogos escolares para ensinar matemática e as tecnologias digitais. As considerações finais apontam para a constituição de uma narrativa vitoriosa sobre o uso de jogos nas aulas de matemática, capturando professores e alunos. Palavras-chave: Educação Matemática. Escolas privadas. Jogos. Enunciado. Michel Foucault. The use of games in Mathematics classes: problematizing the truths of contemporary pedagogical discourse Abstract: The article aims to problematize the statement about the importance of teaching mathematics using games. The research material covers all the copies of Educação em Revista (ER), a periodical of the Private Teaching Union of RS. Using theoretical tools derived from Foucault's thought, the article examines the intertwining of the studied utterance with others in the educational field, which generate real effects in the discourse of contemporary mathematics education. The investigative work allowed us to identify: a) the support vectors of that statement are found in academic productions in the area of ​​Mathematics Education and in official documents; b) a re-updating of the statement showing strong similarities between school games to teach mathematics and digital technologies. The final considerations point to the constitution of a victorious narrative about the use of games in math classes, capturing teachers and students. Key-words: Mathematics Education. Private schools. Games. Statement. Michel Foucault. El uso de juegos en las clases de Matemáticas: problematizando las verdades del discurso pedagógico contemporáneo Resumen: El artículo tiene como objetivo problematizar la afirmación que dice sobre la importancia de enseñar matemáticas mediante juegos. El material de investigación cubre todos los ejemplares de Educação em Revista (ER), publicación periódica de la Unión de Docentes Privados de RS. Utilizando herramientas teóricas derivadas del pensamiento de Foucault, el artículo examina el entrelazamiento del enunciado estudiado con otros en el ámbito educativo, que generan efectos reales en el discurso de la educación matemática contemporánea. El trabajo investigativo permitió identificar: a) los vectores de apoyo de ese enunciado se encuentran en producciones académicas en el área de Educación Matemática y en documentos oficiales; b) una actualización de la declaración que muestra fuertes similitudes entre los juegos escolares para enseñar matemáticas y tecnologías digitales. Las consideraciones finales apuntan a la constitución de una narrativa victoriosa sobre el uso de juegos en las clases de matemáticas, capturando a profesores y alumnos. Palabras-clave: Educación Matemática. Escuelas privadas. Juegos. Enunciado. Michel Foucault. Data de registro: 05/09/2021 Data de aceite: 16/02/2022. (shrink)

La aparición de las nuevas tecnologías de información y comunicación en el panorama socio-cultural ha supuesto cambios considerables en diferentes ámbitos de la vida humana, y las instituciones educativas no han estado al margen del uso de estas técnicas que se están desarrollando día tras día. Se trata de un desafío muy importante, ya que las nuevas tecnologías están transformando la enseñanza, permitiendo al sistema educativo desarrollar y responder a los desafíos de nuestro tiempo. En el presente artículo, pretendemos hacer (...) una reflexión acerca de la importancia de la integración de las TICs en el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje del árabe como lengua extranjera (ALE) y mostrar las posibilidades que algunos recursos podrían ofrecer como herramientas de apoyo dentro y fuera del aula. Para ello, nos hemos basado en el análisis descriptivo-explicativo de dichas herramientas, esperando sean de gran utilidad para el alumnado. (shrink)

O objetivo do artigo é examinar como Habermas, orientado pela intuição normativado uso público da razão, reconstrói uma concepção procedimental de democracia deliberativa, que, sem desconsiderar da dimensão estratégica e instrumental da esfera pública e da política, reformula a dimensão epistêmica da democracia: a aceitabilidade racional dos acordos políticos. Inicialmente, apresento brevemente a análise sociológica e histórica do conceito de esfera pública crítica, realizada em Mudança Estrutural da Esfera Pública (1962), para, em seguida, expor duas linhas de argumentação sobre o (...) conceito de esfera pública e de política deliberativa, em Direito e Democracia (1992): a que se refere ao princípio de legitimação baseado na razão pública como uma reconstrução intersubjetiva e política do conceito kantiano de autonomia; e a que concerne aos aspectos essenciais da teoria crítica da sociedade fundada na distinção entre mundo da vida e sistema e a "tradução" sociológica e institucionaldo uso público da razão, nos conceitos de sociedade civil e esfera pública. (shrink)

Antecedentes: El uso de la tecnología médica amplía las posibilidades de vida, pero plantea responsabilidades y problemas filosóficos, legales o políticos. Objetivo: Realizar una revisión sistemática sobre la evolución de las publicaciones científicas del uso bioético de las tecnologías de salud en los últimos 20 años. Metodología: Se realizó una revisión bibliográfica usando la base de datos Scopus. Resultados: La aplicabilidad de las tecnologías de salud, desde un punto de vista bioético, ha aumentado en los últimos años. Conclusión. Existe un (...) aumento en el número de publicaciones del uso bioético de la tecnología médica en los últimos 20 años. (shrink)

'Usos de Memórias' é uma coletânea de textos sobre os vários aspectos da memória, isto é, pedagógica, simbólica, histórica, política e social. O livro traz os seguintes capítulos - Política, memória e esquecimento; Re(vi)vendo o ontem no tempo e no espaço'dos de hoje'; Memória, educação e velhice; A memória como elemento educativo; Memória e identidade.

O presente ensaio tem como objetivo investigar os dois principais usos da metáfora segundo Aristóteles: o uso poético e o uso retórico. Para tanto, primeiramente, procurarei esclarecer o que é metáfora segundo as obras, Poética e Retórica, de Aristóteles. Em seguida, pretendo determinar quais são as funções, portanto os usos desta figura de linguagem na produção poética e retórica. Tendo em vista que a finalidade do discurso poético difere da do retórico, pois o primeiro pretende produzir o enunciado mais belo (...) possível e o segundo, o enunciado mais persuasivo possível, certamente, a função que a metáfora exerce em cada tipo de discurso também diferirá. Por fim, diante da crítica aristotélica ao uso da metáfora na fórmula que exprime a qüididade, proporemos a seguinte questão: se a metáfora é capaz de produzir clareza para a expressão retórica ou poética, mas obscuridade para a enunciação científica necessária à definição, então ela seria não apenas inútil, mas um empecilho para a aquisição de conhecimento? (shrink)

La tesis que intentaremos mostrar en este trabajo es que, al exponer su concepción acerca de la sabiduría en _Sobre la filosofía_, Aristóteles habría operado tomando como punto de partida el supuesto de que en el orden del conocimiento se debe proceder de “lo más conocido para nosotros” a “lo más conocido en sí”. Para ello, dividiremos el trabajo en dos secciones. En la primera, abordaremos de forma esquemática el uso de términos perceptuales en algunas de las obras del _corpus_. (...) En la segunda parte, analizaremos los fragmentos 8b y 8c de _Sobre la filosofía_, que son los estratos de la obra en donde este principio epistemológico aparecen más claramente. (shrink)

Se estudian las nociones de ‘uso’, ‘dominio’ y ‘propiedad’) en el pensamiento franciscano por dos motivos. Por un lado, la Escuela de Salamanca, que en cierto modo actúa de síntesis y proyección de las tesis clásicas y medievales y las conecta con el pensamiento moderno, aporta una interesante respuesta en torno al dominio para responder a lo que denominaremos “cuestión franciscana”, así se ve especialmente claro en Domingo de Soto y los autores de dicha Escuela que siguen principalmente su pensamiento. (...) Por otro lado, la particular visión de los autores franciscanos sobre la libertad, el valor de la riqueza y la pobreza para la vida humana y su fin trascendente, y las polémicas políticas en que se vieron involucrados en el siglo XIV, fue significativo para el desarrollo de varias tesis políticas que prepararán las ideas modernas sobre los derechos humanos. The notions of 'use', 'dominion' and 'property' are studied in Franciscan thought for two reasons. First, the School of Salamanca, contributes an interesting answer regarding the dominion to answer the “Franciscan question”. So it is especially clear in Domingo de Soto and the authors of that School that mainly follow his thought. Second, the Franciscan authors' particular vision of freedom, the value of wealth and poverty for human life and its transcendent end, and the political polemics in which they were involved in the fourteenth century, was significant for the Development of several political theses that will prepare modern ideas on human rights. (shrink)

In questo articolo si analizzano congiuntamente l'origine delle idee e il loro uso regolativo. A questo scopo si comincia considerando la connessione tra uso logico della ragione e definizione della ragione in generale come facoltà dei principi. Si considera poi come la rappresentazione di un incondizionato derivi necessariamente dall'uso logico, e come quindi questo implichi necessariamente un uso reale della ragione. Si considera poi come le varie rappresentazioni dell'incondizionato diano origine alle idee trascendentali. Infine, si considera l'uso regolativo delle idee (...) alla luce della pratica di inferire dal quale derivano. (shrink)

Este artículo describe un estudio realizado con docentes de primaria y secundaria en varias comunidades españolas. El estudio se centra en la percepción del profesorado sobre el uso del Aprendizaje Basado en Juegos (ABJ) en el aula, tratando de averiguar en qué medidas los docentes implementan el uso de esta metodología en sus aulas. Un cuestionario fue creado ad hoc para este propósito y fue debidamente validado. Los resultados de este estudio muestran que la mayoría de los docentes son proclives (...) a la utilización del ABJ, y que lo perciben como algo positivo para el aprendizaje significativo del alumnado. (shrink)

L’autore si occupa di aspetti distinti del recente fenomeno dell’uso della forza internazionale mo¬tivato dall’impellente esigenza di tutelare i diritti dell’uomo. Nel primo paragrafo tratta i pre¬supposti storico-politici del fenomeno, riferendosi in particolare alla stra¬tegia del new world order, elaborata dagli Stati Uniti nei primi anni novanta del Novecento. Nel secondo paragrafo af¬fronta gli aspetti giuridici dell’uso della forza internazionale per ragioni umanitarie, esa¬mi¬nando sia il caso in cui tale uso sia stato autorizzato del Consiglio di Sicurezza delle Nazioni Uni¬te, (...) sia il caso in cui non sia stato autorizzato. Nel terzo paragrafo si occupa del rapporto fra la prospettiva universalistica implicita nell’‘interventismo umanitario’ e l’attuale ordinamento in¬ternazionale, che ha come presupposto la sovranità degli Stati nazionali e il principio della non-ingerenza nella loro domestic jurisdiction.The author deals with distinct aspects of a recent phenomenon, i.e. the use of international force grounded on the urgency to enforce human rights. In the first section he discusses the historical and political bases of this phenomenon, by referring in particular to the strategy of ‘new world order’, worked out by the United States in the early 1990s. In the second section the author treats the legal aspects of the use of international force for humanitarian reasons, both authorised and unauthorised by the United Nations Security Council. Finally he addresses the relationship between the universalistic perspective im¬plied by ‘humanitarian interventionism’ and the present international order, based on nation states sovereignty and non-interference within their domestic jurisdiction. (shrink)

O artigo discute a potencialidade e os modos de uso da prosopografia em pesquisas sobre intelectuais na história da educação. Apresenta, em percurso bibliográfico, as principais definições, conceitos, operações metodológicas e fontes que a constituem. Sustenta que, no campo da história da educação, a metodologia prosopográfica oferece contribuições para o estudo dos intelectuais, sobretudo em investigações sobre os manifestos e seus signatários, cujos liames societários podem reafirmar ou subverter a lógica das posições individuais; os coletivos docentes, suas trajetórias de formação (...) e movimentação institucional e regional; as histórias institucionais, notadamente quanto à destinação social e política de egressos e à circulação de quadros técnicos e acadêmicos; as associações da sociedade civil, tais como sindicatos e entidades categoriais, cujos quadros atuaram na esfera educacional. Conclui-se que a utilização da prosopografia permite ao historiador extrapolar a usual abordagem individual de autores e ideias em educação, a fim de integrar os intelectuais em coletivos, tais como grupos profissionais, redes de sociabilidade e comunidades disciplinares, nos quais as propriedades relacionais e os jogos de interesse podem revelar tantos significados quanto os discursos, material da maioria das pesquisas em torno do tema. Palavras-chave: Prosopografia. Intelectuais. Pesquisa histórica. (shrink)

Marta Suria writes *Ella soy yo* as part of her response to the irruption of the memories of the sexual aggressions she had suffered since childhood. She is convinced that the way she narrates her experience will transform and liberate her. How is it at all possible that a certain kind of narrative may transform and li- berate us? In this paper, we will first describe the conception of the relationship between language and experience that lies behind this perplexity and, (...) secondly, we will sketch an alternative conception that will hopefully allow us to account for the transformative power of certain kinds of narratives. This alternative conception will hinge on the idea of expression and on the concept of aspect perception. For this purpose, we will firstly argue that language can be used not only to describe or evaluate our experience, but also to express it; we will, then, defend the view that linguistic or gestural expressions of our experiences not only announce or manifest them, but contribute to shaping and modulating them; finally, we will highlight the transformative, humanizing power of certain expressive uses of language. (shrink)