Quantum mechanics is a theory whose foundations spark controversy to this day. Although many attempts to explain the underpinnings of the theory have been made, none has been unanimously accepted as satisfactory. Fuchs has recently claimed that the foundational issues can be resolved by interpreting quantum mechanics in the light of quantum information. The view proposed is that quantum mechanics should be interpreted along the lines of the subjective Bayesian approach to probability theory. The quantum state is not the physical (...) state of a microscopic object. It is an epistemic state of an observer; it represents subjective degrees of belief about outcomes of measurements. The interpretation gives an elegant solution to the infamous measurement problem: measurement is nothing but Bayesian belief updating in a analogy to belief updating in a classical setting. In this paper, we analyze an argument that Fuchs gives in support of this latter claim. We suggest that the argument is not convincing since it rests on an ad hoc construction. We close with some remarks on the options left for Fuchs' quantum Bayesian project. (shrink)

After proving, in a purely categorial way, that the inclusion functor |$\textrm {In}_{\textbf {Alg}(\varSigma )}$| from |$\textbf {Alg}(\varSigma )$|⁠, the category of many-sorted |$\varSigma $|-algebras, to |$\textbf {PAlg}(\varSigma )$|⁠, the category of many-sorted partial |$\varSigma $|-algebras, has a left adjoint |$\textbf {F}_{\varSigma }$|⁠, the (absolutely) free completion functor, we recall, in connection with the functor |$\textbf {F}_{\varSigma }$|⁠, the generalized recursion theorem of Schmidt, which we will also call the Schmidt construction. Next, we define a category |$\textbf {Cmpl}(\varSigma )$|⁠, of (...) |$\varSigma $|-completions, and prove that |$\textbf {F}_{\varSigma }$|⁠, labelled with its domain category and the unit of the adjunction of which it is a part, is a weakly initial object in it. Following this, we associate to an ordered pair |$(\boldsymbol {\alpha },f)$|⁠, where |$\boldsymbol {\alpha }=(K,\gamma,\alpha )$| is a morphism of |$\varSigma $|-completions from |${{\mathscr {F}}}=(\textbf {C},F,\eta )$| to |$\mathscr {G}= (\textbf {D},G,\rho )$| and |$f$| a homomorphism of |$\textbf {D}$| from the partial |$\varSigma $|-algebra |$\textbf {A}$| to the partial |$\varSigma $|-algebra |$\textbf {B}$|⁠, a homomorphism |$\varUpsilon ^{\mathscr {G},0}_{\boldsymbol {\alpha }}(f)\colon \textbf {Sch}_{\boldsymbol {\alpha }}(f)\longrightarrow \textbf {B}$|⁠. We then prove that there exists an endofunctor, |$\varUpsilon ^{\mathscr {G},0}_{\boldsymbol {\alpha }}$|⁠, of |$\textbf {Mor}_{\textrm {tw}}(\textbf {D})$|⁠, the twisted morphism category of |$\textbf {D}$|⁠, thus showing the naturalness of the previous construction. Afterwards, we prove that, for every |$\varSigma $|-completion |$\mathscr {G}=(\textbf {D},G,\rho )$|⁠, there exists a functor |$\varUpsilon ^{\mathscr {G}}$| from the comma category |$(\textbf {Cmpl}(\varSigma )\!\downarrow \!\mathscr {G})$| to |$\textbf {End}(\textbf {Mor}_{\textrm {tw}}(\textbf {D}))$|⁠, the category of endofunctors of |$\textbf {Mor}_{\textrm {tw}}(\textbf {D})$|⁠, such that |$\varUpsilon ^{\mathscr {G},0}$|⁠, the object mapping of |$\varUpsilon ^{\mathscr {G}}$|⁠, sends a morphism of |$\varSigma $|-completion of |$\textbf {Cmpl}(\varSigma )$| with codomain |$\mathscr {G}$|⁠, to the endofunctor |$\varUpsilon ^{\mathscr {G},0}_{\boldsymbol {\alpha }}$|⁠. (shrink)

Both in criminal law science and in the judicial practice there are a lot of discussions as to what should be considered as the beginning and end of human life. Birth and death are not instantaneous acts, but rather processes made up of time-spans that can be construed as evidence of the beginning or end of a human life. From a biological point of view the human life is a constant, continuous metabolic process after cessation of which the human life (...) also ceases. These circumstances very much aggravate the definition of criteria of the moments of beginning and end of human life. There are disagreements in the criminal law science with respect to from which moment the human life is to be protected by the criminal law. Herewith this presupposes also the other problematic question—what is to be considered a “living human” as a homicide subject (a victim). Complication of the said question is also determined by the fact that it is related not only to legal but also to medical, religious, and moral aspects. This article exactly analyses certain aspects of the beginning and end of human life in the context of the homicide composition attributes. (shrink)

The article analyzes one of the fundamental rights – the right to maintenance, which proper implementation ensures normal development of the child. This right matches with the duty of parents to maintain their minor children. Paragraph 6 of Article 38 of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania states that parents have a duty to educate their children to be honest people and loyal citizens, supporting them until adulthood. The obligation to maintain children is established in the first 3.192 Article (...) paragraph of the Civil Code of the Republic of Lithuania, and the responsibility for avoiding to maintain a child is provided in Article 164 of the Criminal Code. The article discusses the fact that the analysis of criminal law rate is not precise enough. Article 164 of the Criminal Code does not match with the child maintenance methods specified in the CC Article 3.196 paragraph 1. Since criminal liability is only for judgment in default in civil cases, a person shall only be liable for breaking the right to maintain a child, provided in the CC 3.196 paragraph 1. This article deeply analyzes the problematic qualification aspects of the avoidance to maintain a child. Some alternative ways of child maintenance are mentioned, as can be chosen from other law instruments (bailiffs, Guarantee child support fund) and it leads to the ultima ratio principle. On the other hand, it is not required to seek alternative remedies for affected interests, and it is possible to initiate a pre-trial investigation. Therefore, this article seeks to identify specific civil and criminal law rules delimitation. Avoidance of child maintenance is an ongoing crime. The main problem in legal practice is to determine an end of this ongoing criminal conduct. The practice of the Supreme Court of Lithuania is not unanimous. In some cases, the end of this ongoing conduct is considered to be a moment when the past judgment has entered into force, in other cases – the moment of indictment. These positions are criticized by many authors and it is suggested to follow the Supreme Court’s practice, according to which the moment when a judgment of conviction for the criminal act is passed should be considered as an end of an ongoing criminal conduct. (shrink)

This article refers to the main features of contemporary criminality in Lithuania. The period of analysis of those main features is 2004-2011. From 2004, a period of stable state registration of criminality, i.e. a period without significant changes in criminal laws commenced. The article deals with the analysis of spreading criminality in Lithuania, and the main socio-demographical features of persons charged with criminal offences. The registered number of criminal offences in 2011 decreased by about 15%, compared to 2004. The largest (...) decrease was recorded in 2007. Yet during the economic crisis, after 2007, the number of registered criminal offences slightly increased, however, as has already been mentioned, the registered number of criminal offences in 2011 was 15% less. Nevertheless, we must bear in mind that the changes in criminality came two-three years after certain social changes, in this case – the economic crisis. The characteristic features of the contemporary criminality in Lithuania are: the tendency of decrease in violent crimes (homicides, rapes, serious bodily injuries). During the researched period, the number of homicides decreased by 39%, of serious bodily harms – by 56%; and of rapes and attempts – by 26.5%. Another tendency is the decrease in property crimes. The most widespread property crime is theft. The registered number of thefts decreased by 25%. Among them, the registered number of car thefts decreased the most – by 65%; and the decrease of domestic burglaries amounted to 55.5%. The registered number of robberies decreased by 53%. During the researched period, destruction of or damage to property and swindling – their registered number – increased by 80% and 92% respectively. In the countries with much more developed market economy than in Lithuania (e. g. in Scandinavian countries), the indicators of those crimes are 2 to 3 times higher. This means, firstly, that in future the number of those crimes in Lithuania will increase; secondly, the decrease in violent crimes and the increase of swindling means that market economy in Lithuania has become more developed than before. In Lithuania, the number of persons charged with criminal offences during the researched period tended to decrease, but not much, only by 12%. Some socio-demographic characteristics of persons charged with criminal offences are: juveniles make up 15%; traditionally, they are men, but in contemporary criminality in Lithuania we observe a small (only by 3%) increase of women; the increase in the number of persons aged from 18 to 24 is observed, and it seems that the socio-economic situation of this age group has become more complicated; during the economic crisis in Lithuania, the number of unemployed and not studying persons increased significantly (up to 60% in the structure of all registered persons charged with criminal offences) and almost reached a problematic situation that existed during the transitional period from socialist economy to market economy, from totalitarian society to democratic society (before 2000). (shrink)