My paper proposes the concept of relational work to explain economic activity. In all economic action, I argue, people engage in the process of differentiating meaningful social relations. For each distinct category of social relations, people erect a boundary, mark the boundary by means of names and practices, establish a set of distinctive understandings that operate within that boundary, designate certain sorts of economic transactions as appropriate for the relation, bar other transactions as inappropriate, and adopt certain media for reckoning (...) and facilitating economic transactions within the relation. I call that process relational work. After identifying specific elements of a relational work approach, the paper focuses on the case of monetary differentiation. It compares a relational work theory of earmarking money with behavioral economics’ individually based mental accounting approach. (shrink)

Over the past three decades, economic sociology has been revealing how culture shapes economic life even while economic facts affect social relationships. This work has transformed the field into a flourishing and increasingly influential discipline. No one has played a greater role in this development than Viviana Zelizer, one of the world's leading sociologists. Economic Lives synthesizes and extends her most important work to date, demonstrating the full breadth and range of her field-defining contributions in a single volume for (...) the first time. Economic Lives shows how shared cultural understandings and interpersonal relations shape everyday economic activities. Far from being simple responses to narrow individual incentives and preferences, economic actions emerge, persist, and are transformed by our relations to others. Distilling three decades of research, the book offers a distinctive vision of economic activity that brings out the hidden meanings and social actions behind the supposedly impersonal worlds of production, consumption, and asset transfer. Economic Lives ranges broadly from life insurance marketing, corporate ethics, household budgets, and migrant remittances to caring labor, workplace romance, baby markets, and payments for sex. These examples demonstrate an alternative approach to explaining how we manage economic activity--as well as a different way of understanding why conventional economic theory has proved incapable of predicting or responding to recent economic crises. Providing an important perspective on the recent past and possible futures of a growing field, Economic Lives promises to be widely read and discussed. (shrink)

What is the role of language in human cognition? Could we attain self-consciousness and construct our civilisation without language? Such were the questions at the basis of eighteenth-century debates on the joint evolution of language, mind, and culture. Language and Enlightenment highlights the importance of language in the social theory, epistemology, and aesthetics of the Enlightenment. While focusing on the Berlin Academy under Frederick the Great, Avi Lifschitz situates the Berlin debates within a larger temporal and geographical framework. He (...) argues that awareness of the historicity and linguistic rootedness of all forms of life was a mainstream Enlightenment notion rather than a feature of the so-called 'Counter-Enlightenment'. -/- Enlightenment authors of different persuasions investigated whether speechless human beings could have developed their language and society on their own. Such inquiries usually pondered the difficult shift from natural signs like cries and gestures to the artificial, articulate words of human language. This transition from nature to artifice was mirrored in other domains of inquiry, such as the origins of social relations, inequality, the arts and the sciences. By examining a wide variety of authors - Leibniz, Wolff, Condillac, Rousseau, Michaelis, and Herder, among others - Language and Enlightenment emphasises the open and malleable character of the eighteenth-century Republic of Letters. The language debates demonstrate that German theories of culture and language were not merely a rejection of French ideas. New notions of the genius of language and its role in cognition were constructed through a complex interaction with cross-European currents, especially via the prize contests at the Berlin Academy. (shrink)

En esta breve reflexión nos centraremos en dos aspectos de la frase poética, el primero es el ritmo y el segundo, la metáfora. Nos referiremos al ritmo como imagen, musicalidad y sentido que trasciende la métrica, y a la metáfora como figura de pensamiento y vehículo para ingresar en una nueva percepción del mundo. El análisis de estos dos elementos propicia un acercamiento hermenéutico al poema como un devenir.

Changemaker Education is a collection of practitioner-based case studies that highlight the why, what, and how of empowering educational experiences.

Natural sociability and the basic features of human nature stood at the centre of Thomas Abbt's confrontation with conjectural history, the popular eighteenth-century mode of reconstructing the evolution of human culture. Abbt (1738–1766) criticised conjectural histories due to their arbitrary character, and opted for a synthetic approach consisting of both sacred and secular history. He suggested that the anthropology of Genesis should be accepted as the starting point for a conjectural history, since it left ample room for further questions and (...) speculations. Yet his own perspective on human nature and its evolution remained naturalistic, as attested by his divergent interpretations of the confusion of tongues at Babel. Attempting to shed new light on the lesser-known elements of Abbt's work, the essay links his views on the Bible and conjectural history to his debate with Moses Mendelssohn over the constitution and destination of man. In this debate, both Mendelssohn and Abbt dealt with the contemporary controversy over the natural or artificial character of sociability, self-interest, and fellow-feeling. (shrink)

Answer set programming (ASP) is a form of declarative programming oriented towards difficult search problems. As an outgrowth of research on the use of nonmonotonic reasoning in knowledge representation, it is particularly useful in knowledge-intensive applications. ASP programs consist of rules that look like Prolog rules, but the computational mechanisms used in ASP are different: they are based on the ideas that have led to the creation of fast satisfiability solvers for propositional logic.

Questo studio investiga quali siano i punti di contatto tra il filosofo tedesco Friedrich Nietzsche e lo scrittore svedese Hjalmar Söderberg nel romanzo di quest’ultimo Doktor Glas. L’articolo prende in esame due testi nietzschiani finora poco messi in relazione con l’opera söderberghiana, Über Wahrheit und Lüge im außermoralischen Sinne e Die fröhliche Wissenschaft, evidenziando gli influssi che il pensiero del filosofo tedesco ha esercitato sulla concezione del Doktor Glas. L’analisi prende le mosse dai concetti di menzogna e conoscenza così come (...) formulati in Über Wahrheit und Lüge im außermoralischen Sinne e dal concetto di “morte di Dio”, identificando in quest’ultimo il crollo della metafisica nel pensiero filosofico europeo a partire dalla rivoluzione copernicana. Il saggio illustra come a questo cambiamento sia sopraggiunto lo svilupparsi di una nuova sensibilità tecnico-scientifica legata alla physis, cambiamento che vede nella figura del medico il suo massimo esponente. L’articolo mette dunque in luce come nel Doktor Glas il passaggio dalla metafisica alla physis venga rappresentato come un momento di crisi esistenziale, non avendo il medico la capacità di superare il trauma della perdita della metafisica. Quest’incapacità è causata dalla conoscenza, la quale se offre la possibilità di scoprire le menzogne usate dalla società, non consente però di trovare lo stimolo per superare la condizione di vuoto causata dalla “morte di Dio”. Söderberg fornisce dunque nel suo romanzo un’interpretazione pessimistica della crisi di Fin de siècle, inquadrando nella paralisi interiore del dottor Tyko Gabriel Glas e l’omicidio inconcludente del pastore Gregorius il fallimento del passaggio dal paradigma metafisico al paradigma della physis e l’impossibilità di superare la crisi tramite una metamorfosi nella condizione di Übermensch. (shrink)

La distinción sexo-género, introducida en la teorización feminista de los años setenta, habría puesto de manifiesto la pertinencia de distinguir entre el sexo y las representaciones socio-culturales e identitarias en las que aquel encontraría su despliegue. De la mano de Judith Butler, la teoría queer parece haber llevado esta distinción hasta el extremo, al sostener que existiría una discontinuidad radical entre los cuerpos sexuados y los géneros culturalmente construidos, y proponer una concepción performativa del género, que pondría de relieve el (...) papel central del sujeto en la configuración de su propia identidad. Sujeto que, sin embargo, ya no sería reconocido como mujer o como hombre, pues toda categoría referente a la distinción entre los sexos o entre los géneros binarios (masculino-femenino) habría sido cuestionada de forma radical. A partir de una aproximación a la distinción inicial sexo-género en el marco del debate feminista y de sus antecedentes, el objeto de este trabajo es indagar cómo se plantea esta distinción en una de las obras emblemáticas y pioneras de la filósofa norteamericana Judith Butler ―Gender Trouble―, a fin de abrir algunas líneas de discusión en torno a las aportaciones y limitaciones que habría traído consigo un discurso que nos confronta con la pregunta fundamental por la configuración de la identidad sexual y de género de la persona. (shrink)

Este artículo presenta un análisis teórico de la incorporación del concepto de interseccionalidad en el discurso jurídico, para posteriormente, adentrarse al estudio de las iniciativas de norma constitucional que buscan consagrarlo en la propuesta de nueva Constitución de Chile.

This is a review of some of the definitions of the concept of a stable model that have been proposed in the literature. These definitions are equivalent to each other, at least when applied to traditional Prologstyle programs, but there are reasons why each of them is valuable and interesting. A new characterization of stable models can suggest an alternative picture of the intuitive meaning of logic programs; or it can lead to new algorithms for generating stable models; or it (...) can work better than others when we turn to generalizations of the traditional syntax that are important from the perspective of answer set programming; or it can be more convenient for use in proofs; or it can be interesting simply because it demonstrates a relationship between seemingly unrelated ideas. (shrink)

The Epicurean account of the origin of language appealed to eighteenth-century thinkers who tried to reconcile a natural history of language with

the biblical account of Adamic name-giving. As a third way between Aristotelian linguistic conventionality and what was perceived as a Platonic supernatural congruence between words and things, Epicurus’

theory allowed for a measure of contingency to emerge in the evolution of initially natural signs. This hypothesis was taken up by authors as different from one another as Leibniz, Vico, Condillac and (...) Mendelssohn. By integrating the Epicurean account of language into their own theories, however, these authors also revived the tensions inherent in the ancient thesis and had to confront the ensuing difficulties in innovative ways. (shrink)

Este trabajo se propone examinar algunas características de la máscara del coquus en el corpus plautino. En primer término, se estudia el modo en que este personaje, a partir de las referencias al castigo físico y a la pasividad sexual, es construido como un cuerpo subordinado al servicio de otros. Luego, se consideran sus apariciones como ladrón y como proveedor de placeres corporales. Proponemos que la forma en que los cocineros son representados en la palliata de Plauto pone en evidencia (...) el vínculo que la axiología republicana establece entre actores sociales subalternos, corporalidad y amenaza a los mores maiorum. This paper examines some characteristics of the coquus mask in the plautine corpus. First, we study how this character, from references to physical punishment and sexual passivity, is built as a subordinate body to the service of others. Then, we consider his appearances as a thief and a provider of bodily pleasures. We propose that the way cooks are represented in Plautus' palliata shows us the link established by Republican axiology between subaltern social actors, body and threat to mores maiorum. (shrink)

Este trabajo se enmarca dentro del análisis de las acciones alternativas a la privación de libertad en adolescentes infractores a la ley penal. Intenta buscar soluciones que eviten la cárcel para quienes cometan pequeños delitos, opción que puede disminuir el índice de reincidencias. El objetivo es promover, desde el Trabajo Social, una doble reflexión: primero, analizando críticamente el concepto de delito, su definición en las diversas corrientes ideológicas y su aplicación en la legislación argentina; y segundo, la importancia de que (...) los jóvenes se responsabilicen de sus actos y experimenten caminos alternativos al delito.This work places inside the analysis of the alternative actions to the privation of freedom in inobservant teenagers to the penal law. It tries to look for solutions that avoid the jail for those who commit small crimes, option that can diminish the index of repetitions. The aim is to promote, from the Social Work, a double reflection: first, analyzing critically the concept of crime, his definition in the diverse ideological currents and his application in the argentine legislation; and second, the importance of which the young men take responsibility of his acts and experience alternative ways to the crime. (shrink)

El artículo se propone caracterizar la Extensión Crítica, como una alternativa modalidad emergente, desde una perspectiva epistemológica. Caracteriza al conocimiento propio de la misma como orientado por un interés emancipador, lo que supone procesos de autorreflexión, concientización, crítica ideológica y praxis. Es un conocimiento práctico para la acción y que se construye en y desde la acción. Su modo de producción propone una epistemología que reconoce al otro como sujeto cognoscente y legitima reflexivamente sus saberes silenciados, proponiendo incluir el punto (...) de visa de los excluidos y, por lo tanto, una epistemología extendida, que articula conocimientos experienciales, proposicionales, representacionales y prácticos, así como científicos, populares, cotidianos y nativos. La complejidad de los problemas socio-políticos abordados desde la Extensión Crítica interpela a abordajes interdisciplinares y a la conformación de comunidades de prácticas. Finalmente, se proponen otros criterios de validación de este tipo de conocimiento, diferentes a los considerados en el campo de la extensión clásica: validez comunicativa, operatividad pragmática, empoderamiento, congruencia entre diferentes tipos de conocimiento y credibilidad. (shrink)

Comentarios sobre "Demographic Behaviour and Behaviour Genetics o Comportement démographique et génetique du comportement", de Atam Vetta y Daniel Courgeau*.

La relación entre el arte y la naturaleza fue concebida a lo largo de más de veinte siglos en los términos que Aristóteles estableció mediante el principio téchne mimeîtai phúsin, el cual tradicionalmente se tradujo como “el arte imita a la naturaleza”. Mediante el presente artículo propongo reevaluar la formulación completa del principio aristotélico con el propósito de entender que éste no solo refiere a la similitud y/o analogía entre las habilidades humanas y la naturaleza, sino también al papel complementario (...) que estas desempeñan respecto de la naturaleza. En la primera parte del trabajo, examino las distintas enunciaciones del principio atestiguadas en el corpus. En la segunda, analizo la función que la política y su principal herramienta, la educación, cumplen respecto de la naturaleza. (shrink)

Sebbene la ricchezza espressiva e la versatilità della scrittura di J.M. Coetzee si prestino ad una varietà di studi e considerazioni che riescono a coinvolgere molteplici discipline, solo i saggi che compongono il presente volume si impongono come un primo importante studio volto a comprendere, in maniera più sistematica, l’ampia pluralità di voci che caratterizza la critica coetziana. Il volume, dunque, riesce a superare le analisi meramente settoriali e unilaterali perché, cogliendo le pro...

From the late seventeenth century to the middle of the eighteenth, an important shift occurred in attitudes to the arbitrariness of the first human words. While authors such as Locke and Pufendorf emphasized linguistic arbitrariness and human liberty, mid-eighteenth-century thinkers highlighted the natural aspects of language and the limited scope of freedom and reason. This change is linked to the contemporary view of the cultural world as a natural artifice, strongly molded by social and environmental factors. The article highlights hitherto (...) neglected similarities between Leibniz’s ideas on language and mid-eighteenth-century theories, by contrast to the usual focus on Locke. (shrink)

(Click here for selected papers published before 1996, and here for papers published after 2000.) V. Lifschitz, Foundations of logic programming ," in Principles of Knowledge Representation , CSLI Publications, 1996, pp. 69-127. E. Giunchiglia, N. Kartha and V. Lifschitz, Representing action: indeterminacy and ramifications ," Artificial Intelligence , Vol. 95, 1997, pp. 409-443. V. Lifschitz, On the logic of causal explanation ," Artificial Intelligence , Vol. 96, 1997, pp. 451-465. V. Lifschitz, Two components of an (...) action language ," Annals of Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence , Vol. 21, 1997, pp. 305-320. V. Lifschitz, Situation calculus and causal logic ," in Proceedings of the Sixth International Conference on Principles of Knowledge Representation and Reasoning, 1998, pp. 536-646. (shrink)

(Click here for the papers published between 1996 and 2000, and here for more recent papers.) V. Lifschitz, On the semantics of STRIPS ," in: Reasoning about Actions and Plans , 1987, pp. 1-9. M. Gelfond and V. Lifschitz, The stable model semantics for logic programming ," in Logic Programming: Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference and Symposium , 1988, pp. 1070-1080.

Nonmonotonic causal logic is a knowledge representation language designed for describing domains that involve actions and change. The process of literal completion, similar to program completion familiar from the theory of logic programming, can be used to translate some nonmonotonic causal theories into classical logic. Its applicability is restricted, however, to theories that deal with truth-valued fluents, represented by predicate symbols. In this note we introduce functional completion—a more general process that can be applied to causal theories in which fluents (...) are treated as functions. (shrink)

ABSTRACT Nanotechnologies are an expression of the human ability to control and manipulate matter on a very small scale. Their use will enable an even and constant monitoring of human organisms, in a new and perhaps less invasive way. Debates at all levels – national, European and international – have pointed out the common difficulty of giving a complete, clear definition of nanotechnologies. This is primarily due to the variety of their components, to the fact that there is not just (...) one technology but several. The most significant medical applications of nanotechnologies are in the diagnostic and the therapeutic fields, eg biosensors and molecular imaging, providing diagnosis and drug delivery with no invasive methods involved. Like any other emerging field, such technologies imply new possibilities for improving health but, on the other hand, they are still at an experimental stage and therefore should be implemented under rigorous safety testing before going on general release. For this purpose, the ethical, legal and social implications (ELSI) of nanotechnologies have been elaborated by study groups, in order to develop solutions before the results of the tests are diffused into medical practice. The aim of this paper is to define some of the ethical issues concerning biomedical applications and to evaluate whether there is a need for new or additional guidelines and regulations. (shrink)

The European framework surrounding clinical trials on medicinal products for human use is going to change as demonstrated by the large debate at European institutional level. One of the major challenges is to overcome the lack of harmonisation of clinical trial procedures among countries. This aspect is gaining more and more importance, considering the increasing number of multicentre and multinational studies. In this work, the actual European rules governing the Clinical Trial Application have been analysed throughout the different steps including (...) the registration of the trial in the European database; the preparation of documents to be submitted and their contents; the preparation of documents related to the information and consent process; the submission to competent bodies. Specific issues related to paediatric research and trials involving non EU/EEA countries have been addressed as well. Results reveal that the European legislation offers a well defined set of European rules covering different aspects of a Clinical Trial Application. However, these are not suitable to meet the challenges from multicentre and multinational clinical studies. A stronger set of rules, such as is available in a composite European Regulation has been adopted and is expected to harmonise practices and enable sponsors to carry out well conducted trials. But will the new regulation overcome the existing criticisms of Directive 2001/20/EC? (shrink)

in Handbook of Knowledge representation, Elsevier, 2008.

La metafora della luce di origine dionisiana esaminata come strumento di conoscenza che si traduce in pratica di vita.

This note is about the “calculational style” of presenting proofs introduced by Dijkstra and Scholten and adopted in some books on theoretical computer science. We define the concept of a calculation, which is a formal counterpart of the idea of a calculational proof. The definition is in terms of a new formalization DS of predicate logic. Any proof tree in the system DS can be represented as a sequence of calculations. This fact shows that any logically valid predicate formula has (...) a calculational proof. (shrink)

structures, or interpretations, in the sense of first-order logic. In C+, on the other hand, a state is an interpreta-.