Quasi-equational logic concerns with a completeness theorem, i. e. a list of general syntactical rules such that, being given a set of graded quasi-equations Q, the closure Cl Q = Qeq Fun Q can be derived from $Q \subseteq (X:QE)$ by the given rules. Those rules do exist, because our consideration could be embedded into the logic of first order language. But, we look for special (“quasi-equational”) rules. Suitable rules were already established for the (non-functorial) case of partial algebras in (...) Definition 3.1.2 of [27], p. 108, and [28], p. 102. (For the case of total algebras, see [35].) So, one has to translate these rules to the (functorial) language of partial theories $\underline T \in \left| {\underline {\mathcal{T}h} } \right|$ .Surprisingly enough, partial theories can be replaced up to isomorphisms by partial “Dale” monoids (cf. Section 3), which, in the total case are ordinary monoids. (shrink)

Empirische Daten belegen, dass die moderne Geburtsmedizin Schwangerschaft und Gebären vorrangig als krankhaft wahrnimmt, was zu einem Legitimationsdefizit führt: Eine primär invasive Geburtsmedizin verletzt das Prinzip der Nichtschädigung, verursacht vermeidbare Kosten und ist nicht ohne weiteres durch das Autonomieprinzip gedeckt. Von den unmittelbar Beteiligten ist diese Pathologisierung als eine solche jedoch kaum wahrgenommen worden. Daher stellt sich die Frage, wie es zur sozialen Akzeptanz einer derart drastischen Wahrnehmungsverschiebung kommen konnte. Da Begriffe unsere Wahrnehmung strukturieren, interessiert uns vor allem die konzeptionelle (...) Dimension dieser geburtsmedizinischen Verkehrung des Normalen ins Krankhafte, die in einer Reflexion auf die zwei Quellen legitimen ärztlichen Handelns erkennbar wird. Sowohl der Krankheitsbegriff als auch das moderne Verständnis von Selbstbestimmung weisen eine interne Unschärfe auf, die pathologisierende Tendenzen begünstigt. Der moderne Krankheitsbegriff erschwert eine klare Abgrenzung zwischen krank und gesund. Und Autonomie ist ein mehrdeutiges Konzept, das in einer spezifischen Auslegung die Pathologisierung fördert. Da beide Konzepte ärztliches Handeln rechtfertigen, bleibt ihr delegitimierendes Potential in der Praxis unscheinbar. Erst reflexiv und polylogisch lässt sich dieser blinde Fleck beobachten, so dass eine Korrektur der Pathologisierung möglich wird. (shrink)

Quasi-equational logic concerns with a completeness theorem, i. e. a list of general syntactical rules such that, being given a set of graded quasi-equations Q, the closure Cl Q = Qeq Fun Q can be derived from by the given rules. Those rules do exist, because our consideration could be embedded into the logic of first order language. But, we look for special (quasi-equational) rules. Suitable rules were already established for the (non-functorial) case of partial algebras in Definition 3.1.2 of (...) [27], p. 108, and [28], p. 102. (For the case of total algebras, see [35].) So, one has to translate these rules to the (functorial) language of partial theories .Surprisingly enough, partial theories can be replaced up to isomorphisms by partial Dale monoids (cf. Section 3), which, in the total case are ordinary monoids. (shrink)

In der Debatte um die embryonale Stammzellenforschung führen die Verfechter der Würde des Embryos gerne eine Gemeinsamkeit von Embryonen und reversibel Komatösen an: Beide sind bloß potentiell Personen. Wenn aber Komatösen fraglos personale Würde zukommt, weshalb sollte man sie Embryonen absprechen? In ihrem AufsatzIn dubio pro embryone kombinieren G. Damschen und D. Schönecker diese Analogie mit einem Vorsichtsargument: Weil die Analogie zumindest gute Gründe für die Annahme biete, Embryonen komme eine menschliche Würde zu, sei angesichts der Schwere des möglichen Unrechts (...) die embryonale Stammzellenforschung nicht zu verantworten. Im Folgenden möchte ich darlegen, weshalb die Analogie nicht ausreicht, um ein solches Vorsichtsargument zu etablieren. In einem ersten Schritt soll gezeigt werden, wie man der Analogie begegnen kann, weshalb das entsprechende Argument also nicht zwingend ist. Um ein Vorsichtsargument zu begründen, würde es allerdings genügen, wenn die Analogie „hinlänglich plausible“ Gründe zugunsten der Würde von Embryonen liefert. In einem zweiten Schritt soll daher – aufbauend auf allgemeinen Überlegungen zum Vorsichtsargument – dargelegt werden, dass die Analogie selbst unter dieser Annahme nicht überzeugen kann. (shrink)

Neuroenhancement involves the use of neurotechnologies to improve cognitive, affective or behavioural functioning, where these are not judged to be clinically impaired. Questions about enhancement have become one of the key topics of neuroethics over the past decade. The current study draws on in-depth public engagement activities in ten European countries giving a bottom-up perspective on the ethics and desirability of enhancement. This informed the design of an online contrastive vignette experiment that was administered to representative samples of 1000 respondents (...) in the ten countries and the United States. The experiment investigated how the gender of the protagonist, his or her level of performance, the efficacy of the enhancer and the mode of enhancement affected support for neuroenhancement in both educational and employment contexts. Of these, higher efficacy and lower performance were found to increase willingness to support enhancement. A series of commonly articulated claims about the individual and societal dimensions of neuroenhancement were derived from the public engagement activities. Underlying these claims, multivariate analysis identified two social values. The Societal/protective highlights counter normative consequences and opposes the use enhancers. The Individual/proactionary highlights opportunities and supports use. For most respondents these values are not mutually exclusive. This suggests that for many neuroenhancement is viewed simultaneously as a source of both promise and concern. (shrink)

Versuche zur Geschlechtswahl bei der Befruchtung führten in jüngerer Zeit zu anwendbaren, wenngleich noch eingeschränkt erfolgssicheren Techniken. Deren ethische und rechtliche Bewertungen stehen im Mittelpunkt dieser Abhandlung. In Gesellschaften und Kulturen mit traditioneller Bevorzugung männlicher Nachkommenschaft gibt es einerseits ein starkes Interesse für die Geschlechtswahl, andererseits wird in einigen westlichen Ländern der vorgeburtlichen Geschlechtswahl sehr geringe praktische Bedeutung beigemessen. Dabei unterscheidet sich die Verfügbarkeit der entsprechenden reproduktionsmedizinischen Verfahren von freier Zugänglichkeit zu allen Methoden (Präimplantationsdiagnostik, Spermatozoentrennung usw.) des Fortpflanzungsmedizinmarkts (USA) bis (...) hin zu strenger Reglementierung (Deutschland). Es wird anhand der wissenschaftlichen Literatur der Frage nachgegangen, welche für die Begründung rechtlicher Regelung beachtlichen sozialen oder gesundheitlichen Gefährdungen durch präkonzeptionelle Geschlechtswahl verursacht werden könnten, und welche Gründe es andererseits für die Zulässigkeit sozial motivierter präkonzeptioneller Geschlechtswahl gibt. (shrink)

1980’li yıllarda uygulanan neo-liberal politikalar nedeniyle Sivil Toplum Kuruluşlarının yapmış oldukları faaliyetler önem kazanmış Sivil Toplum Kuruluşları sosyal dayanışma, sosyal yardım ve yoksulluk yardımları gibi pek çok önemli faaliyette bulunmuşlardır. Kocaeli bölgesinde faaliyet gösteren bir Sivil Toplum Kuruluşu olan Değirmendere Sualtı Topluluğu (DESSAT) sosyal sorumluluk kapsamında dezavantajlı kesim olarak nitelendirilen engellilere yönelik 2011-2013 yılları arasında SCUBA dalış eğitimi faaliyetinde bulunmuştur. Bu çalışmada; DESSAT’ın yapmış olduğu SCUBA dalış eğitimlerinin engellilerin kapasite yoksunluğuna etkileri, eğitmenlerin ve dalış faaliyetine katılan engellilerin deneyimleri ve gözlemleri (...) incelenerek belirlenmeye çalışılmıştır. Çalışmanın amacı engellilerin kapasite yoksunluğunu azaltma faaliyetlerinde Sivil Toplum Kuruluşlarının rolleri konusuna dikkat çekerek farkındalık yaratmak, SUCUBA dalış eğitimi faaliyetinin engellilerin kapasiteleri yoksunlukları üzerindeki etkilerini araştırmak ve görüş/önerilerde bulunmaktır. Çalışma nitel bir çalışma olup tematik analiz tekniği kullanılarak yapılmıştır. SCUBA dalış eğitimi faaliyetinin engellilerin kapasite yoksunluklarına etkisinin belirlenmesi maksadıyla dalış eğitmenleri ve sualtı dalışı yapan engellilerle derinlemesine görüşmeler yapılmıştır. Araştırma sonucunda engelliler ve eğitmenlerle yapılan derinlemesine görüşmelerden elde edilen bilgiler değerlendirilmiş değerlendirme sonucunda SCUBA dalış faaliyetinin engellilerin sosyalleşmesine, toplum içerisindeki diğer faaliyetlere katılmasında, kendilerini mutlu ve huzurlu hissetmelerine, özgüvenlerinin artırılmasına, yapabilirlik olarak engellerinin ortadan kaldırılmasına önemli oranda katkısı sağladığı tespit edilmiştir. Anahtar Kelimeler: Engelli, Sivil Toplum Kuruluşları, Kapasite Yoksunluğu, Yoksulluk, SCUBA. (shrink)

Neuroenhancement involves the use of neurotechnologies to improve cognitive, affective or behavioural functioning, where these are not judged to be clinically impaired. Questions about enhancement have become one of the key topics of neuroethics over the past decade. The current study draws on in-depth public engagement activities in ten European countries giving a bottom-up perspective on the ethics and desirability of enhancement. This informed the design of an online contrastive vignette experiment that was administered to representative samples of 1000 respondents (...) in the ten countries and the United States. The experiment investigated how the gender of the protagonist, his or her level of performance, the efficacy of the enhancer and the mode of enhancement affected support for neuroenhancement in both educational and employment contexts. Of these, higher efficacy and lower performance were found to increase willingness to support enhancement. A series of commonly articulated claims about the individual and societal dimensions of neuroenhancement were derived from the public engagement activities. Underlying these claims, multivariate analysis identified two social values. The Societal/Protective highlights counter normative consequences and opposes the use enhancers. The Individual/Proactionary highlights opportunities and supports use. For most respondents these values are not mutually exclusive. This suggests that for many neuroenhancement is viewed simultaneously as a source of both promise and concern. (shrink)

Overtreatment is when medical or dental services are provided with a higher volume or cost than is appropriate. This study aimed to investigate how a group of dentists in Switzerland, a wealthy country known to have high standards of healthcare including dentistry, evaluated the meaning of unnecessary treatments from an ethical perspective and, assessed the expected frequency of different possible behaviors among their peers.

This study assesses Kelsenian democratic theory.

In this thorough compendium, nineteen accomplished scholars explore, in some manner the values they find inherent in the world, their nature, and revelence through the thought of Frederick FerrZ. These essays, informed by the insights of FerrZ and coming from manifold perspectives—ethics, philosophy, theology, and environmental studies, advance an ambitious challenge to current intellectual and scholarly fashions.

Biographische Informationen Tobias Cantz leitet die Arbeitsgruppe "Translationale Hepatologie und Stammzellbiologie" im Exzellenzcluster REBIRTH. Prof. Dr. Hans-Georg Dederer lehrt Staats- und Verwaltungsrecht, Europarecht und internationales Wirtschaftsrecht an der Universität Passau. Prof. Dr. Thomas Heinemann lehrt "Ethik, Theorie und Geschichte der Medizin" an der Philosophisch-Theologischen Hochschule Vallendar.

K.E. Løgstrup opholdt sig i begyndelsen af 1930'erne i Tyskland og fulgte Martin Heideggers pronazistiske forelæsninger om sandhedens væsen i det skæbnesvangre år 1933. Da Løgstrup vendte hjem til Danmark, skrev han i 1936 tre kronikker i Dagens Nyheder om udviklingen i Tyskland. I den første kronik undersøger Løgstrup forholdet mellem Heideggers filosofi og nazismen: Er Heidegger nazismens filosof, eller er det snarere Hitler? I de øvrige to kronikker analyserer han fænomenet førerskab i forhold til dels det nazistiske diktatur, dels (...) det danske folkestyre: Udgør det politiske førerskab et ønskeligt alternativ til demokratiet med dets "Partikævl"? I denne bog belyser 12 bidrag den historiske, filosofiske, teologiske og biografiske baggrund for kronikkerne, der for nyligt var genstand for en ophedet debat. De undersøger Løgstrups stillingtagen til det nazistiske førerskab: Tilsluttede han sig det, sådan som Heidegger gjorde i en periode, fremstillede han det blot, eller lagde han afstand til det? Dermed kaster bidragene lys over den unge Løgstrups tænkning og giver et nuanceret indblik i mellemkrigstidens åndshistoriske og politiske situation, hvor Europas unge demokratier blev udfordret af forskellige former for autoritær førerdyrkelse. Løgstrup drøftede alternativet mellem førerskab og folkestyre. Kronikkerne kan derfor også i dag minde os om, at demokratiets legitimitet til stadighed må forsvares over for truslen fra autoritære styreformer og magtbegærlige demagoger. (shrink)

This paper presents a sound and complete proof system for the first order fragment of Discourse Representation Theory. Since the inferences that human language users draw from the verbal input they receive for the most transcend the capacities of such a system, it can be no more than a basis on which more powerful systems, which are capable of producing those inferences, may then be built. Nevertheless, even within the general setting of first order logic the structure of the formulas (...) of DRS-languages, i.e. of the Discourse Representation Structures suggest for the components of such a system inference rules that differ somewhat from those usually found in proof systems for the first order predicate calculus and which are, we believe, more in keeping with inference patterns that are actually employed in common sense reasoning.This is why we have decided to publish the present exercise, in spite of the fact that it is not one for which a great deal of originality could be claimed. In fact, it could be argued that the problem addressed in this paper was solved when Gödel first established the completeness of the system of Principia Mathematica for first order logic. For the DRS-languages we consider here are straightforwardly intertranslatable with standard formulations of the predicate calculus; in fact the translations are so straightforward that any sound and complete proof system for first order logic can be used as a sound and complete proof system for DRSs: simply translate the DRSs into formulas of predicate logic and then proceed as usual. As a matter of fact, this is how one has chosen to proceed in some implementations of DRT, which involve inferencing as well as semantic representation; an example is the Lex system developed jointly by IBM and the University of Tübingen ). (shrink)

In a review of my book “Wahrscheinlichkeitslehre”, Dr. Ernest Nagel has recently criticized some of my ideas on probability and induction. His review includes a good exposition of my ideas, and I have to thank him for his serious attempts to do justice to my results. He attacks, however, some very essential points of my theory. I may be allowed, therefore, to answer him as frankly and thoroughly as he attacks me.

Antallet sultne i verden har økt, selv om det kan diskuteres om det i dag er en høyere eller lavere andel som lider under sult enn for seks år siden – før matprisøkningen. Alle er uansett enige om at det samlet sett produseres nok mat i verden til at alle kan få dekket sine ernæringsbehov. Artikkelen viser at to hovedretninger i debatten om matproduksjon står mot hverandre. Den dominerende retningen fokuserer primært på matsikkerhet, forstått som økt matproduksjon og økt handel (...) med mat. Den andre retningen argumenterer for at interessene og rettighetene for de mest sårbare må ha forrang i politiske prioriteringer, og at de sårbare sikres best med en strategi basert på menneskerettigheter. Artikkelen drøfter landfordeling, økt bruk av genteknologi i landbruket og nedbygging av handelshindre for landbruksprodukter. Industrialisering av landbruket og liberalisering av handelen med landbruksvarer kan gi gode resultater på makronivå – på kort sikt. Dersom målet er å fremme situasjonen for de mest sårbare og samtidig møte klimautfordringene er løsningen en nedenfra-tilnærming, som til nå er blitt ignorert av de fleste stater.Nøkkelord: retten til mat, matsikkerhet, klima, Verdens handelsorganisasjon, FNs tusenårsmålEnglish summary: The struggle over food intake and food productionThe number of hungry persons in the world has increased – although it is debatable whether there is currently a higher or lower proportion of suffering from hunger than six years ago – before the food price increases. All agree that the overall production of food in the world is adequate for everyone's nutritional needs. The article demonstrates that there are two main approaches in the debate on food production. The dominant approach focuses primarily on food security, understood as increased food production and increased food trade. The other approach argues that the interests and rights of the most vulnerable must prevail, and that improvements for the vulnerable are best ensured with a strategy based on human rights. The article analyzes land distribution, increased use of genetic technology in agriculture and reduction of trade barriers for agricultural products. Industrialization of agriculture and the liberalization of trade in agricultural products can provide good results at the macro level – in the short term. If the goal is to promote the situation of the most vulnerable and at the same time addressing climate change, the solution is a bottom-up approach, which until now has been ignored by most states. (shrink)

"Constantin Brunner (1862-1937) was a philosopher of considerable originality and importance to whom all too little attention has been paid until quite recently." "This book presents an outline of Brunner's life and personality, then proceeds to relate his philosophy to that of Plato, Spinoza, Kant, Hegel, Schopenhauer, Husserl, and Heidegger. There follows an analysis of Brunner's theory of knowledge, the framework of a complete philosophic system which, in many of Brunner's ideas, shows a similarity to that of his contemporary F. (...) H. Bradley, often regarded as one of the greatest English philosophers." "The themes in Brunner's work that Dr. Goetz pursues include: the synthesis of feeling, knowing, and willing; the question of objective knowledge; the relationship between life and thought; the proper understanding of "egoism"; and the ultimate goal of philosophy. Devotees of Husserl and existentialists of various types may be surprised to discover just how far Brunner anticipated the major thinkers in the field of phenomenology."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved. (shrink)

Es ist auffallend, dass beim Marxismus die Diskussion über die Dialektik in der Natur nicht aufhört, obwohl über 100 Jahre vergangen sind, seit die Klassiker des Marxismus Hegels Begriffsdialektik auf die Füsse gestellt haben. Bei der Dialektik scheint es offenbar Schwierigkeiten und Mehrdeutigkeiten zu geben, die bis heute noch nicht befriedigend gelöst sind. Dies zeigt ein vor kurzem erschienenes Buch: Rosza Varrò Dialektik in der lebenden Natur, ursprünglich herausgegeben in Budapest, ins Deutsche übersetzt von Frau Dr. Gy. Szäsz als Gemeinschaftsausgabe (...) des VEB Gustav‐Fischer‐Verlag, Jena und der Akadémiai Kiadó Budapest 1979. Der Zweck ist, Bedenken gegen die Naturdialektik zu zerstreuen und aus biologischen Erkenntnissen die Gültigkeit des Widerspruchsgesetz als oberstes Gesetz des Weltgeschehens aufzu‐weisen. Die Aufgabe dieses Aufsatzes ist es, den Gedankengang der Autorin nachzu‐vollziehen und sachlich zu kritisieren. Vielleicht lässt sich dadurch eine fruchtbare Diskussion auf der Ebene der Philosophie erreichen. Zunächst soil herausgestellt werden, was unter Dialektik und Widerspruch beim Marxismus verstanden wird. (shrink)