The Purpose in Life Test is a measure of purpose in life widely used in many cultures and countries; however, cross-cultural assessments are scarce. The present study aimed to evaluate the cross-cultural measurement invariance of the PIL in the general population of seven Latin American countries. A total of 4306 people participated, selected by non-probabilistic convenience sampling, where Uruguay has the highest mean age ; while Ecuador has the lowest mean age. Furthermore, in each country, there is a higher proportion (...) of women than men. Using Multi-Group Confirmatory Factor Analysis, the factorial structure does not show evidence of invariance among the included countries. However, based on the Multi-Group Factor Analysis Alignment, there is evidence that a three-dimensional structure of the PIL is the same in the participating countries. Results based on item response theory indicate that most PIL items can significantly differentiate responses according to the level of life purpose. In addition, people with low life purpose will tend to choose the lower response alternatives on the PIL; while people with higher life purpose will choose higher response alternatives. The findings indicate that the PIL has the potential to increase knowledge about how people conceive and experience their purpose in life in different countries. (shrink)

Resumen: Los niveles de concreción paradigmáticos, se estudian a través de aspectos como: la ontología, la epistemología y la metodología, cada uno delineado conforme a los diferentes paradigmas según sea el caso: positivista, post positivista o interpretativo, constructivista y el socio crítico. El estudio presente propone reflexionar sobre los paradigmas de la investigación científica considerando las características importantes de la complejidad del objeto de estudio en aplicación al paradigma o paradigmas, concluyendo que a través del uso de la geometría fractal (...) los diferentes elementos obtenidos de la investigación presentan resultados que sintetizan la realidad compleja para tener una visión sistémica generando conocimientos de manera holística. (shrink)

René Descartes (1596-1650) em sua obra “Méditations sur la Philosophie Prémière” apresenta uma avaliação crítica do conhecimento através da escolha de um método que lhe permite duvidar de forma radical e hiperbólica do conhecimento de todas as coisas. Neste artigo veremos como tal atividade racional-reflexiva, que recebeu o nome de dúvida metódica, se desenvolve. Através da análise minuciosa da Primeira, Segunda e Sexta Meditação, mostraremos os passos dados pelo filósofo em questão a fim de demonstrar como este método inaugurou (...) uma perspectiva de reflexão introspectiva que permitiu a construção da crença em um “eu” que, enquanto sujeito do conhecimento, é o único responsável pelos processos cognitivos. (shrink)

This work compares the views of René Descartes and Isaac Newton on the nature of gravitation and the possibility of direct action at a distance. In his early writings, Newton tried to find mechanical explanations of gravitation, but could not find any acceptable model. For that reason he preferred to avoid any mechanical explanation. He admitted that the existence of gravitation could be justified by induction, and used it to explain and to predict several phenomena, although gravitation itself was (...) not explained. Descartes, on the other side, tried to explain gravity and the motion of planets using a mechanical model that accepted the existence of vortices of invisible matter. He criticized authors of his time, such as Roberval, who tried to introduce action at a distance. Descartes argued that this would require that brute matter should be endowed with soul and intelligence. This article analyses the arguments of several authors (before and after Descartes) and concludes that Descartes' criticism of action at a distance is valid. RESUMO: Este trabalho discute as posições de René Descartes e Isaac Newton frente à natureza da gravitação e à possibilidade de ações diretas à distância. Newton procurou inicialmente explicações mecânicas da gravitação, porém, não encontrando nenhum modelo aceitável, preferiu não propor nenhuma explicação. Admitindo que a existência da gravitação era justificada pela indução, ele a utilizou para explicar e prever muitos fenômenos, sem que ela própria fosse, no entanto, explicada. Descartes, por sua vez, tentou explicar a gravidade e os movimentos dos planetas a partir de um modelo mecânico de um vórtice de matéria invisível, criticando duramente autores de sua época que, como Roberval, tentaram introduzir a idéia de ação à distância, pois isso exigiria atribuir-se alma e inteligência à matéria bruta. Estudando os argumentos de vários outros autores anteriores e posteriores a Descartes, o artigo defende a posição de Descartes. (shrink)

ResumoEsse artigo propõe um contraponto entre a teoria mimética de René Girard, as considerações freudianas sobre sujeito e a obra de Oswald de Andrade. O sujeito mimético coincide com o sujeito antropofágico oswaldiano, pois idêntica divisa poderia defini-los, transformando o alheio em próprio, e transformá-lo a tal ponto que as fronteiras entre o eu e o outro se confundem. Cada um a seu modo, Oswald de Andrade e René Girard assimilaram criativamente a lição freudiana, especialmente a (...) leitura de Totem e Tabu (1913). O pensador e poeta brasileiro inverteu os termos da equação, descobrindo “a transformação permanente do Tabu em totem”.Palavras-chave: Teoria Mimética Girardiana. Sujeito Mimético. Antropofagia em Oswald de Andrade. Totem e Tabu. AbstractThis article proposes a comparison among René Girard’s mimetic theory, Freudian assumptions on the self and Oswald de Andrade’s work. The mimetic self coincides with the Oswaldian anthropophagic subject, since the identical division could define them, transforming the other in the self, and transform it in such a way that the limits between the self and the other can be confused. Each one in his own way, Oswald de Andrade and René Girard assimilated creatively Freud’s lesson, especially the reading of Totem and Taboo (1913). The thinker and Brazilian poet inverted the terms in the formula, descovering ‘the permanent transformation of the Taboo in totem.’Keywords: Girardian Mimetic Theory. Mimetic Self. Anthropophagy in Oswald de Andrade. Totem and Taboo. (shrink)

Neste artigo, colocamos a questão sobre o estatuto da Física no pensamento de René Descartes em meio a duas leituras divergentes. De um lado, apresentamos e criticamos a interpretação idealista de Martial Gueroult em torno do problema e, noutra perspectiva, apresentamos e defendemos a interpretação realista-pragmática, de Zeljko Loparic e Érico Andrade, como sendo a mais adequada para se compreender a natureza da física no pensamento cartesiano. O objetivo central é saber como Descartes concebe a sua própria ciência (...) hipotética frente às exigências metodológicas que ele mesmo extrai da matemática. Após entendermos em que medida a relação entre metafísica, matemática e física não ocorre de modo pacífico no interior do sistema cartesiano, passamos ao tratamento específico das duas interpretações, destacando seus respectivos compromissos filosóficos e suas diferentes escolhas textuais. Apesar da vasta literatura especializada sobre a obra de Descartes, no Brasil, o debate em torno da ciência cartesiana ainda é incipiente quando comparamos com a quantidade de artigos e livros que priorizam os temas clássicos da sua metafísica. Com o intuito de diminuir tal lacuna, retomamos este tema específico do pensamento de Descartes, explicitando as mediações e problematizações que lhe são inerentes. (shrink)

Este ensayo critica la postura del multiculturalismo, movimiento filosóficopolítico en boga que defiende la igualdad de las culturas, pero ésta no está implicada en la igualdad natural de los hombres, y el relativismo, que defiende la igualdad de las culturas, es problemático desde un punto de vista lógico. La noción misma de igualdad llevaría a la conclusión paradójica de que las sociedades igualitarias son superiores a las sociedades jerárquicas. Igualmente, amerita destacar la singularidad de Occidente respecto a otras culturas. Pero (...) el rechazo a la igualdad de las culturas, no excluye una forma limitada de multiculturalismo posible aún. (shrink)

Occupational health remains neglected in developing countries because of competing social, economic and political challenges. Ethical issues in the workplace related to the hazards and risks of becoming infected by Leishmania (Leishmania) mexicana , through the bite of naturally infected sand flies, is another area of concern that has been neglected as well. We report here the results of reviewing two entomological field studies carried out in our research center from 2003 to 2006. Eight students from our School of Biology (...) were invited to catch sand flies. A total of six of the eight (75%) developed a typical clinical picture of Localized Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (LCL) caused by L. (L.) mexicana . In this article we identify the ethical issues related to these kinds of studies and propose some guidelines for conducting them. (shrink)

The work fulfill two purposes. The broad objective is to relativize the division between structuralism and its alleged overcoming or continuation, with post-structuralism. This takes place within a specific procedure: the way in which Saussure develops and precedes importante theses to Deleuze's philosophy of difference. It begins with the critic that Deleuze addresses to the structuralism of the former, as unable to grasp both the differentiation and the organization of the various forms of experience. The focus on Saussure is due (...) to the fact that Deleuze considers him a discoverer of the difference in the realm of language, although he insists on reading it in oppositive and, therefore, negative terms. A “discoverer that covers-up” what he finds, it can be said, that brings to light the differential dynamics of meaning and, at the same time, covers it with the traditional image of thought that is subordinated to identity. Next, it will be clear how this reading does not consider the true positions of the philosophy of language elaborated by Saussure, and that it must be far removed from some of his reputable heirs and followers. The conclusion is that the theory of value focused on the linguistic system precedes the differential theory of the faculties that Deleuze employs to understand each of the structures of our existence. (shrink)

1. Martinho de Mendonça de Pina e Proença Homem.

Abstract This paper describes the early history of magnetochemistry: the search for chemical effects of magnetism in the nineteenth century. Some early researchers, such as Johann Wilhelm Ritter, attempted to reproduce with magnets the effects that had been produced by electricity and Volta’s battery. For several decades, researchers successively reported positive results and denied claims concerning the effect of magnetism in oxidation, electrolysis, reduction of metals from saline solutions, crystallisation, change of colour of vegetable tinctures and other chemical reactions. In (...) the two last decades of the nineteenth century some effects were accepted as real, and a thermodynamic theory of the influence of magnetic fields upon chemical reactions was developed. Finally, Dragomir Hurmuzescu was able to create reproducible experiments and measured the electromotive force between two electrodes, with or without the presence of magnetic fields, confirming the existence of the phenomenon and obtaining results compatible with the theoretical predictions. Afterwards, this magnetochemical effect was accepted as real, but the effect was weak and its practical importance was negligible. The subject was gradually forgotten. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-26 DOI 10.1007/s10698-011-9127-8 Authors Roberto de Andrade Martins, Department of Physics, State University of Paraiba, Campina Grande, PB, Brazil Journal Foundations of Chemistry Online ISSN 1572-8463 Print ISSN 1386-4238. (shrink)

This article studies the mathematical properties of two systems that model Aristotle's original syllogistic and the relationship obtaining between them. These systems are Corcoran's natural deduction syllogistic and ?ukasiewicz's axiomatization of the syllogistic. We show that by translating the former into a first-order theory, which we call T RD, we can establish a precise relationship between the two systems. We prove within the framework of first-order logic a number of logical properties about T RD that bear upon the same properties (...) of the natural deduction counterpart ? that is, Corcoran's system. Moreover, the first-order logic framework that we work with allows us to understand how complicated the semantics of the syllogistic is in providing us with examples of bizarre, unexpected interpretations of the syllogistic rules. Finally, we provide a first attempt at finding the structure of that semantics, reducing the search to the characterization of the class of models of T RD. (shrink)

La tesis de este artículo es que el mal banal se refiere a una conciencia deformada. Las obras de la misma Arendt dan lugar a una comprensión así del mal banal. Aunque distintos autores han subrayado la importancia de la conciencia en la formación de la banalidad del mal, ninguno ha optado por definirla de esta manera hasta donde se ve. Tampoco lo hizo Arendt, según se sabe. La filósofa alemana liga pensamiento y conciencia; entiende a esta como un subproducto (...) de aquel. Por eso no puede abandonarse la otra definición del mal banal, aquella que lo relaciona con la incapacidad para pensar. Arendt privilegia esta definición y no concluye la otra. Sin embargo, el pensamiento, tal como lo entiende Arendt, en su función de apartar al hombre del mal y juzgar los hechos de la experiencia, viene a semejarse a la conciencia, ya que esta tiene también este cometido. Además, la conciencia opera de manera dialógica, al modo como Arendt plantea que lo hace el pensar. Arendt no aclara cómo el pensar conduce al hombre a la verdad moral sobre sus actos, ni cómo aquel puede desvirtuarse. Tampoco indaga a profundidad en la conciencia. Todo esto ha motivado que se la interprete desde santo Tomás, en quien pueden hallarse algunos aportes claves para resolver algunas preguntas que Arendt dejó abiertas sobre el mal banal. (shrink)

Sistencia surge como categoría ontológica que permite dar sustento a los entes y relacionarlos con el ser sin por ello perder la condición de cada uno de ellos. Dios se presenta como ser trascedente; y el humano y el mundo, como seres dependientes del ser en sí mismo. Palabras Clave: ontología, Dios, humano, mundo, existencia.

Este trabalho pretende oferecer uma exposição e caracterização de certas marcas do Idealismo Transcendental presente na primeira Crítica de Kant. Para a realização dos presentes propósitos teremos como apoio algumas passagens do Prefácio à segunda edição da Crítica da razão pura, determinados pontos da Estética Transcendental, bem como tomaremos enquanto base de nossas reflexões a sexta seção da antinomia da razão pura, presente na Crítica da razão pura, denominada de “O idealismo transcendental como chave para a solução da dialética cosmológica”. (...) Entendemos que Kant apresenta, nessa parte de sua Crítica, a caracterização específica e a peculiaridade decisiva do Idealismo Transcendental da Crítica da razão pura. Nossa investigação seguirá as seguintes etapas: i) apresentação da Revolução Copernicana em filosofia proposta por Kant, pois consideramos tal revolução – a mudança de método e no modo de pensar o conhecimento em geral, bem como, em específico, o conhecimento metafísico – o primeiro passo do filósofo em direção ao seu idealismo; ii) elucidação de algumas das conseqüências que Kant extrai das considerações realizadas por ele acerca do espaço e do tempo na Estética Transcendental, as quais assinalam, como diz Kant, a “prova direta” do idealismo transcendental, ou seja, da idealidade transcendental dos fenômenos; iii) análise e exposição da já citada sexta seção, na qual Kant oferece o que pensamos ser uma caracterização propriamente dita do Idealismo Transcendental da Crítica da razão pura, isto é, o tipo particular de idealidade que Kant atribui a todos os objetos do nosso conhecimento. (shrink)

In this in ter view, the pres ti gious an thro - pol o gist, his to rian and T.V. anaouncer, Alan Macfarlane com ments on some of the is sues that have been ad dressed in his writ ings. His main the o ret i cal con cern has been to study the pe cu - liar con di tions that gave rise to the mod e..

Através de narrativas sobre as práticas de uma professora brasileira, esta investigação busca pensar como docentes e discentes produzem currículos em seus cotidianos. Com a professora de artes, Cristiane Costa, e com apoio em Michel de Certeau, Henri Lefebvre entre outros, busco desenvolver uma discussão sobre os estudos dos cotidianos, propondo-me compreender algumas possibilidades das táticas cotidianas de aprenderensinar.

[1] Filosofia viva -- [2] Filosofia e arte -- [3] Vida filosófica.

El siguiente artículo tiene como objetivo establecer una comparación entre las reflexiones sobre los indígenas en la obra de Diego de Avendaño y Bernardino de Sahagún. Partiendo de las concepciones de la antropología posmoderna, se considera que el interés por y la reconstrucción del Otro tienen prioridad en la época poscolonial. En este sentido, Avendaño es categorizado como un autor que, si bien emprender una defensa de los indígenas, mantiene poco interés por ellos, mientras que Sahagún, con su disposición etnológica, (...) revitaliza el encuentro con los nativos. (shrink)

Projects of radical life extension have been discussed amongst scientists for years. Some bioethicists express reservations about this endeavor. A common objection appeals to demography: if the human lifespan is dramatically expanded, humanity would face an overpopulation problem. In this essay, the authors reply to this objection. They posit that radical life extension is unlikely to lead to overpopulation because overpopulation is determined more by fertility rates than by longevity, and as a result of the advanced phases of industrialization, fertility (...) rates are likely to be reduced, and therefore, population size would become stable. However, they argue that although overpopulation is not a concern for the foreseeable future, it is still important to acknowledge its potential harms. Finally, they argue that even if overpopulation becomes a problem caused by radical life extension, there are plausible ways to solve it. (shrink)

O presente texto visa abordar a pertinência crítica da filosofia kantiana da história tentando assinalar o lugar transcendental da noçáo de fio condutor da natureza, para nós urn princípio regulativo passível de ser usado pelo discurso filosófico da história, que por isso náo se toma urn conhecimento teórico, mas nem por isso deixa de ser uma espécie de conhecimento, de cunho prático.

Analisar as relações sociais e econômicas efetuadas numa dada sociedade é de vital importância para sua compreensão. Neste artigo o objetivo estará voltado para compreender as estratégias de sobrevivência utilizadas pela família de Antônio Augusto Bicalho Canêdo, o maior proprietário de escravos da freguesia de São Paulo do Muriahé. As fontes utilizadas serão os registros de batismos, casamentos e o inventário post-mortem relacionadas ao nosso personagem.

This article aims to analyse the governmental rationalities that took passions as an object in the French seventeenth century, unleashing the modern transformation in emotional power. The classical question of the intertwining between emotions and rationality is approached through a cultural and historical perspective, analyzing historically situated discourses that define political rationalities that propose to govern, with specific techniques and objectives, certain “emotions”’ that are conceived in a certain way. Passions emerged as an object of government through the statement that (...) passions and not inactive reason were the true drivers of human action. Analyzing the treatises on the government of passions as “arts of government” aimed at the authorities of the period, this article explores initially how Neostoic discourses promoted an exchange between Augustinian government of the will and reason of state’s strategies of manipulation of interests. Subsequently, by scrutinizing the texts of French moralists of the second half of the century, this article shows how, under the influence of Jansenism, they invert Neostoic logic and affirm a new emotional rule for political government: enlightened self-love. The idea that the commerce of selfish passions in the market could promote social peace and material progress cleared the path for the acceptance of a concupiscent order. The article’s contribution resides firstly in the history of the shift in the West’s fundamental emotional rule, love, and secondly in the way in which emotional power could work as a condition of possibility for the emergence of modern economic rationality. (shrink)

Shaming is defended by some as a necessary measure of social control. But shaming is unjust to the extent that it is disproportionate, and largely counterproductive. While much progress has been made, people with disabilities are still frequently at the receiving end of shaming. This is manifest in disregard for accommodation requests, condescending attitudes and overall lack of empathy towards people with disabilities. These trends are also manifest in clinical settings. Medical staff and healthcare workers need to seriously consider this (...) state of affairs and embrace attitudinal changes and policies that contribute to a more welcoming atmosphere towards the disabled, and consequently curb the shaming to which they have been traditionally exposed. (shrink)

This text proposes some lines of reflection and action related to a project that links philosophy and childhood, whose pedagogical and investigative activity has been developed in the province of Córdoba, Argentina, for more than twenty-five years. To do this we recover an experience of workshops with children and adults, in a continuous process of reflection on childhood and how children think about themselves. That experience focuses on imagining a particular space and time – living together on an island where (...) adults cannot be found--and from there question the forms of decision making and participation – of political action – that children perform in the territories they inhabit. Here it is proposed that the circumstance of incompleteness regarding issues such as politics and sexuality encompass all age situations and, therefore, it is more appropriate to let ourselves be traversed by restlessness and doubt than to accept a preconceived world in which problems quickly find answers, and what you do not know or cannot be located in a fixed category is unknown, ignored, or remains hidden. We propose to start by not postulating any pre-conceived notions regarding childhoods--thinking of them as hypotheses with unexplored names, bodies and thoughts to get to know. Likewise, it is assumed that reflection on teaching practice relocates philosophy teachers as intellectuals who keep universal explanations in their “professorial pockets,” and reinvent themselves by dealing with specific problems, the small discoveries one makes through exchanges with others--those others that, as in the case of children, there is much to learn about and from. This is the ethical and political task that emerges from a continuous reflection on shared action. Welcome, then, to the island where everything is to be decided and participated in, the island of Serendipity. (shrink)

O artigo apresenta questões consideradas centrais na reflexão sobre o processo de alfabetização e letramento e as intervenções da prática docente. Inicialmente apresentamos uma ampla abordagem conceitual sobre os referidos temas no contexto da sala de aula, evidenciando a necessidade de ampliar as experiências letradas sem negar a base alfabética, pois ambos são fundamentais para que o sujeito possa participar autonomamente dos diferentes eventos sociais. Em seguida apresentamos alguns dados da pesquisa de campo a qual objetivou investigar como se dá (...) o trabalho docente no processo de alfabetização e letramento, tomando como referência uma escola pública de ensino fundamental da Rede de Ensino do Estado da Bahia que atende um público heterogêneo, proveniente de famílias das classes populares urbanas e rurais. Os sujeitos foram quatro professoras do primeiro ciclo do Ensino Fundamental e a metodologia utilizada foi a observação participante no ambiente escolar e a realização de entrevistas semi­estruturadas, que contemplaram três questões básicas, a saber: 1. Como alfabetiza? 2. O que entende por alfabetizar letrando? 3. Quais as atividades/ações que considera essenciais para alfabetizar letrando? Os resultados da pesquisa revelaram uma grande fragilidade na prática docente no que se refere ao processo indissociável de alfabetizar e letrar, pois as professoras nas suas narrativas afirmaram utilizar atividades dissociadas dos eventos de letramento e na prática observada in loco foi possível perceber um grande distanciamento das ações docentes com as discussões atuais no que se refere a necessidade de articular a aquisição da base alfabética aos seus usos sociais reais. Por fim apresentamos algumas possibilidades para fortalecer as práticas docentes no que se refere ao processo de alfabetizar letrando. (shrink)

The affective turn -- Violence against women: perspectives and strategies -- Notes -- References -- PART III: Togetherness and its forms -- 7. Feminist visions and socio-political meanings of non-monogamous love -- Contemporary bonding, plurality of love -- Consensual plurality and sustainability of bonding -- Notes -- References -- 8. The invisible ties We share: A relational analysis of the contemporary loving couple -- The semantics of love and the We -- Love in situation: the WeLR in motion -- Enminded (...) bodies in the WeLR -- Final remarks: the bonds the WeLR creates -- Notes -- References -- 9. Silent love: On Irigaray's suggestion of cultivating sexual difference -- A culture of two subjects -- Listening -- The meaning of the word 'silence' -- Silence as a condition of love -- Cultivating silence -- Silent love -- Notes -- References -- 10. Love, feminism and dialectics: Repairing splits in theory and practice -- Dialectical critical realism -- Benjamin: from existential tension to oppressive contradiction -- Dialectics, necessity and redemptive critique -- The reparative turn and the issue of transformation -- In the pulse of now -- Closing words -- Notes -- References -- Index. (shrink)