Recommender Systems (RecSys) have been around since the early days of the Internet, helping users navigate the vast ocean of information and the increasingly available options that have been available for us ever since. The range of tasks for which one could use a RecSys is expanding as the technical capabilities grow, with the disruption of Machine Learning representing a tipping point in this domain, as in many others. However, the increase of the technical capabilities of AI-powered RecSys did not (...) come with a thorough consideration of their ethical implications and, despite being a well-established technical domain, the potential impacts of RecSys on their users are still under-assessed. This paper aims at filling this gap in regards to one of the main impacts of RecSys: personal autonomy. We first describe how technology can affect human values and a suitable methodology to identify these effects and mitigate potential harms: Value Sensitive Design (VSD). We use VSD to carry out a conceptual investigation of personal autonomy in the context of a generic RecSys and draw on a nuanced account of procedural autonomy to focus on two components: competence and authenticity. We provide the results of our inquiry as a value hierarchy and apply it to the design of a speculative RecSys as an example. (shrink)

There are two different notions of seed at work in the Generation of Animals: seed as the spermatic residue, which concerns only the male and the female generative contributions, and seed as the kuêma and first mixture of the two generative contributions. The latter is a notion of seed common to plants and animals. The passage in GA I.18, 724b12–22 where Aristotle distinguishes between these two notions of seed has been mistakenly discredited as inauthentic or simply as irrelevant for understanding (...) the seeds of animals. On the other hand, recent studies have rather focused on the seed as spermatic residue, paying little attention to the notion of seed as kuêma. In this paper I defend the authenticity and relevance of this passage and show how understanding the notion of seed as kuêma is essential to have a complete picture of Aristotle’s account of seed. This common notion of seed makes sense of Aristotle’s otherwise puzzling use of the word “sperma” to designate the seeds of plants, the kuêma, the fertilized eggs, and the first mixture of the two generative contributions. It also proves helpful in determining what the word ‘sperma’ stands for in key passages, such as Metaph. IX.7. (shrink)

The Mondragon Corporation, a group of cooperatives, is a thriving example of how cooperatives can succeed. The authors describe six features of the corporation and five 'successful cooperative actions' that they consider to be crucial in explaining its accomplishments. Both the specific features and the successful actions are contrasted with those of standard capitalist companies, to show how this case is unique in the field of corporate organization and management. Through a combination of democratic principles, the values of solidarity, and (...) strong competitiveness, Mondragon has simultaneously achieved both efficiency and equity and has become an alternative to the organizational and governance models of traditional capitalist firms. (shrink)

En este artículo abordo críticamente la aseveración de David Papineau según la cual la evidencia fisiológica acumulada es suficiente para adoptar razonablemente el Principio del Cierre Causal de lo Físico y la vía negativa, viz. entender físico como no mental, como solución al dilema de Hempel. Comenzaremos restando fuerza a tal afirmación revisando el trabajo de W. Penfield y J. Eccles, dos importantes neurocientíficos y declarados dualistas. No obstante, luego nos centraremos en el trabajo de B. Libet en el que (...) se demostraría que los movimientos voluntarios están realmente determinados por causas enteramente fisiológicas, lo cual constituiría una pieza fundamental de evidencia a favor de Papineau. Nuestro análisis mostrará que no se siguen tales conclusiones. Esto tendrá consecuencias negativas para el Cierre Causal de lo Físico y con ello para el Argumento Causal para el Fisicalismo del cual el mencionado principio es premisa clave. (shrink)

In this article I try to prove that the crisis of the West is necessarily linked to the crisis of a monotheism, which has lost its primordial sense. Indeed, because God was conceived of in Western civilization on the basis of the Plotinian unus—that is, on the basis of identity—and every other relationship to alterity was conceived of following this very same criterion, sociality was defined as plurality of the individual, as a mere numerical multiplicity. Against this conception I sketch (...) a new schema for thinking of God and thinking of the relation to otherness based on a differentiality irreducible to any identity. I depict this differentiality as based on the Husserlian conception of time consciousness, defining it not only as a mere lack of identity but as a non-indifference for the other. Hence, I conclude that it is possible to think of a true monotheism that fosters a multiplicity of religions that are not indifferent but responsible to each other. (shrink)

Journal Name: Apeiron Issue: Ahead of print.

El problema de determinar cuál es el método de la Ciencia de la Información ha sido objeto de distintos abordajes y propuestas metodológicas. En este trabajo defendemos que dichos problemas usualmente se han planteado de manera errónea, y que su planteo no contribuye a una mejora del campo. Comenzamos con un recorrido por diferentes propuestas metodológicas, señalando el consenso existente sobre el impacto de la indagación metodológica en el status científico de la disciplina. Luego rastreamos la influencia del positivismo en (...) la metodología de la CI, sosteniendo que la concepción positivista del método científico aún sigue gobernando de forma implícita la autopercepción epistemológica de la disciplina. Finalmente ensayamos una lectura de algunos problemas metodológicos basada en la filosofía de Thomas Kuhn, enfatizando que no es la reflexión metodológica, sino el desarrollo de una tradición exitosa de resolución de problemas lo que consolida el status científico. (shrink)

Darwin’s main contribution to modern biology was to make clear that all history of life on earth is dominated by a simple principle, which is usually summarised as 'descent with modification'. However, interpretations about how this modification is produced have been controversial. In light of the data provided by recent studies on molecular biology, developmental biology, genomics, and other biological disciplines we discuss, in this paper, how Darwin's theory may apply to two main 'types' of evolution: that occurring in the (...) prebiotic world and that regarding the acquisition of major key-innovations differentiating higher-taxa, which makes up part of the so-called macroevolution. We argue that these studies show that evolution is a fascinating, complex and multifaceted process, with different mechanisms drivin it on different occasions and in different places. (shrink)

El presente artículo se propone evaluar el ensayo de Nancy Fraser titulado "¿De la redistribución al reconocimiento? Dilemas de la justicia en una 'época post-socialista'". No tengo mayores objeciones a la idea de la autora según la cual sólo podemos apoyar aquellas versiones de la política de la diferencia que puedan ajustarse a una política de la igualdad. Lo que me inquieta es la forma como ella menosprecia el carácter justiciero de ciertas luchas políticas y sociales en busca de una (...) mayor justicia simbólica y material. Llamo la atención sobre los logros justicieros de esas luchas y propongo combinar una teoría de la justicia como resultado final (en la que es fuerte Fraser) con un diseño de los procedimientos para llegar allá. (shrink)

In this work we discuss logical structures related to indistinguishable particles. Most of the framework used to develop these structures was presented in [17, 28] and in [20, 14, 15, 16]. We use these structures and constructions to discuss possible ontologies for identical particles. In other words, we use these structures in order to characterize the logical structure of quantum systems for the case of indistinguishable particles, and draw possible philosophical implications. We also review some proposals available in the literature (...) which may be considered within the framework of the quantum logical tradition regarding the problem of indistinguishability. Besides these discussions and constructions, we advance novel technical results, namely, a lattice theoretical structure for identical particles for the finite dimensional case. This kind of approach was not present in the scarcely literature of quantum logic and indistinguishable particles. (shrink)

Postulo que a través de una lectura hegeliana del trasfondo ontológico que subyace a la doctrina del liberalismo político es posible expandir su alcance teórico más allá de las cuestiones normativas de la filosofía política en las cuales suele quedar restringido bajo las lecturas más comunes; pragmática y kantiana. Hegel reconoce en la afirmación histórica del principio de igual-libertad la herencia del mensaje cristiano, pero como ha sostenido J. Doull, es sólo en Norteamérica que el ideal hegeliano de la libertad (...) encarnada en el Estado se ha cumplido sobre esta base. A partir de aquí se deduce una diferencia fundamental en el modo como son experimentados el paradigma y el ethos del liberalismo en los Estados Unidos y Europa, respectivamente. (shrink)

This book deals with the psychotherapeutic factor that permeates the whole Epicurean philosophical program. It is the aim of this study to research and to rehabilitate its healing function. Since the Garden’s philosophy is a very systematic one, the question about the natural reality, φύσις, had to be addressed firstly. Anti-nihilism, materialism, eternal atoms, infinite void, perpetual movement, clinamen and the plurality worlds are key notions of the axiomatic and scientific Epicurus’ physics. Once we had gained clarity about those core (...) concepts, the central role of human beings in the system was to be discussed. As natural, yet exceptional, atomic compounds, men and women do have flesh and soul and are, therefore, completely mortal. Nevertheless, they possess numerous qualities, originating in their ψυχή, which render them unique: freedom, rationality and even a material community with the gods. According to Epicurus, there is a fourth element constituting the souls of both people and deities, so that a physical continuity and material formation are preserved through the entire nature. -/- Gods are studied from a naturalistic physiologic perspective and at the very same time they act exemplary and, freed from any providential, governing tasks, they provide a regula uitae in order to achieve a pleasant, authentic happiness. In fact, this research tries to demonstrate that complete curation is not to be linked to an eternal extra-corporeal soul, but arises from the removal of pain and fear, aponia and ataraxia. These two are the paramount pleasures, far distant from a gross hedonism. Ethics are, then, presented as a soothing practice, having a nuclear medical purpose. Taking this into account, it was necessary to explore the historical connections between philosophy and rational Hellenic medicine before Epicurus. After that, multiple therapeutic forms conceived or applied by the Samian philosopher were analyzed. The λόγος proved to be the unifying element among them and involved not only human reason but also analogy. Epicurus’ diagnose is very sad: we are in pain. To reverse that, he presented exercises such as meditation, confession, self-examination, laugh therapy, emotional intelligence, intrusive thoughts control, companionship, solidarity and friendship. There are still two additional therapies completing the above mentioned: an Epicurean thanatology, because we miss the point when considering (im)mortality and forget about sensation as the ground of any life; and an ars desidrandi, because we should accept only natural and necessary desires, instead of chasing whimsy dreams with vain hopes. All this will help us regain our primal bodily and mental health and happiness, our essential, frugal and glad wellbeing. (shrink)

El estudio de la libertad plantea el problema de cuál es el método o los métodos más adecuados y qué podemos esperar de ellos. La filosofía clásica accede a la libertad desde la noción de naturaleza, mientras que la filosofía moderna, que concibe la naturaleza de un modo mecanicista y ateleológico, accede a ella desde la subjetividad. Dos ejemplos de estos planteamientos son, respectivamente, los de Aristóteles y Schelling. Se analizan sus méritos y sus deficiencias para dar cuenta de los (...) rasgos esenciales de lo que entendemos por libertad. (shrink)

El artículo analiza la teoría de todos y partes de Carl Stumpf. Por un lado, se presentan los elementos básicos de su psicología descriptiva de la experiencia. Por otro lado, se analiza el desarrollo de la teoría de todos y partes sobre la base de dicha psicología descriptiva. El trabajo pretende probar dos tesis complementarias: primero, si bien la teoría mereológica de Stumpf es aún incipiente y no del todo explícita, constituye un auténtico punto de partida. Segundo, dicha mereología surge (...) a partir de una atenta descripción de la experiencia dada y no es algo impuesto a ésta. The article focuses on Carl Stumpf's theory of parts and wholes. On the one hand, I present the basic elements of his descriptive psychology of experience. On the other hand, I analyze the development of his theory of parts and wholes, which is based upon his descriptive psychology. The article aims to prove two different, yet complementary theses: firstly, despite the fact that Stumpf's mereological theory is still incipient and not quite explicit, it represents an authentic point of departure; secondly, this mereology arises out of an attentive description of given experience and not as an imposition to it. (shrink)

This paper analizes the work of Fernando Henrique Cardoso and Enzo Faletto (Dependência e Desenvolvimento), to see the relation between state and social classes in the brazilian development process, yersteday and today.

Frente a la naturaleza revolucionaria de internet, capaz de funcionar en unidad de tiempo real y a escala global, el autor se sitúa entre los "Cyberoptimistas" y los "Cyberpesimistas", para postular una actitud más reflexiva. En el artículo aborda la compleja interacción entre el internet y los cambios en la gobernabilidad de las sociedades, desarrollando temas como los de autogobierno la disminución de mecanismos de coerción estatal y la importancia de avanzar hacia la plena incorporación de las tecnologías digitales a (...) la gobernabilidad de los países. (shrink)

Pierre Bourdieu in Hispanic Literature and Culture is a collective reflection on the value of French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu's work for the study of Spanish and Latin American literature and culture. The authors deploy Bourdieu's concepts in the study of Modernismo, avant-garde Mexico, contemporary Puerto Rican literature, Hispanism, Latin American cultural production, and more. Each essay is also a contribution to the study of the politics and economics of culture in Spain and Latin America. The book, as a whole, is (...) in dialogue with recent methodological and theoretical interventions in cultural sociology and Latin American and Iberian studies. (shrink)

AbstractDuring the last 20 years, the financial sector has undergone an unprecedented transformation due to new regulations and the implementation of several technological advancements. The combination of regulation and technology has brought about new financial processes that have fundamentally changed how financial market making is done. This paper studies the ethics of financial market making and its implications for one of the most controversial financial innovations of modern times, namely high-frequency trading (HFT). We claim that the Aristotelian distinction between natural (...) chrematistics, which is aimed at serving the real economy, and unnatural chrematistics, whose ultimate purpose is wealth accumulation, can be a useful criterion to assess the ethics of financial market making and the goodness of an innovation as HFT, and how it can serve the common good of society. This approach can be defined as ‘purpose oriented’ or ‘purpose fulfillment’. (shrink)

The quantum state of a d-dimensional system can be represented by a probability distribution over the d 2 outcomes of a Symmetric Informationally Complete Positive Operator Valued Measure (SIC-POVM), and then this probability distribution can be represented by a vector of $\mathbb {R}^{d^{2}-1}$ in a (d 2−1)-dimensional simplex, we will call this set of vectors $\mathcal{Q}$ . Other way of represent a d-dimensional system is by the corresponding Bloch vector also in $\mathbb {R}^{d^{2}-1}$ , we will call this set of (...) vectors $\mathcal{B}$ . In this paper it is proved that with the adequate scaling $\mathcal{B}=\mathcal{Q}$ . Also we indicate some features of the shape of $\mathcal{Q}$. (shrink)

SUMMARYThis article considers how chemical analyses were employed not only to study and describe mineral waters, but also to promote new spas, and to reinforce the scientific authority of experts. Scientists, jointly with bath owners, visitors and local authorities, created a significant spa market by transforming rural spaces into social and economic sites. The paper analyses the role developed by the chemist Antonio Casares in the commodification of mineral water in mid-19th century Spain. His scientific publications and water analyses put (...) a new economic value on some Spanish mineral waters and rural springs. First the paper explores the relationship between geographic factors, regulation, and spa development in 19th century Spain, and considers how scientific work improved the economy of some rural areas. Then the transformation of numerous country springs into spas, and the commodification of baths as places between science and leisure is examined. Finally the location of spas across the borders of medicine and chemistry is shown, together with the complex field operations required to study mineral waters. This paper reveals an intense circulation of knowledge between the field, laboratories and scientific publications, as well as the essential role developed by experts like Casares, who not only contributed to the study of rural springs but also to their economic transformation. (shrink)

Es wird versucht, die Camapsche Definitions- und Begriffslehre darzustellen, die er bei der Entwicklung seiner Konstitutionstheorie aufstellte. Camap unterscheidet zwei Hauptteile der Definitions- und Begriffslehre: den Abschnitt, der zum Konstitutionssystem gehört, und den Abschnitt, der nicht dazu gehört. Die Definitionslehre besteht wiederum aus zwei zentralen Definitionsarten: der Strukturbeschreibung, mit der das Konstitutionssystem aufgebaut wird, und der impliziten Definition, die außerhalb des Konstitutionssystems steht. Auch die Begriffslehre läßt sich in zwei Hauptgruppen unterteilen: in die eigentlichen Begriffe, die die Begriffe des Konstitutionssystems (...) bilden, und in die uneigentlichen, die nicht zum Konstitutionssystem gehören. (shrink)

El objetivo de este artículo será el de proponer un análisis de las obras de danza contemporánea argentina Recorte de Jorge Cárdenas Cayendo (2017) creada por la Compañía Terceto bajo la dirección de Juan Pablo Gómez e Instrumento para estrellar (2018) de la coreógrafa Diana Szeinblum, en diálogo con conceptos de teoría política y teoría de la danza. Las obras citadas retoman imágenes y secuencias de movimiento de la movilización de diciembre de 2001 y de otros levantamientos populares de Latinoamérica, (...) para proponer diferentes modos de teorización coreográfica del acontecimiento político. Si como afirma Rancière, la subjetivación política supone una instancia previa de desidentificación, la tesis que propone este texto es que esa instancia se corresponde con la intervención de un cuerpo en movimiento. El estallido social puede ser entendido, de ese modo, como una experiencia coreográfica colectiva de desidentificación capaz de habilitar la emergencia histórica de un nuevo sujeto político. (shrink)

Las recientes crisis económicas han dejado en evidencia las fisuras del sistema económico capitalista y, con ello, se vuelve menester que el debate penetre en la raíz misma del sistema económico, donde se halla la fuente de los problemas. Así, cabe preguntarse hasta qué punto el capitalismo contemporáneo ha determinado el devenir histórico de las democracias occidentales. ¿Puede hablarse de sistemas democráticos propiamente tales dentro de los regímenes capitalistas modernos? A partir de la idea de democracia en Derrida y su (...) contrapunto con una crítica del capitalismo basada en Marx y Marcuse, este trabajo busca evidenciar las incompatibilidades entre capitalismo y democracia. -/- En la práctica, la democracia se trata de un esfuerzo incansable por impregnarse del espectro que es incapaz de asir por completo: permanente transparencia y movimiento, apertura a la alteridad hasta en sus propios cimientos. En el capitalismo, la objetivación de las relaciones de producción por la vía del fetichismo de la mercancía supone que las relaciones de poder económico también quedan objetivadas, asumiéndose como naturales, a-históricas y universales. Luego, la acumulación de capital y la consecuente asimetría de poder económico se traducen en relaciones inequitativas de poder político que ponen en jaque la factibilidad democrática en sociedades capitalistas. El capitalismo constituirá, así, la penumbra en la que el espectro de la democracia se desdibujará hasta, simplemente, desvanecerse. (shrink)

This paper is a review of the 6th European Spring School (Maó, 2011). We have considered all the communications (key-note lectures, papers and posters). After introducing the meeting and a few details about the organization, we have presented an idea of the topics discussed during the School. We have followed a classification based on the type of narrative used. Finally, we have introduced some conclusions, new challenges, and future work.

L. Polo es un buen maestro, más preocupado por descubrir la verdad que por ser entendido. Su pensar es paciente, la atención, concentrada. Mantiene la congruencia entre el nivel del método cognoscitivo que emplea y los temas reales conocidos que estudia. En él destacan tres cualidades: la audacia en el buscar, la convivencia con la verdad y la apertura universal al saber.