There is a view that the U.S. Supreme Court has acted as a “republican schoolmaster,” defining and educating the public on the permissible interaction between government and religion. The Court gave government, especially state governments, considerable latitude until incorporation of the religion clauses in the 1940s. In Everson v. Board of Education (1947), the Court articulated a rigid conception of church and state which set precedents for decades. Those precedents restricted accommodation to religion by government, based on an incomplete reading (...) of the Founding debates on religion. It has been gradually corrected since Justice William Rehnquist’s dissent in Wallace v. Jaffree (1985). The implications of the separationist interpretation have had consequences that remain. The most obvious being forestalling experimentation with school choice for non-public school students and precluding the use of public facilities for religious groups until a series of corrective rulings beginning, for the most part, in the 1990s. The republican schoolmaster is now accountable for the intellectual lineage it uses. (shrink)

Per superare i problemi relativi alla natura è necessario comprendere quanto essi derivino dalla società. La società contemporanea è contraddistinta dal dominio dell’uomo sull’uomo dal quale deriva la convinzione dell’asservimento della natura. Tale condizione è determinata dal capitalismo, figlio della gerarchia e del domino. In questa situazione l’Io è divenuto incapace di incontrare l’Altro ed entrare in relazione con lui. Ne segue la necessità di oltrepassare il solipsismo in cui l’individuo è chiuso e rinsaldare la relazione Io-Tu che si realizza (...) nella comunità. La produzione perenne e il consumo costante segnano, inoltre, irrimediabilmente il rapporto tra gli uomini e la natura. La soluzione possibile deriva, come propone Ivan Illich, dalla convivialità che può realizzarsi solamente ponendo dei limiti alla produzione. Il passaggio a una società conviviale consente di rinsaldare il legame comunitario e il riconoscimento del rapporto di simbiosi con la natura. (shrink)

A review of the achievements of Fr. Busa over the course of his 60 years of work in the area of computational linguistics: internal hypertexts, the systematization of allographs, lemmatization, homographs and typologies; the lexical system; the laws of economy for graphemes, for semantic typology, for heterogeneity among terms, and of the two lexical hemispheres. Finally, the project of disciplined languages is mentioned, a response to the linguistic challenge resulting from informational globalization.

Individuals who deviate from social norms by committing crimes may have reduced facial emotion recognition abilities. Nevertheless, a specific category of offenders – i.e. organised crime (OC) members – is characterised by hierarchically organised social networks and a tendency to manipulate others to reach their illicit goals. Since recognising emotions is crucial to building social networks, OC members may be more skilled in recognising the facial emotion expressions of others to use this information for their criminal purposes. Evidence of a (...) difference between OC and non-organised crime (NOC) offenders in terms of facial emotion recognition is still lacking. To fill this gap in the literature, we tested 50 OC, 50 NOC offenders, and 50 non-offender controls for their ability to identify six basic emotions (happiness, sadness, fear, anger, disgust, and surprise). All participants underwent a cognitive and psychological evaluation to avoid alternative explanations. Results show that OC members were more able to detect the expression of fear in others as compared to NOC. We interpreted this finding in light of the social context and the behavioural criminal attitude of OC members. (shrink)

O presente artigo visa propor uma transformação na pedagogia formal, que exclui, violenta e silencia bocas não contempladas pelos padrões hegemônicos de normalidade, propondo então uma pe-drag-ogia, inventiva, pirateadora, amorfa e transformista. Para tal, busca-se entender algumas das instâncias que violentam as sujeitas desviantes das normas hegemônicas de ser e estar no mundo, cruzando com propostas pedagógicas, teóricas, práticas e artísticas de emancipação, resistência e afronte. A metáfora de pintar a boca diz de ouvir os lugares de fala há tempos (...) negligenciados nas plataformas formais, como bocas trans, bocas negras, bocas mulheres, bocas abjetas. Conclui-se, então, que a pe-drag-ogia não é uma invenção, mas uma tradução pedagógica de movimentos artísticos dissidentes já existentes. Palavras-chave: Pedagogia; Drag Queen; Travesti. (shrink)

A collection of essays on the human genome, European patent law, cloning, and genetic malpractice suits.

La obra incluye legislación de quince países, así como diversos documentos de la ONU, la UNESCO, el Consejo de Europa, la Unión Europea, Comités Nacionales de Ética, dictámenes y resoluciones de Instituciones Internacionales, jurisprudencia española y una selección bibliográfica con unas 1.300 referencias, clasificada por materias. Algunas leyes nacionales y los documentos del Consejo de Europa se publican traducidos al español y en su idioma original, cuando éste se ha considerado fácilmente asequible, con el fin de facilitar el acceso a (...) la fuente directa. (shrink)

O presente artigo analisa duas correntes de crítica à religião em âmbito filosófico, características da segunda metade do século XX. Primeiramente, a perspectiva do filósofo francês e ex-professor da Sorbonne e de Nanterre, Jean-François Lyotard (1924-1998). Em segundo lugar, as posições inspiradas nos slogans da revolução de Maio de 68. Por fim, procura-se evidenciar as raízes, singularidades e semelhanças entre as duas posturas. /// This article analyzes two currents of religious critique in the philosophical ambit, characteristic of the second (...) half of the twentieth century. In the first place, the outlook of French philosopher and ex-professor of the Sorbonne and the Nanterre, Jean-François Lyotard (1924-1998), and secondly, the positions inspired by the slogans of the revolution of May ’68. Finally, the article seeks to manifest the roots, singularities and similarities between the two stances. (shrink)

Le nom de Brunschvicg est indissolublement lié à celui de Pascal. Sa grande entreprise éditoriale est restée inégalée, comme ses très nombreuses études dédiées directement ou non à l’auteur des Pensées. Pascal a été pour Brunschvicg l’interlocuteur d’une vie entière : cela s’entend du philosophe et du mathématicien qui affrontent l’infini, mais aussi du polémiste chrétien avec qui Brunschvicg a dit n’avoir « pas une idée en commun », mais dont il a saisi les secrets plus qu’aucun autre. Cet article (...) étudie la contribution de Brunschvicg comme éditeur, puis s’attache à cerner la figure brunschvicgienne d’un Pascal dont les Pensées, « nées du miracle » et « pleines de son âme », expriment, bien davantage que l’oeuvre de Descartes et plus directement que celle de Spinoza, les tensions constitutives de la conscience moderne. (shrink)

Ponto de partida do artigo é a consideração de que o problema da relação entre Filosofia e Espiritualidade, ainda que problemático, é filosoficamente pensável e pode ser historicamente reconstruído. Com efeito, o artigo mostra de que modo o problema foi objecto de uma sistematização paradoxal, ainda que coerente e exemplar, por parte de S. Boaventura, cuja reflexão, tematizando a espiritualidade minorítica, radica em S. Francisco de Assis, ainda que também através da mediação de Santo António de Lisboa. Segundo S. Boaventura, (...) Deus manifesta-se de forma natural no livro da natureza mediante o Verbo incriado, cognoscível mediante a razão natural na ciência natural, que é a Filosofia; e revela-se sobrenaturalmente no livro da Escritura mediante o Verbo incarnado, cognoscível mediante a razão iluminada pela fé na ciência sobrenatural, que é a Teologia; mas também se comunica pessoalmente e concretamente no coração dos crentes mediante o Verbo inspirado, ou seja, o Cristo feito presente pelo Espírito Santo na "vida espiritual", num processo ascético-místico, cujo primeiro estádio é, paradoxalmente, a própria Filosofia, aqui entendida como a busca da sabedoria através das virtudes cardeais. Por outro lado, o artigo mostra também como o próprio paradigma da reedificação interior através das virtudes parece estabelecer um vínculo entre S. Francisco de Assis e Santo António de Lisboa, bem como entre os dois e S. Boaventura, o qual, hipotiza o autor do artigo, não só leu alguma coisa dos Sermões de Santo António, como deles retirou elementos para as suas reflexões mais maduras. /// The starting point of this article is the consideration that the problem of the relation between Philosophy and Spirituality, even if problematic, can be philosophically thought and historically reconstructed. In effect, the article shows how this problem was object of a paradoxical systematization, coherent and exemplar, on the part of Saint Bonaventure, whose reflection, typical of the Franciscan spirituality, is rooted in Saint Francis of Assisi, even if also through the mediation of Saint Anthony of Lisbon. According to Saint Bonaventure, God reveals Godself naturally in the Book of nature by means of the uncreated Logos, knowable through natural reason in the natural science, which is Philosophy; and God reveals Godself supernaturally in the Book of Scripture by means of the incarnated Logos knowable by means of reason illuminated by faith in the supernatural science, which is Theology; but God also communicates Godself personally and concretely in the hearts of the believers by means of the inspired Logos, i.e., the Christ made present through the Holy Spirit in the "spiritual life", in an ascetic-mystical process, whose first stage is, paradoxically, Philosophy itself, here understood as the search for Wisdom through the cardinal virtues. On the other hand, the article also shows how the paradigm of the interior edification through the virtues seems to establish a link between Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Anthony of Lisbon, as well as between the two and Saint Bonaventure, who, according to the article, not only has read something of Saint Anthony's Sermons, but also has taken something from them for his mature reflexions. (shrink)

While many European countries are entering unknown legal terrain where the embryo in vitro is concerned, France can already look back on a long tradition of public discussion and legal codification of ways of dealing with in vitro embryos. In its comprehensive law of 1994, France had still rejected embryo research; however, due to the promising perspectives of stem cell research, the new law now pending implies a clear liberalization of the 1994 provisions. Both the French lawmakers and the National (...) Ethics Commission have repeatedly argued that possible utilization of embryos for research purposes may seem legitimate from the moment that there is no more "parental project." De facto, this concept implies that an embryo can be transformed into an object from the moment that the parents cease to desire it and that the value of protection is solely dependent on the will of third persons. At the same time, France is still speaking of guaranteeing respect for the "dignity of the embryo," which would mean that an embryo must not be reduced to a thing and treated for purposes which are not his own. Therefore, the French solution is not a consistent and honest solution, and in its new legal provisions, France has involved herself in manifold contradictions. France has rejected the conception of pre-embryo, but is de facto following Britain's model without making it explicit. (shrink)

A Bioética, que podemos qualificar, sem a menor dúvida, como uma ciência jovem - embora cheia de vigor, dinamismo e em plena expansão - se ocupa, desde as multifacetadas óticas das grandes perguntas que se formula a cada dia, o homem moderno, em torno da vida. Neste livro, os autores tratam de alguns aspectos conceituais que, às vezes, são obliterados no discurso bioético. Por exemplo, quais as relações que se interpõem entre Bioética e Direito, começando por delimitar cada uma destas (...) disciplinas. (shrink)

In the Schrödinger equation, time plays a special role as an external parameter. We show that in an enlarged system where the time variable denotes an additional degree of freedom, solutions of the Schrödinger equation give rise to weights on the enlarged algebra of observables. States in the associated GNS representation correspond to states on the original algebra composed with a completely positive unit preserving map. Application of this map to the functions of the time operator on the large system (...) delivers the positive operator valued maps which were previously proposed by two of us as time observables. As an example we discuss the application of this formalism to the Wheeler-DeWitt theory of a scalar field on a Robertson-Walker spacetime. (shrink)

Las obras de Sergio Rábade contenidas en el presente volumen constituyen una de las aportaciones más valiosas de su legado filosófico. En los orígenes de la edad de la crítica, la aparición de nuevos valores asociados al conocimiento impulsó una afanosa renovación de los métodos en científicos y filósofos. Método y pensamiento en la modernidad analiza las exigencias de esta demanda en pro de un cambio real en los procedimientos de búsqueda y control de las ideas. Las complejas conexiones entre (...) el método teorizado y su práctica ocupan la atención del autor en Descartes y la gnoseología moderna. El filósofo francés, «faro de la moderna Europa», inaugura un nuevo estilo de pensar que será referencia obligada tanto para sus partidarios como para sus adversarios. Spinoza, considerado por Rábade como un «cartesiano anticartesiano», es el caso más representativo de referencialidad al autor del Discurso, aunque cargada de ambivalencia. El filósofo holandés de raíces judías entendió el cumplimiento del proyecto patrocinado por Descartes precisamente como una enmendación de los tópicos de su filosofía: el método, la sustancia divina, el hombre y las pasiones humanas (Espinosa: razón y felicidad). Los artículos insertados entre las obras del volumen no ocultan las contradicciones inherentes al pensamiento de estos dos grandes filósofos. (shrink)

The justification of non-therapeutic research on incapacitated persons isastill unsolved problem, because in this situation, both legitimising factors of research - informed consent and therapeutic benefit - are absent and the question arises as to whether such research is morally justifiable at all. The paperwill ask if there could be arguments for such research. One argument could be that under certain circumstances, an institutionally decreed global renunciation of any type of research on this group of persons could also be illegitimate. (...) Not doing research can do injury to the Principles of Justice because in this manner the needs of a particular group may unjustifiably be ignored. This would aggravate the disadvantaged position of this group in a groundless manner and, in particular, would deprive its members of the basis of self respect Precisely in view of this aspect of Justice non-therapeutic studies on decisionally impaired persans must also be permitted in order to ensure the preservation of basic social goods in regard to these persons. (shrink)

Las Disputaciones metafísicas de Francisco Suárez se presentan como una reconstrucción de la filosofía fundamental que se organiza no ya según el esquema de la metafísica aristotélica, ni problemáticamente, al estilo del comentario escolástico, sino como un edificio ordenado que expone la noción de la realidad misma. Es la elaboración de un sistema que no sólo respete el orden tradicional de las cuestiones filosóficas, sino que configure una nueva estructura mediante la cual la metafísica, lejos de ser un freno para (...) el desarrollo científico pueda transformarse en el resorte para su progreso. Estamos ante una especie de Enciclopedia del saber filosófico estructurado sistemáticamente, sobre cuya base podrá el pensamiento europeo llevar a cabo su revolución racionalista. La Europa moderna e ilustrada, de Descartes a Kant, buscará, de un modo manifiesto o implícito, en las Disputaciones metafísicas la referencia escolar que precisa para su propia construcción teórica racional y crítica. En suma, la equilibrada doctrina de Suárez constituye el fulcro a partir del que podrán alzarse las más variadas doctrinas sobre el conocimiento humano, la naturaleza, la sociedad y la legitimación del poder político, que aún hoy constituyen la base de nuestra comprensión de la realidad. (shrink)

The essay explores the world of Jurisprudential Legal ethics, which ever closer claims the status of jurisprudential issue deeply woven into the contemporary debate about the concept and the nature of law. The paper briefly explores the leading jurisprudential theories about the lawyer’s role, in attempt to outline that the conceptualization of the lawyers’ role and the nature of their professional commitments are both a function of the concept of law we adopt, mainly focusing on the “positivist turn” in legal (...) ethics. In the conclusive section the paper I address the abuse-of-law filtes thesis of lawyering. Such reading moves from the idea that legal rules do not provide about their own application, thus there is room for a general practical discourse that regards the scope of advocacy and provides a proper role for legal ethics that would be independent from the bare respect of the settled law. (shrink)

Nous vivons dans une société mondialisée apparemment unie par une vision commune de l’humanité. Mais derrière l’illusion première d’un ‘’Nous’’ déjà là, se cache la réalité de l’hétérogénéité des croyances, des modes de vies et des cultures. Modèles différents entre pays et dans les pays eux-mêmes, sur le plan mondial comme ‘’national’’, nous cherchons encore ce qui constitue ce Nous tant rêvé. Quel est donc le fondement de notre vie commune? Qu’est-ce qui nous permet de dire que nous faison...

L'A. présente un ouvrage écrit par le Père Roberto Busa et paru récemment : Richerche lessicologiche. Il s'agit d'un travail lexicologique sur le vocabulaire employé par saint Thomas d'Aquin pour élaborer son système ontologique. L'A. dénombre et décrit les nouvelles acquisitions linguistico-ontologiques que ce travail a permis dans le champ du thomisme. Elles sont au nombre de trois : l'hétérogénéité sémantique des mots, la segmentation morphothématique des lemmes, les terminaisons latines.