Analítica

THOUGHT EXPERIMENT ANALYSES OF ALBERT EINSTEIN'S ELEVATOR

2024-10-24T15:48:26+00:00

In this contribution we identify, analyze and interpret Einstein's elevator as a paradigmatic thought experiment (TE) that shows how modern physics may surpass classical mechanics.

On surface analyses we show that Einstein’s elevator is, in fact, a series of interrelated TE, TE1 through TE6, involving two frames of reference – or two systems of coordinates, K and K', deducing principle of relativity from Galileo – and two observers, an inside and outside observer. On deep analyses of Einstein's elevator appears a deconstructive TE featuring principle of relativity, destructing, falsifying Newton's theory, that does not hold on to principle of relativity, and constructing, verifying Einstein's, that does.

On interpretation, admitting theoretical TE may have flaws as with regard to imaginability, conceptual and terminological coherence, we argue that TE are usually valid as arguments, and are rather considered antifallacies than fallacies. TE may develop on analysis from prima facie or secunda facie (in)conceivability to ideal (in)conceivability; our logical analyses validate Einstein’s elevator as a paradigmatic TE.

Lastly, we may add two 21st-century conditions to (e.g. Karl Popper's) view of growth of science –global cross-culturalism and environmental pragmaticism– to arrive at a balanced view of progress of science and society¹.

CONSTITUTION OF REALITY IN LATE WITTGENSTEIN

2024-10-24T15:58:41+00:00

This article discusses the issue of the constitution of reality and the role of language in it in the late Wittgenstein. Here the author examines the key role of grammar in the connection of language with reality and distinguishes ‘levels’ of constitution: (1) the ontological relation in the triad language-thought-reality, (2) intersubjective ‘conventional’ level, (3) a level beyond any conventions (ethics or mystical) within the realm of one reality. I argue that for Wittgenstein language was a vehicle of thought, however, he admitted processes of thinking that are inexpressible with words, for their expression we may other languages: image-language, sound-language, and gesture-language. Language reflects a human way of thinking, if we had another way of thinking we would have another grammar and other concepts. The essential nature of the human mind is concept formation. However, the concept of mind itself is a hypothesis. The harmony between thought and reality is found in the grammar of language. But an agreement of thought and reality is not a simple representation, along with the method of projection, Wittgenstein emphasizes the method of application. And the only key to the relationship between language and reality is grammar.

DETERMINING THE INDETERMINATE

2024-10-24T16:06:26+00:00

Reconciling the permanence of existence with the existence of change is a long-standing metaphysical puzzle. Some, following Aristotle, resolve this tension by positing ‘prime matter’, a bedrock which grounds all change. Saint Thomas Aquinas argued prime matter had to be purely potential, thus completely indeterminate and extensionless. This article charitably reconstructs and critically assesses Aquinas’ view, arguing it is far too restrictive. Prime matter need only be maximally potential and determinable, allowing it to take on certain determinate properties. I argue extension is an obvious candidate property and propose five theories positing extended prime matter: (1) a subtle revision of Aquinas' own view, (2) a hylomorphic approach which attributes to prime matter an ‘elastic’ extension, (3) a minimally/infinitesimally extended prime matter inspired by ancient atomism and late-renaissance/early-modern corpuscularianism, (4) a maximally/infinitely extended prime matter influenced by Advaita Vedanta, and (5) a pluralist approach reminiscent of Aristotle's elements. Crucially, by allowing prime matter a determinate characteristic, each proposal demystifies Thomistic prime matter which one could otherwise charge with being so characterless as to slip into the ‘nothingness’ which terrified the Eleatics and motivated the introduction of prime matter in the first place.

CONDITIONAL VERITATIVE PRAGMATICS IN THE FACE OF CONTEXTUAL SENSITIVITY IN NATURAL LANGUAGE

2024-10-24T16:18:55+00:00

The paper presents an exposition of Truth-Conditional Pragmatics, a theory that maintains that pragmatic effects strongly influence the semantic content of the expression of an utterance. This theoretical mechanism explains how the literal content of a linguistic utterance adjusts in cases of extensive changes in meaning. The article then connects the theory and the notion of mental archives, which explains how speakers store data about entities in the world. This theory helps to understand how reference is presented and how an interlocutor has information about entities in the world, making it easier for them to understand the statements. The article also discusses Huang's objection to the indeterminacy of literal interpretation, where it is argued that some terms have multiple interpretations, making literal interpretation impossible. However, this poses no problem for Salience Based contextualism. The article concludes that there are cases of context sensitivity that cannot be explained using Truth-Conditional Pragmatics, which makes it impossible to dissolve the division between pragmatic competence and semantic competence, which is one of the main objectives of this type of Pragmatics.

BEYOND WORDS

2024-10-24T18:59:08+00:00

This work seeks to explain the nature of language by moving away from the problems posed by isomorphism, for these purpose, multidisciplinary resources are used, such as philosophical treatises, scientific research, logical and heuristic resources, as well as introspection, despite all its limitations, is essential if we consider that language implies first-person experiences, which in any case will be corroborated by the readers of this article, concluding that language is essentially passionate and not rational, there being three necessary conditions for it, which are, materiality, image and Will.

INCLUSION, ELIGIBILITY AND FORFEITURE

2024-10-24T19:39:13+00:00

One of the buzzwords of today is ‘inclusion’. But the idea that everyone should be ‘included’ is a mistake, thoughtlessly reproduced by many. This holds in the private sphere, as well as in the institutional settings of the public sphere. There is very little conceptual analysis of the term, although there is plenty of literature on ‘social inclusion’ and the political vision of including the marginalized. My aim is to show that there are constraints on inclusion – particularly in institutional settings. Participation in social life is a kaleidoscope of inclusion and exclusion practices; this makes social life possible. Without inclusion/exclusion practices social life would be chaotic – if not impossible. Even philosophy journals have submission criteria which permit exclusion: e.g. the paper must not be under consideration by any other journal. Thus, exclusion is not per se a denial of someone’s dignity or a failure to recognize them as a fellow human being. The aim of this short essay is to raise awareness about inclusion and two of its constraints (eligibility and forfeiture), thereby starting a long overdue debate in the humanities.

PHILOSOPHY OF DEATH IN MAURICE BLANCHOT

2024-10-24T19:46:24+00:00

Maurice Blanchot is a 20th century French philosopher who was one of the few philosophers who started to write on death. Death has a special role in Maurice Blanchot’s philosophy, he understands death from two points of view: existential death and death as a metaphor, which is mainly investigated among side the process of creation and literature.

The aim of this work is to present philosophy of Death in Maurice Blanchot’s philosophy. The presentation aims to present that death is understood from two points of view in his thinking. First, death is understood as the existential drive for living and creation; secondly death is also understood as a metaphor in the process of creativity, in this sense, death plays a crucial role in Blanchot’s thinking. The article also aims to explain such Blanchotian concepts as death’s space, death’s transmutation and two kinds of death.

Death’s space is understood as a creative space of creation in which the representations and information is converted in the process of creation. Death’s transmutation is the process of transmuting certain material (whether its painting or words) into the new form. While two kinds of death refer to two types of death: the first is the death that persons can comprehend, while the second is the death that is experienced unexpectedly. Lastly, the work also aims to talk about the relationship between death and literature as death becomes an existential and creative force that sparks novelty.

MARTHA BETWEEN TWO MARYS. A PHILOSOPHICAL-COSMOLOGICAL READING OF MEISTER ECKHART’S SERMON 86

2024-10-24T20:40:33+00:00

The article examines Meister Eckhart's sermon 86, related to Luke 10:38-42, from a non-confessional philosophical perspective and a hermeneutic-dialogical method. First, it shows how fulfilled life, where the soul is one with divinity, is not represented by either young Mary or Martha, but by a mature Mary who encompasses both figures. It then clarifies the meaning of this whole life defined by this second Mary, where an active and contemplative life merges. To do this, it introduces the phenomenon it calls “giving oneself.” Finally, it outlines the concept of divinity as cosmological creativity, implied in Eckhart’s text.

UN EXAMEN CRÍTICO DE LOS ARGUMENTOS DE PLANTINGA EN DEFENSA DEL EXCLUSIVISMO RELIGIOSO

2024-10-25T15:15:17+00:00

In "Pluralism: A Defense of Religious Exclusivism" Alvin Plantinga defends religious exclusivism from a variety of objections. In this paper I discuss two of those objections. First, where Plantinga set two grounds of their religious beliefs as exclusivist, they missed to mention a third important ground of exclusive believe which is ‘Holy Scriptures’. In this paper I'll try to show that this third ground can change the scenario. Second, in the against of moral objections, like Exclusivists, are guilty of moral failures and arrogant, elitist, egotistical, unjust, oppressive, and imperialistic etc.; Plantinga reply that: Religious exclusivism is not necessarily a moral or intellectual failure and, (because?) given the human condition, some exclusivism is inevitable in our lives. In other words, there is no alternative to religious exclusivism. I argue, in contrast to Plantinga, that there is a contradiction in their argument and a version of this principle is not absolutely correct.

SÖREN KIERKEGAARD

2024-10-25T15:51:17+00:00

The article offers a look at the thought of Sören Kierkegaard, a 19th century Danish philosopher. Two Kierkegaard's crucial experiences are described and commented on: the death of his father Michael Pedersen Kierkegaard and the breakup with his fiancée Regina Olsen. Despite the widespread idea of ??the impact that these events had on Sören's life, it is argued that, from the existential point of view, there are other conditions that shape Kierkegaard's existentialism and that influence the development of his personality. In that sense, the asymmetrical relationship with God stands out, exposed through the evidence of Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac, a relationship that is actualized in Soren and his father, although without becoming effective.

INTUITION AND MATHEMATICS. AN INTERPRETATION FROM I. KANT’S CRITIQUE OF PURE REASON

2024-10-25T16:04:05+00:00

Abstract: this essay investigates why we intuit and do mathematics from the perspective of Kant's Critique of Pure Reason, focusing on The Discipline of Pure Reason in its Dogmatic Use. It examines how the pure intuitions of space and time provide an essential framework for the construction of mathematical concepts, ensuring their necessity and universality. Although Kant argues that these intuitions are necessary conditions, we argue that it is the development and formalization of mathematical language that truly concretizes and objectifies these intuitions. Additionally, it analyses how philosophy, by changing its method, can address more abstract concepts without suppressing pure intuitions. Finally, the close relationship between pure intuitions and mathematical construction allows us to visualize a framework of understanding between the cognizant subject and mathematical calculation. This framework acknowledges the possibility that any human being, who inherently possesses these intuitions, can construct mathematical concepts.

JEWISH MYSTICISM

2024-10-25T16:09:57+00:00

The text offers a historical synopsis of Jewish mysticism within Medieval Jewish philosophy. It presents the main figures and currents of Jewish mysticism starting from Philo of Alexandria, including the visionary texts of Hekhalot, the cosmogonic speculation, the early German-Jewish pietism up to early and classical Cabala, the latter reaching the XVII century

Presentación

2024-10-25T20:43:34+00:00