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Showing papers in "Open Journal of Philosophy in 2020"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a case study addressed the importance of risk prevention and researcher safety in risky situations, and a social scientist shared feelings of vulnerability when she conducted ethnographic research with sex workers and gang members.
Abstract: Purpose: The purpose of this study is to address challenging issues in protecting researchers in risky situations. Method: A case study addressed the importance of risk prevention and researcher safety. In six interviews, a social scientist shared feelings of vulnerability when she conducted ethnographic research with sex workers and gang members. Results: Qualitative results explain the concerns from the eyes of a vulnerable researcher in six factors: Support, Safety, System Connection, Situations, and Struggles. The vulnerable researcher phenomenon is defined as the emotional labor faced by the researcher in situations that are dangerous and risky. Implications: While taking care of the research subjects’ well-being, researchers must also be reminded that ethical behaviors in their field also include self-protection. Social scientists must advocate for a standard protocol in IRB applications to include protecting researcher safety and ensuring identity privacy.

4 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The Neo-Vitruvian or neo-humanist approach as mentioned in this paper emphasizes the scientific and technical skills of human beings, who can improve human lives and defeat disease and pain by using their knowledge of the secrets of nature.
Abstract: With its cybernetic and optimistic vision of the future of mankind, characterised by the birth of a human-machine hybrid no longer subject to pain or chronic illness, the post-human theoretical perspective is flawed in both scientific and philosophical terms. To deny suffering is to deny human life itself, and yet, though the human dream of defeating pain and death has so far been systematically thwarted, it has not faded. The post-human approach proposes to go beyond human biological boundaries with the help of science and technology, reprogramming nature to resemble a human-robot hybrid. However, the artificial supports that this approach relies on (such as microchips) still cannot negate death and pain, which are constituent parts of biological life. The negation of pain would mean the negation of the human being in the philosophical sense. An alternative approach, which we shall refer to as Neo-Vitruvian or neo-humanist, emphasises the scientific and technical skills of human beings, who can improve human lives and defeat disease and pain by using their knowledge of the secrets of nature. Armed with this knowledge, today post-modern human beings are able to control nature with the same rules by which nature creates the world. In this way, today’s human beings, like Leonardo Da Vinci in the Renaissance, use science to assume the role of the Universal Creator, without however manipulating nature as proposed by the post-humanists.

4 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, an analysis of the main problems that humanity has experienced through the chemical sciences and how chemistry has applied the Precautionary Principle to evaluate every scientific and technological development and thus reestablished new criteria for the remediation and prevention of harmful scenarios to humanity and the environment.
Abstract: Considering the two most applied ethical ideologies in science, the Value Neutrality and the Precautionary Principle, the latter is the ethical criterion that best fits the way in which chemistry has been developed and is currently executed. This work begins with a historical description of each ideology and a comparison of their fundamental statutes. After an analysis of the main problems that humanity has experienced through the chemical sciences— massive accidents, environmental pollution and public health problems—an evaluation is made of how chemistry has applied the Precautionary Principle to evaluate every scientific and technological development and thus reestablish new criteria for the remediation and prevention of harmful scenarios to humanity and the environment. The work concludes that chemistry has established a basis for ethical exercise applying the Precautionary Principle, and this is reflected in pragmatic and objective developments as Green Chemistry, remediation and substitution technologies, and in Sanitary and Environmental Regulation.

4 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the Tractatus of Logico-Philosophicus and his middle period writings are discussed, and strategic issues and problems arising from Wittgenstein's philosophy of mathematics are discussed.
Abstract: Drawing mainly from the Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus and his middle period writings, strategic issues and problems arising from Wittgenstein’s philosophy of mathematics are discussed. Topics have been so chosen as to assist mediation between the perspective of philosophers and that of mathematicians on their developing discipline. There is consideration of rules within arithmetic and geometry and Wittgenstein’s distinctive approach to number systems whether elementary or transfinite. Examples are presented to illuminate the relation between the meaning of an arithmetical generalisation or theorem and its proof. An attempt is made to meet directly some of Wittgenstein’s critical comments on the mathematical treatment of infinity and irrational numbers.

4 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Results analysis reveals that web harvesting is considered among national libraries’ top priorities; the relevant projects increase in number, the web collections become more and more and the technological infrastructures and tools for web harvesting improve.
Abstract: Almost two decades of experience on web harvesting and archiving are counted; the subject of web harvesting and web archiving have been top in the interest of researchers, technologists and librarians-information scientists. Web harvesting projects and pilot programs on archiving content traced on the Web are becoming priorities for national libraries and cultural heritage organizations in the EU. This paper pertains to web harvesting as a process for data mining from web and only through web (“pull” function); this paper elaborates upon research implemented in the framework of the funded research project titled “Web Archiving in Public Libraries and IP Law” that focused on the processes of web-harvesting and archiving as well as Text and Data Mining (TDM) operations in the national libraries of EU Member States. Web archiving as an official operation in national libraries of EU Member States creates web collections and preserves them for the purpose of being accessible and usable in perpetuity. This paper pertains to research on various components of web harvesting and archiving through an online survey (qualitative research) which targeted the national libraries of EU Member States. The research team of authors posed seventeen questions to EU national libraries. The survey output comes from answers delivered by 22 national libraries of EU Member States. The questionnaire was created through the use of Google forms. The researchers reached the EU national libraries via email and follow up telephone calls seeking libraries’ participation in the research. The aim of the research was to delve on participant libraries’ Text and Data Mining operation leveraging on Web harvesting and Web archiving technologies and operations. Results analysis reveals that web harvesting is considered among national libraries’ top priorities; the relevant projects increase in number, the web collections become more and more and the technological infrastructures and tools for web harvesting improve. Yet, there are many issues that remain unresolved. A significant number of surveyed libraries consider that legal and technical issues remain the most important to resolve. Access to harvested material is still under legal restrictions. The Directive 2019/790/EU on Copyright in the Digital Single Market (DSM) creates a favorable legal foundation for the deployment of web harvesting operations in national libraries of the EU Member States. TDM technologies make possible new areas of research. Web harvesting that was initially aimed for preservation purposes now expands to unprecedented research of national heritage through state-of-the-art automated TDM processes.

3 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors argue that the rationale for democracy is to be found in game theory, in particular the principal agent framework in the economics of information, and that democracy is the sole political re- gime that promotes the truth in an open society.
Abstract: Karl Popper discovered the link between the open society and scientific dis- covery with the help of his analysis of growth of scientific theories (Popper, 1945, 1959). Only in an open society can hypotheses or models be falsified. His principle of falsification applies not only to scientific argument but also to social science beliefs and political propaganda. Thus, democracy nourishes an open society seeking the truth. Actually, democracy is the sole political re- gime that promotes the truth in an open society. The rationale for democracy is to be found in game theory, in particular the principal agent framework in the economics of information.

3 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The essence of the three-dimensional universe came from the energy from the multi-dimensional void, deprived of all matters as discussed by the authors, where matters are the products from the combination of energy and materials.
Abstract: The Essence of the three-dimensional Universe came from the energy from the multi-dimensional void, deprived of all matters. Dimensions above the three-dimensional Universe postulated in the M-theory are all abstract mathematical dimensions, and they could be grouped into the zero-dimensional Universe. The present known Universe is probably the highest dimension and it is one of the infinite numbers of pocket Universe floating in the zero-dimensional kong, or void. Matters, including humans, are the products from the combination of energy and materials. What sets humans apart from the rest of the living matters is the difference in the intelligent energy bestowed during the initial stage in the creation of human cells.

2 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The eight trigrams provide a new avenue for characterizing the association between mRNA codons and the hydrophobicity of the encoded amino acids, and it is found that most hydrophilic amino acids are associated with mRNA codon whose first two bases are in the middle four trigrams and form intermediate or weak hydrogen bonds with tRNA anticodons.
Abstract: The standard genetic code is nearly universal, and relates the sequence of a translated messenger RNA (mRNA) to the sequence of amino acids in the resultant protein. Previous studies have related the second position of the mRNA codon to the hydrophobicity of the encoded amino acid. The research aim of this study was to investigate any other relationships that might exist. The author explored the association between both the first and the second positions of the mRNA codon with the hydrophobicity of the encoded amino acid based on their characterization according to the eight trigrams of the I Ching. The author found that most hydrophilic amino acids are associated with mRNA codons whose first two bases are in the middle four trigrams and form intermediate or weak hydrogen bonds with tRNA anticodons, whereas most hydrophobic amino acids are associated with mRNA codons located at the Yang end (i.e., the first two bases of the codon are strong followed by strong) or the Yin end (i.e., the first two bases of the codon are weak followed by weak). The eight trigrams provide a new avenue for characterizing the association between mRNA codons and the hydrophobicity of the encoded amino acids.

2 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a phenomenological hermeneutical investigation is carried out, that semanti-cally updates the concepts of Being itself, the limit situation, temporality and existence.
Abstract: Karl Jaspers considers that in order to advent to Being itself, certain limit sit- uations must be faced, among which are death, suffering, struggle, chance and guilt. Only by entering these limit situations does it come into existence. But Jaspers did not consider time as a limit situation in which we are from the origin in an improper time and from which we make the existencial leap to our own time through decisive precursor actions. This article argues that time, considered mainly from Heidegger, is properly a limit situation, which, through its willful confrontation, advents to Being itself. For this reason, a phenomenological hermeneutical investigation is carried out, that semanti- cally updates the concepts of Being itself, the limit situation, temporality and existence.

1 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The near ubiquity and endurance of religion are further illuminated by analysis of its functions and ideological role as mentioned in this paper, which reveals that religion tends to be socially conservative but has the potential to be revolutionary.
Abstract: Religion emerged among early humans because both purposive and non-purposive explanations were being employed but understanding was lacking of their precise scope and limits. Given also a context of very limited human power, the resultant foregrounding of agency and purposive explanation expressed itself in religion’s marked tendency towards anthropomorphism and its key role in legitimizing behaviour. The inevitability of death also structures the religious outlook; with ancestors sometimes assigned a role in relation to the living. Subjective elements such as the experience of dreams and the internalization of moral precepts also play their part. Two important sources of variation among religions concern the adoption of a dualist or non-dualist perspective, and whether or not the religion’s early political experience is such as to generate a systematic doctrine subordinating politics to religion. The near ubiquity and endurance of religion are further illuminated by analysis of its functions and ideological role. Religion tends to be socially conservative but has the potential to be revolutionary.

1 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The main purpose of as mentioned in this paper is to examine and assess the plausibility of Descartes' thesis that it is by mathematical reasoning that we will ultimately justify the Truth Principle, which is a metaphysical claim.
Abstract: The main purpose of this paper is to examine and assess the plausibility of Descartes’ thesis that it is by mathematical reasoning that we ultimately justify the Truth Principle, which is a metaphysical claim. Drawing upon contemporary logic and philosophy of mathematics, the paper argues that Descartes’ understanding of mathematical reasoning, especially concerning infinity, enables him to justifiably conclude that the Truth Principle is indubitable.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explore the Hegelian views on humanity's emancipation from the natural condition and the gradual process of social rationalization in the context of an immanent determinative movement from abstract to concrete, the dialectical process passes through the concepts of natural spirit, consciousness and self-consciousness, until the concept of rational spirit becomes its terminal station.
Abstract: This article aims to explore the Hegelian views on humanity’s emancipation from the natural condition and the gradual process of social rationalization In the context of an immanent determinative movement from abstract to concrete, the dialectical process passes through the concepts of natural spirit, consciousness and self-consciousness, until the concept of rational spirit becomes its terminal station Given that Hegel himself locates the prelude to the right-oriented or just relation already in the rational mutual recognition of the particular self-consciousnesses, ie at the terminal point of a dialectical deduction that starts from the concept of natural spirit and moves through the concepts of consciousness and self-consciousness, this article tries to reconstruct in broad lines the key points of this process According to Hegel, the total transit through all these three evolutionary stages is crowned by the ability of spirit to come to terms with the objective completion of its concept, that is to think of itself not only as a subjective structure, opposite to an external object, but as homogenous to objectivity, in the meaning of the thing itself (die Sache selbst) The moment of rational intersubjectivity is of cardinal importance for this completion, which grants spirit the ability for intelligent theorizing and just practical conduct

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the relationship between facts and values is shown by a three-tiered pyramid, with the physical sciences at the base, the human sciences at top, and the earth sciences in the middle.
Abstract: Religion is presented as a family of religions, identified by a cluster of religion-making features, most but not all of which must be present, involving beliefs and practices which are diverse and often in conflict. Because of differences in scope, application of scientific method, and vocabulary, science can also be regarded as a family—this time a family of sciences. The universality of the physical sciences contrasts with the more restricted scope of the earth sciences and the human sciences. Their relationship can be shown by a three-tiered pyramid, with the physical sciences at the base, the human sciences at the top, and the earth sciences in the middle. Despite three notable differences between science and religion, science and religion are not, as popularly believed, in conflict. The contrary view, espoused by the “new atheists,” is shown to be based on oversimplified views of religion and science. There are nontheistic religions and science is committed, not to metaphysical naturalism (“scientism”), but only to methodological naturalism. Stephen Jay Gould escapes the conflict view by proposing that science and religion are independent “magisteria”, science being occupied with facts and religion with values. In divorcing the realm of facts from the realm of values, he too distorts their complex nature, for science is not devoid of values and religion makes claims about the facts. As Hume long ago suggested, facts and values are interconnected. While a fact is not the same as a value, a fact cannot support a value without presupposing another value in turn. Interaction between facts and values is here to stay.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This paper shall construct geometry following the process of visual information processing in the nervous system, and the double contradiction should be rethought as a logical basis for calculus.
Abstract: Geometry is based on vision. Hence, the visual information processing of the nervous system regulates the structure of geometry. In this paper, we shall construct geometry following the process of visual information processing in the nervous system. Firstly, photons are captured by photoreceptor cells in the retina. At this stage, the retinal bitmap image is constructed using photo- receptor cells as pixels. The retinal bitmap is the foundation of quantitative properties of images throughout the visual processing. Secondly, the edge of the object is extracted in the primary visual cortex. When a three-dimensional object is projected in two dimensions, the edge of the object is ideally a line without width. While Euclid defined the line as the length without width. Surprisingly, a type of cells in the primary visual cortex react the Euclidean line. At this stage, Euclidean geometry without curves is constructed. Thirdly, curves are recognized in the visual area V4. At this stage, Euclidean geometry with curves is constructed. The next problem is the compatibility of these stages. The problem of the compatibility between the first and second stages is that there are irrational lengths in Euclidean geometry. Ancient Greeks used the double contradiction to solve the compatibility problem. An irra- tional number is defined as a number that divides rational numbers into larger and smaller rational numbers. The double contradiction is a method of defining non-rational numbers using rational numbers. Also, double contra- diction is used to solve the compatibility problem between the second and third stages. Even though the length of the curve is not defined in Elements, the length of a curve can be defined by the length of straight lines. Similarly, properties of curves are defined by straight lines. In differentiation, the slope of the curve is defined by the slope of the line. In integration, the area under the curve is defined by the total area of thin rectangles. Finally, as a logical basis for calculus, the double contradiction should be rethought.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a series of developments in geometry can be used in application to Quantum mechanics, including the Theorem of Bezout, and several developments in physics can be found in this paper.
Abstract: We examine a series of developments in geometry. These include the Theorem of Bezout. We then examine how several developments in geometry can be used in application to Quantum mechanics.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a small-scale study in higher education, a good educational practice on teaching bioethics based on Transformative Learning and accomplished by debates, is presented, where reflections occurred after the debating experience participants participated in during this course.
Abstract: In this small-scale study in higher education, a good educational practice on teaching bioethics based on transformative learning and accomplished by debates, is presented. The research was carried out in June 2016 at the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, Greece and it focuses on the concerns over their value system and moral dilemmas underground students in the field of biosciences have. Reflections occurred after the debating experience they participated in during this course. The research followed the qualitative method and data were collected through a single question posed to students, asking them to critically reflect on their debating experience. Content analysis was used for analyzing their responses. Debates seem to be a good practice for teaching bioethics, since it led them to critically think over their values and morals regarding their role as future biologists. They seem eager to reflect, question, and deal with moral dilemmas concerning the difficult ethical issue of bioethics, a key-point for every junior scientist.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This essay explains what a partial truth table is and shows how such a table is constructed, and applies the partial-truth-table technique successively to arguments, individual propositions, and sets of two or more propositions.
Abstract: Partial truth tables have two salient virtues. First, like whole truth tables, they are algorithmic (i.e., effective). If you construct them correctly, you will get an answer to your question whether a particular argument is valid; whether a particular proposition is tautologous, self-contradictory, or contingent; or whether a particular set of propositions is consistent. Second, they are less time-consuming and tedious to construct than whole truth tables. No partial truth table has more than three rows, and many have only one. A whole truth table, by contrast, may have as many as 32, 64, 128, or 256 rows (or more). In this essay, I explain what a partial truth table is and show how such a table is constructed. I then apply the partial-truth-table technique successively to arguments, individual propositions, and sets of two or more propositions. I conclude by evaluating the most widely used logic textbooks, showing what they do well and where they fall short.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This article assessed teachers' and students' self-perception as global citizens in the context of the Alfred North Whitehead Process Philosophy and found that although more teachers believed themselves to be global citizens, there was little tendency to stimulate students in this regard.
Abstract: This paper assesses teachers’ and students’ self-perception as global citizens in the context of Alfred North Whitehead Process Philosophy The aim of the paper is to identify the potential for global citizenship within pedagogy and learning One hundred students and 50 teachers from Peaceland College of Education, Enugu, in Nigeria, were selected systematically and examined on their belief that an action in situ could pose global consequences or benefits Respondents were also assessed on other dimensions of globalization Results showed that although more teachers believed themselves to be global citizens, there was little tendency to stimulate students in this regard Students conversely exhibited their potential for global citizenship by listening more to foreign media than their teachers For students, however, knowledge of current affairs and interaction with foreigners were significant determinants of self-perception as global citizens; for teachers, it was the motivation to teach and the level of education The study concludes that adopting process philosophy in schools has much promise for skills, values, attitudes and dispositions needed to live in a global society

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The Eplerian philosophy of brain science is defined as "know who you are moment by moment" as mentioned in this paper, which means know the brain region at any given moment and learn to quickly leave the unhealthy brain regions.
Abstract: Too many people throughout the world are unhealthy, stressed, and disconnected from the community because they spend too much time being angry or in fear, and too much time having self-centered thoughts and judging others. People are not being their true selves. The Eplerian Philosophy based on brain science is defined as “know who you are moment by moment.” This means know the brain region at any given moment and learn to quickly leave the unhealthy brain regions. The less time people think about themselves, the more they become their true selves.