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CANTOR’S CONTINUUM PROBLEM

Author(s): Cristina Criste / Language(s): English Issue: 13/2015

One of the Georg Cantor’s main intellectual preoccupations was the problem of the continuum. In 1878, this old philosophical problem, closely related to the concept of infinity, received a purely mathematical formulation, later known as the Continuum Hypothesis. In his attempt to demonstrate this conjecture, Cantor largely laid the foundations of set theory. I will firstly articulate the configuration of this mathematical expression and then I will present some of its philosophical aspects. The text will focus only on Cantor’s work and not on set theory’s later developments determined by the Zermelo-Fraenkel’s axiomatization

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Nagovijest situacijskoga tumačenja kvantne mehanike

Author(s): Tihomir Vukelja / Language(s): Croatian Issue: 02/2003

This paper discusses the possibility of interpreting Hamiltonian function as a formal representation of particle's dynamical situation, where the dynamical situation is conceived as totality of circumstances that influence its mechanical state. Moreover, it is indicated that such considerations open the possibility of »situational interpretation of quantum mechanics. Within that interpretation all self-adjoint quantum-mechanical operators - usually understood as states or observables - are consistently interpreted as the formal representations of different situations in which atomic objects can be found.

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Newtonovo i Bergsonovo vrijeme

Author(s): Norbert Wiener / Language(s): Croatian Issue: 1-2/2016

Svako dijete u Njemačkoj zna ovaj mali napjev odnosno pjesmicu: ≫Weisst du, wie viel Sternlein stehen An dem blauen Himmel szelt? Weisst du, wieviel Wolken gehen Weithin uber aile Welt? Gott, der Herr, hat sie gezahlet Dass ihm auch nicht eines fehlet An der ganzen, grossen Zahl.≪ W. Hey U prijevodu glasi ovako: ≫Znaš li koliko je zvijezda na plavom svodu neba? Znaš li koliko oblaka plovi visoko nad cijelim svijetom? Izbrojioih je Gospod Bog, pa nijedna ne fali u velikom čitavom broju.≪

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Ljudi i strojevi

Author(s): Thomas Lamarre / Language(s): Croatian Issue: 1-2/2016

Čini se da je val fascinacije kiborzima, u popularnoj kulturi i kulturalnoj analizi, dosegnuo vrhunac te se povlači, međutim i dalje imamo neugodno pitanje o vezi između ljudi i strojeva. Ustvari, čini se da je fascinacija kiborzima ušla u slijepu ulicu, da blokira umjes to da otvara nova istraživanja. O tome piše Ian Hacking u tek stu ≫Canguilhem među kiborzima≪ (Hacking, 1998), pa kaže da je Descartes na određeni način blizak Donni Haraway po shvaćanju veze između ljudi i strojeva.

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Normal Science and Normal Kuhn. Review of Kuhn’s Structure of Scientific Revolutions – 50 Years On

Author(s): Adam T. Tuboly / Language(s): English Issue: 2-3/2015

1962 marked an important point in intellectual history not only for historians, philosophers, sociologists and scientists but also for educated laymen. After a long and productive decade Thomas Kuhn published his “Structure of Scientific Revolutions” as Volume 2 Issue 2 of the “International Encyclopedia of Unified Science”, edited (after the death of Otto Neurath) by Rudolf Carnap and Charles Morris. 2012 marked another important date—it was the 50th anniversary of Structure’s first edition. The many conferences, workshops and presentations were documented in special issues and collections; one of them is Kuhn’s “Structure of Scientific Revolutions – 50 Years On”, edited by William J. Devlin and Alisa Bokulich. The review aims to shed light on the collections relevance for current interdisciplinary studies.

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Toksyczny związek: przemocowa nauka i filozofia nieasertywna. Recenzja książki „Filozofia i nauka: trudne związki. Metallmann – Witkiewicz – Gawecki”

Author(s): Błażej Brzostek / Language(s): Polish Issue: 2-3/2015

Autor omawia książkę Macieja Dombrowskiego w kontekście refleksji przynależnej do nauki oraz filozofii, charakteryzującej koncepcje Joachima Metallmanna, Stanisława Ignacego Witkiewicza i Bolesława Józefa Gaweckiego.

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Projekt jako kryterium demarkacji

Author(s): Mario A. López / Language(s): Polish Issue: 13/2016

Methodological naturalism, though inexplicit in the denial of purpose, operates exclusively under the tenets of ontological naturalism and, therefore, proceeds only by way of the empirical and naturalistic. A more neutral epistemology is less presumptive and would allow science to flourish without the strictures of such a philosophical commitment. The task of divorcing science from methodological naturalism requires the abandonment of the idea that the structure of knowledge, or justified belief, requires no epistemic foundation and that inferential justification possess a uniquely superior epistemic status in the sciences than that which is non-inferentially known. As I see it, the persistent problem of science, and thus the criterion of demarcation that undergirds it, is two-fold. First, it is assumed that only inferential knowledge is genuinely justified, and second, that theories must be, at the very least, theoretically falsifiable.In this paper, I intend to provide a criterion of demarcating science that is practical and heuristically useful to spur scientific progress. My proposition does not presuppose the causal powers of chance and necessity. Instead, it forces the scientist to appreciate the ontological characteristics of nature and to leave the question of causation completely open, thereby, avoiding the pitfalls that ontological naturalism, and its faithful ally, methodological naturalism, habitually impose on science.

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Teologia naturalna, naturalizm metodologiczny i „żółwie do samego dołu”

Author(s): Del Ratzsch / Language(s): Polish Issue: 13/2016

Natural theology has not been held in particularly high regard during the past century and one half. However, recent developments both within science and within philosophy of science offer some new possibilities and resources. In what follows I explore some areas and structures within which natural theological potential might (in principle) emerge. I further argue that the current weapon of choice against substantive science/religion intertwining — methodological naturalism — not only fails as an inviolable norm, thus leaving the possibility of a genuine natural theology intact, but that it may even have unhappy theological consequences.

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Program badawczy SETI a teoria inteligentnego projektu

Author(s): Adam Trybus / Language(s): Polish Issue: 13/2016

In some publications dealing with the theory of intelligent design (or perhaps one should say, a theory of intelligent design, as there seem to be no universally accepted definition) one encounters an argument that the SETI research programme is, in a way, related to design detection and hence is a “version” of the theory of intelligent design. This article, by analysing the article that is foundational for SETI describing the assumptions behind this research programme, aims at showing that such a comparison of SETI and the theory of intelligent design is not justified as it is based on a simplified — and wrong — understanding of what the SETI researchers do. To this end, I compare SETI with both broad and narrow understanding of a theory of intelligent design, in both cases pointing to difficulties related to showing that SETI is a “version” of the considered theory of intelligent design. The main obstacle being that within SETI one assumes the existence of a given artefact (in this case a signal from another civilisation) rather than tries to prove that such an artefact does exist (to detect design, in the lingo of the supporters of the theory of intelligent design). In case of the narrow understanding of a theory of intelligent design, attempting to “mould” one theory so that it resembles the other shows that such an endeavour is deeply flawed, as exemplified in the text.

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Dyskusja nad artykułem Adama Trybusa, „Program badawczy SETI a teoria inteligentnego projektu”

Author(s): Piotr Bylica,Małgorzata Gazda,Kazimierz Jodkowski,Krzysztof J. Kilian,Dariusz Sagan / Language(s): Polish Issue: 13/2016

This text is a record of the discussion on the paper “Program badawczy SETI a teoria inteligentnego projektu” [The SETI Research Programme and the Theory of Intelligent Design] by Adam Trybus on a seminar of the Zielona Góra Local Group “Science and Religion” held at the Institute of Philosophy, the University of Zielona Góra. The author argues that comparing the theory of intelligent design and the SETI research programme does not form a valid argument for the scientific character of the former. During the discussion, its participants indicate errors and omissions of the presented paper and discuss various issues related to the described subject area.

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Kosmoekologia, etyka ekoholistyczna, hipoteza Gai-Uranosa, psychologia głębi, nieświadomość zbiorowa, noosfera, astrologia medyczna, medycyna antropozoficzna, mędrcy Dalekiego Wschodu i inne ucieszne banialuki

Author(s): Kazimierz Jodkowski / Language(s): Polish Issue: 13/2016

Review of: Honorata Korpikiewicz, Kosmoekologia. Obraz zjawisk, Wydawnictwo UAM, Poznań 2006, s. 203; Honorata Korpikiewicz, Kosmoekologia z elementami etyki holistycznej. Hipoteza Gai-Uranosa, Wydawnictwo Prodruk, Poznań 2002, s. 321.

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Tõde ja tõed humanitaarias - Sissejuhatus

Author(s): Johanna Ross / Language(s): Estonian Issue: 8-9/2019

Tõde on praegu moeteema. Mõne aasta eest tõusis populaarseks sõnaks tõejärgsus (ingl post-truth) – viide olukorrale, kus tõde on n-ö ületatud, kaotanud oma varasema tähtsuse. Sõna ja selle implikatsioonide üle arutati esialgu laiatarbemeedias, hiljem ka süvitsi. Eestis ilmus 2018. aastal ajakirja Studia philosophica Estonica teemanumber just nimelt tõejärgsuse teemal (numbri koostaja Leo Luksi sissejuhatus1 annab ühtlasi lühikese ülevaate sõna tähelennust nii ingliskeelses kui ka eestikeelses kultuuriruumis). 13. veebruaril 2019 toimus Keele ja Kirjanduse konverents „Tõde ja tõed humanitaarias”, millel põhineb siinne teemanumber. Et arutelu ei ole lõppenud, kinnitab aga see, et nüüd, sama aasta sügisel saab Tallinnas Fotografiska muuseumis vaadata Briti kunstniku Alison Jacksoni näitust „Tõde on surnud”.

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Permanentny uśmiech – analiza środków i narzędzi wzmocnienia afektywnego

Author(s): Piotr Litwin,Artur Gunia / Language(s): Polish Issue: 2/2022

The aim of the article is to analyze the ongoing philosophical debate about the possibility of using the latest scientific achievements in the field of pharmacology, psychiatry, or information technology to improve the emotional sphere of a human being. According to the transhumanist movement affective enhancement has the potential to liberate all conscious beings from suffering and to provide them with happiness for a lifetime. In the article, we analyze the main arguments of the transhumanist and philosopher David Pearce and his program about Hedonic Imperative. We propose to reflect on the role and structure of emotions in our lives, as well as on the features enabling the achievement of a “permanent smile”, that is, on the methods of affective enhancement that would limit the negative impact of emotions on an individual person. Besides we do a review of the presently available pharmacological and information technology solutions which could lay the foundations for the affective enhancement of man and other conscious beings. Main analysis, we will focus on two levels of our affective structure: (1) emotions and (2) meta-emotions in order to demonstrate that any transhumanist intervention should take into consideration the authenticity of our meta-emotional judgements.

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NATURAL ORDER AND MATHEMATICAL IMAGINATION. THE USE OF QUOTING SAPIENTIA 11–21 IN ORESME’S WORKS

Author(s): Fabio Zanin / Language(s): English Issue: 54/2022

Nicole Oresme quotes four times the passage from The Book of Wisdom (Wisdom of Solomon) or, in the Vulgate, Sapientia 11–21 (omnia in mensura et numero et pondere disposuisti), in several works covering his whole career. It goes to show the importance he gives to that passage: the order of nature arranged by God limits natural potencies within boundaries from which harmony follows, and at the same time it marks for man the path to perfection. But the human mind can know the natural order only to a certain degree of probability, as it results from De commensurabilitate. After all, it makes it possible to glimpse a more varied and complex order that one can imagine. Thus harmony results from a wise mixture of rationality and irrationality. From the point of view of his use of the passage of Sapientia 11–21, the skeptical Oresme appears as a scholar in search for a new synthesis, beyond that of mediaeval philosophy.

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MARIAN SMOLUCHOWSKI’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF CAUSATION

Author(s): Zenon Roskal / Language(s): English Issue: 50/2018

Marian Smoluchowski was a prominent Polish physicist whose greatest achievement was the development – independently of Albert Einstein – of the mathematical theory of Brownian motion. In his theoretical view of the problem of Brownian motion Smoluchowski employed the concept of causal relevance, which was never analysed in numerous publications devoted to his scientific achievement. In this article I am attempting to demonstrate that the concept of causal relevance which Smoluchowski employed in his works devoted to the issue of Brownian motion may be interpreted as analogous to the concept of causal relevance articulated by Max Kistler. I present a number of arguments which demonstrate that just such a concept of causal relevance was established by Smoluchowski. Since the explanation of the phenomenon of Brownian motion presented by Smoluchowski has been universally accepted, so in the same way the physicalistic concept of causal relevance has been widely propagated. In this I detect Smoluchowski’s contribution to the philosophy of causality.

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МОЖЛИВИЙ ТРАНСДИСЦИПЛІНАРНИЙ ПІДХІД ДО СЬОГОДНІШНЬОЇ ТЕХНОЛОГІЧНОЇ ЕКСПАНСІЇ

Author(s): Gabriela Pohoaţă / Language(s): Ukrainian Issue: 4/2022

The current research work aims at analyzing the relationship between the intellectual development of the human being and the advancement of current technology, trying to identify the limits of this relationship. We start from the premise that the transdisciplinary approach, by making use of fundamentals, can provide an insight both into the current technological reality and its future perspectives. The recourse to philosophy to understand what is happening today with man in relation to technology is conferred by the need to seek the basis of this progress of human thought that is not immune to insurmountable difficulties and undesirable effects.

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Elipsinių kreivių L funkcijų diskrečiojo universalumo tyrimas

Author(s): Samanta Zakaitė,Antanas Garbaliauskas / Language(s): Lithuanian Issue: 1 (52)/2022

In the paper, we prove the discrete universality theorem in the sense of the weak convergence of probability measures in the space of analytic functions for the L-functions of elliptic curves. We consider an approximation of analytic functions by translations Lg(s+imh), where h > 0 is a fixed number, m takes values from some discrete set such as arithmetical progression. We suppose that the number h > 0 is chosen so that exp{2πk/h } is a rational number for some k∈Z \ {0}. The proof of discrete universality of L-functions of elliptic curves is based on a limit theorem in the sense of weak convergence of probability measures in the space of analytic functions.

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Aristotle’s Solution for Parmenides’ Inconclusive Argument in Physics I.3

Author(s): LUCAS ANGIONI / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2021

I discuss the argument which Aristotle ascribes to Parmenides at Physics 186a23–32. I examine (i) the reasons why Aristotle considers it to be eristic and inconclusive and (ii) the solution (lusis) that he proposes against it.

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Aristotle, Eleaticism, and Zeno’s Grains of Millet

Author(s): MARCELO D. BOERI / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2021

This paper explores how Aristotle rejects some Eleatic tenets in general and some of Zeno’s views in particular that apparently threaten the Aristotelian “science of nature.” According to Zeno, it is impossible for a thing to traverse what is infinite or to come in contact with infinite things in a finite time. Aristotle takes the Zenonian view to be wrong by resorting to his distinction between potentiality and actuality and to his theory of mathematical proportions as applied to the motive power and the moved object (Ph. VII.5). He states that some minimal parts of certain magnitudes (i.e., continuous quantities) are perceived, but only in potentiality, not in actuality. This being so, Zeno’s view that a single grain of millet makes no sound on falling, but a thousand grains make a sound must be rejected. If Zeno’s paradoxes were true, there would be no motion, but if there is no motion, there is no nature, and hence, there cannot be a science of nature. What Aristotle noted in the millet seed paradox, I hold, is that it apparently casts doubt on his theory of mathematical proportions, i.e., the theory of proportions that holds between the moving power and the object moved, and the extent of the change and the time taken. This approach explains why Aristotle establishes an analogy between the millet seed paradox, on the one hand, and the argument of the stone being worn away by the drop of water (Ph. 253b15–16) and the hauled ship, on the other.

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Aristotle’s Mixture in its Medical and Philosophical Background: The Hippocratic De victu and the Aristotelian De generatione et corruptione

Author(s): Claudia Mirrione / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2021

Aristotle’s notion of qualitative interaction ruling both the process of mixture and the process of reciprocal elemental transmutation is based upon the idea of a physical contrariety endowed with two extremes and a wide central area where the opposite forces reach different equilibrium points (i.e., the so-called mixtures) or can be present to the fullest degree (in this case we do not have a mixture, but an element). Differently from previous scholarship which attributes this notion specifically to Aristotle, we have found, in a text which Aristotle seems to have been acquainted with, the Hippocratic De victu, an incipient structure of a contrariety endowed with extremes and a central area where opposite forces meet and yield respective equilibrium points, mixtures, which, as in Aristotle, give an account of the variety of beings existing in the world. In this article, we suggest the possibility that in the development of the Aristotelian thinking about elemental and qualitative dynamics, the Hippocratic De victu may have contributed to suggesting to Aristotle a way of envisioning the structure of his basic physical contrarieties.

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