Volume 68 (2013), 4
Papers
Abstract
Today the discussions about justice develop along two lines going back to Enlight- enment. The first one is contractarian while the second one is based on a comparative approach to justice, endorsing the establishment of a society with more justice achieved through getting away with the concrete injustices. The article sheds light on Sen’s argumentation as offered… Read more
Abstract
The article tries to sketch the notion of human nature in Theognidea. First, it shortly discusses the word φύσις in pre-classical literature, and then it turns to Theognidea to localize and interpret all occurrences of the verb φύω and the relevant occurrences of γίγνομαι. The author’s focus is on the “eugenic” and “didactic” tendencies of the Theognidea as well… Read more
Abstract
The essay offers an explanation of the most important Peirce’s steps on his way to scientific metaphysics. His philosophy might be described as a conceptual reconstruction of the universe using the methods of science. Logic and methodology and their place in the construction of the new philosophy, i.e. Peirce’s scientific metaphysics, are outlined as well.… Read more
Abstract
This is the second part of the paper in which it is claimed that there is exactly one semantically relevant pragmatic process, namely saturation. The author analyses Recanati’s tests for free enrichment as well as Stanley’s test for saturation. It is claimed that all these tests lead to unacceptable generalizations. On the other hand, it is also claimed that… Read more
Abstract
The problem of the epistemological status of logic is the core of Wittgenstein’s philosophy of logic. There are two known solutions to this problem: apriorism and aposteriorism. It appears that one solution or the other must be true. Scholars believe that the early Wittgenstein’s approach to the epistemological status of logic is a radical version of apriorism.… Read more
Abstract
The way Elliott Sober conceives group selection implies two claims: a) that natural selection is a cause; b) that natural selection can act at multiple levels of biological organization and that these multi-level selection processes are distinct or independent from one another. However, a comparison of multi-level selection processes with the distinction between… Read more
Reflections
The Astronaut Astrid and Her Poor Cat: Several Notes on the Theory of Our Indirect Duties to Animals
Abstract
Our moral feelings enable us to extend moral considerations to nonhuman sensitive beings, no matter if they are rational agents, have moral concepts etc. or not. The question, however, is: Are we willing to sacrifice a part of our interests in favor of more serious interests or needs of nonhumans? The paper offers a critical reconsideration of the basic… Read more