Search results for "Matter of fact"
showing 6 items of 6 documents
Geometry, pregeometry and beyond
2005
This article explores the overall geometric manner in which human beings make sense of the world around them by means of their physical theories; in particular, in what are nowadays called pregeometric pictures of Nature. In these, the pseudo-Riemannian manifold of general relativity is considered a flawed description of spacetime and it is attempted to replace it by theoretical constructs of a different character, ontologically prior to it. However, despite its claims to the contrary, pregeometry is found to surreptitiously and unavoidably fall prey to the very mode of description it endeavours to evade, as evidenced in its all-pervading geometric understanding of the world. The question r…
On Some “family resemblances” of Fuzzy Set Theory and Human Sciences
2011
The aim of this paper is to underline the importance of detecting similarities or at least, ‘family resemblances’ among different fields of investigation. As a matter of fact, the attention will be focused mainly on fuzzy sets and a few features of human sciences; however, I hope that the arguments provided and the general context outlined will show that the problem of picking up (dis)similarities among different disciplines is of a more general interest. Usually strong dichotomies guide out attempts at understanding the paths along which scientific research proceed; i.e., soft versus hard sciences, humanities versus the sciences of nature, Naturwissenschaften versus Geisteswissenschaften, …
El dilema de la lechuza ¿Qué relación debe tener la filosofía con su historia?
2020
Resumen La historia parece tener una importancia especial en el campo de la filosofía, en pocas disciplinas encontramos tantas referencias a los autores y problemas del pasado. Sin embargo, esto puede ser una simple cuestión de hecho: hasta ahora hemos creído que enseñar la historia de la filosofía era formativo para los futuros filósofos, pero tal creencia puede cambiar. También podría ser una cuestión de puro interés profesional: algunos estudiamos la historia de la disciplina, y tratamos de justificar esa dedicación alegando que ésta puede ser útil, en cierta medida, para los pensadores contemporáneos. En este artículo, sin embargo, abogaré por una comprensión de nuestra historia como al…
Lo verosímil en la ética de Aristóteles: una aporía en el vocabulario filosófico griego
2007
While the mainstream of modern moral philosophy has always assumed that the characteristic situation in moral judgments should be the certitude, Aristotle’s moral philosophy is dominated by the idea of verisimilitude. As a matter of fact, its main concept, namely «virtue», is doubly permeated by this idea, both in its psychological and epistemological sides: we cannot know with certitude (only with verisimilitude) what is entailed by the adscription of a virtue (e.g. generosity), both generally and in a particular case. Nevertheless, verisimilitude is a good enough ground for action.<br><br>Mientras que la corriente principal de la filosofía moral moderna da por supuesto que la …
Elections ordinaires et aménagements constitutionnels
2001
It is widely held that voting in the course of ordinary elections has no significant influence on the constitutional regime or order of a country. At least three powerful arguments are provided in support of that view. First, to claim that, at the same time as they play, players can change the rules is, to say the least, logically puzzling. A second argument refers to the motivations and possibilities of voters : voters, this argument says, are not really interested in constitutional issues and, even if they were, are particularly ill-equiped to understand their implications. The third argument rests on the observation of what obtains in practice : as a matter of fact, constitutional issues…
The Management of Water Resources during Drought in Southern Italy
1999
The aim of this paper is to describe how one of the most severe droughts of the century in Sicily has brought awareness of the insufficiency of the water resources system supplying Palermo, due not only to the lack of timely infrastructural measures, but also of an appropriate decisional framework. The experienced shortage has directed research efforts to overcome this problem. As a matter of fact, the 1989–90 drought gave clear evidence of how an heavy hydrologic failure can result in a real crisis depending on the system which suffers from it. Unplanned urban expansion and increased demands levels, mixed with the lack of a drought-oriented water managenment, have produced considerable dis…