In defence of existence questions

Do numbers exist? Do properties? Do possible worlds? Do fictional characters? Many metaphysicians spend time and effort trying to answer these and other questions about the existence of various entities. These inquiries have recently encountered opposition: a group of philosophers, drawing inspiration from Aristotle, have argued that many or all of the existence questions debated by metaphysicians can be answered trivially, and so are not worth debating. Our task is to defend existence questions from the neo-Aristotelians' attacks

Storing renewables in the gas network: modelling of power-to-gas (P2G) seasonal storage flexibility in low carbon power systems

The power-to-gas (P2G) process, whereby excess renewable electrical energy is used to form hydrogen and/or synthetic natural gas that are injected, transported and stored in the gas network, has the prospect to become an important flexibility option for the seasonal storage of low-carbon electricity. This paper is the first to model and assess the potential of P2G when combined with gas seasonal storage operation accounting for the two networks’ characteristics and constraints (including the amount of hydrogen that can be blended with natural gas under different gas network conditions). Power system operation with P2G is analysed via a two-stage optimisation based on DC power flow in order to assess the gas production from otherwise curtailed renewables, also considering impact of P2G on short-term and long-term gas prices. Additionally, impact of P2G on gas network operation and its potentially required re-dispatch are evaluated with a steady-state gas flow model. Case studies conducted on the Great Britain gas and electrical transmission networks quantify benefits and limitations of the integrated usage of P2G with seasonal gas storage under different scenarios. The proposed model thus sets the fundamentals for further development of this emerging technology as a seasonal storage option in low-carbon power systems

Linking adaptation science to action to build food secure Pacific Island communities

Climate change is a major threat to food security in Pacific Island countries, with declines in food production and increasing variability in food supplies already evident across the region. Such impacts have already led to observed consequences for human health, safety and economic prosperity. Enhancing the adaptive capacity of Pacific Island communities is one way to reduce vulnerability and is underpinned by the extent to which people can access, understand and use new knowledge to inform their decision-making processes. However, effective engagement of Pacific Island communities in climate adaption remains variable and is an ongoing and significant challenge. Here, we use a qualitative research approach to identify the impediments to engaging Pacific Island communities in the adaptations needed to safeguard food security. The main barriers include cultural differences between western science and cultural knowledge, a lack of trust among local communities and external scientists, inappropriate governance structures, and a lack of political and technical support. We identify the importance of adaptation science, local social networks, key actors (i.e., influential and trusted individuals), and relevant forms of knowledge exchange as being critical to overcoming these barriers. We also identify the importance of co-ordination with existing on-ground activities to effectively leverage, as opposed to duplicating, capacity

Prácticas tecnológicas en las lagunas del centro de los pastizales pampeanos. El caso de Laguna Blanca Chica (cuenca superior del arroyo Tapalqué, Buenos Aires)

The main goal of this study is to understand the practices and management of technological production of the hunter-gatherer groups that inhabited the Tapalqué creek basin (Olavarría, Buenos Aires). The results of the techno-morphological analysis of the lithic assemblage from the Laguna Blanca Chica site are presented and discussed. Also, the function of a chert accumulation in a shallow lake (possibly a cache or knapping locus) is assessed. The different stages of the operational chains were reconstructed to identify technological practices and recognize the knapping techniques (debitage, façonnage, and retouch) involved in the production processes of the lithic artifacts. The raw material more frequently used is chert, followed by orthoquartzite with a wide range of colors. In smaller proportions, silica, quartz, silicified dolomite, limestone, and granitoid rocks are also present. Results reveal certain differences in the treatment of the main tool stones, which are reflected in varying technological activities and in the modes of tool manufacture. Finally, the technological practices identified at Laguna Blanca Chica are compared with those from other archaeological contexts within the central Pampa grasslandsEste trabajo tiene como principal objetivo conocer las prácticas y gestiones de producción tecnológicas llevadas a cabo por los grupos cazadores-recolectores que habitaron la cuenca del arroyo Tapalqué (partido de Olavarría, Buenos Aires). Con este propósito, se presentan y discuten los resultados obtenidos del análisis tecno-morfológico del conjunto lítico procedente del sitio Laguna Blanca Chica. Para identificar las prácticas tecnológicas y reconocer los modos de talla (debitage, façonnage y retoque) involucrados en las trayectorias de producción de los artefactos líticos se reconstruyeron las diferentes etapas de las cadenas operativas. En líneas generales, la materia prima que se encuentra mayormente representada es la ftanita, seguida por la ortocuarcita con una amplia diversidad de colores y, en proporciones menores, por sílice, cuarzo, dolomía silicificada, caliza y rocas granitoides. Los resultados obtenidos permiten identificar ciertas diferencias en el tratamiento de las principales rocas talladas, lo cual se ve reflejado en las diversas actividades tecnológicas y en los modos de manufactura de los artefactos formatizados. Por último, se discute la funcionalidad de una acumulación de ftanita en la laguna (escondrijo o locus de talla) y se comparan las prácticas tecnológicas identificadas en el sitio Laguna Blanca Chica con otros contextos arqueológicos del centro de los pastizales pampeanos

Las López. Luces y sombras feministas del 1900: María Luisa Femenías y María Cristina Spadaro (2024). Buenos Aires, Edhasa. Colección Biografías Argentinas. 280 p.

Las López. Luces y sombras feministas del 1900 María Luisa Femenías y María Cristina Spadaro (2024). Buenos Aires, Edhasa. Colección Biografías Argentinas. 280 p

Los fines de la literatura: una elegía. Literatura, crítica literaria y crítica cultural en Beatriz Sarlo y Horacio González en la posmodernidad periférica.

Critical tensions surrounding the problem of Modernity and Postmodernity in the works of Beatriz Sarlo and Horacio González. What happened to literature? Is it an autonomous field in the “postmodern” era? What space do literary and cultural criticism occupy in peripheral postmodernity? What happened to the avant-garde movements? Where is the Nation? The proposals put forward by Beatriz Sarlo, in Escenas de la vida posmoderna, and Horacio González, in Restos pampeanos, suggest not only possible answers to all these questions, but also current discussions that trace the critical drifts of these two intellectuals in the face of the emergence of the “postmodern” and the end of modernity. This article proposes to polemicize these questions and propose a potential farewell (that was never given) to the fragile body of literature.Tensiones críticas en torno al problema de la modernidad y la posmodernidad en las obras de Beatriz Sarlo y Horacio González ¿Qué ocurrió con la literatura? ¿Es un campo autónomo en la época “posmoderna”? ¿Qué espacio ocupan la crítica literaria y cultural en la posmodernidad periférica? ¿Qué pasó con las vanguardias? ¿En dónde quedó la Nación? Las propuestas planteadas por Beatriz Sarlo, en Escenas de la vida posmoderna, y Horacio González, en Restos pampeanos, sugieren no solo posibles respuestas a todas estas preguntas, sino también discusiones actuales y que trazan las derivas críticas de estos dos intelectuales frente a la emergencia de lo “posmoderno” y el fin de la modernidad. Este artículo se propone polemizar estas preguntas y plantear un potencial adiós (que nunca fue dado) al frágil cuerpo de la literatura

Paisajes de canteras de cazadores-recolectores: el caso de Alma Gaucha (Santa Cruz, Argentina)

The construction of a regional lithic resource database is an appropriate strategy for studying the relationship between people and the rocks in their environment. This study focuses on Alma Gaucha, a locality situated in the north-central sector of the Deseado Massif (Santa Cruz, Argentine Patagonia), with the aim of characterizing the distribution and diversity of lithic resources, as well as the social practices linked to their exploitation. To this end, the concept of quarry complex is incorporated, which allows to define different spaces, objects, and activities associated with procurement zones (e.g., resource processing, learning, camps, and shelters). Fieldwork identified eight procurement and quarry zones, each with varying sizes, lithologies, and types of outcrops. In these zones, transportable rock masses and blanks were extracted, and in some cases, bifacial tools and other artifacts were shaped.  La construcción de una base regional de recursos líticos es una estrategia adecuada para el estudio del vínculo entre la gente y las rocas de su entorno. El presente trabajo se centra en Alma Gaucha, una localidad emplazada en el sector norcentral del Macizo del Deseado (Santa Cruz, Patagonia argentina), con el objetivo de caracterizar la distribución y diversidad de los recursos líticos, así como las prácticas sociales vinculadas a su aprovechamiento. Para ello se incorpora el concepto de complejo de canteras, el cual permite definir distintos espacios, objetos y actividades que se relacionan con las zonas de aprovisionamiento (por ejemplo, procesamiento de recursos, aprendizaje, campamentos y refugios). A partir de los trabajos realizados se detectaron ocho zonas de aprovisionamiento y cantera que presentan diversas extensiones, litologías y formas de afloramiento, en las que se extrajeron masas de roca transportable, formas base y, en algunos casos, se llevó a cabo la formatización de piezas bifaciales y otros artefactos