Logic and Philosophy of Religion

This paper introduces the special issue on Logic and Philosophy of Religion of the journal Sophia: International Journal of Philosophy and Traditions (Springer). The issue contains the following articles: Logic and Philosophy of Religion, by Ricardo Sousa Silvestre and Jean-Yvez Béziau; The End of Eternity, by Jamie Carlin Watson; The Vagueness of the Muse—The Logic of Peirce’s Humble Argument for the Reality of God, by Cassiano Terra Rodrigues; Misunderstanding the Talk(s) of the Divine: Theodicy in the Wittgensteinian Tradition, by Ondřej Beran; On the Concept of Theodicy, by Ricardo Sousa Silvestre; The Logical Problem of the Trinity and the Strong Theory of Relative Identity, by Daniel Molto; Thomas Aquinas on Logic, Being, and Power, and Contemporary Problems for Divine Omnipotence, by Errin D. Clark

SOUSA: the Swift Optical/Ultraviolet Supernova Archive

The Ultra-Violet Optical Telescope on the Swift spacecraft has observed hundreds of supernovae, covering all major types and most subtypes. Here we introduce the Swift Optical/Ultraviolet Supernova Archive (SOUSA), which will contain all of the supernova images and photometry. We describe the observation and reduction procedures and how they impact the final data. We show photometry from well-observed examples of most supernova classes, whose absolute magnitudes and colors may be used to infer supernova types in the absence of a spectrum. A full understanding of the variety within classes and a robust photometric separation of the groups requires a larger sample, which will be provided by the final archive. The data from the existing Swift supernovae are also useful for planning future observations with Swift as well as future UV observatories.Comment: Accepted for publication in the UV issue of Astrophysics and Space Science 10 pages, 6 figures SOUSA is an archive in progress with data being posted to the Swift SN website: http://swift.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/swift/sne/swift_sn.htm

What Can Information Encapsulation Tell Us About Emotional Rationality?

What can features of cognitive architecture, e.g. the information encapsulation of certain emotion processing systems, tell us about emotional rationality? de Sousa proposes the following hypothesis: “the role of emotions is to supply the insufficiency of reason by imitating the encapsulation of perceptual modes” (de Sousa 1987: 195). Very roughly, emotion processing can sometimes occur in a way that is insensitive to what an agent already knows, and such processing can assist reasoning by restricting the response-options she considers. This paper aims to provide an exposition and assessment of de Sousa’s hypothesis. I argue information encapsulation is not essential to emotion-driven reasoning, as emotions can determine the relevance of response-options even without being encapsulated. However, I argue encapsulation can still play a role in assisting reasoning by restricting response-options more efficiently, and in a way that ensures which options emotions deem relevant are not overridden by what the agent knows. I end by briefly explaining why this very feature also helps explain how emotions can, on occasion, hinder reasoning

Freezing and melting equations for the nn-6 Lennard-Jones systems

We generalize previous approach of Khrapak and Morfill [J. Chem. Phys. {\bf 134}, 094108 (2011)] to construct simple and sufficiently accurate freezing and melting equations for the conventional Lennard-Jones (LJ) system to $n$-6 LJ systems, using the accurate results for the triple points of these systems published by Sousa {\it et al.} [J. Chem. Phys. {\bf 136}, 174502 (2012)].Comment: 2 pages, one figur

Conflictos entre Wellington y los gobernadores de Portugal durante la campaña de 1810-1811 contra Masséna

This paper is the preliminary result of a re-examination of the conflict between Lord Wellington, supreme commander of the British and Portuguese military forces, and some members of the Portuguese council of governors, in particular the Principal Sousa, brother of the most influential minister of the cabinet of king D. João, resident with his Court in Brazil since 1808. The background of the conflict was the tactical system conceived by Wellington in 1809 in order to resist to any new French offensive -the construction of the famous “lines of Torres Vedras” and therefore to build up a kind of “artificial island” around Lisbon. Sousa opposed the plan and its costs -scorched-earth policy. Wellington blamed Sousa as the main responsible for all the problems he had to face during the campaign of 1810-1811. However, it is hard to believe that the problem was the personality or the political influence of Sousa. The main difficulty was the subordination of the Portuguese administration to the British military goals in the Peninsula.Este artículo revisa las discrepancias entre Wellington, comandante de todas las fuerzas bélicas británicas y portuguesas, y algunos de los gobernadores del reino de Portugal, en particular el Principal Sousa, hermano del más influyente ministro de D. Juan, Príncipe Regente de Portugal, gobernando en Brasil desde 1808. El telón de fondo del conflicto fue la táctica pensada el año anterior por el estratega británico para responder a cualquier nueva ofensiva napoleónica: la creación de una “isla artificial” por medio de las celebradas “líneas de Torres Vedras”. Sousa se opuso a esa orientación y a sus consecuencias: la “tierra quemada”. Wellington atribuyó a Sousa todas las dificultades que se le presentaron en la campaña de 1810-1811. Pero el problema de fondo no era la personalidad o la influencia política de Sousa, sino la subordinación de la administración de Portugal a las necesidades de los objetivos militares ingleses en la Península

Effective teaching strategies in mathematics and science

Seven teaching strategies identified by Sousa (2001) were examined to develop implications to improve teaching in classrooms for deaf students. A literature review and an analysis of my student teaching experience and two videotapes of experienced teachers were related to Sousa\u27s work. These analyses support the recommendations of Sousa that more active, student-centered activities are more effective with deaf learners. Recommendations are provided to teachers based on the literature review

Flower, Metaphor, and Portugalidade: António de Sousa de Macedo and Mariana de Luna’s Complementary Use of Flores

ABSTRACT: António de Sousa de Macedo’s Flores de España, Excelencias de Portugal (1631) and Mariana de Luna’s Ramalhete de flores (1642) both make use of a central floral metaphor to exalt their native Portugal. Luna’s modest bouquet and Sousa de Macedo’s meticulous arrangement are introduced to the reader through two sonnets by Soror Violante do Céu. Whereas Luna writes to the newly crowned king João IV in celebration of the Restauração (1640), Sousa de Macedo’s is a non-native reader who he would convince of Portuguese preeminence. While they differ in context and scale, both works employ the language of portugalidade to achieve their respective ends.RESUMEN: Tanto Flores de España, Excelencias de Portugal (1631) de António de Sousa de Macedo como Ramalhete de flores (1642) de Mariana de Luna emplean las flores como metáfora nuclear para exaltar su Portugal natal. El ramillete modesto de Luna y el arreglo minucioso de Sousa de Macedo se presentan al lector a través de dos sonetos de Sor Violante do Céu. Mientras que Luna le escribe al recién coronado rey João IV en celebración de la Restauração (1640), el destinatario de Sousa de Macedo es un lector extranjero a quien pretende convencer de la preeminencia portuguesa. Aunque difieren en contexto y extensión, las dos obras emplean la lengua de portugalidade para lograr sus respectivos propósitos