Getting Acquainted with Kant

My question here concerns whether Kant claims that experience has nonconceptual content, or whether, on his view, experience is essentially conceptual. However there is a sense in which this debate concerning the content of intuition is ill-conceived. Part of this has to do with the terms in which the debate is set, and part to do with confusion over the connection between Kant’s own views and contemporary concerns in epistemology and the philosophy of mind. However, I think much of the substance of the debate concerning Kant’s views on the content of experience can be salvaged by reframing it in terms of a debate about the dependence relations, if any, that exist between different cognitive capacities. Below, in Section 2, I clarify the notion of ‘content’ I take to be at stake in the interpretive debate. Section 3 presents reasons for thinking that intuition cannot have content in the relevant sense. I then argue, in Section 4, that the debate be reframed in terms of dependence. We should distinguish between Intellectualism, according to which all objective representation (understood in a particular way) depends on acts of synthesis by the intellect, and Sensibilism, according to which at least some forms of objective representation are independent of any such acts (or the capacity for such acts). Finally, in Section 5, I further elucidate the cognitive role of intuition. I articulate a challenge which Kant understands alethic modal considerations to present for achieving cognition, and argue that a version of Sensibilism that construes intuition as a form of acquaintance is better positioned to answer this challenge than Intellectualism

New Clathrin-Based Nanoplatforms for Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Background: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has high spatial resolution, but low sensitivity for visualization of molecular targets in the central nervous system (CNS). Our goal was to develop a new MRI method with the potential for non-invasive molecular brain imaging. We herein introduce new bio-nanotechnology approaches for designing CNS contrast media based on the ubiquitous clathrin cell protein. Methodology/Principal Findings: The first approach utilizes three-legged clathrin triskelia modified to carry 81 gadolinium chelates. The second approach uses clathrin cages self-assembled from triskelia and designed to carry 432 gadolinium chelates. Clathrin triskelia and cages were characterized by size, structure, protein concentration, and chelate and gadolinium contents. Relaxivity was evaluated at 0.47 T. A series of studies were conducted to ascertain whether fluorescent-tagged clathrin nanoplatforms could cross the blood brain barriers (BBB) unaided following intranasal, intravenous, and intraperitoneal routes of administration. Clathrin nanoparticles can be constituted as triskelia (18.5 nm in size), and as cages assembled from them (55 nm). The mean chelate: clathrin heavy chain molar ratio was 27.0464.8: 1 fo

A global horizon scan of the future impacts of robotics and autonomous systems on urban ecosystems

Technology is transforming societies worldwide. A major innovation is the emergence of robotics and autonomous systems (RAS), which have the potential to revolutionize cities for both people and nature. Nonetheless, the opportunities and challenges associated with RAS for urban ecosystems have yet to be considered systematically. Here, we report the findings of an online horizon scan involving 170 expert participants from 35 countries. We conclude that RAS are likely to transform land use, transport systems and human–nature interactions. The prioritized opportunities were primarily centred on the deployment of RAS for the monitoring and management of biodiversity and ecosystems. Fewer challenges were prioritized. Those that were emphasized concerns surrounding waste from unrecovered RAS, and the quality and interpretation of RAS-collected data. Although the future impacts of RAS for urban ecosystems are difficult to predict, examining potentially important developments early is essential if we are to avoid detrimental consequences but fully realize the benefits

An Ecological View of the History of the City of Cape Town

Rapid global urbanization and the knowledge that ecological systems underpin the future sustainability and resilience of our cities, make an understanding of urban ecology critical. The way humans engage with ecological processes within cities is highly complex, and both from a social and ecological perspective these engagements cannot be interpreted meaningfully on the basis of a single timeframe. Historical analyses offer useful insights into the nature of social-ecological interactions under diverse conditions, enabling improved decision-making into the future. We present an historical review of the evolving relationship between the urban settlement of Cape Town and the ecological processes inherent to its natural surroundings. Since its establishment, the people of Cape Town have been acutely aware of, and exploited, the natural resources presented by Table Mountain and its surrounding wilderness area. An examination of this pattern of engagement, explored through an ecological process lens, in particular drawing on the terminology provided by the ecosystem services framework, reflects a journey of the changing needs and demands of a growing urban settlement. Ecological processes, and their ensuing flow of ecosystem services, have been exploited, overexploited, interrupted, reestablished, conserved, and variably valued through time. Processes of significance, for example water provision, soil erosion, the provision of wood and natural materials, and the role of fire, are presented. This historical analysis documents the progression from a wilderness to a tamed and largely benign urban environment. Evident is the variable valuing of ecosystem service attributes through time and by different people, at the same time, dependent on their immediate needs

Relational Values of Cultural Ecosystem Services in an Urban Conservation Area: The Case of Table Mountain National Park, South Africa

This paper assesses how residents of a developing city in the Global South, recognize and value the multiple diverse cultural ecosystem services associated with freshwater ecosystems, as provided by different landscape features originating in an urban protected area. This objective was achieved by establishing who benefits from freshwater ecosystem services, uncovering the spatial and temporal relationships these beneficiaries have with landscape features, and determining the relational nature of ecosystem service values, benefits and trade-offs as experienced by the different users. Recreation, aesthetic and existence services were valued highest by respondents. People who live closer to the park use, and benefit from, the park’s freshwater ecosystems more frequently than those living further away. Park visitors want ease of access in terms of distance to specific freshwater ecosystems, and then once there, they want a diversity of activity options, such as recreation opportunities, as well as places to reflect and meditate. This study of cultural ecosystem services improves our understanding of social-ecological systems in urban areas by exploring the relationships between park and people which can guide management to ensure equitable and sustainable ecosystem service provision to all city residents

Historic herbarium specimens as biocultural assets: An examination of herbarium specimens and their in situ plant communities of the Agulhas National Park, South Africa

Globally there is a need for protected areas to conserve both biodiversity and heritage. Historic specimen localities, although significant to botanists, are not known or recognized under the global heritage umbrella; yet they form an important component of the protected area landscape. We aimed to articulate the conservation and heritage value of herbarium specimens, and make the links between people, botanical culture and nature explicit in order to argue the case that historic specimens and their associated in situ plant populations are biocultural heritage assets. This paper bridges the gap between biodiversity conservation and culture by confirming the presence of historic plant localities in the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa, from collections made prior to 1914. Once confirmed, present historic plant localities can be included into protected area conservation management and heritage portfolios and ensure a continued contribution to knowledge generation through conservation of these historic sites. Historic specimens and their associated in situ localities are valuable to both ecological study and conservation around the world and this paper highlights an emerging facet to science of the influence of people on the natural landscape. We found this to be the case not only in an ecologically transformative way, but from a heritage aspect regarding the social nature of botanizing and discovering. Historic specimen localities thus link the past with the current and future management of a protected area

Urban plant diversity : understanding informing processes and emerging trends

Plant diversity in cities is important for numerous social and ecological reasons. In this chapter we use Aronson et al.’s (Ecology 97:2952–2963, 2016) hierarchical filters to explore urban biodiversity trends and driving processes in cities of the Global South. Modelled expansion in the Global South shows a high degree of coincidence with biodiversity hotspots with sprawling, informal, settlement rapidly transforming landscapes. Alien plants are frequently introduced through human facilitation and this has been linked to aspirational aesthetics and livelihoods. The relative contribution of indigenous versus alien plant species varies and histories, in particular of colonisation, are important. Like cities in the Global North, invasive aliens are a threat to urban biodiversity in and beyond cities in the Global South. Cities here differ in having less resources to tackle these threats. Biodiversity in cities of the Global South further differs from the Global North in the role it plays in people’s lives where social and cultural practices make for diverse engagements. Emerging work suggests these are means through which to engage the public in biodiversity conservation. Individual garden management, combined with remnant vegetation, makes for diverse biodiversity outcomes and refutes the blanket application of ideas developed in the Global North such as the luxury effect. The role of urban agriculture and provisioning services plays an important role in garden biodiversity. The current amount of remnant biodiversity in cities in the Global South presents an opportunity to conserve these elements

Prioritising species for monitoring in a South African protected area and the Red List for plants.

Protected areas (PA) in biodiversity hotspots face the challenge of monitoring large numbers of locally rare and threatened plant species at times with limited budgets. Prioritising species according to their local extinction risk could help PA managers to decide which species to monitor. However, there is often very little information available on the species occurrence and extinction risk in the PA. Because of this, PA managers often rely on the national or global Red List for prioritising species at the PA level. Here, we evaluate the effectiveness of using the Red List for species prioritisation and examine the robustness of extinction probability equations for 74 fynbos species in Table Mountain National Park (TMNP). We conducted in-field surveys to verify the persistence of subpopulations previously recorded, following a detection protocol adapted for rare and cryptic plant species. We found that most targeted species were extant within TMNP but with a substantially reduced number of subpopulations. Twenty-six species only had one or two subpopulations remaining. Critically Endangered (CR) species lost on average 4 subpopulations more than Least Concern (LC) species. However, species persistence in TMNP was largely independent of their Red List status. Half of the species represented by just one or two subpopulations were listed as LC. This work shows that prioritising monitoring according to the Red List status is not appropriate at the scale of the individual PA. We suggest that more in-field data and monitoring is required to prevent extinctions occurring in PAs

Horizon scanning for South African biodiversity : a need for social engagement as well as science

A horizon scan was conducted to identify emerging and intensifying issues for biodiversity conservation in South Africa over the next 5–10 years. South African biodiversity experts submitted 63 issues of which ten were identified as priorities using the Delphi method. These priority issues were then plotted along axes of social agreement and scientific certainty, to ascertain whether issues might be “simple” (amenable to solutions from science alone), “complicated” (socially agreed upon but technically complicated), “complex” (scientifically challenging and significant levels of social disagreement) or “chaotic” (high social disagreement and highly scientifically challenging). Only three of the issues were likely to be resolved by improved science alone, while the remainder require engagement with social, economic and political factors. Fortunately, none of the issues were considered chaotic. Nevertheless, strategic communication, education and engagement with the populace and policy makers were considered vital for addressing emerging issues.The South African National Biodiversity Institutehttp://link.springer.com/journal/13280hj2021Mammal Research Institut

Democratization and Constitutional Crises in Presidential Regimes

This article explores the impact of democratization on the resolution of executive-legislative crises in Latin American presidential regimes. The author studies 27 episodes in which the executive branch closed the legislature or the legislature removed the chief executive from office between 1950 and 2000. It is hypothesized that the democratization of Latin American presidential systems has hindered the ability of presidents to challenge the legislature and encouraged the emergence of congressional supremacy (i.e., the capacity of congress to impeach the president if a serious conflict emerges). Three causal mechanisms account for this outcome: (a) a lower likelihood of military intervention, (b) the elimination of constitutional tools used by authoritarian presidents to dissolve congress, and (c) greater stability in the constitutional environment. After discussing the limitations of conventional maximum likelihood tests, the author assesses this hypothesis using a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative model