Quine's naturalistic epistemology

Moderna epistemologija je disciplina koju nam je u nasleđe ostavio veliki francuski filozof Rene Dekart, i uobičajeno se smatra da je u pitanju tipično filozofska disciplina čijim se problemima, prema tome, isključivo možemo baviti i filozofskim (spekulativnim) istraživačkim sredstvima. U novije vreme međutim, javila se ideja za naturalizacijom epistemoloških istraživanja koja podrazumeva da bi umesto filozofskim, problemima znanja bilo moguće pristupiti objektivnim istraživačkim tehnikama koje karakterišu metodologiju prirodnih nauka. Ovo je stanovište koje je između ostalog zastupao i američki filozof Vilard Van Orman Kvajn, čiji će predlog za reformom epistemoloških istraživanja, odnosno, za njihovom naturalizacijom biti predmet ovog rada. Međutim, taj predlog će, kao što ćemo videti, ostaviti prostor za bitno različite interpretacije na kojim bi prepostavkama pomenutu reformu trebalo sprovesti. Naime, u savremenoj literaturi preovlađuju tri tipa tumačenja Kvajnovog apela za reformom epistemoloških istraživanja: bihejvioristički, koji je u većoj meri zastupao Kvajn, ali i koherentistički i fizikalistički za koje će se zalagati neki od njegovih interpretatora. Međutim, dok su prve dve od ovih opcija po našem mišljenju neprihvatljive jer nisu u stanju da obezbede neophodnu autonomnost epistemološkom istraživačkom kontekstu, iako drugačijim, pokušaćemo da pokažemo kako je i fizikalizam opterećen teškoćama koje ga čine neodrživom pozicijom kada je reč o epistemološkim istraživanjima. Uprkos tome, smatramo da u Kvajnovom predlogu ima vrednih uvida, kao i da se iz neuspeha dosadašnjih tumačenja mogu izvući važne pouke kako po pitanju pozicije koju bi u njegovoj interpretaciji trebalo zauzeti, tako i – što je u bliskoj vezi s ovim – mogućnosti reforme epistemoloških istraživanja uopšte. Drugim rečima, poučeni slabostima Kvajnovog predloga i njegovih interpretacija, zastupaćemo tezu da je epistemološkim istraživanjima u krajnjoj instanci moguće pristupiti sa jedne od dve međusobno inkompatibilne teorijske pozicije: tradicionalne ili kartezijanske, i kantijanske. S tim u vezi, razmatraćemo mogućnost uspostavljanja tog fundamentalnog nivoa istraživanja kakav je epistemološki na koji je Kvajn morao da pretenduje, ali povezujući ga sa gledištima koja bi trebalo da nam omoguće njegovu sintezu sa Kantovim pristupom kao po našem mišljenju, jedinom pravom alternativom tradicionalnom programu. Iako će podrazumevati usvajanje svojevrsne kompromisne pozicije koju ne bismo mogli da pripišemo Kvajnu, i zbog čega je neizvesno da bi to bila interpretacija koju bi on podržao, osim što bi sačuvala određene naturalističke elemente, takođe verujemo i da bi to bila interpretacija koja bi konačno ispunila većinu zahteva koje je pred epistemološka istraživanja sam Kvajn postavioModern epistemology is a discipline that we inherited from the great French philosopher René Descartes, and it is usually considered to be a typically philosophical discipline, whose problems could therefore be addressed only by philosophical (speculative) methods of enquiry. Recently, however, an idea of the naturalisation of epistemological enquiry has emerged, which implies that problems of knowledge could be addressed not by philosophical methods, but by objective techniques of enquiry that characterise the metodology of natural sciences. This is a viewpoint held by the american philosopher Willard Van Orman Quine, whose proposal for the reform of epistemological enquiry, that is, for the naturalisation, will be the topic of this work. However, this proposal, as we shall see, makes room for fundamentally different interpretations on which the above reform should be based. Namely, in contemporary literature there are three prevailing types of interpretation of Quine's appeal for the reform of epistemological enquiry: behaviouristic, advocated mostly by Quine, but also coherentistic and physicalistic, that some of his interpreters advocate. However, while the first two options are, in my opinion, unacceptable because they are unable to provide the necessary autonomy for the epistemological context of enquiry, I will try to show that physicalism is also burdened with difficulties that, although different, make it an unsustainable position when it comes to epistemological enquiry. Nevertheless, I argue that there are certain valuable insights in Quine's proposal, and that we can draw important lessons from the failures of previous interpretations as regards the position that should be taken in the interpretation, as well as – which is closely related – the possibility of the reform of epistemological enquiry in general. In other words, having learned from the weaknesess of Quine's proposal and his interpretations, I will argue that the epistemological questions could ultimately be approached only from one of the two mutually incompatible theoretical positions: traditional or Cartesian, and Kantian. Accordingly, I will examine the possibility of establishing this fundamental domain of enquiry such as epistemological that Quine had to commit himself to, but connecting it with the views that should enable its synthesis with Kant's approach as, in my opinion, the only real alternative to the traditional programme. Although this will imply the adoption of a kind of intermediate position that could not be attributed to Quine, which makes it uncertain that this would be the interpretation he would support, apart from preserving certain naturalistic elements, I also believe that this interpretation would in the end fulfil most requirements that Quine has set for epistemological enquiry

A SOFTWARE SOLUTION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF REUSABLE LEARNING CONTENT

The purpose of this paper is to present an approach for creating reusable learning content. Our approach is based on the usage of a software solution we have developed in order to enable creation of reusable and portable learning content. This Windows desktop solution, named ScormCreator, provides users with ability to create learning content according to SCORM reference model because of its ability to provide the transfer of learning content from one system to another, storing, sharing and reuse of the learning content

Synthesis and biological activity of new thiazole isosteres of goniofufurone and 7-epi-goniofufurone

Herein we report a total synthesis of two novel (7-epi-)goniofufurone isosteres bearing a 2-thiazolyl-4-carboxylic acid ethyl ester moiety instead of the aromatic ring at C-7

Growth Effects of Some Platinum(II) Complexes with Sulfur-Containing Carrier Ligands on MCF7 Human Breast Cancer Cell Line upon Simultaneous Administration with Taxol

The platinum (II)complexes, cis-[PtCl2(CH3SCH2CH2SCH3)] (Pt1), cis-[PtCl2(dmso)2] (dmso is dimethylsulfoxide; Pt2) and cis-[PtCl2(NH3)2] (cisplatin), and taxol (T) have been tested at different equimolar concentrations. Cells were exposed to complexes for 2 h and left to recover in fresh medium for 24, 48 or 72 h. Growth inhibition was measured by tetrazolium WST1 assay Analyses of the cell cycle, and apoptosis were performed by flow cytometry, at the same exposure times. The IC50 value of each platinum(II) complex as well as combination index (CI; platinum(II) complex + taxol) for various cytotoxicity levels were determined by median effects analysis

CH/pi interactions in metal-porphyrin complexes with pyrrole and chelate rings as hydrogen acceptors

CH/pi interactions in metal porphyrinato complexes were studied by analyzing data in crystal structures from the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) and by quantum chemical calculations. The analysis of the data in the CSD shows that both five-membered pyrrole and six-membered chelate rings form CH/pi interactions. The interactions occur more frequently with five-membered rings. The analysis of distances in crystal structures and calculated energies show stronger interactions with six-membered chelate rings, indicating that a larger number of interactions with five-membered rings are not the consequence of stronger interactions, but better accessibility of five-membered pyrrole rings. The calculated energies of the interactions with positions in six-membered rings are -2.09 to -2.83 kcal/mol, while the energies with five-membered rings are -2.05 to -2.26 kcal/mol. The results reveal that stronger interactions of six-membered rings are the consequence of stronger electrostatic interactions. Substituents on the porphyrin ring significantly strengthen the interactions. Substituents on the six-membered ring strengthen the interaction energy by about 20%. The results show that CH/pi interactions play an important role in molecular recognition of metalloporphyrins. The significant influence of the substituents on interaction energies can be very important for the design of model systems in bioinorganic chemistry. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Synthesis and Biological Activity of new 5-O-Benzyl-7-thiazolyl Isosteres of goniofufurone and 7-epi-goniofufurone

Herein we report a total synthesis of two novel goniofufurone and 7-epi-goniofufurone isosteres bearing a 2-thiazolyl-4-amide moiety instead of the phenyl group at C-7, as well as O-benzyl instead of hydroxyl group at C-5

Interactions of binuclear copper(II) complexes with S-substituted thiosalicylate derivatives with some relevant biomolecules

Interactions of copper(II) complexes which contain S-alkyl derivatives of thiosalicylic acid (alkyl = methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl; aryl = benzyl), marked as 1–5, with guanosine-5′-monophosphate (5′-GMP) and calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) were studied. Kinetics of substitution reactions of 1–5 with 5′-GMP and CT-DNA were investigated under pseudo-first-order conditions at 310 K and pH = 7.2 in 25 mM Hepes buffer using stopped-flow method. All complexes have high affinity toward studied bio-molecules. Additionally, interactions with CT-DNA were followed by absorption spectroscopy and fluorescence quenching measurements. The results indicate that complexes bind to DNA exhibiting high binding constants (Kb = 104 M−1). During the examination of competitive reactions with ethidium bromide (EB), results showed that complexes can replace EB-bound DNA. In addition, a new crystal structure of the binuclear Cu(II) complex with S-substituted thiosalicylate derivative has been reported. In the present series of Cu(II) complexes the crystal structure is the first example of a complex comprising an S-aryl derivative of thiosalicylate ligand. Through comparative study of structural properties of six molecules from four crystal structures we examined the structural variations, potentially important for biological activity of these complexes. © 2019, © 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group