Corradetti, Hegel, and the Postmetaphysical Theory of Universal Human Rights

This essay evaluates Corradetti’s compelling assertion that the “primary aim” of his Relativism and Human Rights “is that of reconstructing some central concepts of the Hegelian understanding of the right and of providing a post-metaphysical reinterpretation of the notion of recognition in terms of a dialectical process, granting fundamental rights within the context of an institutional discursive model of rationality.” The discussion is divided into four parts. Part 1 reviews Hegel’s reception of the tradition of natural right, asserting that the latter plays a role in Hegel’s recognitive account of ethical life greater than Corradetti allows. Part 2 considers the use Corradetti makes of Hegel’s concept of dialectical negativity, arguing that, while it can and should be understood in terms of relations of recognition and, especially, misrecognition, it also articulates features of Hegel’s logic and metaphysics that – pace Corradetti – can play a role in a postmetaphysical theory of social life. Part 3 seconds Corradetti’s claims about the value of recognition theory for a Hegelian account of universal human rights, but asserts that that value is best expressed via an intercultural understanding of that account. Part 4 details the normative dimension of such an account, arguing that here, too, Hegel has more to offer than Corradetti allows

La pobreza y la concepción hegeliana del derecho como eticidad reflexiva

El presente artículo pretende demostrar que la pobreza no es un fenómeno aislado a la concepción de derecho en la Filosofía del derecho de Hegel sino que juega un rol fundamental en el proyecto justificativo de dicha obra. La realización de derecho está ligada directamente a la idea de libertad, y esta a su vez, a un orden ético que debe reconocer a la plebe y no privarla de derechos. Es por esto por lo que la pobreza afecta de forma directa a la concepción del derecho dado que si no se reconoce a la plebe como libre, no existe el derecho como tal

Overlapping promoter targeting by Elk-1 and other divergent ETS-domain transcription factor family members

ETS-domain transcription factors play important roles in controlling gene expression in a variety of different contexts; however, these proteins bind to very similar sites and it is unclear how in vivo specificity is achieved. In silico analysis is unlikely to reveal specific targets for individual family members and direct experimental approaches are therefore required. Here, we take advantage of an inducible dominant-negative expression system to identify a group of novel target genes for the ETS-domain transcription factor Elk-1. Elk-1 is thought to mainly function through cooperation with a second transcription factor SRF, but the targets we identify are largely SRF-independent. Furthermore, we demonstrate that there is a high degree of overlapping, cell type-specific, target gene binding by Elk-1 and other ETS-domain transcription factors. Our results are therefore consistent with the notion that there is a high degree of functional redundancy in target gene regulation by ETS-domain transcription factors in addition to the specific target gene regulation that can be dictated through heterotypic interactions exemplified by the Elk-1-SRF complex

Digital Quantification of Gene Expression in Sequential Breast Cancer Biopsies Reveals Activation of an Immune Response

Advancements in molecular biology have unveiled multiple breast cancer promoting pathways and potential therapeutic targets. Large randomized clinical trials remain the ultimate means of validating therapeutic efficacy, but they require large cohorts of patients and are lengthy and costly. A useful approach is to conduct a window of opportunity study in which patients are exposed to a drug pre-surgically during the interval between the core needle biopsy and the definitive surgery. These are non-therapeutic studies and the end point is not clinical or pathological response but rather evaluation of molecular changes in the tumor specimens that can predict response. However, since the end points of the non-therapeutic studies are biologic, it is critical to first define the biologic changes that occur in the absence of treatment. In this study, we compared the molecular profiles of breast cancer tumors at the time of the diagnostic biopsy versus the definitive surgery in the absence of any intervention using the Nanostring nCounter platform. We found that while the majority of the transcripts did not vary between the two biopsies, there was evidence of activation of immune related genes in response to the first biopsy and further investigations of the immune changes after a biopsy in early breast cancer seem warranted

ELK1 Uses Different DNA Binding Modes to Regulate Functionally Distinct Classes of Target Genes

Eukaryotic transcription factors are grouped into families and, due to their similar DNA binding domains, often have the potential to bind to the same genomic regions. This can lead to redundancy at the level of DNA binding, and mechanisms are required to generate specific functional outcomes that enable distinct gene expression programmes to be controlled by a particular transcription factor. Here we used ChIP–seq to uncover two distinct binding modes for the ETS transcription factor ELK1. In one mode, other ETS transcription factors can bind regulatory regions in a redundant fashion; in the second, ELK1 binds in a unique fashion to another set of genomic targets. Each binding mode is associated with different binding site features and also distinct regulatory outcomes. Furthermore, the type of binding mode also determines the control of functionally distinct subclasses of genes and hence the phenotypic response elicited. This is demonstrated for the unique binding mode where a novel role for ELK1 in controlling cell migration is revealed. We have therefore uncovered an unexpected link between the type of binding mode employed by a transcription factor, the subsequent gene regulatory mechanisms used, and the functional categories of target genes controlled

Dialectics, politics, and the contemporary value of Hegel’s practical philosophy

This book explores and details the actuality (Aktualität) of Hegel’s social and political philosophy--its relevance, topicality, and contemporary validity. It asserts--against the assumptions of those in a wide range of traditions--that Hegelߣs thought not only remains relevant to debates in current social and political theory, but is capable of productively enhancing and enriching those debates. The book is divided into three main sections. Part 1 considers the actuality of Hegelߣs social and political thought in the context of a constructed dialogues with later social and political theorists, including Marx, Adorno, Habermas, and Rawls. Part 2 explores Hegelߣs internal criticism of Enlightenment rationality as well as the unique manner in which his thought reaffirms both the classical tradition of politics and the Christian conception of freedom in order to deepen and further develop our understanding of modernity and modern secularity. Part 3 considers Hegelߣs contribution to current theorizing about globalization