Reid and Condillac on Sensation and Perception: A Thought Experiment on Sensory Deprivation

In order to illustrate the difference between sensation and perception, Reid imagines a blind man that by ‘some strange distemper’ has lost all his notions of external objects, but has retained the power of sensation and reasoning. Reid argues that since sensations do not resemble external objects, the blind man could not possibly infer from them any notion of primary qualities. Condillac proposed a similar thought experiment in the Treatise on Sensations. I argue that Condillac can reach a conclusion opposite to that of Reid only by assuming that some particular collections of sensations do indeed resemble the qualities of external objects. Reid had considered a similar case in a manuscript, but he again notices that such complex collections sensations do not resemble the qualities of external objects

Hume and Reid on Political Economy

While Hume had a favorable opinion of the new commercial society, Reid envisioned a utopian system that would eliminate private property and substitute the profit incentive with a system of state-conferred honors. Reid’s predilection for a centralized command economy cannot be explained by his alleged discovery of market failures, and has to be considered in the context of his moral psychology. Hume tried to explain how the desire for gain that motivates the merchant leads to industry and frugality. These, in their turn, benefit all society. Reid still saw the desire for money as a degenerate form of the desire for power. The contrast between Hume and Reid, however, has not to be taken too far. On some particular matters of economic policy, such as paper credit, Hume and Reid eventually came to similar views

A ‘Little Ethics’ for Algorithmic Decision-Making

In this paper we present a preliminary framework aimed at navigating and motivating the ethical aspects of AI systems. Following Ricoeur’s ethics we highlight distinct levels of analysis emphasising the need of personal commitment and intersubjectivity, and suggesting connection with existing AI ethics initiatives

Angelo Poliziano and the graphetai Symbol in His Notes on Catullus

Angelo Poliziano and the graphetai Symbol in His Notes on Catullus This paper focuses on a small group of variant readings written down by Angelo Poliziano in his copy of the editio princeps of Catullus, now Roma, Biblioteca Corsiniana, inc. 50.F.37. These notes are all introduced by a γράφεται symbol, which has not been taken into account by scholars so far and which, despite its ambiguity, could attest to manuscript collations. Many of these variant readings are similar to the ones recorded by Francesco Buzzacarini in his copy of Catullus, now Venezia, Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, ms. lat. XII.153 (4053). This, along with the fact that Giorgio Merula mentions Buzzacarini as one of the scholars from whom Poliziano allegedly “stole” his emendations, is used as the basis for formulating new hypotheses concerning these variants

Phyto-progestins for the treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding without organic cause in women at high risk for breast cancer and breast cancer survivors: a prospective, pilot study

Objectives: Some plants, such as Dioscorea Villosa (DV), Vitex Agnus Castus (VAC) and Turnera diffusa (D) have some 'progesterone-like' properties. We have investigated their simultaneous administration in breast cancer (BC) survivors or carriers of specific genetic mutations that can increase the risk of developing BC suffering from abnormal uterine bleeding without organic cause. Methods: Women with irregular cycles in terms of length (interval between ≤ 24 or ≥ 38 days) without a uterine organic disease (polyps, adenomyosis, fibroids, hyperplasia/malignancy) were included. A daily diary of bleeding, questionnaires about health-related quality of life (Short Form 36) and menstrual psychophysical well-being (PGWB-1) and the Greene Climacteric Scale (GCS) (in women older than 40 years old) questionnaire were used. The presence of some premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms was also evaluated. Results: In the analyzed group of women (n = 15), all experienced a regularization of the menstrual cycles, with a mean duration in the three months of use of 27.1 ± 3.2 days, with a significant reduction of menstrual pain (p = 0.02) and flow (p = 0.02) intensity. Women with PMS (7/15) reported an impovement in depression, headache and abdominal pain scores (p < 0.05). No specific deterioration of different questionnaires evaluated during treatment were observed. General satisfaction with the treatment was 6.8 ± 0.3/10 on a 10 point. Conclusions: A combination of DV, VAC and D could be a promising candidate to treat menstrual irregularities without an organic cause, with a significant reduction of menstrual pain and flow intensity and possible additional benefits in PMS symptoms treatment in women at genetic risk for BC and BC survivors

Berkeley\u27s theory of vision: Optical origins and ontological consequences (George Berkeley).

In the present work Berkeley\u27s theory of vision is considered in its historical origins, in its relation to Berkeley\u27s general philosophical conceptions, and in its early reception. Berkeley\u27s theory replaces an account of vision according to which distance and other spatial properties are deduced from elementary data through an unconscious geometric inference. This account of vision in terms of natural geometry was first introduced by Descartes and Malebranche. Among Berkeley\u27s immediate sources of knowledge of the geometric theory of perception, a key role was played by the treatise of dioptrics of William Molyneux, Dioptrica Nova. Berkeley\u27s understanding of natural geometry relies closely on Molyneux\u27s description of the mechanism of vision which avoids the complexities of the accounts of Descartes and Malebranche. In the first chapter Berkeley\u27s theory is presented by way of contrast with Molyneux\u27s theory. In the second chapter I consider the relation between the theory of vision and immaterialism. In the final chapter I examine one of the first criticisms of Berkeley\u27s theory, that which is found in William Porterfield\u27s Treatise on the Eye. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)Dept. of Philosophy. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis1997 .G72. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 37-01, page: 0076. Adviser: John P. Wright. Thesis (M.A.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 1997

Nota introduttiva n. 13 – aprile 2013

Contrabbandieri, pirati e frontiere: per una storia delle pratiche informali nell’America Centrale (XVII-XXI secolo) …y pasó la tarde esperando su hora grande en los vericuetos del puerto negrero, entre la salsamuera humana del Caribe, pero tan absorto en su aventura que no se detuvo como siempre frente a las tiendas de los hindúes a ver los mandarines de marfil tallados en el colmillo entero del elefante, ni se burló de los negros holandeses en sus velocípedos ortopédicos, ni se asustó como ..

Diagnosi e terapia chirurgica degli strumi mediastinici. Rilievi su 24 casi operati

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Ferite penetranti del torace. Presentazione di 23 osservazioni

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