Absolute Counterpurposiveness? On Kant's First Arguments Against Theodicy

This essay discusses the first of Kant's anti-theodicean arguments as unfolded in his 1791 On the Miscarriage of All Philosophical Trials in Theodicy. In this argument, Kant coins a neologism, the absolute counterpurposive (=ACP), and vehemently rejects the theodicean claim that denies that there is ACP in the world. As I show, Kant's rejection of the theodicean denial of ACP is not based on epistemological, but on moral grounds: a denial of ACP seems to lead to a denial of the unconditional status of morality. Thus, it is not the denial of ACP as such but rather the consequence of its denial that truly troubles Kant. Upon thoroughly construing Kant's argument, and unveiling two major ambiguities which lurk in his argument, I argue that Kant's anti-theodicean argument is not cogent

Impact of Flavonoids on Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Age-Related Cognitive Decline and Neurodegeneration

Purpose of Review This review summarises the most recent evidence regarding the effects of dietary flavonoids on age-related cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases. Recent Findings Recent evidence indicates that plant-derived flavonoids may exert powerful actions on mammalian cognition and protect against the development of age-related cognitive decline and pathological neurodegeneration. The neuroprotective effects of flavonoids have been suggested to be due to interactions with the cellular and molecular architecture of brain regions responsible for memory. Summary Mechanisms for the beneficial effects of flavonoids on age-related cognitive decline and dementia are discussed, including modulating signalling pathways critical in controlling synaptic plasticity, reducing neuroinflammation, promoting vascular effects capable of stimulating new nerve cell growth in the hippocampus, bidirectional interactions with gut microbiota and attenuating the extracellular accumulation of pathological proteins. These processes are known to be important in maintaining optimal neuronal function and preventing age-related cognitive decline and neurodegeneration

Brief Remarks on Sterba’s Moral Argument from Evil

We pose two challenges to Sterba’s position. First, we show that Sterba fails to consider alternative historical positions such as Leibniz’s (who argues that God knows that the actual world is the best of all possible worlds) or Kant’s (who suggests that God does not necessarily know what free agents would choose or would have chosen, had God not intervened), both of which bear direct relevance to some major aspects of Sterba’s argument. Second, we show that Sterba neither rules out the possibility that God has always intervened in history when his not intervening would have led to significant and horrendous evils, nor the possibility that every immoral action (and its consequences) might have led to significant and horrendous evils

Brief Remarks on Sterba’s Moral Argument from Evil

We pose two challenges to Sterba’s position. First, we show that Sterba fails to consider alternative historical positions such as Leibniz’s (who argues that God knows that the actual world is the best of all possible worlds) or Kant’s (who suggests that God does not necessarily know what free agents would choose or would have chosen, had God not intervened), both of which bear direct relevance to some major aspects of Sterba’s argument. Second, we show that Sterba neither rules out the possibility that God has always intervened in history when his not intervening would have led to significant and horrendous evils, nor the possibility that every immoral action (and its consequences) might have led to significant and horrendous evils

How Areal Specification Shapes the Local and Interareal Circuits in a Macaque Model of Congenital Blindness

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