Biodiversity continues to decline at an alarming pace, yet public financial investments overwhelmingly support activities that exacerbate this loss rather than reverse it. A recent study by Selomane et al. (2025) reveals a critical misalignment between national and international public finance allocations and the biodiversity conservation targets set by global agreements such as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).

Chỉ ra sự mất cân đối nghiêm trọng giữa phân bổ tài chính công quốc gia và quốc tế với các mục tiêu bảo tồn đa dạng sinh học.

Khi các thành phố phát triển, dấu ấn carbon của chúng cũng tăng lên. Nghiên cứu toàn cầu của Yang và cộng sự (2025) cung cấp cái nhìn mới về cách sự mở rộng đô thị ảnh hưởng đến lượng phát thải carbon dioxide (CO₂), sử dụng dữ liệu từ hơn 39.000 thành phố trong khoảng thời gian từ 2000 đến 2020. Bằng cách kết hợp cảm biến từ xa và hệ thống thông tin địa lý, nghiên cứu này ghi (...) lại các mô hình phát thải ở quy mô và độ phân giải chưa từng có. (shrink)

Năm 2015, Ả Rập Xê Út đánh dấu một cột mốc lịch sử khi lần đầu tiên cho phép phụ nữ bỏ phiếu và tranh cử trong các cuộc bầu cử hội đồng thành phố.

Se vorbește îndeobște mai mult despre un spirit al timpului (Zeitgeist) și amprenta acestuia asupra modului în care noi înțelegem și reflectăm lumea – asemenea cerului, al cărui joc de lumini și umbre oferă un contur de culoare lucrurilor. Nu trebuie însă să uităm solul din care ideile încolțesc și spiritul locului (Raumgeist) care le‐a animat creșterea. În acest orizont au loc întâlnirile, împlinirile, speranțele și dezamăgirile care ne edifică ca oameni și ne orientează busola căutărilor filosofice și spirituale. Există (...) roade pentru care dăm socoteală în secerișul vieții de zi cu zi și există resturi de care recolta zilei nu pare să ia seama – aparent neînsemnate pentru logica zilei, aceste resturi de roade sunt tocmai cele care la urmă, la apus, dau sens întregii strădanii. Avem sarcina existențială de a nu lăsa iarna vieții să se aștearnă pe resturile rămase în urma secerișului. Acesta este și imboldul volumului de față, care se dorește a fi un spicilegium, care în limba latină înseamnă „un mănunchi de resturi de spice rămase în urma recoltei”. Așadar, o antologie de paisprezece texte filosofice de diferite dimensiuni și subiecte, dar care reprezintă expresia unei comunități de cercetători, profesori, doctoranzi și pasionați de filosofie aduși împreună de filosofia studiată sau trăită cândva la Cluj‐Napoca. Chiar dacă este compus din texte eterogene, cititorul atent al acestui volum va putea sesiza cum spiritul acestui loc subîntinde toate tematizările: propensiunea față de idealism, profunzimea psihanalizei, subtilitatea fenomenologiei, pasiunea realist speculativă și fervoarea căutării autentice a binelui, adevărului și frumosului în lume, în gândire și artă sunt predispozițiile care însuflețesc și textele de față. - Dan Siserman. (shrink)

Bây giờ ở Hà Nội lại có nhiều quán nước vối, nấu cả nụ lẫn lá. Thế là, thức uống ngàn đời của người Việt mà cách đây gần một trăm năm cụ Nguyễn Công Tiễu, một nhà khoa học hàng đầu về lĩnh vực nông nghiệp, đã có một công trình về giá trị dinh dưỡng của nó sau một hồi thời thế xoay vần đã quay trở lại, bình thường như lẽ sống, sự sống. Nước vối khiêm nhường, (...) nhưng đã đủ khỏe khoắn để vượt qua những thách thức của nước ngọt, đồ uống có ga, những thương hiệu lẫy lừng. (Tạp chí Tia Sáng; 7-7-2016). (shrink)

Một lượng nghiên cứu ngày càng tăng đã xác định rằng TDP-43—một loại protein thiết yếu trong điều hòa biểu hiện gene—khi bị sai định vị (mislocalization) là một dấu hiệu đặc trưng của nhiều rối loạn thoái hóa thần kinh như xơ cứng teo cơ một bên (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis – ALS), thoái hóa thùy trán-thái dương (frontotemporal lobar degeneration), Alzheimer, sa sút trí tuệ thể Lewy (Lewy body dementia), và Huntington [2–5]. Trong khi phần lớn các nghiên cứu (...) trước đây tập trung vào vai trò của TDP-43 toàn vẹn trong nhân tế bào, một nghiên cứu gần đây của Deng và cộng sự [6] đã khai phá những hậu quả ít được biết đến của các mảnh TDP-43 bị cắt ngắn (truncated forms) khi chúng xuất hiện trong bào tương—đặc biệt là sự tương tác của chúng với ribosome, cỗ máy tổng hợp protein của tế bào. (shrink)

Khi cộng đồng toàn cầu tăng cường nỗ lực giải quyết sự suy thoái môi trường, ngành xây dựng nổi lên như một tác nhân gây hại sinh thái đáng kể -.

As the global community intensifies efforts to address environmental degradation, the construction sector emerges as a significant contributor to ecological harm—responsible for approximately 40% of annual CO₂ emissions, raw material consumption, and global waste generation. In response, the concept of a Circular Economy (CE) has gained momentum. CE promotes strategies such as reuse, recycling, and repair to reduce waste and optimize resource efficiency across a building’s entire life cycle.

Một nghiên cứu gần đây của Rota và cộng sự [2] cung cấp những hiểu biết quan trọng về cách du khách cảm nhận các dịch vụ từ thiên nhiên—hay còn gọi là dịch vụ hệ sinh thái—tại hai khu bảo tồn vùng núi Alps ở Ý: Vườn quốc gia Gran Paradiso (PNGP) và Công viên vùng Adamello (AD). Dịch vụ hệ sinh thái (ES) bao gồm các dịch vụ văn hóa (ví dụ: trải nghiệm thẩm mỹ và giải trí), (...) điều tiết (ví dụ: điều hòa khí hậu), và cung cấp (ví dụ: nước và thực phẩm) [3–5]. Việc hiểu rõ nhận thức của công chúng đối với các dịch vụ này là điều thiết yếu để xây dựng chiến lược bảo tồn vừa hiệu quả về sinh thái, vừa nhận được sự ủng hộ từ xã hội. (shrink)

The steel industry, which contributes approximately 7-9% of global greenhouse gas emissions, faces mounting pressure to decarbonize in alignment with the Paris Agreement’s climate goals. Nowhere is this challenge more pressing than in Asia, which dominates global steel output with a 73% share. A recent study by Li et al. (2025) explores an innovative strategy to support this transition: importing “green” Hot Briquetted Iron (HBI)—iron ore reduced using renewable hydrogen—from resource-rich countries such as Australia, Brazil, and South Africa.

As cities grow, so do their carbon footprints. A global study by Yang et al. (2025) offers new insight into how urban expansion shapes carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, using data from over 39,000 cities between 2000 and 2020. By combining remote sensing and geographic information systems, the research captures emissions patterns at an unprecedented scale and resolution.

A recent study published in Nature Climate Change challenges the perception of rooftop photovoltaic (RPV) systems as a marginal technology, revealing their significant potential to combat global warming.

Ngành thép, vốn đóng góp khoảng 7-9% lượng khí thải nhà kính toàn cầu, đang phải đối mặt với áp lực ngày càng tăng trong việc giảm phát thải carbon để phù hợp với các mục tiêu khí hậu của Hiệp định Paris.

As cities confront the escalating impacts of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss, a growing body of research is calling for a reimagining of urban design through blue-green infrastructure (BGI)—integrated systems such as green roofs, rain gardens, and stormwater ponds that merge natural and engineered elements to deliver both environmental and social benefits.

Amid escalating global ecological crises, achieving transformative change—defined as deep, systemic shifts in values, practices, and societal structures—requires more than institutional and political reforms. It also demands introspection. The study of Otero et al. (2025) brings critical attention to this often-overlooked dimension by examining how conservationists’ inner worlds—their beliefs, values, and worldviews—shape broader sustainability efforts.

A recent study by Rota et al. (2025) offers valuable insights into how visitors perceive the benefits of nature—known as ecosystem services (ES)—in two alpine protected areas in Italy: Gran Paradiso National Park (PNGP) and Adamello Regional Park (AD). Ecosystem services encompass cultural (e.g., aesthetic and recreational experiences), regulating (e.g., climate regulation), and provisioning services (e.g., water and food supply). Understanding public perceptions of these services is essential for developing conservation strategies that are both ecologically effective and socially supported.

In 2015, Saudi Arabia marked a significant milestone by allowing women to vote and run in municipal council elections for the first time. While this policy shift symbolized progress, it prompted a deeper inquiry: Were these women politically empowered because they were already psychologically empowered?

Dogs are among the most beloved and widespread companion animals worldwide. Yet their ecological footprint is often underestimated. In a recent perspective article, Bateman and Gilson [2] argue that owned dogs—unlike feral cats, which are frequently scrutinized—pose significant but poorly acknowledged threats to biodiversity and ecosystems.

Nghiên cứu gần đây cho thấy rằng việc tiếp xúc trực quan với thiên nhiên có thể ảnh hưởng đáng kể đến hành động thân thiện...

Khi các thành phố phải đối mặt với những tác động ngày càng gia tăng của biến đổi khí hậu, ô nhiễm và mất đa dạng sinh học, một lượng lớn nghiên cứu đang kêu gọi tái hình dung thiết kế đô thị thông qua cơ sở hạ tầng xanh-lam (blue-green infrastructure - BGI) – các hệ thống tích hợp như mái nhà xanh, vườn mưa và ao trữ nước mưa kết hợp các yếu tố tự nhiên và kỹ thuật (...) để mang lại cả lợi ích môi trường và xã hội. (shrink)

As environmental challenges intensify, encouraging sustainable behavior has become more important than ever. Recent research reveals that visual exposure to nature can significantly influence people’s eco-friendly actions by strengthening their psychological connection to the natural world.

As climate change accelerates, solar geoengineering (SG)—the deliberate reflection of sunlight to cool the Earth—has emerged as a contentious but increasingly discussed climate intervention.

Giữa bối cảnh khủng hoảng sinh thái toàn cầu ngày càng trầm trọng, việc đạt được những thay đổi vượt bậc —được hiểu là sự chuyển đổi sâu sắc và mang tính hệ thống về giá trị, thực hành và cấu trúc xã hội—đòi hỏi nhiều hơn những cải cách thể chế và chính trị. Nó cũng yêu cầu sự tự phản tỉnh. Nghiên cứu của Otero và cộng sự [2] đưa sự chú ý cần thiết đến chiều kích thường (...) bị bỏ qua này bằng cách khảo sát cách mà thế giới nội tâm của các nhà bảo tồn—niềm tin, giá trị và thế giới quan của họ—ảnh hưởng đến các nỗ lực bền vững rộng lớn hơn. (shrink)

Nghiên cứu này nhấn mạnh rằng các giải pháp khí hậu hiệu quả không nhất thiết phải xa vời hay trừu tượng—chúng có thể nằm ngay phía trên đầu chúng ta.

A recent study examining 657 regions across Europe has uncovered compelling evidence that air pollution significantly reduces fertility rates, particularly due to fine particulate matter [2]. Using advanced quasi-experimental methods, the researchers leveraged regional variations in wind speed and heating needs as instrumental variables to isolate the causal effect of pollution on birth rates between 2013 and 2020.

Khi biến đổi khí hậu ngày càng gia tăng, kỹ thuật địa kỹ thuật năng lượng mặt trời (solar geoengineering– SG)—một phương phápphản chiếu có chủ đích ánh sáng mặt trời để làm mát Trái đất—đã nổi lên như một giải pháp can thiệp khí hậu gây tranh cãi nhưngngày càng được quan tâm.

Water-saving devices are often celebrated as “win-win” technologies—solutions that reduce environmental pressures while lowering utility bills for users [2]. However, a randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted in Costa Rica presents a more sobering view. The study evaluated the real-world performance and economic outcomes of input-efficient technologies, including lowflow showerheads and faucet aerators, which are commonly promoted to address water scarcity [3].

Chó là một trong những loài vật nuôi được yêu quý và phổ biến nhất trên toàn thế giới.

Các phương pháp khoa học phương Tây truyền thống thường phân tích hệ thống môi trường một cách biệt lập, bỏ qua những mối quan hệ phức tạp giữa hệ sinh thái, con người và tri thức.

The escalating global demand for fish and crustaceans has intensified pressure on conventional aquaculture, exposing its economic and environmental limitations. In response, innovative practices are emerging to enhance sustainability and reduce costs. A recent review by Sulaiman et al. [2] explores one such solution: the integration of fruit waste as a feed additive within biofloc technology systems.

The focus of this paper is Cassirer’s Neo-Kantian reading of Kant’s conception of unity of space. Cassirer’s neo-Kantian reading is largely in conformity with the mainstream of intellectualist Kant-scholars, which is unsurprising, given his own intellectualist view of space and perception and his rejection of the existence of a ‘merely sensory consciousness’ as a ‘formless mass of impression’. I argue against Cassirer’s reading by relying on a Kantian distinction first recognized by Heinrich Rickert, a neo-Kantian from the Southwest school, between (...) Kenntnis (roughly knowledge by acquaintance) and Erkenntnis (roughly propositional knowledge). Correspondingly, I claim that concepts and categories are conditions for Erkenntnis of objects as such, namely for thinking of and apprehending the pre-existing unity as an object, rather than for the ‘constitution’ of this very unity. (shrink)

ESP: El concepto de alma en las filosofías de Platón y Aristóteles, por la posición que ocupa en sus argumentos relativos a la esclavitud, fue central para la estructura ideológica sobre la que se sostuvo la institución esclavista durante la Colonia. Será importante remitirnos, en un primer momento, al estudio de Erwin Rohde sobre este concepto, para examinar la materialidad del hálito y plantear una relación entre la mirada y la configuración de imaginarios. Posteriormente, examinaremos el lugar que tiene el (...) alma en los argumentos de Platón y Aristóteles en favor de esclavitud, con énfasis en el papel de la mirada, el dominio sobre el cuerpo y la naturaleza de los cuerpos esclavizables. Finalmente, revisaremos en la obra de Frantz Fanon una crítica a la mirada europea y occidental que diseca el cuerpo negro al otorgarle un alma. -/- ENG: The concept of the soul in the philosophies of Plato and Aristotle, due to the posi-tion it occupies in their arguments concerning slavery, will be central to the ideo-logical structure on which the institution of slavery was sustained during colonial times. It will be important to refer, at first, to Erwin Rohde’s study of this concept, to examine the materiality of the breath and to propose a relationship between the gaze and the configuration of imaginaries. We will then examine the position of the soul in Plato’s and Aristotle’s arguments in favor of slavery, emphasizing the role of the gaze, the dominion over the body, and the nature of enslaved bodies. Finally, we will review in the work of Frantz Fanon a critique of the European and Western gaze that dissects the black body by granting it a soul. (shrink)

The aim of this paper is to critically review several interpretations of Kantian sensible intuition. The first interpretation is the recent construal of Kantian sensible intuition as a mental analogue of a direct referential term. The second is the old, widespread assumption that Kantian intuitions do not refer to mind-independent entities, such as bodies and their physical properties, unless they are brought under categories. The third is the assumption that, by referring to mind-independent entities, sensible intuitions represent objectively in the (...) sense that they represent in a relative, perspective-independent manner. The fourth is the construal of Kantian sensible intuitions as non-conceptual content. In this paper, I support the alternative view that Kantian sensible representation is to be seen as iconic de re presentation of objects without representational content. (shrink)

Forests, often described as the lungs of the planet, are vital engines of carbon capture and biomass production. But what determines how efficiently they grow? Scientists have long hypothesized that planting mixtures of tree species, rather than monocultures, enhances forest productivity. A recent comprehensive review by Forrester, Plaga, and Bauhus (2025) delves into the intricate interplay between tree size, stand density, and species mixing, revealing how these factors influence forests’ ability to capture and utilize sunlight—the essential driver of growth.

Conventional Western scientific approaches often examine environmental systems in isolation, neglecting the intricate relationships between ecosystems, people, and knowledge. In contrast, Indigenous Australians advocate for holistic, land- and seascape-based methods that honor the deep interconnection between Country, Kin, and Culture. A new study outlines the development of the National Indigenous Environment Research Network (NIERN), an Indigenous-led initiative designed to reshape environmental research through self-determination and cultural authority [2].

This article presents a defense of “presentist externalism,” that is, the claim that memory contents are fixed by the environment and by the time at which a recollection takes place rather than by those at which the original mental state occurred. Its case is an instance of an argument to the best explanation. The author argues, firstly, that “presentist externalism” is the only version of content externalism that can stand up to both Boghossian’s memory and fallacy arguments. In slow switching (...) cases, inferences containing memory thoughts as premises are unsound or unsafe, but valid. The author contends, secondly, that the externalist must recognize the existence of wide mismemories besides wide forgetting and that only the presentist externalist can account for their existence. The author maintains, finally, that if the validity of an inference requires that all its premises and conclusion be evaluated in the same context, that in which the inference is made, then it is the present context that fixes the content and the concepts of memory rather than the past. (shrink)

The aim of this paper is to present a novel reading of Kantian idealism. In want of a better name, I call my interpretation “one-object-plus-epistemic phenomenalism”. I partially endorse Allison’s celebrated position, namely his rejection of metaphysical world-dualism. Yet, I reject Allison’s deflationary two-aspect view. I argue that Kantian idealism is also metaphysically committed to an ontological noumenalism (one-object), namely the claim that the ultimate nature of reality is made up of unknown things in themselves (substantia noumena). Natural sciences can (...) only reveal the relational/structural properties of things as they appear rather than the intrinsic properties of substantia noumena in the negative sense. My anti-deflationary reading is similar to Allais’s, and my agnostic monism to Hanna’s. However, against both, I hold that appearances are not the accusative objects of our sensible representations, but rather, as Kant repeatedly states: “mere representations”. The accusative objects of our senses are substantia noumena in the negative sense. Moreover, my view is also similar to Langton’s. Again, against Langton, I hold that appearances are not merely relational properties of substantia noumena but the way that such substantia noumena exist inside our mind as “mere representations”. In this regard, I also partially endorse Guyer’s and Van Cleve’s phenomenalist reading because these substantia noumena in the negative sense can only be cognized mind-dependently, namely as appearances. However, against Guyer and Van Cleve, I hold that the phenomenalist side of Kantian idealism is purely epistemological rather than ontological: what Kant calls the necessary unity of representations according to categories is not a logical construction of objects out of representations, that is, an ontological reduction of noumena to appearances, but rather the way we sense-independently cognize mind-independent noumena. (shrink)

As cities continue to expand, the transition zones between urban areas and natural landscapes—known as wildland-urban interfaces (WUIs)—are becoming vital spaces for both climate adaptation and biodiversity.

Rừng, thường được mô tả là lá phổi của hành tinh, là những động cơ quan trọng của quá trình hấp thụ carbon và sản xuất sinh khối. Nhưng điều gì quyết định mức độ hiệu quả tăng trưởng của chúng? Các nhà khoa học từ lâu đã đưa ra giả thuyết rằng việc trồng hỗn hợp các loài cây, thay vì trồng độc canh, sẽ làm tăng năng suất rừng. Một đánh giá toàn diện gần đây của Forrester, Plaga (...) và Bauhus (2025) đi sâu vào sự tương tác phức tạp giữa kích thước cây, mật độ cây và sự pha trộn loài, tiết lộ cách các yếu tố này ảnh hưởng đến khả năng hấp thụ và sử dụng ánh sáng của rừng—động lực thiết yếu của tăng trưởng. -/- . (shrink)

It is commonly assumed that natural kind terms constitute a distinct semantic category. This idea emerged during the 1970's following Kripke's and Putnam's well-known remarks on natural kind terms. The idea has stayed with us, although it is now recognized that the issues are considerably more complex than initially thought. Thus, it has become clear that much of Kripke's and Putnam's discussions were based on rather simplified views of natural kinds. It also turns out that the semantic issues are less (...) straightforward than assumed - in particular, it is far from clear what it might mean to say that a kind term is rigid. Strikingly, however, these worries have not done much to undermine the confident assumption that natural kind terms form a special semantic category. In the paper I try to shake that confidence. I argue that although natural kind terms are no doubt important (for instance, from an explanatory point of view), we are certainly not warranted in concluding that they form a separate, semantic category among the kind terms. (shrink)

China, the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitter, holds a pivotal role in achieving the global climate targets set by the Paris Agreement.

This paper addresses Fichte’s puzzle of self-consciousness. I propose a new reading of “Fichte’s original insight,” inspired by Pareyson’s general reading, which I call here the “Fichtean metaphysical turn in transcendental philosophy.” Against the mainstream view in Fichte’s scholarship, I argue that Fichte’s and Kant’s views do not concur regard- ing the primary reference of the “I”, namely spontaneous agency in thinking, which Fichte calls “Tathandlung”. Yet, their views do, in fact, concur when Fichte claims that this spontaneous agency in (...) thinking is the “essence” or the underlying nature of the self, which Kant denies. Regarding this, I take the side of Fichte. But how is Fichte’s original insight supposed to solve the puzzle of self-consciousness? At that transcendental level, the puzzle does not arise because there is no need for self-identification in the first place. Transcendental self-knowledge results from the sui generis intellectual Selbstanschauung that everyone has of oneself as sheer spontaneous agency in thinking. But at the empirical level, the puzzle does not arise either and for the same reason. Reference to the embodied self dispenses with any self-identification because it is based on the fundamental metaphysical relation everybody has to their own body, namely identity. (shrink)

How does one know the phenomenal character of one’s own experience? I aim to present and defend a new view of the epistemology of qualia that addresses this issue. My view results from a reworking of Dretske’s displaced perception model. The guiding line is the key Wittgensteinian insight of his Private Language Argument, namely the claim that no inner perception of qualia can justify our corresponding qualia-beliefs. My reworking of the original model starts with the rejection of Dretske’s representationalism, as (...) well as any other metaphysical views about the ultimate nature of qualia. The reworking of the displaced perception model I am proposing is supposed to be compatible with any available meta- physical view on qualia. The second step consists of rejecting the epistemological misgivings of the original model, namely the view that knowing qualia requires “connecting beliefs” along with “meta-representations.” Yet, Dretske’s crucial mistake has been to force knowledge of qualia into the “belief-box.” As a matter of fact, there is only one belief involved in intro- specting qualia, namely the qualia-belief itself. The third final step is this. Assuming the key Wittgensteinian insight, I argue that introspection of qualia is a process that is both epis- temically reliable and automatic. It is reliable because it dispenses with justification of any beliefs whatsoever. Moreover, it is automatic because it also dispenses with reflexive con- necting beliefs. For example, it takes nonconceptual awareness of the color blue as an input and automatically yields the belief that phenomenal blue is the conscious character of my experience of the sky as an output just by employing the concept BLUE. (shrink)

Background: In the context of globalization, Vietnamese universities, whose primary function is teaching, there is a need to improve research performance. Methods: Based on SSHPA data, an exclusive database of Vietnamese social sciences and humanities researchers’ productivity, between 2008 and 2019 period, this study analyzes the research output of Vietnamese universities in the field of social sciences and humanities. Results: Vietnamese universities have been steadily producing a high volume of publications in the 2008-2019 period, with a peak of 598 articles (...) in 2019. Moreover, many private universities and institutions are also joining the publication race, pushing competitiveness in the country. Conclusions: Solutions to improve both quantity and quality of Vietnamese universities’ research practice in the context of the industrial revolution 4.0 could be applying international criteria in Vietnamese higher education, developing scientific and critical thinking for general and STEM education, and promoting science communication. (shrink)

Tyler Burge (2010) provided a scathing critique of all programs for naturalizing concepts of representation, especially teleological naturalizing programs. He tended to demonstrate that “representational content” is a concept that cannot be reduced to more fundamental biological or physical ideas. According to him, since the 1970s, the concept of representational content has been firmly established in cognitive psychology as a mature science and utilized inadequate explanations. Since Dretske’s program is Burge’s primary objective, this paper concentrates on Dretske’s perspective. Following Burge’s (...) criticisms, I concur that Dretske’s naturalizing program trivializes the complex concept of representational content in cognitive science by applying it to bacteria, protozoa, etc. There is a superior explanation, namely Burge’s alternative idea of “registering information.” I do not believe, however, that this spells the end of naturalization programs. There is no reason to deny that at least some biological functions entail representational capacities with perceptual constancy, if not all. Cases of genuine perception, representing the accurate distal causes of proximal stimuli under various conditions, contribute to fitness. It is not by accident that representational content plays a role in cases of genuine perception. Consequently, I will argue that accuracy and biological fitness cannot be separated. (shrink)

This paper aims to offer a critical review of the recent nonconceptualist reading of the Kantian notion of sensible intuition. I raise two main objections. First, nonconceptualist readers fail to distinguish connected but different anti-intellectualist claims in the contemporary philosophy of mind and language. Second, I will argue that nonconceptual readings fail because Kan- tian intuitions do not possess a representational content of their own that can be veridical or falsidical in a similar way to how the content of propositional (...) attitudes is true or false. In this paper, I will support my own reading that sensible intuition is better seen as what Evans and McDowell have called a de re sense, whose main characteristic is object dependence. In this sense, Kantian sensible intuitions can be seen as a sensible mode of donation of objects. In my reading, the Kantian opposition between intuitions and concepts is best seen as the opposition between the objectual de re perception of something and the propositional de dicto apperception that something is the case rather than the opposition between nonconceptual and conceptual contents. However, if Kantian sensible intuition is not a mental state with nonconceptual content, it is certainly in the general anti-intellectualist neighborhood. (shrink)

This paper is a new defense of the view that visual hallucinations lack content. The claim is that visual hallucinations are illusory not because their content is nonveridical, but rather because they seem to represent when they fail to represent anything in the first place. What accounts for the phenomenal character of visual experiences is not the content itself (content-representationalism), but rather the vehicle of content (vehicle-representationalism), that is, not the properties represented by visual experience, but rather the relational properties (...) of experience (or of the brain) of representing singular contents, namely particular instantiations of properties. I argue that the Russellian particular-involving proposition is the only appropriate model for the representational content of visual experience and hence that visual hallucinations are just like failed demonstrations. (shrink)

This paper is a new defense of the old orthodox view that self-consciousness requires self- concepts. My defense relies on two crucial constraints. The first is what I call Bermúdez’s Constraint (2007), that is, the view that any attribution of content must account for the intentional behavior of the subject that reflects her own way of understanding the world. The second is the well-known Generality Constraint of Evans (1982), which is also termed the recombinability constraint. The claim I want to (...) support in this paper is the follow- ing: Since whether and to what extent we can attribute to non-linguistic creatures and prelinguistic infants genuine knowing self-reference or de se contents is an open empirical question, the proponents of the nonconceptual self-consciousness face a dilemma. If we are convinced that the available empirical evidence is overwhelming, I argue based on Evans’s Generality Constrain—that these self-representations are nothing but primitive prelinguis- tic self-concepts. However, if we are convinced that the available empirical evidence is not persuasive, I mainin—relying on Bermudez’s Conraint—that we do better by assuming that the subject is not self-represented. The content of her experiences and thoughts are best modeled as simple selfless propositional functions that are true or false relative to the subject of these experiences and thoughts. I refer to this as self-concernment without self- reference. Thus, against the recent ingenious work of Peacocke (2014), I claim that there is no compelling reason for postulating nonconceptual middle level self-representation, be- tween self-concernment and conceptual self-reference. However, as I hope to make clear, my claim is quite different from those of other recent oppositions to the idea of noncon- ceptual self-consciousness. According to the thesis of self-concernment without self-reference, the contents of experiences and thoughts are selfless propositional functions, true or false relative to the bearer of the respective mental states. (shrink)

This brief paper is devoted to criticizing the widespread reading of Kant’s first Critique, according to which reference to subject-independent objects is “constituted” by higher-order cognitive abilities (concepts). Let us call this the “constitutional view.” In this paper, I argue that the constitutional reading confuses the un-Kantian problem of how we come to represent objects (which I call the intentionality thesis) with the quite different problem of how we cognize (erkennen) (which I call the “cognition thesis”) that we do represent (...) objects, that is, things that exist independently of the subject. (shrink)