In his book Individuals P. F. Strawson writes that ‘both the Cartesian and the no-ownership theorists are profoundly wrong in holding, as each must, that there are two uses of ''I'', in one of which it denotes something which it does not denote in the other’ (p. 98). I think, by contrast, that there is a defensible ''Cartesian materialist'' sense, which Strawson need not reject, in which I (=df. the word ''I'' or the concept i) can and does denote two different things, and which is nothing like the flawed Wittgensteinian distinction between the use of I ''as object'' and the use of I ''as subject''. I don’t argue directly for the ''two uses'' view, however. Instead I do some preparatory work. First I criticize one bad (Wittgensteinian or ''Wittgensteinian'') argument for the ''only one use of I'' view. Then I offer a phenomenological description of our everyday experience of ourselves that leads to an attack on ''corporism''-the excessive focus on the body in present-day analytic philosophy of mind., Ve své knize Jednotlivci PF Strawson píše, že ,,jak karteziánští, tak teoretici bez vlastnictví jsou naprosto špatní v držení, protože každý musí, že existují dvě použití,, I '', v jednom z nich označuje něco, co neoznačuje v ostatních “(str. 98). Naproti tomu si myslím, že existuje obranný ,,karteziánský materialistický'' smysl, který Strawson nemusí odmítat, ve kterém I (= df. Slovo ,,I'' nebo pojem i) lze a označuje dvě různé věci, a které není nic takového jako chybný Wittgensteinův rozdíl mezi použitím I 'jako objektu' a použitím I 'jako předmětu'. Nehledám však přímo na pohled ,,dvou použití''. Místo toho dělám nějaké přípravné práce. Nejprve kritizuji jeden špatný (Wittgensteinův nebo ,,Wittgensteinův'') argument pro ,,jediné použití I''. Pak nabízím fenomenologický popis našich každodenních zkušeností, které vedou k útoku na ,,korporismus'' - nadměrné zaměření na tělo v současné analytické filozofii mysli., and Galen Strawson
In this paper, I combine an exposition of the historical development of sociology and the philosophy of science from the era of grand theories onwards, with an explication as to why the grand theories have failed. First, I trace some parallels in the history of each of the disciplines. After presenting their chronological development, I scrutinize the metatheoretical findings about the disciplines and examine the main ontological and epistemic reasons why attempts at these general theories or frameworks have not succeeded. Among them are the lack of a universal methodology and of a theoretical core, together with the impossibility of achieving a common objective view. On this basis I conclude that general theories or frameworks are not achievable in principle. As it turns out, however, some contemporary social theorists and philosophers still harbor hopes that they can be successfully formulated, or at the least do not rule out such a possibility. Thus, in closing, I argue that the critical points can also be applied to these latest attempts, as the call for grand theories or frameworks has never ceased and returns regularly with each new generation of social theorists and philosophers of science. and Tento článek kombinuje přehled historického vývoje sociologie a filosofie vědy od období „velkých“ teorií s výkladem toho, proč tyto teorie selhaly. V první části sleduji historické paralely v obou těchto disciplínách. Po představení jejich chronologického vývoje analyzuji metateoretické závěry, které z toho vyplývají, a zkoumám hlavní epistemické a ontologické důvody, proč neuspěly – mezi nimi chybějící univerzální metodologii a teoretické jádro i nemožnost dosažení objektivního náhledu. Z toho vyvozuji závěr, že velké teorie nejsou principiálně zkonstruovatelné. Ukazuje se nicméně, že některé současní sociální teoretici i filosofové vědy stále doufají, že takové teorie nebo rámce mohou být úspěšně formulovány, nebo přinejmenším takovou možnost nevylučují. V závěru argumentuji, že kritika vznesená vůči těmto dřívějším teoriím může být uplatněna i na tyto aktuální pokusy. Ukazuje se totiž, že volání po těchto teoriích a rámcích nikdy úplně nepřestalo a opakuje se s každou novou generací sociálních vědců a filosofů vědy.
This paper addresses the so-called ''truthmaker problem'' or ''grounding problem'' for presentism. In section 1, I set the stage by introducing presentism and the truthmaker problem. In section 2, I consider a proposed solution to it, which I call the ''laws of nature proposal'' (LNP), recently defended by Markosian (2013). I argue that LNP fails as a solution to the truthmaker problem because it does not meet a constraint that is generally taken as constitutive of it: that the entities doing truthmaker work should be categorical. Then, in section 3, I discuss the prospects of abandoning this ''categoricity constraint''. The conclusion of this discussion is that the presentist should be allowed to such a move. This, however, is not completely good news for the friends of LNP, since the abandonment of the ''categoricity constraint'' opens the door to simpler solutions, like what is often called ''Lucretianism''., Tento článek se zabývá tzv. ,,Problémem pravdy'' nebo ,,problémem uzemnění'' pro presentismus. V oddíle 1 jsem stanovil etapu zavedením presentismu a problematiky pravdy. V oddíle 2 se zabývám navrhovaným řešením, které nazývám ,,zákony o přírodním návrhu'' (LNP), které nedávno obhajoval Markosian (2013). Domnívám se, že LNP selhává jako řešení problému s pravdivostí, protože nesplňuje omezení, které je obecně považováno za jeho konstitutivní: že subjekty provádějící práci s pravdivostí by měly být kategorické. Poté v oddíle 3 diskutuji vyhlídky na opuštění této ,,kategorie omezení''. Závěrem této diskuse je, že by měl být moderátorovi umožněn takový krok. To však není pro přátele LNP úplně dobrá zpráva, protože opuštění ,,kategorického omezení'' otevírá dveře k jednodušším řešením, jako je to, co se často nazývá ''lykretianismus''., and Pablo Rychter
Normative judgement internalism claims that enkrasia is an ideal of rational agency that poses a necessary link between making a normative judgement, and forming an intention to act according to that judgement. Against this view, I argue that enkrasia does not require the formation of new intentional states; instead, it requires that the agent’s intentions do not contravene her normative judgements. The main argument for considering that an intention ought to follow from a normative judgement is the claim that the conclusion of practical reasoning is an intention. I will argue that this account is mistaken: practical reasoning aims at justifying certain actions or intentions, and thus its conclusion is a normative judgement. Defenders of NJI might argue, though, that intentions ought to follow from our normative judgements, because of certain requirements affecting not only practical reasoning, but rational agency. I argue that this conception of enkrasia is too demanding. Enkrasia, I suggest, is better understood as a restriction over our intentions: they ought not enter into conflict with our judgements., Normativní soudní internacionalismus tvrdí, že enkrasia je ideálem racionální agentury, která představuje nezbytnou vazbu mezi normativním úsudkem a záměrem jednat podle tohoto úsudku. Proti tomuto názoru tvrdím, že enkrasia nevyžaduje vytvoření nových záměrných států; místo toho vyžaduje, aby úmysly agenta neporušovaly její normativní úsudky. Hlavním argumentem pro uvážení, že záměr má vycházet z normativního rozsudku, je tvrzení, že závěr praktického uvažování je záměrem. Budu argumentovat, že tento účet je chybný: praktické úvahy směřují k ospravedlnění určitých činností nebo záměrů, a proto je jeho závěr normativním úsudkem. Obhájci NJI by však mohli argumentovat, že záměry by měly vycházet z našich normativních úsudků, vzhledem k určitým požadavkům ovlivňujícím nejen praktické úvahy, ale i racionální agenturu. Tvrdím, že tato koncepce enkrasie je příliš náročná. Enkrasia, myslím, je lépe chápána jako omezení našich záměrů: neměly by vstupovat do konfliktu s našimi rozsudky., and Miranda del Corral
This paper critical y examines two objections and raises a new objection against the besire theory of moral judgment. Firstly, Smith (1994) observes that a belief that p tends to expire whereas a desire that p tends to endure on the perception that not p. His observation does not refute the sophisticated version of the besire theory that to besire that p is to believe that p and to desire to act in accordance with the belief that p. Secondly, Zangwil (2008) claims that the strength of motivation may vary while the degree of belief remains constant. Besirists would reply that a besire admits of both degree and strength. Finally, I argue that the belief that p endures while the desire to act on the belief that p expires with the introduction of a new bodily condition, and hence that the belief and the desire are distinct mental states., Tento článek kriticky zkoumá dvě námitky a vznáší novou námitku proti teorii morálního úsudku. Za prvé, Smith (1994) poznamenává, že víra, že p má tendenci vypršet, zatímco touha, že p má tendenci vytrvat na vnímání, které není p. Jeho pozorování nevyvrací sofistikovanou verzi teorie besiru, která by měla být přesvědčena, že p má věřit, že p a touha jednat v souladu s vírou, že p. Zadruhé, Zangwil (2008) tvrdí, že síla motivace se může lišit, zatímco míra přesvědčení zůstává konstantní. Besiristé by odpověděli, že besire přiznává jak stupeň, tak sílu. Konečně, argumentuji, že víra, že p trvá, zatímco touha jednat na víře, že p vyprší se zavedením nové tělesné podmínky, a proto že víra a touha jsou odlišné duševní stavy., and Seungbae Park
Processes of adult neurogenesis can be influenced by environmental factors. Here, we investigated the effect of microwave radiation (MWR) on proliferation and cell dying in the rat rostral migratory stream (RMS) - a migration route for the neuroblasts of the subventricular zone. Adult and juvenile (two weeks old) rats were exposed to a pulsed-wave MWR at the frequency of 2.45 GHz for 1 or 3 h daily during 3 weeks. Adult rats were divided into two groups: without survival and with two weeks survival after irradiation. Juvenile rats survived till adulthood, when were tested in the light/dark test. Proliferating cells in the RMS were labeled by Ki-67; dying cells were visualized by Fluoro-Jade C histochemistry. In both groups of rats irradiated as adults we have observed significant decrease of the number of dividing cells within the RMS. Exposure of juvenile rats to MWR induced only slight decrease in proliferation, however, it strikingly affected cell death even two months following irradiation. In addition, these rats displayed locomotor hyperactivity and decreased risk assessment in adulthood. Our results suggest that the long-lasting influence of radiation is manifested by affected cell survival and changes in animals´ behavior., A. Raček, K. Beňová, P. Arnoul, M. Závodská, A. Angelidis, V. Cigánková, V. Šimaiová, E. Račeková., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The oxidative stress hypothesis of aging suggests that accumulation of oxidative damage is a key factor of the alterations in physiological function during aging. We studied age-related sensitivity to oxidative modifications of proteins and lipids of cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) isolated from 6-, 15- and 26-month-old rats. Oxidative stress was generated in vitro by exposing SR vesicles to 0.1 mmol/l FeSO4/EDTA + 1 mmol/l H2O2 at 37 °C for 60 min. In all groups, oxidative stress was associated with decreased membrane surface hydrophobicity, as detected by 1-anilino-8-naphthalenesulfonate as a probe. Structural changes in SR membranes were accompanied by degradation of tryptophan and significant accumulation of protein dityrosines, protein conjugates with lipid peroxidation products, conjugated dienes and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances. The sensitivity to oxidative damage was most pronounced in SR of 26-month-old rat. Our results indicate that aging and oxidative stress are associated with accumulation of oxidatively damaged proteins and lipids and these changes could contribute to cardiovascular injury., E. Babušíková, M. Jeseňák, D. Dobrota, N. Tribulová, P. Kaplán., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
Certain aspects of balance control change with age, resulting in a slight postural instability. We examined healthy subjects between 20-82 years of age during the quiet stance under static conditions: at stance on a firm surface and/or on a compliant surface with eyes either open or closed. Body sway was evaluated from centre of foot pressure (CoP) positions during a 50 sec interval. The seven CoP parameters were evaluated to assess quiet stance and were analyzed in three age groups: juniors, middle-aged and seniors. The regression analysis showed evident increase of body sway over 60 years of age. We found that CoP parameters were significantly different when comparing juniors and seniors in all static conditions. The most sensitive view on postural steadiness during quiet stance was provided by CoP amplitude and velocity in AP direction and root mean square (RMS) of statokinesigram. New physiological ranges of RMS parameter in each condition for each age group of healthy subjects were determined. Our results showed that CoP data from force platform in quiet stance may indicate small balance impairment due to age. The determined physiological ranges of RMS will be useful for better distinguishing between small postural instability due to aging in contrast to pathological processes in the human postural control., D. Abrahamová, F. Hlavačka., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
Vascular aging is associated with both structural and functional changes that can take place at the level of the endothelium, vascular smooth muscle cells and the extracellular matrix of blood vessels. With regard to the endothelium, reduced vasodilatation in response to agonists occurs in large conduit arteries as well as in resistance arteries with aging. Reviews concerning the different hypotheses that may account for this endothelial dysfunction have pointed out alterations in the equilibrium between endothelium-derived relaxing and constricting factors. Thus, a decreased vasorelaxation due to nitric oxide and, in some arteries, endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor as well as an increased vasoconstriction mediated by cyclooxygenase products such as thromboxane A2 are likely to occur in age-induced impairment of endothelial vasodilatation. Furthermore, enhanced oxidative stress plays a critical role in the deleterious effect of aging on the endothelium by means of nitric oxide breakdown due to reactive oxygen species. The relative contribution of the above phenomenon in age-related endothelial dysfunction is highly dependent on the species and type of vascular bed., R. L. Matz, C. Schott, J. C. Stoclet, R. Andriantsitohaina., and Obsahuje bibliografii
In cases of human malaria, children suffer very high rates of morbidity and mortality. To analyze the mechanisms involved in age-dependent protection against malaria, we investigated the characterization of immune responses to Plasmodium yoelii 17XNL (P.y 17XNL) in young (3 weeks) and middle-aged (8 months) C57BL/6 mice. In this study, we found that 100% of young mice succumbed to P.y 17XNL infection with higher parasitemia, while middle-aged mice were able to clear blood parasites and no mortality was observed. These observations suggested that the young C57BL/6 mice were susceptible to P.y 17XNL infection, whereas the middle-aged mice were resistant. Cellular analysis revealed that both the numbers of splenic myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) as well as the expression of DC maturation markers were higher in middle-aged mice than those in young mice. The numbers of IgG1- or IgG2a-secreting B cells increased markedly in middle-aged mice after infection with P.y 17XNL. The dynamic change of the number of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) in mice infected with P.y 17XNL was also different between the two groups. In addition, the levels of IFN-γ and NO increased in both groups during early parasite infection, while there was also an obvious increase in IL-4 production in the infected middle-aged mice. The change in IL-10 levels following infection was consistent with that of the change in the number of Tregs. The survival of middle-aged mice following P.y 17XNL infection was dependent upon the establishment of effective Th1 and Th2 responses and a successful switch between Th1 and Th2 responses, as well as appropriate functioning of Tregs.