BackgroundResearch on prevalence of cognitive frailty phenotypes in community-dwelling older adults in different countries is important to estimate their prevalence and to determine the influence of cognitive reserve and mental health in order to prevent frailty. The aims of this study were to estimate the prevalence of reversible and potentially reversible cognitive frailty in a Portuguese sample of old adults and explore the associations between these phenotypes and demographic, comorbidity, social support, cognitive reserve and mental health factors.MethodsWe assessed frailty in (...) 250 community-dwelling older adults aged 60 years or over without dementia, neurological or psychiatric disorders. Subjective cognitive decline and Mild cognitive impairment were diagnosed according to standard criteria. The questionnaires Charlson Index, Medical Outcomes Study Social Support, Cognitive Reserve Index and General Health were used for assessing comorbidity, social support, cognitive reserve and mental health, respectively.ResultsPrevalence of R-CF was 14%, and that of PR-CF, 15.2%. Cognitive frailty profiles differed significantly in relation to education, comorbidity, mental health, and cognitive reserve, but not in age or sex. Multivariate logistic regression showed that age, sex, comorbidity, social support, mental health, and cognitive reserve together predicted R-CF and PR-CF with significant OR for mental health and cognitive reserve.DiscussionCognitive reserve and mental health are important factors predicting R-CF and PR-CF. We recommend assessing these factors for early detection of cognitive frailty and promoting psychological well-being and lifestyles that increase cognitive reserve in adults. (shrink)

The literature has recognised the fundamental role of teaching business ethics to students earning business administration degrees, but it is hard to find a methodology for teaching this topic successfully. We propose a new management tool—evidence-based administration—for the study of business ethics. The method developed on the basis of this management tool provides a practical vision to the students, motivates them, and favours the development of multiple facets of their education.

Os conceitos de modernidade e pós-modernidade têm sido usados em sentidos múltiplos a ponto de se terem generalizado confusões profundas que não raro enfermam de enorme igno­rância histórica e de uma grande falta de rigor analítico. O presente ensaio elabora uma breve arqueologia do termo “pós-moderno” e a partir dele procura identificar os elementos fundamen­tais da modernidade de modo a se poder estabelecer o que caracteriza afinal a pós-modernidade.

Con objeto de establecer las bases de un castigo penal justo, H.L.A. Hart propone una visión alternativa a las versiones tradicionales. El planteamiento de Hart muestra que los enfoques principales no han superado problemas de incuestionable importancia: la justificación moral del castigo penal y su aplicación justa. En este sentido, el trabajo de Hart se sitúa entre el consecuencialismo y el retribucionismo. De esta manera, si un castigo está justificado debe tener buenas consecuencias para la sociedad castigando sólo a quien (...) lo merece. Finalmente, la propuesta de Hart conectará con su concepción del Derecho dando a los individuos las capacidades de guiar su propia vida con previsión, confianza, seguridad y libertad. In order to establish the basis of a fair criminal punishment, H.L.A. Hart proposes an alternative view to the traditional versions. Hart’s approach shows that the main approaches have not overcome problems of unquestionable importance: the moral justification of criminal punishment and its fair application. In this sense, Hart’s work is between consequentialism and retributivism. In this way if a punishment is to be justified must have good consequences on society punishing only those who deserve it. Finally, Hart’s approach will connect with his own conception of law giving individuals the capacities to guide their own life with foresight, confidence, security and freedom. (shrink)

Los historiadores y científicos sociales que han estudiado el nacionalismo en las últimas décadas han dejado bien establecido que la existencia de naciones no es un hecho natural ni un rasgo constante en la historia humana, sino un fenómeno reciente y, en cierto modo, artificial, promovido por elites culturales que persiguen objetivos políticos. Lo cual de ningún modo quiere decir que tal actividad sea ilegítima, ni tampoco que la construcción ofrecida bajo el nombre de "nación" sea completamente caprichosa y pueda (...) tener éxito sin relación con rasgos culturales preexistentes. En el caso español, es indiscutible que existía una cierta identidad cultural previa a la era de las naciones. En el mundo antiguo y en el medieval se hablaba de "Hispania", aunque éste fuera un concepto no político, sino meramente geográfico, y por supuesto no coincidiera con la actual España, pues hacía referencia a toda la Península incluida Portugal. (shrink)

Este artículo propone un recorrido por la naturaleza del mito, sus propiedades distintivas y, de manera particular, los requisitos del mito escatológico. Se establece su relación intrínseca con la tragedia, como campo de expresión de la gravedad de lo humano. La correlación entre el misterio y el drama, dada en el cruce del tiempo y la atemporalidad, se ejemplifica en las obras de Sófocles, con el fin de desembocar en el tratamiento particular de Edipo en Colono (1992) y la presentación (...) de un esbozo de su escatología, previa a la exposición platónica. (shrink)

How many scientific demonstrations can a single phenomenon have? This paper argues that, according to Aristotle's theory of scientific knowledge as laid out in the Posterior Analytics, a single conclusion may be demonstrated via more than one explanatory middle term. I also argue that this model of multiple demonstration is put into practice in the biological writings. This paper thereby accomplishes two related goals: it clarifies certain relatively obscure passages of the Posterior Analytics and uses them to show how Aristotle (...) explains biological phenomena by reference to both final and material causes in the Parts of Animals. The first part of the paper explains the account of multiple demonstration present in the Posterior Analytics and distinguishes it from another kind of plural explanation rejected by Aristotle. The second part of the paper turns to the biological explanation in the Parts of Animals and shows how Aristotle's account of multiple demonstrations works in practice. The paper thus provides evidence for the claim that the ‘applied’ reasoning on display in the biological works is in harmony with the framework of the logical treatises, and thus may also shed light on questions of the unity of the Aristotelian corpus. (shrink)

Treatments for students with problematic levels of music performance anxiety commonly rely on approaches in which students are referred to psychotherapists or other clinical professionals for individual care that falls outside of their music training experience. However, a more transdisciplinary approach in which MPA treatment is effectively integrated into students’ training in music/performing arts colleges by teachers who work in consultation with clinical psychologists may prove more beneficial, given the resistance students often experience toward psychotherapy. Training singing teachers, and perhaps (...) music teachers at large, to use an evidence-based coaching strategy like Acceptance and Commitment Coaching to directly manage students’ MPA is one such approach. Building on the work of a previous study in which ACC was administered by a singing teacher to a musical theatre student with problematic MPA, we piloted the effectiveness of a six-session, group ACC course for a sample of performing arts students with MPA related to vocal performances, using a mixed-methods design. The coach here was also a singing teacher without a clinical background, and her training in ACC by a clinical psychologist was of a similar duration as the previous teacher’s. Similar to the musical theatre student, the students reported being significantly less fused with their MPA-related cognitions, more accepting of their MPA-related physiological symptoms, and more psychologically flexible while performing in general, and these improvements were maintained after 3 months. Furthermore, they appeared to lower their shame over having MPA and change how they thought in relation to one another. Of note, these improvements were similar to those shown by seven vocal students with MPA after they received Acceptance and Commitment Therapy from a clinical psychologist, but with larger reductions in shame and better acceptance of MPA, which suggests a non-clinical, group ACC intervention that includes supportive discussions to normalize MPA and challenges attempts to control it may be more helpful than individual psychotherapy. These results are promising and indicate a brief training in ACC may be sufficient for singing teachers to provide significant benefit for students with problematic MPA. (shrink)

In this article we establish that in mythical thought there is, as a natural quality, an expression of universality. Following Cassirer’s Philosophy of Symbolic Forms, we show that through the expressive function of myth it is possible to develop an expressive way of thinking or a pre-logical type of knowledge. We then propose an interpretation of Oedipus at Colonus in order to show that it offers a plausible resource to relate the individual and the community, and that the framework in (...) this tragedy works as a complex sign and symbolic path to delineate a form of expressive relationship through which it is possible to propose the unification of the individual with the community. (shrink)

Many contemporary philosophers hold that comparison requires a common, monistic ‘covering value’, and Aristotle is often described as a forerunner of this view. This paper reconsiders that claim. First, its textual warrant is substantially weaker than has been thought. Philosophically, moreover, Aristotle’s theory of non-synonymous predication allows for comparisons to be made using the special kind of non-synonymous terms that he calls pros hen legomenon, literally those ‘said with reference to a single thing.’ His favourite example is ‘healthy’ as said (...) of food, organisms, and medical procedures: these various senses are not entirely synonymous, yet are not simply unconnected. This has significant implications. Aristotle famously holds that goodness is species-specific, and it would then seem that species cannot be ranked according to how good they are. Yet Aristotle does—frequently—rank species. The paper shows us that he is not, pace other scholars, thereby caught in a contradiction. -/- . (shrink)

Ofrecemos una lectura de Un hogar sólido de Elena Garro en relación con los postulados de la tragedia griega, en particular las nociones de destino, culpa y conocimiento, para resaltar la posición femenina que presenta la autora a través de la cual cuestiona las convenciones de su época. Primero presentamos la idiosincrasia de los personajes para resaltar la materia trágica que aporta la protagonista de la pieza y fundamentar su carácter de heroína. En la circunstancia existencial de las mujeres se (...) plantea la oposición del destino y la libertad, aunque la búsqueda de la autonomía será el camino de la afirmación de la identidad. La autora confronta a la protagonista con la determinación del destino, expone su decisión y verifica su caída; en las diferencias propuestas entre la tragedia griega y la tragedia mexicana, se critican las estructuras socioculturales y los estereotipos de género. Elena Garro confirma el papel político del teatro y la misión del héroe en la comunidad. (shrink)

This is the first English translation of Ibn Sīnā's (Avicenna) Commentary on Chapters 6-10 of Aristotle's Metaphysics Λ. It is significant as it is one of only a small number of surviving commentaries by Ibn Sīnā and offers crucial insights into not only his attitudes towards his predecessors, but also his own philosophical positions — especially with regard to the human intellect's connections to God and the cosmos — and his attempt to develop a distinctive mode of commentary.

The infusion of environmental topics in science courses has long been considered an especially appropriate method of implementing the STS approach to science teaching. While this claim has been supported by anecdotal accounts and case studies, there are few relevant quantitative studies. To begin filling this void, a survey of science teachers in secondary schools in Dade County, Florida, was conducted to investigate the extent and effectiveness of the infusion of environmental topics in the science curriculum. The results of this (...) study indicate that the responding science teachers are very likely to incorporate environmental topics in their science classes. They do this regardless of their length of tenure, and most have engaged in the practice from the beginning of their careers. Finally, while the experience of a teacher in using environmental topics has some positive effect in increasing student interest, the success of this method depends much more strongly on the frequency of its use. Those teachers routinely using environmental topics as a vehicle for teaching science are most successful with it. (shrink)

Resumen: De las muchas posibilidades de lectura de Antígona de Sófocles destacamos la naturaleza del conflicto trágico, que tiene sus raíces en valores anteriores al orden social establecido y que puede considerarse material útil para una refundación del estatuto político en la posmodernidad. A partir del comentario de texto señalamos que Antígona no atenta contra el orden social, sino que espera consolidarlo en un fundamento imperturbable; que encarna la crítica de la racionalidad instrumental, inaugurada por la sofística y reavivada sucesivamente (...) en la modernidad; que afirma existencialmente una ética del amor fraterno como humanización del orden del universo. Proponemos ampliar la noción de hermano consanguíneo y extenderla a la idea de hermano como “el otro” en el marco de las sociedades posmodernas, espacios de intención multicultural, para tener un principio de rescate ético. En esta re-lectura se actualizan las nociones arcaicas de religiosidad, honra fúnebre y piedad familiar.: Of the many possible readings of Sophocles' Antigone, we highlight the nature of the tragic conflict, which has its roots in previous values to the established social order, and which can be considered useful material for re-founding the political status in postmodernity. From the text commentary, we note that Antigone does not attack the social order, but she hopes to consolidate it on an imperturbable basis that embodies the critique of instrumental rationality, inaugurated by sophistry and revived successively in modernity. This affirms existentially the ethics of fraternal love as a humanization of the order of the universe. We propose to extend the notion of consanguineous brother and extend it to the idea of brother as “the other” in the framework of postmodern societies, spaces of multicultural intention, to have a principle of ethical rescue. In this re-reading, the archaic notions of religiosity, funeral honor, and family piety are updated. (shrink)

This paper examines the various theories of intergenerational justice and its implications in the practical context of pension systems. In this context the sustainability of the system appears to be compromised by demographic projections. This fact has an unquestionable relevance for the future of this very important public service and the intergenerational commitment that this implies. In this sense if a pension system wants to be fair it has to look in three directions: pensioners, workers and future generations. So, a (...) liberal-egalitarian theory becomes necessary to share the risks of demographic and financial shocks between different generations and to reduce inequality as much as possible. (shrink)

The literature has recognised the fundamental role of teaching business ethics to students earning business administration degrees, but it is hard to find a methodology for teaching this topic successfully. We propose a new management tool—evidence-based administration—for the study of business ethics. The method developed on the basis of this management tool provides a practical vision to the students, motivates them, and favours the development of multiple facets of their education.

The literature has recognised the fundamental role of teaching business ethics to students earning business administration degrees, but it is hard to find a methodology for teaching this topic successfully. We propose a new management tool—evidence-based administration—for the study of business ethics. The method developed on the basis of this management tool provides a practical vision to the students, motivates them, and favours the development of multiple facets of their education.

The objective of this article was to address the Augustinian call to philosophical life. In discussion with academic skepticism, Saint Augustine exhorts his friend Romanian to search for wisdom and, for this, to also dismiss distrust and excessive confidence in reason, since he argues both against the skeptical position, or despair of finding the truth, and dogmatism or the assurance of having definitely found the truth. In fact, Saint Augustine points out the difficulty of taking knowledge for granted and, therefore, (...) does not rule out skepticism, but rather incorporates it as the initial phase of knowing and as an antidote to the naivety of giving absolute scope to the human faculty of human knowing. In the perspective of this balance, Saint Augustine exhorts Romanian to finish deciding to lead a philosophical life. To travel this path, in continuity with his Neoplatonic readings, he considers beauty as a guide: spiritual beauty is accessed by passing through the cosmic; the contemplating soul, insofar as it corresponds to what is contemplated, can thus reach the ascending path of its own transformation. The method of accessing the texts is philological, that is, it seeks at the same time to decipher the letter of the philosophical plot and to establish a contextual understanding of it. A method of this nature is inseparable from the conceptual framework; indeed, the formation of a philosophical knowledge, which tries to find the limits of the understanding of revelation, puts the person in tension of perfection, that is, it guides them towards their own transcendence. (shrink)

Partimos de la consideración de los saberes de las humanidades, y de la con-secuente formación humanística, para observar su injerencia y justificación en los resultados culturales, según la narrativa de Thomas Mann. Con el marco de la situación histórica del autor y dentro de la confrontación entre el burgués y el artista, analizamos el diagnóstico del autor sobre la época capitalista y su agotamiento; nos detenemos en la idea de evolución-transición operada por el arte, en particular por la música, como (...) lenguaje para renovar la tradición. La descripción de las formas ficcionales se realiza a través del aparente contraste de Doktor Faustus entre el narrador testigo, Serenus Zeitblom, y el protagonista, Adrián Leverkuhn, que revela la unidad de visión. Las conclusiones refieren a la dudosa energía de los saberes de las humanidades, y a la complicidad de sus mutaciones, bajo paradigma de racionalidad instrumental, para favorecer la crisis del individuo occidental. (shrink)

The work of Sophocles shows the human suffering which might be caused by evil without the presence of guilt. Within the historic confrontation of the Athenian political stage, the presentation of the tragic conflict opposes the illustrated omnipotence: to present that what is divine as incomprehensible is one of the traditional features of Sophocles’ work and his announcement of anti-modernity. “Not-understanding” is the banner of silence when faced with the limit of natural reason. As a response to sophist thought, which (...) replaced the divine paradigm, the preponderance of the gods in the work of Sophocles might be seen as an affirmation. What is characteristic of the traditional restoration proposed by Sophocles is not only the appearance of the Gods in his works, but the particular way in which they reveal themselves. Knowing that what is divine is not characteristic of men because it is not a feature of the former to be understood to a lesser degree than that of its own nature. That is exactly the stage where the struggle between the reality of knowing and the relative appearance of knowing occurs. Bearing this interpretative intention in mind, the aim of the paper is to highlight the way in which evil reveals itself in Oedipus the King, as a device chosen by the gods to trigger the unfolding of the nature of the hero. (shrink)

Resumen: Entre el pensamiento de José Gaos y el de Eduardo Nicol se cierne una diferencia sustancial en torno al concepto de la filosofía. Para el primero, ésta es una suerte de confesión personal; mientras que para Nicol la filosofía debe ser producto de una hazaña dialógica y el conocimiento tiene que ser objetivo.: José Gaos’s and Eduardo Nicol’s concepts of philosophy differ substantially. For the former, philosophy is a sort of personal confession, whereas for the later it must be (...) the outcome of dialogical achievement, and as for knowledge, this has to be objective. (shrink)

Esta investigação ilustra como o Interpretante energético de Peirce facilita a conscientização entre os usuários de signos. Peirce caracteriza o Interpretante energético/existencial como “empenho” e “esforço”. Por forçar a atenção e a progressão da ação, o Interpretante energético destaca as relações de signos atomísticos/pontuais de causa e efeito apresentando junções entre os eventos: começo, meio e fim. A Primeiridade e a Terceiridade subjacentes perpetuam ainda mais o componente pontual presente nas relações de ação, operacional quando o esforço produz resistência contra (...) um sentimento/força oposta. O esforço é, no entanto, apenas um lado do Interpretante energético de Peirce; o lado oposto ocorre quando os elementos externos têm um papel mais ativo na destruição de crenças/ações anteriores. Os Interpretantes energéticos podem inibir, ou seja, resultar em atenção a um estímulo, enquanto ignoram outro. No entanto, inibir/resistir conscientemente a uma força introduz o controle além de si mesmo—reflexos do outro sobre os atos conscientes de um agente. Essa influência entre interlocutores satisfaz a máxima de Peirce de um “lugar comum para ficar”, demonstrando compreensão mútua do efeito próprio do signo. De fato, os Interpretantes energéticos podem resultar em um efeito de tal proporção sobre um ou ambos os interlocutores que uma mudança de hábito se materialize. Assim, os Interpretantes energéticos condensam a perfectividade exercida por esforços particulares, sugerindo a probabilidade de seu sucesso discursivo. (shrink)

El registro de la personalidad de Pablo, su formación intelectual y su misión hacen de él un hombre de controversias y de originalidades en su discurso. Este artículo pretende describir: (a) la estructura argumentativa de la llamada 'carta a Filemón' (Fm), texto considerado de autoría paulina, y (b) las maniobras estratégicas que desarrolla el autor del documento para resolver la discusión crítica, específicamente a partir del uso de estrategias de cortesía verbal. En términos generales, desde un análisis dialéctico, la carta (...) nos presenta el pedido del prisionero para que Filemón reciba a Onésimo de regreso en su casa, así como los argumentos que favorecen esta postura. Al insertar las maniobras estratégicas, es decir, el elemento pragmático y retórico, se puede observar un cambio en el punto de vista y en el argumento. Las estrategias de cortesía verbal ayudan, por un lado, a que la comunidad acoja a Onésimo y, por otro lado, aprenda que los cristianos han sido generados por la fe en Cristo. Por tanto, no sólo se declara la petición, sino una nueva verdad de fe y una práctica de vida eclesial y social. Pablo salvaguarda la imagen negativa, apelando a un nuevo estilo de autoridad y a una renovada forma de vida comunitaria que va más allá del contexto específico en el que fue escrita la carta. Todo hombre y mujer de fe son miembros dignos de la comunidad porque son “mis entrañas” (Fm 12b). (shrink)