Philosophical Discourse Research Articles

The Space Before the World: Spacing, Archi-texture, and Other Questions of Sexual Difference

This paper investigates the intersection of architecture, philosophy, and sexual difference in Plato’s notion of khōra as it appears in the Timaeus. By engaging first with Jacques Derrida's deconstruction of Plato’s khōra, the paper shows how the interplay between architecture and philosophy not only reflects but also perpetuates patriarchal structures. Khōra, sometimes solely described as a passive receptacle, stages a complex relationship with femininity that challenges traditional notions of space and identity. Drawing on the works of feminist theorists such as Julia Kristeva and Fanny Söderbäck, the paper examines how khōra serves as a foundational moment in the construction of sexual difference within philosophical discourse. Ultimately, this exploration calls for a reimagining of khōra as a site of resistance and transformation—one that, while existing before the architect-demiurge created the universe, nonetheless conditions his work.

A Comparative Analysis of Twelve Research Paradigms Across Six Knowledge Acquisitions and Twelve Sources of Knowledge: A Philosophical Discourse

This study investigates whether a single research paradigm can dominate knowledge acquisition across empirical and interpretive domains or if a multi-paradigm approach is essential for achieving a holistic understanding. Twelve paradigms, including Positivism, Pragmatism, Hermeneutics, and Feminism, were evaluated across six domains: Science, Philosophy, History, Art, Religion, and Culture. The methodology employed comparative analysis, factor analysis, sensitivity testing, and inter-rater reliability assessment to quantify paradigm performance. The findings confirm Positivism's strength in empirical fields like Science and Philosophy but reveal its limitations in addressing ethical, cultural, and interpretive dimensions, where paradigms like Hermeneutics and Feminism excel. Pragmatism and Critical Realism bridge empirical rigor with interpretive depth, offering integrative solutions for interdisciplinary challenges. By applying statistical tools within a philosophical inquiry, this research highlights the necessity of humility and open-mindedness in selecting paradigms to address complex questions. The study concludes that no single paradigm suffices across all domains, advocating for a multi-paradigm approach to foster collaboration, inclusivity, and a more comprehensive understanding of knowledge production. These insights have implications for interdisciplinary research, education, and policymaking, emphasizing the importance of integrating diverse epistemological perspectives.

Birthing: Vindicating a Visceral Body Philosophically

How to tell our tales? How to listen to the tales we choose to tell? My thesis is that to reorient philosophical conversation toward birth and, specifically, to the origin of our lives in the female body, produces a radical shift. Once we take that turn, many of the tales about our origin truly become ‘old tales’. In this essay I suggest that interpreting/ representing/ affirming the visceral birthing body in and with the philosophical discourse is possible. I also suggest a vindication of the birthing body and its language is needed. Birth, giving birth, has its language. And, as any language, the language of birth has its hermeneutics and politics. Are we already imagining a new genealogy, a new logos for genos? Can we philosophically (and medically/obstetrically) represent and vindicate this new genea-logy? Birth matters matter —and they matter philosophically too.

Pejorativisation of Solitude. A Narratological Deception?

In this paper I address the problem of the pejorativisation of solitude in philosophical discourse. By the pejorativisation of solitude I mean giving it a negative meaning. I show that the tendency to the pejorativisation of solitude in philosophy was initiated by Aristotle. He saw solitude as contrary to human nature. This nature is supposed to determine people to form organised communities with others. Only through them the individual is able to survive and thrive. In solitude, one quickly learns how inautarkic is and suffers because of it. Thomas Hobbes was one of the first philosophers to challenge Aristotle’s approach. He argued that man strives for community with others not as a result of a supposedly social nature, but because as a child one is dependent and helpless, and as an adult one expects benefits or honours from others. My thesis is that the pejorativisation of solitude is responsible for its negative stereotyping, the formation of prejudices against it and the learned helplessness syndrome, which makes us vulnerable to solitude.

What are the Causal Bases of Dispositions?

ABSTRACT Even though the talk of causal bases is commonplace in traditional and contemporary discussions about dispositions, the concept of causal bases has never been systematically investigated. This paper aims to fill this gap by developing the causal-grounding account. This account takes two roles as definitory for causal bases. First, causal bases are possible causes of disposition manifestations. Second, causal bases are metaphysical grounds of disposition instantiations. In this paper, we show that the causal-grounding account (CGA) achieves crucial distinctions (for example between causal bases and manifestation conditions), captures relevant traditional features of causal bases, and can be invoked to support the causal efficacy of disposition instantiations. At the same time, CGA does not require that causal bases have to be categorical or intrinsic. This, in turn, allows us to remain neutral concerning fundamental properties, the existence of dispositional or extrinsic causal bases, multi-track dispositions, and the reducibility of dispositions. This neutrality grants the suitability of our account for different philosophical projects and discussions.

Are Religious Machines Possible? Embodied Cognition, AI, and Religious Behavior

This article explores the potential emergence of religious behavior in artificial intelligence (AI) through the lens of embodied cognition, which asserts that cognitive functions are deeply intertwined with bodily experiences. It examines the convergence of AI, soft robotics, and religious cognitive behaviors and suggests that AI, once it attains human-level intelligence and self-awareness, might exhibit religious behaviors as a cognitive strategy to confront and transcend finitude. Drawing on neuroscientific, philosophical, and religious discussions, with particular reference to the works of Kingson Man, Antonio Damasio, Uffe Schjødt, and William Sims Bainbridge, this article investigates how religious behaviors could arise in AI equipped with a vulnerable artificial body inclined towards homeostasis and self-preservation. The outcomes of this exploration extend beyond theoretical debates, as they provide insights into the physicalist understanding of consciousness and the naturalistic study of religious behaviors while also considering some technological constraints in the context of AI advancements.

The Function of Memes in Political Discourse

AbstractThe use of memes has become increasingly widespread in political discourse. However, there is a dearth of philosophical discussion on memes and their impact on political discourse. This paper addresses this gap in the literature and bridges the divide between the empirical and philosophical work on memes by offering a functionalist account which allows for a more in-depth analysis of the role memes play in political discourse. We offer a taxonomy of the eight key characteristics of memes: 1. humor; 2. fostering in-group identity; 3. caricatures; 4. replicability; 5. context collapse; 6. hermeneutical resources; 7. low reputational cost; 8. signaling. On the positive side, the propensity memes have to foster in-group identity and to function as a hermeneutical tool for people to make sense of their own experiences are a boon especially to marginalized communities. On the flipside, the creation of an in-group/out-group dynamic can also be exploited by sinister political actors, especially since the low reputational cost of circulating memes allows for plausible deniability. We use the analysis in this paper to jumpstart a discussion of how we should understand memes and debate which norms should govern the novel speech act of posting a meme given its impact on political discourse. Based on our findings, we end with a call to adopt stricter norms for the act of posting a meme.

African indigenous knowledge: Philosophy in history and history in philosophy

Rationale of Study – This paper delves into the interconnectedness of African indigenous knowledge, situating its historical roots and the inherent philosophy embedded in its practice. African indigenous knowledge encompasses formulating a definition of knowledge in an African context and the justification of knowledge, which has its stand on cultural, linguistic, aphorism, and proverbial content. Scholars, however, argue that its historical foundation lies in the depths of time, tracing back to the ancient civilisations that thrived across the continent. On the other hand, its philosophical discourse serves as the guiding force behind the practices and beliefs of various communities. Within this purview, this paper sets out to close this gap.Methodology – This paper adopts primary and secondary data sources, including oral information, books, articles, and journals. However, it uses argumentative and analytic philosophical and historical inquiry methods to highlight that African indigenous knowledge is pivotal in preserving historical and philosophical insights.Findings – The study finds an interlink between history and philosophy in advancing African indigenous knowledge and its practice of knowing and justifying the indubitable truth that cannot be objectively attained in Western epistemology.Implications – The study contributes to the existing debate that the wisdom embedded in proverbs, myths, and folklore is a repository of philosophical principles, offering guidance on ethics, social harmony, and the relationship between humanity and nature through historical insights.Originality – The paper concludes that African indigenous knowledge has its own social and cultural dimension. It addresses the problem of knowledge by dividing its domain into rational, empirical, and mystical components, solving the problem of justification in the African context.

The Politics of Alien Listening

Abstract Daniel Chua and Alexander Rehding's book Alien Listening: Voyager's Golden Record and Music from Earth (2021) offers a deep philosophical discussion of NASA's Golden Record that had been attached to the side of its 1977 Voyager probe. The Golden Record was an album of sounds from around the world that was sent in the hope that an alien listener might be able to hear examples of music and language from planet Earth. Chua and Rehding's book uses NASA's Golden Record as a portal through which to imagine a new philosophy of music and listening based in vibration, inconsistency, generosity toward the unknown, and unconditional inclusion. This review analyzes the philosophical content of their book and poses questions about the underlying epistemological and political complexity of their ethical injunction.

Historical, Philosophical And Psychological Dimensions Of Bilingualism: Cognitive And Neurological Perspectives

Research on bilingualism has traditionally focused on its effects on language proficiency, yet a significant gap exists in understanding its broader cognitive impacts, particularly regarding executive functions and brain structure. This study aims to bridge that gap by examining the multifaceted influences of bilingualism on cognitive function, incorporating historical and philosophical perspectives to provide a comprehensive analysis. Using a systematic literature review approach, supported by neuroimaging studies, this research explores how bilingualism enhances brain plasticity and executive functions, such as attentional control and task-switching. Historical analysis reveals the shift from early 20th-century deficit views of bilingualism to the recognition of its cognitive advantages. Philosophical discussions further contextualize these findings, addressing the ethical considerations of cognitive enhancement and the mind-brain relationship in bilingual contexts. The results suggest that bilingualism confers distinct cognitive benefits, reshaping both brain structure and function. Based on these findings, this study offers key recommendations for improving future research methodologies, emphasizing the need for more diverse and standardized studies, and suggests practical counseling approaches that account for the psychological and philosophical complexities of bilingual identity. These insights challenge traditional views on cognitive development and have significant implications for educational policies, counseling strategies, and future neuroscience research.

Defending the Pluralistic Minimum Universality of Human Rights

The idea of ‘universal human rights’ has emerged as a significant topic on the global agenda with the intensification of globalisation through technological change, the spread of transport and digital communication tools, and the increased visibility of instances of gross human rights violations in diverse regions worldwide. However, the spirit of the ‘Universal Declaration of Human Rights’, which emerged in the aftermath of the wave of fascism in 20th century Europe and the devastation of the Second World War, is still unable to penetrate all parts of the world. Furthermore, the rise of authoritarian populism in recent years has the potential to lead to a retreat from the idea of universal human rights. Thusly, the main purpose of this article is to introduce a viable, effective, pluralistic and minimum universal understanding of human rights on which world public opinion can agree. Within this framework, the intellectual elements of radical universalism and radical relativism, which are the parties to the debate on the universality of human rights, have been subjected to a rigorous analysis. A philosophical discussion was held in order to put forward an understanding of human rights that is respectful of multiculturalism and does not leave individuals at the mercy of the countries and societies in which they live, and to overcome the dichotomy in question. Moreover, the possible obstacles to the implementation of human rights worldwide have been discussed and the limits and scope of the pluralistic minimum universalist understanding of human rights have been revealed.

A Confucian Algorithm for Autonomous Vehicles

Any moral algorithm for autonomous vehicles must provide a practical solution to moral problems of the trolley type, in which all possible courses of action will result in damage, injury, or death. This article discusses a hitherto neglected variety of this type of problem, based on a recent psychological study whose results are reported here. It argues that the most adequate solution to this problem will be achieved by a moral algorithm that is based on Confucian ethics. In addition to this philosophical and psychological discussion, the article outlines the mathematics, engineering, and legal implementation of a possible Confucian algorithm. The proposed Confucian algorithm is based on the idea of making it possible to set an autonomous vehicle to allow an increased level of protection for selected people. It is shown that the proposed algorithm can be implemented alongside other moral algorithms, using either the framework of personal ethics settings or that of mandatory ethics settings.

Appearance and Reality in Śaṇkara’s Advaita Philosophy

Appearance and reality is a prime concept in philosophical discourse both in Eastern and Western tradition. Starting from Monistic Idealism to Dualistic Realism the fundamental problem of philosophy is undoubtedly the problem of Reality. Two famous views are found regarding the reality of the appeared world – one is Idealism and another is Realism. As per the view of Idealism there is one spiritual principle underlying, evolving and sustaining the universe and the world of appearance is unreal. On the other hand Realism holds that the world of appearance is as real as it appears to us. But, if it is considered that there are two ultimate reality opposed to each other one is physical and other is spiritual then this is the view of Dualistic Realism. In Indian tradition most of the thinkers holds that Appearance is relative, bound by duality whereas Reality is only one and absolute. In this regard the view of Śaṇkarachārya, the great Vedantist philosopher gained attention in both Eastern- Western discourse. In this paper a humble attempt has been made to explain the idea of reality and appearance in Śaṇkaracharya’s Advaita Philosophy.

A Heuristic Philosophical Discourse on Various Applications of Abstract Differential Geometry in Quantum Gravity Research

A Heuristic Philosophical Discourse on Various Applications of Abstract Differential Geometry in Quantum Gravity Research

Book review: ethics of artificial intelligence.

The book Ethics of Artificial Intelligence offers a solid exploration ofarguments and real-world examples that enrich the ongoing debate surrounding AI ethics. With 12 insightful chapters, the book delves into pressing ethical issues, such as the enhancement of human abilities, the nature of consciousness, and questions of responsibility and accountability in various contexts where AI technology is used. This work connects technology ethics with broader philosophical discussions and provides valuable perspectives on the societal implications of AI. Engaging and accessible, it can serve as an essential resource for scholars, technology-enthusiasts, policymakers, and anyone with an interest in thetransformative potential of AI and its ethical dimensions.

Lost in a Maze? On the Philosophical Problems With Differential and Individual-Level Susceptibility in Research on Media Effects

This paper provides a philosophical discussion of moderators and person-specific differences (referred to as “hedges”) in research on media effects. It is shown that while, historically, the reliance on hedges has been regarded as a sign of theoretical sophistication (the “hedges-as-progress-perspective”), it has left the field behind in a maze of epistemological problems. The paper therefore urges to reinterpret the role of hedges as a sign of theoretical resilience instead of sophistication (the “hedges-as-protection-perspective”). This shift is shown to have substantive implications for how one describes and evaluates media effects research—not just its history, but also its current state and its ambitions going into the future.

Filosofia do desenvolvimento como filosofia dos países subdesenvolvidos

The aim of this paper is to present the philosophy of development as proposed by the Brazilian philosophers Álvaro Vieira Pinto (1909-1987) and Roland Corbisier (1914-2005). Departing from the examination of some of the main texts from those authors, we show that instead of a mere philosophical discourse on development, this proposal constitutes an autonomous philosophical science and that it takes as its main subject the condition of existence of collectivities. From philosophy of development emerges a paradigmatic platform that supports an ethics of development, a politics of development, an education of development, a sociology of underdeveloped countries and others that will be briefly presented, just as some of the main thesis and concepts underlying this science. We conclude indicating some future research lines.

Feminist aesthetics: then and now – reflections on thirty-five years of inquiry in the US tradition

Marking the thirty-fifth anniversary since its emergence in the United States, feminist aesthetics commemorates its significant contributions to feminist philosophical inquiry. This anniversary provides an opportunity to reflect on the field's current status and its potential to further enrich philosophical discourse. This article sets out to (a) synthesise the existing theoretical frameworks within feminist aesthetics, (b) delineate its subject matter and (c) chart the dominant trends and interventions marking feminist engagements with aesthetics. In contemporary feminist debates, aesthetics often occupies a peripheral position, a phenomenon attributed to its perceived detachment from the socio-political core of feminism (Plonowska-Ziarek) and its dismissal as a ‘feminine’ or ‘girly’ discipline (Brand Weiser). This marginalisation is further compounded by critiques of the field's allegedly slow response to the ideas, problems and methodologies present in related domains and broader philosophical inquiry (Eaton). So, despite acknowledging the vital role of aesthetics within feminist philosophy, the articulation of a systematic and coherent feminist aesthetic theory remains elusive. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the most significant and representative positions within feminist aesthetics in the US tradition. The first section introduces the topic of feminist aesthetics. The second section examines feminist interventions in aesthetics, including their evolution towards intersectional and transnational approaches. The challenges of establishing autonomy within and defining feminist aesthetics are discussed in the third, fourth and fifth sections. The sixth section explores the main currents of feminist aesthetics: (a) historical-critical, (b) essentialist (revisionism vs perspectivism), (c) gynocentric and (d) anti-theoretical.

Epistemology of Disagreement: Which Disagreement?

Abstract Far from considering the phenomenon of disagreement across the board, the peer debate in epistemology solely focuses on cases of disagreements that are at least assumed to be genuine. What counts as a genuine disagreement is most of the times kept on the level of a pre-theoretical intuition according to which the peers disagree insofar as they hold incompatible doxastic attitudes with respect to a proposition P (King, 2012). Yet, the pre-theoretical intuition yields the wrong verdict when the bone of contention is a proposition whose truth is relativized. In order to avoid these counter-intuitive results, the peer debate needs to replace the pre-theoretical intuition of genuine disagreement with a full-fledged account of it. In this essay I firstly put forth a possible candidate for the role coming from an ongoing discussion in philosophy of language. Then, I assess how well such an account fares in both an outright and a credal model of belief.

Naturalism Versus Theism In Explaining History

Questioning the ultimate explanation of existence is human nature. However, not all people have the same perspective on this issue. This study deals with naturalism and theism, which are the two opposite poles of humankind's desire to reach the ultimate explanation. There are many contemporary philosophers who defend the superiority of the explanatory power of theism compared to alternative views. The views of these philosophers are generally a continuation of the views before them. The extent to which these theistic defenses, which have only a few original aspects, are truly successful against non-theistic views requires philosophical analysis. Kenneth L. Pearce, who has been frequently mentioned recently in philosophy of religion and has been in discussions with the leading names of atheism, has produced many studies with the idea that he has made positive contributions to theism. Pearce defends this idea with a contemporary version of the contingency argument, a member of the family of cosmological arguments. In this version, the basis of Pearce's argument is the concept of 'History'. History is the total sequence of causes and effects, past, present and future. The question of how theism is more successful than naturalism in explaining History is a subject worth examining. Therefore, this study analyzes philosophically the internal consistency, truth value, validity and persuasive power of the claim that theism explains existence and facts better than naturalism. The analysis shows that Pearce could not defend theism strongly enough against naturalism with the contingency argument. I hope that through this article I can contribute to preventing such weak arguments in favor of theism from becoming more prominent in the coming years. I think that this will contribute to putting forward stronger arguments and thus conducting more meaningful and worthwhile philosophical discussions.