Jose Manuel Martinez

Although possible worlds semantics is a powerful tool to represent the semantic properties of natural language sentences, it has been often argued that it is too coarse: with the tools that possible worlds semantics puts at our disposal, any relevant semantic difference has to be a truth conditional difference representable as a difference in intension. A case that raises questions about the ability of possible worlds semantics to make the appropriate discriminations is the distinction between rigidity and direct reference, an issue deeply connected to the representation of the behavior of two operators: ‘dthat’ and ‘actually’. Differences between the mode of operation of ‘dthat’ and ‘actually’ have been observed, but they have not been examined in depth. Our purpose is to explore systematically to what extent the observed differences between the two operators have truth conditional consequences that are formally representable in possible worlds semantics.

Logical localism is a thesis within philosophy of logic according to which the correct logic is dependent on the topic, domain or subject matter of its application. There is a very straightforward problem for anyone defending a localist thesis, a problem that follows from the fact that we reason across domains. This challenge is known as the problem of mixed inferences. The problem is, very roughly, the following: suppose that there are at least two components, within the premises or conclusion of an argument, belonging to domains governed by different logics. Then, which is the criterion of validity for the mixed argument? Our aim is to offer an answer to this question and, more concretely, a way out to the dilemma that Chase Wrenn has raised in his analysis of the problem of mixed inferences. We will use Joshua Schechter’s method of combining logics, juxtaposition, as the criterion of validity for mixed inferences. After exploring its virtues and possible shortcomings, we argue that juxtaposition is a first step towards a fully-fledged solution, but already a promising way out of the dilemma posed by Wrenn.

The Liar Paradox is a classic argument that creates a contradiction by reflection on a sentence that attributes falsity to itself: ‘this sentence is false’. In our paper we will discuss the ways in which the Liar sentence (and its paradoxical argument) can be represented in first-order logic. The key to the representation is to use first-order logic to model a self-referential language. We will also discuss several related sentences, like the Liar cycles, the empirical versions of the Liar and the Truth teller sentences.

Here, I first prove that certain families of k-valued clones have the Gupta-Belnap fixed-point property. This essentially means that all propositional languages that are interpreted with operators belonging to those clones are such that any net of self-referential sentences in the language can be consistently evaluated. I then focus on two four-valued generalisations of the Kleene propositional operators that generalise the strong and weak Kleene operators: Belnap’s clone and Fitting’s clone, respectively. I apply the theorems from the initial part of the paper to analyse the fixed-point property of Belnap’s and Fitting’s clones when some special operators that reflect the semantics are added. The conclusion of the paper is that Fitting’s clone is better suited than Belnap’s to provide self-referential languages with highly expressive resources.

Nicholas of Cusa wrote two sets of glosses that comment on important themes of Alkoranus Latinus, the first Latin translation of the Qur'an done by Robert of Ketton in the year 1143 in the Iberian Peninsula. The first group of glosses, used to write De pace fidei in 1453, are found in the Bernkastel-Kues Bibliothek, manuscript Kues 108. The second set of glosses, recently identified in manuscript 4071 of the Vatican Library, and used to write Cribratio Alkorani in 1462, presents extensive doctrinal treatises on Quranic subjects. We find, among others, the consideration of the necessity of the death of Christ for the redemption of the human race.

Three-valued logics are standardly used to formalize gappy languages, i.e., interpreted languages in which sentences can be true, false or neither. A three-valued logic that assigns the same truth value to all gappy sentences is, in our view, insufficient to capture important semantic differences between them. In this paper we will argue that there are two different kinds of pathologies that should be treated separately and we defend the usefulness of a four-valued logic to represent adequately these two types of gappy sentences. Our purpose is to begin the formal exploration of the four-valued logics that could be used to represent the phenomena in question and to show that these phenomena are present in natural language, at least according to some semantic theories of natural language.

Las primeras muestras de poesía hebrea andalusí inspiradas en la métrica y figuras árabes datadas a mediados del siglo X en Córdoba adoptan la forma de musammaṭ. El musammaṭ hebreo presenta juegos estróficos y modificaciones métricas que, en realidad, no son aceptadas en la poesía hebrea inspirada en la métrica árabe clásica. Estas desviaciones se producen en toda la tradición literaria judía andalusí (siglos X-XII). En este artículo se han seleccionado y analizado varias muestras de musammaṭ hebreos que reflejan este uso y, además, al contener un acróstico nos permiten identificar a su autor y época. Con ello, se intenta arrojar luz sobre dos premisas aceptadas actualmente. La primera postula que el estrofismo de la poesía andalusí tiene su origen en el musammaṭ y, la segunda, que en la poesía hebrea andalusí se dan dos modelos métricos: el cuantitativo y el silábico.

La comunicación religiosa a través de los medios tiene problemas. El mensaje cristiano mediático no está llegando al público. Estos problemas levantan interrogantes: ¿Cómo debe ser el comunicador cristiano? ¿Cuáles deben ser sus características? ¿Qué motivaciones debe tener? ¿Qué vida interior debe tener para que pueda comunicar eficazmente? Aquí se presenta la espiritualidad como algo que debe impregnar toda la misión de comunicador. Ella es elemento fundamental de la comunicación cristiana y el alma del comunicador cristiano. No puede haber una dicotomía entre la profesión de comunicador y su vida interior. Ambas deben enriquecerse e integrarse mutuamente. Primero se explicará lo que se entiende por 'espiritualidad' en general, sus características, el contexto en que se halla la espiritualidad latinoamericana y la necesidad que el comunicador cristiano tiene de desarrollar su propia espiritualidad. Después se buscarán los elementos teológicos en que se basa la espiritualidad del comunicador. Se verán el camino espiritual del comunicador y las características más concretas de la espiritualidad del comunicador cristiano. Se indicarán las tentaciones más comunes en el comunicador cristiano: expresarse de una forma conceptual; priorizar la técnica y el lenguaje mediático sobre el contenido ; la prisa por comunicar y el abandono de los símbolos sacramentales. Ellas obligan a buscar las prioridades espirituales del comunicador cristiano, que le permitan hacer un discernimiento. Estas son: el comunicador debe ser santo, evangelizador y profesional. Finalmente se especificará cómo la espiritualidad del comunicador cristiano se da en la práctica. Se señalan sus indicadores, sus virtudes, las palabras claves de la espiritualidad del comunicador y los niveles del profesional comunicador cristiano.

The goal of this paper is to present Yabloesque versions of Grelling’s and Zwicker’s paradoxes concerning the notions of “heterological” and “hypergame” respectively. We will offer counterparts of these paradoxes that do not seem to involve self-reference or vicious circularity.El objetivo de este artículo es ofrecer versiones de las paradojas de Grelling y de Zwicker inspiradas en la paradoja de Yablo. Nuestras versiones de estas paradojas no parecen involucrar ni autorreferencia ni circularidad viciosa.

The present study aims to verify the psychometric properties of the Spanish versions of the Social Roles Questionnaire (SRQ; Baber & Tucker, 2006), Modern Sexism scale (MS) and Old-fashioned Sexism scale (OFS; Swim et al. Swim & Cohen, 1997). Enough support was found to maintain the original factor structure of all instruments in their Spanish version. Differences between men and women in the scores are commented on, mainly because certain sexist attitudes have been overcome with greater success in the current Spanish society, while other issues, such as distribution of power in organizational hierarchies or distribution of tasks in the household, where traditional unequal positions are still maintained. In all cases, it was found that men showed greater support for sexist attitudes. The correlations between the three instruments were as expected in assessing sexist attitudes that tend to relate to each other. Eventually, we found no empirical evidence for the postulated link between sexist attitudes and traditional gender stereotypes. Our results call for the validity and effectiveness of the classic theories of gender psychology, such as gender schema theories (Well, 1981; Markus et al., 1982) and the notion of a gender belief system (Deaux & Kite, 1987; 2001).

The self- vs. external-regulation behavior theory, SR-ER Theory model has postulated the Self-Regulation /Non or De-Regulation/Dys-regulation continuum in the person and in their context. The model also generates a behavioral heuristic that allows us to predict and explain the variability of other dependent behavioral variables in a range of scenarios. Consequently, the objective of this study was to validate the different scales prepared on the basis of the theory presented. A total of 469 students voluntarily completed at different times the five questionnaires presented, to give a total of 1,385 completed questionnaires. Using an ex post facto design, descriptive, correlational, confirmatory factorial analysis, reliability, and concurrent validity analyses were carried out. The scales were analyzed individually and as a whole. The results showed the acceptable structure of scale and consistent levels of reliability. The five levels generated by the SR-NR-DR combinatory heuristic that arises from the theoretical model determined significant differences in the levels of the variables analyzed for each psychological context. We discuss the theoretical implications and the implications for the assessment and improvement of the behaviors analyzed in function of the personal and contextual regulation levels evaluated.

Since the mid-20th century, the study of Self-Regulated Learning has aimed to identify the distinctive characteristics that enable individuals to acquire new knowledge and skills under their control. The theory of Internal Self-Regulation vs. External-Regulation in Learning has postulated that a large number of self-regulatory variables are mediated by regulated/non-regulated or dysregulated features of the context. After signing their informed consent, a total of 616 university students completed validated instruments of SRL vs. ERL, behavioral regulation, regulatory teaching, and metacognitive study control strategies. Using an ex-post facto design and correlation, regression, structural equation model and mediation analyses, the present research aimed to establish multicausal predictive relationships among the analyzed variables. Results indicated positive predictive effects between the external regulation variables on the self-regulation variables in learning [regulation /non-regulation /dysregulation ]; as well as positive predictive effects between SRL on SRB, RT and metacognitive SRS. Additionally, external regulation not only predicted but mediated numerous relations among the variables studied. Other findings and important considerations for future research in the field of self-regulation are discussed.

The aim of this research was to establish linear relations (association and prediction) and inferential relations between three constructs at different levels of psychological research –executive dysfunction(microanalysis),self-regulation(molecular level), andself-vs.external regulation(molar level), in the prediction of emotion regulation difficulties. We hypothesized that personal and contextual regulatory factors would be negatively related to levels of executive dysfunction and emotion regulation difficulties; by way of complement, non-regulatory and dysregulatory personal, and contextual factors would be positively related to these same difficulties. To establish relationships, we used a retrospective,ex postfacto design, where 298 university students voluntarily participated by completing standardized self-reports. Linear and structural correlational, predictive analyses were performed, as well as inferential analyses. Results were consistent and validated the proposed hypotheses, for both association and prediction. The most important result refers to the discriminant value of the five-level combination heuristic for predicting Executive Function and External (contextual) Dys-Regulation. In conclusion: (1) both personal and contextual regulation factors must be analyzed in order to better understand the variation in executive functions and emotion regulation difficulties; (2) it is important to continue connecting the different levels of the constructs referring to self-regulation, given their complementary role in the behavioral analysis of regulation difficulties.

El éxodo de más de 5,6 millones de venezolanos representa un fenómeno migratorio con múltiples facetas, cada una merecedora de atento análisis y profundización. Ante la dimensión del movimiento de millones de seres humanos, se corre el riesgo de subestimar tragedias que ocurren dentro del drama migratorio. Una de ellas, es el exilio de científicos y académicos. Bajo esta perspectiva, la investigación tiene como objetivo general mostrar la banalización frente al riesgo de pérdida de talento y avance científico de países en vías de desarrollo. Tomamos como objeto de estudio el caso de la Diáspora Científica Venezolana. Se abordan de forma multidisciplinar tres ejes temáticos: 1) Causas y consecuencias de la Ciencia en Riesgo, 2) Instrumentalización de la Ciencia en Riesgo y 3) Efectividad de programas dirigidos a científicos en riesgo. El primer eje temático, está fundamentado en analizar las causas y consecuencias de la Diáspora científica venezolana, centrándonos en los estudios realizados, desde el ámbito sociológico, de Iván de la Vega, Francisco Kerdel-Vegas y Tomás Páez. El segundo eje establece, desde el marco filosófico habermasiano-marcusiano, la conveniente preservación del statu quo de la Ciencia en riesgo, a través de instrumentalización y unidimensionalidad del quehacer científico en países en vías de desarrollo por parte de programas internacionales financiados por organismos privados y gubernamentales. El tercer y último enfoque tiene como punto de partida la situación actual de la diáspora científica y la exposición de soluciones eficaces que rompan la inercia presente, enmarcando las ideas dentro de la actual crisis de la posmodernidad. Palabras Claves: diáspora venezolana, instrumentalización, ciencia, riesgo.

Desentrañar el misterio del Verbo Encarnado tiene que ser el estímulo de todo teólogo en su quehacer académico independientemente de cuál sea la rama de la teología en la que se circunscriba. La moral durante un larguísimo período de tiempo ha mantenido en el ostracismo el evento Cristo desencarnándose de una sana antropología que permitiera la confección de un marco teórico que sirviera como sostén de los postulados éticos que deben regir el perfeccionamiento en la vida del creyente. Lo que se pretende en este estudio es explicar los motivos por los cuales la teología moral ha adolecido de esto así como el proceso de renovación a través del cual la cristología se ha ido incluyendo en la reflexión de la ética cristiana.