The World Soul in the Platonic Tradition

This chapter explores Plato’s concept of the world soul and the ways in which the concept was developed by subsequent Platonists over the following millennium. In section 1.1, Plato’s arguments for the existence of the world soul are explored, and some of the tensions and puzzles in Plato’s account(s) are set out. Sections 1.2 and 1.3 examine two different approaches to coming to terms with these tensions, both of which involve moving away from the notion of a single monolithic world soul. Whereas Platonists such as Plutarch of Chaeronea developed a more dualistic conception of the world soul that envisioned a primitive, irrational, and evil soul giving way to the rational cosmic soul (section 1.2), Plotinus proposed a stratified conception of the world soul, with each subsequent stratum engaged in a more derivative form of contemplation than its upper neighbor and involved in a more direct form of administration of the world (section 1.3).

PRINCIPLE OF BEAUTY IN SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE: SOCIOCULTURAL VERSION OF THE GNOSEOLOGICAL APPROACH

The article addresses the problem of the genesis of the beauty principle in scientific cognition from the standpoint of the gnoseological approach supplemented by some conceptual generalizations from the fields of social epistemology and sociology of thinking. The relevance of this approach is due to the critical attitude to gnoseology as a general theory and methodology of science on the part of non-classical epistemology, the history of science and scientific theories of the middle range. An external factor that actualizes the current internal scientific situation is the prolongation of integration processes typical for postmodern culture associated with the search for points of contact between science and art. The article shows that despite the addition of the principle of beauty to the heuristic tools of modern exemplary science, there is an unresolved problem of the genetic relationship between aesthetics and science. This connection was best demonstrated in detail by the example of the similarity and difference between mathematics and music initiated in antique culture and reflecting the love of symmetry and harmony inherent in the Greek worldview. On the other hand, the differences in the perception of works of science and art which are obvious to ordinary consciousness required ancient thinkers to introduce concepts and principles that synthesize different aspects of the manifestations of the useful, true, and beautiful. In this connection, the binary mythopoetic cosmos-chaos opposition, which is found in its direct form in archaic and natural-philosophical cosmologies, is proposed as the historically first form that integrates the complex and contradictory content of the beauty principle. The results of the study lead to the conclusion that only natural philosophical models of the cosmos make a fundamental distinction between the “chaos” of opinions about phenomena and the “cosmos” of the true knowledge about their speculative entities. It is this worldview scheme of a single, conceptually ordered, and therefore truly beautiful world that served as an ideal model for classical European science.

Condiciones formativas y laborales de los profesionales sanitarios en formación de la Región de Murcia.

En este estudio se pretende analizar, por medio de un estudio descriptivo, un análisis de las condiciones laborales del personal sanitario en formación del Servicio Murciano de Salud tras la implantación de las medidas acordadas entre el Comité de Empresa y el Servicio Murciano de Salud (SMS) durante el mes de noviembre de 2020. Para ello, se han recogido un total de 284 respuestas mediante formulario directo incluyendo de forma equitativa residentes de todos los años, especialidades y Áreas dentro del SMS. Una amplia mayoría del personal en formación es conocedor del acuerdo firmado por el que se mejoran sus condiciones laborales. Destaca entre los resultados que una importante mayoría no cuenta con un lugar de descanso adecuado durante las jornadas complementarias conocidas como guardias a pesar del acuerdo firmado, así como tampoco de descanso compensatorio de 36 horas semanales. Existen mejoras poco significativas en temas de investigación, asistencia a cursos y horas de formación autónoma. Conocer la realidad en la que viven los residentes tras la firma del acuerdo sirve de base para garantizar sus derechos, y que los servicios, responsables de docencia y unidades docentes, velen por su cumplimiento y con ello se eviten situaciones como las evidenciadas durante la crisis en la Formación Sanitaria Especializada en la Región de Murcia que condujo a la convocatoria de una huelga. The aim of this study is to analyse, by means of a descriptive study, an analysis of the working conditions of healthcare staff in training in the Murcian Health Service after the implementation of the measures agreed between the Works Committee and the Murcian Health Service (SMS) during the month of November 2020. To this end, a total of 284 responses were collected by means of a direct form including residents of all years, specialities and areas within the SMS. A large majority of trainees are aware of the agreement signed to improve their working conditions. Among the results, it is worth noting that a significant majority do not have an adequate place to rest during the complementary working days known as on call, despite the agreement signed, nor do they have 36 hours of compensatory rest per week. There are insignificant improvements in terms of research, attendance at courses and hours of autonomous training. Knowing the reality in which the residents live after the signing of the agreement serves as a basis for guaranteeing their rights, and for the services, those responsible for teaching and teaching units, to ensure compliance and thus avoid situations such as those seen during the crisis in Specialised Healthcare Training in the Region of Murcia which led to the call for a strike.

New results for the realization of interfered direct-form digital filters with single two's complement nonlinearity

PurposeThis paper deals with the problem of input/output-to-state stability (IOSS) of direct-form digital filters, which simultaneously contain external disturbances and two's complement nonlinearity. The nonlinearity under consideration is confined to the sector [–1, 1], which contains saturation, zeroing, two's complement and triangular.Design/methodology/approachThe proposed condition is based on IOSS approach, which is capable of providing a framework for checking and analysing the stability of nonlinear system based on input as well as output information.FindingsA linear matrix inequality (LMI)-based new sufficient criterion for the IOSS of the suggested system is obtained. The obtained criterion is capable of detecting the output-to-state stability (OSS) and asymptotic stability of direct-form digital filters with zero external disturbances. In addition, state-norm estimator for the filter under consideration is constructed by adopting an exponential-decay IOSS criterion. Several examples are provided to illustrate the usefulness of the proposed criteria.Originality/valueThe result of the paper is introduced for the first time, and it is suitable for stability analysis of interfered direct-form digital filter with two's complement overflow using IOSS approach.

Some Statements Concerning the "Right to be Born"

The paper is devoted to the topical issues related to the implementation of the right of a proto-human (nasciturus, an unborn child) to be born and to the assumptions about the legitimate interests of general and special types consolidated in the legislation of a number of countries (constitutional law, civil law, criminal law). The Russian law protects such interests, at least to some extent, in indirect and direct forms. In the indirect form such interests are protected through the benefits and allowances for pregnant women provided under medical, labor, social security, and family legislation. Motherhood is encouraged through the instruments of financial, tax, housing law, and it is given special protection by criminal and penal legislation. In the direct form interests under consideration are protected through the establishment of opportunities under civil law for inheritance and compensation for the loss of a breadwinner. The author explains the difference between approaches to the problem of a legal status and legal capacity of the nisciturus under foreign and Russian laws. The paper provides for the reflections concerning the right to natural biological origin discussed in the doctrine and adjustment of its elements. Also, the paper examines special rights that, due to their purpose and content, are opposed to the right to be born, namely: the right to terminate pregnancy, the right to sterilization. The author emphasizes that not only the right to be born is limited by the lawmaker for objective and subjective reasons. Separate from this complex of interactions, although in connection with the act of the birth, the author analyzes the circumstances caused by the problem of the birth of a dead child. The author elucidates unsettled regulatory and enforcement decisions associated with the protection of the interests of the parents of such a child. The author focuses on inadmissibility of formal legal application of relevant legislation, on the need for its broad interpretation in favor of humanitarian, fair, ethically balanced enforcement of the right of the individual to private and family life.

Off-Shell Noether Currents and Potentials for First-Order General Relativity

We report off-shell Noether currents obtained from off-shell Noether potentials for first-order general relativity described by n-dimensional Palatini and Holst Lagrangians including the cosmological constant. These off-shell currents and potentials are achieved by using the corresponding Lagrangian and the off-shell Noether identities satisfied by diffeomorphisms generated by arbitrary vector fields, local SO(n) or SO(n−1,1) transformations, ‘improved diffeomorphisms’, and the ‘generalization of local translations’ of the orthonormal frame and the connection. A remarkable aspect of our approach is that we do not use Noether’s theorem in its direct form. By construction, the currents are off-shell conserved and lead naturally to the definition of off-shell Noether charges. We also study what we call the ‘half off-shell’ case for both Palatini and Holst Lagrangians. In particular, we find that the resulting diffeomorphism and local SO(3,1) or SO(4) off-shell Noether currents and potentials for the Holst Lagrangian generically depend on the Immirzi parameter, which holds even in the ‘half off-shell’ and on-shell cases. We also study Killing vector fields in the ‘half off-shell’ and on-shell cases. The current theoretical framework is illustrated for the ‘half off-shell’ case in static spherically symmetric and Friedmann–Lemaitre–Robertson–Walker spacetimes in four dimensions.

Three Theological Objections

The book begins with three very brief chapters that collectively introduce the work as a whole. Chapter 2 discusses three common theological objections to analytic theology: the objections from history, mystery, and practice. The objection from history argues that analytic theology does not take history or historical contingency seriously enough. Sometimes, this objection takes an even more direct form: analytic theologians are simply ignorant of the history of doctrine, and of historical sources more generally. According to the objection from mystery, analytic theology falters because it is not well suited for grappling with the mystery and paradox that lie at the heart of the Christian faith. The objection from practice holds that analytic theology is spiritually sterile and therefore not really a form of genuine theology at all. Although they all have some purchase, these three objections do not finally succeed as objections to analytic theology as such, though they may apply to individual analytic theologians. I outline the argument of Part III, which calls for a more “theological analytic theology,” and defends analytic theology from a nest of connected objections that all concern idolatry.

A highly active CH4 catalyst correlated with solid oxide fuel cell anode performance

Methane catalytic abilities are considered to be an important and direct form of experimental evidence for evaluating the efficacy of MIEC anodes for SOFCs with CH4 as the fuel gas.

THE USE OF SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE IN CRIMINAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE COURT PROCEEDINGS

A correct understanding of special knowledge is an important condition for its application in all necessary cases, due to the need for legal proceedings. Special features that characterize special knowledge are the following: – this knowledge is not generally known, generally available and unit; – a person in the process of theoretical and practical preparation for a specific activity acquires them; – are used not once; – are provided in indirect form, not direct form; – are involved in the process in accordance with the procedure established by law if the participants in the process have a need for this kind of knowledge; – are used in the forms provided for by procedural legislation; – its use is associated with a certain level of education and/or training, as well as professional or other experience; – such knowledge helps to ensure the adoption of a lawful and justified act of the pre-trial investigation bodies and the court as a judicial authority. The basis of special knowledge must necessarily be theoretical, scientific validity. Special knowledge in criminal proceedings is knowledge and skills obtained as a result of special education and/or practical activity in any field of science, technology, art or craft, which are used by the participants in the process determined by the law within the powers granted to each of them to solve procedural tasks according to a certain procedure. Special knowledge is personalized knowledge acquired and assimilated by a specific person in the process of cognitive activity. In addition, the understanding of cognition as an activity to achieve knowledge corresponds to the concept of judicial cognition as a process for the formation of knowledge about the circumstances that are significant for the correct consideration and resolution of the case. The basis for the use of special knowledge is the need for it in order to obtain evidence-based information: 1) by establishing in the process of research facts that cannot be obtained in another way (examination); 2) by using special knowledge to provide advice, clarifications, assistance in formulating questions to an expert or the commission of other procedural actions. Depending on the subject, type of activity and the purpose of its application, procedural and non-procedural forms of using special knowledge are distinguished. Depending on the legal purpose, the distribution of forms of using special knowledge is carried out as follows: if new evidence is formed using special knowledge, this is a procedural form; if special knowledge is used for the internal conviction of the subject of proof, this is a non-procedural form.