Multiple Positive Solutions of Second-Order Nonlinear Difference Systems with Repulsive Singularities

We study the existence of positive solutions for second-order nonlinear repulsive singular difference systems with periodic boundary conditions. Our nonlinearity may be singular in its dependent variable. The proof of the main result relies on a fixed point theorem in cones and a nonlinear alternative principle of Leray-Schauder; the result is applicable to the case of a weak singularity as well as the case of a strong singularity. An example is given; some recent results in the literature are improved and generalized.

Bioetički aspekti suvremene znanosti

Bioethical aspects of contemporary science. The dissertation presents the results of several years of research on the moral dimension of the system of contemporary science. The dissertation was divided into four main research sections – an introductory section devoted to methodology, and three sections on primary research and content, presented in detail in successive subsections following the problem area of the research sections. The dissertation aimed to explain the system of contemporary science, the elements of its being and the historical context in which the system perpetuates itself, identify and understand possible principles according to which it operates, explain the operational consequences manifested by its moral dimension of agency, and consider the alternative principle by which to orient the scientific enterprise.

Fair Difference of Opportunity

According to Rawls, Fair Equality of Opportunity requires that those who have the same native abilities and motivations have the same chance of securing offices and positions, regardless of their social class of origin, family background or other social circumstances. Despite its name, this principle does not guarantee equal opportunity for everyone because it allows people with various kinds of physical and psychological impairments and diseases to have lower chances at securing those positions once the adverse influences of their social circumstances have been corrected for. Our alternative principle is partially inspired by Rawls’ Difference Principle. What we call Fair Difference of Opportunity says that the default position should be true equality of opportunity, but if there are ways to improve the opportunities of all by allowing more and better opportunities to some, without violating the other principles of justice, then such arrangements would be just. Fair Difference of Opportunity, we argue, is more faithful to Rawls’s basic framework and more friendly to disabled people than Fair Equality of Opportunity.

Periodic solutions for second order damped boundary value problem with nonnegative Green’s functions

In this article, we study the existence of positive periodic solutions of second order damped boundary value problem $u'' + p(t)u'+q(t)u = g(t,u,u')$u″+p(t)u′+q(t)u=g(t,u,u′), $u(0) = u(T )$u(0)=u(T), $u'(0) = u'(T )$u′(0)=u′(T). The main tools are the nonlinear alternative principle of Leray–Schauder and Schauder’s fixed point theorem. We emphasize that the damped term and nonnegative Green’s functions are the key points. We also apply the results to examples for testing. Some recent results in the literature are improved and generalized.

Resource Sovereignty and International Responsibilities

Among the territorial rights states claim is the exclusive right to control, regulate, and manage the natural resources found within their territories, and sometimes to profit from their sale or taxation. This chapter investigates states’ sovereignty claims over natural resources. It defends a resource-sovereignty principle different from the permanent sovereignty doctrine as it exists in international law. The proposed alternative principle is primarily about jurisdiction, not ownership: it is a right to control resource management decisions. By investigating the case of forest conservation, the chapter also argues that in the case of certain global systemic resources, resource sovereignty should be constrained by duties of environmental justice that require cooperation in international institutions.

Optimal policy for multi-alternative decisions

Every-day decisions frequently require choosing among multiple alternatives. Yet, the optimal policy for such decisions is unknown. Here we derive the normative policy for general multi-alternative decisions. This strategy requires evidence accumulation to nonlinear, time-dependent bounds, that trigger choices. A geometric symmetry in those boundaries allows the optimal strategy to be implemented by a simple neural circuit involving a normalization with fixed decision bounds and an urgency signal. The model captures several key features of the response of decision-making neurons as well as the increase in reaction time as a function of the number of alternatives, known as Hick’s law. In addition, we show that, in the presence of divisive normalization and internal variability, our model can account for several so called ‘irrational’ behaviors such as the similarity effect as well as the violation of both the independent irrelevant alternative principle and the regularity principle.

Homo Manifestans or Artistic Interpretation of Social Upheavals at the Beginning of the XXIst Century

The paper analyses the interrelation between different methods of cognition of the modern world and its inward processes, in particular, social upheavals at the beginning of the 21st century which are enquired with varied tools: artistic interpretation, sociological analysis, philosophical insight and historical evaluation. Building on the pictorial suite Mani-Festa by well-known Catalan modern artist Antoni Miró (b. 1944), the paper addresses causes, nature and visible outputs of the global phenomenon named “people on streets” using thoughts, considerations, views and conclusions of such scientists, thinkers, writers and historians as Z. Bauman, L. Donskis, M. Castells, R. de la Calle, M. Shore, R. Dasgupta and others. The analysed Catalan artist reflects in faces of his protagonists the collective image of the struggle for human rights, paraphrasing R.de la Calle. It is a collective image of some spiritual unity which emerges around a common objective uniting people of diverse background, professions, nationalities, age. Analysing the creative interpretation of “social context” by the case of art works of the Catalan painter, Antoni Miró, the author demonstrates how the thoughts, suggestions and conclusions of related disciplines – sociology, philosophy and history, existing in a given social time, are condensed in artistic expressions. And sometimes, it is a work of art or a work of literature that could help to understand better the ongoing processes and phenomena of surrounding world providing deeper, more comprehensive and more emotional vision. Along with mentioned thinkers and writers, the artist puts the question: what would be then, after the building ground, as Z. Bauman coined, has been cleaned. Should it be a new – perhaps, creative – and better solution for the world affirming the “there-is-no-alternative” principle.

A MODEST RESPONSE TO EMPIRICAL SKEPTICISM ABOUT INTUITIONS

In his paper entitled “How to Challenge Intuitions Empirically Without Risking Skepticism,” Jonathan Weinberg challenges the practice of using intuitions to substantiate philosophical theses by appealing to the principle (defended empirically) that we ought to trust only evidence sources that are not “hopeless,” where an evidence source is hopeless when it exhibits “fallibility unmitigated by a decent capacity for detecting and correcting the errors it entails.” Since intuitions are hopeless, they ought not be trusted. I respond by appealing to an alternative principle and defend this alternative by arguing that it explains data regarding the conduct of many our epistemic practices better than Weinberg’s principle of hopefulness.