Conocimiento y Acción is a peer-reviewed electronic journal for scholars in the humanities. It publishes biannual theoretical articles, essays and reviews on the various social, literary and philosophical disciplines that contribute to a broad and universal understanding of the human being.
Logical essentialism in Aristotelian zoology?
In this work is exposed the genus-subject of the three major zoological Works of Aristotle (Historia Animalium, De Partibus Animalium and De Generatione Animalium), that is, the homogeneous and heterogeneous parts of animals and its mutual relationship, and not the immutable “essences” of animals. Parts of animals are the genus-subject and first criteria of the order of books and chapters of Aristotelian zoological works. The study of nature and tò tí en eînai corresponds to philosophy of nature and metaphysics.
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Entrevista a la Dra. Virgina Aspe Armella
I arrived at the library a few minutes early. The cubicle I was looking for has a somewhat labyrinthine access, characteristic of the history of the building that houses it. Upon arriving at the location, Dr. Aspe was at work. She was writing swiftly, with that clear and expansive handwriting I am well acquainted with. I decided to wait until the exact time to avoid interrupting her. One can recognize when the mind is progressing, and it would be an offense to disrupt such a process. When the time arrived, I peeked in again and noticed that she was on the phone, but I wanted to let her know that I was there, so I took the liberty of knocking on the door. She soon finished her conversation and invited me in. She has a light table, and as she greeted me, she cleared the space so that we could work together. This generous gesture, which invites collaboration and collective construction. I showed her the recorder I had brought for the meeting, which would allow us to engage in dialogue freely (despite what Walter Benjamin may argue). There is something intransferable about the encounter, shaped by respect and proximity.
The “practical truth” in the mythical accounts of the Platonic educational model of the Republic
Scholars of Platonic thought agree in locating the conceptualization of practical or normative truth in books II and III of the Republic, where Plato develops the critique of the mythical-poetic educational paradigm. The Platonic educational model is based on a reworking of traditional paideia: for the formation of citizens, false myths are used which, nevertheless, contain some truth. There Plato does not criticize the factual falsity of poetry but its moral falsity, that is, the composition of false images about the gods and virtue, since they incorrectly shape the souls of those being educated. From this perspective, what distinguishes the mythical accounts of the poets and those advocated by Plato is not their factual truth, but their “practical” truth. In this paper I address the debate around the meaning of pseûdos in the passages in which Plato criticizes traditional poetry and conceptualizes myths as a pedagogical tool in order to elucidate the specificity of the truth of this particular class of discourses.
The Virgen de los Pañuelos and Santa María de La Pampa as variants of the Marian sensorium: from medieval miracles to local religious peculiarities
Recent theoretical and critical contributions have detected the validity, despite the distinctive nuances, of certain sensory systems throughout history. One of them is the one formed around the figure and symbolism of the Virgin Mary, which can be traced in various manifestations from Antiquity to the present day. The investigations into this sensory phenomenon underline, among other aspects, the magnitude and intensity of Mary’s sensitive closeness, which makes her humankind’s mother not only for dogmatic or theological reasons but fundamentally for her physical, sensorial and emotional proximity to contain devotees and be the effective channel of all graces. In this framework, this paper analyses and compares the significance and symbolic valuation, associated with history, territory and Marian tradition, of two religious practices that correspond to the devotional sensorium and the hagiosensorium, respectively: the Virgen de los Pañuelos, whose place of pilgrimage is located in Sierras de los Padres, 30 km far from Mar del Plata, and Santa María de La Pampa, whose chapel belongs to the Monasterio de las Hermanas Carmelitas Descalzas in the northeast of Santa Rosa, both sanctuaries situated in the Argentine Republic. The aim is to identify and examine the aspects through which these invocations link the space and votive objects with regional history and personal experience, as well as to record the possible similarities between medieval religious sensoriality and the one closest to us in time and space.
Being-in-Relation. The Anthropology of Joseph Ratzinger
The personalism and spiritualism of Augustine of Hippo constitute one of the most important intellectual influences on Joseph Ratzinger, at the same time as he sought to maintain a dialogue with the ethical and metaphysical thought underlying Christianity. This absence of the personal dimension constituted a difficulty—at least theoretically—in harmonizing with Thomistic and scholastic thought. Personalism thus constitutes one of the presuppositions of Ratzinger’s thought, as we will see in these pages..
Metaphysical transcendentals, teleology and vulnerability: anthropological complementarity of two versions of the vital unity of the ends of human action
The purpose of this article is to explore the complementarity of two contemporary narrative proposals on human life and action, through the idea of “bodily vulnerability”. On the one hand, we find the proposals of Hans Urs von Balthasar on the polarities spirit-body, man-woman, and individual-community and their possible metaphysical and anthropological unity. On the other hand, we present the approaches of the moral philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre that are developed from teleology, within the framework of the natural ends that provide the vulnerability and dependence of the human being. Thus, in the first section we analyze the ideas of the Swiss theologian on the indicated polarities, in the metaphysical context that he himself proposes following Thomas Aquinas, and within his vision of the drama of human life in its relationship with God. Subsequently, following MacIntyre’s Thomistic approaches, we consider the problems of the dialectic of modernity in order to adequately understand the integration of such polarities in the human life narrative, especially within the framework of a teleology embedded in bodily vulnerability. Finally, we carry out a description of each anthropological polarity and present, schematically, some conclusions, which highlight the ethical problems that arise for the unitary understanding of the human narrative when its vulnerability is not adequately taken into account.
Are indigenous people legitimate communities? A reflection from contemporary political philosophy due to the constitutional changes of 2024
The following article addresses the way in which the definition of the term “indigenous people” presents a striking ambiguity, and this generates diverse political, legal and cultural implications throughout Mexican territory. This can make it difficult to guarantee the human rights of specific peoples, especially the right to autonomy and self-determination. Therefore, based on thinkers who have reflected on our country, as well as other authors of communitarian or liberal tradition, this text explores the challenge implied by the absence of a strategy that legally recognizes communities, legitimate political entities that have specific rights. In this sense, the main objective of the article is to contribute to clarifying the concept of “indigenous people” within a contemporary philosophical debate, promoting intercultural justice that ensures the rights of indigenous peoples in Mexico.
Return to the person: a familial and domestic being. A reflection in light of the thought of Rafael Alvira (1942–2024)
This paper examines the familial and domestic dimensions of the human person through Rafael Alvira’s (1942-2024) philosophy and the Social Doctrine of the Church. It highlights the family as the foundation of society and its role in shaping corporate culture. The study advocates for businesses to prioritize human dignity by integrating work with familial well-being, promoting environments that support personal and professional growth while advancing the common good. This approach redefines work as a means to achieve spiritual and material prosperity.
Identity and Recognition: an approach from the bioecological and intersectional approach
The present work has as a transversal axis the theme/problem of identity construction and recognition. Given the epistemological, ethical and political dimensions involved in the process of identity construction and recognition, firstly, Urie Bronfrenbrenner’s bioecological approach is presented followed by Kimberlé Crenshaw’s intersectional approach. Under the conviction that it is increasingly necessary to explore approaches and conceptual frameworks in order to share a theoretical and methodological support to address and elucidate, in this case, the process of identity construction, what is intended is that both approaches help us to visualize the complexity of the “problematic presentiality of the subject of identity” in and from the sociocultural dynamics, from which some of the relevant conceptions on identity and recognition are developed in authors such as Larraín, Honneth and Taylor. Finally, from these conceptions, some guidelines are proposed that can be applied in a specific educational environment such as the School Councils, instances demanded by law in their constitution for every educational community in Chile and that constitute an opportunity and propitious space to generate and put into practice the recognition of the particular identities of all the strata and actors of an educational community.
Druille, Paula & Pérez, Laura (Eds). Filón de Alejandría en clave contemporánea. Buenos Aires: Miño y Dávila Editores, 2023, 292 pp. ISBN: 978-84-18929-87-8
Review of the book Filón de Alejandría en clave contemporánea, an important contribution to Philonic studies in recent years.
The Right to Education in Mexico. A Philosophical Assessment of its Foundations and Achievements
The objective of this article is to study the right to education in order to identify the criteria that allow defining the terms of its fulfillment. Through a hermeneutic interpretation of Article 3 of the Constitution, the contrast that exists between the public administration of education and the final meaning towards which the exercise of a quality education aims. We will note that full compliance with this human right implies the satisfaction of three dimensions: material, human and pedagogical. The general results achieved are: 1) there is a specific definition of education as a fundamental right in our constitution, 2) the principles and approaches that are established do not sufficiently consider principles such as pedagogical ones, 3) to a large extent this absence of such criteria is reflected in the poor performance in international tests. Our proposal is to promote a principle of constitutional progressivity to Art. 3°, to guarantee a better fulfillment of the right to education.
"NursiVocation, identity and work in nursing: the balance between the internal goods of the profession and the demands of the practice environmentng as a Vocational Profession: Influence of the Professional Practice Environment on the Nurse-Patient Interpersonal Relationship"
Nursing, as a vocational profession, is defined by a deep commitment to patient well-being, driven by ethical and human principles. However, in current healthcare settings, organizational demands can conflict with the internal values that guide the profession, such as person-centred care and the building of authentic relationships with patients. This tension between professional vocation and the conditions of the practice environment can lead to a disconnection that affects both the well-being of nurses and the quality of care they provide. Factors such as lack of time, workload overload, and a high nurse-patient “ratio” make it difficult for nurses to fully exercise their vocation, contributing to increased moral distress and burnout. An appropriate balance between the internal goods of the profession and the demands of the practice environment, one that values the professionals’ vocation and promotes autonomy, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a culture of care, can mitigate burnout and foster nurse engagement. For this to happen, healthcare organizations must adapt their organizational structures to the characteristics of nurses’ professional identity, ensuring that they can fulfil their internal aims.
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Self-consumption as despair: Kierkegaard’s possible critique of Stirner’s existential program
The relationship between Kierkegaard and Stirner is a largely overlooked topic in academic discourse. Both thinkers were part of the broader philosophical revolution that arose from the perceived limitations of the German idealist paradigm. Their respective concepts of “Single One” (Enkelte, Kierkegaard) and “Unique” (Einzige, Stirner) represent a challenge to the socio-political status quo and a rejection of the metaphysical tradition. The objective of the present article is to evaluate the Stirnerian existential project (the identity between self-enjoyment and self-consumption) in the framework of the Kierkegaardian analysis of despair.
The role of Saint Meliton’s mother in the martyrdom of the XL Martyrs of Sebaste (4th Century)
In this article we propose to analyse the case of the XL Martyrs of Sebaste (†320) and the attitude of Meliton’s mother, who encourages the youngest of the forty condemned, to continue the torture and to die with his comrades. She takes him on her back to the cart that carries the lying bodies of the martyrs to the pyre where they would be cremated. The hypothesis is that this mother, like the Virgin Mary, like the mother of the Maccabees in the Old Testament, accepts her son´s sacrifice and engages herself in body and soul to execute a purpose beyond her understanding. Her acceptance is orientated to the redemption of humanity, and with this decision, she recognizes that her social or communitarian purpose is above any particular interest. The primary sources considered to establish this feminine intervention in the sequence of the martyrdom are the Homily of St. Basil (P.G. XXXI) and the two Homilies of his brother, St. Gregory of Nyssa (P.G. XLVI), based on the Passio XL Martyrium (BHG 1201) of the 4th century. We will mention iconographic sources that show the presence of Meliton’s mother: a painting from the Chapel of the XL Martyrs in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem (9th c.?); an illumination from Vincent de Beauvais’ Speculum Historiale (French translation Miroir Historial by Jean de Vignay, ca. 1459-1463); and a tempera on wood from the School of Aleppo (1637). The study of the artistic representations of martyrdom is fundamental for understanding this hagiographic passage that prioritizes maternal protagonism in the ultimate experience of the saint.
Vocational health professions entail a risk to the emotional stability of their workers. Day-to-day interaction with people with physical and mental health problems entails a series of added demands that are not found in other professions. In this sense, medical practice can be especially vulnerable because of its close and permanent contact with the existential drama of the patient, which opens the door to uncertainty, guilt, ethical dilemmas, and other emotional destabilizers. However, developing a humane and patient-centered professional identity, in addition to providing excellent clinical intervention, can help us prevent many of these risks. A committed medical identity should optimize the good of the patient in the face of the progressive process of dehumanization. The doctor-patient relationship, the core of medical action, is a personal relationship (the doctor as a caregiver referent) that is dangerously drifting towards a contractual relationship (the doctor as a mere dispenser of services). The medical identity should add a plus of humanity to that special relationship of help and dependence characteristic of the doctor-patient relationship. A relationship based on understanding and acceptance of the patient’s vulnerability, mutual trust and the professional’s personal commitment to the good of the patient can also improve us as persons and favor the intimate development of the most human values. Reflection is the key to developing these values and acquiring tools that allow us to achieve the most human medical identity.
The union of egoists against the domination of the Sacred: an interpretation of the notion of community in Max Stirner
This work aims to propose a reading of the notion of community in a Stirnerian key. The objective will not only be to carry out an exegesis of the primary sources, but to reconceptualize this central notion for contemporary political philosophy in the light of Max Stirner’s theory. In this sense, the hermeneutical key of the text is to dispute the meaning of the word “community” dispute with mainstream political theory. For this, I will trace and analyze Sitirner’s references to what he calls “the union of egoists” (Verein von Egoisten) in his writings. Then, using the vocabulary of contemporary political philosophy, I will try to outline the main characteristics of this idea of association. Finally, I will provide some arguments in favor of the hypothesis that will guide this writting, namely: the critique of the Sacred in Stirner’s theory constitutes a critique of domination. The domination of the Sacred can only be overcome through egoism. Far from this being a call to isolation or segregation, alliances between egoistics multiply the means of action of each one, favoring the liberation of all of them. Thus, the union of egoists not only harbors a new germ of community political praxis, but the individual/community binomial is reconfigured, overcoming the traditional contrast between the atomic individual of liberalism and traditional communitarianism. Just as the notion of individualism acquires a new meaning in Stirner, so do the links that constitute the community.
The critical reception of Hegelian philosophy. The materialism of Ludwig Feuerbach and Karl Marx
This text has the following structure: first, a general portrait of Hegelian philosophy is presented to lay the groundwork for the analysis. Then, Feuerbach’s critical reception of Hegel is presented, particularly highlighting the elaboration of his anthropological project. Third, Marx’s materialist critique is established as the foundation and relation of his position on Hegel and Feuerbach. Finally, some arguments are offered to postulate the materialism of Feuerbach and Marx as a concrete philosophy that considers the human being as the object of its analysis and as the beginning and end of all philosophical reflection.
Papal Power from the Origins to the Middle Ages: The Contribution of Thomas Aquinas
Throughout the history of Christianity it was never easy to find the balance between temporal power and spiritual power. What are the limits of both powers? From the begging to the Middle Ages there is a doctrinal development aimed at clarifying the scope of Rapal power. Thomas Aquinas is no stranger to the argument and contributes his doctrinal balance to this topic as well.
Is my profession vocational? Contributions from psychology to understand the relationship between profession and identity
This article seeks to answer the question of what defines a vocational profession, or more specifically, what psychology refers to when applying the adjective ‘vocational’ to the process of choosing a profession. First, a brief overview of the main psychological theories on identity and career choice will be presented. In these theories, the term ‘vocational’ denotes a fit between the person (individual interests and abilities) and the environment (the work setting and the skills required within it). Second, it will be shown that the moral aspect is a largely understudied feature in career choice and development theories. Moral aspect is understood as the motivation to practice the profession with a prosocial orientation (caring for and attending to people). This article suggests that the relationship between vocational fit and moral motivation in professional practice offers interesting possibilities for empirical research.
Professional identity and organizational identity in the “Care professions”
Identity is a central element used to define the individual and help them position themselves in relation to others. It is a subjective psychological experience influenced by internal and external factors. In the field of caregiving, the distinction between ‘profession’ and ‘professional’ is significant, with the latter being more inclusive by considering any worker who performs their duties with knowledge and skill, regardless of their qualification level. For professional identity to have its optimal effect on commitment and performance among care professionals, it should be maintained within a moderate range. Since much of caregiving is provided within or through an organization, professional and organizational identities should ideally complement each other. Professional identity encompasses the values, beliefs, skills, and behaviors associated with a specific profession, while organizational identity focuses on the values and beliefs that define and differentiate an organization from others. However, as we tend to identify more easily with groups where we spend more time and work more directly, conflicts between these two identities can arise. Therefore, it is important to establish strategies to align professional and organizational identities. Strengthening organizational identity, facilitating professional identity, and promoting a dual identity are strategies that, when applied simultaneously, contribute to both professional and organizational identification. These strategies allow employees to integrate and balance both identities, reducing conflicts and enhancing their commitment to the organization.
Artificial intelligence (AI) and concept production in Saint Thomas Aquinas
The term artificial intelligence (AI) has been used to refer to a technology that is capable of imitating the cognitive operations of humans through the use of computer systems and computer programs. However, it is important to study whether it is correct to use the term intelligence for this digital technology. To achieve this objective, we consider it appropriate to take advantage of the analysis of the process of abstraction and production of concepts posited by Saint Thomas Aquinas, which allows us to know the nature of human intelligence and compare it with the processes of (AI). Saint Thomas masterfully synthesizes classical and Western Christian thought, offering epistemological foundations that we can use to evaluate what has been called artificial intelligence in light of the first operation of the human mind, which is simple apprehension or abstraction.
Nieto Ibáñez, Jesús M., & Torres Prieto, Juana M. (Eds.). Historia de la literatura cristiana en la Antigüedad. Madrid: Ciudad Nueva, 2024, 682 pp. ISBN: 978-84-9715-577-9
Dos reputados catedráticos, Jesús Nieto Ibáñez por la Universidad de Valladolid y Juana Torres Prieto por la Universidad de Cantabria son los editores responsables de un manual, que, por su temática, se echaba en falta en el ámbito académico hispanoamericano. Se trata de un texto organizado en tres núcleos: a) De los orígenes al siglo III; b) De Constantino al siglo III y c) La época de la separación entre Oriente y Occidente (ss. V y VI).
Fazio, Mariano. Kierkegaard. Una introducción. Madrid: Ediciones Rialp, 2023, 196 pp. ISBN: 978-84-321-6511-5
A review is expected to have at least two tenses: a descriptive one and a pondering one (this will not be the exception), only that we will present the latter in two moments, opening and closing; this is due to the characteristics of the author in question, Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855), which leads Mariano Fazio (hereinafter, the A.) to pose, from the beginning, the challenge that every reader of the Socrates of the North must face. So, the basic question: why should we read this Introduction? Fundamentally, because it is a claim to the Christian condition, in the midst of the paradoxes and challenges of the present; the questions and reflections made in 19th century Denmark continue to seriously challenge us and the A. places one of them, the most important, immediately and also in a challenging way: “Is there anyone who lives his Christian faith with coherence?” (p. 12). The question strikes at the heart of the believer, because it brings into play the connection between our words, our habits and the way we relate to one another. For this reason, the coherence of the Christian is not something already given, with the exception of the saints, but a continuous becoming, that is, a maturing, which entails the idea of process, but not necessarily of progress, because, in fact, we ordinary believers come and go in the midst of our contradictions, in our journey of encounter with Christ or life of faith. This is, for me, the core of the invitation of this book. And it invites us through a Lutheran theologian, Kierkegaard, who raises the complex nature of faith and life; and he does so with such depth that it is not necessary to agree with him on everything, because only depth allows us to dissent and to encounter the clarity of our own ideas. In the words of A.: “We think that an examination of conscience about our times is worthwhile, as Kierkegaard would undoubtedly have recommended to us if he lived at the dawn of the third millennium” (p. 12).
Broadening social awareness of environmental issues. Analysis of the images of Greenpeace Mexico’s Plastics Campaign
In this work, an analysis is conducted on the images disseminated by Greenpeace México through their Facebook profile in their campaign against plastics, employing the methodological elements of visual semiotics. The results of the study allow us to determine that the images serve to give social meaning to the organization’s cause and achieve the participation of citizens, government, and companies. They make certain commercial brands visible as the culprits of plastic pollution, highlight aquatic species and the ocean as the most affected by excessive use of plastics by humans. All these elements lend legitimacy to their Facebook campaign, with the image being a means through which they showcase one or the most serious environmental issues currently existing worldwide. It plays a strategic role in raising awareness among the population, maintaining a presence in the public scene, and gathering funds.
Power and political nature: the case of Covid-19
The article reflects on the political nature of man and his relationship with political power, in some of its different facets, placing it in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, the health measures taken, and the subsequent return to the “new normal” to point out how, despite the attempts of objectified power to expand, human freedom always resurfaces, limiting the advances of political control. It is argued that human beings are inherently political, seeking to live in community and to develop fully in it. Based on Byung-Chul Han, José Antonio Marina and Michel Foucault, power is defined as the capacity to convert individual or collective projects into reality, while objectified power (a concept borrowed from Bertrand de Jouvenel, although he calls it Power) is presented as an autonomous entity that seeks to expand and perpetuate itself through the apparatus of government. The Foucauldian concept of biopower is introduced, as the capacity of power to control and regulate individual bodies and the population as a whole. It is discussed why objectified power relinquished total control over bodies during the pandemic, arguing that the political nature of man and resistance to extreme measures of control, along with negative economic repercussions and popular discontent, led it to retreat. He warns of the possibility that objectified power will seek to establish more subtle but equally effective forms of control in the future, taking advantage of the population’s lack of political awareness.
Quentin Tarantino’s Hollywood. Analysis of False Intertextuality in Pulp Fiction, Inglourious Basterds and Once Upon a Time in…Hollywood
Throughout history, literature has offered significant practical and theoretical possibilities to cinema. In relation with the last one, the theory of transtextuality, developed by Gerard Genette, has gained great relevance for the study of films and series, due to the extensive number of quotes and allusions from movies within others. This led film theorists Robert Stam, Robert Burgoyne and Sandy Flitterman-Lewis to develop additionally five transtextual relationships designed expressly for cinema. Currently, filmmaker Quentin Tarantino is the one who uses most transtextuals forms in his filmography, as part of his authorial style; he has even created fake films and tv series that only exist within fis filmography, which can be analyzed as another form of transtextuality. Therefore, we will use the notion of false intertextuality, by Stam, Burgoyne and Flitterman-Lewis, to study these cases of false films and series created by Tarantino and the various narrative and stylistic purposes that they have within his filmography.
The metaphysics of the “poetic activity” of Saint Thomas in Osvaldo Lira
In the present work, we want to explain how Osvaldo Lira’s doctrine about “poetic activity” finds a solid foundation in the Metaphysics of Saint Thomas Aquinas. At the same time, we want to point out how, for the sake of the internal coherence of the system, it would be preferable not to interpret –as Lira does– the person in the manner of Thomas Cajetan, who ends up reducing the person to the order of substantial nature, but rather as a way of a personal entity, whose formal constituent is the act of esse, as proposed by Eudaldo Forment.
Predestination and reprobation in St. Thomas
In philosophy and theology, all questions regarding divine predestination are among the most difficult. The solution of Saint Thomas, which is considered based on those off Saint Augustine and Saint Damascene, provides a rational, coherent and satisfactory answer, but without completely revealing the mystery. For its proper understanding it is necessary to take into account Saint Thomas’ conception of freedom and grace, as expounded by him himself.
Lives matter: notes on the relevance of prosopography in Mexican regional history
The prosopographical method has been fundamental in the discipline of history, making it possible to identify important sectors, elites or social groups in reconstructions of the past. This approach has evolved within this disciplinary field, from political history to social history and other areas within the broad scenario of the social sciences and humanities. In this sense, the purpose of this paper is to analyse the possibilities of this methodology for history and, through the analysis of two key works, to identify its functionality for future research, especially in the field of regional history.
Cruz Prados, Alfredo. El sentido de la moral. Saber querer lo que en verdad se quiere. Pamplona: Eunsa, 2022, 170 pp. ISBN: 978-84-313-3768-1
In the present work, political philosophy professor Alfredo Cruz Prados presents a synthetic and accessible version of his masterful Desire and Verification. La estructura fundamental de la ética (Eunsa, 2015). Having done the work of exposing in a simple and brief way the ideas discussed in that text is due to the suggestion of colleagues of his at the University of Navarra, and the author does not disappoint. We only hope that he will be encouraged to do the same with the other two works that make up his trilogy of practical philosophy: Ethos and Polis. Bases for the reconstruction of political philosophy (Eunsa, 2015) and Sobre la realidad del Derecho. Filosofía jurídica (Eunsa, 2021). For the time being, we will say that this is an exceptional work, being at the same time clear and synthetic, without losing one iota of the rigor that characterizes the work of Professor Cruz Prados.