Search results

1

EVOLUTION OF HUMAN NATURE

100%

Konarzewski M.

Archeus. Studia z bioetyki i antropologii filozoficznej

|

2006

|

vol. 7

23-37

EN

In opinions on evolution of features of human mind one can spot the existence of clear dualism. Some biologists as well as the great majority of philosophers and theologians perceive human being as a creature of completely different nature from other living creatures, including biologically closest relatives of our species. As presenters of such views usually do not deny the process of evolution itself, most often they point to an enormous acceleration of the tempo of Homo sapiens intellectual development which took place 40 thousand years ago that, according to them, once and for all separated man from the rest of the world of nature. However, during last 30 years, at first a large group of biologists and later psychologists became convinced that there was nothing extraordinary about the character of human nature. Proponents of that view perceive evolution of human intellect as a continuum whose individual aspects can be derived from rudimentary animal features. According to them an overriding motivation of human behavior is a maximization of Darwinian fitness. The first serious trial of such a revision of beliefs on human mind was sociobiology created by an entomologist Edward O. Wilson. Because of its radical character, sociobiology has not gained general acceptance and has been criticized both on grounds of methodology of natural sciences and philosophy. However, in recent years there have appeared more and more supporters of evolutionary psychology. They try to explain the development of features of human mind by means of theories and hypotheses borrowed from evolutionary biology and behavioral ecology, e.g. family selection, reciprocated altruism, Good Genes Hypothesis, the Red Queen Principle, and the concept of 'selfish gene'. Although from the point of view of methodology of science the research program of evolutionary biology is correct, at present a significant part of evolutionary psychologists' statements go far beyond still scarce empirical support. Nonetheless, evolutionary psychology will certainly become an important voice in the discussion on sources of human nature, the voice which should be ignored neither by philosophers nor theologians.

2

ANCIENT DNA: A NEW SOURCE OF RETRIEVABLE DATA IN ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH

100%

Witas H. W.

Archeologia Polski

|

2007

|

vol. 52

|

issue 1-2

15-33

EN

A molecule of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) stores information characteristic and necessary for the organism at every level of life organization, i.e. individual, population and species. As the molecule is transferred from generation to generation, the DNA template is the most important and superior to other structural and functional entities. Coding sequences (within genes) as well as noncoding sequences (outside the genes) remain the source of information about an individual's phenotype even post mortem. Deciphering sequences of ancient DNA (aDNA) templates provides the opportunity to identify physiological as well as pathological traits of the individual studied, that are either confirmable or impossible to detect with archaeological measurements. These include the origin of the analysed individual in the phylogenetic sense, his relationship to other individuals unearthed in the neighbourhood, predispositions to hereditary as well as infectious diseases, even skin colour or the ability to speak. Moreover, a comparison of characteristic species sequences, and in the near future whole genomes, gives insight into evolutionary changes, and thus possible regulatory mechanisms. The information which is acquired from fragments of aDNA (sometimes very short), and translated into the language of population genetics, may offer surprising data. The most important are: impact of sudden and slow climate changes on new species formation, cause of their extinction or even characteristic behaviour of the species. Although aDNA research was launched only two decades ago, rapid methodological progress in the field is observed due to growing knowledge of DNA chemical degradation. More and more sophisticated analytical procedures have made DNA retrieval possible, which is especially important in the case of extinct species. Modification patterns of the chemical structure of DNA are reviewed in the paper. Degradation processes, which can significantly alter the authentic information encoded within the analysed sequence, are not the only obstacle encountered by an aDNA researcher. High risk of sample contamination with contemporary DNA needs to be considered as well. Special patience should be taken when the DNA of humans is analysed. Ubiquitous human sequences present in the surroundings can affect analysed samples at every step of the procedure, thus falsifying the obtained data. Therefore, a number of both simple and more sophisticated precautions should be undertaken by researchers, including the stage of archaeological sampling, collection, DNA isolation and analysis - in order to avoid contamination with modern molecules. A few methods commonly applied to authenticate the results as well as interpret the obtained data are discussed. Diverse applications of the analysis of historical templates were described in the literature, some of them, representative of different fields of interest (including evolution) have also been reviewed. These include the most recent and spectacular DNA sequencing of our closest relative, i.e., Neanderthal, as well as that of two extinct animals - the mammoth and the cave bear.

3

Ewolucja polityki porównawczej jako subdyscypliny politologii

80%

Bajer J.

Wrocławskie Studia Politologiczne

|

2010

|

vol. 11

27-54

EN

Comparative politics is one of several main subdisciplines of political science. It deals with structures, actors and political processes. The most important goal of comparative politics is to describe and explain similarities and differences between political systems as well as predict consequences that occur. This article provides an overview of the evolution of comparative politics as it has developed over twenty five centuries: from Aristotle and Platon to Weber to contemporary post-modern lines. I begin by assuming that development follows a schema consisting of three phases: 1. pre-modern times; 2. modern times, and 3. post-modern times. In doing so, I exploit the recent proposal of Klaus von Beyme. Moreover, I suggest that this development can be seen from Kuhn’s perspective of scientific revolution. I then move on to the literature on comparative politics that can be found in different social sciences. Finally, I conclude by claiming that the evolution of comparative politics has been shaped by both the shifts of paradigms (approaches and theories in social sciences) and real political processes, however, it is not a clear process with phase-by-phase evolution.

4

THE EVOLUTIONARY MODEL OF CREATIONISM

80%

Dolega J. M.

Archeus. Studia z bioetyki i antropologii filozoficznej

|

2006

|

vol. 7

5-22

EN

The article puts special emphasis on K. Klosak's works whose researches on works by P. Teilhard de Chardin had contributed to the popularization of de Chardin's ideas in the field of Polish philosophical and Thomistic thought. At the same time, Klosak's analytical and thorough interpretation of de Chardin's academic achievements allowed to understand the main Teilhard conceptions. An attempt at solving the problem of evolution and creation in the interdisciplinary approach of scientific research, proposed by K. Kloskowski, constitutes a further current in scientific and philosophical research of the late 20th century. The mentioned interpretations of cooperation of the First Cause and secondary causes are an attempt to understand and introduce the reader to essential rules of explaining the development of the world in that current in philosophy. Moreover, the evolutionary model of creationism can be applied to explain biogenesis, anthropogenesis, and the spiritual development of man.

5

Korzenie współczesnego antyewolucjonizmu

80%

Borczyk B.

Lectiones & Acroases Philosophicae

|

2010

|

vol. 3

86-107

EN

In the first part of the paper I am presenting a short introduction to the conflict between materialistic science and religious believes. The three most popular attempts to neutralize this conflict are presented as follows: (1) the acceptance of naturalistic science with all consequences concerning evolution with the exception of the God’s occasional intervention (e.g. man presented with a soul by God); (2) separation of science and religion (the concept of Non Overlapping Magisteria); (3) negation of naturalistic science in favor of particular religious believes. The introduction is followed by a short review of the history of the creationism movement from the early Paley’s arguments from design, through the dawn of biblical creationism, emergence of scientific creationism, and its recent transformation into theory of Intelligent Design. Although advocates of the latter try to distance themselves from scientific and biblical creationists and got support from few non-creationists, like quasi-religious Raelians, it is shown that this movement emerged from traditional creationism, and its core is constituted by the same religious agenda. The growing popularity of the creationistic movements is due to several factors, including early religious indoctrination, opinion making activity, lack of or poor scientific knowledge among society and in some cases contestation and bounty against the scientific establishment.

6

Poglądy teologiczne Darwina

80%

Jodkowski K.

Lectiones & Acroases Philosophicae

|

2010

|

vol. 3

59-84

EN

According to the Author, Darwin's views on religion were of essential significance for his deeds as a scientist. Darwin's views evolved from the orthodox christianity during his studies at Cambridge University, through the deistic phase, through agnosticism and atheism at the end of his life. As a result of his mature standpoint, he introduced the so-called principle of methodological naturalism to science.

7

ADAPTATION SCENARIO OF THE IMAGINATION'S EVOLUTION

80%

Lukasik A.

Psychologia-Etologia-Genetyka

|

2005

|

vol. 11

91-117

EN

The author presents hypotheses concerning evolutionary factors responsible for the evolvement of imagination and its adaptive functions. Pleistocene was pointed as the environment for evolutionary adaptability in which it was possible for imagination to evolve as a result of certain phenomena which occurred at that time and which were important for the evolution of man. These included: creation and use of first tools, emergence of the hunting-gathering society, migration of hominid from Africa to other continents and development of social relations with a special emphasis on cooperation. It has been concluded that these phenomena could have constituted the selection factors which determined the evolution of imagination.

8

On Memory according to Gerald Edelman

80%

Pytkowska B.

Przegląd Filozoficzny. Nowa Seria

|

2004

|

vol. 13

|

issue 1(49)

211-224

EN

George Edelman is introduced as a neurobiologist who believes that all investigation of mind, consciousness and human condition in general must take into account the fact of the evolution. This ontology presupposed a specific ontology. Life on earth cannot be described by reference to physical laws only. Due to the Evolution ever more complicated systems are brought forth, and their constitution cannot be reduced to the constitution of earlier systems. On the other hand, however, new structures incorporate older structures, and, according to Edelman, living creatures are endowed with memory that help them retain their older structures.

9

CHINESE UTOPIA: ITS EVOLUTION, POETIC ANCHORAGE AND MODERN TRANSFORMATION

80%

Meng X., Zhang L.

World Literature Studies

|

2021

|

vol. 13

|

issue 2

33 - 42

EN

The major forms of Chinese utopia include “the Land of Bliss”, the Taoist “small country with few inhabitants”, the Confucian “Great Unity”, Tao Yuanming’s “Peach Blossom Spring”, Kang Youwei’s “World of Great Unity” and its modern variations. Chinese utopia has evolved from reactive poetic retreat to active political remoulding. It has developed from pastness to nowness in terms of temporal orientation, and from “nowhere” to “somewhere” and then to hereness in terms of spatial orientation. Chinese utopia has strong poetic anchorage, which is determined by the Heaven-Earth-man unity. Through the mechanism of experience shift, Chinese utopia in the modern context is often transformed into a usable cultural or spiritual icon, or national political vision, policies, blueprints and concrete social practice. A comprehensive insight into the Chinese utopian tradition helps to understand the utopian-poetic-political entanglement in China.

10

Fizyka a problem Boga – pokora ﬁzyka

80%

Janik J.

Rocznik Teologii Katolickiej

|

2012

|

vol. 11

49-56

EN

It cannot be denied that the Creator has made the world which is ini niteHere we touch upon the matter that determined St. Thomas’ evidence of the existence of God and its imperfections. THis is the problem of deeper understanding of ini nity. Mathematical measurement of a function or a sequence is not an adequate analysis of the issue, however the set theory with its cardinal numbers aleph zero and continuum could be applied. Perhaps it is necessary to work out a more sophisticated dei nition of ini nity to discuss the ini nity of God... Humility!

11

'DEFINING THE NATURE OF KNOWLEDGE': 'YES' TO EVOLUTION, 'NO' TO BIOGENESIS ('Definiowanie natury wiedzy': ewolucja 'tak', biogeneza 'nie')

80%

Lugowski W.

Zagadnienia Naukoznawstwa

|

2010

|

vol. 46

|

issue 1(183)

65-83

EN

Introducing the issue of the beginnings of life into the realm of scientific research posed a danger to 'valid' structures of knowledge (in particular, to the separation of philosophy and the sciences). For a couple of tens of years, (some) scientists have paid for dealing with this issue with ignoring the 'touchy' problem of its 'extra-scientific' groundings. This strategy proved to be erroneous. Similarly, the attempts at summarizing the whole discipline as one theory (although under different names) with the model of 'Darwin's small pond' (the model, as is shown, has been in many accounts substantially modified) are invalid. In the discipline, there is something common, and it is statement philosophical in character: that the life is an emergent feature of matter.

12

Prawdziwie darwinowska etyka

80%

Elżanowski A.

Lectiones & Acroases Philosophicae

|

2010

|

vol. 3

13-57

EN

Darwin’s model for the evolution of morality as presented in Descent of Man (1871) is shown to comprise three major stages that are here referred to as empathic premorality, tribal morality, and universalizing morality. Empathy, the key component of Darwin’s “social instincts” that started moral evolution, is here recognized as the principal cognitive device that conveys epistemic credibility to moral agency. The two constitutive elements of the tribal morality are conscience that Darwin conceived of as a conflict between a lasting social motive and an immediate selfish impulse, and true altruism that evolved as a result of group (community) selection. Darwin’s genius recognized the uniqueness of group selection in human evolution as being dependent on mental faculties and speech that facilitated habit formation through praise and blame form other group members, with empathy as a gauge of others’ emotional reactions. Contrary to repeated claims, Darwin did not derive morality from reciprocity that he (and his contemporaries) considered to be “a low motive”, and adduced it only as a mechanism of habit formation. The universalizing morality was brought about by the increasing powers of intellect that led to respecting individual lives (rather than group interests only) and extending humane concerns beyond one’s group, ultimately to all sentient beings, which places Darwin among the spiritual fathers of modern humanitarianism. In terms of substantive ethics, Darwin’s views support moral individualism (Rachels, 1993) that requires to treat each subject according to his/her individual characteristics rather than any group membership. Darwin’s moral individualism and universalism have been elaborated by Peter Singer as the principle of equal consideration of interests and the expanding circle of ethics, respectively. Darwin’s model of moral evolution, which starts with intuitive but epistemically reliable moral agency and then allows for its rational improvement, provides a way out of the moral subjectivism of evolutionary ethics that reduces morality to an adaptation to social life. The primary or core morality that relies on empathy and implements reciprocity supports welfare (wellbeing) of a group and its members. Welfare (which has been defined by Darwin) is a basic “terminal” (ultimate) value that constitutes an objective, measurable fact. Since the primary morality supports welfare, it is objectively good, which justifies an ethical reasoning that such morality ought to be extended (with appropriate adjustments) to all sentient beings. Confusion over the status of morality is largely due to the lack of appreciation of its complexity: not only had its motivational apparatus (known as the moral agency) evolved by superposition of many emotional and pure cognitive mechanisms, but it has subsequently been co-opted to implement prudential, religious and possibly other norms that are accidental and sometimes contrary to its original social function. Those secondary morality norms are now enforced by the moral agency but lack moral objectivity and thus may support the perception of moral subjectivism and relativism. In short, true Darwinian ethics is based on the scientific axiology that recognizes evolutionary origins of all values, requires respecting all values that are experienced by each and every subject according to its individual characteristics, and calls for a critical assessment of each and every received morality.

13

K PROBLÉMU TAUTOLOGICKOSTI V TEÓRII EVOLÚCIE

80%

Gálik D.

Filozofia (Philosophy)

|

2012

|

vol. 67

|

issue 7

545 – 556

EN

Attributing tautologism to the principle of natural selection is one of the widely used arguments against the scientific status of the evolutionary theory. The paper outlines one of the common versions of this objection and offers a possible answer drawing on the structure of the principle of natural selection.

14

PENSION SYSTEMS INEUROPE. CASE OF SWEDEN (Systemy emerytalne w Europie. Przypadek Szwecji)

80%

Poteraj J.

Contemporary Economics

|

2008

|

issue 2(6)

19-35

EN

The author's goal was to present both past and present solutions employed by the Swedish pension system, in search for ideas worth consideration in international comparisons. Author analysis Swedish pension system evolution and presents strengths and weaknesses of present Swedish pension system.

15

Perceptual fluency, preference, and evolution

80%

Reber R., Schwarz N.

Polish Psychological Bulletin

|

2006

|

vol. 37

|

issue 1

16-22

EN

Preference for symmetry in ornaments or faces in different species may have evolved because symmetry indicated mate quality, leading to advantages in natural selection. Alternatively, symmetry preference may reflect sensory biases that evolved because of the need for signal recognition. If so, selection for signal recognition may have led to preferences for any perceptual features which are easy to perceive, such as symmetry, figure-ground contrast, and surface continuity. Consequently, the general underlying mechanism would be perceptual fluency, i.e. the phenomenal experience of ease of perception. Consistent with this assumption, human participants preferred vertical symmetry to asymmetry, continuous to discontinuous surfaces, and high over low figure-ground contrast in pairs of random shapes without any biological significance. Moreover, the preferred features were objectively and subjectively easier to perceive.

16

Ewolucja czy stworzenie? Problem stworzoności świata w myśli apologetów II wieku

80%

Zieliński J.

Lectiones & Acroases Philosophicae

|

2010

|

vol. 3

221-263

EN

In this article the author tries to paint an outline of the idea of creation, as it is presented by the 2nd century Apologetes. The dependence of the existence of the universe on a transcendent God is central for Christian thinking. The author is aware that in the light of the longstanding and complex conflict between two extreme ideas in the history of human thought, namely evolution and creation, and the overall domination of nature science, this message may not receive proper acceptance. This, however, was not the purpose of formulating it. The basic intention of the author is to bring close to the present-day reader the sources and methods employed to develop the concept of creatio ex nihilo in the primary phase of its formulation – a concept which is often denied or stigmatized as unscholarly. It is difficult, when studying the writings of the 2nd century Apologetes, to avoid the impression that their intention was to create a compact and comprehensive theologico-philosophical system, This system was to be an exposition of basic Christian truths, and later – after the falldown of Greek power and the weakening of the role of Rome as a sponsor of philosophical schools – to form the substructure for a culture of thought. The attempts of these Christian thinkers to present the relationship between God and creation were supposed not only to stop a process of decline, but also, and more important, they should lead to deeper philosophical reflection. The following article is supposed to show that the relationship between God, the world and man, according to the teaching of the Apologetes, has its beginning and finds its fullest explanation in the omnipotence, wisdom and goodness of the transcendent, personal God, who is the First Cause and the principle of the existence of man and the world. This God, the Apologetes add, has spoken out through his Word-Logos, whom they occasionally compared to the Platonian demiurg.

17

CAUSAL CAPABILITIES OF TELEOLOGY AND TELEONOMY IN LIFE AND EVOLUTION

80%

Bartlett J.

Organon F. medzinárodný časopis pre analytickú filozofiu

|

2023

|

vol. 30

|

issue 3

222 – 254

EN

Teleological causes have been generally disfavoured in biological explanations because they have been thought to lack rigor or act as stand-ins for non-teleological processes which are simply not yet understood sufficiently. Teleological explanations in biology have been limited to only teleonomic causes, which are teleological causes that are due to codes or similarly reified mechanisms. However, advances in the conceptualization of teleological and teleonomic causation have allowed for more quantitative analyses of both. Additionally, although teleonomy has been historically excluded from potential causes of evolution, new research has shown that teleonomy actually plays a significant role in evolution. Combining these advances with advances in computability theory and information theory have allowed for a more rigorous and quantitative analysis of the capabilities and limitations of teleonomy in evolution.

18

KOGNITÍVNY A EVOLUČNÝ KONTEXT ŠÍRENIA KONŠPIRAČNÝCH TEÓRIÍ

80%

Bahna V.

Slovenský národopis (Slovak Ethnology)

|

2015

|

vol. 63

|

issue 3

195 – 206

EN

The goal of this article is to provide a cognitive explanation of some aspects of conspiracy theories which influence their spread in society. One important human mental capacity is the ability to produce beliefs about mental states (intentions, motivation, emotions etc.) of others. This ability, also called the Theory of Mind, enables humans to produce complex social interactions and effective cooperation but it is also crucial in creation of coalitions, cheater detection and in prediction of threats from other conspecifics. Previous research shows that socially spread explanations of world phenomena, which trigger these mental mechanisms (i.e. they propose human like intentions as causes of these phenomena), have better inferential potential whereby they become intuitively more relevant as alternative explanations. In this context the author argues that conspiracy theories, just because of how they are defined, are cognitively attractive as they postulate a potential threat as a result of hidden intentions of some group of people.

19

(Racjonalnosc, zło i ewolucja

80%

Florek S.

Archeus. Studia z bioetyki i antropologii filozoficznej

|

2011

|

vol. 12

89-106

EN

In philosophical anthropology and ethics the phenomenon of rational agent doing evil to others or oneself has always been seen as a problem which demands solution. It is argued that adopting an evolutionary perspective and making distinction between instrumental and biological rationality enables to explain this enigma. It is maintained that in the reference to the evolutionary theories of altruism also egoistic and evil behavior can be explained. From this point of view many human actions, although evil, seem to be biologically rational. Furthermore, it is pointed out that also many irrational evil actions can be explained on the grounds of evolutionary biology and psychology (1) as byproducts of psychological mechanisms that evolved to promote altruistic behavior or (2) as results of nervous system dysfunction.

20

Adaptacje i ewolucyjna inercja ludzkiego umysłu

80%

Pawłowski B.

Lectiones & Acroases Philosophicae

|

2010

|

vol. 3

109-121

EN

Human brain and its functions evolved under selection pressures. There are at least a few evolutionary approaches to human mind, behaviour and/or preferences. Apart of sociobiology, human behavioural ecology (HBE), it is evolutionary psychology (EP) that have been developed in the last 25 years. EP differs with other approaches to human mind in methodology and in the attitude to human behaviour adaptability. EP methodology, the Environment of Evolutionary Adaptedness and mind modularity concepts, as well as examples of psychological mechanisms related to adaptations acquired in our evolutionary past that do not need to increase biological fitness in modern societies are discussed. These adaptations are: 1.) mechanism of child attachment; 2.) Westermarck effect that explains the emergence sexual aversion to close relatives in childhood and 3.) relationship between man's socio-economic status and his reproductive success in the societies with socially enforced monogamy and effective contraconception. In a few last thousands years man's environment changed dramatically, but due to lack of parallel strong selection pressure, human brain and mind almost did not change. This is why humans have still some psychological mechanisms that might not be perfect adaptations nowadays. EP does not excuse any human behaviour (as EP opponents claim), it only explains the evolutionary roots of psychological mechanisms and preferences. EP provides scientists with the new insight to human mind.

Refine search results

EVOLUTION OF HUMAN NATURE

ANCIENT DNA: A NEW SOURCE OF RETRIEVABLE DATA IN ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH

Ewolucja polityki porównawczej jako subdyscypliny politologii

THE EVOLUTIONARY MODEL OF CREATIONISM

Korzenie współczesnego antyewolucjonizmu

Poglądy teologiczne Darwina

ADAPTATION SCENARIO OF THE IMAGINATION'S EVOLUTION

On Memory according to Gerald Edelman

CHINESE UTOPIA: ITS EVOLUTION, POETIC ANCHORAGE AND MODERN TRANSFORMATION

Fizyka a problem Boga – pokora ﬁzyka

'DEFINING THE NATURE OF KNOWLEDGE': 'YES' TO EVOLUTION, 'NO' TO BIOGENESIS ('Definiowanie natury wiedzy': ewolucja 'tak', biogeneza 'nie')

Prawdziwie darwinowska etyka

K PROBLÉMU TAUTOLOGICKOSTI V TEÓRII EVOLÚCIE

PENSION SYSTEMS INEUROPE. CASE OF SWEDEN (Systemy emerytalne w Europie. Przypadek Szwecji)

Perceptual fluency, preference, and evolution

Ewolucja czy stworzenie? Problem stworzoności świata w myśli apologetów II wieku

CAUSAL CAPABILITIES OF TELEOLOGY AND TELEONOMY IN LIFE AND EVOLUTION

KOGNITÍVNY A EVOLUČNÝ KONTEXT ŠÍRENIA KONŠPIRAČNÝCH TEÓRIÍ

(Racjonalnosc, zło i ewolucja

Adaptacje i ewolucyjna inercja ludzkiego umysłu