Philosophies

16 pages, 411 KB

Open AccessArticle

Examining the Anthropological–Philosophical Implicit Content in Carl Menger’s Value Theory Through Three Philosophers

by Diego Colomés and Luca Valera

Philosophies 2025, 10(5), 109; https://doi.org/10.3390/philosophies10050109 - 29 Sep 2025

In this paper, we analyze the concept of need that we find in the foundation of Carl Menger’s value theory to then confront it with such heterogeneous philosophical theories as Ludwig Feuerbach’s dialectic of feelings, Arnold Gehlen’s notion of humans as defective beings, [...] Read more.

In this paper, we analyze the concept of need that we find in the foundation of Carl Menger’s value theory to then confront it with such heterogeneous philosophical theories as Ludwig Feuerbach’s dialectic of feelings, Arnold Gehlen’s notion of humans as defective beings, and Ortega y Gasset’s theory about the role of technology and production in the human project. In general terms, these authors worked with the same notion of need that Menger used, but from an anthropological perspective. In this sense, we hypothesize that, despite belonging to heterogeneous philosophical traditions, the authors above can help us fully understand the concept of need in Menger, a notion that he did not develop in depth. In doing so, we attempt to show that this implicit content prefigures an anthropology that conceives human beings as primarily active and axiological beings. With this, we also aim to show the hermeneutical richness of the concept of need, as well as its relevance for creating interdisciplinary connections for future research. Full article

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19 pages, 317 KB

Open AccessArticle

Albert the Great on Soul: Some Hermeneutical Issues

by Henryk Anzulewicz and Athanasios Rinotas

Philosophies 2025, 10(5), 108; https://doi.org/10.3390/philosophies10050108 - 27 Sep 2025

Abstract

Aristotle’s theory of soul was a hot topic in the Late Middle Ages and it sparked a great series of debates with serious theological and philosophical implications. The medieval commentators of Aristotle played a crucial role in the dissemination of these debates since [...] Read more.

Aristotle’s theory of soul was a hot topic in the Late Middle Ages and it sparked a great series of debates with serious theological and philosophical implications. The medieval commentators of Aristotle played a crucial role in the dissemination of these debates since their explanations and commentaries on Aristotle’s theory of soul served as a springboard for further discussions. One of the most important medieval commentators of Aristotle was Albert the Great (ca 1200–1280) who dealt extensively with the topic of soul and its connection with the doctrine of intellect. Albert discussed the subject of soul not only in the Aristotelian commentaries but also in many genuine works of his which delineated Albert’s theory of soul in great detail. This paper will primarily focus on two works of Albert, De homine and Liber de natura et origine animae; it aims to provide a coherent account of Albert’s early theory of soul and to shed some light on important hermeneutical issues that derive from these two works. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ancient and Medieval Theories of Soul)

9 pages, 212 KB

Open AccessArticle

Revisiting Kant’s Conception of Political Freedom and Its Relation to the Practical Concept of Freedom from the Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals

by Nađa Vesić and Đorđe Vukašinović

Philosophies 2025, 10(5), 107; https://doi.org/10.3390/philosophies10050107 - 23 Sep 2025

Abstract

In this paper, we revisit Kant’s conception of political freedom and draw a connection to the concept of freedom presented in the Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals—a practical concept of freedom that is immediately grounded in the transcendental concept of freedom. [...] Read more.

In this paper, we revisit Kant’s conception of political freedom and draw a connection to the concept of freedom presented in the Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals—a practical concept of freedom that is immediately grounded in the transcendental concept of freedom. Also, we defend the traditional viewpoint on the relationship between Kant’s theory of morals and the theory of Right, which is equivalent to the claim that political freedom is based on the definition of freedom in the Groundwork. Full article

7 pages, 176 KB

Open AccessArticle

Lindy’s Law and the Longevity of Scientific Theories

by Leandro Gualario

Philosophies 2025, 10(5), 106; https://doi.org/10.3390/philosophies10050106 - 22 Sep 2025

Abstract

This work aims to summarize the history and mutations of Lindy’s Law (or the Lindy Effect)—a mathematical distribution that originated from television commentary—and to first test this principle in the context of a recent new iteration: Lindy’s Law as a proxy to describe [...] Read more.

This work aims to summarize the history and mutations of Lindy’s Law (or the Lindy Effect)—a mathematical distribution that originated from television commentary—and to first test this principle in the context of a recent new iteration: Lindy’s Law as a proxy to describe the significance of longevity as a factor in the retention of scientific theories. Full article

15 pages, 256 KB

Open AccessArticle

When Mortality Is a Matter of State: Medicine, Power, and Truth

by Fabrizio Turoldo

Philosophies 2025, 10(5), 105; https://doi.org/10.3390/philosophies10050105 - 19 Sep 2025

Abstract

This article shows how “reasons of state” can sometimes influence end-of-life care decisions made by top politicians. Drawing on Ivan Illich’s concept of “medical nemesis” and the myth of Tithonus and Eos, it argues that the success of medicine in prolonging life can, [...] Read more.

This article shows how “reasons of state” can sometimes influence end-of-life care decisions made by top politicians. Drawing on Ivan Illich’s concept of “medical nemesis” and the myth of Tithonus and Eos, it argues that the success of medicine in prolonging life can, paradoxically, increase suffering and raise ethical dilemmas, particularly when medicine is used to ensure the continuity of power. Through the analysis of four historical cases—Franklin D. Roosevelt, Francisco Franco, Josip Broz Tito, and François Mitterrand—the article highlights some issues related to the concealment or deliberate manipulation of information about the health of political leaders, invasive and disproportionate medical interventions, and various conflicts that can arise between clinical goals and political objectives. The article then adopts the doctrine of the “king’s two bodies”, revived in contemporary times by Ernst Kantorowicz, to interpret these dynamics as attempts to merge the leader’s mortal body with an eternal political body, generating a dangerous identification that fuels therapeutic excess. By decoupling the natural body from the political body, the study calls for transparent and ethically grounded frameworks capable of balancing privacy, continuity of government, and limits on the use of medical care. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Ethics and Philosophy)

26 pages, 608 KB

Open AccessArticle

Creative Approach to Enhancing Learning Skills Based on Buddhism and Philosophy

by Phrarajsuddhivajiramedhi Chaiyan Chattalayo Suebkrapan, Phrakhrupalad Charkrapol Acharashubho Thepa, Phrakhrusangkharak Suriya Pabhassaro Sapanthong and Netnapa Sutthirat

Philosophies 2025, 10(5), 104; https://doi.org/10.3390/philosophies10050104 - 17 Sep 2025

Abstract

This research article explores the integration of Buddhist and philosophical principles into educational methodologies to enhance learning skills. The objectives were to develop a creative educational model, identify key factors influencing learning skills, and assess the approach’s effectiveness. The study targeted students from [...] Read more.

This research article explores the integration of Buddhist and philosophical principles into educational methodologies to enhance learning skills. The objectives were to develop a creative educational model, identify key factors influencing learning skills, and assess the approach’s effectiveness. The study targeted students from higher education institutions as the population. A purposive sampling technique was employed, selecting participants who demonstrated an interest in or familiarity with Buddhist teachings and philosophical inquiry. The research employed a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques. Tools included questionnaires/surveys, semi-structured interview questions, and observations, supplemented by focus group discussions and thematic analyses and a suitability and feasibility evaluation form. The analyses were performed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA), content analysis, theme analysis, and data saturation. Statistics were in the form of percentages, means, SDs, t-values, and exploratory factor analyses (EFA). The results indicated that integrating Buddhist practices, such as mindfulness and reflective thinking, with philosophical methods, such as critical inquiry and dialogue, significantly improved students’ cognitive, emotional, and ethical development. Key findings highlighted the importance of fostering an environment encouraging open-mindedness, self-reflection, and ethical reasoning. The study’s significance lies in its contribution to educational innovation, providing a framework for integrating spiritual and philosophical dimensions into contemporary education. This approach enhances traditional academic skills and promotes holistic development, preparing students for personal and societal challenges. Full article

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16 pages, 220 KB

Open AccessArticle

Cognitive Integration for Hybrid Collective Agency

by Ruili Wang

Philosophies 2025, 10(5), 103; https://doi.org/10.3390/philosophies10050103 - 16 Sep 2025

Abstract

Can human–machine hybrid systems (HMHs) constitute genuine collective agents? This paper defends an affirmative answer. I argue that HMHs achieve collective intentionality without shared consciousness by satisfying the following three functional criteria: goal alignment, functional complementarity, and stable interactivity. Against this functionalist account, [...] Read more.

Can human–machine hybrid systems (HMHs) constitute genuine collective agents? This paper defends an affirmative answer. I argue that HMHs achieve collective intentionality without shared consciousness by satisfying the following three functional criteria: goal alignment, functional complementarity, and stable interactivity. Against this functionalist account, the following two objections arise: (1) the cognitive bloat problem, that functional criteria cannot distinguish genuine cognitive integration from mere tool use; and (2) the phenomenological challenge, that AI’s lack of practical reason reduces human–AI interaction to subject–tool relations. I respond by distinguishing constitutive from instrumental functional contributions and showing that collective agency requires stable functional integration, not phenomenological fusion. The result is what I call Functional Hybrid Collective Agents (FHCAs), which are systems exhibiting irreducible collective intentionality through deep human–AI coupling. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Collective Agency and Intentionality)

10 pages, 183 KB

Open AccessEssay

Romantic Exclusivity as Structural Necessity: A Kantian–Scheler–Schopenhauer Synthesis in Contemporary Discourse

by Wisdom Hackqmah Benson

Philosophies 2025, 10(5), 102; https://doi.org/10.3390/philosophies10050102 - 15 Sep 2025

Abstract

This essay explores whether romantic exclusivity is more than a cultural choice, suggesting it might be built into the very structure of love. Turning away from typical sociological or psychological explanations, I place classical philosophy in direct conversation with contemporary thinkers like Natasha [...] Read more.

This essay explores whether romantic exclusivity is more than a cultural choice, suggesting it might be built into the very structure of love. Turning away from typical sociological or psychological explanations, I place classical philosophy in direct conversation with contemporary thinkers like Natasha McKeever, Christopher Bennett, and Carrie Jenkins to investigate this question. I argue that a synthesis of three distinct philosophical frameworks reveals exclusivity as a structural requirement for romantic love in its deepest sense. First, drawing on Kant, I suggest that love’s demand for a totalizing cognitive synthesis of two lives runs into a transcendental barrier when attempted with more than one person. Second, I use Scheler’s phenomenology to argue that the deep, sustained attention required for love’s unique power of value revelation is inherently diluted across multiple partners. Third, I introduce Schopenhauer’s metaphysics to posit that divided romantic striving contradicts the indivisible nature of the Will. I also briefly touch on how thinkers like Kierkegaard and Levinas reinforce this theme of existential singularity. Taken together, this synthesis does not condemn non-monogamous relationships but reframes the debate. It suggests that what we call “romantic love” may be structurally distinct from other valuable forms of intimacy. The powerful pull toward exclusivity, then, might not be a mere social script but may reflect the fundamental architecture of consciousness, valuation, and being itself. Full article

32 pages, 479 KB

Open AccessArticle

Cosmic Conundrums, Common Origins, and Omnivorous Constraints

by Patrick M. Duerr and William J. Wolf

Philosophies 2025, 10(5), 101; https://doi.org/10.3390/philosophies10050101 - 12 Sep 2025

Abstract

The paper revisits Janssen’s proposal of Common Origin Inferences (COIs), a powerful and scientifically fruitful inference pattern that (causally) traces striking coincidences back to a common origin. According to Janssen, COIs are a decisive engine for rational theory change across disciplines and eras. [...] Read more.

The paper revisits Janssen’s proposal of Common Origin Inferences (COIs), a powerful and scientifically fruitful inference pattern that (causally) traces striking coincidences back to a common origin. According to Janssen, COIs are a decisive engine for rational theory change across disciplines and eras. After a careful reconstruction of Janssen’s central tenets, we critically assess them, highlighting three key shortcomings: its strong realist and ontological commitments, its restriction to (or strong penchant for) causal/ontic explanations, and its intended employment for conferring evidential-epistemic status. To remedy these shortcomings, we moot a natural generalisation and amelioration of Janssen’s original conception—COI*s: Constraint-Omnivorous Inferences. COI*s warrant inference to pursuit-worthy hypotheses: it is rational to further study, work on, elaborate/refine or test hypotheses that account for multiple constraints in one fell swoop. As a demonstration of the utility of COI* reasoning, we finally show how it sheds light on, and dovetails, the three most significant breakthroughs in recent cosmology: the Dark Matter hypothesis, the Dark Energy postulate, and the theory of cosmic inflation. Full article

17 pages, 1063 KB

Open AccessArticle

Sylvia Plath and the Biopolitical Self: Narrating Aging, Decay, and Disease in Literary Imagination

by Yun Xing

Philosophies 2025, 10(5), 100; https://doi.org/10.3390/philosophies10050100 - 12 Sep 2025

Abstract

This study examines Sylvia Plath’s literary corpus through a biopolitical lens, analyzing how her representations of embodiment—particularly aging, decay, disease, and institutionalization—function as sites of contestation against institutional power. Moving beyond traditional biographical and psychoanalytic interpretations, this research study applies theoretical frameworks from [...] Read more.

This study examines Sylvia Plath’s literary corpus through a biopolitical lens, analyzing how her representations of embodiment—particularly aging, decay, disease, and institutionalization—function as sites of contestation against institutional power. Moving beyond traditional biographical and psychoanalytic interpretations, this research study applies theoretical frameworks from Foucault, Agamben, and Esposito to illuminate how Plath’s work engages with and resists biopolitical structures. Through close readings of “The Bell Jar”, “The Colossus”, and “Ariel”, this study demonstrates how Plath’s aesthetic strategies transform embodied vulnerability into forms of resistance. The analysis explores four key dimensions: the institutionalized body and medical authority; aesthetic politics and the anxiety of aging; the biopolitics of reproduction and maternity; and death as both boundary and transcendence. This study reveals Plath’s corporeal poetics as a sophisticated engagement with the political dimensions of embodiment in the mid-twentieth century, establishing a literary tradition that influences contemporary understandings of bodies as sites of political contestation. Comparative analysis with other confessional poets highlights Plath’s distinctive and systematic approach to biopolitical themes, positioning her work as particularly significant for subsequent feminist theorizations of embodied resistance. Full article

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16 pages, 293 KB

Open AccessArticle

Collective Agency and Coalitional Power in Games

by Yiyan Wang and Thomas Ågotnes

Philosophies 2025, 10(5), 99; https://doi.org/10.3390/philosophies10050099 - 11 Sep 2025

Abstract

This paper explores how insights from the philosophy of collective agency can inform the development of coalition logic, focusing particularly on the conceptual distinctions among intentionality, preference, and coalitional power as foundational elements. While the interdisciplinary discussion mainly adopts a philosophical perspective, we [...] Read more.

This paper explores how insights from the philosophy of collective agency can inform the development of coalition logic, focusing particularly on the conceptual distinctions among intentionality, preference, and coalitional power as foundational elements. While the interdisciplinary discussion mainly adopts a philosophical perspective, we also propose specific directions for broadening and refining coalition logic through philosophical theories. This expansion sheds light on phenomena often overlooked by logicians, including unstable joint actions, exogenous power, and the role of coalitional structures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Collective Agency and Intentionality)

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16 pages, 196 KB

Open AccessArticle

Public Reason and the Central Human Capabilities

by Anna-Karin Margareta Andersson

Philosophies 2025, 10(5), 98; https://doi.org/10.3390/philosophies10050098 - 9 Sep 2025

Abstract

A core component of Martha Nussbaum’s capabilities approach is a list of ten central human capabilities that should provide a basis for an overlapping consensus regarding what a constitutional democratic state owes its citizens as a matter of justice. There is an ambiguity [...] Read more.

A core component of Martha Nussbaum’s capabilities approach is a list of ten central human capabilities that should provide a basis for an overlapping consensus regarding what a constitutional democratic state owes its citizens as a matter of justice. There is an ambiguity in Nussbaum’s justification of the central human capabilities understood as substantive moral principles, and Nussbaum’s method of justification of public reason: an overlapping consensus between the views that “reasonable” people are likely to accept, and which may not be based on any specific comprehensive doctrine. I begin by explaining the need to enhance Nussbaum’s capabilities approach to eliminate the ambiguity. I then formulate and defend the enhanced version of the capabilities approach. Finally, I formulate and respond to possible objections to the proposed account. Shifting the focus from the contents of conflicting normative accounts to their theoretical architecture can help advocates of these accounts find common ground from which to pursue an overlapping consensus. Full article

21 pages, 357 KB

Open AccessArticle

Proudhon’s Critique of Nationalism in His Federalism Vision

by Lingkai Kong

Philosophies 2025, 10(5), 97; https://doi.org/10.3390/philosophies10050097 - 5 Sep 2025

Cited by 1

Abstract

This study first situates the discourse on Proudhon’s federalism and nationalism within the framework of his comprehensive economic, social, and philosophical system. Proudhon attempts to construct a federalism based on an associational and decentralized political structure that could accommodate plural groups and avoid [...] Read more.

This study first situates the discourse on Proudhon’s federalism and nationalism within the framework of his comprehensive economic, social, and philosophical system. Proudhon attempts to construct a federalism based on an associational and decentralized political structure that could accommodate plural groups and avoid the exclusive interpretation of sovereignty that prevailed in nationalism at the time. Such federalism is not only a design of political institutions but also a reflection of his economic mutualism and the idea of commutative justice. Then, this study proposes a relatively concise and intuitive dual critique framework to focus on how his federalism directly refutes nationalism. Proudhon’s federalism aims to protect the culture, language, and identity of minority groups from the oppression of the unitary nation-state internally, and advocates the establishment of an external confederation beyond national borders to eliminate national conflicts and achieve universal peace. Full article

13 pages, 247 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Case Against Interpreting Eros as Erotic Love: A Commentary on Paul Ricœur’s Early Work in Education and Philosophical Anthropology

by Eileen Brennan

Philosophies 2025, 10(5), 96; https://doi.org/10.3390/philosophies10050096 - 27 Aug 2025

Abstract

Agape, philia, and eros are the forms of love that receive most attention in the work of the French philosopher Paul Ricœur. The general consensus among commentators is that when Ricœur talks about agape, he means a love that is [...] Read more.

Agape, philia, and eros are the forms of love that receive most attention in the work of the French philosopher Paul Ricœur. The general consensus among commentators is that when Ricœur talks about agape, he means a love that is all about giving, with no expectation of receiving anything in return; and when he talks about eros, he means something close to erotic love or erotic desire. This article builds on the research of two French commentators, Olivier Abel and Jérôme Porée, to offer a more detailed account of what Ricœur says about love of neighbour and concern for others, and where he says it, during one very specific period: 1947–1960. That is the period when Ricœur was very committed to education reform in France. However, the article disputes Abel and Porée’s interpretation of what Ricœur means by eros in Fallible Man, a work of philosophical anthropology published in 1960. The article shows that Ricœur’s interpretation of eros, far from being the standard one, is in fact highly original, and a perfect example of the imaginative use of philosophical resources that marked his early career. The article also discusses The Symbolism of Evil, a second work of philosophical anthropology that Ricœur published the very same year. In the context of that discussion, it draws attention to two references to “love” that link back to the eros of Fallible Man. It then offers a close reading of Marguerite Léna’s insightful commentary on a remarkable passage from The Symbolism of Evil, where Ricœur talks about the essential roles that love and fear play in all forms of education, including moral education. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Philosophies of Love)

44 pages, 349 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Use of Artificial Intelligence in Political Decision-Making

by Carlos Vera Hoyos and William Orlando Cárdenas Marín

Philosophies 2025, 10(5), 95; https://doi.org/10.3390/philosophies10050095 - 27 Aug 2025

Abstract

The use of artificial intelligence for political decision-making is in an early stage of development; however, there are several questions that arise about its current and hypothetical uses. These questions often come from areas of philosophy, such as ethics, political philosophy, and logic. [...] Read more.

The use of artificial intelligence for political decision-making is in an early stage of development; however, there are several questions that arise about its current and hypothetical uses. These questions often come from areas of philosophy, such as ethics, political philosophy, and logic. In this article, first, the theoretical approaches from which the current and hypothetical uses of artificial intelligence for political decision-making can be interpreted will be presented. These approaches include realistic politics, bureaucracy theory, and conflict theory. Then, the possible uses that artificial intelligence could have in politics, as well as the attempts that have already been made, will be discussed. Subsequently, the logical, ethical, and political problems that the use of artificial intelligence for political decision-making could cause will be outlined. Next, a basic experiment will be presented on what kind of political decisions artificial intelligence could suggest. Finally, the points previously discussed will be analyzed from the mentioned theories. The conclusion reached was that, at the present time, the use of artificial intelligence for political decision-making could align more with the approaches of Machiavelli, focusing primarily on achieving goals such as maintaining power, while downplaying moral dilemmas. Full article

12 pages, 202 KB

Open AccessArticle

Common Origin Inferences and the Material Theory of Induction

by John D. Norton

Philosophies 2025, 10(5), 94; https://doi.org/10.3390/philosophies10050094 - 22 Aug 2025

Abstract

The outstanding problem for common origin inferences (“COIs”) is to understand why they succeed when they do, and why they fail when they do. The material theory of induction provides a solution: COIs are warranted by background facts. Whether a [...] Read more.

The outstanding problem for common origin inferences (“COIs”) is to understand why they succeed when they do, and why they fail when they do. The material theory of induction provides a solution: COIs are warranted by background facts. Whether a COI succeeds or fails depends on the truth of its warranting propositions. Examples from matter theory and Newton’s Principia illustrate how COIs can fail; and an example from relativity theory illustrates a success. Hypotheses, according to the material theory, can be posited as a temporary expedient to initiate an inductive enterprise. This use of hypotheses enables COIs to serve as incentives for further research. It is illustrated with the example of the Copernican hypothesis. Full article

50 pages, 1354 KB

Open AccessArticle

Semiosis and nāmarūpa: Exploring the Early Buddhist Theory of Signs Through Cognitive Semiotics

by Federico Divino

Philosophies 2025, 10(4), 93; https://doi.org/10.3390/philosophies10040093 - 21 Aug 2025

Abstract

This article aims to offer a comparative analysis between Buddhist thought and Peircean semiotics, situating the discussion within the framework of a Buddhist theory of signs that addresses aspects related to perceptual processes and cognitive experience. The influence of signs on cognition is [...] Read more.

This article aims to offer a comparative analysis between Buddhist thought and Peircean semiotics, situating the discussion within the framework of a Buddhist theory of signs that addresses aspects related to perceptual processes and cognitive experience. The influence of signs on cognition is what led Buddhism, from its earliest formulations, to adopt contemplative practice as a means of liberation from the effects of semiosis—an aspect that this paper hypothesizes to be represented by the nāmarūpa dyad. Following an examination of the perceptual and sensory processes underlying the functioning of nāmarūpa, the paper will analyze occurrences of this technical term and propose its semiosic functions, subsequently exploring how contemplative practice aspires to disengage from the power of signs. Full article

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29 pages, 919 KB

Open AccessArticle

Hegel’s Souls: Aristotle, Kant, and the Climax of Life

by Antonios Kalatzis

Philosophies 2025, 10(4), 92; https://doi.org/10.3390/philosophies10040092 - 16 Aug 2025

Abstract

The article aspires to delineate Hegel’s appropriation of Aristotle’s concept of soul in post-Kantian European Philosophy. It showcases the way that Hegel fuses central aspects of Aristotle’s theory and Kant’s account of inner purposiveness in order to deliver a hierarchical account of vegetative-, [...] Read more.

The article aspires to delineate Hegel’s appropriation of Aristotle’s concept of soul in post-Kantian European Philosophy. It showcases the way that Hegel fuses central aspects of Aristotle’s theory and Kant’s account of inner purposiveness in order to deliver a hierarchical account of vegetative-, animal-, and human organisms. The article is divided in six parts. The first part offers an introduction to the subject matter. The second part delivers an overall account of the way that Hegel reconstructs Aristotle’s general theory of the soul and fuses it with Kant’s theory of inner purposiveness. The third part highlights Hegel’s distinctive argumentative strategy for delivering a unified, atemporal account of the connection between the various natural realms, both inorganic and organic. Parts four, five and six proceed to his theory of vegetative-, animal- and human life respectively, while showcasing the underlying logic and the upshot of Hegel’s developmental account of these three kinds of life qua soul. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ancient and Medieval Theories of Soul)

11 pages, 209 KB

Open AccessArticle

Between Uncertainty and Responsibility: A Philosophical Inquiry into Climate Change Projections

by Fernando Watson-Hernández and Isabel Guzmán-Arias

Philosophies 2025, 10(4), 91; https://doi.org/10.3390/philosophies10040091 - 14 Aug 2025

Abstract

This paper explores how uncertainty in climate change projections both shapes and is shaped by key epistemic, methodological, ethical, and political concerns. Drawing on a review of key philosophical sources, it examines the relationship between scientific objectivity and the influence of social, ethical, [...] Read more.

This paper explores how uncertainty in climate change projections both shapes and is shaped by key epistemic, methodological, ethical, and political concerns. Drawing on a review of key philosophical sources, it examines the relationship between scientific objectivity and the influence of social, ethical, and political values in contexts of deep uncertainty. Authors such as Wendy Parker and Heather Douglas debate the role that social values play in the estimation and communication of scientific uncertainty, particularly when decisions carry significant ethical and political consequences. At the same time, several studies emphasize that, beyond the influence of values, there are structural limitations inherent to complex climate models that prevent uncertainty from being fully reduced. Taken together, these perspectives suggest that both evaluative judgments and technical constraints must be considered when interpreting and managing uncertainty in climate science, especially insofar as it informs collective decision-making processes. The article also examines how certain institutional practices tend to downplay uncertainty, generating biases that affect both scientific communication and public decision-making. It, therefore, explores potential solutions through more integrative approaches, such as robust modeling, risk assessments focused on low-probability but high-impact events (HILL), and collective ethical deliberation. The paper further discusses the concept of normative uncertainty, illustrated through the case of the Tempisque River water conflict, which highlights the difficulty of reconciling competing values. It concludes that, far from being eliminated, uncertainty must be managed through tools that integrate technical rationality, ethical sensitivity, and adaptive governance. Full article

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