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The aim of this talk will be to present my original solution to a famous miners paradox, established by Niko Kolodny and John MacFarlane in their paper “Ifs and Oughts”. The main premise of the paradox is that the miners are trapped in one of the two shafts and we cannot block either one of them to prevent the flood, since we do not know where they are and blocking of the wrong one would lead to unnecessary deaths. However, Kolodny and MacFarlane construct a counterexample that proves that the use of modus ponens will lead not only to a false conclusion, but also a contradictory one. In the case of trapped miners, conclusion will be that we ought to block one of the shafts, which contradicts the first premise that neither of the two shafts ought to be blocked. Kolodny and MacFarlane conclude that modus ponens is the cause of this type of contradictions. I have noticed two fundamental problems with the premises presented by Kolodny and MacFarlane. They claim that the first premise (“We ought to block neither shaft.”) is based on our moral obligations and thus indisputable. However, I shall try to point out that this premise can only be accepted as a conclusion of reasoning – the one already involving modus ponens. I shall claim that Kolodny and MacFarlane need to use modus ponens in order to construct such premise that would allow them further construction of the argument against modus ponens. If the argument is successful in proving that the use of modus ponens is wrong, it is such just because of the previous correct use of modus ponens.

Iščekujući ekspanziju novih biotehnoloških otkrića i legalizacije primjene već razvijenih biomedicinskih tehnologija u svrhu ljudskoga poboljšanja razmatraju se posljedice koje će biomedicinsko poboljšanje imati na društvenu nejednakost. Oslanjajući se na rad filozofa Allana Buchanana, ispitat će se pretpostavke koje determiniraju raspravu o pravednoj raspodjeli biomedicinskog poboljšanja i doprinose uvjerenju da će biomedicinsko poboljšanje povećati društvenu nejednakost. Kritizirat će se Buchananovo gledište prema kojemu je za pravednu raspodjelu biomedicinskog poboljšanja presudno da brzina kojom se ono distribuira manje privilegiranima ne dovodi do dominacije, isključivanja i radikalnoga siromaštva. Također, kritizirat će se rješenje koje Buchanan nudi za povećanje distribucije biomedicinskog poboljšanja manje privilegiranima. Na kraju, slijedeći filozofe Juliana Savulescua i i Ingmara Perssona , pokazat će se kako biomedicinsko poboljšanje može izravno dovesti do veće društvene jednakosti., While anticipating the expansion of new biotechnological discoveries and the legalization of the application of already developed biomedical technologies for human improvement, we analyze the consequences that biomedical improvement will have on social inequality. Drawing on the work of philosopher Allan Buchanan, the assumptions that determine the debate about the fair distribution of biomedical enhancement and contribute to the belief that biomedical enhancement will increase social inequality will be examined. Buchanan's point of view will be criticized according to which it is crucial for the fair distribution of biomedical improvement that the speed with which it is distributed to the less privileged does not lead to domination, exclusion, and radical poverty. Also, the solution that Buchanan offers to increase the distribution of biomedical improvement to the less privileged will be criticized. Finally, following the philosophers Julian Savulescu and Ingmar Persson, it will be shown how biomedical improvement can directly lead to greater social equality.

Predstavljanje tema doktorskih disertacija mladih istraživača, Presentation of topics of doctoral dissertations of young researchers

A number of measures, stemming from nonlinear dynamics, exist to estimate complexity of biomedical objects. In most cases they are appropriate, but sometimes unconventional measures, more suited for specific objects, are needed to perform the task. In our present work, we propose three new complexity measures to quantify complexity of topographic closed loops of alpha carrier frequency phase potentials (CFPP) of healthy humans in wake and drowsy states. EEG of ten adult individuals was recorded in both states, using a 14-channel montage. For each subject and each state, a topographic loop (circular directed graph) was constructed according to CFPP values. Circular complexity measure was obtained by summing angles which directed graph edges (arrows) form with the topographic center. Longitudinal complexity was defined as the sum of all arrow lengths, while intersecting complexity was introduced by counting the number of intersections of graph edges. Wilcoxon's signed-ranks test was used on the sets of these three measures, as well as on fractal dimension values of some loop properties, to test differences between loops obtained in wake vs. drowsy. While fractal dimension values were not significantly different, longitudinal and intersecting complexities, as well as anticlockwise circularity, were significantly increased in drowsy.

U ovom radu ćemo razmatrati Kantovu etiku u pogledu njegovog odnosa prema životinjama i nastojaćemo da ispitamo da li i na koji način nas Kantova moralna načela obavezuju na dostojanstveno postupanje prema životinjama. Najpre ćemo ukratko izložiti osnovne postulate Kantove etike i razmotriti opravdanost njegovog isključivanja životinja iz domena važenja moralnih zakona. Nastojaćemo da pokažemo da je ovo isključ ivanje neopravdano i da je zapravo posledica jednog šireg inherentnog problema u Kantovoj etici koji je osetljiv na argument zasnovan na graničnim slučajevima. Razmotrićemo rešenje moralnog statusa životinja koje je ponudila Kristin Korsgrad i nastojati da pokažemo da ono s podjednakom uspešnošću rešava i unutrašnju tenziju unutar Kantove etike. Na kraju ćemo, oslanjajući se na rad Donalada Vadevira, bliže odrediti rešenje moralnog statusa životinja koje je dala Korsagard i formulisati nespecistički kriterijum za rešavanje sukoba interesa između pripadnika ljudi i bić a na koje smo navikli da gledamo samo kao na sredstvo., The aim of this paper is to investigate Kant’s ethics regarding his views on non-human animals in order to distinguish whether and in which sense does Kant’s moral principle oblige us to treat animals with dignity. First, we shall provide a review of Kant’s basic moral views in order to consider whether it is justified for non-human animals to be excluded from moral laws. We shall claim that this exclusion is not justified and that it is a consequence of another, inherent problem that makes Kant’s ethics vulnerable to the argument from marginal cases. Christine Korsgaard’s solution to the problem of non-human animal moral status shall be considered and we shall attempt to show that it solves the original inherent problem as well. In conclusion, with a help from Donald VanDeVeer’s distinction, we shall provide a more precise addition to Korsgaard’s solution and formulate a non-speciest criterion for those cases of conflicted interests between humans and those who are traditionally viewed as a means instead of ends-in themselves.

U početnom delu predavanja bih ukratko izložila Dijem−Kvajnovu tezu o subdeterminaciji. O subdeterminaciji govorimo u onim okolnostima kada trenutno dostupni empirijski podaci ne omogućavaju da jednoj od dve suprotstavljene teorije damo prednost. U takvim slučajevima nismo u stanju da na osnovu svedočanstava odlučimo koja teorija je istinita i/ili bolja, zato što postoji mogućnost konstruisanja alternativnih podjednako uspešnih teorija. Nakon toga, izložila bih Kvajnovu dilemu, pod čime se u literaturi podrazumeva njegova nesigurnost u pogledu toga da li u slučaju subdeterminacije treba obe teorije smatrati istinitim (ekumenski odgovor) ili samo jednu od njih (sektaški odgovor). Ova dilema je značajna zbog toga što usvajanje ekumenskog odgovora predstavlja problem za Kvajnov naturalizam, dok usvajanje sektaškog protivreči njegovim empirističkim i antirealističkim shvatanjima. Kvajn se kolebao između ova dva odgovora i nije najjasnije kojem se priklonio. Planiram da izložim dva najuspešnija rešenja Kvajnove dileme, od kojih je jedno pružio Donald Dejvison, a drugo Rodžer Gibson. Dejvidson se opredelio za ekumenski odgovor, jer je smatrao da istinitost zavisi od jezika, a ne od teorija. On je ponudio rešenje prema kojem obe teorije možemo smatrati istinitim ukoliko se mogu predstaviti istim jezikom. Nasuprot njemu, Gibson pruža rešenje prema kojem se naturalizam shvata kao jedna globalna teorija koja u datom trenutku određuje šta ćemo smatrati istinom. Zbog toga što je nemoguće zastupati istovremeno više od jedne globalne teorije, Gibson smatra da je za Kvajna racionalnije da prihvati sektaški odgovor. Nakon razmatranja oba rešenja, tvrdiću da bi za Kvajna bilo racionalnije da prihvati Dejvidsonovo i to iz dva razloga. Najpre zbog toga što nam ono omogućava da očuvamo i empirizam i (u nekoj meri izmenjen) naturalizam, dok nas Gibsonovo obavezuje da se u potpunosti odreknemo empirizma. Drugi razlog je taj što smatram da je Dejvidsonov odgovor više u skladu sa savremeno, In the initial part of the presentation, I will briefly present Diem-Quine's thesis on underdetermination. We speak of underdetermination in circumstances in which currently available empirical data does not warrant preference for one of the two opposing theories. In such cases, we are unable to decide which theory is true, and/or better, because there is a possibility of constructing alternative equally successful theories. After that, I would outline Quine's dilemma, which is understood in the literature as his uncertainty regarding whether, in the case of underdetermination, both theories should be considered true (ecumenical response) or only one of them (sectarian response). This dilemma is significant because the adoption of an ecumenical response poses a problem for Quine's naturalism while the adoption of a sectarian response contradicts his empiricist and anti-realist views. Quine vacillated between these two answers, and it was not clear which one he favored. I plan to outline the two most successful solutions to Quine's dilemma, one provided by Donald Davison and the other by Roger Gibson. Davidson opted for an ecumenical response because he believed that truth depended on language, not on theories. He offered a solution according to which we can consider both theories to be true if they can be presented in the same language. In contrast, Gibson offers a solution according to which naturalism is understood as a global theory that determines what we consider to be true. Because it is impossible to advocate more than one global theory at one time, Gibson thinks it is more rational for Quine to accept the sectarian answer. After considering both solutions, I will argue that it would be more rational for Quine to accept Davidson's solution for two reasons. First, because it allows us to preserve both empiricism and (somewhat modified) naturalism while Gibson's solution requires us to completely renounce empiricism. Another reason is that I find Davidson's ans

Cilj ovog rada je razmatranje Kvajnove dileme u pogledu toga da li u slučaju subdeterminacije treba obe teorije smatrati istinitim (ekumenski odgovor) ili samo jednu od njih (sektaški odgovor). Ova dilema je značajna zbog toga što usvajanje ekumenskog odgovora predstavlja problem za Kvajnov naturalizam, dok usvajanje sektaške protivreči njegovim empirističkim shvatanjima. Videćemo da se Kvajn dugo kolebao između ovih odgovora, kao i to da nije najjasnije za koji se na kraju opredelio. Izložiću i rešenja koja su ponudili Gibson, Dejvidson, Đenova i Severo i nastojaću da pokažem da je Dejvidsonovo rešenje najuspešnije, zbog toga što zahteva najmanje izmene Kvajnovog sistema., The aim of this paper is to investigate Quine’s dilemma whether, in case of underdetermination, both theories should be considered as true (ecumenical view), or just one of them (sectarian view). This dilemma holds signiicance because the acceptance of ecumenical view represents problem for Quine’s naturalism, while the acceptance of sectarian view contradicts his empiristic preferences. For a long time Quine had vacciliated between those views and it is not clear what his inal conclusion was. I will review Gibson’s, Davidson’s, Genova’s and Severo’s solutions and I will argue that Davidson’s is the most successful, since it requires fewer changes in Quine’s system.

The exact mathematical relationship between FFT spectrum and fractal dimension (FD) of an experimentally recorded signal is not known. In this work, we tried to calculate signal FD directly from its Fourier amplitudes. First, dependence of Higuchis FD of mathematical sinusoids on their individual frequencies was modeled with a two-parameter exponential function. Next, FD of a finite sum of sinusoids was found to be a weighted average of their FDs, weighting factors being their Fourier amplitudes raised to a fractal degree. Exponent dependence on frequency was modeled with exponential, power and logarithmic functions. A set of 280 EEG signals and Weierstrass functions were analyzed. Cross-validation was done within EEG signals and between them and Weierstrass functions. Exponential dependence of fractal exponents on frequency was found to be the most accurate. In this work, signal FD was for the first time expressed as a fractal weighted average of FD values of its Fourier components, also allowing researchers to perform direct estimation of signal fractal dimension from its FFT spectrum.

Structural, magnetic and electrical properties of iron oxide nano-sized powders synthesised electrochemically under various conditions are presented. The influence of the temperature and current density of synthesis on particular powder characteristics is established. Possibilities for co-existence of various phases and their impact on powder properties, as well as feasible paths of phase relaxation and transition during non-isothermal heating are investigated, too. In this way, optimal procedures for the preparation and stabilisation of iron oxides nano-sized powders of different characteristics are evaluated.

Composite materials based on Si3N4 were synthesized by introducing previously prepared beta-Si3N4 seeds into a mixture of alpha-Si3N4 and 10 wt% of sintering additive. The densification process during pressureless sintering was studied in the presence of CeO2 additive, which is less frequently used as sintering aid to Si3N4. The effect of seed concentration and sintering time oil the densification and fracture toughness was followed. The results showed that the addition of seeds retarded densification. On the other hand, fracture toughness passes through maximum at the content of 3 wt% seeds. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.

The objective of this work was to investigate the effect of two different sintering additives (CeO2 and Y2O3 + Al2O3), sintering time and amount of beta-Si3N4 seeds on the densification. mechanical properties and microstructure of self-reinforced Si3N4 based composites obtained by pressureless sintering. Preparation of beta-Si3N4 seeds, also obtained by a pressureless sintering procedure. is described. Samples without seeds were prepared for comparison. The results imply that self-reinforced silicon nitride based composites with densities close to the theoretical values and with fracture toughness of 9.3 MPa m(1/2) can be obtained using a presureless sintering procedure.

Si3N4-TiN composites, with varying TiN content from 0-50 wt% and beta-Si3N4 seeds up to 5 wt%, were examined in respect of their electrical resistivity and fracture toughness. The composites are produced by liquid phase sintering using 3%Al2O3+7%Y2O3 as additive. beta-seed particles with different particle shape and aspect ratio were used in this investigation. The electrical conductivity of composites exhibits a percolative behaviour, which is characterised by an abrupt decrease in resistivity in composites with 36 wt%TiN. In composites with beta-Si3N4, for the same percolation concentration of TiN, the electrical resistivity is higher than in composites without seed particles. The fracture toughness shows a considerable improvement in Si3N4-36%TiN with 3 and 5 wt% seeds. High fracture toughness of 6.10 MPa m(1/2) could be achieved due to the controlled bimodal microstructure consisting of elongated beta-Si3N4 incorporated into a composite matrix.