This chapter asks whether science fiction (SF) has a predisposition to a particular ethical orientation. Rather than seek a single answer to this question of SF’s ethics, Kendal examines two classic SF texts and the traditions they represent: Isaac Asimov’s Foundation trilogy (1951–1953), one of the most iconic series of SF’s American “golden…[Read more]

Spanish abstract: La cibernética, la neurología, la semiótica y la narratología han de emprender conjuntamente el estudio interdisciplinar de la consciencia entendida como la circulación retroalimentativa compleja entre distintos sistemas y circuitos cerebrales—así como entre distintas modalidades de representación en el cerebro. Se entender…[Read more]

This slide set includes a translation into English of Tam o’ Shanter by Robert Burns. The aim of the translation is to preserve the original poetic effect of the poem written in Scots. The slide set is intended for academic and educational purposes, as well as personal enjoyment.

Spanish abstract: ‘Modernidad Líquida’ de Zygmunt Bauman ofrece perspectivas iluminadoras para la interpretación de muchos fenómenos característicos de cultura y la economía del siglo XXI. Leemos a su luz la política de endeudamiento y déficit sistemático de los estados nacionales, y en concreto de España, promovida en años recientes por el establ…[Read more]

Spanish abstract: La película ‘Contagio’ (dir. Steven Soderbergh, 2011) pertenece al género ‘catástrofe – multiprotagonista’, aquí potenciado por varias circunstancias. La catástrofe es mundial y creíble, una epidemia de una gripe mortífera, como la Peste Negra, o como la Peste Escarlata de Jack London. Y la catástrofe se difunde por las relacione…[Read more]

Spanish abstract: Comentamos aquí sobre la integración de algunos aspectos éticos, estéticos, psicológicos y narrativos en la novela epistolar ´Clarissa, or the History of a Young Lady´ de Samuel Richardson (1747-48), en concreto la encarnación de un ideal ético-estético en el personaje de Clarissa, y la elección consciente de una técnica na…[Read more]

Spanish abstract: Comentarios sobre la guerra desde un punto de vista etológico y evolucionista, sugeridos por el libro de Javier Falgueras ‘Somos Hijos de la Guerra’. _________________________________________________________________________________ English abstract: Disquisitions on war from an ethological and evolutionary perspective, suggested…[Read more]

Tam o’ Shanter, a great narrative poem written by Roberts Burns, is written in Scots and as such is difficult to access by standard English speakers and non-natives alike. This monograph offers an account of the language of Tam as characterised by a significant number of distinctive lexical and phonological items related to Old Norse. It is c…[Read more]

Tam o’ Shanter, a great narrative poem written by Roberts Burns, is written in Scots and as such is difficult to access by standard English speakers and non-natives alike. Old Norse influences form an essential part of the fabric of Tam, and the poem can only be fully understood when these are identified and described. This article presents a n…[Read more]

Spanish abstract: El concepto de ‘autor implícito’ (implied author) lo difundió Wayne Booth en ‘La Retórica de la Ficción’ (1961) pero, como veremos, algo apuntaron al respecto con anterioridad otros autores. Aquí señalamos más en concreto el precedente de Hegel. ______…[Read more]

Spanish abstract: El concepto de ‘autor implícito’ (implied author) lo difundió Wayne Booth en ‘La Retórica de la Ficción’ (1961) pero, como veremos, algo apuntaron al respecto con anterioridad otros autores. Aquí señalamos más en concreto el precedente de Hegel. ______…[Read more]

A previous Deep in Japan podcast explored how ancient Japanese viewed their environment and sacred sites, culminating in the author’s discovery of a mountain range that was formerly viewed as a mandala that practitioners could traverse. This 2022 podcast is more autobiographical, describing encounters with Reischauer, Keene, Alan Watts, and…[Read more]

Science presupposes the acceptance of discussion and controversy. There is no official truth in science; The search for any conceivable truth is only possible in a context of freedom. Official truths led Giordano Bruno to the stake and Galileo to a false retraction (“eppur si muove’); nevertheless official truths continue to thrive, like und…[Read more]

DARE * PRURITUS MIGRANS * CC: BY-NC-ND

The weblog Computer-Assisted Language Comparison in Practice, published on the Hypotheses platform for scientific blogging, offers tutorials and discussion notes on computer-assisted approaches to the history and diversity of languages. A substantial part of its content is contributed as part of the ERC Starting Grant “Computer-Assisted Language C…[Read more]

The weblog Computer-Assisted Language Comparison in Practice, published on the Hypotheses platform for scientific blogging, offers tutorials and discussion notes on computer-assisted approaches to the history and diversity of languages. A substantial part of its content is contributed as part of the ERC Starting Grant “Computer-Assisted Language C…[Read more]

Spanish abstract: El inmaterialismo del siglo XVIII nos enseñó que el mundo que habitamos no es de naturaleza física sino básicamente informacional o semiótica. Yendo más allá del constructivismo psicológico y de la fenomenología, nos sugieren Berkeley y otros que el mundo es una construcción mental—que habitamos, sin sospecharlo, en una realida…[Read more]