LE DEMI-SICLE, DE MOÏSE AU FISCUS IUDAICUS. HISTOIRE D’UNE TÉLÉOLOGIE

Many sources are brought together in scholarship in order to write the linear story of a specific tax,the half shekel tax paid each year by the Jews to the Temple of Jerusalem and,then,confiscated by the fiscus Iudaicus in Roman times.But do these sources refer to the same tax?In this paper,I defend the idea that the linearity of this story is a fiction.Many taxes were levied and justified by the memory of a Biblical tax,but they are all different in meaning,in administration and sometimes even in value.The story is a political one:how to justify a tax in ancient Judaism?

The Urban Singularity-Envisioning the Future of Cities

This paper is a hypothetical exploration of the connections between teleological evolution,the Omega Singularity,and the future of cities,weaving together insights from a diverse array of disciplines.Our investigation delves into the possibility that cities are evolving towards a Singularity,a state characterized by infinite knowledge,intelligence,and adaptability,which would bring about a radical transformation of urban environments and their underlying dynamics in the 21st century and beyond.At the heart of this exploration lies the role of language and time as crucial dimensions of the Urban Singularity.Moreover,we examine how linguistic developments and cross-cultural exchanges can foster more inclusive,adaptable,and resilient urban environments,while also highlighting the need for advanced technologies and communication modalities that can support the dynamic needs of future cities.Furthermore,the paper investigates the profound implications and transformative potential of merging human consciousness with the urban Singularity.By examining the interplay between these concepts,we seek for a deeper understanding of the potential trajectories and implications of these concepts for the transformation of human society and our relationship with the built environment.

Biological Autonomy

We argue that genuine biological autonomy, or described at human level as free will, requires taking into account quantum vacuum processes in the context of biological teleology. One faces at least three basic problems of genuine biological autonomy： （1） if biological autonomy is not physical, where does it come from？ （2） Is there a room for biological causes？ And （3） how to obtain a workable model of biological teleology？ It is shown here that the solution of all these three problems is related to the quantum vacuum. We present a short review of how this basic aspect of the fundamentals of quantum theory, although it had not been addressed for nearly 100 years, actually it was suggested by Bohr, Heisenberg, and others. Realizing that the quantum mechanical measurement problem associated with the ＂collapse＂ of the wave function is related, in the Copenhagen Interpretation of quantum mechanics, to a process between self-consciousness and the external physical environment, we are extending the issue for an explanation of the different processes occurring between living organisms and their internal environment. Definitions of genuine biological autonomy, biological aim, and biological spontaneity are presented. We propose to improve the popular two-stage model of decisions with a biological model suitable to obtain a deeper look at the nature of the mind-body problem. In the newly emerging picture biological autonomy emerges as a new, fundamental and inevitable element of the scientific worldview.

Understanding the Ethical Theories in Medical Practice

It is important to understand the basic of the ethical theories and how to utilize them to deal with the ethical dilemma in the medical practice. This article presents a brief review of three of famous philosophical theories of ethics, which may enrich our understanding and guide our behaviour in medical practice. Conclusion: There is no fully adequate moral theory which can singly explain all ethical or moral dilemmas and none of them also can singly explain all ethical or moral dilemmas.

Logical and Ontological Implications of Necessity in Aristotelian Teleology

Firstly, this paper is to illustrate through the analysis of Aristotelian texts that two kinds of necessity involved in the teleological account, the necessity απλωζand the necessity εξυποθεσεωζare related to an achievement of an endaccording to two thoroughly different ontological and logical grounds. Secondly, it is to bring the irreducibility of the teleological to non-teleological into organic development to unprecedented light so as to show how the ontological predominance of the finality over the material necessity may be adequately expressed by a logical implication, if it is appropriately stated and well distinct from other similar logical connectives such as the material implication and the biconditional if-and-only-if.

Different Forms of Rationalities in Aristotle： From Being to Acting

Every philosophical system of Aristotle is structured around different forms of rationalities. Each form of rationality, according to its method, object, and purpose, seeks to apprehend and to know a specific dimension of being, because being manifests itself in many ways, that is, the totality of reality. Yet, each form of understanding the being has its epistemological and ontological status, always anchored in the logic criteria. In general, the aim of the paper is to characterize some aspects of the main forms of rationalities in the thought of Aristotle, i.e., demonstrative, dialectic, physics, metaphysics, productive, and practices. But before that, succinctly, it is necessary to talk about the different dimensions of being and teleology.

On the Teleological Interpretation of the Right to a Happy Life

In his letter to the symposium commemorating the 70thanniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,General Secretary Xi Jinping put forward that"people’s happy life is the greatest human right".The academic implication of this important exposition is that it puts forward a major concept,the right to a happy life as a human right,in the field of hum an rights.The right to a happy life is the right that people pursue,enjoy and realize a happy life,which belongs to the general right,that is,the"bundle of rights".Teleological interpretation provides a strong defense for the right to a happy life.However,teleological interpretation may bring many risks,which may get the right to a happy life into many dilemmas,such as the loss of dignity due to the degradation of"human"as a tool,the loss ofjustice due to the damage to the human rights of a few individuals or groups,the possible violation of human rights due to the promotion of the expansion of government power,and the difficulty of universal recognition due to differences in the pursuit of happiness and the happiness itself.Therefore,we must adhere to the"people-centered"principle and justice to enhance the government’s serious handling of human rights and reach an overlapping consensus in the pursuit of happiness,so as to restrict the teleological interpretation of the right to a happy life in a rational manner and promote the development of China’s human rights cause.

Aristotle＇s Concept of Potentiality in Metaphysics Book θ

It is controversial whether δVVαμLζ in Metaphysics Book θ has two distinct senses, one of which is strict, called ＂power,＂ and the other is the ＂more useful sense,＂ called ＂potentiality.＂ This paper argues that there are indeed two senses of δVVαμLζ in Metaphysics θ, refuting Michael Frede＇s ＂unitarian interpretation.＂ Distinguished from power, potentiality is neither Aristotelian nature, nor possibility, nor capacity for being, but rather a way of being. This paper examines the ontological meanings and the features of potentiality as a way of being. Basically, potentiality has a dual status, that is, it is being, on the one hand, and not-being on the other. Furthermore, it has a teleological direction toward its correlative actuality, which explains how potentiality ontologically depends on actuality and why actuality is substantially prior to potentiality.

How Is the Kantian or Confucian Metaphysics Applicable to Human Dignity--Response to WangXiaowei

Using the opportunity of responding to Wang’s critiques,this short article clarifies a number of important points related to the topic of human dignity.It argues that,only in moving beyond his a priori reasoning by assuming humans to be rational agents can the Kantian theory of dignity be applied to actual humans;only in taking our moral potential as a recommended way of human self-identification can the is-ought dichotomy be resolved;only in respecting human dignity can punishment be justified;and only from its function in shaping our visions and attitudes can a teleological metaphysics be helpful.

The Mode of Herodotus Interpretation in Christian Historiographic Traditions:A Critical Issue from a Chinese Perspective

While historical researchers inevitably create their historical narratives within a contemporary context,they must distinguish the influences received from both sides-the context in which objects are studied,and the context in which they themselves are living.Based on the consideration of the tension between these two contexts,this article takes the mode of Herodotus interpretation in Christian historiographic traditions as its starting point.It examines Western traditions of thought and whether certain disciplinary standards and rules that have been formed,and gradually accepted,in those traditions can be directly applied to ancient historical studies and historians.This article also studies the roots of these modes of interpretation,trying to compare them from the perspective of thinking and possible choices.To understand the historical writings of Herodotus,this article draws on an ancient Chinese text(Sima Qian's)to reflect on a historical-cognitive pattern that has been generally accepted by Westerners,and thus explores the special writing states and historical logic that people may present in theirearlyhistorical consciousness.