An important, and popular, constraint on the nature of intrinsic value—the “Supervenience Principle” (SP)—holds that some object, event, or state of affairs φ is intrinsically valuable only if the value of φ supervenes entirely on φ’s intrinsic properties.1 To deny SP is to accept that an object, state, or event φ can be intrinsically valuable in a way that is explained at least in part by its ...

The idea of a property’s being supervenient on a class of properties is familiar from much philosophical literature. We give this idea a linguistic turn by converting it into the idea of a predicate symbol’s being supervenient on a set of predicate symbols relative to a (first order) theory. What this means is that according to the theory, any individuals differing in respect to whether the giv...

Mental and neural states are related to one another by vertical (synchronic) interlevel relations and by horizontal (diachronic) intralevel relations. For particular choices of such relations, problems arise if causal efficacy is ascribed to mental states. In a series of influential papers and books, Kim has presented his much discussed “supervenience argument”, which ultimately amounts to the ...

Physicalism (P) entails minimal physicalism (MP), MP entails minimal supervenience (MS), and MS is the thesis that there is covariance between the supervenient and the subvenient stuff. Therefore, if the (alleged) supervenient and subvenient stuff do not covary, then MS is false, and if MS is false then MP is false, and if MP is false then P is false. Put differently: if MS is false then P is f...

Single-inheritance object-oriented languages have been extended with features for adding methods to a class from other classes without disturbing the source code of the receiving unit. Well known examples include traits, mix-ins, default methods in interfaces, and method references. The purpose of these offerings is explained in terms of convenient re-use of individual instance methods. These a...

The paper provides description of the system of ethical review for biomedical research in Belarus, with special emphasis on its historical background, legal and regulatory framework, structure and functioning. It concludes that the situation with research ethics in Belarus corresponds to the tendency of bureaucratic approach to establishment of systems of ethical review for biomedical research,...

altitudinal partitioning in the distributions of ectomycorrhizal fungi along a short (300 m) elevation gradient. The NERC and CEH trademarks and logos ('the Trademarks') are registered trademarks of NERC in the UK and other countries, and may not be used without the prior written consent of the Trademark owner.

The future health of infants and children is dependent on the performance of clinical research in which infants participate. Achieving a proper balance between this social good and the obligation to protect infants who participate in research is a significant challenge. As investigators design and implement research protocols, they should be aware of the ethical and legal requirements that gove...

BACKGROUND All research involving human participants should be reviewed by a competent and independent institutional research and ethics committee. Research conducted at Makerere University College of Health Sciences should be subjected to a rigorous review process by the ethics committee in order to protect human participants' interests, rights and welfare. OBJECTIVE To evaluate researchers'...