Autonomous and non-autonomous traits mediate social cooperation in Dictyostelium discoideum

In the trishanku (triA(-)) mutant of the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum, aggregates are smaller than usual and the spore mass is located mid-way up the stalk, not at the apex. We have monitored aggregate territory size, spore allocation and fruiting body morphology in chimaeric groups of (quasi-wild-type) Ax2 and triA(-) cells. Developmental canalisation breaks down in chimaeras and leads to an increase in phenotypic variation. A minority of triA(-) cells causes largely Ax2 aggregation streams to break up; the effect is not due to the counting factor. Most chimaeric fruiting bodies resemble those of Ax2 or triA(-). Others are double-deckers with a single stalk and two spore masses, one each at the terminus and midway along the stalk. The relative number of spores belonging to the two genotypes depends both on the mixing ratio and on the fruiting body morphology. In double-deckers formed from 1:1 chimaeras, the upper spore mass has more Ax2 spores, and the lower spore mass more triA(-) spores, than expected. Thus, the traits under study depend partly on the cells' own genotype and partly on the phenotypes, and so genotypes, of other cells: they are both autonomous and non-autonomous. These findings strengthen the parallels between multicellular development and behaviour in social groups. Besides that, they reinforce the point that a trait can be associated with a genotype only in a specified context.

Reciprocity as a trigger of social cooperation in contemporary immigration societies?

While the system stabilizing function of reciprocity is widely acknowledged, much less attention has been paid to the argument that reciprocity might initiate social cooperation in the first place. This paper tests Gouldner’s early assumption that reciprocity may act as a ‘starting mechanism’ of social cooperation in consolidating societies. The empirical test scenario builds on unequal civic engagement between immigrants and nationals, as this engagement gap can be read as a lack of social cooperation in consolidating immigration societies. Empirical analyses using survey data on reciprocal norms and based on Bayesian hierarchical modelling lend support for Gouldner’s thesis, underlining thereby the relevance of reciprocity in today’s increasingly diverse societies: individual norms of altruistic reciprocity elevate immigrants’ propensity to volunteer, reducing thereby the engagement gap between immigrants and natives in the area of informal volunteering. In other words, compliance with altruistic reciprocity may trigger cooperation in social strata, where it is less likely to occur. The positive moderation of the informal engagement gap through altruistic reciprocity turns out to be most pronounced for immigrants who are least likely to engage in informal volunteering, meaning low, but also high educated immigrants.

Social and ecological influences on dispersal and philopatry in the plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae)

Benefits and costs of dispersal and philopatry of the social plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) were studied on the Tibetan plateau for 3 years. Although short-lived, plateau pikas live in cohesive family groups that occupy burrow systems in sedge meadow habitat Most (57.8%) plateau pikas were philopatric, and dispersal movements were extremely restricted. No juvenile females or adult pikas moved more than two family ranges between years; the greatest observed dispersal distances were by two juvenile males that moved five family ranges from the family of their birth. Traversing unfamiliar habitat was not a cost of pika dispersal because most dispersers settled in families that they could easily visit before dispersal. Dispersal movements appeared to result in equalization of density among pika families, an expected result if competition for environmental resources influenced dispersal. Males did not disperse to gain advantages in competition for mates, as evidenced by their moving to families with significantly fewer females. Females, however, moved to families with significantly more males. Males provide abundant paternal care, and significantly more offspring per female survived to become adults from families with more adult males per adult female. Evidence concerning the influence of inbreeding avoidance on natal dispersal was indirect. Some males exhibited natal philopatry; thus some families had opportunity for close inbreeding. Males and females that dispersed had no opposite-sex relatives in their new families. Philopatric pikas may have benefited by remaining in families that exhibited low local densities, and philopatric females might have benefited from social cooperation with relatives.

Information Behavior: A Socio-Cognitive Ability

Abstract: How has human information behavior evolved? Our paper explores this question in the form of notions, models and theories about the relationship between information behavior and human evolution. Alexander’s Ecological Dominance and Social Competition/Cooperation (EDSC) model currently provides the most comprehensive overview of human traits in the development of a theory of human evolution and sociality. His model provides a basis for explaining the evolution of human socio-cognitive abilities, including ecological dominance, and social competition/cooperation. Our paper examines the human trait of information behavior as a socio-cognitive ability related to ecological dominance, and social competition/cooperation. The paper first outlines what is meant by information behavior from various interdisciplinary perspectives. We propose that information behavior is a socio-cognitive ability that is related to and enables other sociocognitive abilities such as human ecological dominance, and social competition/cooperation. The paper reviews the current state of evolutionary approaches to information behavior and future directions for this research . Keywords: information behavior, socio-cognitive ability, ecological dominance, social competition, social cooperation.

O constitucionalismo solidário: responsabilidade, democracia e inclusão

A presente dissertação tem por objetivo analisar a solidariedade social e sua projeção no sistema constitucional brasileiro, buscando definir seus contornos, fundamentos e limites na efetivação de políticas públicas e decisões judiciais. Ademais, busca-se na presente dissertação demarcar os limites e possibilidades da solidariedade enquanto valor que norteia o campo da política, notadamente na prática democrática. O estudo parte de uma análise histórica e filosófica para contextualizar a solidariedade como princípio jurídico que fundamenta direitos e deveres e que encontra nas demandas por reconhecimento das diferenças seu maior campo de incidência. Na política, a solidariedade se abre à opção de uma democracia anti-elitista que tem no conflito, na tolerância e nas divergências as pedras de toque que proporcionam uma dinâmica que respeita as diferenças e geram cooperação social por conta dessa estima intersubjetiva. Os deveres de reconhecimento intersubjetivo e de estima social possibilitam uma construção social dialógica e interacional, na qual seus sujeitos são respeitados como seres livres e iguais, dignos de igual respeito e consideração. Tal afirmativa é colocada a prova quando da viabilidade constitucional da cota racial nas Universidades Públicas brasileiras. Da mesma forma, a solidariedade se projeta para o campo jurídico devido a sua positivação na Constituição brasileira de 1988 como princípio/objetivo fundamental da República Federativa do Brasil. Deste modo, a jurisprudência do Supremo Tribunal Federal vem lançando mão do princípio fundamental da solidariedade para fundamentar decisões que envolvam deveres fundamentais de redistribuição e reconhecimento. Tais decisões nos permitem traçar um conteúdo mínimo desse princípio à luz da ordem social e cultural brasileira que, aliás, não foi deixada de lado em nenhum momento no decorrer do estudo. Esse conteúdo material encontra nos deveres de redistribuição e reconhecimento, principalmente neste último, seu suporte de eficácia jurídica, viabilizando, em certos momentos, até uma aplicação direta da solidariedade por meio dos deveres.

Rola Francji i Niemiec w procesie integracji europejskiej w latach 1992-2007

Francja i Niemcy przez stulecia walczyły o zdobycie władzy i przejęcie wpływów na kontynencie europejskim i traktowały siebie nawzajem jako największe zagrożenie. Jednak tragiczna pierwsza połowa XX wieku przyniosła z jednej strony pragnienie zapewnienia, iż okropności wojny już nigdy się nie powtórzą, a z drugiej strony poczucie, że nieodzowna jest zmiana dwustronnych stosunków panujących między Berlinem a Paryżem. Konieczność stworzenia przestrzeni wolności i współpracy doprowadziła niegdysiejszych wrogów do stworzenia idei integracji najważniejszych części gospodarki. Pomysł zjednoczenia krajów Europy Zachodniej przekształcił się w kolejnych latach w symbol zaangażowania francusko-niemieckiego. Dwie republiki stały się rdzeniem europejskiej współpracy i spiritus movens zmian politycznych, ekonomicznych i instytucjonalnych w powojennej Europie. Po upadku komunizmu w 1989 roku ich rola zyskała nowy wymiar w odmiennych warunkach geopolitycznych - od momentu podpisania Traktatu z Maastricht w 1992 roku francusko-niemiecki duet powiększył swe znaczenie i wpływ na politykę nowej Unii Europejskiej. Realizacja zapisów Traktatu z Maastricht i kolejnych dokumentów, w tym Traktatu z Lizbony, koncentracja na kwestiach reform instytucjonalnych, jak również przygotowania do wschodniego rozszerzenia UE mogą być rozpatrywane jedynie w odniesieniu do wspólnych działań prowadzonych przez nadreński tandem. Realizacja trzech filarów integracji: współpracy w wymiarze ekonomicznym i społecznym, wspólnej polityki zagranicznej i bezpieczeństwa, jak również współpracy policyjnej i sądowej w sprawach karnych, podkreślają znaczenie couple franco-allemand i zwracają uwagę na rolę lidera, jaką Paryż i Berlin odgrywają w dziedzinie integracji.

On the Scope of Egalitarian Justice.

article

Autonomie et reconnaissance

La notion d’autonomie personnelle joue un rôle central dans les théories politiques contemporaines et, plus spécifiquement, dans les théories de la justice. Or, dans le paradigme libéral dominant, elle est définie par une compréhension rationaliste de l’agent individuel. La présente étude défend la nécessité de redéfinir ce concept d’autonomie à la lumière des développements philosophiques et psychologiques qui ont complexifié notre compréhension de la subjectivité. L’emploi du concept d’autonomie relationnelle développé par certains auteurs féministes et par certains théoriciens de la reconnaissance semble pour ce faire prometteur. En passant par une critique du libéralisme politique rawlsien, cette étude cherche à montrer qu’une compréhension relationnelle de l’autonomie est nécessaire pour expliquer la motivation à la coopération sociale et pour redéfinir la justice et l’injustice de façon à ce qu’elles correspondent à l’expérience sociale vécue.

Sobre as causas evolutivas da cognição humana

Pós-graduação em Filosofia - FFC

Questions of Life and Death

The research started with a definition of the general ethical background to be applied in bioethical discussions, particularly regarding aspects of morality that have to be enforced by the community. Only those moral beliefs that can be accepted by consensus in a free discussion can be enforced. It follows that the basic principle of a well ordered society is the equality (and possible upwards extension) of the basic liberties. Therefore, whenever it is possible to respect the principle of autonomy in matters of bioethics (here including questions of abortion, assisted procreation, genetics, organ transplantation and euthanasia) this must be done. On the other hand, there are some common values that can be defended in a free dialogue, values that are needed in order to guarantee stable cooperation in a political society. These values include the respect for human life, which implies the respect for human life in all its forms. This leads to the conclusion that people who are able to be part of the system of cooperation in a political society have rights which are dominant in moral considerations. In all cases where there is no conflict between these rights and the value of life as manifested in human individuals who are not able participate in social cooperation, considerations of the value of the life of the latter must be an important moral consideration. This implies that embryo experimentation should be permitted in order to develop scientific advances needed to save human life, but embryos must not be used for trivial reasons or for the cosmetic industry.

Rural water system sustainability : a case study of community-managed water systems in Saramaka communities

Worldwide, rural populations are far less likely to have access to clean drinking water than are urban ones. In many developing countries, the current approach to rural water supply uses a model of demand-driven, community-managed water systems. In Suriname, South America rural populations have limited access to improved water supplies; community-managed water supply systems have been installed in several rural communities by nongovernmental organizations as part of the solution. To date, there has been no review of the performance of these water supply systems. This report presents the results of an investigation of three rural water supply systems constructed in Saramaka villages in the interior of Suriname. The investigation used a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, coupled with ethnographic information, to construct a comprehensive overview of these water systems. This overview includes the water use of the communities, the current status of the water supply systems, histories and sustainability of the water supply projects, technical reviews, and community perceptions. From this overview, factors important to the sustainability of these water systems were identified. Community water supply systems are engineered solutions that operate through social cooperation. The results from this investigation show that technical adequacy is the first and most critical factor for long-term sustainability of a water system. It also shows that technical adequacy is dependent on the appropriateness of the engineering design for the social, cultural, and natural setting in which it takes place. The complex relationships between technical adequacy, community support, and the involvement of women play important roles in the success of water supply projects. Addressing these factors during the project process and taking advantage of alternative water resources may increase the supply of improved drinking water to rural communities.

Humans and Scavengers: The Evolution of Interactions and Ecosystem Services

Since the origin of early Homo species during the Late Pliocene, interactions of humans with scavenging birds and mammals have changed in form through shifting ecological scenarios. How humans procured meat during the Quaternary Period changed from confrontational scavenging to hunting; shepherding of wild animals; and, eventually, intensive husbandry of domesticated animals. As humans evolved from carcass consumers to carcass providers, the overall relationship between humans and scavengers shifted from competition to facilitation. These changing interactions have translated into shifting provisioning (by signaling carcass location), regulating (e.g., by removing animal debris and controlling infectious diseases), and cultural ecosystem services (e.g., by favoring human language and social cooperation skills or, more recently, by enhancing ecotourism) provided by scavenging vertebrates. The continued survival of vultures and large mammalian scavengers alongside humans is now severely in jeopardy, threatening the loss of the numerous ecosystem services from which contemporary and future humans could benefit.

El ataque libertarista contra el igualitarismo y el marxismo : actualidad de un debate inconcluso

El presente artículo examina las principales líneas de ataque lanzadas por el libertarismo de derecha -expresado fundamentalmente en la obra de Robert Nozick-, contra el igualitarismo liberal de John Rawls y el materialismo histórico. En particular, analiza el rechazo nozickeano a la justicia distributiva, a la deseabilidad (y posibilidad) de la cooperación social, y a los esquemas distributivos contrarios al principio de autopropiedad. Asimismo, explora el impacto de este principio libertarista sobre algunos postulados fundamentales del marxismo. Desde una perspectiva que se nutre de los principales debates de la filosofía política contemporánea, y con una opción teórica por el igualitarismo, este texto presenta y procura debilitar las más audaces tesis nozickeanas, las cuales siguen ejerciendo gran influencia en círculos académicos, en algunas instancias de formulación de políticas públicas y, sobre todo, en el sentido común forjado en tiempos de hegemonía neoliberal.

Igualitarismo, estructura básica y contextualismo rawlsiano

En este trabajo se analiza si es apropiado evaluar acciones individuales con los principios de justicia aplicables a las instituciones. Para lograr este objetivo, el artículo examina la teoría de la justicia rawlsiana y algunas de las principales objeciones en su contra. Los críticos niegan que los principios de justicia de esta teoría estén configurados para evaluar exclusivamente las instituciones sociales básicas. Es más: afirman que la justicia no sólo exige instituciones justas sino que además exige acciones individuales justas. La hipótesis de este trabajo afirma que principios aptos para ciertos contextos sociales no son adecuados para evaluar otro tipo de interacciones sociales. El argumento apela a una interpretación normativa de la noción de estructura básica, elemento clave para defender el carácter institucional de la justicia rawlsiana

Igualitarismo, estructura básica y contextualismo rawlsiano

En este trabajo se analiza si es apropiado evaluar acciones individuales con los principios de justicia aplicables a las instituciones. Para lograr este objetivo, el artículo examina la teoría de la justicia rawlsiana y algunas de las principales objeciones en su contra. Los críticos niegan que los principios de justicia de esta teoría estén configurados para evaluar exclusivamente las instituciones sociales básicas. Es más: afirman que la justicia no sólo exige instituciones justas sino que además exige acciones individuales justas. La hipótesis de este trabajo afirma que principios aptos para ciertos contextos sociales no son adecuados para evaluar otro tipo de interacciones sociales. El argumento apela a una interpretación normativa de la noción de estructura básica, elemento clave para defender el carácter institucional de la justicia rawlsiana