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Research Article
Globalization Unveiled: Examining the Pros and Cons in the 21st Century
Bragagni Maurizio
,
Xhaferraj Lorenc*,
Toscani Carlotta
Issue:
Volume 13, Issue 1, March 2025
Pages:
1-11
Received:
28 October 2024
Accepted:
16 December 2024
Published:
24 January 2025
Abstract: Globalisation is a complex and multidimensional phenomenon that has redefined the global economic, political, cultural, and technological landscape. It generates a growing interconnectedness between people and different societies, and it expands the flows of goods, services, ideas and across the world. Globalisation has become a widely debated topic in recent years, with opinions divided on whether it is beneficial or harmful to the world. This research paper provides an in-depth examination of how globalization has affected the economic and social standing of both the poor and the rich. The authors highlight that globalization can drive economic growth, creating new opportunities and elevating living standards. For wealthy individuals and developed nations, globalization opens up new markets and fosters technological advancements, increasing their wealth and influence. However, for poorer populations, the benefits are mixed. While globalization can provide access to jobs and technology, it often comes with challenges like low wages, job insecurity, and environmental exploitation, leading to a widening income gap between the rich and poor. The author presents these dynamics to illustrate the uneven distribution of globalization's benefits and the social and economic stratification that has emerged as a result. Beyond economic impacts, the paper also emphasizes how globalization has influenced global security and environmental sustainability. The interconnectedness brought by globalization means that security issues in one region can quickly impact other parts of the world, making global stability a shared concern. This complexity is further compounded by climate change, which has been intensified by globalized industrial activity and resource consumption. The paper balances these concerns by acknowledging both positive developments, such as advancements in global cooperation for environmental action, and the urgent challenges globalization poses to equitable growth and environmental health.
Abstract: Globalisation is a complex and multidimensional phenomenon that has redefined the global economic, political, cultural, and technological landscape. It generates a growing interconnectedness between people and different societies, and it expands the flows of goods, services, ideas and across the world. Globalisation has become a widely debated topi...
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Review Article
Dialectical Evolutionism and Historical Materialism: Placing Human Societies, and Cultures, in the Broader Context of Natural History
Issue:
Volume 13, Issue 1, March 2025
Pages:
12-23
Received:
8 June 2024
Accepted:
12 July 2024
Published:
17 February 2025
Abstract: Present day humans are the result of a continuous evolutionary process, which is still underway (although imperceptibly since the last wave of Out of Africa migrations). Our physical traits, and both our “emotional” and “rational” mental features co-evolved, dialectically interacting with each other, and with the outer physical and social-cultural environment. In fact, H. sapiens is genetically preadapted to dialectically interact with the material and cultural contexts it is exposed to, contexts that on the other hand were, and are, increasingly created by mankind itself. Also, our species is the result of a “species sorting” mechanism, among a number of different, though closely related, hominid and hominin genera, species, and subspecies. At the time being, H. sapiens is the only surviving, and genetically very homogeneous, species of the genus Homo. There were blurred boundaries, however, between our species and our closely related species, especially H. neanderthal and H. denisova. Furthermore, we all evolved, physically and mentally, from our common ancestor species of the genera Australopithecus, Paranthropus, etc. Due to our profound biological roots, evolved physical traits, evolved individual and collective mind plasticity, and evolved social complexity still keep dialectically interacting with each other in an inextricable tangle. The point where Marxian historical dialectics grafts on, and merges with, Darwinian biological dialectics roughly coincides with the beginning of Holocene. In fact, there is no apparent solution of continuity between the historical timeframe of the last 10-12,000 years, and the previous period as, once reached the stage of extended consciousness, all material/social/cultural niches and mind plasticity-driven adaptations dialectically interacted with each other according to the principles of historical materialism.
Abstract: Present day humans are the result of a continuous evolutionary process, which is still underway (although imperceptibly since the last wave of Out of Africa migrations). Our physical traits, and both our “emotional” and “rational” mental features co-evolved, dialectically interacting with each other, and with the outer physical and social-cultural ...
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Research Article
William Fontaine’s (Forgotten) Kantian Analysis of Ernest Everett Just’s Mathematical Biology
Ryan L. Vilbig*
Issue:
Volume 13, Issue 1, March 2025
Pages:
24-38
Received:
18 January 2025
Accepted:
5 February 2025
Published:
17 February 2025
Abstract: The African-American philosopher William Fontaine (1909-1968) inaugurated a neo-Kantian philosophical analysis of the original biological theories of fellow African-American Ernest Everett Just (1883-1941), and his thesis regarding the “space-time” structure of biological systems deserves our renewed consideration today. First comparing Just’s methodology in his 1939 text Biology of the Cell Surface to Immanuel Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason (1781/1787), Fontaine then suggested a parallel reading of Just’s irreducible theory of cellular structure to Samuel Alexander’s (1859-1938) Gifford Lectures of 1920 on the metaphysical possibility of non-Euclidean or multidimensional space-time — Along these lines, Just had written of life’s constituents, because “assembled both in space and time, its investigation is limited”. Since Kant was well-known and also later criticized for his logical commitments to three-dimensional Euclidean space-time, it is clear that Fontaine’s reading of Just’s statements departed from traditional Kantian philosophy. However, since Just’s Biology of the Cell Surface emphasized the whole-part relation of living organisms as well the distinction between reductionistic mechanism and emergent theories — metaphysical views that Kant also expounded — Fontaine’s analysis charted a new route for bringing Kantian philosophy into the context of contemporary theories of non-Euclidean and higher-dimensional space-time. This paper first reviews the original contributions of Ernest Everett Just to biology as well as William Fontaine’s philosophical commentary upon them, and then considers the current scientific basis for non-Euclidean and higher-dimensional geometries in the biological sciences.
Abstract: The African-American philosopher William Fontaine (1909-1968) inaugurated a neo-Kantian philosophical analysis of the original biological theories of fellow African-American Ernest Everett Just (1883-1941), and his thesis regarding the “space-time” structure of biological systems deserves our renewed consideration today. First comparing Just’s meth...
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Communication
The Seven Elements of Maturology Symbol: A Novel Metaphoric Framework for Understanding Human Development
Oluwadare Ogunlade*
Issue:
Volume 13, Issue 1, March 2025
Pages:
39-46
Received:
4 February 2025
Accepted:
24 February 2025
Published:
7 March 2025
DOI:
10.11648/j.ijp.20251301.14
Downloads:
Views:
Abstract: Maturology, an emerging interdisciplinary field, is underpinned by the seven elements of its symbol, an innovative metaphorical framework for describing human maturity. This symbol synthesizes multiple dimensions of human existence, growth, and development, offering a comprehensive perspective on the maturation process through interconnected components: the Talent Hand Sign, Cycle of Generation, Blue Star, Pentagon, Figures, Skye, and Path of Transcendence. The Talent Hand Sign is a symbolic representation of the twelve fundamentals of maturology. The Cycle of Generation underscores human development's progressive and generational nature, emphasizing the transmission of wisdom, values, and experiences across different life stages. The Blue Star serves as a guiding emblem of sagehood, symbolizing wisdom, enlightenment, and the pursuit of higher consciousness. The Pentagon represents stability, resilience, and the structural integrity necessary for holistic development. The Figures contextualize human maturation over time, categorized into lustrum, decade, score, and generation, reflecting the rhythmic nature of life’s journey. The Skye, as a representation of boundlessness, encapsulates the limitless potential for self-improvement, transformation, and human aspiration. Lastly, the Path of Transcendence maps out the stages of personal evolution from life to legacy, highlighting the significance of self-actualization and societal impact. In conclusion, this metaphorical framework provides a holistic and integrative model for human maturity, encouraging individuals to pursue continuous growth, self-awareness, and meaningful contributions to society while fostering a deeper understanding of the dynamics of personal and collective development.
Abstract: Maturology, an emerging interdisciplinary field, is underpinned by the seven elements of its symbol, an innovative metaphorical framework for describing human maturity. This symbol synthesizes multiple dimensions of human existence, growth, and development, offering a comprehensive perspective on the maturation process through interconnected compon...
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Research Article
The Nature of Sorrow: A Philosophical Exploration of Dukkha
Apurba Roy*
Issue:
Volume 13, Issue 1, March 2025
Pages:
47-51
Received:
14 December 2024
Accepted:
24 February 2025
Published:
14 March 2025
DOI:
10.11648/j.ijp.20251301.15
Downloads:
Views:
Abstract: Sorrow, a universal human experience, transcends cultural, temporal, and philosophical boundaries, serving as a catalyst for profound introspection and growth. Eastern and Western traditions have approached the phenomenon of sorrow through distinct but intersecting lenses, each offering valuable insights into its transformative potential. While Eastern philosophies view sorrow as an opportunity for liberation through self-awareness and transcendence, Western existentialism sees it as an integral aspect of the human condition, urging individuals to create meaning in the face of despair. In Vedanta, sorrow is framed as the result of avidya (ignorance), a fundamental misunderstanding of one’s true nature. The teachings of Swami Vivekananda emphasize that sorrow arises from identification with the transient self, which leads to attachment, fear, and suffering. Liberation, or moksha, is achieved by recognizing one’s unity with the infinite Brahman, transcending the illusions of the material world. Similarly, Dzogchen Buddhism, a school of Tibetan thought, regards sorrow not as an affliction but as an expression of ignorance about the nature of mind. Through mindfulness, meditation, and direct experiential insight, Dzogchen practitioners aim to realize the inherent purity and boundlessness of awareness, dissolving sorrow into a state of equanimity and joy. In contrast, Western existentialism delves into sorrow as an inevitable byproduct of human existence. Thinkers like Martin Heidegger and Jean-Paul Sartre argue that sorrow emerges from the realization of life’s impermanence and the anxiety of freedom and responsibility. For Heidegger, confronting sorrow involves embracing life’s finitude and developing an authentic relationship with being, a process he calls being-toward-death. Meanwhile, Alan Watts, influenced by both Eastern and Western thought, bridges these traditions by proposing that sorrow arises from the illusion of separateness. In his synthesis, Watts encourages acceptance of life’s ebb and flow, inviting individuals to embrace sorrow as an essential part of the human journey. Ultimately, both traditions converge in their acknowledgment of sorrow as a profound teacher. While Western existentialism emphasizes personal responsibility and meaning-making, Eastern philosophies guide individuals toward self-realization and liberation. Together, they offer a holistic understanding of sorrow, positioning it not as an insurmountable burden but as a gateway to wisdom, inner peace, and transcendence. By integrating these perspectives, individuals can navigate life’s challenges with clarity and purpose, finding fulfillment in the transformative power of sorrow. In this synthesis lies timeless guidance for addressing the complexities of existence and pursuing a life of enduring harmony and peace.
Abstract: Sorrow, a universal human experience, transcends cultural, temporal, and philosophical boundaries, serving as a catalyst for profound introspection and growth. Eastern and Western traditions have approached the phenomenon of sorrow through distinct but intersecting lenses, each offering valuable insights into its transformative potential. While Eas...
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