Category: Research

Breaking the analogy between AI and Humans:  an epistemological discussion on the representation model of objects 

(English) Artificial Intelligence is growing in complexity, and more often, comparisons and analogies between AI architecture and related outcomes are compared with the human brain's capacity. Moreover, from this, a question follows: what is the epistemological meaning of these processes, and how should we consider them? The aim of this essay is to highlight the differences besides the similarities. This is done by focusing on the process of representation modeling. The argument is that even if the final representation model of an object is similar between AI and humans, the paths followed by the two during the phase of generalizing information are different. Therefore, the two representations have different epistemological meanings.

The Vertical Forest: a case study for reshaping human-nature relationship through care ethics

(English) The vertical forest is an innovative building that has received appreciation from the academic world and the general public. The essay uses the ethics of care as a lens through which to analyze the different human-nature relationships that occur in the multiple contexts of the vertical forest. The aim is to verify whether these relationships actually offer an alternative to the anthropocentric and functionalist logic that guided humanity toward the Anthropocene. To conclude an outline of how care could improve the way relationships within the vertical forest is established.

Buddhism, Well-Being, and Technology: a discussion from a non-western perspective

(English) This essay explores the relationship between well-being and technology from a Buddhism perspective. The essay is divided into two parts. In the first one, a discussion around the concept of well-being is made. This discussion highlights the differences between Buddhism and theories from a more western tradition, such as hedonism, desire-fulfillment, and objective list. After having defined well-being for Buddhism, the essay will discuss how it relates to technology.

Skinner’s pigeons and their relation to technology

(English) This essay enquires the relationship between technology and animals as technological users. To do so, the essay explores the case of Skinner's pigeons experiments, where it is possible to see closely how pigeons interacted with the technological environment surrounding them. The essay explores the case from an STS and philosophical standpoint. The former applies the cyborg concept to the pigeons derived from the feminist critical technology theory. The latter analyses the case with a mediation discourse concerning the subject and the technological environment.

Intimacy and Amateur Porn: an anthropological discussion

(English) This article asks the question if the increased phenomena of amateur porn suggest an end of the intimate sphere or a redefinition of it. By answering the question, the article uses three different perspectives: a historical one, by investigating the history of intimacy. A conceptual, by reflecting on the concepts of intimacy and sharing, and how they interact categorically. And, the third one is by reflecting on the positionality of the body. No final conclusion is given, just an opening as a start of reflection on the topic.

 The scientific and industrial revolution: a global story

(English) The scientific and industrial revolutions are usually understood as a consequential and progressive events, in which from the former derives the latter. In this perspective, the historical times and geographies of the events are fixed, having as the point of departure Europe. This brief article, by applying a literature review on the subject, argues that the story of the two revolutions is more complex, making it a global story.