We are living through a crisis which we call Anthropocene. The determining force in this period is the expansion of humankind as the result of a new biological process, cultural evolution. This has allowed us to construct an enormously extensive niche thanks, above all, to the increased use of exosomatic energy. The growth is accelerating rapidly and the impact on our socio-ecological structure is unpredictable. Environmental change exerts new selective pressures on human societies, which try to adapt, which in turn, forces new changes. Our demographic growth and improved living conditions are threatening resources and even our basic life-support processes but, even though we study their ecological impact, but their causes are social. The destruction of cultures and biodiversity is the heritage of colonialism, even though it is now following different paths or being played out by different actors. We need to generate universal messages, not attempt to perpetuate Western supremacy and the ideology of indefinite progress, but an intercultural effort to reach a consensus on universal values and to generate the corresponding institutions.
{"title":"Crisi planetària: Els\u0000riscos de l’evolució cultural i el fracàs\u0000d’Occident","authors":"Jaume Terradas","doi":"10.7203/metode.10.12538","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7203/metode.10.12538","url":null,"abstract":"We\u0000are living through a crisis which we call Anthropocene. The\u0000determining force in this period is the expansion of humankind as the\u0000result of a new biological process, cultural evolution. This has\u0000allowed us to construct an enormously extensive niche thanks, above\u0000all, to the increased use of exosomatic energy. The growth is\u0000accelerating rapidly and the impact on our socio-ecological structure\u0000is unpredictable. Environmental change exerts new selective pressures\u0000on human societies, which try to adapt, which in turn, forces new\u0000changes. Our demographic growth and improved living conditions are\u0000threatening resources and even our basic life-support processes but,\u0000even though we study their ecological impact, but their causes are\u0000social. The destruction of cultures and biodiversity is the heritage\u0000of colonialism, even though it is now following different paths or\u0000being played out by different actors. We need to generate universal\u0000messages, not attempt to perpetuate Western supremacy and the ideology\u0000of indefinite progress, but an intercultural effort to reach a\u0000consensus on universal values and to generate the corresponding\u0000institutions.","PeriodicalId":41648,"journal":{"name":"Metode Science Studies Journal","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.4,"publicationDate":"2019-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71305840","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Since biology became secularised and the molecular scrutiny of life began, the possibility of artificially synthesising living cells in a laboratory became a tangible possibility. Contemporary synthetic biology aspires to design and manufacture new forms of life to obtain social and economic benefits. However, we cannot rule out the possibility that the creation of synthetic life forms may also bring scientific rewards in terms of a greater understanding of biological complexity, which we would not be able to access through analytical means. It is clear, therefore, that the term synthetic biology raises expectations, but it is no less true that it also causes concern. This article starts with a critique of the identification of cells as machines and discusses the current scope of synthetic biology and efforts to standardise it. We also outline some of the social implications of attempts to manufacture life.
{"title":"Vida\u0000fabricada","authors":"M. Porcar, Juli Peretó","doi":"10.7203/metode.10.13229","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7203/metode.10.13229","url":null,"abstract":"Since\u0000biology became secularised and the molecular scrutiny of life began,\u0000the possibility of artificially synthesising living cells in a\u0000laboratory became a tangible possibility. Contemporary synthetic\u0000biology aspires to design and manufacture new forms of life to obtain\u0000social and economic benefits. However, we cannot rule out the\u0000possibility that the creation of synthetic life forms may also bring\u0000scientific rewards in terms of a greater understanding of biological\u0000complexity, which we would not be able to access through analytical\u0000means. It is clear, therefore, that the term synthetic biology raises\u0000expectations, but it is no less true that it also causes concern. This\u0000article starts with a critique of the identification of cells as\u0000machines and discusses the current scope of synthetic biology and\u0000efforts to standardise it. We also outline some of the social\u0000implications of attempts to manufacture\u0000life.","PeriodicalId":41648,"journal":{"name":"Metode Science Studies Journal","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.4,"publicationDate":"2019-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71306022","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Based on the archaeological and bioanthropological analysis of the Roman necropolis on Carrer Quart in Valencia (Spain), the city’s oldest known cemetery, dating from between the second century BC and third century AD, we examine various hitherto unknown issues from an interdisciplinary perspective. By means of isotopic archaeochemistry, various aspects, such as those concerning funerary practices, social stratification, palaeodemography, quality of life and the impact of disease, food, and subsistence economy, as well as population mobility, have contributed to enriching the landscape of the old town. Science and memory converge in Valentia through the culture and traditions documented in the funerary ritual (funus valentiae).
{"title":"LA MEMORIA ESCRITA EN LOS HUESOS. DEL FUNUS A LA OSTEOBIOGRAFÍA DE VALENTIA","authors":"E. G. Prósper, M. Cerdá","doi":"10.7203/metode.10.13595","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7203/metode.10.13595","url":null,"abstract":"Based on the archaeological and bioanthropological analysis of the Roman necropolis on Carrer Quart in Valencia (Spain), the city’s oldest known cemetery, dating from between the second century BC and third century AD, we examine various hitherto unknown issues from an interdisciplinary perspective. By means of isotopic archaeochemistry, various aspects, such as those concerning funerary practices, social stratification, palaeodemography, quality of life and the impact of disease, food, and subsistence economy, as well as population mobility, have contributed to enriching the landscape of the old town. Science and memory converge in Valentia through the culture and traditions documented in the funerary ritual (funus valentiae).","PeriodicalId":41648,"journal":{"name":"Metode Science Studies Journal","volume":"51 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.4,"publicationDate":"2019-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71305920","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The communication of biotechnology has played a key role in recent years. The great advances made and the speed with which new genetic editing techniques are implemented raise enormous expectations but also concerns. Good communication of the application of biotechnology in different fields – medicine, agriculture, industry – must be accompanied by a constant dialogue between scientists and society. The idea of this monographic came from the II Conference of the Association of Biotechnology Communicators (AcB in its Spanish initialism), of which I am a member. It was held in Valencia a couple of years ago, and some of the topics that aroused the most interest, debate and participation – such as the constant flow of new information about CRISPR, animal experimentation or the importance of understanding what information a DNA analysis can provide – have served as the basis for some of the documents in this issue. Others, such as the public perception of biotechnology and the importance of the use of metaphors to explain some biotechnological processes, complete this multifaceted view of communication and biotechnology.
{"title":"#Biotech: The need for biotechnology communication","authors":"L. Montoliu","doi":"10.7203/metode.9.21076","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7203/metode.9.21076","url":null,"abstract":"The communication of biotechnology has played a key role in recent years. The great advances made and the speed with which new genetic editing techniques are implemented raise enormous expectations but also concerns. Good communication of the application of biotechnology in different fields – medicine, agriculture, industry – must be accompanied by a constant dialogue between scientists and society. The idea of this monographic came from the II Conference of the Association of Biotechnology Communicators (AcB in its Spanish initialism), of which I am a member. It was held in Valencia a couple of years ago, and some of the topics that aroused the most interest, debate and participation – such as the constant flow of new information about CRISPR, animal experimentation or the importance of understanding what information a DNA analysis can provide – have served as the basis for some of the documents in this issue. Others, such as the public perception of biotechnology and the importance of the use of metaphors to explain some biotechnological processes, complete this multifaceted view of communication and biotechnology.","PeriodicalId":41648,"journal":{"name":"Metode Science Studies Journal","volume":"1 1","pages":"6-7"},"PeriodicalIF":0.4,"publicationDate":"2019-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71307514","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
We humans have long been aware that as a species we have great power to modify the natural world. We sure have. But it has only been a few decades since society, with a firm voice, turned against the destruction carried out in the past. We want to preserve the variety of life forms in all their beauty and complexity, because this biological variety not only provides us physical support, but also promotes our intellectual and philosophical development. It makes us wonder how it emerged, how it works, why species differ from place to place…
{"title":"In praise of life. The dynamic concept of biodiversity","authors":"F. Joanes","doi":"10.7203/metode.9.21077","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7203/metode.9.21077","url":null,"abstract":"We humans have long been aware that as a species we have great power to modify the natural world. We sure have. But it has only been a few decades since society, with a firm voice, turned against the destruction carried out in the past. We want to preserve the variety of life forms in all their beauty and complexity, because this biological variety not only provides us physical support, but also promotes our intellectual and philosophical development. It makes us wonder how it emerged, how it works, why species differ from place to place…","PeriodicalId":41648,"journal":{"name":"Metode Science Studies Journal","volume":"1 1","pages":"52-53"},"PeriodicalIF":0.4,"publicationDate":"2019-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71307353","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Robotics and artificial intelligence are two scientific research fields that receive considerable attention from the media and, consequently, from society. Unfortunately, many advances are reported to the general public in sensationalist (or even alarmist) terms, leading to false hopes or unjustified fears, and taking the focus from other key points. For instance, recent successes in artificial intelligence, amplified by the media, are the cause of a mistaken perception of this discipline’s state of the art. The reality is that artificial intelligence is still far from achieving many high-level cognitive skills; particularly, common sense reasoning.
{"title":"Interlinked. Machines and humans facing the 10101 century","authors":"C. Torras, Ramon López de Mántaras Badía","doi":"10.7203/metode.9.21078","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7203/metode.9.21078","url":null,"abstract":"Robotics and artificial intelligence are two scientific research fields that receive considerable attention from the media and, consequently, from society. Unfortunately, many advances are reported to the general public in sensationalist (or even alarmist) terms, leading to false hopes or unjustified fears, and taking the focus from other key points. For instance, recent successes in artificial intelligence, amplified by the media, are the cause of a mistaken perception of this discipline’s state of the art. The reality is that artificial intelligence is still far from achieving many high-level cognitive skills; particularly, common sense reasoning.","PeriodicalId":41648,"journal":{"name":"Metode Science Studies Journal","volume":"1 1","pages":"116-117"},"PeriodicalIF":0.4,"publicationDate":"2019-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71307364","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Information technologies have become part of our everyday lives and are increasingly acting as intermediaries in our workplaces and personal relationships or are even substituting them. This growing interaction with machines poses several questions about which we have no previous experience, nor can we reliably predict how they will influence the evolution of society. This has led to the convergence of technoscience and humanities in an ethical debate that is starting to bear fruit, not only with the creation of regulations and standards, but also with educational initiatives in university teaching, professional improvement, and the formation of public opinion. Interestingly, science fiction often plays a prominent speculative role in highlighting the pros and cons of potential scenarios.
{"title":"Xarxes socials i\u0000companyia robòtica: tecnologia, ètica, i\u0000ciència-ficció","authors":"Carme Torras","doi":"10.7203/metode.9.12479","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7203/metode.9.12479","url":null,"abstract":"Information\u0000technologies have become part of our everyday lives and are\u0000increasingly acting as intermediaries in our workplaces and personal\u0000relationships or are even substituting them. This growing interaction\u0000with machines poses several questions about which we have no previous\u0000experience, nor can we reliably predict how they will influence the\u0000evolution of society. This has led to the convergence of technoscience\u0000and humanities in an ethical debate that is starting to bear fruit,\u0000not only with the creation of regulations and standards, but also with\u0000educational initiatives in university teaching, professional\u0000improvement, and the formation of public opinion. Interestingly,\u0000science fiction often plays a prominent speculative role in\u0000highlighting the pros and cons of potential\u0000scenarios.","PeriodicalId":41648,"journal":{"name":"Metode Science Studies Journal","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.4,"publicationDate":"2018-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71307499","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This text contains some reflections on artificial intelligence (AI). First, I differentiate between strong and weak AI, as well as the concepts related to general and specific AI. Following this, I briefly describe the main current AI models and discuss the need to provide common-sense knowledge to machines in order to advance towards the goal of a general AI. Next, I talk about the current trends in AI based on the analysis of large amounts of data, which has recently allowed experts to make spectacular progress. Finally, I discuss other topics which, now and in the future, will continue to be key in AI, before closing with a brief reflection on the risks of AI.
{"title":"Progressos, reptes i\u0000riscos de la Intel·ligència\u0000Artificial","authors":"Ramon López de\u0000Mántaras","doi":"10.7203/metode.9.11145","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7203/metode.9.11145","url":null,"abstract":"This\u0000text contains some reflections on artificial intelligence (AI). First,\u0000I differentiate between strong and weak AI, as well as the concepts\u0000related to general and specific AI. Following this, I briefly describe\u0000the main current AI models and discuss the need to provide\u0000common-sense knowledge to machines in order to advance towards the\u0000goal of a general AI. Next, I talk about the current trends in AI\u0000based on the analysis of large amounts of data, which has recently\u0000allowed experts to make spectacular progress. Finally, I discuss other\u0000topics which, now and in the future, will continue to be key in AI,\u0000before closing with a brief reflection on the risks of\u0000AI.","PeriodicalId":41648,"journal":{"name":"Metode Science Studies Journal","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.4,"publicationDate":"2018-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71307182","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Between the mid-1980s and the present day, conservation biology split into two almost independent fields: management ecology and conservation ecology. We have witnessed the recovery of large endangered species and a decrease in small and common species. In addition, the abandonment of rural areas has allowed the expansion of forest species and has hurt those that inhabit open spaces and who are linked to traditional farming. Many species that once lived only in refuges are now starting to venture further out and are losing their fear of humans. Moreover, environments that have become anthropomorphised are now being successfully occupied more often. In short, we are going towards a world that reconciles humans and wildlife, which will be beneficial, but will also pose new challenges.
{"title":"Repensando la\u0000conservación","authors":"Alejandro Martínez-Abraín","doi":"10.7203/metode.9.10633","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7203/metode.9.10633","url":null,"abstract":"Between\u0000the mid-1980s and the present day, conservation biology split into two\u0000almost independent fields: management ecology and conservation\u0000ecology. We have witnessed the recovery of large endangered species\u0000and a decrease in small and common species. In addition, the\u0000abandonment of rural areas has allowed the expansion of forest species\u0000and has hurt those that inhabit open spaces and who are linked to\u0000traditional farming. Many species that once lived only in refuges are\u0000now starting to venture further out and are losing their fear of\u0000humans. Moreover, environments that have become anthropomorphised are\u0000now being successfully occupied more often. In short, we are going\u0000towards a world that reconciles humans and wildlife, which will be\u0000beneficial, but will also pose new\u0000challenges. ","PeriodicalId":41648,"journal":{"name":"Metode Science Studies Journal","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.4,"publicationDate":"2018-07-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71307148","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Natural enemies, that is, species that inflict harm on others to feed on them, are fundamental drivers of biodiversity dynamics and represent a substantial portion of it. Along the life history of the Earth, natural enemies have been involved in probably some of the most productive mechanisms of biodiversity genesis; that is, adaptive radiation mediated by enemy-victim coevolutionary processes. At ecological timescales, natural enemies are a fundamental piece of food webs and can contribute to biodiversity preservation by promoting stability and coexistence at lower trophic levels through top-down regulation mechanisms. However, natural enemies often produce dramatic losses of biodiversity wherein, in most cases, humans take part of it.
{"title":"Trophic interactions\u0000and biodiversity: How natural enemies shape biodiversity: a\u0000double-edged sword","authors":"Alexandre Mestre, R. Holt","doi":"10.7203/metode.9.11417","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7203/metode.9.11417","url":null,"abstract":"Natural\u0000enemies, that is, species that inflict harm on others to feed on them,\u0000are fundamental drivers of biodiversity dynamics and represent a\u0000substantial portion of it. Along the life history of the Earth,\u0000natural enemies have been involved in probably some of the most\u0000productive mechanisms of biodiversity genesis; that is, adaptive\u0000radiation mediated by enemy-victim coevolutionary processes. At\u0000ecological timescales, natural enemies are a fundamental piece of food\u0000webs and can contribute to biodiversity preservation by promoting\u0000stability and coexistence at lower trophic levels through top-down\u0000regulation mechanisms. However, natural enemies often produce dramatic\u0000losses of biodiversity wherein, in most cases, humans take part of\u0000it.","PeriodicalId":41648,"journal":{"name":"Metode Science Studies Journal","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.4,"publicationDate":"2018-07-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71307303","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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