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Epistemological Implications of a System — Theoretical Understanding for Sustainability Models
Full text linkIn the sense of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), global efforts to create a sustainable society will not be sufficiently successful under the current geopolitical and socio-economic trends. For this reason, recent sustainability research has increasingly focused on systemic coherence, the subject of cognition, and psychological and epistemological aspects. With regard to the sustainability discourse, this article proposes a perspective based on systems theory's findings in its enactivist interpretation. It understands this as a joint process of sense-making that must be actively maintained on an ongoing basis. Scientific knowledge and human experience are not described as mutually exclusive and informing spheres but as part of the world of experience actively spanned by the organism in its self-execution, which inherently involves ambiguities and complexity reductions that leave the subject and object undetermined. Such an understanding of systemic thinking should help to prevent the process of sustainable development itself from being called into question when some goals are inevitably missed
Keeping the human in the loop: Are autonomous decisions inevitable?
Full text linkControl rooms play a crucial role in monitoring and managing safety-critical systems, such as power grids, emergency response, and transportation networks. As these systems become increasingly complex and generate more data, the role of human operators is evolving amid growing reliance on automation and autonomous decision-making. This paper explores the balance between leveraging automation for efficiency and preserving human intuition and ethical judgment, particularly in high-stakes scenarios. Through an analysis of control room trends, operator attitudes, and models of human-computer collaboration, this paper highlights the benefits and challenges of automation, including risks of deskilling, automation bias, and accountability. The paper advocates for a hybrid approach of collaborative autonomy, where humans and systems work in partnership to ensure transparency, trust, and adaptability
Panel Discussion on Democracy, Rights of Nature and Social Norm Dynamics
Full text linkThis report summarizes the arguments presented by Prof. Dr. Milena Valeva during the second panel discussion, which was held in preparation for the planned simulated parliamentary debate of the students. The experts, Prof. Dr. Alexandra Aragão and Prof. Dr. Milena Valeva, shared their insights from the fields of political theory, environmental ethics, and human rights on the topic of Democracy, Rights of Nature (RoN) and social norm dynamics.
The basis for Valeva’s arguments was provided by the central claim of Aragão to emphasize the role of Environmental Pragmatism, which rejects the notion that effective environmental action requires a radical transformation of human value systems or adherence to one ultimate ethical principle. Instead, it promotes open-ended inquiry and adaptive democratic decision-making to navigate complex, real-world ecological challenges. The Paris Agreement, which employs a bottom-up and iterative approach, favoring flexible “pledge and review” systems, is celebrated as an embodiment of pragmatic climate diplomacy that fosters ambition through mutual accountability and continuous reassessment.
To further deliberate on this central claim, Valeva elaborated on the following two central questions, which refer to her paper titled “From Human Dignity and Human Rights to Sustainability within the Context of Democracy," published in Interdisciplinary Perspectives on the Interplay between Human Rights and Sustainability (Special Issue 2/2024).
* What are the limits of liberal democracy in dealing with sustainability and RoN?
* What is the potential of republican democracy for executing sustainability and RoN
Consumer Ethnocentrism and Purchase Intentions in Native Latin American Consumers
Full text linkThis study explores consumer ethnocentrism (CET), distinguishing between Hard Ethnocentrism (HET) and Soft Ethnocentrism (SET), and their impact on Purchase Intentions (PIN), with gender as a moderating variable. Data from 372 Latin American native consumers were collected via an electronic survey, and a Structural Equation Model (SEM) and Multigroup Analysis were conducted to test the hypotheses. The findings reveal that HET does not significantly influence PIN, while SET positively impacts it. Additionally, gender differences in ethnocentrism levels were identified. This study is the first to examine consumers who stay in their native countries rather than emigrate, offering novel insights into international marketing strategies. By aligning with the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), marketers can foster positive perceptions, eliminate perceived barriers, and create impactful, gender-sensitive campaigns that resonate, particularly with female audiences
An Active Radar Interferometer Utilizing a Heterodyne Principle-Based Target Modulator
Full text linkThe Active Radar Interferometer (AcRaIn) represents a novel approach in secondary radar technology, aimed at environments with high reflective clutter, such as pipes and tunnels. This study introduces a compact design minimizing peripheral components and leveraging commercial semiconductor technologies operating in the 24 GHz ISM band. A heterodyne principle was adopted to enhance unambiguity and phase coherence without requiring synchronization or separate communication channels. Experimental validation involved free-space and pipe measurements, demonstrating functionality over distances up to 150 m. The radar system effectively reduced interference and achieved high precision in both straight and bent pipe scenarios, with deviations below 1.25% compared to manual measurements. By processing signals at intermediate frequencies, advantages such as improved efficiency, isolation, and system flexibility were achieved. Notably, the integration of amplitude modulation suppressed passive clutter, enabling clearer signal differentiation. Key challenges identified include optimizing signal processing and addressing logarithmic signal attenuation for better precision. These findings underscore AcRaIn’s potential for pipeline monitoring and similar applications
Foundations for the recognition of the Rights of Nature in the European Union
Full text linkIt's necessary to recognize nature rights in the European Union in order to guarantee an effective protection of natural entities and the common good. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), at least 1,677 species out of 15,060 European species assessed are threatened with extinction (European Parliament, 2020). Currently, there are many dangers to ecosystems and biodiversity in Europe, such as climate change, urbanization and leisure activities, the pollution of air, water and soil as a consequence from agriculture, illegal killing and hunting, invasive species, and forestry activities (European Environment Agency, 2020).
In attention to these issues, we – as a society – need to find an effective way to protect nature. This essay will demonstrate how the recognition of the rights of nature is a valuable tool for achieving effective protection of ecosystems in European countries
Impact of Geometry on Chemical Analysis Exemplified for Photoelectron Spectroscopy of Black Silicon
Full text linkFor smooth surfaces, chemical composition can be readily analyzed using various spectroscopic techniques, a prominent example is X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), where the relative proportions of the elements are mainly determined by the intensity ratio of the element-specific photoelectrons. However, this analysis becomes more complex for nanorough surfaces like black silicon (b-Si) due to the geometry's steep slopes, which mimic local variations in emission angles. In this study, this effect is explicitly quantified through an integral geometric analysis using Minkowski tensors, correlating XPS chemical data with topographical information from Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). This approach yields reliable estimates of layer thicknesses for nanorough surfaces. For b-Si, it is found that the oxide layer is ≈50%–80% thicker than the native oxide layer on a standard Si wafer. This study underscores the significant impact of nanoscale geometries on chemical property analysis
Is Europe Ready to Embrace the Recognition of Nature’s Rights?
Full text link[AI generated:] This paper examines the development of arguments in favor of recognizing the rights of nature, particularly in the context of recent global social demonstrations supporting this paradigm shift. Despite the initial advantages associated with adopting this position, various theoretical and practical obstacles emerged during the argument compilation process. To ensure a clear and convincing argumentation, the position was divided into four key points. First, the legal possibility of this recognition is discussed from various philosophical theories. Next, the central role of NGOs and other environmental groups is highlighted. The third argument considers the practical perspective of judicial representation and general principles of law. Finally, an economic argument is presented that brings together the main concerns of many states in support of this paradigm shift. The arguments were developed with consideration of the key criticisms from the opposition, aiming not only to counter these questions but primarily to strengthen the position
Economic Advantages of Granting the Rights of Nature
Full text linkAs global environmental challenges intensify, the concept of granting rights to nature has gained attention not only as an ethical imperative, but as an economically viable solution. In economic terms, the ecosystem services provided by protected areas are worth several hundred billion dollars a year (McNeely, 2020). Recognizing nature's rights – particularly for critical natural resources such as rivers and other water ecosystems – may create the foundation for sustainable economic growth, resilience, and long-term prosperity. In Europe, the argument for legal rights for nature could find support in factors such as improved resource management, reduction of environmental degradation costs (Darpö, 2021), stimulation of green industries (European Economic and Social Committee et al., 2020), and alignment with the European Union’s commitment to environmental sustainability (European Economic and Social Committee et al., 2020), which will be elaborated in this paper
From the Rights of Man to the Social Contract for Geoethics toward the Rights of Nature
Full text linkConclusion: Perhaps a new Social Contract needs to be understood so that humans can operate more harmoniously with nature as well as with mankind. As long as the lens of life is only viewed through the interests that humans hold, the Rights of Nature cannot be actualized. This would cause chaos as climate change worsens, as less regard will be taken when more liberties are taken by harvesting the depleting resources. By taking action now, and giving nature personhood, humanity can have an intervention with itself and realize that taking advantage of entities that cannot speak for themselves, especially when it is extended to nature, is fundamentally wrong. As disputes over land and resources lessen as the lines of the Rights of Nature are followed, it will make the observance of the Social Contract easier to follow, therefore leading to a more pluralistic, peaceful society where the SDGs are closely adhered to, because nature will be granted rights at last