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What does it take to establish reference in LLMs? Kripke vs. Austin (Response to Green)
No full textAre the texts generated by large language models (LLMs) meaningful, or are they merely simulacra of language? Against a recent trend in AI scholarship that views LLMs as little more than “stochastic parrots,” in Koch (2025), I use a Kripke-inspired causal theory of reference to argue that LLMs can use names and kind terms with their usual referential properties. Green (2025), a response to Koch (2025), rejects the causal-theoretic account of LLM-reference and proposes an Austin-inspired alternative. The present paper defends the Kripkean approach and raises objections to Green’s alternative
Aproximación a los proyectos de colonias ganaderas alemanas en Chile y sus discursos imperialistas (Llanquihue, 1898-1912)
Get PDFAt the beginning of the 20th century, the diplomatic position of the Chilean government had weakened as a result of international condemnation of its actions after the War of the Pacific. With a view to reversing this process, Chile sought support from European countries, particularly Germany. Bremen business groups saw an opportunity to establish themselves and produce wool for export, forming companies in alliance with prominent Chilean political actors, who pressured the government to obtain public land concessions. This article problematizes the thesis of the German colonialist project in Chile, indicating that he responded to a rhetorical appeal of the German chancellor in Chile and that he had no correlate in Germany\u27s foreign policy.At the beginning of the 20th century, the diplomatic position of the Chilean government had weakened as a result of international condemnation of its actions after the War of the Pacific. With a view to reversing this process, Chile sought support from European countries, particularly Germany. Bremen business groups saw an opportunity to establish themselves and produce wool for export, forming companies in alliance with prominent Chilean political actors, who pressured the government to obtain public land concessions. This article problematizes the thesis of the German colonialist project in Chile, indicating that he responded to a rhetorical appeal of the German chancellor in Chile and that he had no correlate in Germany\u27s foreign policy.A inicios del siglo XX, la posición diplomática del gobierno chileno se había debilitado como resultado de la condena internacional a sus actuaciones posteriores a la Guerra del Pacífico. Con miras a revertir este proceso, Chile buscó respaldo en los países europeos, particularmente en Alemania. Los grupos empresariales de Bremen vieron allí una oportunidad para establecerse y producir lana para ser exportada, formándose compañías en alianza con prominentes actores políticos chilenos, que presionaron al Gobierno para obtener concesiones de tierra pública. Este artículo problematiza la tesis del proyecto colonialista alemán en Chile, indicando que respondió a un recurso retórico del canciller alemán en Chile y que no tuvo correlato en la política exterior de Alemania
Viajeros e intelectuales en perspectiva. Transformaciones en la cultura católica argentina del siglo XX
Get PDFDas Ziel dieses Artikels ist es, eine Reihe von Besuchen prominenter religiöser Persönlichkeiten im Laufe des zwanzigsten Jahrhunderts in Argentinien zu beschreiben und zu analysieren, Untersuchung ihrer Auswirkungen auf die katholische Kultur. Die Erfahrung der Reise bringt verschiedene und sehr unterschiedliche Beispiele zusammen, die für das Studium der Sozial- und Geisteswissenschaften aufschlussreich sind. Von der Literatur bis zur Wesentlichkeit von Transfers, einschließlich der Untersuchung von Netzwerken und der begrenzten oder mehrjährigen Wirkung eines Gastes. In den in diesem Artikel aufgeführten Fällen beabsichtigen wir zu analysieren, welche Auswirkungen diese Besuche während eines Großteils des zwanzigsten Jahrhunderts auf die argentinische katholische Kultur hatten, mit der Überzeugung, dass dieses Fenster uns einige Merkmale zeigen kann, die wir sonst nicht beobachten könnten. Als Hypothese halten wir den Konfliktcharakter des katholischen Kulturfeldes aufrecht, ein Gebiet, in dem jenseits des bischöflichen Diskurses über Vertikalität und Gehorsam ein fast permanenter Machtstreit um das Wahrheitsmonopol zu beobachten ist.The aim of this paper is to describe and analyze a set of visits by prominent religious figures throughout the twentieth century in Argentina, examining their impact on Catholic culture. The experience of the trip brings together different and very varied instances, revealing for the study of social and human sciences. From literature to the materiality of transfers, including the study of networks and the impact, limited or perennial, of a guest. In the cases listed in this paper, we intend to analyze what kind of effects these visits had on Argentine Catholic culture throughout much of the twentieth century, with the conviction that this window can show us some characteristics that, otherwise, we could not observe. As a hypothesis, we maintain the conflictive character of the Catholic cultural field, a territory in which, beyond the episcopal discourse on verticality and obedience, an almost permanent dispute of power for the monopoly of truth can be observed.El objetivo de este trabajo es describir y analizar un conjunto de visitas de destacadas figuras religiosas a lo largo del siglo XX argentino, auscultando su impacto en la cultura católica. En la experiencia del viaje confluyen distintas y muy variadas instancias, reveladoras para el estudio de las ciencias sociales y humanas. Desde la literatura hasta la materialidad de los traslados, pasando por el estudio de redes y el impacto, acotado o perenne, de un invitado. En los casos que se enumeran en este trabajo, pretendemos analizar qué tipo de efectos tuvieron esas visitas en la cultura católica argentina a lo largo de buena parte del siglo XX, con la convicción que esta ventana puede mostrarnos algunas características que, de otra manera, no podríamos observar. Como hipótesis sostenemos el carácter conflictivo del campo cultural católico, un territorio en el que, más allá del discurso episcopal sobre la verticalidad y la obediencia, puede observarse una casi permanente disputa de poder por el monopolio de la verdad
Oponer resistencia al nuevo orden: el ayuntamiento de San Luis Potosí contra el intendente, 1787-1799
Get PDFThis article analyzes the actions of resistance that influential groups in San Luis Potosí implemented against new politicians who introduced the Royal Mayoral Ordinance. They rebelled mainly through the city council, not only because its members were powerful individuals in the region, but because the Crown wanted to keep a close eye on its territory through the appointed mayors. Therefore, the opposition and resistance were carried out in confrontations against the main political character who was in charge of enforcing the Royal Ordinance in San Luis Potosí, Bruno Díaz Salcedo.This article analyzes the actions of resistance that influential groups in San Luis Potosí implemented against new politicians who introduced the Royal Mayoral Ordinance. They rebelled mainly through the city council, not only because its members were powerful individuals in the region, but because the Crown wanted to keep a close eye on its territory through the appointed mayors. Therefore, the opposition and resistance were carried out in confrontations against the main political character who was in charge of enforcing the Royal Ordinance in San Luis Potosí, Bruno Díaz Salcedo.Este artículo analiza las acciones de resistencia que implementaron los grupos de poder de la ciudad de San Luis Potosí para hacer frente a los nuevos actores políticos que llegaron a aplicar la Real Ordenanza de Intendentes. La principal institución desde la que hicieron frente fue el ayuntamiento, no sólo porque sus integrantes eran individuos prominentes de la región, sino porque uno de los objetivos de la Corona era vigilar de manera más cercana sus competencias a través de los intendentes; por ello la oposición y resistencia se materializó en enfrentamientos con el principal actor político encargado de implementar la Real Ordenanza en San Luis Potosí: Bruno Díaz de Salcedo
Known Posters, Unknown Impact. OSPAAAL Graphic Art and Its Worldwide Reception
Get PDFIn recent years, the literature on the Cold War era has given increasing attention to the so-called Third World project and has proposed new concepts to analyze its different currents, such as Tricontinentalism. Scholars agree that the propaganda materials produced by the Cuba-based Organization of Solidarity with the Peoples of Africa, Asia and Latin America (OSPAAAL, 1966-2019) played a crucial role in disseminating the Tricontinentalist agenda, vocabulary and imagery. But this general agreement is not anchored in empirical evidence, since the circulation and reception of these materials have been understudied so far. This paper argues that debates on Tricontinentalism have much to gain from expanding this front. By focusing on the OSPAAAL posters, I will explore four avenues – their distribution; reproductions and versions; iconographic and stylistic influence; and presence in books, exhibitions and archives – highlighting the methodological difficulties involved in this endeavor. The paper organizes data obtained from archival documents, works by other scholars and interviews published in different parts of the world. This approach challenges generalizations based on very specific primary sources, as well as theorizations not grounded in rigorous empirical analysis. This study reaffirms the importance of a Cold War history that considers the particular dynamics of the so-called Third World, their global connections, as well as the visual dimension of the antagonisms and solidarities built in that context. At the same time, it emphasizes the importance of a long-term perspective when looking into the global sixties.In recent years, the literature on the Cold War era has given increasing attention to the so-called Third World project and has proposed new concepts to analyze its different currents, such as Tricontinentalism. Scholars agree that the propaganda materials produced by the Cuba-based Organization of Solidarity with the Peoples of Africa, Asia and Latin America (OSPAAAL, 1966-2019) played a crucial role in disseminating the Tricontinentalist agenda, vocabulary and imagery. But this general agreement is not anchored in empirical evidence, since the circulation and reception of these materials have been understudied so far. This paper argues that debates on Tricontinentalism have much to gain from expanding this front. By focusing on the OSPAAAL posters, I will explore four avenues – their distribution; reproductions and versions; iconographic and stylistic influence; and presence in books, exhibitions and archives – highlighting the methodological difficulties involved in this endeavor. The paper organizes data obtained from archival documents, works by other scholars and interviews published in different parts of the world. This approach challenges generalizations based on very specific primary sources, as well as theorizations not grounded in rigorous empirical analysis. This study reaffirms the importance of a Cold War history that considers the particular dynamics of the so-called Third World, their global connections, as well as the visual dimension of the antagonisms and solidarities built in that context. At the same time, it emphasizes the importance of a long-term perspective when looking into the global sixties.En los últimos años, los estudios sobre la Guerra Fría han prestado cada vez más atención al llamado “proyecto Tercer Mundista” y propuesto nuevos conceptos para analizar sus diferentes corrientes, como el Tricontinentalismo. Los analistas coinciden en que los materiales de propaganda producidos por la Organización de Solidaridad de los Pueblos de África, Asia y América Latina (OSPAAAL, 1966-2019), radicada en Cuba, desempeñaron un papel crucial en la difusión de la agenda, el vocabulario y el imaginario tricontinentalistas. Pero el consenso acerca de la influencia ejercida por sus publicaciones no está anclado en evidencias empíricas, ya que la circulación y recepción de estos materiales apenas ha sido estudiada. Este artículo sostiene que los debates sobre el Tricontinentalismo tienen mucho que ganar con la expansión de este campo de estudios. Centrándome en los carteles publicados por la OSPAAAL, exploraré cuatro frentes – su distribución; reproducciones y versiones; influencia iconográfica y estilística; y presencia en libros, exposiciones y archivos – resaltando las dificultades metodológicas implicadas. El artículo organiza datos obtenidos de documentos de archivo, trabajos de otros analistas y entrevistas publicadas en distintas partes del mundo. Tal enfoque cuestiona las generalizaciones basadas en fuentes primarias muy específicas, así como las teorizaciones no fundamentadas en un análisis empírico riguroso. Este estudio reafirma la importancia de una historia de la Guerra Fría que considere las dinámicas particulares del llamado Tercer Mundo, sus conexiones globales, así como la dimensión visual de los antagonismos y solidaridades construidos en aquel contexto. Al mismo tiempo, subraya la importancia de una perspectiva de largo plazo al examinar los sesenta globales
The God Within: Interrogating Queer Practices of Faith in Francesca Ekwuyasi’s Butter Honey Pig Bread and Akwaeke Emezi’s “Who Is Like God”
Get PDFIn many precolonial African societies, gender was a fluid construct that was enacted in social roles rather than exclusively prescribed by biological sex. Heteronormative gender roles and sexualities, as Oyèrónkẹ́ Oyěwùmí and Maria Lugones argue in The Invention of Women (1997) and “Toward a Decolonial Feminism” (2010) respectively, were promoted and inscribed within law through processes of colonisation and Christianisation. These colonial legacies remain a legal and social presence in many postcolonial nations, including Nigeria, where strong anti-queer sentiments still govern public discourse. Organised religions such as Nigerian Pentecostal churches powerfully shape these debates that led, among others, to the passing of the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act of 2014, which criminalises same-sex unions and, by extension, non-heteronormative identities. Drawing on a queer theology framework that centres the queer body as site of theological engagement, this paper investigates how the works of queer Nigerian (diasporic) authors complicate hegemonic practices of faith through a close reading of Francesca Ekwuyasi’s Butter Honey Pig Bread (2020) and Akwaeke Emezi’s short story “Who Is Like God” (2017). Both stories centre queer protagonists who negotiate their intersecting identities along the axes of gender, sexuality, nationality, and race through and against their faith. By metaphorically incorporating a godly presence into the protagonists’ queer bodies, the stories foreground the relationship between the individual and such divine presences and thereby subvert the construction of Christianity as opposed to and thus exclusive of queerness. In doing so, they challenge the notion of non-heteronormative performances of gender and sexuality as ‘un-African’ or ‘un-Christian.
Queering the Dreaming: Representations of the ‘Other’ in the Indigenous Australian Speculative Television Series Cleverman
Get PDFThis essay analyzes queer representations in the context of Indigenous Australian discourses by looking at the two-season Australian science fiction series Cleverman (2016-2017). Cleverman aims to combine the conventions of the science fiction and superhero genres with ancient Indigenous stories. Cleverman’s compelling introduction of the Hairypeople, an alternative humanoid species with extraordinary strength inspired by Aboriginal mythology, provides the context to explore queer identities in regards to otherness, marginality, and culturally constructed boundaries between the ‘normal’ and the ‘abnormal’. Through the series’ engagement with the subjectivity and queering of the monstrous ‘other’, the binary construct of good versus evil is challenged. The series’ representation of boundary creatures highlights the constraints within which racially marked bodies operate, however misses the potential to equally engage with gendered bodies. While the series invites ambivalent readings of the role of community belonging and the nuclear family, the representation of female agency fails to similarly redefine discursively constituted identities and shows less potential to re-write normative codes of sex and sexuality