by Giulio Napolitano (Author), Barbara Gabriella Renzi (Author)

“Advocates of the evolutionary analogy claim that mechanisms governing scientific change are analogous to those at work in organic evolution – above all, natural selection. By referring to the works of the most influential proponents of evolutionary analogies (Toulmin, Campbell, Hull and, most notably, Kuhn) the authors discuss whether and to what extent their use of the analogy is appropriate. A careful and often illuminating perusal of the theoretical scope of the terms employed, as well as of the varying contexts within which the analogy is appealed to in contemporary debates, leads to the conclusion that such general theories of selective processes are either too sketchy or eventually not persuasive, if not altogether based on flawed views of evolutionary biology. By clarifying what is at stake, the analysis carried out in the book sheds new light on one of the dominant theories of scientific progress. It also invites criticism, of course – but that is the very fuel of philosophical confrontation.” – Stefano Gattei, IMT Institute for Advanced Studies, Lucca “This book presents a serious challenge to those, like David Hull, who seek to model scientific change as an evolutionary process. The authors point out that although there are similarities between the processes of scientific change and organic evolution, the dissimilarities present formidable difficulties to construing the relation as anything more than a weak analogy. Their argument employs what they call a ‘type hierarchical’ approach that promises to be a powerful tool for the classification of similarities between theories in all fields.” – Michael Bradie, Department of Philosophy, Bowling Green State University “This is a most interesting discussion of the analogy between biological and scientific change. Particularly commendable is the close attention paid to the thinking of the late David Hull and his pathbreaking work on this issue.” – Michael Ruse, History and Philosophy of Science, Florida State University 

The product of an international, multi-disciplinary conference at Queen’s University Belfast, the two-volume Friends and Foes series offers an illuminating investigation of the relationship between friendship and conflict by established and emerging scholars. In this first volume, which collects together philosophical and cultural essays on the topic, the authors raise and tackle some of the most pertinent issues central to the understanding, and making, of friendship. What constitutes friendship? What challenges, duties and pleasures does friendship entail? The ambiguity of friendship is a recurring theme in the book, and Mark Vernon’s essay on the philosophical history of thinking about friendship’s ambiguity provides the perfect point of entry for discussion of the compelling literary and theatrical representations which follow, in the work of writers such as Maria Edgeworth, Gregory Burke, and Edgar Allan Poe. 

“In 2000, two linguistic endangerment experts, Nettle and Romaine, estimated that among the world’s 6000 languages, only about 600 could be considered safe today. Arbëresh, the language that Barbara Renzi and Elsa Musacchio present to the readers in this volume, is one of those languages in danger of dying, recognized as such in UNESCO’s Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger (2010). The great value of this volume is not limited to the preservation and analysis of cultural heritage through the tales, stories and songs included in it, but also in recording the authentic sound of the Arbëresh language that comes to life in Elsa’s voice as she reads the collected material on a special CD. The availability of this authentic voice to future generations of younger speakers of Arbëresh makes the volume a practical linguistic and cultural tool. And the best service we can pay to courageous works like this is to bring them to young speakers in their schools, without which Arbëresh and other endangered languages have a very small chance of survival.” – Eda Derhemi (PhD), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

This Italian textbook is divided into two parts. The first consists of texts and dialogues, which help the reader to have fun while learning Italian. This section is also peppered with grammar lessons. The second part uses a number of photos, which encourage students to speak about what they see. Its topics are culturally interesting, and include cities to visit, recipes and small biographies of famous Italian poets and writers. As such, the book is suitable for students who are at beginner and post-beginner levels; in other words, A1, A2, B1, and B2. Students of the latter level can use the first two parts of the book to revise what they have studied in the past and the third part to improve their vocabulary and their reading skills. One of the strengths of this book is in its recordings, which used several people with a range of different accents. Such variety of accents and voices represents a good training tool for the student of Italian. The book also includes contributions from Michela Dettori, Michela Esposito, Elsa Musacchio, Davide Renzi, Lea De Negri, Denise Pellini, Maria Andreana Deiana, Lia Renzi, Clara Lucci and Flavia Rovella, which serve to make it unique and interesting. 

In April 2004, the Queen’s University Philosophy Society and Postgraduate Seminar Group hosted a two day conference open to postgraduates in which students could showcase their latest work in an informed and critical environment. In previous years, this same kind of conference had been held in Dublin and so this was a first not just for Queen’s, but for Northern Ireland. Many papers presented over the two days went on to be published in noteworthy journals, an indication of the high quality on display. Given the number of papers presented, not all could be presented in this volume, but what follows is a selection of some of the best received papers, which cover areas as diverse as philosophy of science and mind, epistemology, political philosophy and ethics and a time span stretching from the classical era to modern analytic philosophy. With such a diverse group of philosophical minds gathered together, the chance to hear a new take on a familiar field, or to hear discussion of areas of philosophy one had never come across was not wasted. The diversity of the subject matter under investigation among these papers is the strength of this collection, as it introduces the reader to the vast range of important issues still pressing in philosophy today. The pieces are notable for the accessible way in which they get across effectively their often complex subject matter. 

This is a rich and varied collection of articles that both offer philosophical analyses of film and reflect on philosophical questions through film. The pieces range widely, from discussions of specific films and the work of particular directors, to reflections on cinematic techniques and on the medium of cinema in general. Here, cinema enters into a genuinely productive interaction with philosophy. We see how philosophical perspectives and methods are able to inform the critical analysis of film, how films can concretely explore and make use of philosophical perspectives, and how film can challenge and provoke philosophical reflection. Some of the articles address familiar themes in the developing philosophy and film literature in fresh ways, while others make surprising and revealing new connections between philosophical perspectives and cinema. Either way, the results are always interesting and illuminating, and demonstrate once again how fruitful the bringing together of philosophy and film can be.