Etica & Politica / Ethics & Politics (2024) XXVI/3

The research aims to analyze the role of the legislator within the Social Contract. The works starts with a digression into the classical tradition of the concept, to demonstrate Rousseau’s continuity with the Greek and Roman images of the legislator. Secondly, an attempt is made to define the ontological status of this figure, highlighting its distance from the philosopher, the prophet, and the prince. For this purpose, the central paragraphs delve into the themes of the connection between truth and politics, the relationship with religion, and the juxtaposition between legislative power and the absence of sovereignty. The final paragraph shows how the normative framework of the Contract is built upon a marked political naturalism, based on relativism (as recognition of situationism) and political pedagogy of Aristotelian origin (the legislator as guarantor of the realization of human nature).

Numerous and substantial are the differences between the thought of Günther Anders and that of Emanuele Severino: in fact, no historical link between two distant philosophers is found both for the biographical path-intellectual, both for the underlying philosophical structures that guide their thought. However, one cannot help but recognize a point of contact relating to the reflections made by both in relation to the subject of technology. In other words, we can identify an interesting case of conceptual convergence that not only superficially concerns the interest for the technique but involves some deeper theoretical cores related to specific themes of the “philosophy of the technique”. Having highlighted the presence of such agreements between the two Authors – without, however, omitting the elements of differentiation – this contribution aims to facilitate the start of a dialogue between two philosophical perspectives that may prove interesting under the exegetical and cultural aspects, both because it can provide important starting points for thought and criticism in relation to the situation in which we live, which sees the increasing importance of technical products and their pervasiveness.

For nearly two years, Ukraine has been in conflict with Russia, receiving support from European nations, the United States, and other distant countries to safeguard its sovereignty. The primary assistance involves financial aid and military equipment to deter the aggressor. This analysis focuses on Ukraine's current legislation regarding the protection of military property from theft by its servicemen. The article addresses the challenge in distinguishing between criminal and related administrative offenses, posing a threat of corruption within Ukraine's legal framework. The issue lies in the misclassification of theft involving military assets as administrative or disciplinary violations rather than criminal transgressions. The article delves beyond statutory examinations, systematically exploring infringements related to military asset use. It considers key documents such as the Statute of the Internal Service and the Disciplinary Statute of the Armed Forces, along with directives from the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Internal Affairs regarding the National Guard. Contradictions within the Ukrainian Constitution and Article 92, Clause 22, are also highlighted, emphasizing the need for legal clarity.

This essay delves into Michel Foucault's strategic analysis within the context of his Histoire de la sexualité , particularly focusing on previously unexplored elements related to hermaphroditism, utopia, and monosexuality. Examining unpublished materials, including the 1969 course Le discours de la sexualité and a manuscript on Les hermaphrodites , this study centers on Foucault's analysis of the trial of Jean-Baptiste/Anne Grandjean, a pivotal moment of his discourse. A notable digression in this analysis pertains to a love poem by Édouard-Thomas Simon, reflecting on a fictitious subject's desires, emphasizing an ethical and political dimension of sexuality. By connecting this to Foucault's sexual utopia classification and his stance on monosexuality, the study contextualizes the pages within a broader dialogue, illuminating their strategic significance in contrast to prevalent interpretations. The analysis uncovers the depth of Foucault's discourse and its relevance to the socio-political movements of the time, reaffirming the strategic nature of the Histoire de la sexualité project. This exploration offers insights into Foucault's intellectual landscape and the subtle dimensions of his inquiries, illustrating their enduring relevance.

The text explores the complex issues surrounding Autonomous AI (Artificial General Intelligence) and the potential threats they pose to humanity. It highlights the vagueness in defining what it means to be human in the context of AI and suggests that mainstream transhumanist thinkers often lack clear definitions of personhood. The central concern is that as AI gains autonomy, it may make decisions that do not align with human values and pose existential risks. To address this challenge, the text proposes a concept called "vitalistic personalism." This framework emphasizes defining a person based on the criterion of "life." It suggests that any entity with the attribute of life, should be considered a person with fundamental rights, primarily inviolability. This approach aims to safeguard against the potential harm that highly autonomous AI could inflict on humanity, ensuring its actions align with human values. The text acknowledges potential objections, such as its human-centric perspective and potential implications of encounters with extraterrestrial life forms. Nevertheless, it argues that vitalistic personalism is a practical and operational framework that addresses the legal and moral aspects of AI personhood, ultimately aiming to protect both humans and non-human life forms from technological existential risks.