Benjamin Franklin e a formação de temporais com raios e trovões: tradução comentada de uma carta a John Mitchel

Neste artigo, apresentamos uma tradução integral e comentada da carta escrita por Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) e endereçada a John Mitchel (1711-1768), contendo sua explicação para a formação de temporais com raios e trovões. Trata-se da primeira vez que este texto é traduzido para o português brasileiro. Na carta, redigida no auge dos estudos de Franklin em eletricidade, o norte-americano utilizou um estilo característico de muitos escritos do século XVIII, partindo de evidências experimentais e seguindo um passo-a-passo indutivo. Para corroborar suas proposições, ele valeu-se extensivamente de sua teoria de um único fluido elétrico, então recém-elaborada.

Anti-metaphysical foundation of contemporary theory of natural law: Theory of law and practical rationality in works of John Mitchel Finnis

The contemporary natural law theory was grounded in the philosophical and the jurisprudential work of Australian legal and moral philosopher John Mitchell Finnis. He reaffirmed the natural law and also corrected some of false notions about it which were dominant through the history of legal philosophy. Finnis moral and legal philosophy could be understood by the specific theoretical figure - moral argument for law. This theoretical concept implies unity of two mutually connected moments which are necessary for a philosophical treatment of any socially relevant phenomena: methodological and epistemological as well as practical. The meeting point of these two philosophically relevant dimensions is theory of practical rationality exposed in the philosophy of John Mitchell Finnis. By grounding his concept of natural law on the theory of practical rationality, John Finnis historically contextualize it. He made some sort of specific anti metaphysical concept of natural law theory that is alternative to the classical natural law as well as to the legal positivism, which mainly exposed in the legal theories of Hans Kelsen and H.L.A Hart.