Browsing by Author "Navarrete, Cristian"

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    Does critical realism need the concept of three domains of reality? A roundtable
    (2023) Elder-Vass, Dave; Fryer, Tom; Groff, Ruth Porter; Navarrete, Cristian; Nellhaus, Tobin
    The concept of the three domains of reality is widely used in empirical critical realist research. However, there has been little scrutiny of how the domains are conceptualized and what they contribute to critical realism and how they should be applied in empirical research. This paper involves four arguments. First, Tom Fryer and Cristian Navarrete argue that the three domains of reality are redundant, confusing, and unsupported by Bhaskar's theorizing. Second, Dave Elder-Vass argues that the three domains schema embodies a distinction between the actual and the non-actual real. Regardless of whether we call them domains we need to retain this distinction. Third, Tobin Nellhaus argues that there are several reasons to uphold the three domains, but 'the empirical' is flawed and must be enfolded within a more encompassing theory. Fourth, Ruth Groff argues that the metaphor of ontological stratification is a problem when readers take it literally, often misconstruing the actual metaphysical content that it is meant to capture.
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    Efficacy of topical photodynamic therapy for keratoacanthomas: A case-series of four patients
    (MEDKNOW PUBLICATIONS & MEDIA PVT LTD, 2012) Farias, Maria M.; Hasson, Ariel; Navarrete, Cristian; Nicklas, Claudia; Garcia Huidobro, Isidora; Gonzalez, Sergio
    Topical photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an excellent treatment option for various non-melanoma skin cancers and precancerous lesions, including actinic keratosis, Bowen's disease, and basal cell carcinoma. The clinical use of PDT includes a broad range of neoplastic, inflammatory, and infectious skin diseases. There is also anecdotal evidence suggesting the efficacy of PDT for the treatment of keratoacanthomas (KA). We report a case-series of four patients with solitary KA confirmed by histology, treated with topical PDT with methylaminolevulinic acid (MAL) cream. After three sessions of PDT, the lesions completely disappeared. There was no evidence of recurrence and excellent cosmetic outcome was achieved after three years of follow-up. Topical photodynamic therapy with MAL can be a therapeutic alternative for KA with good clinical and cosmetic outcomes.
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    Periorbital Syringoma Treated With Radiofrequency and Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Laser in 5 Patients
    (JOURNAL OF DRUGS IN DERMATOLOGY, 2012) Hasson, Ariel; Magdalena Farias, Maria; Nicklas, Claudia; Navarrete, Cristian
    Syringomas are common benign eccrine ductal adnexial tumors, commonly found in periorbital area. Periorbital syringomas are aesthetically disturbing difficult to treat. Many treatment modalities are described in the literature, including topical and surgical methods, with potential problems such as postinflammatory hyper- and hypopigmentation, low efficacy, or scar formation. We present 5 patients with syringoma treated with the combination of radiofrequency ablation and carbon dioxide (CO2) lasers. Using low-energy parameters on the CO2 laser, and low energy on the radiofrequency, we could complement both treatments maximizing the destruction of the tumors and minimizing the adverse effects in only two sessions. This is a relatively easy, safe, and less painful treatment, with good cosmetic results on periorbital syringomas.
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    Rearticulating Realism: Chains of Reference and Epistemic Success in the Sciences
    (2024) Navarrete, Cristian
    In recent decades, the long-standing debate about the scientific status of the social sciences and their explanatory nature has been rearticulated through perspectivist, interpretivist, and mechanistic approaches. Whereas mechanistic approaches advocate for realism in sociological models, perspectivist and interpretivist perspectives challenge this by emphasizing the multiple interpretations and meaningful nature of social reality, as opposed to the natural sciences. Currently, the metatheoretical discussion centers on competing views regarding the relationship between theories and the objects they address. In contrast to this focus on theories, I propose a rearticulation of Hacking's interventionist argument. I argue that all sciences share a common epistemic activity-the construction of chains of reference-which points to shared notions of success. This paves the way for realism through a practice-based argument that does not originate from ontological disputes, suggesting that our best theories are those literally embedded in scientific practice.
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    Redefining emergence: Making the case for contextual emergence in critical realism
    (2024) Navarrete, Cristian; Fryer, Tom
    Emergence is central to critical realism, but there has been little attempt to develop a systematic account of this concept within the tradition. Two notable exceptions are seen in the work of Dave Elder-Vass and Tony Lawson. However, both face problems in responding to reductionist claims and accounting for downward causation. This paper proposes contextual emergence as a robust alternative that overcomes these issues and provides a better justification for critical realism's stratified worldview. Contextual emergence explains that while properties at a lower 'level' offer necessary conditions, for emergence to obtain, there must also be contingent conditions at a higher 'level'. This approach maintains many of critical realism's intuitions about emergence, providing a robust account of ontological stratification and downward causation.