Human Flourishing, Normativity and Critical Theory

Author(s): Andrius Bielskis / Language(s): English Issue: 103/2023

Aristotle has traditionally been aligned with conservative social and political philosophy. The conservative reception has been challenged by Alasdair MacIntyre and the Marx-inspired reading of Aristotle. Following MacIntyre’s arguments, this paper sketches an alternative conception of the critical theory beyond the Frankfurt School’s critique of the contemporary culture and the modern society. Critical theory is understood as an attempt to provide both historical analysis and normative critique of the contemporary society and its culture. It argues that normativity should be understood not in Kantian, but in Aristotelian terms. The articulation of Aristotelian conceptions of human flourishing and aretē, rather than that of the bürgerlich conception of Kantian duty, should be at the centre of contemporary theorising. The author claims that Aristotle’s practical philosophy allows us to conceptualise ethics beyond the dominant conceptions of ethical normativity prevalent in the capitalist modernity, while Marx is important because his analysis provides us with theoretical tools for the historically informed critique of the social and economic structures of the modern society.

THE CONSTITUTIONAL DOCTRINE OF HUMAN DIGNITY IN REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGIES

Author(s): Irina Krylatova / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2020

Constitutional scholars who deal with classical liberties and rights call into question of the status of new generation of rights arisen from transformative techonilogies. As a result a new doctrine of bio constitutionalizm has appeared (Jasanoff, S., ed. 2011. Reframing Rights: Bioconstitutionalism in the Genetic Age. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press), which suggests that basic categories for the allocation of rights and duties in law and policymaking are redefined together with and through specific and technological ways of understanding and intervening in life. Mentioned above core law and ethical dilemmas are vividly highlighted in reproductive technologies. Despite the policy of favoring genetic engineering it is necessary to involve a reasonable scheme of regulation with recognition of the universalism of human dignity and moral status of embryo. So, in my paper I will answer the following questions: Does the recognition of «full moral respect» of embryo provoke conflicts among different constitutional and international norms? Does the invisibility of human dignity and level of its respect concern all reproductive rights or is it limited to certain categories? Furthermore, I would like to clarify the very controversial issue of using human embryo with the purpose of human enhancement. Are there compatible ways of the existing biomedical science policy, constitutional doctrine of human dignity and constitutional national policy?

POLITICAL AND ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS OF INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL SURROGACY ON STATES: EUROPEAN CONTEXT

Author(s): Nina Sajić / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2020

International commercial surrogacy (ICS) has grown especially in the last two decades with the advancement in assisted reproductive technologies. It has become a global phenomena and business industry worth several billions of USD a year, which raises many political, legal and ethical issues. This article examines how regulations and laws on surrogacy vary across the countries. Some European countries such as the UK allow altruistic surrogacy, but ban commercial surrogacy, while France, Germany and Italy prohibit all forms of surrogacy. In addition to legal perspective, this Article analyses ICS from theological, feminist and liberal point of view. While most of the Christian Churches are against surrogacy and other forms of assisted reproductive technologies (ART), Islam allows certain aspects of assisted reproductive technologies, whereas Judaism, Hinduism and Buddhism allow all forms of ART. From the feminist perspective ICS is a form of slavery that exploits female body through the financial enticements in the same way, as does the prostitution. Feminists see surrogacy as a violation of the rights of children and women. Liberals, on the other hand, argue that surrogacy represent the right to one’s personal autonomy, and to prohibit the practice would be a violation of women’s rights to self determination.

Етични и правни проблеми, свързани със субектността и изкуствения интелект

Author(s): Veselina Slavova,Darina Dimitrova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 2/2023

AI enters more and more spheres of personal and public life, the topic becomes the object of much discussion. The expanding possibilities of these technologies give rise to the need to introduce ethical and legal regulation in order to control them. Hence the question arises as to how far a system can be considered an autonomous entity, similar to the individual possessing this capability. This article examines the question of whether a system with artificial intelligence can be considered a subject in ethical and legal aspect. The aim is to demonstrate the difference between human thinking and behaviour and the activities performed by AI systems in order to outline a framework with ethical and legal norms governing the creation and use of AI. By applying a multidisciplinary approach combining the analysis of philosophical and legal notions of the subject, concepts such as intellect, autonomy, moral and legal responsibility are explored. The conclusion is that no matter how developed these systems are, they cannot be defined as subjects because they cannot perform fully conscious acts and cannot be held morally or legally responsible.

Irritability (Need) and An-irritability (Fatigue): A Disorder of Rhythms – the Ontological Burnout

Author(s): Marina Christodoulou / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2023

In this paper, I propose to bring forward the symptom of fatigue, and/or exhaustion and burnout, brought up by the social-cultural speeds, rhythms, and acceleration, that manifests not only as quotidian tiredness and fatigue but also as what I will call an ontological burnout, that is, as an exhaustion of being as being. I will also refer to the concept of irritability and how I associate it with need, and to the concept of an-irritability (the absence of irritability) and how I associate it with fatigue. In other words, how over-irritability or excessive irritability, mostly as encountered in humans, is a disorder of (bio)-rhythms, and how the constant, intensive satisfaction of need(s) leads to fatigue.

(Um)welt-ethos. Creation, ecology and environment in ecumenical perspective

Author(s): Pablo Blanco-Sarto / Language(s): English Issue: 22/2022

Christianity is sometimes considered as guilty of the ecological miscare throughout history. The words ‘economy’, ‘ecology’ and ‘ecumenism’ come from the same word (oikos – house) and remain very close in their respective developments. But Welt-ethos must be preceded by a Welt-logos and by an Um-welt-logos, that means that Nature has her own voice in our relationship with the Planet. This is a counter-intuitive principle in the history of Christianity, whose position has been sometimes ambiguous. An historical approach can help us to understand better these abstract ideas as incarnated in the present moment. This ecumenical and ecological spirituality is lived not only by monks and friars, but also by all believers in Christ, and the theology of creation is an ecumenical meeting-point between all Christians. In this study we will follow here a biblical, historical, ecumenical and comparative methodology, for understanding how was lived this issue in the Christianity, and how must be lived in the future.

Interpretacje Kanta rozumienia „rodziny” jako wspólnoty domowej

Author(s): Zdzisław Kieliszek / Language(s): Polish Issue: 59/2022

Kant understood “family” primarily as a domestic society and presented the basic foundations for regulating its life in The Metaphysics of Morals. Kant’s view of “family” was criticized shortly after its publication. Among the existing interpretations of Kant’s understanding of “family” three main directions can be distinguished. First, there are interpretations that argue with Kant (Friedrich L. Bouterwek, Christian G. Schütz, Georg W.F. Hegel, Carl A. Emge, Gerhard Buchda, Ernst Swoboda, Reinhard Brandt, Hariolf Oberer, Frank Kuhne). Secondly, there are interpretations showing that Kant’s view of “family” is congruent with other elements of his philosophy (Karl Vorländer, Adam Horn, Julius Ebbinghaus, Klaus Steigleder, Pärttyli Rinne). Thirdly, some researchers discover that Kant’s understanding of “family” was not only innovative for its time, but still contains inspiring research potential (Wolfgang Kersting, Bernd Ludwig, Barbara Herman, Sharon Byrd, Peter König, Francesca Di Donato). However, after analysing the existing interpretations of the concept of “family” contained in Kant’s philosophy, one can reach the following conclusions. Firstly, there is a noticeable lack of studies directly and extensively analysing Kant’s understanding of “family”. Secondly, the existing interpretations clearly focus on the question of the consistency of Kant’s thoughts on family life with other elements of his philosophy. Third, even critics of Kant’s thoughts point out that his view of family life was innovative for those times. Fourthly, Kant’s concept of “family” is considered an interesting research area, as it can be used to find interesting inspirations for the ongoing discussions, such as the protection and equality of women, children’s rights, the conditions of moral fairness and the legitimacy of social contracts, moral evaluation and the possibility of legally sanctioning homosexual relationships or understanding human sexuality.

Avatar Therapy Model and Ethical Principles in the Treatment of Auditory Hallucinations in Patients with Schizophrenia

Author(s): Zeynep Özerol,Sezin Andic / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2023

Schizophrenia is one of the most debilitating mental disorders. Auditory hallucinations, which are known to be closely related to interpersonal relationships, are the most common type of hallucinations observed in the course of schizophrenia. Virtual reality has been developing in various fields with the development of computerized technologies and has started to appear in the field of clinical psychology in the form of virtual reality therapies. Avatar therapy is among the interpersonal-based virtual reality therapy models that focus on auditory hallucinations among the symptoms of schizophrenia. The aim of avatar therapy is to enable the person to have control over auditory hallucinations. Within the scope of this review study; the past, present and future of schizophrenia treatment, effective intervention methods in the treatment of schizophrenia, virtual reality therapy, the main outlines of the avatar therapy model, the effectiveness studies of avatar therapy and ethical issues were discussed. The results of the research on the effectiveness of avatar therapy reveal the need for further research in this field.

LITERATURE - THE ETHICAL - AESTHETIC RELATIONSHIP

Author(s): Nicoleta Flavia Cionte (Dan) / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 25/2021

In the literature, a relationship is established between ethics and aesthetics. Ethical aesthetic, good-beautiful relationships are twinned. Ethics synthesizes the rules and regulates human relationships, behaviors and develops norms valid for a community or a society. Aesthetics studies the laws and categories of art at the highest level of creating and receiving beauty. The ethical-aesthetic relationship, good and beautiful, has been highlighted in the history of art and morality because it is permanently involved in the real life of man. The ethical-aesthetic relationship is a vast subject of debate, with various associations and ramifications, so that it is very difficult to exhaust. The ethical norms adopted by students in popular literature constitute the morality derived from reading and interpreting popular texts. Oral literature lives with and through heroes, mythical figures and fabulous characters; they populate the wonderful space of the imaginary.

Феноменологична основа на спекулативната етика

Author(s): Ivo Minkov / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 4/2023

The article hypothesizes the necessary transition from logic to ethics in the context of human spiritual evolution and modern perspectives on artificial intelligence systems. This is done by means of the dialectical method, considered, following Hegel’s example, as an absolute me-thod of knowledge. In the dynamic between the logical and the ethical crystallizes the idea of speculative ethics, which has a phenomenological basis. Speculative ethics is presented in an axiological plan, as a theoretical field on which the systematization and organization of values and the construction of a peculiar philosophy of universal human values are distribu-ted. In the course of the conceptual analysis of the mentioned transition, a new idea is advanced – about the need for a phenomenology of ethical life, which speculative ethics presupposes. Thus, two moments are distinguished – of phenomenological becoming and of speculative-ethical becoming. The first achieves a constitution of the pure being of values, and the second frames the transition to their existence. As a result of all this, the becoming essence of the absolute subject and universal human values is assumed, which has before itself the task of building the new postglobal world.

ETHICAL SUBTERFUGES OF CIORANIAN NIHILISM

Author(s): Liliana PAVEL (MIREA) / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 26/2021

The existential vacuum arises from several interfering causes and can occur in a multitude of forms, masks and faces. The true meaning of life must be discovered outside, in the world, because the human being is not a closed system. To become human means, without a doubt, to dedicate yourself to causes oriented outside you, to a sense of love that looks at the other. In the struggle with himself, in the burden of suffering, Cioran seems to miss precisely this alliance of human perfection, often deliberately omitting contact with the world, blinded by the obsession of his own suffering. Then suffering begins to dig the (inner) subterfuges of ethics, to which we cannot determine the efficiency, nor the viability in relation to the outside, in a possible ethical process with the world, their origin being so sensibly subjective. In other words, self-transcendence is essential for ethical relationships; without it man remains captive in himself, exterminating any possibility of reconciliation with the world. The human being temporarily comes to resort to a helpful, adapted ethic.

EMIL CIORAN IN PARALLEL MIRRORS - BETWEEN MORAL GOOD AND MORAL EVIL

Author(s): Liliana PAVEL (MIREA) / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 26/2021

The eternal return is the greatest burden of man, but at the same time, a triumph of life, a resurrection of the tragic that is meant to fill the gaps arising from the lack of God. Nihilism comes to integrate naturally into a dimension in which morality becomes the instinct of the individual flock, where good and evil are re-evaluated values, and after the process evil is preferable to good and nothing good. All the ideas of the nihilist philosopher come at some point to serve the will to power and the ideal of a vitalism that falls into the abyss of fatalism. Once God's death is proclaimed, man must take his place. How will man rise to this higher rank? Is there morality in the process of rebellion?

Samuel Pufendorf (1632–1694) a jeho pojetí právního řádu jako syntézy racionalismu a zkušenosti

Author(s): Radim Seltenreich / Language(s): Czech Issue: 90/2023

In his article, the author examines Samuel Pufendorf (1632–1694), who is considered one of the leading representatives of the conception of natural law. First of all, he tells us about the life of this thinker and his work in the German region and in Sweden where he also wrote his two most important works on natural law. He interprets this primarily as a synthesis of rationalist and empiricist approaches and points out that a person’s rights must be derived from his duties. Finally, the author also notes Pufendorf’s interpretation of religious life, emphasising his efforts to distinguish between the spheres of action of church and state, however much he includes both under the label of corporation. In conclusion, he also reminds us of Pufendorf’s critique of the state-law structure of the Holy Roman Empire, as well as of how his work was received in subsequent legal developments.

Липсващата прошка, отсъстващото покаяние

Author(s): Mihail Nedelchev / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2002

Thaumazein и traumazein: опит върху лъжата

Author(s): Aleksander Kiossev / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2002

Херменевтика и деконструкция: контури на един философски спор

Author(s): Georg W. Bertram / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2002

Рефлексия на обичайното. Изкуство и философия

Author(s): Andrea Kern / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2002

Unde(r)construction. Деконструкция на „аудиовизуалното“ и разрастване на „виртуалното“

Author(s): Bogdan Ghiu / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2002

Опит за историзиране на огледалния образ

Author(s): Vladimir Andreev Trendafilov / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2002

THE CONCEPTS OF GOOD AND EVIL IN THE VIEW OF PHILOSOPHERS

Author(s): Daniela Ispas (Petcu) / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 28/2022

Philosophers have been concerned with the general ideas of good and evil since ancient times and these concepts still arouse interest. The values promoted by morality fall within the category of the good. The notion of good can be particularized in virtue, justice. Evil has been opposed to good. It has been stated that evil has no substance, it has no autonomous entity. The reasons that urge someone to act for good or evil purposes have also been taken into account. It is not common to relate to the same view of philosophers with regard to the possibility of interpreting the concepts of good and evil, respectively. Ethics attempt to solve, beyond the philosophical aspects, real life situations requiring a position.