One of the most prolific approaches to the comparative study of Buddhist and Christian philosophy has been the use of Buddhist anti-metaphysicism to overcome the allegedly obsolete metaphysical discourse of Christianity. This approach has been practiced, among others, by Edgar Bruns, Frederik Streng, Joseph O'Leary, and John Keenan. Keenan's 1980–1990s seminal works were determinative in that they appeared to rely on intuitive and evident premises: Christianity became infused with Greek metaphysical concepts early on; consequently, it adopted the forms of (...) essentialism and ontological discourse practiced in metaphysics. That discourse has now become obsolete and must be overcome; Buddhist anti-metaphysicism helps overcome it; hence, Christianity can learn from Buddhism. In this paper, I show that although Keenan presents the first of these claims as self-evident, it is in fact highly polemical. Its origins lie in Albrecht Ritschl's and Adolf von Harnack's Hellenization theory. While the theological and historical background to this theory has been debated, Keenan does not engage in these debates. Even more, he transforms the theory in such a way that it becomes incongruent with its inherent aim. Following the problems implied on these two levels, I suggest that Keenan's project makes itself vulnerable to incoherencies. In the end, I argue for the overcoming of antimetaphysicism as a basis for Buddhist-Christian dialogue. (shrink)

Introduction Nonconsequentialist ethicists have noted that small harms, goods, or claims should not count against large claims. For example, given a choice between saving one life and a large group of people with minor headaches, we ought to save the one life, no matter how large the group is. This principle has been called limited aggregation. The principle of limited aggregation might have implications on public health policy, given that public health policy involves weighing the claims of individuals against one (...) another. Aims and Methods I aim to show that limited aggregation has implications for policies on e-cigarettes and alternative nicotine delivery systems. The methodology used in this study involves critical analysis of existing literature and pre-theoretical moral views. Results This study does not use empirical research. Conclusions In deciding to allow or encourage the use of e-cigarettes or alternative nicotine delivery systems, we sometimes must weigh benefits to each existing smoker affected by the policy against risks to each nonsmoker affected. I argue in this paper that when these risks, to each individual nonsmoker, are sufficiently small, we ought not to count them against more significant benefits to smokers. This applies even when the number of nonsmokers affected by a policy exceeds the number of smokers. Implications This paper implies that policymakers ought to be sensitive to the scale of benefits or risks introduced by a policy on individuals. If the negative side effects, on each affected individual, of a proposed policy are sufficiently small, they do not count against the beneficial goals of that policy. Depending on the expected effects of each given e-cigarette policy, this may give policymakers defeasible reasons to prioritize the needs of current smokers, who may each gain a lot from various means of smoking cessation, over nonsmokers, who each may only have a small chance of picking up smoking. (shrink)

. In this article I review the efforts of eighteen scientists and theologians, recorded in this book, to describe the relation of God to the universe during a conference sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation at Windsor Castle in 2001. Theologians from several branches of Christian faith articulate their understanding of panentheism, revealing a considerable diversity. I deal with each author in relation to six issues: the way God acts, how God's intimate relation to the world is to be described, (...) the relation of God to spacetime, whether God is dependent upon the world, what type of language is used, and the problem of dipolar panentheism. I identify significant differences between these authors, suggest where fruitful dialogue is possible, and distinguish between intelligibility and plausibility in comparing dipolar panentheism with other types. (shrink)

The purpose of this research paper is to identify which types of corporate philanthropy (CP): cause-related marketing (CRM) or sponsorship, create higher moralcapital under two conditions: proactive or reactive (following a scandal). Results showed that CP created higher moral capital for a proactive company than for a reactive company. Both CRM and sponsorship were perceived as more sincere in the proactive company than the reactive company. However, CRM was seen as self-serving in the reactive company, but not the proactive company. (...) The study demonstrated that companies need to take into account the different types of CP, as it has an effect on their moral capital. Socially proactive firms should engage in both CRM and sponsorship philanthropy, as both types can generate high moral capital, which creates better company reputation. However, CP may not be the most effective or appropriate strategy for creating moral capital following negative publicity. (shrink)

What I call ambiguities of system due to the sheer complexity of Whitehead’s metaphysics and his analysis of process in terms of concrescence and transition threaten its coherence in terms of what we know empirically of the quantum and classical dimensions of nature. Ambiguities of equivocation pertaining to Whitehead’s use of the terms “contemporary” and “objectification,” as the latter is employed in relation to prehension and satisfaction, also threaten its coherence. The article proposes ways to reduce these threats and uncertainty (...) about coherence by clarifying ambiguities and by attending to the way Whitehead’s terms are predicated on the quantum and classical dimensions. (shrink)

The main contention of this paper is that the underlying aim behind efforts to integrate ethics into the business school curriculum is in order to motivate and enable future business leaders to manage ethically and respond effectively to the challenges of sustainable development. Conceptualising ethics education in terms of eliciting behavioural change enables access into the insights provided by social psychological research into factors affecting behaviour, such as self-efficacy, subjective norms, knowledge, awareness, attitudes and role models. MSc students studying entrepreneurship (...) applied their entrepreneurial skills to help social enterprises achieve their objectives as part of their assessed coursework. With reference to a content analysis of their reflections, it is argued that such placements address these key factors identified as predicting behavioural change in a way that more traditional pedagogies cannot. (shrink)

In this paper I examine how Hobbes’ philosophy can be read from an Arendtian perspective. I argue that Arendt provided two different interpretations of Hobbes: one set down in The Origins of Totalitarianism, where Hobbes is depicted as the spokesman of the emerging bourgeoisie; and another that she developed later, scattered among various texts such as The Human Condition and Between Past and Future. I focus on this second interpretation and on her analysis of concepts such as common sense, authority (...) and sovereignty. Firstly, I examine how she changes the meaning of common sense, and how this shift is linked to what Arendt understands by the expression “estrangement from the world.” Secondly, I explain how Hobbes redefined the concept of authority and how his notion of sovereignty deliberately conflated the dual concepts of authority and power. (shrink)

The title above identifies two issues in Charles Hartshorne's panentheistic understanding of God that, in my judgment, have not been sufficiently clarified. The purpose of this paper is to provide additional clarification, that the adequacy of this type of theism may be more carefully judged by its admirers and by its detractors from their respective perspectives. The first part will identify central elements of Hartshorne's reasoning about God's relation to the world. The second part examines how Hartshorne speaks of a (...) divine "transcendence" in a naturalistic metaphysics that is thoroughly empirical. The third part will examine the ways that God is related to the world's evil and whether God is in some way .. (shrink)

El propósito de este artículo es profundizar en el pensamiento de Arendt y estudiar su interpretación del mundo griego, en diálogo con el estado actual de la historia de la antigua Grecia, en especial por lo que se refiere a los conceptos de acción, nomos y libertad, así como a la importancia del espacio político del ágora. Además, se tiene el objetivo de rebatir esa amplia recepción que le atribuye una suerte de ingenua grecomanía y de mostrar las limitaciones que (...) ella misma observa en el planteamiento político de la polis. Lo que se descubre es que Arendt no encuentra en la antigua Grecia ninguno de los contrapesos de la acción que considera necesarios para que ésta no caiga en la _hybris_, como son el perdón, la promesa y la autoridad, o que el concepto romano de _lex_, debido a su carácter relacional, resulta mucho más cercano a su comprensión de la política que el griego de _nomos_. (shrink)

G.H. Mead and A.N. Whitehead agree that all causation occurs in a present, that the self is social, and that philosophical description of the new physics of relativity and quantum mechanics is a complicated task. I explore this complexity in relation to the knowledge of events unable to be observed here and now, especially past historical events. The integration of the two philosophers’ views is shown in reference to Whitehead’s criteria of respect for facts and coherence. By reference to the (...) work of Palmyre Oomen I show the inconsistency of Whitehead’s treatment of the prehensibility of God’s consequent nature with his claim that God is not an exception to the metaphysical principles. The integration of Mead’s and Whitehead’s views permits plausible talk about past, present, and future consisent with our scientific knowledge. (shrink)

Bernard MacDougall Loomer (1912–1985) is well known for his influence on process theology, or as he preferred, “process-relational” theology. Less well known is his interpretation of the philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead (1861–1947) and its influence in the promotion of that philosophy not only among his students but also more recently beyond that circle. He presents his own views as one who has made Whitehead’s his own. Yet he is not uncritical of Whitehead. He has articulated an empirical naturalism in (...) Whiteheadian terms that is theistic and controversial by that fact. The analysis of his interpretation of Whitehead allows us to probe his theistic naturalism and to identify new possibilities in the .. (shrink)

Analiso e critico neste artigo a solução apresentada por Robert Brandom para o problema por ele formulado acerca do critério de distintividade das percepções presentes nas meras enteléquias. Brandom considera ser problemática a vinculação entre distinção e consciência feita por vários intérpretes de Leibniz com o propósito de dar conta dos diferentes graus de distinção das percepções, pois tal vinculação somente pode ser válida para almas e espíritos, não se aplicando às enteléquias, as quais não são dotadas de nenhum tipo (...) de senciência ou de reflexão. Em função disso, Brandom propõe uma interpretação que não apresentaria essa difculdade. Segundo essa proposta, uma percepção será tão mais distinta quanto maior for seu domínio expressivo, isto é, seu grau de distinção será determinado pela quantidade de inferências que se deixam realizar a partir dela. Torna-se possível, assim, de acordo com ele, a comparação de diferentes percepções e a ordenação delas em uma série que vai das menos distintas às mais distintas tomando como base seus respectivos domínios expressivos. Mostro neste artigo que tanto esse – a meu ver, aparente – problema levantado por Brandom quanto a solução por ele proposta decorrem de uma compreensão parcial e equivocada da teoria leibniziana das mônadas, de tal forma que estaríamos aqui diante de uma solução equivocada para um problema inexistente. (shrink)

La siempre latente posibilidad de ver que la filosofía abandone las escuelas se revisa en este texto a partir de las categorías de análisis propuestas por la teoría de la injusticia epistémica, según la cual las limitaciones, en términos de silenciamiento o de falta de reconocimiento, a que son sometidos algunos individuos cuando se les considera indignos como miembros de una comunidad epistémica representan una forma de acallamiento de su agencia epistémica. Esta perspectiva no solo permite considerar una nueva dimensión (...) del asunto de la presencia de la filosofía en los planes de estudio escolares, sino también formular propuestas para que la enseñanza de la filosofía ayude a superar algunas de las injusticias que ella misma ha ayudado a invisibilizar. (shrink)

En este artículo se propone repensar la cuestión específica de la autoridad y captar cómo se entrelaza con la acción y la performatividad. Primero, se lleva a cabo una exposición de la acción según el pensamiento de Arendt y se muestra su carácter rupturista, natalicio y performativo. Luego, se aborda el problema de la performatividad en Butler y cómo no puede ser explicada exclusivamente desde la perspectiva de los actores. A continuación, se conecta lo anterior con la cuestión de la (...) autoridad y se plantea una reconsideración de ésta que nos puede ayudar a comprender cómo los espectadores pueden tener un rol activo y productivo en el éxito de la acción y en su incidencia en el mundo. (shrink)

This article proposes to reread authority from a traditionally anti-authoritarian perspective such as the anarchist one and, specifically, from Bakunin’s thought. To this end, I analyze some little studied texts of the Russian anarchist and show that, despite his criticisms of authority, he did not want to abolish authority but to rethink and transform it. Bakunin’s proposal consisted in seeking an alternative face to hegemonic authority, which he explores from its most everyday and relational dimension and where it appears as (...) a close, spontaneous and more democratic reality that is based on freedom. Afterwards, the question of authority is examined from its more practical side, where the question of authority connects with the so-called “moral authority” and serves to question the classic hierarchical relationship between theory and action. In his reinterpretation of authority Bakunin finds a kind of power that goes beyond power and traditional authority. (shrink)

ZusammenfassungDer Aufsatz bietet einen Beitrag zur theologischen Anthropologie. Er geht der Frage nach, welcher anthropologische Sinn der Rede von Mächten im Horizont der Macht Gottes bei Luther zukommt. Untersucht werden ausgewählte Schriften Luthers zwischen 1519 und 1525. Dabei zeigt sich, dass der Mensch als Beziehungswesen im Streben nach Erfüllung seiner selbst Einfallstor für Mächte ist, deren er nicht Herr ist. Dazu gehören z.B. die Macht von Bildern und die Macht des Ansehens. Ihre Entmächtigung hängt ab von einer Veränderung im Verständnis (...) von Erfüllung. Der Aufsatz will in diesem Zusammenhang einen Beitrag zum Thema Aufklärung und Entmythologisierung aus dem Evangelium leisten.SummaryThis paper offers a contribution to theological anthropology. It investigates the anthropological meaning of discourse on powers within the context of Luther's understanding of the power of God. The interpretation is based on selected writings by Luther from the period from 1519 to 1525. The outcome suggests that as beings-in-relation human beings are themselves in their striving for self-fulfilment the entrance gate for powers over which they have no control. Among these are the power of images and the power of recognition. Their disempowerment depends on a change in the understanding of fulfillment. The paper attempts to offer a contribution towards the topic of enlightenment and demythologization on the basis of the gospel. (shrink)

ZusammenfassungDer theologische Gedanke der »Schöpfung aus dem Nichts« bringt das »allein aus Gnade« für die Schöpfungslehre in zugespitzter Weise zum Ausdruck. In der Wahrnehmung des Nichts treffen sich eine auf die Grenzen ihres Erkennens reflektierende Naturwissenschaft, eine metaphysisch fragende Philosophie und die Theologie. In der Art und Weise der Wahrnehmung und in der Benennung aber unterscheiden sie sich zutiefst. Der vorliegende Aufsatz geht dann den soteriologischen Implikationen des metaphysischen Gedankens des Nichts beim frühen Heidegger nach und stellt sie in das (...) Licht der Lehre vom Nichtigen bei Karl Barth. Auf diesem Hintergrund werden psychologisch und soziologisch beobachtete und interpretierte Phänomene auf ihre soteriologischen Implikationen hin in den Blick genommen. Dabei wird deutlich, welche radikale Wahrnehmung und welch befreiende Zumutung der theologische Gedanke der Schöpfung aus dem Nichts in sich birgt.SummaryThe theological concept of creatio ex nihilo pointedly expresses the sola gratia for the doctrine of creation. Natural sciences reflecting upon the boundaries of their knowledge, philosophy inquiring metaphysical problems and theology converge on the perception of nothingness. But they differ deeply in their way of perceiving and entitling it. The present article deals with the soteriological implications of the metaphysical concept of nothingness in the early Heidegger in the light of Karl Barth's account of nothingness . Against this background, different phenomena observed and interpreted by psychology and sociology are examined as to their soteriological implications. Thus, the radical way of perception and the liberating challenge implied in the concept of creatio ex nihilo become apparent. (shrink)

Adolf von Harnack auf schloss Elmau, von J. Müller.--Briefe Adolf von Harnacs an Johannes Müller.--Leben und erkennen, von A. Harnack.