Metaphysical Hermeneutics

This journal discusses the Christian faith response to the growing phenomenon of religious pluralism in the contemporary era. Religious pluralism portrays the diversity of religious beliefs in the modern world, presenting new challenges for Christians in articulating and upholding their faith. In this context, the author identifies three common approaches used in responding to religious pluralism. First, the exclusive approach emphasizes that only one religion is true and valid, while other religions are considered false or invalid. Second, the inclusive approach acknowledges relative truth in each religion, appreciating and recognizing the contributions of each religious tradition. Third, the pluralistic approach regards all religions as valid ways to know and reach God, without claiming superiority of one religion over others. Within the context of Christian faith, the author explores relevant theological views and biblical perspectives in responding to religious pluralism. Some Christian theologians assert the exclusivity of Christ, the belief that salvation can only be found through Jesus Christ. However, there are also Christian theologians who propose inclusive and pluralistic views, stating that Christian faith can coexist with an appreciation of truth in other religions. The author concludes that the Christian faith response to religious pluralism can vary depending on individual theological perspectives and cultural contexts. However, it is important to carefully investigate the foundations of Christian faith and integrate theological views with an inclusive and respectful attitude towards other religions. Keywords: Christian faith, religious pluralism, exclusive approach, inclusive approach, pluralistic approach.

LANGUAGE NOTE | Document text in Chinese; abstract also in English.墮胎是當代最具爭議性的道德問題之一。但問題的焦點是否是婦女選擇墮胎的權利與胎兒生存權利的取捨？究竟以權利立論為婦女爭取墮胎的自由是否適切？以權利立論是否沒有限制？婦女在考慮墮胎時，是否以從權利的角度出發作決定呢？如果婦女考慮墮胎時，是從關懷的角度出發作決定，則此進路由是否沒有問題呢？當然，如果論辨的雙方能夠彼此了解及對話，能否為解決此爭拗帶來甚幫助呢？本文將會介紹湯森（Judith Jarvis Thomson）及沃倫（Mary Anne Warren）以權利立論為婦女爭取墮胎權的立場，趙凌姬（Carol Gilligan）關懷倫理及徐姿（Laurie Shrage）詮釋及多元的道德進路，並嘗試了解不同進路的限制，目的並不是要解決道德問題，卻是要深化我們對這問題的複雜性的體認。Abortion is one of the most controversial moral problems in contemporary world. People believe that the heart of the problem is the conflict between the fetuses' right to life and the women's rights to abortion. However, do women take their rights seriously when they decided to go for an abortion? Or one should look at the issue from the interpretive and pluralist approach? This essay is an attempt to introduce our readers to the problem by looking at three feminist approaches.Judith Jarvis Thomson and May Anne Warren represent those feminists defending the rights of women to choose abortion. Thomson argues that abortion is justified, even if the fetus has a right to life. For a woman should have the right to refuse the use of her body to a dependent fetus. It is not the obligation of the woman to afford the fetus that use. However, is it morally justifiable for a woman, who willingly accepted the pregnancy, yet suddenly use her right to abortion after hosting the fetus for several months?What Warren argues is that a fetus does not have those traits characterize "personhood". Since the fetus is not a person, its right to life should not override the right of a woman to choose abortion. However, it is dangerous to use the concept of personhood as a criterion of exclusion. To question someone's personhood is the first step to mistreatment and killing.While feminists are trying to defend their right to abortion, there are some women abusing their rights. There are women who choose to abort for what they carry are female fetuses. There are also some risked abortions for they do not want to postpone or diminish their partners' sexual pleasure. Moreover, while feminists are defending their rights, are they at the same time oppressing the vulnerable fetuses? Therefore, recently, more and more theorists dissatisfied with rights-based approaches to abortion.Moreover, according to Carol Gilligan, when women consider for abortion, they do not take the male ethics of duty or obligation. That means they do not approach the decision by rights-based arguments. Usually what women take is an ethics of responsibility or care. Women are more inclined to reflect on how their decisions on abortion might affect the quality of their relationships. Women are making moral decisions in terms of their understanding of the relative importance of their interests versus the interests of others close to them. Although women forgo the right-based approach, the ethics of care is not without its problem. For when similar responsibilities are in conflict, the ethics of care could not provide any means to give a resolution.What Laurie Shrage advocates is an interpretive, pluralist approach to abortion. She sees the struggle over the women right to abortion as an indicative of deep cultural conflicts over a range of issue including not only the personhood of fetus, but also the meaning of life itself and how it should be lived by women and others. People involved in the debate have different cultural understandings of person hood as well as motherhood. What they need to do is to understand one another and dialogue with a view lo reaching a compromise. Although what Shrage proposed is promising, however, abortion is a life and death issue fueled with emotion. Even the two sides could try to grasp an in-depth understand the other's position, they might not be able to reach an agreement. The abortion issue is not a problem easy to reach a resolution.DOWNLOAD HISTORY | This article has been downloaded 214 times in Digital Commons before migrating into this platform.

Theological Genealogies of Modernity: An Introduction

As relations between the United States and China have grown tenser, how has the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) portrayal of the United States changed? And what might portrayals of the United States tell us about domestic messaging in China? This study systematically investigates CCP messaging about the United States in the contemporary era. To do this, we hand code, categorize and analyse 1,761 editorials about the United States published between 2003 and 2022 in People's Daily, the Party's flagship newspaper. In addition to showing a sustained rise in critical portrayals since 2018, we identify and elaborate three distinct critical narratives about the United States: it is a dangerous hegemon abroad, it has poor values at home, and it is increasingly weak and in decline. These narratives appear both independently and in combination and are often framed to contrast with portrayals of China. We argue that these narratives are not just negative propaganda to discredit the United States but can also be a strategy to promote a positive vision of the CCP's virtues and governance at home. This study contributes empirically and theoretically to research on propaganda and legitimation in China.

Résumé Les services aux personnes tiennent une place grandissante dans les sociétés contemporaines, tant pour le futur de l’emploi que pour les rapports de genre. Une sociologie économique centrée sur les réseaux et les marchés n’est pas suffisante pour aborder cette question, étant donné l’importance que revêtent dans ces services la production domestique, les prestataires associatifs et publics. Une sociologie économique pluraliste est plus appropriée, inspirée des contributions sur la protection sociale et l’économie plurielles. Cet article présente un tel cadre théorique ; des résultats obtenus tant au niveau international que national à partir de cette grille d’analyse sont ensuite synthétisés, enfin un programme de recherche est présenté.

I address the issue of the unity of social ontology despite the extreme variety of social entities: groups, money, promises, governments, laws, etc. Then, I focus on Gilbert’s account of social ontology as an ontology specifically dealing with groups as plural subjects, and face with Gilbert’s concept of shared values as values of plural subjects created by joint commitment. I argue that Gilbert’s account of shared values is a cognitivist and extrinsic one: it neglects the specific role of values for the constitution of plural subjects and considers values neither as a necessary nor as a sufficient condition for social unity. I suggest that, unlike Gilbert and the main trend in the contemporary social ontological debate, phenomenology provides an axiology that can allow to account adequately for values and to understand values’ crucial role for social unity. I discuss Scheler’s dividing vs. sharing values thesis and mention Schapp’s collective values thesis. Finally I address the question of the collective feeling value.

This paper examines Alexander McQueen’s “Highland Rape” (Autumn/Winter 1995) as a collection that transcends aesthetics to explore trauma, resilience, and historical memory. Known for its provocative title and graphic imagery, the collection challenges conventional beauty and redefines fashion’s role in society by confronting audiences with layered narratives of personal and collective suffering. Through torn fabrics, exposed skin, and stark contrasts, McQueen delivers a potent commentary on the violent history of the Scottish Highlands, intertwined with his personal experiences. Grounded in the theoretical frameworks of Roland Barthes and Michel Foucault - particularly Barthes’s semiotic theory and Foucault’s notions of power and bodily discipline - this study examines how McQueen transforms the runway into a symbolic stage. His garments function as signs - mutable, provocative, and saturated with meaning - while the performative nature of the show provokes both visceral and intellectual engagement. Contributions from Caroline Evans and Judith Watt further situate McQueen’s work within a tradition of fashion as a critical narrative. Ultimately, the paper argues that “Highland Rape” exemplifies fashion’s potential to provoke dialogue on identity, memory, and socio-political critique. Positioned within the broader discourse of fashion as both an expressive art form and a design practice, the collection continues to resonate as a transformative force in contemporary fashion history.

Antjie Krog, 2009. Begging to be black. Cape Town: Random House Struik. 291 pp. R220-00. Begging to be black focuses on the turbulent events that occurred immediately after Nelson Mandela's release from prison. This is done through the experiences of a white Afrikaner woman who finds herself sympathetic to the cause of the African National Congress (ANC). The title is enticing and traces a particular theme: that the author wants to be accepted into the black independence cause, but cannot do so freely as she is viewed with suspicion by both whites and blacks. The book directs itself backwards and forwards into Basotho and contemporary South African history, with a focus on Mshweshwe (King Moshoeshoe?) in particular. The main events are set around the small town of Kroonstad, in the Free State Province. The writer finds herself entangled in 'Third force activities' which were designed to counter any political eminence by the ANC. This was at a very critical time in the struggle for freedom in South Africa. Her support for the black cause gets her entangled unwittingly in the black-on-black violence which characterised that period and was often fanned by underground police, who sought to derail the fight for a legitimate struggle for freedom, into one of senseless violence. Several murders were committed in Kroonstad, fuelled by the 'Third force' under the guise of politics. Krog finds herself implicated in one such high-profile murder between black thugs (tsotsis) used by the apartheid system on the one hand, and genuine struggle operatives on the other. Pressured by her husband she gives herself up, is arrested, and has to fight in the courts to prove her innocence. The case drags on, but as freedom becomes inevitable in 1994, it fizzles out and Krog is acquitted. The book is written in both a historical and contemporary context, which may be confusing to some readers who are not familiar with the southern African situation. The switch between Basotho history and contemporary South African history gives one the impression of reading three books in one. Begging to be black has three critical narratives. The history of the Basotho people is narrated through King Moshoeshoe's (pronounced Mshweshwe) prism. The turmoil and upheaval caused by Nelson Mandela's release and the march to freedom is traced through Kroonstad in the Free State Province, which ironically once belonged to the Basotho people. In between there is an attempt to locate the fundamental human connection by interrogating philosophically the concepts of blackness and whiteness. Part one of the book begins with an examination of the turbulent political climate in Kroonstad after the release of Mandela. This was a period of intense jockeying for power among four principal protagonists: the ANC, the National Party, the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and a group of other, smaller stakeholders. Antjie Krog seems amazed by the lengths to which apartheid--through the intelligence services--went to create black-on-black violence. She cautiously embraces the advent of the United Democratic Front (UDM)/ANC in Kroonstad, but is alarmed at the immediate escalation of violence all over the country, and especially in the Free State, between ANC sympathisers and a criminal gang known as the Three Million Gang. These were common criminals sympathetic to the IFP and utilised by the apartheid system. Wheatie is the Kroonstad leader of this criminal gang which creates havoc in the town, though he always avoids doing time, assisted by a network of apartheid spooks strategically placed in all the relevant sectors. Wheatie is finally murdered in broad daylight as he heads for the taxi rank. Krog is implicated in this murder. Several conspiracy theories arise from the case that follows. Several interspaced chapters trace the roots and rule of King Mshweshwe of Basutholand. Unusually, Mshweshwe became king while both his father, Mokhachane, and his grandfather, Peete, were still alive. …

In our contemporary era, the increasing awareness of diverse religious traditions and the direct interaction with individuals from various faiths and cultures have reshaped the way we perceive religious plurality. This study aims to show a connection between Emmanuel Levinas’ ethics of alterity and interreligious dialogue, exploring whether Levinas’ philosophy can serve as a framework for openness in this context. The discussion highlights two distinct forms of otherness: alterity and diversity. While pluralistic and particularistic approaches to religious plurality emphasise diversities, Levinas’ ethics focus on the uniqueness of the other. This study examines the evolving landscape of religious plurality, emphasising the need for genuine openness and recognition of the religious other, and it probes the applicability of Levinas’ ethics to interreligious dialogue while recognising the complexities inherent in such encounters.

Jeanette Winterson, one of the most significant writers of the 21st century, touches on various topics in her Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit. One of the subject matters that stands out is the novel’s criticism of grand narratives through its main heroine, Jeanette. The question of grand narratives, touched upon and re-evaluated by postmodernism, has a substantial place in the narration of the novel. The ideologies, determined and limited by society as grand narratives, reject pluralism and differences. They defend a single ideology and undermine differences. The grand narratives examined under the subject of religion in this article determine social norms and lead them. Winterson’s Jeanette is a character who tries to assume a different identity in a society where grand narratives are unshakably implemented and close the door to different ideologies. This article examines Jeanette’s experiences and rebellion in a society surrounded by grand narratives. The study aims to show how the church and church society adhere to grand narratives and how the main character overturns established ideologies.

The author analyzes the features of the historiographical situation in contemporary Latvia. The basic features of the development of historical studies in transit societies are studied in the context of «grand narratives». The «grand narratives» in contemporary Latvian historiography are analyzed as the main form of historical knowledge. The relationships of political nationalism and historical science are touched upon in the article. Historiography of the «grand narratives» in modern Latvia is official. The «grand narratives» also assist to the formation of political and civic identity. The «grand narratives» are also used for mythologization of the past and idealization the diffe-rent periods in the history of Latvia.

In this article, I explore the philosophical foundations of critical realism and its application in mixed methods research. Critical realism, a robust ontological framework, is pivotal for understanding complex phenomena that span across disciplinary boundaries. It introduces a stratified ontology that recognizes distinct layers of reality, each with unique mechanisms and causal powers. By advocating for a dialectical method, critical realism has the potential to provide a contribution to mixed method research, enhances interdisciplinary collaboration and encourages examining the interactions between different reality layers. This approach not only facilitates a holistic understanding of complex issues but also underscores the role of “tendencies rather than deterministic laws. This critical realist perspective significantly contributes to mixed methods research by promoting a democratic, pluralistic approach and enriching our grasp of the multifaceted nature of reality.

The Covid‐19 pandemic brought the importance of vaccination and public attitudes toward it firmly to the fore. However, vaccine hesitancy and refusal remain significant barriers to global uptake, with post‐pandemic declines in routine immunization contributing to disease outbreaks worldwide. Research shows that education plays a vital role in vaccination acceptance. But, while vaccine hesitancy is higher in those with lower education levels, in affluent countries, vaccine refusal is more prevalent among the highly educated. This suggests it may stem from epistemic vice rather than mere ignorance. Furthermore, not all concerns about vaccination are due to wrongheaded scientific beliefs. Some involve moral or religious claims about which seemingly reasonable people disagree. Given these complexities, should teachers promote vaccination? If so, should this extend beyond scientifically evidenced propositions to include the moral and civic virtues of immunization? Drawing on recent philosophical work on teaching controversial issues, Ruth Wareham argues that teachers are warranted in promoting both the scientific case for vaccine safety and efficacy and the moral case for vaccination qua civic duty. Indeed, she maintains that the case for teaching vaccination directively is particularly defensible since robust arguments can be made for it using either of the two most plausible positions on delineating and teaching controversial issues — namely, the epistemic criterion and the political criterion — as well as a pluralist approach that seeks to combine them.

ПАРАДОКС МОДЕРНОЇ ІНДИВІДУАЛІЗАЦІЇ І СОЦІАЛЬНА ФІЛОСОФІЯ ДЖОНА ДЬЮЇ

The concept of globalisation reflects the era of intense social change, where capital, data, thoughts, individuals move inexorably across the hereditary map of nation-state circumferences and cultural perimeters. The contemporary globalised world is characterised by the emergence of a series of striking actions and responses evidenced and made concrete in a series of dramatic events. The evolution of intense and penetrative vigilance against the rampant exchange of ‘estranged’ cultural values and civilisational clashes has heightened ethnocentrism in the West. Due to the enhanced immigration flows, the minority communities particularly Muslims have been affected. In response to this predicament, minority rights have become more acute as Western nations have attempted to assimilate and subsequently incorporate the new citizens. The book entitled: The Political Psychology of Globalization — Muslims in the West, by Catarina Kinnvall and Paul Nesbitt-Larking is a welcome contribution to our understanding of minorities in multicultural societies, putting forward the integration policy framework and the Muslim responses to it. The work attempts to examine the identity perspectives by analysing the global-local interactions, and also intends to understand the concept of identity in multicultural societies by utilising the deep socioeconomic insights; critical political concepts and narratives focusing on political and psychological experiences. Thus accommodating the vast dialectical framework, the concept of identity is addressed in the context of constant strife for authority, knowledge and discourse.