Philosophical Foundations Research Articles

The Development and Value of Sanbao Art Village in Jingdezhen China

Background and Aim: This study explores the construction and study value of Sanbao Art Village in Jingdezhen, China, to investigate how this art village promotes regional economic and social development through the power of art and culture. As one of the more mature art villages in China, the development history of Sanbao Art Village and its impact on culture inheritance and innovation play an important role in understanding the rural revitalization and development of cultural industries. This study aims to analyze the development process of Sanbao Art Village and inquire about its cultural, economic, and social value, as well as its significance and effect under the contemporary background. Materials and Methods: This study puts to use the methods of literature review and field survey, collects all the relevant information about Sanbao Art Village, and reorganizes the development history of Sanbao Art Village. Through an on-site investigation of Sanbao Art Village, the readers can intuitively understand the art village’s operation model, cultural value, social and economic impacts, and so on. Results: This study found that since its establishment in 1995, Sanbao Art Village has developed from an unknown small village into a well-known art creation and cultural exchange center at home and abroad. Its successful transformation is attributed to Li Jianshen’s founding philosophy and the joint efforts of the artists and the community. It combines effectively traditional ceramic techniques with modern art innovation, thus establishing a platform for international exchanges of ceramic art in Jingdezhen and even China. Sanbao Art Village has great important value in culture, economy, society, and other aspects. Conclusion: Two main conclusions are drawn through the research: (1) Sanbao Art Village has a positive impact on promoting cultural inheritance and innovation, stimulating economic vitality, and improving the quality of life of the community. The development practice of the art village provides a valuable reference for other regions to promote sustainable development by using art and cultural resources. (2) Sanbao Art Village not only combines the traditional ceramic culture and modern art innovation, creating a unique cultural and artistic ecosystem, but also attracts tourists from all overall the world and enhances the international reputation of Jingdezhen and even China’s ceramic art. It is an important place for cultural inheritance and artistic innovation and has made also significant contributions to the local economic development and social well-being.

Pythagoreanism and Modern Models of Cosmology

Turning to the accumulated philosophical knowledge, the scientist almost always discovers that there are ideas in it which are far ahead of their time, but which can help in solving scientific problems of quite another historical epoch. In this respect one of the most revealing examples are associated with the discovery of heliocentrism and the General Theory of Relativity. Philosophical ideas and principles immanent in one or another particular science and serving for the solution of some problem of it form the very philosophical foundations of the given science. These, in turn, are by no means identical with the whole body of knowledge which philosophy creates. By reflecting on the foundations of science and turning to the analysis of its arbitrary forms – namely cosmology – philosophical reflection elaborates ideas and principles that can play an essential role in a certain stage of scientific inquiry.

Comparative Education in the Health Professions

As the academe in health professions institutions pursue educational reforms that anchors on the systems approach to healthcare, collaborative efforts are essential to establish more responsive and dynamic professional education systems. This paper highlights comparative education as a tool to strengthen health professions education around the world by reviewing previous and the most recent studies done, and showcase how this can improve the current pedagogical landscape. Through comparative education, a holistic approach to health professions education ensures that the learner’s training is not only comprehensive but also responsive to the dynamic needs of the country, the region, and the rest of the world by the sharing of best practices, challenges, and opportunities for collaboration. The opportunities that international comparative education provide to the health professions education include the sharing of best practices and difficulties encountered, and the enhanced viewpoint from considering different perspectives. On the other hand, the main challenges include ethnocentrism and the limited resources that majority of institutions face globally especially those from the low- and middle-income countries. Truly, once the lessons learned from comparative educational engagements are integrated into the philosophical and educational foundations in our medical schools, then we are one step closer to becoming responsive to the call for a more holistic and systems – centered health professions education.

A Study on the Development and Effectiveness Subject for Character Education Focused on Experiential Learning : A Case of ‘Creative Community Problem-Solving’ Course at A University

This study aims to develop a curriculum for ‘Creative Problem-Solving in Community Issues’ as a character education program to expand students' knowledge acquired at university to discover and effectively address real problems inherent in the local community, thereby fostering their practical character. Specifically, This study introduces cases of developing practical and experiential character education courses at ** University. The 2024 general education curriculum at ** University requires the development of related courses by distinguishing the character education area into ‘theoretical education’ and ‘problem-solving/experiential education.’ The following step-by-step research was conducted to achieve the research objectives. First, the university's character education courses should be designed to transcend a mere ethical dimension and align with the university's founding philosophy, vision for human resources, and the objectives of university education and general education. In this context, the objectives and core competencies of the character education course were designed to align with the university's founding principles of Truth, Faithfulness, and Love, and to ensure relevance to university education and general education. Second, this study focused on ‘problem-solving/experiential education’ and designed the ‘Creative Problem-Solving in Community Issues’ course, proposing suitable teaching methods, educational content, and evaluation methods to enhance the course's purpose and the learners' engagement level. Lastly, discussions and implications were presented so that the ‘Creative Problem-Solving in Community Issues’ course could be advanced and expanded in line with the university's innovation direction.

Ancient Indian epistemology and modern cognitive science: Exploring vedic insights in contemporary thought processes

Background: This article explores the connections between the concept of anviksiki in Hindu philosophy and theories in cognitive science, and how these principles can be applied in modern education. Anviksiki, which focuses on critical thinking and deep reflection, is considered to have strong relevance to cognitive science concepts such as information processing, perception, and decision-making. Methods: The method used in this research is literature study and comparative analysis, by reviewing various literatures that discuss Hindu philosophy and cognitive science in depth. The analysis shows that anviksiki can provide an additional perspective in understanding how humans think and process information, especially in the context of moral and ethical reflection. Finding: In education, the principle of anviksiki that emphasises self-reflection and critical thinking can enrich students' learning process. This concept supports active learning methods that allow students to construct their own understanding, in a way that is in line with Piaget's theory of constructivism. In addition, cognitive science provides practical insights into information processing and memory, which can be used to design more effective teaching strategies. Conclusion: The conclusion of this study confirms that anviksiki can be integrated with cognitive science to create a holistic approach to education, which enriches intellectual, ethical and reflective aspects. By combining Hindu wisdom and cognitive science insights, education can support the development of balanced individuals, who are able to think critically and understand the moral consequences of their decisions. This research reveals that Anviksiki, as a philosophy of critical thinking in the Hindu tradition, has strong relevance to concepts in modern cognitive science, particularly in analytic approaches, logic, and deductive methods. Thus, the heritage of Hindu thought not only demonstrates traditional wisdom but also presents a philosophical foundation that supports contemporary cognitive exploration. Novelty/Originality of this article: This research offers a new perspective by bridging the ancient philosophy of Anviksiki with modern cognitive science, demonstrating the continuity of concepts in the critical thinking process involving logical analysis and deductive methods. It provides new insights in understanding the contribution of the Hindu tradition of thought to the development of cognitive theory today.

Pragmatic ontology—Enhancing the philosophical foundation for critical systems thinking/practice

AbstractA sound theoretical foundation for multimethodology should be consistent across the main branches of philosophy: ontological heterogeneity, epistemological plurality and methodological multiplicity. In this light, I posit that (1) Jackson's recent embracement of pragmatism lacks a critical element: a well‐formulated ontology; (2) to overcome this shortcoming, it is necessary to bring ontology back into critical systems thinking/practice; and (3) such an urgent task has further to overcome the current indifference in systems thinking toward ontology. I shall draw intellectual insights from Quine's ‘ontological commitment’, Habermas's ‘ontological presupposition’, Xu Changfu's ‘theory of heterogeneity’, Husserl's ‘ontology layers’, Gadamer's hermeneutic notions ‘prejudice’ and ‘tradition’, as well as ‘ontology building’ practice across the natural and social sciences. I shall also use a multimethodology approach wuli–shili–renli (WSR) as an example to illustrate the working and evolving of pragmatic ontology.

Leadership Empathy and Employee Retention in Health Sector NGOs in Kenya

Aim: Employee turnover undermines the achievement of organizational goals. Retaining talented employees is a significant challenge for many health sector non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and it threatens their sustainability. Previous studies have been conducted to determine the causes of employee turnover in Kenya; however, there is inadequate empirical evidence regarding the correlation between emotional intelligence competencies and employee retention. This study aimed to determine the impact of leadership empathy on employee retention in health sector NGOs in Kenya. Methods: The study was conducted based on Bar-On’s Emotional Intelligence Competencies Model. Positivism was the philosophical foundation of this descriptive design study. The analysis unit included 30 health sector NGOs in Kenya, while the observation unit included 1,500 management-level employees. The Yamane formula was used to determine the study sample size, which consisted of 316 respondents. A stratified random sampling technique was implemented to determine the sample. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect the study data. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software (version 26) was used for data analysis, where descriptive and inferential statistics were computed. The findings are presented in tables and figures and prose form. Results: The study found a positive influence, indicating that increased empathy enhanced employee retention. Therefore, we concluded that leadership empathy is positively and significantly correlated with employee retention in health sector NGOs in Kenya. Recommendations: Managers and supervisors in health sector NGOs should receive training and development programs to enhance their empathy skills. Additionally, health sector NGOs should provide workshops, seminars, and coaching sessions that emphasize developing leadership empathy skills through active listening, perspective-taking, and genuine concern for others.

Understanding the aims of education from a perspective of social ecology

Introduction. The article discusses the features of approaches to understanding issues in the philosophy of education, based on the principles and data of social ecology. Such environmentalist approaches, anticipated in E. Haeckel’s works, are actively developing today, which is reflected, in particular, in the existence of specialized periodicals and the formation of special thematic spaces for discussion.Purpose setting. The authors attempt to identify the socio- philosophical foundations of environmentalist approaches to education. At the center of the discussion presented in the article are environmentalist judgments regarding the question of the goals of education.Methodology and methods of the study. To solve this problem, the authors carry out a content-critical and comparative analysis of environmental solutions presented in domestic and foreign literature.Results. It is shown that from a socio-philosophical point of view, the environmentalist understanding of the relationship between the spheres of public life is not without interest. Many of the supporters of this direction make critical judgments regarding the influence of economic social institutions on the functioning of society and its development. Environmental problems, for which the educational transformations proposed by environmentalists are aimed at finding solutions, are determined from their point of view by social factors. In fact, environmental themes are used by environmentalists to argue for different views on education, based on differing attitudes not only of a theoretical but also of a political nature.Conclusion. The analysis carried out shows that it is advisable to consider environmentalism and social ecological philosophy of education as a thematically homogeneous complex of substantively different solutions. Such approaches are the result of reflection on the classical problems of philosophy of education with the help of «ecological» values and cognitive attitudes.

Beyond penal metaphysics: the weakening of the philosophical foundations of punishment

The present work seeks to prove the hypothesis that the history of German penal dogmatics draws a path of gradual weakening of the metaphysical foundations of punishment. Through a bibliography review, the path will begin with Kant, Hegel and the origin of retributive theories. Afterwards, the clash between the Classical School of German Criminal Law, headed by Karl Binding, and the Modern School, led by Franz von Lizst, will be discussed. Edmund Mezger's causalism and Hans Welzel's finalism will be observed, as well as the role of punishment for both authors. Claus Roxin's teleological functionalism, with his proposal to protect legal goods, and Günther Jakobs' systemic functionalism, with the idea of general positive prevention, will be analyzed below. From there we will move on to the critical theories of imputation of Winfried Hassemer and Klaus Günther and, finally, to the arrival of penal abolitionism in Germany, by the hands of Sebastian Scheerer. Finally, we will close by waving towards a weak criminal law, with a post-metaphysical character inspired in Gianni Vattimo’s Philosophy, which is capable of articulating in the half-light in favor of its own reduction, with a view to abolition.

Ethical Issues in Memory Modification Technology: A Scoping Review.

Memory modification technology (MMT) refers to the use of neurotechnologies to intervene in memories. Many scholars have reflected on the ethical issues in MMT, but a comprehensive review of this topic has not been seen. This article presents the first scoping review study of ethical issues in MMT using a bibliometric and systematic approach. After thorough examination, 133 records of key literature are included in this scoping review. Six core ethical themes are extracted: (1) self, identity, and authenticity; (2) autonomy and informed consent; (3) welfare and happiness; (4) safety and risks; (5) responsibility and obligation; (6) social and legal justice. More detailed analyses are conducted on the moral stances and reasons held by different scholars concerning these ethical themes. As can be seen, current debates exhibit certain shortcomings, including ambiguous ethical concepts and a restricted scope of analysis. Therefore, we call for deeper reflections on the philosophical foundations, more precise definitions of ethical terms, and more comprehensive examinations of neurotechnological applications, in order to better address the ethical challenges in the future.

Systems Thinking Principles for Making Change

Traditionally, systems thinking support has relied on an ever-increasing plethora of systems tools, methods, and approaches. Arguably though, such support requires something different from, and more accessible than, detailed instruction on somewhat abstract laws and detailed principles and/or constitutive rules associated with conventional systems approaches or systems ‘tools of the trade’. For busy managers and decision makers working in often-stressful conditions, what is perhaps more valued are simple principles for enabling systems thinking in practice. Such principles should acknowledge and build on existing (multi)disciplinary skill sets and expertise, allowing for more meaningful interdisciplinary support amongst professions, as part of a nested transdisciplinary support for addressing wider social challenges. This monograph offers three principles of systems thinking in practice (STiP): relational STiP, perspective STiP, and adaptive STiP. They each have two sets of operational principles applicable to first-order and second-order practice, respectively. The three general principles are nested in an overriding principle of STiP as praxis (theory-informed action or thinking in practice) manifest in the need for being both systemic and systematic. The three principles represent a distilled expression of a systematic literacy of systems thinking, a literacy that speaks to the systemic sensibilities of Inter-relationships, Perspectives, and Boundaries (sometimes referred collectively as IPB), associated with any area of intervention. Drawing on metaphors of bricolage, conversation, and performance, and building on philosophical foundations of boundary critique, the three principles provide for a requisite systems literacy (as an emergent property of systemic sensibilities and systems thinking literacy) for enabling appropriate STiP capabilities to flourish when making a meaningful change.

Leadership Empathy and Employee Retention in Health Sector NGOs in Kenya

Employee turnover undermines the achievement of organizational goals. Retaining talented employees is a significant challenge for many health sector non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and it threatens their sustainability. Previous studies have been conducted to determine the causes of employee turnover in Kenya; however, there is inadequate empirical evidence regarding the correlation between emotional intelligence competencies and employee retention. This study aimed to determine the impact of leadership empathy on employee retention in health sector NGOs in Kenya. The study was conducted based on Bar-On’s Emotional Intelligence Competencies Model. Positivism was the philosophical foundation of this descriptive design study. The analysis unit included 30 health sector NGOs in Kenya, while the observation unit included 1,500 management-level employees. The Yamane formula was used to determine the study sample size, which consisted of 316 respondents. A stratified random sampling technique was implemented to determine the sample. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect the study data. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software (version 26) was used for data analysis, where descriptive and inferential statistics were computed. The findings are presented in tables and figures and prose form. We found a positive influence, indicating that increased empathy enhanced employee retention. Therefore, we concluded that leadership empathy is positively and significantly correlated with employee retention in health sector NGOs in Kenya. Managers and supervisors in health sector NGOs should receive training and development programs to enhance their empathy skills. Additionally, health sector NGOs should provide workshops, seminars, and coaching sessions that emphasize developing leadership empathy skills through active listening, perspective-taking, and genuine concern for others

The "Green Doctor" Initiative: Ethical Healthcare in the Age of Medical Commercialization

The "Green Doctor" initiative represents a groundbreaking shift in global healthcare systems, aiming to prioritize ethical, compassionate, and patient-centered care in an era of increasing commercialization. Proposed by Professor Reza Ghalamghash, the "Green Doctor" concept focuses on the moral obligations of healthcare professionals to provide care that transcends financial considerations and commercial pressures. This innovative model emphasizes the humanistic aspects of medicine, where physicians are encouraged to focus on patients' holistic well-being, mental and emotional health, and equitable access to care. In the face of rising healthcare costs, systemic inequities, and ethical dilemmas posed by profit-driven models, the "Green Doctor" approach is particularly timely. This article explores the philosophical foundation of the "Green Doctor" concept, its implications for healthcare systems around the globe, and its potential to drive meaningful change in public health policy and medical practices. Through a detailed exploration of real-world case studies, the article delves into how this model is being adopted in different healthcare settings, examining its efficacy in enhancing patient outcomes, promoting healthcare equity, and reshaping the relationship between doctors and their patients. Additionally, the article discusses the structural challenges faced by healthcare providers in implementing this approach, including financial constraints, regulatory hurdles, and the need for institutional support. It also highlights the role of technology in facilitating the "Green Doctor" model, particularly through the use of telemedicine, digital health platforms, and AI-driven diagnostics, which allow doctors to extend care to underserved populations while maintaining a patient-centered focus. Finally, the article assesses the future of the "Green Doctor" initiative in the context of evolving global healthcare challenges, offering insights into how it could serve as a sustainable model for ethical healthcare in the 21st century.

TCM-Centric Innovations in WHO's International Standard Terminologies: A Qualitative Exploration

Abstract: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is increasingly recognized worldwide as a valuable complementary and alternative medicine. To facilitate global research and collaboration in this field, the World Health Organization (WHO) introduced the International Standard Terminologies on Traditional Chinese Medicine on March 3, 2022. This international terminology translation standard, IST 2022, goes beyond conventional translation by embracing three innovative features: 1) It reflects TCM's foundational philosophy of unity and opposition, emphasizing the interconnectedness among TCM terms during translation. This approach transcends individual term translations to explore the interrelationships among them. 2) It meticulously preserves the integrity of TCM theory. It achieves this by retaining transliterations for unique TCM terms that possess distinct features, thus upholding the essence of TCM. 3) It employs innovative Xiang (Image) cognition, a concept rooted in traditional Chinese thought by helping readers grasp visual and mental imagery associated with each term. This study presents a qualitative analysis based on interviews with 11 TCM translation experts, examining their perspectives on these features and their translational preferences across IST 2007 and 2022 versions. The findings contribute to the standardization and global harmonization of TCM terminology, advocating for clarity, precision, and the advancement of TCM in the international healthcare arena.

The philosophical foundations of participatory action research: pragmatism, critical theory, constructivism, feminist epistemology and participatory democracy

PurposeThis paper provides a needed viewpoint discussion on Participatory Action Research's (PAR) foundations. It allows for reflections on how PAR enables the investigation of social issues and takes action to bring about social change.Design/methodology/approachWhat are the conceptual foundations of Participatory Action Research (PAR)? This article aims to review some of PAR's cornerstones as a research approach. It will first briefly describe PAR and consider this approach's particular features. The paper will then explore some foundations of this approach to research.FindingsThe aim of PAR is to systematically collect and analyse data to take action and make a change by generating practical knowledge. However, PAR as an approach to research has philosophical roots. There is a need to reflect on its foundation, and it reflects on how practice.Originality/valueThis paper discusses the foundations of PAR, seeking to bring academics, researchers, community organisations and practitioners closer to this approach's way of thinking. As PAR becomes more used, reflecting on its origins and importance to research and knowledge production is key.

The theory of democratic integration

The outcome of the 2024 European Parliament elections highlights the need for the EU to underpin its functioning as a European democracy with a proper political theory. This article introduces the theory of democratic integration as a political philosophy of the EU. It aims to provide the EU with a philosophical foundation by analysing its evolution as a deviation from the Westphalian system of international relations and its doctrine of absolute sovereignty. The article finds that the EU is succeeding in creating a new democratic home for its citizens and its member states. In times of increasing support for parties which promote national sovereignty as the recipe for the future and which consequently call for the dismantling of the European Parliament and the deconstruction of EU democracy, the theory will empower the Union to defend its constitutional achievements and prevent it from backsliding into an undemocratic organisation of illiberal states.

An Innate Despair: The Philosophical Limitations of Transhumanism and its Misplaced Hope in Human Enhancement

This paper sets forth some philosophical foundations of the transhumanist project, drawing on its roots in philosophical positivism and its confidence in the liberating power of technology. Such confidence is interpreted within the sphere of hope, departing from transhumanism's negative presumptions regarding the human condition, and embracing its aspirations for a humanity without limits. However, it is the claim of this paper that such hope is deceptive. Since transhumanism is incapable of grasping the depths of the human person, limited by its own philosophical categories, it both underestimates the human capacity for interior transformation and misunderstands the real nature of hope. Thus, transhumanism is marked by a deeply rooted despair that wears the mask of an insufficient hope.

A community within social and ecological communities: a new philosophical foundation for a just residential aged care sector.

A community within social and ecological communities: a new philosophical foundation for a just residential aged care sector.

ALUMNI MANAGEMENT AND NETWORKING OF ISLAMIC EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN URBAN AREAS: A STUDY OF PESANTREN DARUNNAJAH JAKARTA AND PESANTREN DARUSSALAM GONTOR

A strong philosophical foundation in the management of santri alumni management is expected to maintain the values that have been instilled during the education process in Pesantren when they are already in the community. However, modernity and reality in urban areas become a challenge for alumni in maintaining the religious character formed on traditional values in pesantren. The purpose of this article is to examine the implementation of the Panca Dharma and Panca Jiwa paradigms in the management of alumni and pesantren networks in urban areas. This research is a descriptive-analytical qualitative research using a case study approach. Primary data is in the form of observations and interviews with figures in the alumni management process at Pesantren Darunnajah and Pesantren Darussalam Gontor. While secondary data is in the form of written sources and scientific references including books, journal articles, theses, and theses related to the research topic. Data were collected using observation and interview methods and analysed using the content analysis method. The results showed that the principles of Panca Dharma and Panca Jiwa are formed on the emotional relationship between santri and kyai, which results in obedience and compliance. This is an effort of pesantren in maintaining religious santri in urban areas to remain in the frame of religious attitude inclusivism. Alumni's pride and appreciation for the pesantren can be seen from their awareness of worship and achievement in the community. Through a strong philosophical foundation, pesantren have succeeded in giving birth to thousands of alumni with various professions such as politicians, judges, businessmen, clerics and religious leaders with their pesantren, officials of state agencies, private sector, military and others. The orientation of pesantren education that prioritises society makes them more flexible in moving amid the dynamics of urban reality.

The Path of Constructing Cultural Confidence under the View of Materialistic History

Cultural self-confidence is the most basic, deepest, and lasting force in the development of a country and a nation. Cultivating and constructing cultural self-confidence requires scientific theoretical guidance. As a theory revealing the general laws of human social development, the Marxist materialist concept of history is a great “cognitive tool” for analyzing and solving social problems, which not only provides a profound theoretical and philosophical foundation for firming cultural self-confidence but also provides a scientific methodological approach for fostering cultural self-confidence. The General Secretary has mentioned cultural self-confidence many times, pointing out that culture is a kind of soft power of the country and explaining the importance of culture. Cultural self-confidence from the perspective of historical materialism is embodied both at the level of principles and at the level of methodology. The basic principles of the materialist concept of history are the theoretical guidance of cultural self-confidence. At the same time, cultural self-confidence under the guidance of the materialist concept of history is also of great significance to the construction of a strong modern socialist country.