Il presente lavoro approfondisce il pensiero di H.T. Engelhardt Jr. dal momento che la sua produzione permette di soffermarsi sul concetto di persona umana, concetto chiave per dirimere le questioni bioetiche che emergono nella società contemporanea caratterizzata da un intrinseco pluralismo. Dopo aver fornito un quadro dei caratteri della società postmoderna e della lettura che ne dà Engelhardt, sono stati analizzati i punti fondamentali del suo pensiero volto a sostenere una morale di tipo minimale e procedurale. Di contro alla sua impostazione, una corretta semantizzazione del concetto di persona umana risulta fondamentale per garantire la tutela di ogni essere umano rispetto alle questioni che sorgono intorno all’inizio e alla fine della vita e per riaffermare il potere della ragione umana di comprendere a fondo la realtà e di fornire una morale di tipo sostanziale. L’analisi infine della produzione di Engelhardt che scaturisce da un approccio fideistico alla fede cristiana è illuminante poi per avere un quadro completo del suo pensiero e per comprendere a fondo le radici della sfiducia che egli ripone nella ragione. / This dissertation explores the thought of H.T. Engelhardt Jr. since its production can dwell on the concept of human person, the key concept for resolving bioethical issues that arise in contemporary society characterized by intrinsic pluralism. After providing an overview of the characteristics of postmodern society and reading that gives Engelhardt, have been analyzed the fundamental points of his thought which supports a type of a minimal and procedural moral. In contrast to his setting, a proper semanticization of the concept of human person is essential to ensure the protection of every human being with respect to issues that arise around the beginning and the end of life and to reaffirm the power of human reason to understand in depth reality and provide a type of substancial moral. Finally the analysis of production of Engelhardt springing from a fideistic approach to the Christian faith is enlightening then to have a complete picture of his thought and to fully understand the roots of mistrust that he puts in reason.

Submitted in partial fulfillment for the Masters in Technology Fashion, Department of Fashion and Textiles, Durban University of Technology. Durban. South Africa, 2014. / My study is a qualitative research self-study. The aim of the study is to demonstrate how my multi-cultural origins have created in me my unique South African-ness and how this uniqueness has manifested in my art of fashion design. As a critically reflective practitioner-researcher trying to improve my professional practice, I have used multiple methodologies to answer the question in the title of my introspective study, “A Narrative Self-Study: How do I demonstrate my multi-cultural origins in my art of fashion?” I have used critical reflection, action research, narrative enquiry, and auto-ethnography to account for how my discovery of my amaXhosa and amaMpondo roots has interacted with my Bosotho-ness, and my Born-again Christian awareness. I have thus transformed my understanding of myself, my values, my beliefs about myself and the world around me. I collected the data in a number of different ways: I reflected on the lived experiences of my childhood; I observed and participated in cultural rituals, and reflected on these lived experiences; I used unstructured interviews to talk to many people who provided information which I recorded using a digital camera and took notes. These experiences and reflections enabled me to develop a Mix-and-Match Fusion Fashion design range of outfits. My Mix-and-Match Fusion Fashion design range incorporates a number of elements which identify with all of my cultural origins. I believe that my Mix-and-Match Fusion Fashion range demonstrates my South African-ness in my art of fashion design. It represents and expresses, symbolizes and celebrates the transition of my beliefs and understanding of my journey of self-discovery involving my five personas. I have used visual methodologies to analyse my designs and employed visual analysis to discuss my findings. I believe that Africans are increasingly proudly wearing and accepting their traditional attire as high fashion. I believe that the design of my Mix-and-Match Fusion Fashion range is suitable for the Southern African market, and demonstrates that I have effectively used my multi-cultural origins to improve my art of fashion.

This paper focuses on what people in Saga, a village on the periphery of Niamey, the capital of Niger, do in the face of illness. With limited economic assets and in a context of medical pluralism, to which therapeutic alternatives do they turn? And what factors are determinant in the choice that they make? Saga is an old village, which has become increasingly integrated into the expanding urban community of Niamey. It can be described as a semi-urban area in which elements of both rural and urban Niger are present. The therapeutic field in Saga is, as in all of Niger, characterised by medical pluralism. A number of therapeutic alternatives exist side by side. They range from ‘western’ or hospital medicine provided by the local public dispensary, the private confessional dispensary and by the unlicensed sale of medicine by ambulant vendors to ‘traditional’ treatments, such as Islamic medicine practised by marabouts and ‘traditional’ healing using herbal remedies and spirit possession rituals. This paper is about the various institutions and actors of ‘modern’ medicine in Saga, namely on the public dispensary, on the confessional dispensary and on the informal sale of pharmaceuticals. To better understand the quest for therapy in Saga this paper focuses on everyday practices of therapy seeking, on the actual and everyday choices people make in the face of illness.Special attention is paid to the therapeutic alternatives and to the relation between therapy seeker and therapy provider in what may be called the therapeutic encounter. It is argued that socio-economic factors as well as social relations, personal experiences and perceptions of trust are central to the therapeutic recourse taken. Furthermore, it is suggested that the ‘quest for therapy’ can and should be seen as a ‘quest for relief’.

Thesis (DTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Due to the consciousness of religious pluralism and the need for peace amongst the religious communities of the world, the researcher considered, and herewith presents, the arguments for and against each of three traditional theological models for evaluating the relation between Christianity and other religions. Although this theological debate about the truth and salvific value of non- Christian views of life is important, and although the three approaches discussed each brings out important aspects that have to be considered in this debate, they were found to be limited in an important respect, namely, that they do not suggest practical strategic solutions for how Christians should relate to people who hold beliefs that differ from their own. With reference to the notion of an “ethic of embrace,” drawing on a number of New Testament texts as interpreted by theologians like Hans Küng, Miroslav Volf, Harold Nethland, Sam Storms, and Robert H. Stein, to name but a few, a strong case could be made for the necessity of such an ethic as a guideline for how the churches should interact with those who do not share their faith. It could be concluded that each of the three theoretical models, Particularism, Inclusivism and Pluralism, needs to be reconsidered from the perspective of an ethic of embrace. The researcher therefore inquired into the extent to which each of the theoretical models can be reconciled, and can indeed support and undergird, an ethic of embrace. Since, at least at face value, Particularism seems to raise most questions in this regard, it received particular attention. It was concluded that, also when applied in the context of the Particularist model, the ethics of embrace is the missing link that can help influence religiously motivated conflicts in a positive way. This allows for a more peaceable praxis as it not only addresses religious conflict in the world, but can also enable the Particularistic model to foster peace among religions and therefore, indirectly, peace among the nations of the world. The themes of reconciliation, tolerance, forgiveness and hospitality, which are interconnected with an ethic of embrace form an important part of chapter 5, with its focus on the truth and salvific significance of Jesus Christ reflected in his life as portrayed by Biblical witnesses. It is argued that He is not only the truth, or the one who spoke about the truth and his salvific significance, which is of central importance to the Particularistic model, but was able to demonstrate its practical application through the life He lived among humans. He demonstrated practically how the neighbour can be embraced in accordance with a particular understanding of the will of God. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis ondersoek die potensiaal van ’n etiek van omhelsing (“embrace”) aangesien drie tradisionele modelle in die teologie van die godsdienste, naamlik Partikularisme, Inklusivisme en Pluralisme, nie voldoende is om vrede tussen die verskillende gelowe van die wêreld te bevorder nie. Argumente ten gunste van en teen elke model, sowel as hulle sterk en swak punte, word behandel om duidelik aan te toon dat nie een van die drie modelle genoegsame praktiese strategiese metodes oplewer nie. Nadenke oor die waarheidsgehalte en moontlike verlossingskrag van nie-Christelike godsdienste, en oor Christene se wyse van interaksie met mense van ander gelowe, verskaf opsigself nie die nodige vrugbare praktiese riglyne nie. Met betrekking tot die idee van ’n etiek van omhelsing, het verskeie teoloë, waaronder Hans Küng, Miroslav Volf, Harold Nethland, Sam Storms, en Robert H. Stein, om net ’n paar te noem, sterk konstruktiewe argumente ontwikkel wat die idee van ’n etiek van omhelsing ondersteun en bevorder in verband met Christene se verhouding met mense van ander gelowe. Hierdie studie argumenteer ten slotte dat die drie teologiese modelle wat ondersoek is ’n etiek moet heroorweeg van ’n verhouding van omhelsing teenoor mense van ander gelowe, indien hulle tot vrede tussen mense van verskillende gelowe wil bydra. Die navorser ondersoek ook tot watter mate die drie modelle met ’n etiek van omhelsing versoen kan word. Aangesien Partikularisme skynbaar meer vrae in hierdie verband oproep, word dit veral deurdink. Die navorser kom dan tot die gevolgtrekking dat die etiek van omhelsing, in die konteks van Partikularisme, dalk die verlore skakel is wat, ook vir die Partikulariste, geweld onder die verskillende gelowe kan teenwerk. Dit kan moontlik nie slegs vreedsame verhoudings tussen die verskillende gelowe teweegbring nie, maar ook daartoe bydra dat Partikularisme in die teologiese debat tot geloofsvrede kan bydrae. Versoening, vergifnis, gasvryheid en toleransie is temas wat in verband met ’n etiek van omhelsing ter sprake kom, en vorm belangrike aspekte van hoofstuk 5, aangesien dit nie net in abstrakte sin die waarheidsgehalte en verlossingskrag van Christus sterk beklemtoon nie, maar ook die wyse waarop dit in sy lewe, soos die Bybelse getuies dit narratief skets, in ’n praktyk van omhelsing van die medemens gestalte gevind het.

本研究探討基督宗教處理對正因為宗教的因素構成全球範圍內衝突的重要根源之一，本研究的核心問題是，基督宗教在強調宗教平等與多元化的社會中，處理與其他宗教的關係的理論依據是什麼？有什麼宗教對話的理論可以作為宗教對話的指導？宗教對話所面對現實情況是什麼？基督宗教如何與其他宗教進行對話？兩個台灣曾經進行過的宗教對話的案例的分析意義。 首先介紹基督宗教處理對其他宗教傳統的三種理論，宗教排外主義、宗教包容主義和宗教多元主義。希望從中了解其他的宗教傳統，對於基督宗教而言的意義是什麼。在強調多元性的社會中，基督宗教傳統的獨特性應如何理解處理。然後，我們將檢視這三種理論，會如何影響宗教對話的進行。並且深入介紹一些宗教對話的理論模式與觀點，其中會介紹的有司威德樂的宗教對話理論和原則和潘尼卡(Panikkar)的宗教對話理論和原則。希望從中了解宗教對話應如何進行。 最後將會進行兩個個案分析。第一個個案是在一九五零年代到六零年代的論辯。選擇這個宗教對話的個案原因在於參與者屬於傳統佛教與正統基督教的對話。由於這一次的對話在戰後的一個非常獨特的歷史脈絡下進行，基督教此時的傳教活動非常積極主動，有時甚至到挑釁的程度，而佛教相對下處於一個比較弱勢的地位。佛教在迫於情勢之下與基督教進行一連串的論辯對話。對話的激烈程度，亦是比較罕見的。 第二個個案是中華信義神學院與現代禪的宗教對話，時間上相隔超過四十年，現代禪是一個佛教新興宗派，創辦人李元松在一九八零年代末期，由於不滿傳統佛教的義理、修行方式、及種種亂像，所以對傳統佛教進行過一段時候的批判。到後來成立了由一在家居士所組成的修行教團現代禪。由被傳統佛教視為付佛外道，到慢慢被一些佛教內人士承認。這是一個很獨特的個案，由一個佛教新興宗派與基督教進行對話是非常少見，並且有時代的意義。而且雙方進行的氣氛，跟第一個個案相比有很大的差別。

This study examines the issue of ethnocentrism that has become so detrimental to Christian unity within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cameroon, as it is pulling apart Christians of different ethnic groups. The study puts forward the indigenous practice of Mang-Djala as a possible indigenous resource that can be used as an added value not only in enhancing the Christian understanding of unity, but also in advocating for peace, justice and reconciliation in ordinary social life. In this regard, the study investigates the possibility of Mang-Djala functioning in the secular sense as social contract and in a religious sense as covenant. The study argues that the rejection of African cultures by the colonisers and the first missionaries was a big mistake, and that the Gospel needs to be incarnated in every culture and context. Contextualization therefore needs to be used to integrate African cultures and the Gospel. Hence, the study posits that Mang-Djala is a preparation for the Gospel, which can be defined as anything within a culture that can become an entry point, facilitating the transmission, clarifying the understanding of the Gospel and allowing the openness of the local people to that Gospel. The basic research question of the study is: in view of the challenges being presented to church and society by ethnic diversity in Cameroon is there a possibility that the indigenous concept of Mang-Djala may act as a reconciling or unifying agent? The study suggests that the concept of Mang-Djala should be introduced into the church at different levels via its structures in order to popularise it and integrate it into the church‘s theology and practice. In this way, the ethnic groups that are not accustomed to the concept will come to understand and appropriate it, as a new paradigm of understanding and living the Gospel of unity. The problem of ethnicity and the possibility of using Mang-Djala as a possible antidote needs to be introduced as part of the training of the clergy. Other institutions in the church where it could be introduced are The Women for Christ Fellowship and the Christian youth organisation. It should also be introduced at synodical level. More importantly, the study suggests that the Church should create and insert in its constitution a clause that should declare ethnocentrism a sin against which every Christian should stand because it promotes discrimination which is against God‘s commandment of love. The study also acknowledges, however, that Mang-Djala should not be considered as an ultimate solution to the problems posed by ethnocentrism. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.

The understanding of Swedish lobbyism is so far insufficient and misguided. In order to understand Swedish lobbyism better this thesis calls for a shift to theory testing case studies of actors that are capable to lobby in an organized and recurring way. To do this it offers a theoretical framework developed from three established theories of lobbying strategy adjusted for a Swedish context. The purpose of this framework is to chart strategies for how Swedish lobbyists lobby against Members of Parliament (MPs) and if and how these strategies influence MPs’ attitudes towards a policy. The case is the lobbying campaign for a reduced restaurant sales tax from 2000 to 2014 ending with a reduction from 25% to 12%. The study concludes that Swedish lobbyism is built from alliances, trust, perceived seriousity, and public interest, more than actual expertize of a specific topic.

The aim of this study is to see how religion is reflected upon in the curriculum of the compulsory school, years 1–10, in Iceland with special emphasize on how religious diversity can be seen in it. From a religious didactics perspective, the question of whether the curriculum on religion reflects on learning about- or learning from religions will be examined through a concept first used by Michael Grimmitt and Garth Read (1975). Furthermore, Beckford’s (2003) concept of religious diversity is analyzed in relation to the religious affiliation in the Icelandic society and his concept on religious pluralism is discussed with regards to the analyzed curriculum. Iceland, seen from a religious point of view, has changed profoundly the last decades in regards to a decline of members in the National Church. In 1976 the first instructions for learning about other religions than Christianity were introduced to the curriculum. The study analyzes the curriculum of the subject called Social studies, which includes several subjects including religion and also the religious affiliation map. Firstly, the words religion and religions were used in order to detect the references to religion in the curriculum. A qualitative content analysis was used on the data in describing the subject content of these references. Beckford’s concept on religious diversity was then analyzed in relation to the statistics on religious affiliation in Iceland. In a third step, religious diversity was used as a search word to find how it is reflected in the curriculum. Beckford’s concept of religious plurality was applied on the result in order to discover how it is reflected on. The results show that, if using Beckford’s definitions on religious diversity, the Icelandic religious affiliation does not mirror a societal situation characterized by religious diversity. The study also shows that the curriculum includes religious diversity, but does not necessarily include religious plurality when Beckford’s concept is applied. The focus in the curriculum is on Christianity, and it is based on the concept of learning about religion with a very little amount of learning from religion. Previous research shows that there is a need for more student centered education and more discussion about the diversity of religions. This study shows that the society and curriculum is attuned with Christianity as the superior religious tradition, but it also shows that the Icelandic society, through the curriculum, teaches about religious diversity, although not necessarily with a religious pluralistic point of view.

Toute l’histoire humaine, dans son individualité ou sa collectivité, dénote la présence d’un sens de la justice qui se confirme universellement, dans tout espace-temps, même s’il s’affirme, paradoxalement, par une dénonciation de tout ce qui est vécu comme injuste. Notre choix s’est limité à la conception de la justice selon Paul Ricœur. Notre problématique se poserait ainsi : Dans quelle mesure la justice, aussi bien juridique que sociale et politique, saurait-elle réconcilier cette dialectique de l’universel et de l’historique ? Et, par conséquent, dans quelle mesure la justice telle qu’elle se déploierait à travers cette dialectique serait-elle une justice de reconnaissance, une justice qui serait plus juste parce qu’elle reconnaîtrait aussi la valeur d’une loi que la dignité de la personne ? Par ailleurs, Ricœur considère que pour étudier la justice, il faut passer d’un cercle concentrique à un autre. L’évolution des chapitres suivra l’élargissement de ces cercles. Le premier chapitre se focalisera sur leur point centre qui gravite autour des deux notions de la personne et de la justice. Le deuxième chapitre développera le premier cercle qui se limite à l’institution judiciaire et au droit pénal. Le troisième chapitre développera la notion de la justice de l’action à l’institution. C’est le cercle de la justice civile, le deuxième cercle concentrique. Le troisième cercle de la justice s’étayera sur les quatrième et cinquième chapitres. Dans le quatrième chapitre, nous nous intéresserons à la justice procédurale, à la formalisation d’un sens de la justice chez Rawls. Le cinquième chapitre débouchera sur une conception de la justice dans son rapport au pluralisme selon la philosophie de Michael Walzer et la thèse de Luc Boltanski et Laurent Thévenot. Le sixième chapitre développera la justice comme une « sagesse pratique ». La conclusion répondra à la question si la justice est reconnaissance. Nous passerons en revue la reconnaissance juridique, la reconnaissance sociale et la reconnaissance politique. / All the human history, in its individuality or its collectivity, shows the presence of a sense of Justice that is confirmed in every space-time even if it’s paradoxically affirmed by a denunciation of every unfair issue. Our choice is limited to the conception of Justice according to Paul Ricœur. The problematic statement would be the following: To what extent would the justice, either legal or social or political, be able to settle this universal and historical dialectic? Thus, to what extent would the justice, as it would be deployed through this dialectic, be a justice of recognition, a justice that would be fairer because it recognizes the law of a value as well as the dignity of a person? Moreover, Ricœur considers that, in order to study justice, one must pass from a concentric circle to another. The chapters’ progress follows these circles’ enlargement. The first chapter will focus on their center point which revolves around the notions of Person and Justice. The second chapter will develop the first circle which is limited to the judiciary institution and to the penal code. The third chapter will develop the notion of Justice from action to institution. This is the circle of the civil justice, the second concentric circle. The third circle of Justice will be expanded to the fourth and fifth chapters. In the fourth chapter, we will discuss the procedural justice, the formalization of a sense of Justice according to Rawls. The fifth chapter will be treating the conception of Justice in its pluralism according to Michael Walzer’s philosophy and Luc Boltanski and Laurent Thevenot’s thesis. The sixth chapter will develop the Justice as a “practical wisdom”. The conclusion will answer to the question if Justice is recognition. We will review the legal recognition, the social recognition and the political recognition.

The Bahá'í principle of religious unity is unique among the world's religious traditions in that its primary basis is found within its own sacred texts and not in commentaries of those texts. The Bahá'í principle affirms the existence of a common transcendent source from which the religions of the world originate and receive their inspiration. The Bahá'í writings also emphasize the process of personal transformation brought about through faith as a unifying factor in all religious traditions. The apparent differences between the world's religious traditions are explained by appealing to a perspectivist approach grounded in a process metaphysics. For this reason, I have characterized the Bahá'í view as "process perspectivism". Radical pluralism is the greatest philosophical challenge to the Bahá'í principle of religious unity. The main criticisms made by the radical pluralists are briefly examined.