Normă și virtute etică la Michel Foucault

Author(s): Victor Ioan Chira / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 1-2/2015

In the following study, we propose an approach to the problematic of ethical norms, ethical virtues and also to the relationship beneath them, as they are presented in Michel Foucault’s works. Even though at a first analysis it may seem that the interest of Foucault is another (sexuality in History of sexuality) we will search the clues indicating his major interest in the study of morality. This study will also contain a description of the main attributes of an ethical virtue but also of the role that these can or cannot play in the evolution of what is called ethical norms. One of the question we will try to offer an answer is the following: Does an ethical virtue (of a fictional character or a contemporary ‘’hero’’) can influence the evolution of an ethical norm to be imposed to the entire society?

Apriorismul pragmatic în viziunea lui Eugeniu Speranția

Author(s): Daniela Cîmpean / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 1-2/2015

The Romanian philosopher Eugeniu Speranția (1888-1972) conceives in his early oeuvres The Pragmatic Apriorism (1912-22) a synthesis of Kantian idealism and modern pragmatism (a revision of theories belonging to William James and C. S. Pierce). This realtively unknown and mostly unresearched work come up with a mixture of philosophical anthropology, intriguing epistemology and evolutionary psychology (influenced by Darwin and Spencer). E. Sperantia anticipates in his complex and eclectic Lebensphilosophie sketches theses from existential philosophy, from Heidegger to Sartre.

Eseu despre copilărie în Moldova veacului al XVII-lea

Author(s): Maria Magdalena Székely / Language(s): Romanian Issue: XXXIII/2015

L’histoire de l’enfance est un de ces sujets qui semblent inabordables pour le médiéviste roumain. L’absence des sources écrites spécifiques, la pauvreté des renseignements absolument nécessaires et l’absence des repères méthodologiques sont tout autant d’obstacles considérables devant celui qui se hasarderait à une recherche dans ce domaine. La présente étude cherche à surmonter ces inconvénients et à signaler quelques aspects de la vie des enfants d’autrefois qui peuvent être plus facilement reconstitués. Les modèles théoriques utilisés sont empruntés à d’autres espaces historiographiques, mais les sources soumises à l’analyse proviennent exclusivement de la Moldavie du XVIIe siècle.L’étude comprend les sections suivantes: Qu’est-ce que c’est un enfant?;Faire et ne pas faire des enfants; La conception dans le péché; La dynamique des naissances; Les porteurs de signes; Tous les enfants sont baptisés; Parents sans enfants…; … et enfants sans parents.Au terme de la recherche, une question se pose: peut-on parler d’enfance dans la Moldavie du XVIIe siècle ? Si l’on considère l’enfance comme un phénomène ou comme une construction culturelle, on doit chercher les éléments unificateurs qui la définissent. Or, comme les enregistrements à l’Etat Civil, les vaccinations, l’assistance sanitaire, la scolarisation obligatoire, l’alimentation caractéristique ou la législation spécifique n’existaient pas, l’univers de l’enfance est restreint à une étape biologique, inévitablement différente d’un individu à l’autre, selon le sexe, le niveau de culture, l’appartenance sociale et le contexte historique. Par conséquent, pour couvrir toute la gamme de perceptions, de sentiments, d’expressions et de représentations de l’âge de l’innocence, il serait plus adéquat de nous servir de la notion d’enfances.

Terorismul nihilist în viziunea lui André Glucksmann

Author(s): Laurenţiu Batin / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 1-2/2015

Terrorism is a significant and terrifying reality of the contemporary world. Under this circumstances appeared some theoretical concernments to study this scourge. Glucksmann’s step regarding the contemporary terrorism regards the individual psychological roots of the scourge. The terrorist is defined as ’’a human bomb that feedswith hate’’. The terrorist attacks in September 2001 represented in Glucksmann’s conception a turning point and a fall of possibility limits. Once this fall was produced, the things can’t be set of the right path. The war against fortress is the option of total violence, a nihilist option. In order to illustrate his idea, Glucksmann appeals to Dostoyevsky‘s demons.

Socio-Communication Capital in the Network Society. Preliminary Considerations

Author(s): Anabella-Maria Tarnovan / Language(s): English Issue: 1-2/2015

The present article is an attempt to advance new perspectives on social change and development research through social capital in the network society. Based on Jürgen Habermas’ communicative action theory and on Jacobson’s communication for social change framework, I introduce an integrative analytical framework which links communication, social capital and social change. In doing so, I suggest that in the context of the communication revolution, social capital is best understood through a communicative lens. It is argued that the proposed framework can contribute to a better understanding of how communication, digital communication in particular, and social capital are valuable for social change and development in the network society.

„Moartea lui Dumnezeu” și evenimentul carității umane

Author(s): Nicolae Coande / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 1-2/2015

După 60 de ani întrevăd viitorul prin încrucișarea vieților trecute

Author(s): Andrei Ileni / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 1-2/2015

Tragom sedam pisama dvojice šejhova iz Mekke hadži Mustafa-agi Sudžuki iz Sarajeva

Author(s): Haso Popara / Language(s): Bosnian Issue: 68-69/2015

The author uses relevant sources and, until now, unknown, original documents, to present to our scientific and cultural audience, for the first time, new information on the ceration and development of the Khalidi branch of the Naqshbandi tariqa of Sarajevo and its tight links with the Ǧabal Abī Qubays Zaviyah of Mecca. The paper focuses on seven letters by two shaykhs of the aforementioned zaviyah – Shaykh Sulaymān ibn Ḥasan Zuhdī and his son ‘Alī Riḍā, sent to Hajji Mustafa-aga Sudžuka of Sarajevo. Shaykh Sulaymān Zuhdī managed the zaviyah in the period of 1271/1854-55 - 1308/1890-91, and his son ‘Alī Riḍā from 1315/1897-98 until it was closed, in the second half of the 20th century. These two pronounced hundreds of shaykhs, through which the Khalidi branch of the Naqshibandi tariqa spread across the Islamic world; from Indonesia in the East to Morocco in the West; from Bosnia in the north to Sudan and Zanzibar in the South. By analyzing the aforementioned letters and identifying the persons mentioned in it, the author discovers the Bosniac heritage of Shaykh Sulaymān Zuhdī and the family, from which he, most likely originates.

Tragom jednog virda iz Mostara

Author(s): Alija Dilberović / Language(s): Bosnian Issue: 68-69/2015

The intent of this paper is to point to the existence of a branch of a naqshibandi tariqa in Bosnia and Herzegovina, one that has not been discussed, so far, in the scholarly papers on the history of naqshibandi tariqa and Sufism, in general, in our country. The main source for this paper is a document that is kept in the Archives of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton in Mostar, and the document in question is a wird i. e. Everyday Sufi prayers in the form of dhikr. The owner of this document was a certain dervish called Hajji Mustafa, the son of Ibrahim. In addition to his name, the document mentions the names of certain naqshibandi teachers who have not been known in the Bosnian Sufi tradition. Our research on these sheikhs has brought to light the information based on which we can conclude that this was a significant branch of the naqshibandi tariqa that existed in the Ottoman state and had its adherents even among the highest classes of Ottoman society. The center of this branch of naqshibandiyya was in Mecca from where it spread its teachings throughout the Islamic world, which is how it came to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Bektašijski dah (nefes): duhovni izraz mističnosti kroz vrijeme

Author(s): Stefanija Leshkova Zelenkovska / Language(s): Bosnian Issue: 68-69/2015

In the Republic of Macedonia. Bektashi dervish order has its roots in the 13th century, before the arrival of the Ottomans, through the activity of the dervishes who traveled and settled in this territory. One of the most important and influential tekkes is Harabati Baba in Tetovo, built during the 16th century, which in the course of history has passed through turbulent social ordeals, but still remains a synonym of Bektashism in the Republic of Macedonia. This Tekkein its existence so far has under gone major social challenges and difficulties, but it still remains a symbol of Bektashism not only in Macedonia but also in a wider region. Therefore, the goal of this paper isto present social transformations that followed as a results of socio-political situation after the independence of the Republic of Macedonia. This situation will be presented through a musical tradition as one of the main components of this mystical and theosophical current in the Islamic culture. Music as asublimation of folk tradition and spiritual expressionis modified according to the circumstances through which this tekke has passed. Today these transformations are notice able regarding the ethnic structure and the number of followers which causes changes in the sound picture of musical tradition itself.

THE INFLUENCE OF CULTURAL ELEMENTS ON FISCAL BEHAVIOUR IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

Author(s): Horațiu Sorin Dan / Language(s): English Issue: 16/2015

The paper aims at identifying and describing potential ways in which cultural elements are influencing fiscal behaviour within the European Union, in an attempt to find some of the structural causes underlying the fiscal issues that Member States are confronting. In an European economic environment characterized by highly heterogeneous fiscal behaviours on a national level, doubled by the membership (present or aimed) in the monetary union, understanding why Member States tend to adopt certain fiscal approaches (which sometimes are inconsistent with the Maastricht Criteria) represents a key requirement for the efficient continuation of the European economic integration process. By matching fiscal behaviour exhibited at both government and private sector levels with a set of national cultural dimensions, the study analyses the cultural / fiscal relationship, understanding its role in improving the European economic context by fostering a stronger European cultural identity that may lead to a more fiscally integrated EU.

MANAGERS’ PERCEPTIONS REGARDING MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF ROMANIAN SMES. SELECTED FINDINGS FROM 2012-2015

Author(s): Nicoleta Paina-Racolta,Dan Ionescu,Andreea Ibănescu / Language(s): English Issue: 16/2015

The importance of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to the economy of Romania is fully demonstrated by indicators such as the number of enterprises, the number of employees, and the value added generated by this sector. If the level of the value added and the rate of employment are taken into account (both lower in 2013 than in 2008, when the financial crisis started), it may be stated that the recovery of this sector has not yet been accomplished. However, this article, focusing on the SMEs business environment in Romania, argues that this sector is slowly but steadily improving its performance. By investigating SMEs management practices as perceived by their managers, primary quantitative research was employed in order to collect data through four online annual surveys addressing Romanian SMEs throughout the period 2012-2015. Secondary research was also used in order to outline frames of reference describing the national context of business development. The findings of this paper highlight two dimensions of Romanian SMEs – one at the organizational level (aspects related to perceived organizational performance) and one at the individual level (particular attributes of people with leadership positions). From a practical standpoint, our empirical findings are relevant for both academics and practitioners who are interested in Romanian SMEs practices. The study is particularly valuable as it identifies trends in the evolution of Romanian SMEs management practices, as reported by their managers in the post economic crisis context (2012-2015).

Unde te voi pierde

Author(s): Valentin Leahu / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 1-2/2015

Între tranziția culturii și cultura de tranziție (I)

Author(s): Gabriel Hasmatuchi / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 1-2/2015

This study envisages a resignification of the major events in culture from Romania's time of transition from communism to democracy. These analyzes take into account the way in which certain cultural phenomena reflected, were perceived and created the framework of a debate, ultimately constructive, during the time Romanian society was trying to redefine itself and enrolled on a new path of history. The sources used for documentation are generally items of cultural publications of that time, precisely in order to reconstruct the atmosphere of that cultural effervescence.

WHAT MAKES A START-UP SUCCESSFUL? – SMALL BUSINESS VENTURES IN FOCUS

Author(s): Kornelia Lazanyi / Language(s): English Issue: 16/2015

The economic significance of SMEs in the EU is very high, and in Hungary it is even higher, However, Hungarian SMEs’ efficiency is below the average. What is more, according to SBA (2014) data they have even been decreasing in number as well as in number of people employed by them during and ever since the crisis. What is more, the death rate of Hungarian SMEs is one of the highest in the EU28 (Eurostat, 2013c). Hence, it is of utmost importance to explore the threats SMEs are facing, especially in their start-up phase, where they are the most vulnerable. In order investigate the major drawbacks successful Hungarian start-uppers have faced an online research has been initiated in the first quarter of 2015. Although the sample involved in the research (N=44) was far from representative, the findings are interesting and might provide ideas for those considering starting their own business, where to focus their attention in order to create a fruitful and lasting business venture.

PERSPECTIVES ON DIVERSITY MANAGEMENT AT WORKPLACE. THE EUROPEAN SMEs CASE

Author(s): Maria Veronica Mateescu / Language(s): English Issue: 16/2015

The interest in diversity at workplace stems from an instrumental perspective on diversity, which is correlated with positive effects on organizational performance. Currently, due to the growing internationalization, SMEs are facing more and more challenges of cultural diversity, thus determining the need for a diversity management and the possibility to follow the patterns of MNCs in this area. This article addresses the issue of cultural diversity management in European SMEs, focusing on Romanian SMEs and aiming to highlight its specificity.

EUROPEAN LEGISLATION IN THE MATTER OF SALES - A USEFUL TOOL FOR SMALL AND MICRO-ENTERPRISES OR A SOURCE OF LITIGIOUS PROBLEMS?

Author(s): Mihaela Adriana Oprescu / Language(s): English Issue: 16/2015

It is evident that all forms of trade, either traditional or recently-emerged, between partners from different countries, are based on the fundamental principles of the purchase and sale contract, whose thorough knowledge greatly eases the comprehension of all other types of contracts in the economic field. Contract law exhibits, however, notable differences among member states of the European Union, thus raising obstacles before traders wishing to conduct cross-border activities on the internal market. Due to legal discrepancies in contractual matters, companies face the need to adapt to 28 different legislations, with linguistic barriers also forcing actors on the market to resort to the services of an attorney who is knowledgeable of the national legislation applicable to the contract envisaged. Under these circumstances, it is obvious that the need of traders to adapt to different national legislations in contractual matters which may apply during cross-border transactions increases the cost and complexity of cross-border trade in relation to internal trade, both with regard to business-to-business transactions between companies (especially SMEs, in which case access costs to foreign markets can be extremely high compared to total revenues), and in the case of transactions between companies and consumers – business-to-consumer. In this context, on 11th October 2011, the European Commission made public the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on a Common European Sales Law {SEC(2011) 1165 final}, presented to the European Parliament, which acted upon it according to the ordinary legislative procedure – first reading, through the Resolution of 26th February 2014. The Commission’s initiative raises a series of questions in perspective. If the current proposal deals with business-to-business and business-to-consumer sale contracts which refer exclusively to mobile assets, what guarantee is there that the interference in the internal legal order will not extend to other types of transactions (for instance, real estate)? Can we speak of competition between national civil law and the parallel European law, and if so, is it beneficial? Then, it is not excluded that the optional instrument be neglected in practice, not only because the contracting parties are unaware of its existence, but also because they prefer to opt for internal, traditional and well-known legal regulations. Beyond these questions, whose answer will take a few years to take shape, the advantages of the Regulation proposal are undeniable. Firstly, the Common European Sales Law, available in all the official languages of the European Union, provides a clear set of norms which society could integrate into all distance cross-border contracts.

ORGANISATIONAL BLUEPRINTS FOR GROWTH IN SERVICE FIRMS

Author(s): Matthijs H.M. Hammer,Dominiek Post,Han Van der Meer / Language(s): English Issue: 16/2015

Start-ups and Smaller and Medium sized Enterprises are vital for national economies. The vast majority of these enterprises can be found in services industries. One of the parameters to measure performance of a company is growth. Only a very small percentage of these enterprises find ways to sustainable growth. Little is known on models for making a service firm grow. Based on our extensive literature study and in-depth analyses of 7 cases in the Dutch service industry we came to 5 distinct models or blueprints for growth and a framework on how to decide which model is best suited for the specific situation of a specific firm. Yet many research has to be done to give the final answer to the main question of our study “What kind of organisational blueprint is best suited for growing your company successfully?”

El blasón poético: una variante de la écfrasis en la Comedieta de Ponza

Author(s): Adolfo R. POSADA / Language(s): Spanish Issue: 6/2015

Abstract: As auxiliary science to History, Heraldry is not founded, strictly speaking, until the late Middle Ages on the occasion of the strengthening of the language of blazon. Such an event has been recorded in Little Comedy of Ponza by the Marquis of Santillana. We find three descriptions of coats of arms in its pages, emblazoned according to the heraldic code introduced by Jean Courtois in the early 15th century. However, by adapting the procedure itself to the literary context, Santillana contributed as herald poet to the emergence of a new ekphrastic genre: the poetic blazon. This article will try to locate the references for the nobility badges described in Little Comedy of Ponza and will discuss the ideological and political meaning within the coats of arms as well, in order to interpret them considering the period of upheaval in which the work is framed. In addition, we will analyse the nature of poetic blazon as a sort of ekphrasis and its status as an early manifestation of the doctrine ut pictura poesis, emphasizing how this poetic miniature reflects the stylistic ideals held by the author.

Studije Balkana i poststrukturalizam

Author(s): Sanja Lazarević Radak / Language(s): Bosnian Issue: 68-69/2015

Poststructuralist “theories” which were criticized as a static and schematic tradition within the forms of theoretical dogmas, did not remain insensitive to intercultural heritage. Starting from Michel Foucault, who draws attention to the processes of control and marginalization of subjects, it is clear that the poststructuralist conception, although without explicit intention to question the political is still inseparable from the critique of power relations. Although Lacan deals with the way in which the body becomes subject and although his mirror-stage theory have nothing to do with political relations, understanding of the role of language as a second and its links with others, paves the way for the theory of self-understanding and self-definition through the pictures they sent us” other “subjects. These concepts are woven into imagological identifying constructs, the work of Julia Kristeva strangeness and Balkan otherness by Slavoj Zizek. Finally, Jacques Derrida, not only deconstruct the logic on which Western epistemology is built, but he allows the freedom of non-western ways of conceptualizing. On several occasions he was directly involved in the political debate by showing the implications of deconstruction on Eurocentrism. If the Balkans can be considered a postcolonial geography, a post-structuralist critics enabled the theoreticians of the contemporary social situation, to recognize the Balkans as peripheral space and highlight the actions of his discursive formation.