Fidelity and Integrity in the Relationship between Employee and Employer

Author(s): Dana Volosevici,Dragoş Grigorescu / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2023

The present text aims at a conceptual analysis of the legal and moral bases involved in building and understanding the employment relationship between employer and employee from the point of view of the idea of employee fidelity to the employer. That is why the text contains, on the one hand, a legal analysis of the presumptive primacy of the employer's interest in the employee in the partnership assumed by the employment contract, especially when the employee's obligation to fidelity to the employee is associated with the idea of loyalty, and on the other hand, the article goes beyond the legal framework of the employment relationship to that of the social and moral philosophy that the employee-employer relationship assumes. For example, in the core of the moral philosophy analysis is debated the theoretical basis on which a tacit assumption of the organizational values that the employee accepts by signing the employment contract can be based and by virtue of which the employer in turn can justifiably request from the employee a fidelity and loyalty beyond the explicit provisions of the employment contract. Finally, the article tries to show that an integrative concept such as integrity, borrowed as an extension from the field of business ethics (codes of ethics and professional integrity), can be a useful solution in the balanced distribution and understanding of obligations and permissions between employee and employer in the case of the unwritten moral area of the employment contract.

“La historia que nos ha sido arrebatada”: crisis de representación de la memoria y la historia en „Entrada libre” de Carlos Monsiváis

Author(s): Alejandro Ramírez Méndez / Language(s): Spanish Issue: 23/2023

In Entrada libre (1987), Carlos Monsiváis, ruminates about the importance of civil resistance in Mexico after decades of political instability, corruption, and violence. The cruel actions of the ‘dirty war’ left an unstable democratic system and an absent-minded population, which was still trying to understand the violent repression against left-wing groups. Under these conditions, Monsiváis questions the role of civil society in the production of mechanisms of resistance and reconciliation against a large history of abusive treatments and misuses that generated crisis in the country. This essay rethinks the representation of memory and history in the chronicles of Carlos Monsiváis. This project analyzes how the depiction of an the everyday life becomes an alternative method of expression for the a society in resistance, as well as a reevaluation of the meaning behind “historia nacional” and memory as the foundation of the perspective of time in Mexican society.

Doctrinal Perspectives of the Hindu Philosophical Systems on the Epistemological and Ontological Status of the Vedas

Author(s): B.N. Hebbar / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2024

This article is merely intended to summarize the four principal viewpoints of the systems of Classical Hindu thought on the supreme scriptures of Brahminical Hinduism, i.e., the Vedas. It does not give nor delve into the long-winded arguments advanced by the schoolmen of each of these systems that seek to justify their positions on their doctrine of scripture and its associated and ancillary issues

Metaphors of Liberation: Exploring the Imagistic Techniques and Visual Language in Tagore’s Chandalika

Author(s): Poulami Roy / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2024

Rabindranath Tagore’s dramatic techniques employ a rich tapestry of symbolic language, where imagery serves as a vehicle for both narrative progression and the expression of complex social critiques. Set against the backdrop of rigid caste hierarchies prevalent in society, the play presents the transformative journey of Prakriti, an untouchable woman who confronts the deeply ingrained social prejudices of her time. Through its poetic language and richly layered imagery, Chandalika goes beyond a mere narrative of social critique to become a profound meditation on human dignity, identity, and freedom. Through a detailed analysis of these imagistic elements, this study highlights how Tagore’s visual language not only enriches the dramatic experience but also invites a deeper understanding of the socio-cultural issues addressed in the play. The paper argues that Chandalika serves as a powerful example of how metaphors of liberation, when intertwined with visual symbolism, can transcend the constraints of conventional drama to deliver a potent message of human dignity and self-worth.

The City beyond the Words. A Personal Approach of Calcutta

Author(s): Mihaela Gligor / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2024

Calcutta (Kolkata) is usually considered the cultural capital of India. The extraordinary cultural effervescence of the city, the numerous descriptions of the metropolis in the literary writings, memoirs or films place Calcutta among the most inspirational cities in the world. I have visited Calcutta many times and I am always impressed by the city’s ability to reassert itself, and to give a voice to all its residents. During festivals, the city is like a fairytale; it vibrates with people’s lives and is part of the festivities. But during the rest of the year, Calcutta charms visitors and takes over their lives, making them return again and again. This is how I see, experience, love and read the city of joy, beyond the words in which it is often described.

Solar Deity in Japanese Mythology

Author(s): Danijela Vasić / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2024

In order to create an orderly state, the first imperial chronicles emerged in the early 8th century in the territory of modern Japan through the integration and systematization of mythical elements that proved the legitimacy of the government and the descent of the imperial Yamato lineage from the supreme deity of the Shinto pantheon - the Great Sun Goddess Amaterasu. This mythic paradigm was created on the existing mytho-historical foundations fostered by cultural and political contacts with the Korean kingdoms and the Chinese empire. There is evidence that the cult of the solar deity, originally portrayed as a male principle, originated in a corpus outside the Yamato mythological system. And since male-female pairs of rulers were common (first it was the gods, later the ruler and the shamaness), it is possible that at some point the distinction between the sexes was blurred and then the female side prevailed. However, the female ancestral deity does not indicate a period of matriarchy. This symbolic type of goddess, who initiates a patrimonial lineage with rare female exceptions, was created by members of a privileged group of powerful men to legitimize their own power structures. Moreover, the cult of the mother goddess is not limited to the solar principle, but is associated with weaving, silk production, and agriculture. Thus, the simple assertion that the Yamato imperial lineage descended from the goddess Amaterasu raises numerous questions and doubts, which this essay attempts to answer.

NATURA ARTIS MAGISTRA. REPREZENTACJE PRZYRODY W ŁEMKOWSKIEJ SZTUCE WSPÓŁCZESNEJ

Author(s): Michał Szymko / Language(s): Polish Issue: 7/2023

The aim of the article is to present the representation of nature in contemporary Lemko art. The motif of nature in Lemko art is not the subject of many studies and scientific studies. After Operation Vistula, Lemko villages were deserted. Currently, Beskid Niski is called the land of tourists, because young Lemkos leave for larger agglomerations, and older generations pass away. With the displacement of the Lemkos, the perception of nature changed - young Lemkos, working through the topic of loss, take abandoned Lemko villages and the wild nature accompanying them as their main research point. They notice the void left by their ancestors and ask clear questions about responsibility for Operation Vistula. The aim of the article is to analyze the issues of Lemko socio-cultural changes and the metaphor of nature - a symbol of the variability of fate and duration. The text was created based on collected materials, i.e. interviews, sociological research and selected examples of contemporary art dealing with the topic of the Lemko region. The works of Epifaniusz Drowniak (Nikifor Krynicki), Natalia Hładyk, Władysław Rewak, Andryj Suchorski, Ewelina Kogut and Michał Szymko were analyzed.

MOOCs: Global Business Goals and Local Educational Strategies

Author(s): Anna Ślósarz / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2024

MOOCs are prepared by universities, research centers, business and governmental bodies. That is a device with which academic centers spread state-of-the-art. knowledge, while business entities facilitate the development of competencies, particularly in business, economics and IT. The paradox is that although MOOCs courses are open to global users, they contain distinctive features of their inventors’ and administrators’ culture because they have been created locally. In order to identify the cultural characteristics evident in the content of MOOC courses, 267 courses on creative writing posted on five platforms were analyzed: Coursera (USA), FutureLearn (UK), XuetangX (China), JMOOC (Japan) and Skill Academy (Indonesia). Skill Academy and Coursera were focused on business-marketing goals, although they represented different cultures. Chinese, Japanese and Indonesian courses reflected the responsiveness of those cultures and were people- and affiliation-oriented. They employed a holistic approach to teaching (emphasis on context), i.e. operated with live lectures, which had not happened on Western platforms. Therefore, the conviction that MOOC is a mirror of the culture in which it was created should be considered a myth. It is the MOOC platform that presents the interests of the administrators and owners. Platform owners differ in their goals: academic (general knowledge transfer becoming a thing of the past after the commercialization of Coursera and edX), marketing (focused on gaining customers and employees) or economic-political (XuetangX). For a MOOC to be useful to representatives of another culture, not only translation into another language is needed, but also a proper modification of learning objectives and methods.

Ценности и личност: етапи на развитие в контекста на една процесуална аксиология

Author(s): Sylvia Borissova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 6/2024

Taking as a starting point the problematization of the debate on values and the understanding of the stages of personality development over the past two centuries, the article aims to dynamize the findings in the context of the formation of values and the integration of personality, by proposing a process-axiological grid for the analysis of values and their role in personality development.

Старозаветни и Новозаветни ценности – практическа реализация в съвременната ситуация. Урок по философия за IX клас

Author(s): Milena Coloma,Ognyan Uzunov / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 6/2024

This text outlines an interactive philosophy teaching model conducted among 9th-grade students of 51th Secondary School “Elisaveta Bagryana” – Sofia. The teaching is based on a topic set in the curriculum and concerns the exploration of values in the Old and New Testaments. The model examines the values of Old Testament justice and Christian love in the context of their relationship to society and the individual. It emphasizes the practical nature of both types of values and derives their relevance to specific life situations. The teaching aims to develop the skills of analysis, synthesis, argumentation, discussion, conclusion-drawing, and generalization. The stages of learning follow the sequence: from knowledge of biblical values to skills for defining them in practice, focusing on their competent application in life. The model demonstrates an approach to make learning more challenging and encourage critical thinking in an enjoyable manner. It cultivates a value model rooted in understanding and respecting differences.

Структурни предизвикателства в България пред приложимостта на теорията за ценностните полярности на демокрацията

Author(s): Venelin L. Stoychev / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 6/2024

The article presents the results of a pilot empirical study focused on the applicability in contemporary Bulgaria of William Benet’s polarities of democracy theory at organizations level. The pilot study compares three typologically different organizations – secondary schools, non-profit organizations and companies in the digital services sector. The results of the approbation of the approach of leverage of polar democratic values reveal that today in our country there are huge shortages of democratic practices introduced at organizations level. At the same time, the participants in the study simultaneously express: 1) a desire for more democratization of internal organizational life and 2) skepticism about the effectiveness and efficiency of democratic approaches to the management of the organizations they belong to. The paper provides arguments in support of the thesis that the “leverage of democracy values” approach is extremely relevant to the democratic development of the studied organizations, but that Benet’s five pairs of democratic values are rather not recognized in the current Bulgarian socio-cultural context as relevant value poles, between which organizations oscillate constantly. The pilot survey comes to the conclusion that not so much the “conscious leverage of value poles”, but rather the empowerment of the members of the studied institutions, the competitive environment and the establishment of a system of mutual control and power balance are prerequisites for democratization of the typologically different organizations included in the research.

‘Ubuntu’ Elements in Political and Socio-Economic Organization: a Philosophical Reflection

Author(s): Philip Ogo Ujomu / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2024

This paper tries to develop a tenable philosophical idea of Ubuntu as an endogenous construct for African socioeconomic and political development. The search for an African endogenous paradigm for sociopolitical and economic development is urgent given the real consequences of some dominant paradigms of alienation, exploitation, and marginalization. These values have altered or affected African behaviour and thinking. This transformation of the human person has raised issues about agency and the values underlying same. So, a development paradigm or philosophy of development for Africa or even the world at large requires an ethical basis for human existence in economic, political, and social order. Generally, social order in most parts of Africa is beset by the problem of a negative dominant social paradigm (DSP) or core social values of hatred, intolerance, the abuse of human rights, dehumanization, exploitation, authoritarianism, poverty, and oppression. This often leads to tension, violent conflicts, and wars. So, to build a viable and stable endogenous paradigm for development in most African sociopolitical environments we attempt to use the main pillar of interconnectedness among human beings which is central to Ubuntu as a social system and value system to underscore some key moral and democratic values required for human liberation and transformation. The research question is: What concrete elements or values of Ubuntu can be useful as paradigms of an endogenous African development? Specifically, our findings suggest that Ubuntu ethics is defined by a set of human values or qualitative correlates central among which are reciprocity, common good, peaceful relations, emphasis on human dignity and the value of human life as well as consensus, tolerance and mutual respect.

Интерсекционални изследвания на пола в спорта

Author(s): Boryana Angelova-Igova,Nevena Dimitrova / Language(s): English,Bulgarian Issue: 2/2024

The article deals with the state of research in the field of gender inequality in Bulgaria. The approach is intersectional. In recent years, in the humanities and social sciences, the so-called intersectional method of researching gender, not only in sports but in every life situation. The intersectional approach examines not only the male-female gender ratio, but also factors such as age, sexuality, ethnic and religious affiliation, and social status. An intersectional approach suggests that discrimination can be not only at the level of gender but also in terms of age, appearance, ethnicity, or sexuality, so research in this area needs to be more comprehensive.

Zoroastrianism. Innovative and Transformative Religion in the Ancient World

Author(s): Masoud Afzadi / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2024

This article seeks to cast a new light on an ancient religion, one that stands as one of the most innovative and oldest religions in the world. It has introduced profound concepts such as human rights, eschatology, life, light and fire, humanity, free will, love, and many other valuable notions to various religions. Major religions like Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have also been influenced by these concepts. The article posits that Zoroastrianism and the religious heritage of ancient Iran essentially constitute a global legacy for all of humanity.

Oświeceniowa koncepcja nauki Andrzeja Trzcińskiegow Uwagach na Rozprawę o krytyce Stanisława Kostki Potockiego

Author(s): Milena Cygan / Language(s): Polish Issue: 23/2024

The article discusses the concept of science proposed by Andrzej Trzciński (1749–1823), a Krakow professor of physics during the Enlightenment era. In 1811, he published Uwagi na Rozprawę o krytyce Stanisława Kostki Potockiego [Remarks on Stanisław Kostka Potocki’s Treatise on Critique]. Typically, this text has been perceived by researchers as insignificant, malicious remarks directed at Potocki (1755–1821) and his dissertation.The aim of this article is to show that behind the arguments presented in Uwagi... lies a vision of science, as well as culture and art, distinct from Potocki’s.Firstly, the article introduces the Krakow scholar and explains why he remains relatively unknown. Then, based on an analysis of Uwagi... and comparisons with Potocki’s Critique, it indicates that Trzciński was an advocate of empiricism, a critic of classicism (advocated by Potocki), and a scholar who drew inspiration from sentimentalism and the views of J. J. Rousseau. True to Enlightenment ideals, Trzciński advocated research into Nature, believing that the natural sciences take precedence over other disciplines because they are useful (by facilitating life, improving the quality of life, and serving the common good). Fine arts and aesthetics, according to Trzciński, are reserved for the few and bring limited benefits to society, primarily providing pleasure and entertainment.Moreover, the article also raises the issue of Polish scientific and academic language.

Съдържание на свитъци I–XXX

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English,Bulgarian,French,Macedonian,German Issue: 30/2024

Теоретични основи на психофизическата подготовка на охранители

Author(s): Elena Stefanova Pesheva / Language(s): English,Bulgarian Issue: 21/2025

This article examines the main theoretical aspects that define the psychophysical training of security guards as a key component for their effectiveness and professionalism. Psychophysical readiness forms the foundation for an individual's ability to perform various activities under conditions with varying degrees of extremity. Emphasis is placed on the integration of psychological and physical skills necessary to handle professional challenges. To build adequate situational psychophysical readiness that can guarantee effective actions in extreme situations, targeted preparation is required. This training can be organized both in group and individual forms and must be accessible to all security guards. A methodology is applied, including various methods and exercises for mental, physical, and psychophysical influence. One of the most effective and easily applicable methods is psychophysical relaxation. By creating mental models reflecting future situations, adequate psychophysical readiness for action in extreme conditions is formed. A key focus is placed on the method of ideomotor modeling training, based on the concept of the interconnection between the psyche and movements. This approach ensures the formation of the necessary readiness to successfully cope with future extreme situations.

За мотивацията: pro bono

Author(s): Maxim Minkov Alashki / Language(s): English,Bulgarian Issue: 21/2025

The concept of „pro bono“, as voluntary and unpaid work in the public interest, is briefly presented. Examples of it are given, with an emphasis on this type of activity in our country and a causal connection is made with motivation, as a driving force of human realization and its needs.

Coronocracy as the Post-covid-19 Paradigm of Immuno-State: Theoretical and Conceptual Insights

Author(s): Đorđe S. Stojanović / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2025

The COVID-19 pandemic has ushered in profound cultural and political metamorphoses of the imagination, interpretation, and organization of the immunization complex of state and society. Starting from the premise that these immunitary transformations tend to become the disciplining norms/standards, this paper seeks to profile their general attributes. First, it detects the discrepancy between the metanarratives of the pandemic’s universal biomedical natural course and symbolically heterogeneous vernacular narratives of the pandemic’s cultural courses. The semiurgic production of the pandemic, i.e. authentic COVID-19 cultures, is one of its most important characteristics. Second, it detects the discrepancy between the “pathogenization of politics” and the “politicization of pathogens”. While the technocratic “pathogenization of politics” involves the engagement of default state platforms, the “politicization of pathogens” is the process of designing new political platforms of biopower. Finally, COVID-19 leads to the perpetuation of the pandemic extra-legitimacy of ruling structures and the recomposition of biological identity from individual protection toward collective protocols. A general attempt to discursively essentialize the biomedical component, to normalize the “state of exception”, affords us the possibility to define any post-COVID-19 state/society governance and organization as a democratic, authoritarian, or hybrid “coronocracy”.

The Metaphysics of E̩Sè̩ and the Question of Inalterability of Destiny in YorùBá Culture

Author(s): Sunday Layi Oladipupo / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2025

Inalterability of destiny is one of the major issues of philosophical contention in, and among Yorùbá scholars. It has garnered quite a number of arguments in its favour and otherwise. While, some scholars contend that the traditional understanding of destiny suggested inalterability of destiny, to others the reverse is the case. Thus, the polemics that shrouds the essence and nature of destiny in Yorùbá culture raises the question of e̩sè̩ (struggle) in Yorùbá ontological and mythological analysis of the concept of destiny. The paper, anchored its argument on the Yorùbá saying ibi orí ń gbé ni lo, k’é̩sè̩ máà sini l’ónà – where the head is taking one to, may the leg not mislead one, to repudiate the inalterability of destiny in Yorùbá culture. Hence, the paper, using philosophical methods of investigation, projects the notion of e̩sè̩ (struggle) as fourth element that constitute the entirety of human person in Yorùbá culture.