scholarly journals Practical theology as embodiment of Christopraxis-servant leadership in Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gordon E. Dames
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Servant Leadership ◽  
Special Reference ◽  
Practical Theology ◽  
Common Good ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Analysis ◽  
The Common Good ◽  
The Common

This article proceeds from the aim to revitalise the value of a service ethic for human well-being and the common good of all. The service delivery crisis in South Africa and Africa forms the context. A contemporary example of an embodied practical theology of service is offered, followed by a theological and social analysis of service delivery in South Africa. A theoretical service ethic framework with special reference to practical theology as a living Christopraxis is discussed. Finally, the value of diaconology as a science of service is presented, followed by the conclusion.

Gross National Happiness (GNH)

2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 331-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gene R. Laczniak ◽  
Nicholas J. C. Santos
Keyword(s):  
Common Good ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Gross National Happiness ◽  
The Common Good ◽  
Classical Utilitarianism ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
The Common ◽  
National Happiness ◽  
Essential Contribution ◽  
Purpose Of Business

This theoretical commentary explores the concept of Gross National Happiness (GNH) and connects it with several central macromarketing concepts such as QoL, ethics, the common good, the purpose of market activity as well as the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. The paper portrays GNH as a normative concept that captures collective well-being; it categorizes GNH, at least from the standpoint of Western moral philosophy, as most closely aligned with classical utilitarianism, and it distinguishes GNH from QoL on the basis of its predominantly aspirational and subjective orientation. It asserts that GNH can be seen as one manifestation of the common good, and, in that manner can be perceived as a ‘more ethical’ conception of the purpose of business activity. Finally, it links GNH to promising areas of Macromarketing scholarship. One essential contribution of this commentary is that it differentiates subjective community happiness from more objective measures of QoL familiar to macromarketing studies.

Practical Theology and the Common Good—Why the Bible is Essential

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim Gorringe ◽  
Christopher Rowland
Keyword(s):  
Practical Theology ◽  
Common Good ◽  
The Common Good ◽  
The Bible ◽  
The Common

scholarly journals State security as exemplified by the fight against terrorism: a choice between the well-being of the individual and the well-being of the community

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (24) ◽  
pp. 404-420
Author(s):  
Remigiusz Rosicki
Keyword(s):  
Liberal Democracy ◽  
Common Good ◽  
Thought Experiment ◽  
Terrorist Attack ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Common Good ◽  
Democratic State ◽  
The Common ◽  
The Individual

The objective scope of the analysis encompasses special measures used in the fight against terrorism in the context of ethical and constitutional principles attributed to a democratic state ruled by law and a liberal democracy. A practical example of a special measure used in the fight against terrorism, and presented in the text, is furnished by the content of one of the articles in the Polish Aviation Law, which was found unconstitutional in 2008. The content of this article made it possible for an administrative authority to make a decision with regard to consenting to the destruction of a civil aircraft, if it was used as a means of terrorist attack. The main purpose of the paper is to consider the acceptable scope of radical measures in the fight against terrorism, while taking into account the reinterpretation of priorities in the hierarchy of legal principles. In order to elaborate the objective scope of the analysis, the following research question is phrased: To what extent is it possible to sacrifice the well-being of the individual (dignity, rights and freedoms) for the sake of the common good (security)? The adopted analysis methodology is based on a thought experiment consisting in the reinterpretation of ethical principles and the values of the constitutional norms in a democratic state ruled by law and a liberal democracy. With the benefit of essentialist reduction, it is posited that the two competing constitutional principles are the principle of dignity and the principle of the common good; they can be reduced to, for instance, protection of the life of an individual or of members of the community as a whole. Abstrakt Zakres przedmiotowy analizy obejmuje zagadnienie szczególnych środków walki z terroryzmem w kontekście zasad etycznych i konstytucyjnych przypisanych demokratycznemu państwu prawa i demokracji liberalnej. Przykładem praktycznym szczególnego środka walki z terroryzmem zaprezentowanym w tekście jest treść jednego z artykułów polskiego Prawa lotniczego, który został uznany za niekonstytucyjny w 2008 roku. Treść artykułu dawała możliwość podjęcia decyzji przez organ administracji publicznej w zakresie wyrażenia zgody zniszczenia cywilnego statku powietrznego w sytuacji, gdy ten użyty jest jako środek ataku terrorystycznego. Głównym celem pracy jest rozważanie zakresu dopuszczalności stosowania radykalnych środków walki z terroryzmem przy uwzględnieniu reinterpretacji priorytetów w hierarchii zasad prawnych. W celu uszczegółowienia zakresu przedmiotowego analizy zaprezentowano następujące pytanie badawcze: W jakim zakresie możliwe jest poświęcenie dobra jednostki (godności, praw i wolności) na rzecz dobra wspólnego (bezpieczeństwa)? Metoda analizy opiera się na eksperymencie myślowym polegającym na reinterpretacji zasad etycznych i wartości norm konstytucyjnych w demokratycznym państwie prawa i demokracji liberalnej. Przyjęto za pomocą redukcji esencjonalnej, że dwie rywalizujące ze sobą zasady konstytucyjne, to zasada godności i zasada dobra wspólnego, które mogą być sprowadzone np. do ochrony życia jednostki lub członków wspólnoty jako całości.

scholarly journals A Reformed perspective on the concept of the ‘common good’ and its relevance for social action in South Africa today

2016 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jakobus M. Vorster
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Social Action ◽  
Natural Law ◽  
Common Good ◽  
Theoretical Argument ◽  
South African Society ◽  
The Common Good ◽  
Positive Assessment ◽  
The Common

This article investigates the idea of the ‘common good’ from a Classic Reformed perspective and the possibilities raised by a fresh approach to the concept for social action by civil society in South Africa today. The central theoretical argument of this article is that the new interest in the concept of natural law, as became evident in modern-day moral reflection in the Classic Reformed moral teaching, can indeed contribute to a new positive assessment of the concept common good and can provide a valuable framework for the foundation of reformed social action in cooperation with civil society in South Africa today. Firstly, the concept is discussed within the framework of the reformed idea of ‘natural law’ and the argument concludes with the finding that the concept can be accommodated in Reformed Theology. Secondly, a case is made for the cooperation between churches, other religious institutions and the broader civil society to cooperate on the basis of the common good and global ethics to address three areas of serious concern in the South African society. These are the promotion of the idea of human dignity within the social sphere with special reference to racism, xenophobia and sexism as well as the development of family life and family values, and the advancement of the idea of neighbourliness as a core ingredient of social healing and reconciliation.

Finding the Common Good in an Era of Dysfunctional Governance

Daedalus ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 142 (2) ◽  
pp. 15-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas E. Mann ◽  
Norman J. Ornstein
Keyword(s):  
Republican Party ◽  
Common Good ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Separation Of Powers ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Legislative Process ◽  
The Common Good ◽  
The Common ◽  
The Government ◽  
Constitutional System

The framers designed a constitutional system in which the government would play a vigorous role in securing the liberty and well-being of a large and diverse population. They built a political system around a number of key elements, including debate and deliberation, divided powers competing with one another, regular order in the legislative process, and avenues to limit and punish corruption. America in recent years has struggled to adhere to each of these principles, leading to a crisis of governability and legitimacy. The roots of this problem are twofold. The first is a serious mismatch between our political parties, which have become as polarized and vehemently adversarial as parliamentary parties, and a separation-of-powers governing system that makes it extremely difficult for majorities to act. The second is the asymmetric character of the polarization. The Republican Party has become a radical insurgency – ideologically extreme, scornful of facts and compromise, and dismissive of the legitimacy of its political opposition. Securing the common good in the face of these developments will require structural changes but also an informed and strategically focused citizenry.

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