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Alexander F. Skutch published six papers in La Revista de Filosofía de la Universidad de Costa Rica. This paper focuses mainly on important ethical concepts and the criticism of humanism present therein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the question as to whether the idea of global social justice is meaningful. Against the view of many contemporary anti-cosmopolitan philosophers, particularly Thomas Nagel and his argument from coercion, the paper seeks to defend the claim that duties of social justice arise at the global level. By way of an immanent critique, it is argued that legitimate coercion (in the Nagelian sense) takes place within the basic structure of society and that such a structure cannot be limited to nation-state systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Often, communication by ratio, television and press, and various internet sources, report inadequate practices during signature of contracts or during the building process. However, rules contained in the Anti-Corruption Statute, enforce transparency and promote punishing corruption due to bad government activity, although sometimes the punishment is not effective due to the benefits by collaboration with justice. This paper shows the results of research that exposes unethical activities reported in construction of highway, which undermine the principle contained in the deontology of each professions, and particularly occupational exercise and performance of civil engineer. For doing the historical reconstruction were used consulted press and magazines. This study focused on road projects where there has been significant, inappropriate behavior, and also gaps that have favored contractual manipulation. It is concluded from the study that the Procurement Information System is a useful tool to keep abreast of progress in public investment projects, but that is necessary and relevant updates it and, in that way, the community is kept informed of the investments being made in their zone, and also emphasizes the importance of good deontological practices in all professions, looking for the general goals over the particular interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explains the following three similarities between the thought of primatologist Frans de Waal and philosopher Mary Midgley: (a) rejection of Hobbesian contract theory, (b) emphasis on altruism in both the human and non-human animal realms as a basis for human ethics and (c) defense of anthropomorphism in observations of feelings and behavior in non-human animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we outline three different ethical views on the conquest of America. These perspectives range Jrom the «encubrimiento» of the American otherness, to its «recognition». We analyze the main proposals of three principal authors ofthe Sixteenth Century : Francisco de Vitoria, Ginés de Sepúlveda and Bartolomé de Las Casas. Our goal is to show how this account of otherness profoundly shapes our modern reality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper concerns Baruj de Spinoza's theory of affections (=ethics) and liberty. The present contribution remarks the constructive character of spinozistic ethics and some difficulties intrinsic to the dutch philosopher's metaphysical theory of liberty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper concerns Baruj de Spinoza's theory of affections (=ethics) and liberty. The present contribution remarks the constructive character of spinozistic ethics and some difficulties intrinsic to the dutch philosopher's metaphysical theory of liberty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper I attempt an analysis of the concept of victim of crimes against humanity. I analyze the moral epistemology of the concepts of damage and evil, in particular the notion of radical evil. I place the notion of victims of crimes against humanity in a manifestation of radical evil. I attempt to determine the empirical and rational dimensions of this concept, as well as their epistemic and ethic normativity. Once established the normative character of the notion, I move on to study some approaches to the moral reality of the victims of crimes against humanity, especially those that deny the victim's moral character. Some characteristics of survivors of crimes against humanity are useful to restore the ethical character of the notion. Lastly, these characteristics are also taken as the basis for three rights of the victims: truth, justice and repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the Heidegger's influence on the Jonasian critique of Marxism and the Baconian Ideal in "The Imperative of Responsibility". First, it stresses the relationship established by Jonas between Marxism and the ideal of unlimited progress. Therefore, it examines the Heideggerian critique of technique. Finally, it suggests some reflections about the contemporary political crisis considering Jonasian and Heideggerian contributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper pretends to analyze the Sigmund Freud's concern about the consolidation of Nazism in Germany during the 30's. Specially, it analyzes the importance of Freud's Jewish condition in his works, his growing apprehension about the influence of the death drive in the culture and his references to anti-Semitism in Civilization and Its Discontents, Why War? and Moses and Monotheism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

in this paper we analize a third period in Russell's ethics, from 1940 to 1970. Representative of this phase is his Human Society in Ethics and Politics (1954). In his Autobiography Russell does not seem to be aware of the existence of this third phase, a fact that makes more valuable this investigation. In his 1954 book Russell tries to find a middle ground between reason and passion, subjectivity and objectivity in ethics, as well as between science and ethics. This period can also be characterized as a transition from ethical realism (19001914) to emotivism (1915-1940). We contend that Russell's answer to the problem of the relations between reason and passion are not entirely satisfactory. In addition, doubts and contradictions can be found in his writings of this period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we examine the justification of the "noble lie" that Plato offers at the end of Republic Book II. Firstly, we focus on the distinction between a true, genuine lie or falsehood (alethô̱s pseûdos) and a merely verbal falsehood (en toîs lógois). Some famous passages of Meno, as well as the final myths of Gorgias or Republic, can be considered as "lies alike truths" in the sense that Plato defends in Republic. Secondly, we examine the voluntary nature of such lies and try to explain, on the basis of Hipias Menor, why it is preferable to lie willingly than to do it unwillingly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When using history as a source of moral lessons, Glover assumes that his analysis is ethical in character and morally good. How to justify both assumptions is our aim in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper defends the undeniable thesis of technological progress but not the idea of an optimistic absolute progress, but limited and in context. Technological progress is conceived on two levels: (a) technical and (b) valuative. The first responds to internal rationality of technology, in this respect it is obvious that the technology (all time) improves and its advances. The second includes two aspects: the effects of technology in the environment and its contribution to social progress. On this second level, it is more difficult to determine the sense of direction of technological progress, since the technological progress is evaluative. The fundamental idea resides in that technological progress, in itself, doesn't lead to social or human progress necessarily, because the last not only depends on the technological variable, it intervenes another series of factors. This way, technological progress is a involves condition but not enough for social progress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the last thirty years, medical science has a growing attention regarding an emphasis to return to humanism to counteract the "corporativism" around the health care system, because it seems to be responsible for the dehumanization of health. As medical educators, we are worried about the impact that our own professional behavior exerts on the development of the humanistic attitudes and behaviors of the medical students and residents, however it still seems that the concept of "humanism" is confusing among the medical areas. This brings out the need to clarify what we mean by "medical humanism." To reach a general consensus that supports the evaluation of the humanistic medical attitudes and behaviors and outlines specific pedagogical strategies that enhance and strengthen the term in the environment of medical education ad practice. This paper reviews the classical term "humanism" and its evolution inside medical science until it may be considered a way of life with an emphasis made on human welfare and it enables the construction of human values and norms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper discusses the historical context of the Helsinki Declaration's (HD) formulation. Reference is made to the criminal research for which the Nazis stood trial at Nuremberg, as well as other postwar research abuses. Other documents are considered apart from the HD, for instance the Nuremberg Code, the Geneva Declaration and the International Code of Medical Ethics. This serves as an introduction to an analysis and assessment of the HD's evolution, developed in the following articles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From an ethical perspective, the paper analyses the categorial evolution of the Helsinki Declaration, taking into account all of its versions, from 1964 to 2002. The goal is to show and assess its ethical-categorial evolution and establish some of its possible consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper criticizes the classification of Kant's ethics as a deontological ethics. The term, used for that purpose, is considered insufficient, even equivocal and ambiguous. Nowadays, deontology is used as a good resource to replace criticism -in ethical matters- with programs or regulations determined according to heteronymous interests, a task which is incompatible with Kantian ethics. Furthermore, the concept of duty theorized by Kant, in which are evident its ontological support and its aprioristic character, does not match the -empirical- duty privileged by deontology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we address several relevant topics concerning the origin and development of ethics committees, and the reactions that followed this process, emphasizing in the field of social research. Among the issues discussed are: the difference between biomedical research and social science research, informed consent, and risks and benefits in social science research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses about the process that leads to moral adjectivation of social actions. It proposes a model of conjugation patterns and principles present in reality enclosures that are analytically differentiated. These enclosures include: culture, daily life and personal. The analysis is made on the process of moral adjectivation of a behavioral repertory identified as hospitality. It is based on a research done with Costa Rican native indigenous population, specifically with the Bribris group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]