A public service is a service which is provided by government or public sector to citizens. Main definition of public service is that it is a service in the public interest. It means that everyone who provides a public service must act in public interest and no in self-interest. Nevertheless the term “public interest” is necessary for the definition of “public service”, it doesn’t have exact meaning, which is important not only in law and politics but in ethics too. In this study ethical relevance of term “public interest” in connection with ethics in public service is showed. This study analyses conversions of “public interest” in history of social-political thought which can help its understanding in contemporary philosophy and public policy. The analysis shows that the term “public interest” is very complicated, dependent on social-political conditions of state and therefore it needs ethical expertise in every situation which is connected with providing of public service.
The essay considers a dilemma: is a philosophy insisting on responsibility of the poor connected with social progress or it is 'poor philosophy' which is a manifestation of crisis and regression of welfare state. Author draws on essential thought of Professor Jan Danecki's work: need to humanize the material progress with assistance of the social policy activities. On the basis of critical discourse analysis pertaining to social welfare policy, the author formulates eight theses which he recognizes as destitution manifestations of 'the poor's responsibility philosophy'. The philosophy apparently heads for elimination of the 'dependency culture' but really is bound for deepening dependence of the poor on the state and private gift. The philosophy divides society into two parts: 'the included' with negative freedom and 'the excluded' and dependent on the gift. So the latter may get into society only as stigmatized persons under severe control of administration. Thus the philosophy affirms a social order with assistance of 'the stigmatized'. The philosophy simultaneously supports a economic market and glorify a organic community leaned on reciprocity and beneficence norms. So one wants to unravel issues with assistance of the same measures which creates the problems. 'The poor philosophy' changes the crux of 'social gift' from an unconditional right to property and use of a part of social product to the conditional, devoid of the property use of the product. The philosophy demands a personal responsibility from the poor but in the first stage it rules outs a personal liberty and autonomy so really it precludes the responsibility. 'The irresponsible poor' are really needed for affirmation and legitimization of the social order in which emerges 'the end of work' phenomenon. According to the author the poor want comply with reciprocity norms and 'the irresponsible poor' are the 'Poor Philosophy of Responsibility' construction.
The article presents different ways of comprehending social philosophy in Poland after 1989. That year important events set their stamp on numerous social issues in Poland and on many areas of social thought. That is why it is interesting if and how the turning point in 1989 influenced ways of comprehending social philosophy and social philosophers' theoretical self-consciousness. The presented review of standpoints allows to formulate a statement that the events of 1989 did not bring any essentially different or new ways of comprehending social philosophy in Poland.
Martin Buber’s The Question to the Single One appeared in Nazi Germany at a time, when collectivism in its totalitarian forms was at the height of its development. On one hand this little book is an immediate reaction to the social-political situation in inter-war Europe. On the other hand it is a consideration of the anthropological question of the modern man from the point of view of dialogical personalism. The paper focuses on Buber’s critique of both the individualistic and collectivistic doctrines of ethical relativism. It examines also his category of the “single one in responsibility” as a response to both doctrines.
Kierkegaard’s influence on the social-political thought is a lively topic in current scholarly debates on Kierkegaard’s philosophy. Buber’s social-political reception of Kierkegaard is relatively well-known but the research has so far focused almost exclusively on Buber’s dialogical oeuvre (i.e. works written after 1916). The paper broadens the scope of research by elucidating Buber’s pre-dialogical reception of Kierkegaard’s ideas and conceptual emphases. It examines the ways in which Kierkegaard provided inspiration for Buber’s philosophy of Judaism, theory of patriotism and theory of political groups.
This paper analyses Georgian national identity from the position of liberal and constructivist approaches to international relations theory. Based on this theoretical framework, the aim of this text is to contribute to our understanding of how the European vector of Georgian national identity is constructed and how it impacts upon the pro-Western discourse of Georgian foreign policy. The research was conducted through an analysis of the academic literature supplemented by public opinion surveys in Georgia and the interviews with a Georgian academics and members of civil society, carried out in June and July 2015.
The paper examines the present condition of humans and some forms of understanding human existence, forms of the relationship between person and society, especially its particular historical nature. The paper begins with a picture of conceptions prevailing in the history of philosophy. Further it outlines the contemporary spiritual situation and its origins in humanistic Enlightenment traditions of Western culture. Attention is paid also to the fortunes of humanistic tradition from the Enlightenment to Romanticism and further to the disintegration of the classical humanistic ideal in the 20th century. In conclusion the author considers the possible ways of mutual understanding and harmonization of interpersonal relationships as well as those between person and society.
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