Abstract This article highlights one of the difficulties encountered in the reception of Humanae Vitae and Familiaris Consortio: the depth of the meaning of every conjugal act, its beauty and its explicit link with the Creator. This paradox provokes in the first place the faith of the baptized in the mystery of God, who is love and life, and in the second place the moral conscience. Would it not be too beautiful to be true? However, the union of spouses is first a religious act. The main doctrinal statement involves the union of the spouses and their parental responsibility. The true anthropological “cradle” of every human being is an act of interpersonal love. This act, rich and complex, has a double meaning: unitive and procreative. These meanings amalgamate with each other and translate the unity of persons who give themselves to each other. It is the great mystery that unites the spouses and God; and it is the place of a revelation.

Resumen El presente artículo pone en evidencia una de las dificultades que se encuentran en la recepción de la Humanae vitae y de la Familiaris consortio: la profundidad del sentido de todo acto conyugal, su belleza y su vínculo explicito con el Creador. Esta paradoja provoca en primer lugar la fe de los bautizados en el misterio de Dios, que es amor y vida, y en segundo término la conciencia moral. ¿No sería acaso demasiado hermoso para ser verdad? Sin embargo, la unión de los cónyuges es primero un acto religioso. El principal enunciado doctrinal envuelve la unión de los esposos y su responsabilidad parental. La verdadera “cuna” antropológica de todo ser humano es un acto de amor interpersonal. Este acto particular, rico y complejo, tiene un doble significado: unitivo y procreativo. Estos significados se amalgaman entre ellos, y traducen la unidad de las personas que se donan una a la otra. Es el gran misterio que une a los esposos y a Dios; y es el lugar de una revelación.

Against the backdrop of an Africanisation imperative, universities in Africa seem to continuously redefine and reconfigure in search of social alignment, identity and relevance. It is for this reason that compelling processes, such as decolonisation, transformation and other higher education reform initiatives, are underscored by the primary imperative of pursuing social meaning and relevance. In post-colonial Africa, the imperative of Africanisation of the university has, though necessary, remained a contested topical discourse. This conceptual article seeks to contribute to the debate by drawing upon notions of conscience, humanness and wonder as possible anchors for the Africanisation of the university on the continent.

Resumen: El movimiento de mujeres indígenas en América Latina y el Caribe en la segunda década del siglo XX revolucionó la disciplina de las Relaciones Internacionales (RI), al reinterpretar los marcos teórico-metodológicos en su deseo de comprender el mundo diplomático. Desde una perspectiva crítica, las mujeres indígenas mexicanas continúan demostrando la importancia de tomar conciencia de los rituales como actos performativos que resignifican las estructuras institucionales, las normas y el orden, en una redefinición de la visión sobre la gobernanza global. Al incorporar nuevas aproximaciones metodológicas basadas en la ética de cuidados y reciprocidad en escenarios violentos, este artículo responde con el método del análisis crítico del discurso, como experiencia del habla y del texto, a la pregunta sobre si el acceso de las mujeres indígenas a los espacios internacionales es una caracterización de la paradiplomacia o, más bien, el “buen vivir” de un momento histórico en el surgimiento de una diplomacia indígena con rostro femenino en un mundo globalizado.

Résumé : Le mouvement des femmes autochtones d’Amérique latine et des Caraïbes au cours de la deuxième décennie du xxe siècle a signifié une révolution dans la discipline des relations internationales (RI) en réinterprétant les cadres théoriques et méthodologiques dans sa volonté de comprendre le monde diplomatique. D’un point de vue critique, les femmes autochtones mexicaines continuent de révéler l’importance d’éveiller la conscience sur les rituels en tant qu’actes performatifs qui redéfinissent les structures institutionnelles, les normes et l’ordre, dans la redéfinition d’une vision sur la gouvernance mondiale. En incorporant de nouvelles approches méthodologiques basées sur l’éthique du soin et de la réciprocité dans des scénarios violents, cet article répond avec la méthode de l’analyse critique du discours comme expérience de la parole et du texte à la question que lorsque les femmes autochtones accèdent aux espaces internationaux, il s’agit d’une caractérisation de la paradiplomatie ou, plutôt, de la “bien vivre” d’un moment historique dans l’émergence d’une diplomatie autochtone à visage féminin dans un monde globalisé.

Abstract: The indigenous women’s movement in Latin America and the Caribbean in the second decade of the 20th century revolutionized the discipline of International Relations (IR), by reinterpreting the theoretical-methodological frameworks in their desire to understand the diplomatic world. From a critical perspective, Mexican indigenous women continue to demonstrate the importance of becoming aware of rituals as performative acts that re-signify institutional structures, norms, and order in redefining the vision of global governance. Incorporating new methodological approaches based on the ethics of care and reciprocity in violent scenarios, this article responds with the method of critical discourse analysis as speech experience and text to the question of whether indigenous women’s access to international spaces is a characterization of paradiplomacy or, rather, the “good living” of a historical moment in the emergence of indigenous diplomacy with a feminine face in a globalized world.

Abstract This article proposes some of the principal theoretical and conceptual elements to support animal rights. This right type has found severe restrictions in the current concept of human rights, built from a tradition focused on the modern individual endowed with conscience, language, and judgment to act by morality and law. Being the only creatures that can self-determine and be free, human beings have an intrinsic value and dignity that animals would not have, which makes them deserving of the highest moral status and legal protection. This leads to the problem we seek to tackle: how to overcome the limitations of the concept of human rights that prevent the foundation of the moral status and perhaps fundamental rights of animals. The methodological design of the research consists, on the one hand, of the description of the main theoretical approaches that have been raised from moral and political theory about animal rights and, on the other hand, of some proposals and conceptual distinctions that allow progress in the foundation of animal rights. This analysis shows that there is no symmetry between rights and duties, that dignity can be seen from two perspectives, intrinsic and extrinsic, that there is a distinction between legal persons and rights-holders, and that all these elements allow us to more adequately understand the place that humans and animals occupy in the same ethical and legal community. In conclusion, these distinctions will enable us to formulate fundamental animal rights more clearly and expand the spectrum of rights-holders.

Resumen Este artículo propone algunos de los principales elementos teóricos y conceptuales para fundamentar los derechos de los animales. Este tipo de derechos ha encontrado serias restricciones en el concepto vigente de derechos humanos, el cual ha sido construido a partir de una tradición centrada en el individuo moderno, dotado de conciencia, lenguaje y juicio para actuar conforme a la moral y al derecho. Al tratarse de la única criatura que puede autodeterminarse y ser libre, el ser humano tiene un valor intrínseco, la dignidad, que no tendrían los animales y que lo hace merecedor del máximo estatus moral y de protección jurídica. Esto lleva al problema que se busca enfrentar: cómo superar las limitaciones del concepto de derechos humanos que impiden la fundamentación del estatus moral y quizá de unos derechos básicos de los animales. El diseño metodológico de la investigación consiste, por una parte, en la descripción de los principales planteamientos teóricos que, desde la teoría moral y política, se han propuesto en relación con los derechos de los animales; por otra parte, con la formulación analítica de algunas distinciones conceptuales que permiten avanzar en la fundamentación de los derechos de los animales. Este análisis muestra que no existe una simetría entre derechos y deberes; que la dignidad puede ser vista desde dos acepciones, intrínseca y extrínseca; que existe diferencia entre agentes morales y sujetos de derechos; y que estos elementos permiten entender el lugar que ocupan humanos y animales en una misma comunidad moral y jurídica. En conclusión, estas distinciones facilitan definir con mayor claridad unos derechos básicos para los animales y ampliar el espectro acerca de quiénes pueden ser sujetos de derechos.

ABSTRACT This article examines the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) in education, focusing on the perceptions and experiences of young students at the Agrarian University of Ecuador (UAE) Using focus groups, we explore how students learned about AI, how they used it in their studies and daily lives, and their views on its usefulness and challenges. The results show that while AI offers personalized learning and assessment, it also raises concerns about technology dependence, data privacy, and potential biases. In addition, ethical and economic issues related to its implementation in educational institutions are discussed. The study highlights the need for a balanced approach that maximizes the benefits of artificial intelligence while minimizing its risks, and recommends the ethical use of these technologies with virtue and conscience in the future of education. This study provides a framework for strategic thinking and action for educators and policy makers in the integration of artificial intelligence in education.

RESUMEN El presente articulo examino el impacto de la inteligencia artificial (IA) en la educación, centrándose en las percepciones y experiencias de los jóvenes estudiantes de la Universidad Agraria del Ecuador (UAE) Utilizando grupos focales, se exploró cómo los estudiantes aprendieron sobre la IA, cómo la usaron en sus estudios y en su vida diaria, y sus puntos de vista sobre su utilidad y sus desafíos. Los resultados muestran que, si bien la IA ofrece aprendizaje y evaluación personalizados, también genera preocupaciones sobre la dependencia de la tecnología, la privacidad de los datos y posibles sesgos. Además, se discuten cuestiones éticas y económicas relacionadas con su implementación en las instituciones educativas. El estudio destaca la necesidad de un enfoque equilibrado que maximice los beneficios de la inteligencia artificial minimizando sus riesgos, y recomienda el uso ético de estas tecnologías con virtud y conciencia en el futuro de la educación. Este estudio proporciona un marco para el pensamiento y la acción estratégicos para educadores y formuladores de políticas en la integración de la inteligencia artificial en la educación.

Abstract The legal dimension of bioethics, known as biolaw, occupies an important place in discussions on this topic. For them to be recognized, various French bioethics legislations require a competent political authority: the civil authority whose apex is the French Constitution (FC), as the legal act and the fundamental law that establish the organization and functioning of the state. However, in the field where we touch on the human person, on the values and the fundamental principles, religious authority, such the Social Doctrine of the Church (SDC), has a role to play. This is the reference of values through which human conscience can exercise itself freely in political, social, and economic realities. Hence, what are the possible common themes between the FC and the SDC and what can personalist bioethics contribute to reconciling the two sides?

Resumen La dimensión jurídica de la bioética, denominada bioderecho, ocupa un lugar importante en los debates sobre este tema. Para que sean reconocidas, las distintas legislaciones francesas sobre bioética requieren una autoridad política competente: la autoridad civil, cuyo vértice es la Constitución francesa (CF), como acto jurídico y ley fundamental que establece la organización y el funcionamiento del Estado. Sin embargo, en el ámbito en el que tocamos a la persona humana, a los valores y a los principios fundamentales, la autoridad religiosa, como la Doctrina Social de la Iglesia (DSI), tiene un papel que desempeñar. Es la referencia de valores a través de la cual la conciencia humana puede ejercerse libremente en las realidades políticas, sociales y económicas. Así pues, ¿cuáles son los posibles temas comunes entre la CF y la DSI y qué puede aportar la bioética personalista para conciliar ambas vertientes?

Resumen: El presente artículo muestra bajo qué forma subsisten en América Latina remanentes de una conciencia señorial que corresponde a la “soberanía” de Foucault y no a un biopoder más reciente. A partir de lo sugerido por el filósofo mexicano Emilio Uranga, se desentrañan los resortes de esta conciencia, heredada de la Conquista, y se muestran algunas similitudes con la conciencia prusiana e igualmente, si bien limitadas, con resortes comunitarios de la Alemania nacionalsocialista, no ajena al “espíritu” jerárquico de Prusia. Se muestra, a partir de estas similitudes, cómo se trata de una forma de conciencia que, dada la “inversión de valores” descrita por Uranga, no considera que deba rendir cuentas ni hacerse responsable socialmente de sus actos, al mismo tiempo que no se individualiza habida cuenta del peso comunitario. En estas condiciones, se aportan numerosos ejemplos que llevan a pensar en remanentes propiamente precapitalistas en México y América Latina.

Abstract: This article shows in what form remnants of a stately consciousness subsist in Latin America that corresponds to Foucault’s “sovereignty” and not to a more recent biopower. Starting from what was suggested by the Mexican philosopher Emilio Uranga, the springs of this consciousness, inherited from the Conquest, are unraveled, and some similarities are shown with the Prussian consciousness and also, although limited, with the community springs of National Socialist Germany, not foreign to the hierarchical “spirit” of Prussia. It is shown, based on these similarities, how it is a form of conscience that, given the “inversion of values” described by Uranga, does not consider that it should be held accountable or socially responsible for its actions, at the same time that it does not individualized taking into account the weight of the community. Under these conditions, numerous examples are provided that lead one to think of properly pre-capitalist remnants in Mexico and Latin America.

Resumen El trabajo científico genera fuentes de información mediante muestras, datos, resultados o escritura de códigos comosoftware.Este artículo aborda, éticamente, el imperativo de que todas las partes involucradas en la investigación científica compartan las fuentes de información de manera oportuna, en consideración de la bioética del deber. Se analizó la literatura recuperada enWeb of Sciencemediante las palabras de búsqueda ética del deber sobre el acceso abierto a fuentes de información científica, hasta julio de 2022.El intercambio o la disponibilidad de información permite un mayor avance para la ciencia; sin embargo, aún no se practica en todas sus áreas. Se deben considerar las perspectivas éticas de las personas investigadoras, así como la multidisciplinariedad de la investigación en las decisiones sobre el intercambio de información para que estas estén disponibles para la comunidad científica. Aun cuando se apliquen criterios normativos del deber, como el deber positivo, referido a que los datos estén disponibles de forma activa, o el deber negativo, que implica abstenerse de evitar que otros lo hagan, se deben considerar principios éticos en la práctica científica, como el principio de comunidad que sugiere que los datos no pertenecen a una persona investigadora individual ni a un grupo de personas investigadoras, sino que deberían ser accesibles para todos las personas investigadoras y la comunidad científica, así como el principio de desinterés, que indica que las personas científicas no deben perseguir su propio interés a expensas de los intereses de la comunidad científica. Se concluye que, cada vez más, se está generalizando la conciencia del deber de compartir información mediante datos o códigos en acceso abierto, información científica de acceso libre. La filosofía de promover una mayor apertura de acceso abierto a fuentes de información disponible tiene mayor aceptación generalizada en la comunidad científica.

Résumé Le travail scientifique produit des sources d’information à travers des échantillons, des données, des résultats et de l’écriture des codes comme le logiciel. Cet article traite sous une vue éthique, l’urgence de demander à toutes les parties concernées de partager en temps opportun les sources d’information en prenant considération de la bioéthique. Pour ce faire, nous avons analysé la littérature retrouvée sur Web of Science moyennant les mots de recherche éthique du devoir sur l’accès ouvert à sources d’information scientifique, jusqu’à juillet de 2022. L’échange ou la disponibilité d’information permet plus de progrès de la science, cependant cela ne se met en place dans toutes ses domaines. Il faut considérer les perspectives éthiques des chercheurs, ainsi que la multidisciplinarité de la recherche dans les décisions sur l’échange de l’information afin qu’elles soient disponibles pour la communauté scientifique. Même si l’on applique les critères normatifs du devoir, comme le devoir positif qui fait référence aux données qui sont disponibles de manière active ; ou bien le devoir négatif qui implique de s’abstenir à éviter que les autres le fassent. Il faut aussi considérer les principes éthiques dans l’exercice scientifique, tel que le principe de communauté qui suggère que les données n’appartiennent pas à un chercheur ou à un groupe de chercheurs, au contraire, elles doivent être disponibles pour tous les chercheurs et la communauté scientifique. Le principe de désintéressement présume que le travail du scientifique est guidé par le désir d'accroître les connaissances et non par le désir d'assouvir des intérêts personnels ou celui d'obtenir des récompenses. Pour conclure, nous constatons que, de plus en plus, la conscience du devoir de partager de l’information par les données et par les es codes sous accès ouvert, c’est-à-dire, l’information scientifique d’accès ouvert, est plus généralisée. Cette philosophie de promouvoir une plus grande ouverture de libre accès à des sources d’information disponible, elle a une meilleure acceptation dans la communauté scientifique.

Abstract Scientific work generates sources of information through samples, data, results, or code writing such as software. This article ethically addresses the imperative that all parties involved in scientific research share information sources promptly, in consideration of the bioethics of duty. The literature retrieved from Web of Science was analyzed using the search terms 'ethical duty of open access to scientific information' up to July 2022. The exchange or availability of information allows for greater progress in science; however, it is not yet practiced in all areas. Ethical perspectives of researchers and the multidisciplinarity of research should be considered in decisions regarding the exchange of information to make it available to the scientific community. Even when normative duty criteria are applied, such as the positive duty, referring to data being actively available, or the negative duty, which involves refraining from preventing others from doing so, ethical principles in scientific practice should be considered. These include the community principle, which suggests that data do not belong to an individual researcher or a group of researchers but should be accessible to all researchers and the scientific community. Additionally, the disinterest principle indicates that scientists should not pursue their self-interest at the expense of the interests of the scientific community. It is concluded that there is an increasing awareness of the duty to share information through open access data or codes, making scientific information freely accessible. The philosophy of promoting greater open access to available information sources is gaining wider acceptance in the scientific community.

Abstract This article synthesizes research related to the development by the author, of his doctoral thesis on the subject of product design in the service economy. In this thesis, the design operation of public services is analyzed through the study of four cases of design of integral solid waste management systems. These case studies have been located in Ecuador in the last 4 years and are related to a public policy of decentralization that forces local governments to assume the competence of this public service. In the part of the research that gives rise to this article, it specifically seeks to investigate the perception of the community regarding the quality of a public service and relate it to the willingness to pay a specific rate. The existence of relationships between the level at which the community participates in the elaboration of public policy, the perception of service quality and the willingness to pay for it, is demonstrated. There is also a relationship between the perception of service quality and the availability of technically selected equipment in contrast to the perception of quality when the equipment is selected for political agendas. In addition, the role of the media in articulating the participation of society is described, but also in the formation of a collective conscience about the responsibilities of citizens, their rights and obligations towards the integral management of solid waste and the environment, and the need to adopt responsible habits.

Resumen Este artículo sintetiza una investigación relacionada con el desarrollo por parte del autor de su tesis doctoral en torno al tema del diseño de productos en la economía de servicios. En esta tesis se analiza la operación de diseño de servicios públicos a través del estudio de cuatro casos de diseño de sistemas de gestión integral de desechos sólidos. Estos casos de estudio están ubicados en Ecuador en los últimos 4 años y están relacionados con una política pública de descentralización que obliga a los gobiernos locales a asumir la competencia de este servicio público. En la parte de la investigación que da lugar a este artículo, específicamente se busca indagar la percepción de la comunidad respecto de la calidad de un servicio público y relacionarlo con la disposición al pago de una tarifa determinada. Se demuestra la existencia de relaciones entre el nivel en que la comunidad participa en la elaboración de la política pública, la percepción de calidad del servicio y la disposición al pago por recibirlo. Se encuentra además una relación entre la percepción de calidad del servicio y la disponibilidad de equipamiento seleccionado técnicamente en contraste con la percepción de calidad cuando el equipamiento se selecciona por intereses políticos. Además, se describe el papel que tienen los medios de comunicación en articular la participación de la sociedad, pero también en la formación de una conciencia colectiva sobre las responsabilidades de la ciudadanía, sus derechos y obligaciones para con la gestión integral de los residuos sólidos y el medioambiente, y la necesidad de adoptar hábitos responsables.

Resumo Este artigo sintetiza as pesquisas relacionadas ao desenvolvimento do autor de sua tese de doutorado sobre o tema design de produto na economia de serviços. Nesta tese, o projeto operacional de serviços públicos é analisado através do estudo de quatro casos de projeto de sistemas integrais de gerenciamento de resíduos sólidos. Estes estudos de caso estão localizados no Equador nos últimos 4 anos e estão relacionados a uma política pública de descentralização que obriga os governos locais a assumirem a competência deste serviço público. Na parte da pesquisa que dá origem a este artigo, busca-se especificamente investigar a percepção da comunidade sobre a qualidade de um serviço público e relacioná-la com a disposição de pagar uma taxa específica. É demonstrada a existência de relações entre o nível em que a comunidade participa da elaboração das políticas públicas, a percepção da qualidade do serviço e a disposição de pagar pelo recebimento. Também existe uma relação entre a percepção da qualidade do serviço e a disponibilidade de equipamentos selecionados tecnicamente em contraste com a percepção de qualidade quando o equipamento é selecionado por interesses políticos. Além disso, é descrito o papel da mídia na articulação da participação da sociedade, mas também na formação de uma consciência coletiva sobre as responsabilidades dos cidadãos, seus direitos e deveres para com a gestão integral dos resíduos sólidos e o meio ambiente e a necessidade de adoção de hábitos responsáveis.

Ecclesiastical decisions about the calling and ordination of women in the offices in local congregations became a burning issue in Reformed Churches world-wide and even resulted in divisions and schisms. This is currently also the case in the community of the Reformed Churches in South Africa (RCA) (Gereformeerde Kerke in Suid-Afrika [GKSA]). The 2009 General Synod of the RCA resolved that women may not be ordained in the offices of ministers and elders. Subsequent Synods re-affirmed this decisions by a mere majority of votes according to Article 31 of the Church Order of the RCA. Despite these resolutions of various Synods, some local churches proceeded with the ordination of women in the applicable offices. Two of these local churches were subsequently excluded from the community of Reformed Churches within the RCA, by two classes with the argument that they disregarded the 'common concent' underlying the official synodical decisions. This study focuses on the question: what is 'common consent' within the context of Reformed Church polity and does this polity enable major assemblies to exclude local churches form the church community merely by way of a motion, just because they cannot reach concensus about a synodical resolution? The central-theoretical argument of the study is that the concepts 'mutual consent', as well as 'exclusion from the church community', should be revisited, because the current 'application of these ideas in the RCA results in irresponsible collective church discipline, leads to schism in the church community, the binding of consciences and the violation of the rights of called church officials'. CONTRIBUTION: This article proposes a responsible code of conduct in the RCA regarding the matter of local congregations that cannot, as a matter of conscience and after many petitions of protest, adhere to the synodical decisions about the prohibiting of the ordination of women in local churches. 'Mutual consent' cannot be understood in an absolute sense and 'exclusion of the church community' is a hierarchical action that runs against the core principles of Presbyterial church polity. A more responsible code is of the utmost importance.

The depiction of Cain and his descendants in the Genesis 4 narrative aligns with the key characteristics of psychopathy and its hereditary nature. The purpose of this study is to examine whether this narrative reflects our current understanding of psychopathy. Cleckley's description of the best-known traits of psychopathy includes a lack of conscience, empathy and social controls, which ultimately lead to deviant antisocial and criminal behaviour. These traits can be seen in Cain's murder of Abel, as well as in his reaction when confronted. They may have also been present in his descendants, such as Lamech and those involved in the implied prostitution of Naäma. In this study, the narrative characters are assessed using Robert Hare's Psychopathy Checklist: Shortened Version, which is examined within the context of Cleckley's observations and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th Edition (DSM-V). The mark of Cain and the Kenites, as well as their nomadic existence at the fringe of the desert, are also explained, as well as how society safeguarded itself by setting strong boundaries. INTRADISCIPLINARY AND/OR INTERDISCIPLINARY IMPLICATIONS: The PSL-SV is proven to be an effective diagnostic model when applied to narrative characters in a literary text. Its effectiveness becomes apparent when considering the broader context of the DSM-V and Cleckley's description. Sufficient information about the text and relevant reference works is necessary to utilise this model successfully. This diagnostic approach can be useful for any discipline interpreting narrative texts, for example literary analysis of characters in novels, historical studies of texts about characters in history, and criminal investigation and law, when interpreting narrative accounts of witness statements

Paul's calling presents a conundrum to which many have proposed varied solutions. Not trying to solve the conundrum in toto, this study investigates the existential dynamics of Paul's calling as narrated to the Galatians within the context of their apostasy. The model used is Heidegger's understanding of conscience as a call towards authenticity and away from inauthenticity. Rhetorical analysis assists in identifying Paul's new understanding of authenticity, by analysing the propositio, especially its expositio, which contains soteriological peculiar existential first-person singular expressions. Paul's preaching of his gospel and his letter to the Galatians are in turn also to them, a call to authenticity and away from inauthenticity. His preaching thus resembles the phenomenological idea of conscience. Thus, Paul's gospel cannot be separated from his calling. Both are about the same understanding of authenticity. It is at the same time a new self-understanding: to have been crucified with Christ and therefore Christ living in him and the faithful (Gl 2:19-20). This is a concise formula of soteriology as symbolised in baptism. Such calling is never completed: it remains a dynamic process, a tension and movement between authenticity and inauthenticity. This is reflected in the Galatian apostasy and Paul's letter calling them back to authenticity. The study underlines the crucial importance of soteriology for kerygma and baptism, but especially for understanding a person's call to faith or ministry. INTRADISCIPLINARY AND/OR INTERDISCIPLINARY IMPLICATIONS: The model is suitable for studying the religious phenomenon of calling in religious texts and in life

This article reports on a study that sought to investigate the impact of traditional health practices, revivalism, patriarchy and economic factors on the history of the Baptist Convention's health responses during the past 50 years of its existence in the South East Region of Malawi. During this period, Christians in Malawi continued to rely on traditional health practices, faith healing and biomedical medicine. Traditional healing practices were part of their culture and promoted by the patriarchy as some pastors of the church were also chiefs. Access to biomedical approaches became a challenge because of economic factors. Faith healing practices took a different form under the influence of revivalist movements. There are several studies on healing practices based on mainline churches in Malawi, however, there is a lack of similar studies on the Baptist Convention. The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of traditional health practices and economic factors on the history of the Baptist Convention's health responses in the South East Region of Malawi in the Post-Independence Era (post 1966). Based on qualitative ethnographic research, especially of participant observation since 2000, the study found that the Baptist Convention's health responses were always wholistic and influenced by the Baptist distinctive of individual conscience, patriarchy, economic factors and church polity. The Baptist distinctive is the total of several precious beliefs and practices based on the Bible.

Abstract With a synthesis analysis methodology, the purpose of this article is to offer a theoretical foundation on the legitimacy of moral acts and decisions. Consequently, the following question will be resolved: what is the ethical function of law, within the framework of the exercise of a conscience and conscience constructed by moral agents? It is concluded that legitimate coercion must be based on the universal protection of every person and on the submission to objections by citizens, with the purpose of reviewing the legitimacy and legality of legal norms.

Resumen Con una metodología analítico-sintética, el propósito del presente artículo es ofrecer un fundamento teórico sobre la legitimidad de los actos y las decisiones morales. Por consiguiente, se resolverá la siguiente cuestión: ¿cuál es la función ética del derecho, en el marco del ejercicio de una conciencia y consciencia construidas por agentes morales? Se concluye que la coacción legítima debe fundarse en la protección universal de toda persona y en el sometimiento a objeciones por parte de los ciudadanos, con el propósito de revisar la legitimidad y legalidad de las normas jurídicas.

To explore the scientific approach to Recalled Experience of Death (RED) and correlate it with the philosophical foundations of Family and Community Medicine to expand the understanding of the human consciousness. Non-systematic review on PubMed database for relevant “prospective studies” on “near-death experience”. Five prospective studies documented RED phenomenon occurrences during clinical death. RED-studies strengthen an organismic model of existence and challenge consciousness concept as epiphenomenon of brain activities. This prompts a new understanding of mind-brain relationship inspired by quantum mechanics unified informational field, i.e., consciousness as non-local. This knowledge can help healthcare professionals in dealing with patients with existential problems as in mental health, palliative care, and spiritual issues. RED-studies epitomise a pre-paradigmatic stage in the construction of a new concept of human consciousness in relation to the brain.

Explorar la cientificidad de la Rememoración de la Experiencia de Muerte (REM) y correlacionarla con fundamentos filosóficos de Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria ampliándose la comprensión de la conciencia humana. Revisión no-sistemática en PubMed de “estudios prospectivos” sobre “experiencias cercanas a la muerte”. Cinco estudios prospectivos documentaron ocurrencias del fenómeno REM durante la muerte clínica. Estudios REM fortalecen un modelo organísmico de existencia y desafían conceptos de conciencia como un epifenómeno de actividades cerebrales. Postulase una comprensión de la relación mente-cerebro inspirada en campo informativo unificado de la mecánica cuántica: la conciencia como no-local. Este conocimiento puede ayudar profesionales de salud a cuidar a pacientes con problemas existenciales como salud mental, cuidados paliativos y problemas espirituales. Estudios REM representan una fase pre-paradigmática en la construcción de un nuevo concepto de conciencia humana con relación al cerebro.

Explorar a abordagem científica da Rememoração da Experiência de Morte (REM) e correlacioná-la aos fundamentos filosóficos da Medicina de Família e Comunidade para ampliar a compreensão da consciência humana. Revisão não-sistemática na base de dados PubMed de “estudos prospectivos” relevantes sobre “experiência de quase-morte”. Cinco estudos prospectivos documentaram ocorrências do fenômeno REM durante a morte clínica. Estudos REM fortalecem um modelo organísmico da existência e desafiam o conceito de consciência como epifenômeno das atividades cerebrais. Sugere-se uma nova compreensão da relação mente-cérebro inspirada no campo informacional unificado da mecânica quântica: a consciência como não-local. Esse conhecimento pode auxiliar profissionais de saúde no cuidado de pacientes com problemas existenciais como saúde mental, cuidados paliativos e questões espirituais. Estudos REM representam uma fase pré-paradigmática na construção de um novo conceito de consciência humana em relação ao cérebro.