The author proves the crucial role of the reform of philosophical education in the context of the socio-economic crisis. Without this reform, it is impossible to form a new mentality. Respectively, without changing the mentality, other reforms are not possible. Criticizing the Soviet command-and-control system, the author argues that its system remains in the very structure of Ukrainian universities. The reform of philosophical education, according to the author, should lie (1) in the democratization of the educational process and (2) in (...) reorienting this process to develop the ability to philosophize. This goal assumes that the basis of philosophical education should be such disciplines as the history of philosophy and the argumentation theory because they provide an understanding of philosophical problems and teach how to think critically and creatively. (shrink)

In A Theory of Justice (1971), John Rawls introduces the concept of “reflective equilibrium.” Although there are innumerable references to and discussions of this concept in the literature, there is, to the present author's knowledge, no discussion of the most important question: Why reflective equilibrium? In particular, the question arises: Is the method of reflective equilibrium applicable to the choice of this method itself? Rawls's drawing of parallels between Kant's moral theory and his own suggests that his concept of “reflective (...) equilibrium” is on a par with Kant's concept of “transcendental deduction.” Treating these two approaches to justification as paradigmatic, I consider their respective merits in meeting the reflexive challenge, i.e., in offering a justification for choice of mode of justification. In the first part of this enquiry (Eng 2014a), I raised the issue of the reflexivity of justification and questioned whether the reflexive challenge can be met within the framework of A Theory of Justice. In the second part (Eng 2014b), I outlined a Kantian approach that represents a paradigmatic alternative to Rawls. In this third and final part, I shall argue that Rawls's reflective equilibrium cannot justify the choice of itself and that in the broader perspective thus necessitated, we cannot escape the metaphysical issues integral to the Kantian approach. (shrink)

La tesis que este artículo persigue desarrollar es que en el pensamiento de Kant hay una remisión de la teleología natural a la teleología ética, particularmente en la tercera Crítica. La primera ha de remitirse a la segunda para evitar la trivialidad. A despecho de las lecturas que se centran en las implicancias epistemológicas y científicas del juicio teleológico kantiano, este acercamiento pone énfasis en su dimensión ética, instancia definitiva y necesaria en la que culminan los esfuerzos del autor. En (...) esta dirección, se develará la insuficiencia de una teleología meramente natural y se aportarán materiales de análisis para evidenciar la prominencia del compromiso ético en el seno de la obra. (shrink)

A interpretação de Cassirer da dívida intelectual de Kant para com Rousseau é conhecida e estabeleceu um marco real na crítica especializada de ambos os filósofos. No entanto, o exame desta dívida no interior do projeto cassireriano de constituição de uma Antropologia filosófica não foi ainda realizado, devido à rejeição de Cassirer das notáveis antropologias de Kant e Rousseau, que resultou na omissão deste tópico em An Essay on Man. Os manuscritos de Cassirer que testemunham a preparação dessa obra nos (...) ajudam a formar uma outra imagem, que posiciona Rousseau e Kant no centro do álbum de família da Antropologia filosófica. A compreensão da negligência de Cassirer a respeito dos projetos antropológicos de Kant e de Rousseau, bem como das causas possíveis da ausência deles na foto oficial constituem o objetivo do presente artigo. (shrink)