Special Issue: Christian Philosophical Perspectives on Sustainable Development

In this introductory article, the authors first briefly present the debate on the meaning of sustainability and consider the question of how to connect the concept of sustainability with a Christian-in particular, Reformational-way of doing philosophy. After examining the various uses of Dooyeweerdian philosophy in this regard, this introduction closes with an overview of the contributions to this special issue.</p

Attitudes and perceptions regarding metabolomics research on HIV and AIDS: Towards a dynamic model relating basic beliefs, technology and behaviour

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) pandemic are hitting hard in Africa, not the least in South Africa. In addition to preventative measures, better ways of treatment and delaying the onset of symptoms are still urgently required. Recent developments in biomedicine in South Africa, notably genomics and metabolomics, could well contribute to more effective treatments and diets. However, these technologies are rooted in modern Western culture and may embody concepts and values that are foreign to people with a different culture and worldview in semi-urban communities in South Africa. How can those technologies be introduced into such communities in an ethically acceptable and effective way? To begin answering this question, we conducted qualitative research amongst representatives of such a community near Potchefstroom, South Africa. The results indicate that the worldview, belief system and cultural customs of these people significantly influence the interpretation of HIV and AIDS and their treatment. The results led us to expand an earlier theoretical version of a qualitative model relating cultural factors and worldview to individual behaviour into an empirically informed, dynamic model that envisages possible influences of the introduction of new technologies on the belief and behavioural system of the community

The Relationship between (Protestant) Christianity and the Environment is Ambivalent

In his contribution to this special issue, Michael Northcott argues that there is a historic association between Protestant cultures and the origins of environmentalism. It seems to me, however, that the connection between Protestantism and environmentalism is more complicated and ambivalent than the positive relation he highlights. In this paper, I will problematize that relation on the basis of various theoretical and empirical contributions in the literature on religion and environmentalism. Different positions in this regard within Protestantism will be identified and related to theological positions and the historic impact of Protestantism on culture. In the final section, the impact of environmental degradation on the (global) poor will be highlighted, which leads to the identification of a tension between an orthodox/evangelical Protestant stance towards the poor and towards the environment

An ethical and societal analysis for biotechnological methods in plant breeding

Technological developments in plant breeding, notably cisgenesis and gene editing, require a rethinking of biotechnology policies. In addition to legal debates about the definition of genetic modification in the Cartagena Protocol and at national and supra-national levels, and debates about the safety of the resulting products for mankind and environment, discussions are ongoing in society concerning ethical and societal questions. In this paper, we analyse the main ethical issues that need to be taken into account when evaluating contemporary plant breeding techniques. After a brief description of the state of the art in plant breeding, we discuss these main ethical issues. We take Consequentialist, Deontological and Virtue ethics as bases of our analysis. This results in a generally positive approach to gene editing, but also highlights several concerns, predominantly used by particular groups in society. This leads to a moral incentive toward transparency and options for operationalizing consumer choice.</p

Professional autonomy and the normative structure of medical practice

Professional autonomy is often described as a claim of professionals that has to serve primarily their own interests. However, it can also be seen as an element of a professional ideal that can function as a standard for professional, i.e. medical practice. This normative understanding of the medical profession and professional autonomy faces three threats today. 1) Internal erosion of professional autonomy due to a lack of internal quality control by the medical profession; 2) the increasing upward pressure on health care expenses that calls for a health care policy that could imply limitations for the professional autonomy of physicians; 3) a distorted understanding of the profession as being based on a formal type of knowledge and related technology, in which other normative dimensions of medical practice are neglected and which frustrates meaningful communication between physicians and patients. To answer these threats a normative structure analysis of medical practice is presented, that indicates which principles and norms are constitutive for medical practice. It is concluded that professional autonomy, normatively understood, should be maintained to avoid the lure of the technological imperative and to protect patients against third parties' pressure to undertreatment. However, this professional autonomy can only be maintained if members of the profession subject their activities and decisions to a critical evaluation by other members of the profession and by patients and if they continue to critically reflect on the values that regulate today's medicin

Kunstmatige intelligentie en het gevaar van reductionisme

Kunstmatige intelligentie (AI) is een sterk opkomende techniek met legio nuttige toepassingsmogelijkheden. Tegelijkertijd maakt AI commerciële en politieke beïnvloeding van grote groepen mensen mogelijk. Daarnaast dreigen de beperkingen van AI over het hoofd te worden gezien. Informatie is nog geen kennis en zonder context is er nog geen werkelijk inzicht. Met behulp van inzichten uit de filosofie van Herman Dooyeweerd wordt uiteengezet dat het gebruik van AI zonder nader inzicht in de betekenisan onderliggende data leidt tot een reductie van de werkelijkheid