Skepticism and justification

Synthese - This paper discusses the skeptical argument presented by Keith Lehrer in his paper ‘Why Not Scepticism?’. It is argued that Lehrer's argument depends on unacceptable...     

International Union of History and Philosophy of Science Division of Logic,Methodology and Philosophy of Science Bulletin no. 15

International Union of History and Philosophy of Science Division of Logic, Methodology and Philosophy of Science Bulletin no. 15     

The Surplus of Evil in Welfare Society: Contemporary Scandinavian Crime Fiction

The best-selling Scandinavian crime fiction of the last ten years extensively deals with the problem of remaining evil in a peaceful and just welfare society. It develops a view of "secular theodicy" which aims at explaining the presence of radical evil in a secular late modern society. In this explanation it employs the Lutheran imagery of "hidden God" (Deus absconditus). The paper reviews recent novels by Henning Mankell, Anne Holt, Sven Westerberg, Helena von Zweigbergk and Anna Jansson.     

Cluster C personality disorder and recovery from major depression: 24-month prospective follow-up

We investigated whether Cluster C personality disorder (CPD) is associated with recovery from depression. Changes in symptom scales in 30 patients with MD and CPD were compared with changes in 60 patients with MD alone over a 24-month follow-up period. Recovery of patients with MD and comorbid CPD was inferior to recovery of those with MD alone based on the Hamilton and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scales, and the SCL-90 total score. Only 18% of those with MD alone but 47% of those with CPD and MD met the criteria for major depression at the end of the 24-month follow-up. Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed an independent association between the lack of recovery (BDI score > 9 at 24 months) and the presence of CPD (OR 4.9, 95% CI 1.5-16.0). Moreover, the presence of CPD associated with the presence of major depression at 24 months (OR 4.2, 95% CI 1.4-12.2). The presence of CPD hinders the alleviation of depressive symptoms in major depression.     

Living Sola Fide: Features of Religious Recognition

This article discusses the life of faith and forensic justification as related to some new issues in social theory, especially Axel Honneth's notions of love, respect, and esteem. The article is critical of virtue ethics and recommends an ethics of vocation as a path toward equal respect and individual social esteem. The article also discusses why Lutherans consider faith (or even faith alone) rather than love as a proper starting‐point of this path.     

Syzygy: Love Made Strange

Abstract : This paper argues that there can be an intimate, non‐marital loving communion between two persons or, sometimes, two groups. The Christian tradition has its own concept, syzygy, for such love. An awareness of this forgotten tradition may be valuable in discussing some broader problems in the church, such as rivalry between different parties or homosexuality. The syzygic relationship of love and rivalry is characteristic of some well‐known biblical and mythological narratives.