Volume 35, Issue 3

The causal explanation of human action has received increasing attention in social studies since the latter half of the twentieth century. A key question in this context is whether Aristotle’s framework of the four causes originally applied to natural phenomena, can also be extended to human actions. Concerning a compatible perspective between free will and causality, we contend that the Scholastic contributions offer a significant advancement in addressing this question. They demonstrate that the four causes, as interpreted by Scholastic thinkers, provide a robust explanatory tool for analyzing human affairs and their dynamics. Moreover, we argue that their contributions go beyond theoretical analysis, offering a comprehensive framework for understanding how causal principles can be applied to various aspects of human experience.

Research suggests that the experience of cancer is diverse rather than homogeneous. The strong emotions and stress associated with cancer lead to a search for coping strategies. Men with different types of cancer utilise physical, psychological, interpersonal, and spiritual strategies. Despite the research, the specific adaptation and coping strategies used by men with testicular cancer have rarely been studied. We focused on the adaptation and coping strategies of newly diagnosed patients (n = 17) with testicular cancer in Slovakia. For this purpose, we conducted a longitudinal qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews before, during and after chemotherapy. The verbatim transcribed interviews were analysed using ideal type analysis with a focus on typology formation and trajectory analysis in narrative approaches. The main types of psychological adaptation and strategies were grouped into 4 trajectories: the psychological barrier between the self and the illness as a coping mechanism; realistic optimism; meaning-making; and the complicated process of adaptation. The differences in adaptation were related to the patients’ emotional state before the disease, previous unprocessed life events, a death in the family during treatment, but also to the metastatic nature of the disease or the recurrence of testicular cancer. These results can help healthcare providers identify those at higher risk for complicated adaptation.

This comprehensive review employs a systematic literature review approach to explore female intrasexual competition in birth and motherhood within digital media. Literature was collected from databases such as Scopus, Google Scholar, and CNKI, using keywords like “intrasexual competition,” “motherhood,” “birth,” “digital media,” and “social media.” Articles were selected based on their relevance to the intersection of intrasexual competition, birth, motherhood, and digital media. The review investigates contexts where intrasexual competition and discrimination occur, highlighting their relevance to womanhood and the impact of cultural norms on competitiveness in birth and parenting. The biological perspective reveals how childbirth and motherhood influence a woman’s social standing, often leading to discrimination and competitiveness. Digital media introduces unique elements to this discourse, offering virtual communities for support and anonymity, while also posing challenges like misinformation and reinforcing stereotypes. Social media portrays an idealized image of motherhood, fostering inadequacy and increasing social pressure.

Studies on farmer-herder conflicts using the Critical Discourse Approach often focus on media portrayals of the conflict. However, the interplay between discursive constructions by primordial or ethnic associations, their dissemination through the media, and their potential effects on the conflict remain underexplored. Therefore, this paper examines the potential effects of the primordially driven discourses on farmer-herder crises in Nigeria. Discourses from civil society on farmer-herder violence in Nigeria hold the potential for two key outcomes: the escalation of the conflict and the creation of doubts about the state’s capacity and impartiality in addressing the violence, leading to calls for restructuring the security architecture to include non-formal security options. Employing Critical Discourse Analysis, the paper examines statements from major ethnic associations across 30 Nigerian online news articles, assessing their role in shaping public perceptions of violence and influencing civil society advocacy for alternative security mechanisms. This paper demonstrates how these narratives can intensify tensions, undermine trust in state security institutions, and, in addition, enable the prioritisation of ethnic biases over constructive dialogue, posing challenges to resolving these violent conflicts. The findings highlight the importance of fostering inclusive and neutral discourse to promote civility and mitigate the worsening of farmer-herder violence.

This paper traces the philosophical and ethical development of debt and interest from ancient condemnation to modern acceptance, revealing how historical critiques can illuminate contemporary financial crises. Beginning with the idea of money as “unnatural” when it breeds itself, and drawing from classical and medieval prohibitions on usury, it follows key shifts in moral reasoning through the Reformation and Enlightenment. These conceptual transformations are placed in dialogue with modern critiques of debt, particularly when vital needs such as education and healthcare become subject to interest-bearing lending. Through a historical-philosophical lens, the paper argues that early moral safeguards, once intended to prevent exploitative lending, have been gradually dismantled, contributing to present-day debt burdens. It concludes by suggesting that reviving selected historical boundaries, such as interest caps or protections for existential loans, could inform financial reforms that better reflect principles of justice, dignity, and human flourishing.

This paper argues that economic growth is an empty signifier and, on this basis, calls for a different approach to economic growth. It is based on an analysis of Czech and Slovak alternative and mainstream media, as well as interviews with journalists and columnists writing for these media. The article demonstrates that economic growth, as a media term, lacks clarity, is generally perceived positively, constitutes a systemic limit, and is surrounded by emotionally charged narratives and a chain of equivalences. Additionally, economic growth unites opposing forces in society and integrates incompatible discursive elements. It is sedimented into objectivity, reinforced by a lack of knowledge about economic growth, the constraints of news and interview genres, and the subordination of critique to the expectations of readers, editors, and the ideological positioning of centrist media institutions. However, the dominance of economic growth is questioned in the interviews. According to the respondents, reactivation is possible by including sources critical of growth in news or opinion sections or by selecting topics that conflict with the growth agenda.

The present study examines how cognitive, socioeconomic and experiential factors, specifically scientific reasoning, cognitive reflection, education of participants and their parents, and personal experiences with the scientific community, relate to trust in science among university students. In addition, the study examines which of the aforementioned factors predict trust in science in a sample of university students. A questionnaire was administered to 150 Slovak university students. Correlational analysis revealed a positive relationship between trust in science and scientific reasoning. Moreover, trust in science was positively related to parents’ highest level of education but negatively to the length of participants’ university study. In addition, we found a positive relationship between trust in science and personal experiences with the scientific community. However, regression analysis revealed that personal experiences with the scientific community was the only significant predictor of trust in science. The results suggest that creating more opportunities for positive experiences with the scientific community could contribute to enhancing trust in science among university students, although the proposed causal link needs to be verified.

This study explores the relationship between women’s political participation, perceived discrimination, and gender dynamics in Turkey. Political participation embodies an individual’s aspiration to influence societal transformation and contribute to decision-making processes that shape communities. However, women’s engagement in these processes has long been hindered by deeply rooted societal norms and systemic barriers. The primary objective of this research is to examine how perceived discrimination impacts women’s political participation and to assess whether gender perceptions moderate this relationship. Data were collected from 313 female university students aged 18–58, utilizing the Political Participation Scale, Gender Perception Scale, and Perceived Discrimination Index. The results demonstrated a significant positive correlation between perceived discrimination and political participation, with gender perception acting as a key moderator. Women with stronger gender equality beliefs were more likely to recognize discrimination and engage in political activities. These findings emphasize the critical role of cultural, educational, and institutional strategies in enhancing women’s political visibility and addressing systemic barriers. The study provides a robust foundation for developing egalitarian policies to promote women’s active participation in politics, fostering a more inclusive democratic landscape.