This article offers a brief historical analysis of power-in-use by both secular and sacred institutions. With examples the author shows that while both sacred religion and secular science have tried to correct each other's shortcomings, the virus of separative egoism has afflicted them both. While the sacred implies reduction of egoism as an indispensable precondition, yet this is frequently forgotten. So abuse of power often accompanies the sacred as well. This unfortunate tendency is a problem that needs attention.

Contributed articles on the philosophical concept of "other" as reflected in the culture of West Bengal, India.

Patient decision aids enable patients to be better informed about the potential benefits and harms of their healthcare options. Certification of patient decision aids at the national level in the United States is a critical step towards responsible governance—primarily as a quality measure that increases patients’ safety, as mandated in the U.S. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). Certification would provide a verification process to identify conflicts of interest that may otherwise bias the scientific evidence presented in decision aids. (...) Certification also benefits clinicians who may otherwise face malpractice claims based on harm to patients caused by possible reliance on patient decision aids that are inaccurate, incomplete, or presented in a manner that biases the patient’s decision. Existing work by the International Patient Decision Aid Standards Collaboration could guide the establishment of a certification process within the U.S. This article argues for national certification of patient decision aids and discusses how that may be achieved. (shrink)

Contributed articles on the life of Aurobindo Ghose, 1872-1950, philosopher and nationalist from India.

Articles on the life and work of Aurobindo Ghose, 1872-1950, philosopher and thinker from India, and his views on Ramakrishna, 1836-1886, Hindu saint, and his life.

Comparative work on philosophy of Indian spiritual leader, Aurobindo Ghose, 1872-1950 and Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, 1844-1900, western philosopher.