JOCAP

The Transcendence of Virtue Ethics Over Utilitarianism and Deontology in Bioethics and Medicine: Lessons from South Africa.

Moses Chanda — 2026-11-04

The field of biomedical ethics navigates complex moral landscapes, applying ethical principles and frameworks to inform decision-making in healthcare and research settings. At the forefront of this field are two influential ethical theories: utilitarianism and deontology. The interplay between these two theories significantly shapes ethical decision-making. However, reconciling their principles can be challenging, particularly when they yield conflicting courses of action. Resolving ethical dilemmas in bioethics and medical contexts demands thoughtful analysis, balancing competing values and principles to yield decisions that respect the autonomy and dignity of patients while promoting their well-being and safety. This paper evaluates three approaches – utilitarian, deontological and virtue ethics – using examples from South Africa. However, it argues in favour of virtue ethics for the following reasons: in contrast to utilitarian and deontological approaches, which focus on what I ought to do in various circumstances, emphasising actions and looking particularly to their consequences, the central questions of virtue ethics are: what is the good life for me as a human being; what kind of person should I want to become? Because moral actions entail more than just calculating outcomes, virtue ethics also transcends the focus on consequences.

Human Dignity and the Future of Personhood in AI-Integrated Brain-Computer Interfaces.

Isaac Mutelo — 2026-11-04

The advancements in neurotechnology, especially brain-computer interface (BCI) technologies, signal an ethically challenging phase in the relationship between human beings and artificial intelligence. The boundaries between ‘purely biological cognition’ and machine intelligence continue to blur. The current objectives of tech giants such as Neuralink are primarily therapeutic, focusing on restoring communication and neurological functions. However, future developments may enable direct integration between the human brain and AI-integrated BCIs such as generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) systems through implantable brain chips or other devices. This will create new possibilities for cognitive enhancement, expanded memory, accelerated learning, and augmented decision-making. This conceptual paper critically examines the ethical implications of AI-integrated brain enhancement from the perspective of human personhood and dignity. Although the ethical implications of brain-computer interfaces have received growing scholarly attention, much of the existing literature has concentrated on issues such as safety, privacy, cybersecurity, regulation, and informed consent. Comparatively less philosophical attention has been devoted to examining AI-integrated cognitive enhancement through the combined lenses of personhood, human dignity, and relational understandings of the human person. The paper argues that the shift from therapeutic neurotechnology to human enhancement raises fundamental questions about the nature of human agency, autonomy, identity, and responsibility in an age where cognitive processes may increasingly involve technological mediation. It is crucial to consider whether AI-enhanced cognition represents an authentic extension of human capacities or a transformation that risks undermining essential dimensions of human personhood. Will AI-integrated brain enhancement support the conventional understanding of human personhood, or will it transform the very meaning of being human? Drawing on existing literature in technoethics, neurotechnology, and philosophy of technology, the study argues that the ethical evaluation of BCI technologies should not be determined solely by technological capability or efficiency, but by their capacity to preserve human dignity, meaningful autonomy, and responsible self-determination. As humanity moves towards deeper integration with artificial intelligence, the central ethical challenge lies beyond whether humans can enhance themselves through neural technologies. It is primarily centred on interrogating whether such enhancement can be pursued in ways that safeguard the distinctive value, freedom, and dignity of the human person. By integrating the extended mind hypothesis, the transformation hypothesis, human dignity, and Ubuntu, the paper proposes a normative framework for evaluating future AI-integrated neurotechnologies.

A Critique of the Notion of Patriarchy in Feminism Using Metz’s Relational Ethics.

Joyline Gwara — 2026-11-04

Abstract

Within the intellectual ambience of feminism is the notion that the human world is patriarchal. Hence, feminism is a movement aimed at dethroning patriarchy, which seems to favour men over women. This entails that for feminists, the world is lopsided. Therefore, there is a need to reorder the system for women to be fully integrated into society and share equal privileges and rights as men. We disagree that this feminist patriarchal view of the world is correct. Thus, in this paper, we argue that Metz’s conception of harmony can assist us in understanding that the argument by the feminists that there is a conflict between genders is not real but imagined. Metz’s relational ethics, which is built on the sub-Saharan African notion of ‘relationship’, asserts that humans [irrespective of their gender] can affirm their identity and live in solidarity if and only if they operate with the principle of communion. This ethical theory upsets the feminist’s thought that the world is patriarchal. Instead, it shows that identity distinction between the male and female genders leads to solidarity in human society.

The Pleasure Principle and the Crisis of Personhood in Africa.

Beullah Matinhira — 2026-11-04

In light of a deeper crisis of personhood, this article explores drug and substance abuse in modern-day Africa as a philosophical problem. From the standpoint of African ethics, the study reinterprets the pleasure principle, which is typically understood in Freudian theory as the human propensity to pursue pleasure and avoid pain. It argues that, in addition to individual moral failings, the unbridled pursuit of pleasure through drug and substance misuse in many African civilisations signifies a breakdown of relational identity and communal connection. Based on Hunhu/Ubuntu ethics, which sees personhood as formed via relationships and moral obligation to others, the paper questions reductionist and individualistic interpretations of drug abuse.

Instead, it advances a perspective that situates drug and substance abuse within broader socioeconomic, cultural, and existential aspects of contemporary African life. The study proposes a Hunhu/Ubuntu-informed ethical framework that integrates lived experience with abstract philosophical reflection to prioritise rehabilitation, community involvement, and the regeneration of moral agency. Ultimately, by demonstrating how indigenous ethical frameworks may successfully engage with global theoretical concepts while addressing urgent social challenges on the continent, the study enhances contemporary African philosophy.

Indigenous-Led Forest and Land Conservation in Response to Climate Change Using AI Models.

Monica Madyembwa — 2026-11-04

The accelerated impacts of climate change have significantly worsened forest degradation and land mismanagement. This study aimed to explore how AI could be integrated with IKS to promote climate-resilient land and forest management. A mixed-methods approach was employed. Primary data were collected through semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions, while secondary data were obtained from relevant literature. The population sampling technique used was purposive, and the sample size was 30. The selected participants were 12 Indigenous elders, 10 traditional leaders, and 8 environmental officers. Data were gathered through 15 semi-structured interviews, 3 focus group discussions, and a review of relevant secondary sources. Indigenous indicators, such as phenological patterns and sacred groves, were carefully documented. Findings showed that 85% of environment officers and traditional elders believed that traditional ecological markers could complement AI algorithms. The primary data confirmed the continued effectiveness of Indigenous monitoring methods, while secondary sources supported AI’s potential in recognising patterns. However, 70% expressed concerns over data ownership, cultural sensitivity, and the relevance of AI applications. The study recommended the integration of IKS and AI for climate resilience through Forest and Land Conservation.

Crucifying the Alien: An interdisciplinary Critique of Xenophobic [Afrophobia] Violence against African Immigrants in South Africa.

Joyline Gwara — 2026-11-04

The paper explores the ancient roots and contemporary dynamics of persistent xenophobic violence against immigrants in South Africa. The violence specifically targets African nationals, a phenomenon which has come to be theorised as Afrophobia. We argue that the foundation of this violence stems from the apartheid era, which institutionalised a culture where force and aggression served as the primary means to silence perceived political antagonists. Despite the persistence of these targeted attacks, scholars within philosophy and religion remain reluctant to engage with localised, non-state violence. In order to address this gap, we combine a philosophical and religious framework to analyse the socio-political, moral, and ideological dimensions of violence against fellow Africans. From a philosophical standpoint, we interrogate historical validations of violence, engaging liberal thinkers and Enlightenment perspectives on the French Revolution. In the same light, we apply Ubuntu ethics to evaluate human dignity, community, and ethical relationality. And, from a religious standpoint scrutinise the interplay between faith and hostility, questioning whether violence is innate to religion, at the same time drawing on biblical perspectives that frame scripture as a narrative of migrants. By fusing Christian theology with Ubuntu, the paper proposes a rounded inquiry of xenophobic violence and offers home-grown ethical solutions aimed at curbing Afrophobic attacks, and thereby promoting peaceful coexistence in South Africa.

[Book Review] Isaac Mutelo, Muslim Organisations in South Africa. Political Role Post-1948.

David Kaulemu — 2026-11-04

Mutelo, I. 2023. Muslim Organisations in South Africa: Political Role Post-1948. Toulouse: Domuni Press.