This introduction to the special issue on 'Ricoeur and the ethics of care' is not a standard editorial. It provides not only an explanation of the central questions and a first impression of the articles, but also a critical discussion of them by an expert in the field of care ethics, Joan Tronto. After explaining the reasons to bring Ricoeur into dialogue with the ethics of care (I), and analyzing how the four articles of this special issue shape this dialogue (II), the authors give the floor to Tronto (III). She focuses on the central issue at stake: what may be the value of a more abstract, conceptual approach for the ethics of care as a radically practice-oriented way of thinking? She argues that the four contributions too easily frame this value in terms of Ricoeur's relational anthropology. Instead she points out that if the ethics of care is a kind of practice, it makes sense to think of such practices as necessarily building upon one another, expanding constantly the context and relationships upon which practices are built. In the final section (IV) the authors respond to Tronto's framing of 'practices all the way up' by arguing that this approach need not be at odds with one inspired by Ricoeur's conceptual thinking. Rather the two can be seen as different movements-upwards and downwards-that both contribute constructively to the shaping of the important intermediary zone between the practices and the abstract ideals.Keywords The ethics of care Á Ricoeur Á Practices Á Practice-oriented reflection Á Abstract philosophical reflection Á Responsibility Á Philosophical anthropology Á Relational view of human beings Here I shall attempt to bring to light the simple fact that the practical field is not constituted from the ground up, starting from the simplest and moving to more elaborate constructions; rather it is formed in accordance with a twofold movement of ascending complexification starting from basic actions and from practices, and of descending specification starting from the vague and mobile horizon of ideals and projects in light of which a human life apprehends itself in its oneness. (Ricoeur 1992, 158)

Uitgaande van het KNAW rapport Klaar om te wenden, presenteert dit artikel de gezamenlijke visie van de vier auteurs (allen verbonden aan de PThU) op de theologie. Zij delen het gevoel van urgentie om de interdisciplinaire studie van religie georganiseerd ter hand te nemen die in het rapport wordt genoemd, maar kunnen zich niet vinden in de reden die daarvoor wordt aangevoerd voor de participatie van de theologie. De theologische bijdrage aan deze interdisciplinaire onderneming is namelijk veel specifieker dan uit dit rapport blijkt. Niet een veronderstelde gezamenlijke focus op wat ‘geleefd geloof’ genoemd wordt of het verwoorden van het ‘insiders perspectief’, maar de wijze waarop de theologie normatieve vragen aan de orde stelt en behandelt biedt de basis voor een zelfstandige bijdrage van de theologie. Deze normativiteit komt aan het licht in de zoektocht van de theologie naar het ware, goede en schone, aldus de auteurs. Deze benadering krijgt weinig aandacht aan de Nederlandse universiteiten ‐ één van de redenen waarom de theologie zich gespecialieerd heeft in het transparant maken van (vaak impliciete) normativiteit. Met deze specifieke inbreng zoekt de theologie de dialoog met andere wetenschappen. Zonder dit verstaan van de theologie en de bijbehorende dialoog is er volgens de schrijvers onvoldoende basis voor een gezamenlijk onderzoeksprogramma over religie. Deze gezamenlijke visie wordt gevolgd door vier artikelen, waarin steeds een casus wordt gepresenteerd die een bepaald onderdeel van deze visie op de interdisciplinaire samenwerking verder uitwerkt.

ObjectiveTo assess how families are involved in situations of euthanasia or physician assisted suicide (PAS) in dementia.DesignSystematic review searching literature in nine databases from inception up to October 2021. We included studies on family involvement in euthanasia from the perspective of persons with dementia and family caregivers. Themes were formulated through thematic analysis. The design was registered at Prospero (CRD42022298215).ResultsWe assessed 215 of 4038 studies in full text; 19 met the inclusion criteria of which 13 empirical studies. Themes included for people with dementia: being a burden; stage of dementia, and permissibility of euthanasia/PAS. Themes for family were the burden of care, responsibility toward the euthanasia or PAS wish, permissibility of euthanasia/PAS.ConclusionThe wish for euthanasia/PAS arises in situations of burdensome care and fear of future deterioration. The family feels entrusted with the responsibility to enact upon the death wish. In shaping this responsibility, four roles of family can be distinguished: carer, advocate, supporter, and performer. Family as in need of support themselves is understudied.

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