Individual Convictions Research Articles

Chapitre 5. Libéralisme, Communautarisme et euthanasie

The controversy surrounding the right to die illustrates the impossibility for political liberalism to put aside the moral and religious convictions of individuals. This is contrary to the issue of abortion, where the political values of tolerance and the equal rights of women as citizens constitute a sufficient base to conclude that women are free to chose for themselves if they wish to have an abortion or not. The claims in favor of the right to die in dignity concern a category of the population: patients at the end of life. Does the majority always win over the minority? Confronted with social emergency, political solutions put in place in favor or against the recognition of the right to die have fostered numerous political spectra, such as liberal or communitary theories.

Editorial

Editorial

Science, Worldviews, and Education

Whether science can reach conclusions with substantial worldview import, such as whether supernatural beings exist or the universe is purposeful, is a significant but unsettled aspect of science. For instance, various scientists, philosophers, and educators have explored the implications of science for a theistic worldview, with opinions spanning the spectrum from positive to neutral to negative. To delineate a mainstream perspective on science, seven key characterizations or “pillars” of science are adopted from position papers from the world’s largest scientific organization, the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Based on those pillars and an examination of scientific method, I argue that the presuppositions and reasoning of science can and should be worldview independent, but empirical and public evidence from the sciences and humanities can support conclusions that are worldview distinctive. I also critique several problematic perspectives: asserting that science can say nothing about worldviews and the opposite extreme of insisting that science decisively supports one particular worldview; weakening science so severely that it lacks truth claims; and burdening science with unnecessary presuppositions. Worldview-distinctive conclusions based on empirical evidence are suitable for individual convictions and public discussions, but not for institutional endorsements and scientific literacy requirements.

Should health care professionals encourage living kidney donation?

Living kidney donation provides a promising opportunity in situations where the scarcity of cadaveric kidneys is widely acknowledged. While many patients and their relatives are willing to accept its benefits, others are concerned about living kidney programs; they appear to feel pressured into accepting living kidney transplantations as the only proper option for them. As we studied the attitudes and views of patients and their relatives, we considered just how actively health care professionals should encourage living donation. We argue that active interference in peoples’ personal lives is justified - if not obligatory. First, we address the ambiguous ideals of non-directivity and value neutrality in counselling. We describe the main pitfalls implied in these concepts, and conclude that these concepts cannot account for the complex reality of living donation and transplantation. We depict what is required instead as truthful information and context-relative counselling. We then consider professional interference into personal belief systems. We argue that individual convictions are not necessarily strong, stable, or deep. They may be flawed in many ways. In order to justify interference in peoples’ personal lives, it is crucial to understand the structure of these convictions. Evidence suggests that both patients and their relatives have attitudes towards living kidney donation that are often open to change and, accordingly, can be influenced. We show how ethical theories can account for this reality and can help us to discern between justified and unjustified interference. We refer to Stephen Toulmin’s model of the structure of logical argument, the Rawlsian model of reflective equilibrium, and Thomas Nagel’s representation of the particularistic position.

Predictors of Conviction and Sentencing of DWI Offenders in a New Mexico County

Objective. To analyze predictors of conviction and dismissal of individuals charged with DWI, and predictors of the sentences of those who are convicted. Methods. Data come from the Citation Tracking System of the State of New Mexico's Motor Vehicle Division and includes information on all individuals who were arrested for DWI in San Juan County between August 1994 and December 2000. Independent variables were: age, gender, race/ethnicity, waiver of right to an attorney, court of arraignment, year of arrest, BAC, and number of prior DWI arrests. Dependent variables were: (1) conviction or dismissal, (2) jail or no jail, (3) incarceration/treatment or not, (4) fine or no fine, (5) length of jail sentence, (6) waived right of attorney, and (7) magnitude of fine. Multiple linear and logistic regression was used in the analyses. Results. Use of an attorney is associated with reduced likelihood of conviction and, if convicted, in reduced likelihood of jail sentence and reduced jail time, but greater likelihood and magnitude of a fine. Native Americans were more likely than Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites to waive their right to an attorney. Native Americans were most likely to be sentenced to the detention/treatment program. BAC and number of prior arrests were each positively associated with increased likelihood of conviction and more severe sentences. There is also substantial variability in severity of sentencing among courts. Conclusion. Likelihood of conviction and severity of sentences are both determined by extra-legal factors, resulting in inconsistent application of the law. This may in turn contribute to a lack of compliance with laws related to DWI.

Paving the Way For Conviction Without Evidence - A Disturbing Trend in Australia's 'Anti-Terrorism' Laws

This paper considers two recent pieces of Australian 'anti-terrorism' law - the amendments to the Criminal Code brought about by the Anti-Terrorism Act 2004(Cth), and the National Security Information (Criminal Proceedings) Bill 2004 (Cth). Both laws pose a significant threat to the right to a fair trial, permitting as they do the conviction of individuals without evidence of criminal guilt having to be led against them at trial. The government has failed to address this threat - indeed, the rhetoric used has sought to conceal the matter at stake - and therefore has failed to justify these laws

Implementing industrial sustainability: the research issues in technology management

This paper ties together issues in the implementation of industrial sustainability and the contribution that technology management research has to offer. The idea of sustainability seems to be slowly attracting more attention. Discussion occurs not only amongst world governments, academics and NGOs, but also in industry. Industrial sustainability now appears to be moving up the management agenda in many organisations. Corporate reputation and shareholder value may be at stake for organisations which cannot demonstrate a rational position on sustainability. However, despite this increasing awareness, in practice there are a number of barriers to the implementation of industrial sustainability ideas. For a start, it is unclear what industrial sustainability means in practical terms. The business case for implementation is often built on individual conviction or motivational case examples, rather than being grounded in solid theory with associated frameworks, guidelines and tools. Particular challenges facing organisations include the choice of appropriate product and process technologies, lifecycle valuation techniques, changing employee and other stakeholder mindsets, and possibly most importantly, creating a new business model altogether.In light of these issues, this paper sets out to review the contribution that technology management research can make towards the effective implementation of industrial sustainability. Considerations include the cross‐functional and cross‐organisational issues of implementation – bringing together various business units and functions within a company, and the many players in a supply chain, with the goal of improving environmental, social and economic performance in parallel. There is a need to develop new methods for technology valuation which integrate the concept of triple bottom line accountability and existing technology strategy in organisations could be extended, to include the wider set of values that underpin the concepts of industrial sustainability. The critical research needs for this to be achieved are identified.

Common themes and structures in male victims' stories of religion and sexual abuse

This paper presents some outcomes of research on the narrative construction of religion and sexual abuse in male victims. Twelve open biographic interviews with adult male survivors of childhood sexual abuse have been analysed for content and structure. Three narrative themes were identified to appear in all interviews: distance/proximity, power/powerlessness and guilt/innocence. Using statistical methods (correlations and cluster analysis), the relation was investigated between these narrative themes and categories of evaluation, life period addressed, religion, sexuality and significant others. At group level, very few correlations or patterns were found. Two possible explanations are discussed: (1) the lack of canonical stories and (2) the limitations to narrative competence as a result of traumatization. Structure analysis at the individual level yields relatively coherent patterns, so that the second explanation hypothesized seems less likely. Based on content and structure analysis, three narrative methods of construction are discussed: contrasting stories of sexual abuse and religion, sequencing stories and reinterpreting themes from both religion and sexual abuse. Finally, implications are discussed concerning researching canonical stories and their impact on coping, understanding and facilitating the creative potential of narrators, and the complicated relationship of individual constructions, confessional convictions and academic theological theories.

Service-Learning in Business Schools: A Case Study in an Intermediate Accounting Course

Universities cannot afford to remain shores of affluence, self-importance and horticultural beauty at the edge of island seas of squalor, violence and despair. Emphasizing service has the potential to enrich learning and renew communities, but will also give new dignity to the scholarship of service. Ernest Boyer(1994) In this article, the authors provide guidance regarding implementation of service-learning projects as an active learning strategy in business courses. Their experience in the use of service-learning assignments in an intermediate accounting course revealed 5 steps necessary for a successful service-learning platform: developing institutional and individual conviction for the value of community service, developing alliances with the community agencies, establishing the pedagogical legitimacy of service-learning, motivating the faculty and students about the benefits of service-learning, and selecting appropriate assignments. Their results indicate that service-learning assignments fit the scope of business courses while helping to promote the goals of relevant management education.

Do You Remember the Day We Met? Early Couple Relationship Memories

This column addresses the use of early memories of marriage relationships when counseling couples. This extension of the use of early recollections in Adlerian therapy provides couples and therapists with additional insight into individual convictions about present relationships.

The Circumstances of Integrity

This article discusses the place of integrity in Ronald Dworkin's legal and political philosophy. It presents integrity as a response to certain problems that arise in any society in which more than one contestant view about justice is allowed to determine public policy and legal principle. It also analyzes the relation between integrity and justice, arguing that although integrity requires citizens and officials sometimes to uphold policies or positions they take to be unjust, Dworkin is nevertheless wrong to present them ascompetingpolitical virtues. Instead, integrity operates as a second-level concept, addressing situations that arise in a society where there is disagreement about justice (and where, therefore, there is no uncontroversial account of what justice requires to set against the requirements of integrity). The article concludes with some reflections on the role of individual convictions about justice in context of law and social action.

The Influence of Corporate Culture on Managerial Ethical Judgments

The contention that organizational culture influences ethical decision making is not disputable. However, the extent to which it influences ethical decision making in the workplace is a topic for scholarly debate and investigation. There are scholars who argue that, though corporate values are a powerful force in explaining the behavior of individuals and groups within organizations, these values are unperceived, unspoken, and taken for granted. However, there are others who argue that the formalization of corporate values facilitates job and role clarity and is the key to influencing employee behavior. The purpose of this study is to examine the extent of the influence of organizational codes of ethics. The findings suggest that, depending upon the particular situation, corporate culture and ethics may mitigate individual personal moral convictions about right and wrong.

Germ-line gene therapy: a new stage of debate.

Ethical debate on human germ-line gene therapy is in a new stage. After an era when only individual convictions could be examined, technology is on a threshold of real possibilities. Germ-line gene therapy can conceivably be carried out in either of two practical ways: 1) insertion of a gene into a pre-embryo, which is the subject of this paper, or 2) insertion of a gene into the germ cells of an individual.Transgenic animal research and pre-implantation embryo diagnosis have implications for human embryonic germ-line experiments to correct single gene disorders. When would such experiments be feasible and ethically acceptable? If further animal research supports it, we argue for a moral obligation to learn if human germ-line experiments are feasible and safe to attempt. The obligation is grounded in several social-ethical principles that lead society and researchers to set gods for studies that promisc to relieve and to prevent human suffering and premature death. These principles also shape the practices and restrictions of biomedical research.

Death anxiety, religious convictions about the afterlife, and the psychotherapist

Abstract This article assumes that the content of an individual's religious convictions about the afterlife may increase or decrease death anxiety. Examples of religious beliefs from the Judaeo-Christian tradition are grouped according to their potential effect on death anxiety levels. A rationale is then presented to enable therapists to recognize issues that are involved in this counseling process. The presentation of a cognitive-behavioral approach for handling this therapeutic situation is followed by a curriculum exercise intended to help therapists increase their awareness of the complexity of this problem.

The Failures of Success: Working Class Evangelists in Early Victorian Birmingham

Autobiography and statistics appear at first sight to be incompatible sources in any study of religious motivation. The former rarely hint at the sociological factors governing religious commitment. The latter are difficult to interpret in terms of individual conviction. Yet the evangelical revival produced an abundance of both. John Wesley in the Arminian Magazine set a fashion which was followed by evangelicals of every brand who published spiritual autobiographies to edify the faithful. Wesleyan methodism also kept careful membership statistics on which scholars like A. D. Gilbert can base a sociological explanation of the rise and fall of denominational religion. Placed side by side the inward and outward evidence gave the impression that statistical success, in terms of ever increasing membership, depended on intense individual conviction in preacher and convert. The Liverpool minutes of 1820 are but the Wesleyan example of a general pattern. Nevertheless this recipe did not guarantee success. It would seem that the challenge to the individual conscience needed to be combined with a strong appeal to a sense of group or class solidarity for any lasting impression to be made. Unfortunately the places where evangelical religion was successful do not always coincide with available autobiographical sources.

A Framework for Comparing Practice Models

After relying for so many years on a few basic theoretical frameworks to set the parameters for social work practice, professionals have, over the last few years, devoted substantial attention to the development of a whole range of new models of practice. The emphasis in recent social work literature seems to indicate that social workers have turned to the search for a model or models which can serve as focal points for integrating all the many things that social workers do. Some confusion, however, has been generated by the interchangeable use of "model" and "theory." This article attempts to clarify differences and to provide a framework for comparing one model to another, weighing the strengths and weaknesses of each against the other, as an aid to students and practitioners in search of a practice model best suited to individual convictions and style.

Alienation: Context and complications

The problem of alienation has exceedingly broad implications not only for modern psychiatry, but for society as a whole, particularly for the religious dimensions of modern life. The implications are especially relevant to individual religious conviction and belief and even more to the vitality of institutional religious affiliation. It was the existentialists who, in our own time, called attention to the growing sense of alienation. Kierkegaard pointed out man's sense of loss of meaningful relatedness to the world of his experience. In the existential context, then, alienation implies not merely a disturbance of significant relationships with other human beings, but a profound disturbance of man's relatedness with his environment and with the historical structures that provide the substance and continuity of his experience of himself. The problems of loneliness, estrangement, and isolation have increasingly been foci of psychiatric concern over the last several years. Psychoanalytic thinking has undergone a slow evolution that has shifted its emphasis from forms of psychopathology rooted in the disturbance of instinctual life to forms that have more to do with the impairment of object relations. Considerably more attention is paid these days to character defects of a narcissistic, depressive, or schizoid variety. There is a definite turning from the type of instinctual pathology Freud found in his "hysterical" patients to the characterological problems met with in analytic patients today. A significant proportion of the patients seen these days show certain schizoid features?detachment, poor capacity for object relations, isolated and withdrawn affect, intellectualizing defenses, etc. As a result of the emergence and development of analytic ego psychology in the last few years, the relation between man's intrapsychic life and the familial, social, and cultural contexts in which he develops and functions has undergone a profound reconsideration. In this more extended understanding of man's psychic development and structure, it has become possible to rethink neo-Freudian contributions and to integrate them meaningfully with

The Individual and Society in Gandhi's Political Thought

The problem of the relation of the individual to society and to the state was central to Gandhi's political thought and action. It has been said that Gandhi's “deliberate onslaught on the creed of individualism as it has been in operation during the last two or three centuries gave it a mortal blow.” How are statements like this to be reconciled with the fact that Gandhi appealed to individual conviction in his campaigns?In analyzing this problem we should look at the main concepts of social and political philosophy which had an impact on Gandhi's life and thought. Indian philosophy is of special importance in this context and therefore a major part of this paper is devoted to the discussion of Indian concepts and ideas as they were understood and interpreted by Gandhi. Much of Gandhi's thought and action can be explained only in terms of the historical situation and the social setting of his day and age. But Gandhi's campaigns and his contribution to the Indian freedom movement have been described by many authors and therefore no attempt is made in this paper to outline the course of events.

PRAGMATIC PSYCHOTHERAPY IN MILITARY TRAINING CENTERS

Any discussion as to the methods of psychotherapy is likely to produce considerable diversity of opinion. The therapeutic approach to a problem is usually determined by the situation, the patient, and the personality, training and individual convictions of the therapist. The essence of these remarks today is key-noted in the adjective “pragmatic” and limited to the circumscribed situation of the military training center. This paper has a two-fold thesis. First, that hospitalization is far from an unmitigated blessing for the psychoneurotic in the army; and second, there are distinct opportunities for preventive psychiatry and therapeusis in the military structure, particularly in the training center.

Psychology

WHEN philosophical conclusions are categorically expressed in the first person, it shows that their author is in earnest. Yet individual convictions, however strong, can scarcely pretend to carry universal assent. Philosophers, in particular, are hardened people: the very history of their subject compels them to be sceptical as to the decisive value of any particular system. To base a philosophical theory on the assertion that “psychology is the matrix of the sciences” is nothing new in itself. Scores of psychological schools are attempting the same thing from various angles; while in the more abstract domain of thought, the Russellian and the Brouwerian interpretations of mathematics and logic, in spite of their conflicting results, have shown some remarkable specimens of analysis of mental processes. The claims of Col. Lynch need therefore strong justification: the position of their author will be much clearer if he himself confronts his conclusions with those of other schools of thought. Otherwise an unassuming critic is bound to find in them some vague reminiscences of earlier readings. Brain and Mind. By Arthur Lynch. Pp. 36. (London: The Pioneer Press, 1931.) 6d.