Philosophical Orientation Research Articles

An internship program that empowers international students to grow professionally and find their voice in the nutrition field

During the COVID-19 pandemic, our international students were confined to their rooms in a foreign land and were unable to return to their home countries during their semester break due to border closures. A summer internship program, underpinned by Asian philosophies including Confucianism(1) and collectivism(2), was designed to bring them together physically in a COVID-safe environment and collectively develop employability skills. Twenty-five international students across six year-levels and from 11 countries participated in the five-week internship program. Our in-house dietitian presented participants with an authentic nutrition problem, i.e. observable unhealthy eating habits being prevalent amongst the international student client group. Participants were empowered to draw on their cultural knowledge, international student experience, cooking skills and evidence-based nutrition knowledge, in the development of an educational nutrition resource to be used in the dietitian clinic. Employability skills self-assessment was completed pre- and post-program for comparison. In addition, a collective reflection was facilitated at the end of the program to gather in-depth understanding of the unique learnings from the students’ and program facilitators’ perspectives. Thematic analysis was adopted to analyse the narrative data. It was found that the student-participants developed a website with healthy eating information, including tailored to international students’ habits of late-night snacking and suggestions for quick meals during exams. They developed 50 healthy, simple, multicultural recipes with cooking videos. The internship served as an opportunity for the students to work together with a shared purpose. They reported a strong sense of community which was longed for and extended the established friends outside of the internship program. Students were observed sharing acculturative experience and knowledge with one another when socialising together. Upon reflection, students reported feeling challenged by the lack of structure and assessment guide for the internship tasks. However, they were able to develop confidence in their judgement and decision-making skills through this process and work together exploring the uncertainties. Many reported feeling empowered from this internship as their cultural differences and unique international-student-experience were valued and utilised in the resource development. This low-cost education strategy contributed to the development of professional skills and formation of professional identity, and for the students to find their voice in the nutrition field.

Whole person healthcare as social and environmental justice: new research directions toward a paradigmatic integration of an ecological whole system medicine framework

With increasing recognition of the interdependencies of human and planetary health, calls for a socially and environmentally just framework of health have centered on whole person healthcare (WPHC) approaches. This perspective piece proposes an argument for broadening the definition of human health from WPHC to one that is guided by the philosophical orientation of traditional whole system medicine (WSM) approaches, undergirded by the values of social and environmental justice, and supported by the practices of an allopathic-integrative medicine-based WPHC framework. This piece presents opportunities for praxis offered by a WSM–WPHC framework to address global inequity, environmental disparities, and sustainability challenges. An ecological WSM–WPHC framework envisages social and environmental justice in material and discursive ways by foregrounding environmental planetary ecological consciousness as constitutive of human consciousness and biopsychosocial composition. It argues for structural support through formalized programmatic pathways targeting funding opportunities and mechanisms that invite investigations addressing epistemic challenges of expanding definitions of evidence constituting basic science knowledge domains beyond mechanistic, causal, and formative paradigms. Furthermore, it calls for innovative research directions examining the integration and validation of evidence-based approaches incorporating the ontologically diverse and epistemically distinct ontological orientation of WSM and clinical approaches. A WSM–WPHC framework that positions human health within the parameters of social and environmental justice principles envisions the material enactment of the practice of health and medicine as a universal planetary value.

Lost in Place: Nearing Homelessness as Boundless Emptiness of Mind

Abstract This essay brings together the perspectives of phenomenology and East Asian philosophies through an engagement with Dōgen, Heidegger, Nishida, and Nishitani to address the concept of place in relation to the concept and feeling of homelessness. With respect to the notion of dwelling and finding one’s place in the world and with oneself, the experience of being and feeling lost psychologically will be considered as a way (dao) toward overcoming nihilism and as an opening to attaining an awakened mind.

Strands of Eastern Thoughts and Creation in Western Contemporary Dance

This essay is part of a graduate thesis defended in 2021 at the University of Campinas (ANDRAUS, 2022) on the development of creative processes in contemporary dance inspired by different types of Asian body training experienced by the author over three decades. From this experience, the author reflects on the concepts of technique, permanence and interiority in dance and highlights possibilities for creative dance procedures involving the quoted repertoires, from a Western composition perspective.

The Oriental Turn of American Wilderness Literature in the Twentieth Century

Abstract: Early-American wilderness literature mainly praised the vast, magical, beautiful, and pleasant natural wilderness, expressed ideas of returning to nature, and raised environmental protection awareness through the writers' personal experiences. In the late-twentieth century, American ecological literary eco-critics turned to Eastern philosophy, and then developed a post-modern ecological holism. Wilderness literature of this period also reflected a significant shift to the East mainly in three aspects: (1) In a manner recalling the observations of Lao-tzu and Chuang-tzu, the range of wilderness literature extended to include wilderness in urban environments. (2) Corresponding to the East "Chaos" philosophy, literary speculation appeared in wilderness writing, trying to make the readers aware of limitations of a pure rational thinking from the level of ideology. (3) With the concept of "Dao," American wilderness literature reflected a consciousness returning to social issues and played a more engaged role in social responsibilities.

Challenges and Opportunities Surrounding Catholic Education

Abstract Catholic education faces a number of serious challenges including cultural and political disrespect for, and hostility towards religion in general and Catholicism in particular, and lack of knowledge of, and commitment to, Catholic beliefs and values among Catholic educational administrators, school managers, teachers, and other staff, as well as the diminishing percentage of even nominally Catholic staff. I set these matters within the context of broader challenges surrounding Catholic education, deriving from three cultural movements: the reformation, the emergence of liberalism, and the scientific revolution, which undermined the synthesis of scripture, theology, and speculative and practical philosophy achieved in the high middle-ages. I propose in response a creative critique showing that what is of authentic value in modernity can be accommodated within the traditional synthesis. I also connect that tradition with strands of eastern philosophy suggesting that the movement of people, ideas, and traditions from Eastern cultures into historically Western societies provides an opportunity for further synthesis of a wisdom-based approach to education.

Interpretation of the Problem of Educational use of Aesthetic Views of Eastern Thinkers in Pedagogical Research

The article discusses the issue of learning from the moral, aesthetic, didactic and philosophical views of Eastern thinkers, their research from a mystical, pedagogical, didactic, axiological point of view. Thoughts are expressed about the fact that our spiritual heritage, which has been preserved and developed over the centuries, serves as a program in the education of a perfect human being. This paper delves into the interpretation of the problem concerning the educational utilization of aesthetic perspectives from Eastern thinkers in pedagogical research. It addresses the growing interest in integrating Eastern philosophical aesthetics into educational practices and examines the challenges and opportunities associated with this endeavor. Drawing on a comprehensive review of existing literature, this study explores various Eastern philosophical traditions, such as Taoism, Confucianism, and Zen Buddhism, to elucidate their unique perspectives on aesthetics and education. Additionally, it critically analyzes the implications of incorporating these perspectives into pedagogical frameworks, considering factors such as cultural context, educational goals, and practical implementation strategies. By synthesizing insights from Eastern thought and contemporary educational theory, this paper offers valuable reflections on how educators can effectively leverage Eastern aesthetic views to enrich teaching and learning experiences in diverse educational settings. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the intersection between Eastern philosophy and pedagogy, paving the way for further research and practice in this burgeoning field.

Indigenous knowledge of Me’en Community toward natural resource conservation: a socio-philosophical analysis

Indigenous peoples have strong social and cultural values, ordered social control and cohesive social systems rooted in their Indigenous knowledge of the universe in general and their locals in particular. The research assesses the Indigenous knowledge of the community in natural resource conservation practice and their perception toward natural resource. A socio-philosophical insight was employed to the analysis. The result showed that Me’en (Indigenous people of southwest Ethiopia) Community has a deep knowledge and practice of natural resource conservation in general and for soil and wildlife in particular. The study reveals the community practice contours, tracing, mulching, ridges, shifting cultivation, crop rotation, and area closure. The communities also have the knowledge to identify fertile lands by physical observation such as by its color and texture and touching. They practice a sustainable concept of utilization, but in terms of philosophical orientation, they fall in both biocentrism and anthropocentric orientation.

Judges' Philosophical Orientation in Resolving Anti-SLAPP Disputes

The Anti-SLAPP mechanism in Indonesia still needs to fulfill the four fundamental dimensions of effective Anti-SLAPP. Deciding on Anti-SLAPP in an interim decision is a progressive step because it is a translation of the Anti-SLAPP mechanism in the form of a case dismissal procedure as early as possible. Because no complete rules govern it, this creates confusion for judges. This research aims to analyze the philosophical orientation of judges in resolving disputes for anti-strategic lawsuits against public participation fighters based on Pancasila justice. This research is normative legal research employing two approaches—a philosophical approach and a conceptual approach—and collects and obtains data through direct interviews with judges. This research shows that the Judge's decision in resolving anti-SLAPP disputes based on Pancasila values still needs to be stronger. So, development that damages the environment and benefits the government and corporations will continue. Based on these facts, it is known that the regulation and implementation of anti-SLAPP in Indonesia still do not provide justice for all elements of it because one of the causes is the limitations of the existing anti-SLAPP rules in Indonesia. The factors that caused the Judge's decision not to be based on Pancasila justice can be seen from the lack of legal protection for environmental fighters in Indonesia. Then, the Judge's philosophical orientation in resolving Anti-SLAPP disputes with Pancasila justice refers to the five principles of Pancasila.

Book Review: Jannel, R. Yamauchi Tokuryū (1890–1982). Philosophie occidentale et pensée bouddhique; Éditions Kimé: Paris, France, 2023; ISBN: 978-2-38072-114-0

A recent book by Romaric Jannel on the work of the 20th Century Japanese philosopher Yamauchi Tokuryū is reviewed as a prolegomenon in this journal to more detailed studies of Oriental philosophy. Emphasis is placed on the similarities and overlaps of Eastern and Western thought.

Animals and Emotions in Medieval German Literature: The Various Functions of Bestial Imagery in the Staging of Emotions

This article, which continues ideas developed in the context of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft: Graduiertenkolleg 1876—215342465 (GRK1876), examines how animals are used in medieval texts to (re)present, shape, and develop the literary representation of emotions. On the basis of selected examples, it shows how diverse the literary functions of animal imagery can be and how many different poetic and aesthetic strategies can be found for staging animals, connecting them with human characters and the recipientsof the tale. In this way, animals can serve as objects of cultural self-reflection and as models for philosophical orientation. bySandra HofertFriedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nurembergsandra.hofert@fau.de

Phenomenology and Philosophy of Stayer Running (review of Tapio Koski's monograph "Phenomenology and Philosophy of Running. The versatility of long-distance running")

The review of the monograph of the Finnish philosopher Tapio Koski "Phenomenology and Philosophy of Running", which has not been introduced into the sphere of domestic research of the philosophy of sports, is presented. The versatility of long-distance running" (2015). The subject of T. Koski's research is existential experiences based on the ontic contact of the body and the world. The author raises the question of how, with the help of stayer running, a person can explore and use his spiritual and physical potential, making his way to the authentic self. The ways of describing the running experience for T. Koski are the phenomenology of the body of M. Merleau-Ponty and the fundamental ontology of M. Heidegger, as well as some concepts of Eastern philosophy aimed at achieving the bodily and spiritual integrity of a person. T. Koski justifies the significance of running experiences for a person by the fact that they reveal some aspects of her being that are not presented to the "pure" consciousness that ignores bodily experience. These include "empirical cores", on the basis of which Dasein can realize its capabilities: the elimination of conflict between subject and object; pacification; full presence in the present; a sense of the power of life, "enlightenment", etc. Thanks to the running actualization, the "empirical cores" allow us to hear the "call of conscience" addressed to us and intuitively perceived, directing the individual to his own path of life. Around these "cores" other experiences are organized, channeling a person's life to authenticity and harmony with the world, on their basis the social being of the individual is carried out, which is why T. Koski considers them to have a fundamental ethical nature. The Finnish philosopher sees the significance of his research in the intensification of the study of the cultural content of running practices and the substantiation of the metaphysical components of stayer running, which can help to comprehend existentially important experiences for a "person running" and better understand the goals of his existence.

Action Research of Critical Reflection Case Study of Soreng Warga Setuju Dance Group

This research was motivated by the need to create a model for handling folk art so that it continues to survive and be sustainable. This research aimed to examine the creative process that underlies their innovation. The Soreng Warga Setuju (SAWS) dance group in a village in Magelang Regency been the object of study. The research questions raised were: 1) what innovations have been applied to the Soreng Dance performance so that it survives until today; 2) what style they applied to their creativity responding the social, cultural and economic situation of today's society. McIntosh's action research scheme becamee a theoretical and methodological framework to analyze the creative process of folk art. This research data needed both visual and aural performances was obtained through direct observation of their performances. Meanwhile, data in the form of statements related to their socio-cultural attitudes was obtained through ethnographic interviews. This research found reflective critical responses in the form of social orientation, artistic orientation, philosophical orientation and instrumentalist orientation. Their creative innovation can be seen in visual-aural and organizational changes. Hermeneutically, old values and beliefs are still reflectively believed by rural communities and even become the basis of their existence socially, culturally and economically.

Deep Sustainability as Care: A Nondual Approach to Environmental Communication

ABSTRACT This essay suggests the concept of “deep sustainability” as a philosophical orientation for environmental communication scholars to address not only the empirical but also the ethical and ontological questions associated with sustainability. Drawing on the thoughts of deep ecology and founded in a nondual ontology with origins in perennial wisdom, it argues that in order to create a counterculture to the uncaring neoliberal order, there is a need to substantially increase awareness of the devastating implications of the dualistic discourse inherent to this order. What is required is a new and radically different worldview of “interbeing,” rooted in the lived experience of the interconnectedness – oneness – of all life. Extending research in the study of sustainability discourse, this essay contends that it is only when our identity in-group becomes all-inclusive, that is, when duality dissolves, that caring for all beings, be they humans, trees, animals, or other lifeforms, comes effortlessly and with deep – lasting – sustainability as the natural result.

The Garden of Evaluation Approaches

Evaluation competency frameworks across the globe regard evaluation approaches as important to know and use in practice. Prior classifications have been developed to aid in understanding important differences among varying approaches. Nevertheless, there is an opportunity for a new classification of evaluation approaches, in particular one that is practitioner-oriented, intended to guide decision-making in practice, and inclusive of all scholarship. The evaluation garden presented in this article begins to map approaches against eight dimensions of practice and situates them in their philosophical orientations and methodological dispositions. This allows for approach comparison, a more nuanced understanding of where they overlap and differ, and how and where they can be intentionally combined. The goal is to offer a visual classification that addresses prior criticisms, that is of use to a wide range of audiences, and that helps evaluation practitioners be able to more easily integrate evaluation approaches in practice.

Nishida Kitaro and Japans Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere

No one shaped modern Japanese philosophy as significantly as did Nishida Kitaro, a prominent scholar at Kyoto Imperial University and the author of An Inquiry into the Good. He pioneered the Kyoto School of Japanese philosophy, which combined Western and Eastern thoughts, traditions, and religions to reach a new understanding of the world. Not usually seen as a political figure, Nishida penned a controversial essay in 1943, two years before his death, titled The Principle of the New World Order. The essay was intended for Prime Minister Tojo Hideki's use at the 1943 Greater East Asia Conference in Tokyo, where leaders from East and Southeast Asian countries under the rule of Japanese imperialism discussed future visions for the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, Japan's ostensible war cause. Nishida opposed the militarist government and its oppressive policies at home and abroad, but he hoped to influence its policy through his philosophical writing as Japan's defeat loomed larger than ever. The tense political atmosphere in wartime Japan and Nishida's vision of the world, which was characterized by the harmonious coexistence of the individual and the collective, turned The Principle of the New World Order into a text full of contradictionsthe greatest among them being his uncritical use of Hakko Ichiu (Eight Corners of the World under One Roof), a politico-religious jargon to justify the supreme rule of the Japanese emperor. After WWII, Nishida was posthumously criticized for cooperating with the military government by writing that essay, but a close examination of the text, its historical context, and other works by Nishida reveal that the lone Japanese philosopher was trying to steer Japan's Pan-Asian policy from within, an attempt that was doomed to fail when the government was mobilizing intellectuals for its imperial goals. By focusing on the case of Nishida, this article uncovers the complex dynamic between the Japanese empire and Japanese intellectuals who tried to voice their views different than the government's.

Quantum Resonance with the Mind: a Comparative Analysis of Buddhism's Eighth Consciousness, Quantum Holography and Jung's Collective Unconscious

This interdisciplinary exploration discusses the intricate conceptual linkages among Buddhism’s Eighth State of Consciousness, Quantum Holography, and the Jungian Collective Unconscious. Central to this study is examining the Eighth Consciousness in Buddhist thought—a realm that transcends the conventional sensory and mental states to connect with a more universal and profound awareness. Drawing parallels, Quantum Holography posits that every part of the universe retains information about the whole, much like a hologram. This notion seemingly mirrors the Jungian concept of the Collective Unconscious, which postulates a shared reservoir of memories and ideas across humanity. The paper contends that the intricate dance of photons, oscillating between particle and wave states, mediates perception through resonance and hints at a multi-layered consciousness stratum that mirrors the vast, enigmatic quantum reality expanse. The study illuminates the intersections and divergences among these frameworks through meticulous comparative analysis, positing that an integrative understanding of quantum theories and Buddhist wisdom can unravel the human psyche’s profound depths. By weaving Eastern philosophies with the Western psychological and quantum theoretical tapestry, the discourse unveils a multifaceted consciousness comprehension, championing integrative approaches as invaluable tools for decoding the mind and universe's enigmatic interplay from a quantum viewpoint.

A critical literature review: deconstructing narratives of trauma in art therapy with young people

ABSTRACT Background This paper addresses the need for critical reflection on how art therapists position themselves and represent their work in the context of diverse frameworks for understanding young people’s adverse life experiences, particularly in relation to the prevalence of trauma discourses. Aims The study examined how art therapists have represented in the literature their practice and research with young people (12-18 years old) experiencing adversity, from 2000 to 2019. Methods Employing Critical Interpretive Synthesis (Dixon-Woods et al., 2006), 26 theoretically-sampled articles were systematically reviewed through an interpretive, inductive and recursive process. Results Art therapists commonly use trauma as a lens to conceptualise young people’s diverse adverse life experiences, with variations based on their theoretical and philosophical orientations. These variations influence how they perceive young people’s needs and art therapy aims. The study also highlights varying levels of creativity and self-agency that young people express in art therapy, emphasising the importance of art therapists’ flexible and tailored approaches. Conclusions The importance of art therapists’ critical awareness when framing and working with young people’s complex life experiences and presentations to avoid stigmatisation and disempowerment is underscored. Implications for practice/policy/future research The study suggests that art therapists’ critical awareness that can enable collaborative practice and researchwith young people with adverse life experiences. It encourages more research into and cultivating art therapists’ conscious awareness of their choice of theoretical alignment and its implications. Additionally, it encourages future research to understand young people’s own conceptualisations of their lived experiences and their perspectives on the ongoing relevance and meaning of art therapy. Plain-language summary This study sought to present the key findings of a critical review of art therapy literature. The main focus of the review was to examine how art therapists represented their work and if there were dominant understandings of trauma influencing art therapists. Using a Critical Interpretive Synthesis method developed by Dixon-Woods et al. (2006), 26 peer-reviewed journal articles published between 2000-2019 were selected based on their relevance to this study. The selected articles described art therapy practice and research with young people (12-18 years old) who had various adverse life experiences. These articles were thoroughly reviewed and analysed through a cyclic process of re-examination and interpretation. Findings indicated that while young people’s diverse adverse life experiences were often labelled as trauma, art therapists’ conceptualisations of trauma varied depending on their theoretical and philosophical orientations. Intriguingly, how art therapists perceived the meaning of adverse life experiences influenced how they formulated young people’s needs and the aims of art therapy. Findings also highlighted young people’s creativity and expression of self-agency in their art therapy programmes and the importance of art therapists’ flexible and tailored approaches. Overall, this study highlights the importance of art therapists’ critical awareness when framing and working with young people’s complex life experiences and presentations to avoid stigmatisation and disempowerment. It recommends further exploring and cultivating art therapists’ conscious awareness of what theoretical concepts they align with and the implications of their choice. Additionally, future art therapy practice and research should actively explore the perspectives of young people with adverse life experiences to inform the ongoing relevance and meaning of art therapy.

Eastern philosophies and employee retention in emerging Southeast Asian economies - the case of Vietnam

Eastern philosophies and employee retention in emerging Southeast Asian economies - the case of Vietnam

EXPLORING BABUR'S REFLECTIONS ON THE PHILOSOPHY OF LOVE

This article delves into the author's research findings concerning the intricate realm of the philosophy of love within Eastern philosophy. The advent of machines into the annals of global civilization has brought forth an imperative call for a philosophical and anthropological exploration of humanity. Within this context, the necessity for a philosophical and anthropological examination of love’s position within the framework of human personality becomes even more pronounced.The quest for the essence of humanity is intricately linked with the spiritual journey of existence, entwined with the omnipresent and all-encompassing force of love. Issues such as the diminishing intensity of emotions, apathy, the primitive transformation of love, and the liberalization of sexual ethics have found their footing in the modern human experience. As society grapples with these challenges, the enduring presence of love remains a focal point in the ever-evolving tapestry of human existence.