Ethical Interpretation Research Articles

Explaining the Association Between Ethics and Politics in Imam Muhammad Ghazali's Ethical-Political School: A Hermeneutic Approach

This article aims to explain the association between ethics and politics in the ethical-political school of Imam Muhammad Ghazali with revealing and interpretive approach. This investigation carried out using a descriptive-analytical method through the collection of data, historical information, and documents. Imam Ghazali's works have been considered as a text that is consistent with reality. Thus, the question arises: What is the relationship between ethics and politics in Imam Ghazali's ethical and political school? In Ghazali's moral and political system, morality leads to modification and politics leads to perfection. Therefore, these two elements have better and more systematic correlation and stability. To achieve the research objective, the discussions have been organized into three sections. In the first part, hermeneutics is presented as the theoretical framework of the research. The second section attempts to explain the moral and political school of Imam Muhammad Ghazali. Finally, in conclusion, inferential suggestions from the discussions offered are presented in order to compile and process the explanation of the relationships between ethics and politics in the ethical and political school of Imam Muhammad Ghazali. The result and outcome of the present study shows that, in accordance with Imam Ghazali's ethical and political school, ethics and politics have close relationships. These relationships are most evident in the definitions of the nominal explanation of the concept of ethics, politics, and the class of sciences. Considering his interpretations of ethics and politics, we are led to the conclusion that Imam Ghazali theorized the theory of moral politics and considers the theory of political ethics to be baseless.

Moderated-mediation of competitive aggressiveness and green supply chain learning in the relationship between green entrepreneurial orientation and cleaner production practices

PurposeThe relationship between corporate-level green entrepreneurial orientation (GEO) and the implementation of cleaner production practices (CPPs) is to a great extent unexplored in previous literature. This study aims to connect them with the corporate-level green supply chain learning and organizational competitive aggressiveness, presenting a novel interpretation of social ethics and morality in CPPs.Design/methodology/approachTo thoroughly explore this novel relationship, this study has used PLS-SEM for examining the moderated-mediation of competitive aggressiveness and green supply chain learning.FindingsFindings based on the data collected from 176 German firms have largely confirmed our propositions. Suggesting that there is a strong positive relationship between corporate level GEO and CPPs. Furthermore, our findings have confirmed that green supply chain learning mediates the macro-level relationship between GEO and CPPs. Moreover, it is also confirmed that the mediation of green supply chain learning in the macro-level relationship between GEO and CPPs is negatively moderated by competitive aggressiveness.Originality/valueThis study offers a first-hand view of negatively moderated-mediation of competitive aggressiveness. Therefore, its findings are extremely relevant for policymakers in the domain of morality, social ethics, corporate-level GEO, sustainability, corporate-level green supply chain learning and CPPs.

From Bench to Bedside: Implementing AI Ethics as Policies for AI Trustworthiness

It is well known that successful human-AI collaboration depends on the perceived trustworthiness of the AI. We argue that a key to securing trust in such collaborations is ensuring that the AI competently addresses ethics' foundational role in engagements. Specifically, developers need to identify, address, and implement mechanisms for accommodating ethical components of AI choices. We propose an approach that instantiates ethics semantically as ontology-based moral policies. To accommodate the wide variation and interpretation of ethics, we capture such variations into ethics sets, which are situationally specific aggregations of relevant moral policies. We are extending our ontology-based policy management systems with new representations and capabilities to allow trustworthy AI-human ethical collaborative behavior. Moreover, we believe that such AI-human ethical encounters demand that trustworthiness is bi-directional – humans need to be able to assess and calibrate their actions to be consistent with the trustworthiness of AI in a given context, and AIs need to be able to do the same with respect to humans.

Ethics and Personality Deformation in Time and Space: A Semiotic Analysis of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Black Cat

Romantic literature rose in the 19th century, and the Gothic novel evolved into one of the special genres. Allan Poe carries out the idea of unity of effect. He uses internal and external perspective conversion in The Black Cat, reflecting the continuity of self-consciousness in different times and spaces. It realizes the interpretation of macroscopic ethics and morality connotation. The study focuses on the linguistic symbolic context. It discusses the changing process of the deformed personality of the black cat from the space-time construction implied in the narrative layer. This discussion has research significance in analyzing the signifier meaning of each language symbol and the relationship network of the ideographic system. The construction of time and space, which is full of philosophical thinking, is introduced into the interpretation of the text. At the same time, it further deepens the understanding of Ellen Poe’s moral aesthetic angle. The literature review method and text analysis method are used in this study. From the perspective of the new combination of philosophy and philology theory, it goes further into the inner world of the characters. With the outburst of the negative suggestion power of the protagonist, the deformity of the character also reaches the climax of the intensity. From an interdisciplinary perspective, literary criticism offers a new way to the Alienation of capitalist society through the involuntary flow of consciousness and the conversion of narrative layers.

On the «Religion» of Morality: Reflections on the Normative Nature of Divine Law in the Concept of John Austin

Philosophical and legal thought knows a number of theoretical concepts devoted to a grandiose and organic ethical and legal synthesis — the supreme unity of ethics and jurisprudence or reasoning about what is essential for law, supplemented by reasoning about what law should be. The joint task of these disciplines is to find and theoretically describe the best criteria available to the human mind for evaluating human actions. This principle of practical reasonableness, despite its incompleteness and relativity (for everything derived from man bears the signature of its own creator), would serve as a possible foundation stone for humanity in determining and understanding the highest criterion for evaluating proper behavior that only exists in the world. These are divine laws and prescriptions of their norms, this highest link in any normative hierarchy. It is the divine mind, and not the mind of mortal beings, that is the true source of any duties, from the appeal to the content of which it is possible, resorting to a suitable ethical interpretation, to «deduce» (not directly, but from the «image» that the specified content acquired through human mental activity) all other forms of obligation in one or another normative system. A striking example of such a «normative» concept turns out to be the teaching of J. Austin, devoted, if we put aside the positivist or «command» theory of the author, to the basic principles of the relationship between law (including morality) and the laws of God, ultimately to the sphere of human moral forces and freedom.

A conflict of visions: Ideas shaping wildlife trade policy toward African megafauna

Abstract Among factors that threaten wild populations of African megafauna, wildlife trade has gained prominence as a global policy issue, with concerted international campaigns aiming to influence the trade of species such as elephants, rhinos and lions. Trade policy is strongly contested, confounding attempts to develop coherent approaches across jurisdictions and through international mechanisms such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). This undermines conservation efforts. Understanding the drivers of such conflict may help to address this problem. Scholars of political science increasingly recognise the power of ideas as drivers within policy processes. Guided by this literature, we developed an analytical framework and conducted a thematic analysis to examine the ideas driving wildlife trade policy conflict. Our nested case study approach examined debates over trade policy toward African elephants, rhinos and lions at two levels: the international policy arena of CITES and within a single country, South Africa. Informed by earlier literature, we tracked the evolution of international trade policy debates over a 4‐year period (2016–2019) and analysed submissions to a national policy review process in South Africa that took place during 2020. During the study period, state and non‐state actors contributed to vigorous trade policy debates within seven key thematic issues across the case study species. Arguments were driven by both cognitive ideas, which specify cause‐and‐effect relationships, and normative ideas, which are values‐based and especially salient elements of anti‐trade stances. Fusing these cognitive and normative ideational elements, we identified three distinct overarching narratives relating to wildlife trade policy. These three narratives align with broader environmental policy and political narratives and elucidate inherent tensions within the CITES arena. They also reveal differing ethical interpretations and perceptions of risk and precaution. Policy implications. Wildlife trade policy conflict is driven at least in part by competing ideological visions, which may be entrenched by the CITES Appendix listing system. The structural role of CITES in perpetuating this polarisation—and the consequences thereof—warrants further research. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Philosophical and Psychological Foundations of Social Responsibility and Ethics

The topic of the paper was the philosophical and psychological foundations of social responsibility and ethics, and the subject was the component composition of social responsibility and ethics in the philosophical and psychological context. The purpose of the article was to empirically clarify the philosophical and psychological foundations of social responsibility and ethics. The research methodology included the following steps: the development of a questionnaire containing clarification of the features of social responsibility and ethics in a philosophical and psychological context; formation of a sample of students of higher educational institutions of Ukraine; collection of results using Google forms; mathematical calculation of the obtained results; formation and characteristics of groups of students in accordance with the peculiarities of the perception of social responsibility and ethics as a philosophical and psychological phenomenon. The structure of social responsibility and ethics includes ten components: cognitive; worldview; axiological; behavioural; sensual; communicative; social; cultural; national; historical. It is shown that behavioural features and socio-cultural background are the most important for the formation of social responsibility and ethics, sensory and communicative features, as well as the historical basis, are the least important. For a clearer understanding of the peculiarities of the studied phenomenon, a cluster analysis was carried out. It was revealed that variants of the interpretation of social consciousness and ethics can be divided into four clusters: the form of manifestation of individual behaviour; a form of manifestation of socially determined behaviour; form of manifestation of individual consciousness; a form of manifestation of social consciousness. The results obtained are the first step towards analysing the phenomenon of social responsibility and ethics. The following research ideas are related to a comparative analysis of the understanding of social responsibility and ethics by representatives of different social, age and national groups.

Interpretation of collaborative virtue ethics of scientists

Interpretation of collaborative virtue ethics of scientists

How Ethical is Earnings Management? Evidence from an Emerging Economy

ABSTRACT Building upon Role Theory, Agency Theory, and Experiential Learning Theory, this study explores the ethical viewpoints of earnings management (EM) across various professional roles within the accounting and finance profession in Turkey. Employing survey methodology and in-depth interviews, data were collected from educators, students, accountants, and auditors to provide insights into the ethics of EM, enhancing understanding and informing more ethically grounded practices within accounting and finance. This study identifies not only traditional opportunistic and informative forms of EM but also unveils strategic and deceptive dimensions, reflecting diverse ethical interpretations across professional roles. It posits that perceptions of EM's ethicality differ among stakeholder groups, influenced by professional roles and experience. Findings reveal that students have more lenient views due to limited experience, whereas auditors and accountants exhibit stricter stances, shaped by practical exposure. Educators influence these perceptions, highlighting the need for enhanced ethical guidance in education and practice.

Gender and Knowledge Shape Ethical Perceptions Among Indonesian Accounting Students

This study explores how gender and knowledge level influence accounting students' perceptions of unethical behavior among accountants. Conducted at Muhammadiyah University of Sidoarjo, the qualitative research involved students from the 2019 to 2022 cohorts. Data was collected through interviews, observation, and documentation, using triangulation for validation. The results show that while both male and female students have similar interpretations of ethics, female students generally have a better understanding. Additionally, higher knowledge levels correlate with a broader ethical understanding, but ethical orientation is ultimately influenced by individual morals and personal interests. Highlight: Male and female students share similar ethical interpretations. Female students exhibit better understanding of ethical concepts. Knowledge level enhances understanding, but ethics depend on morals and interests. Keyword: gender, knowledge level, unethical behavior, accounting students, qualitative study

“Sometimes it looks fake”:Hiyaland contrivances as tools for exploring aspirations for radical social change

AbstractOn one hand, Islamic banking and finance is an aspiration to radically transform banks and the financial system to conform with interpretations of Islamic ethics and morals. On the other hand, such high aspirations patently conflict with the existing global, US$3.6 trillion market dominated by profit‐oriented private banks. These aspirations also potentially conflict with the technical details of how financial products are constructed to be “Shariah compliant.” How do Islamic financial practitioners reconcile their vision of the Islamic good society with the products and processes observed at work? One such theological tool and cultural concept is to interpret Islamic financial products as relying onhiyal, a legal stratagem used to provide remedies and alleviate predicaments, to provide an escape from the unlawful to the lawful. This essay summarizes how thinkers in Malaysia are developing the concept ofhiyaleither to critique or to promote Islamic finance. As a contribution to anthropological and postcolonial theorizing, the essay concludes by exploring how the concept ofhiyalcan help us understand contrivances, conspiracies, cons, and stratagems. This theoretical tool kit can assist social scientists in exploring the gap between people's economic behaviors and their aspirations for what a good economy should look like.

Counter-narrative as method: Researching immigrant teachers differently

AbstractThis article addresses the ethical question concerning how educational research helps immigrant teachers gain authority and ownership over their self-understanding and self-becoming. By critically examining prior research and analysing the dominant discourse surrounding this specific group, we highlight the limitations and ethical implications of existing findings. We problematise current methodological approaches ito advocate for the necessity of counter-narratives. By empowering immigrant teachers to ‘author(w)rite’ their own accounts, this form of authorship broadens scholarly discourse, allowing them to pursue self-understanding and assert agency over their narratives. To illustrate our contention, we present our counter-narratives in the form of satirical poetry within boxed texts, highlighting the need to expand and complicate conventional research practices. Through subversive discourse, we emphasise more empowering methodologies in the ethical interpretation and representation of immigrant teacher participants. We suggest that counter-narratives offer an alternative lens through which to examine the lived realities and emotions of immigrant teachers, ultimately enriching scholarly discussions and fostering a more inclusive and nuanced understanding of their humanity.

Редукция трансцендентного как основание имагинативного поворота в неопрагматизме

<span lang="EN-US">The article is devoted to the analysis of the conceptual and methodological grounds of the imaginative turn made within the framework of neopragmatist discourse. The specific works of R. Rorty, H. Putnam, and M. Johnson are used as examples to present the features of the interpretation of ethics, moral law, and rationalist tradition. The article emphasizes the process of metaphorization of key concepts of Kant's ethics by the neopragmatists. It is argued that for Putnam Kant's ethics has value first of all for its figurative component, the presence of colorful metaphors based on the core concepts of the Judeo-Christian tradition. In adding, it is suggested to critically evaluate the position of Johnson, who deals in detail with Kant's main moral law, the meaning of the categorical imperative. It is established on the basis of the fact that neopragmatists have reduced the transcendental dimension that the crucial role begins to be taken by the sensuality of the empirical subject and imagination as a moral moderator. The author refers to this phenomenon by the term "imaginative turn". Citing the works of Russian researcher E.N. Ustyugova the author makes a conclusion that for neopragmatists the human being turns out to be an empirical natural phenomenon, and aesthetics is the only fundament for moral judgments.</span>

Median pelisäännöt. Sananvapauden toteutuminen oikeustapausten ja toimitustyön eettisyyttä arvioivien Julkisen sanan neuvoston ratkaisujen pohjalta

The online publication examines the implementation of freedom of speech and the requirements set for editorial work based on selected legal cases and the decisions of Council for Mass Media in Finland, which evaluates the ethics of journalism. The presentation aims to identify and illustrate" the problem areas of journalistic work by connecting the discussed case examples as part of the chronological editorial work process. Presentation starts from the external starting points of journalism (Journalism's operating environment), the general rights related to freedom of speech and access to information (The public's relationship with the media) and the journalistic decision-making power and independence of newsrooms, where we also look at possible abuses of media power (Journalism's credibility). The chapters following these parts deal with the time-sequenced practices of editorial work (Information acquisition, Story implementation, Publishing, and Follow-up journalistic activities). "Efforts have been made to follow selected legal cases until their final, legally binding decisions" Some of the cases have been resolved in the national district court, court of appeal or supreme court proceedings, but some of these have progressed to the decision of the European Court of Human Rights, which interprets freedom of speech. The examples also include non-accusation settlements regarding the use of freedom of speech. In the cases decided by the Council for Mass Media in Finland, features assessed as both unethical and meeting ethical requirements have been dealt with. In the examples, ethical interpretation of the considered part of the solution has been described, but the exempt-condemnatory marking that characterizes the conclusion as a whole has been removed. The publication is based on the author's lecture courses on legal standards and ethics of journalism at the University of Jyväskylä and its partner institutions.

Median pelisäännöt

The online publication examines the implementation of freedom of speech and the requirements set for editorial work based on selected legal cases and the decisions of Council for Mass Media in Finland, which evaluates the ethics of journalism. The presentation aims to identify and illustrate" the problem areas of journalistic work by connecting the discussed case examples as part of the chronological editorial work process. Presentation starts from the external starting points of journalism (Journalism's operating environment), the general rights related to freedom of speech and access to information (The public's relationship with the media) and the journalistic decision-making power and independence of newsrooms, where we also look at possible abuses of media power (Journalism's credibility). The chapters following these parts deal with the time-sequenced practices of editorial work (Information acquisition, Story implementation, Publishing, and Follow-up journalistic activities). "Efforts have been made to follow selected legal cases until their final, legally binding decisions" Some of the cases have been resolved in the national district court, court of appeal or supreme court proceedings, but some of these have progressed to the decision of the European Court of Human Rights, which interprets freedom of speech. The examples also include non-accusation settlements regarding the use of freedom of speech. In the cases decided by the Council for Mass Media in Finland, features assessed as both unethical and meeting ethical requirements have been dealt with. In the examples, ethical interpretation of the considered part of the solution has been described, but the exempt-condemnatory marking that characterizes the conclusion as a whole has been removed. The publication is based on the author's lecture courses on legal standards and ethics of journalism at the University of Jyväskylä and its partner institutions.

The Impact of Knowledge on the Interpretation of Ethics

The overall theme of this article is the relationship between knowledge, religion, and ethics in Islam. The first goal is to show how the concept of knowledge has been understood in relation to religion and intellectual life and what the relationship is between universal, philosophical, and religious knowledge. The second goal is to show, using examples from Islamic philosophy of religion, how a certain concept of knowledge affects the interpretation of morals and Islamic ethics. This implies, among other things, a discussion of epistemology, the interpretation of the Qur'an, and the definition of ethical principles. A general assumption is that the definition of a Muslim as a moral agent – which is considered one of the central issues of the Qur'an, Sunnah, and Islam in general – is not given as an unequivocal category, but is subject to constant discussion that takes place at different levels and areas. This is especially evident in modern Islamic philosophical-theological discourse, where Fazlur Rahman, Mohammed Arkoun, Hassan Hanafi, Abdolkarim Soroush, and Amina Wadud are only some of the important actors of the discussion.

Sweatshops, Disrespect, and Interference

Sweatshop defenders argue that interference in sweatshop conditions through consumer activism or government regulations is morally wrong because, first, such acts harm sweatshop workers, and second, they disrespect these workers. Distinguishing the prohibitive aspects of sweatshop interference as harm on the one hand, and disrespect on the other, these sweatshop defenders build both a consequentialist and a deontological foundation for their argument, respectively. This article crafts a rejoinder to the second foundation of the defenders’ argument. In particular, the article responds to the defenders against their argument that interference in sweatshop conditions might be morally impermissible because interferers disrespect workers with their activism. The ground of the defended argument is an ex ante interpretation of contractualist ethics.

Reflections on Morality-as-cooperation Theory: Curry's Interpretation of Morality, Evolutionary Ethics, and Consequentialism

Morality-as-cooperation theory is an evolutionary moral theory that emphasizes the influence of individual thinking and character on moral behavior. It suggests that morality is shaped by cognitive abilities, social norms, and cultural values, with individuals motivated by both their interests and the welfare of others. Character plays a crucial role in providing consistency and stability in moral actions. However, the theory inherits flaws from evolutionary ethics and consequentialism, leading to the naturalistic fallacy. This theory fails to distinguish between natural facts and moral values, overlooking normative morality. It lacks attention to moral values and normativity, essential aspects of any moral theory. Additionally, its consequentialist character equates cooperation with moral normality, ignoring the distinction between morally "good" and "bad" cooperation. To address these shortcomings, it should explore the moral values behind cooperative behaviors and differentiate descriptive and normative morality. It should consider culture, beliefs, and rationality as vital factors in moral development, along with evolutionary processes. Avoiding the naturalistic fallacy requires analyzing the moral nature of cooperation and its various consequences. The theory offers valuable insights into moral behavior formation, considering individual thinking and character alongside external influences.

Timolaos oder Freundschaft. Philia und eironeia in Lukians Navigium

Abstract Traditionally, Lucian’s Navigium is regarded as a moralizing dialogue, which criticizes unrealistic aspirations. Lycinus incorporates this criticism by attacking his friends ironically. This essay elaborates that the dialogue also offers a more ethical interpretation that problematizes Lycinus’ moralizing attitude towards his friends. It argues that Timolaus, one of Lycinus’ interlocutors and friends, introduces a discourse about the reciprocal connection between the act of storytelling on the one hand, and friendship on the other. By doing so, aesthetics (stories) and ethics (friendship) appear as complementary. To emphasize this perspective on the dialogue, the modern concept of narrative communities is connected with ancient concepts of friendship. Lycinus’ ironizing voice and behavior can then be seen as antagonistic rather than dominant. Timolaus, however, appears as subtle narrator, who by his own wish tries to make Lycinus aware of the importance of storytelling for friendship.

Revisiting the Bhagavadgītā: Unraveling B.G. Tilak's Ethical Interpretation

The Bhagavadgītā is one of the most revered texts in Hinduism. This ancient scripture is often interpreted in a number of ways, and it is not uncommon for people to have varying opinions on what it means and what it stands for. One interpretation that has become increasingly popular over the years is that of B.G. Tilak. Tilak's ethical interpretation of the Bhagavadgītā has been the subject of much debate and discussion among scholars and devotees alike. His interpretation has been credited with helping to revitalize interest in the text and, in turn, in Hinduism itself. In this paper, we will delve into Tilak's ethical interpretation of the Bhagavadgītā, examine its key tenets, and explore the ways in which it has influenced the way in which the Bhagavadgītā is understood and approached today.