Moral Issues Research Articles

Frustrated marriage? The ideological distance of members of congress from their parties in Latin America

Are legislators ideologically close to their co-partisans? And, when not, what policies drive the lack of party unity? To address these questions, we propose two measures of intra-party ideological cohesion: dissonance and frustration. Based on a survey of legislators across 18 Latin American countries, we show that half of the region’s representatives self-identify as substantially far from the mean of their parties (dissonance) and almost 40% perceive large differences (frustration). Relying on a series of statistical tests, we find that these patterns are distinct for left-wing and right-wing legislators. The right is more dissonant than frustrated, and they are also more dissonant than the left. In terms of policy, we show that moral issues drive dissonance and frustration on both sides of the ideological spectrum, but disagreements on economic topics are more correlated with ideological distance for the left than the right. In presenting new measurements of intra-party disagreements, our paper proposes new pathways for the study of party cohesion.

Bénédict Augustin Morel (1809-1873): The Originator of the Degenerative Theory of the Heredity of Mental Disorders and the Pioneer of the Biological Approach to Psychiatry.

The concept of progressive hereditary degeneration, which significantly influenced medical, particularly psychiatric and in turn social thought of the second half of the 19th century, was articulated by Bénédict Augustin Morel. The distinguished French psychiatrist developed the theory of degeneration and created the nosological framework of the heredity of mental illness in order to explain the more frequent psychoses and nervous disorders. In the absence of patho-anatomical findings, Morel attributed these phenomena to hereditary causes. His theory was the first attempt to interpret insanity, mental disorders, and criminality, across generations, andformed the basis for the further development of psychiatry. It had a notable influence on many scientific disciplines of the time, such as criminology, anthropology, biology, and general pathology. It would later result in the emergence of eugenics, which raised several moral issues and would ultimately be used in many ways to justify segregation.Morel was mainly influenced by the monogenetic degenerative theory and believed that social progress could be achieved by the coupling of psychiatry, a social medicine, with philosophy and Christianity.

Biomarkers in Early Detection, Prognostication and Management of Gastrointestinal Tract Malignancies: A Review

Each year the risk of cancer cases is constantly on the rise. The reoccurrence of this dilemma is due to late diagnosis, and as a result the survival rate is low. This indicates the significance of creating more efficient instruments for timely detection of cancerous cells, assessment, as well as prognosis. Hence, the objective of this paper was to provide a critical review of biomarkers in early detection, prognostication and management of gastrointestinal tract malignancies by harvesting data from online sources and libraries. Data obtained reveals that gastrointestinal tracts (GI) malignancies, encompasses malignancies that may arise from the gastric, hepatic, colonic, esophagus, gallbladder, rectal and stomach tumors are a common kind of cancer and could affect 1.400,000 - 952,000,000 people worldwide. A potential method for improving the diagnosis as well as prognosis of GI malignancy is the use of biomarkers, which are quantifiable indicators of biological processes or state of the ailments. Significant development has been made recently in detecting and validating biomarkers for various clinical procedures. This review discuss the present situation of gastrointestinal cancer biomarker research, with an emphasis on moral issues and other clinical implications that may arise from the incorporation of biomarkers in clinical practices, and also the different category of biomarkers, including genetic, epigenetic, and protein-based markers, are examined, along with their contributions to future outcomes in the management of gastrointestinal malignancies.

The Third-Person Effect and Islamic Religiosity: Perceptions of Moral and Non-Moral Issues on Social Networking Sites among IIUM Students

Third-Person Effect theory (TPE) postulates that audiences deny the media's direct impact on themselves but perceive the same media as having a larger impact on others. This study examines TPE and its relationship with Islamic religiosity in shaping perceptions of moral and non-moral issues on social networking sites (SNS) among students at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). Another objective of this study is to determine how students perceive the effect of moral and non-moral issues in SNS on themselves compared to others. This study employed a quantitative design, with 357 students from the IIUM serving as respondents. The findings indicate that participants perceive moral issues as affecting others more than themselves, which is consistent with TPE. However, non-moral issues are perceived as influencing both the self and others. The results also indicate that Islamic religiosity positively affects the perceived impact of moral issues on others and non-moral issues on oneself in SNS. The data were analyzed using SPSS, with paired t-tests comparing self versus others' perceptions of moral and non-moral issues on SNS. The findings confirm that students perceive moral issues as having a greater impact on others than on themselves, aligning with TPE. Conversely, non-moral issues are perceived as influencing both the self and others, demonstrating SPE. The study also reveals that Islamic religiosity positively influences the perceived effect of moral issues on others and non-moral issues on oneself in SNS.

Technophilosophical underpinnings of Westworld (2016–2022)

Using the events of the HBO series Westworld (2016–2022) as a springboard, this paper attempts to elicit a number of philosophical arguments, dilemmas, and questions concerning technology and artificial intelligence (AI). The paper is intended to encourage readers to learn more about intriguing technophilosophical debates. The first section discusses the dispute between memory and consciousness in the context of an artificially intelligent robot. The second section delves into the issues of reality and morality for humans and AI. The final segment speculates on the potential of a social interaction between sentient AI and humans. The narrative of the show serves as a glue that binds together the various ideas that are covered during the show, which in turn makes the philosophical discussions more intriguing.

Mengenal Etika dalam Perspektif Filsafat Islam

The purpose of this paper is to recognize ethics in the perspective of Islamic philosophy. This research uses qualitative techniques based on a literature search. The research concludes that the formulation of ethics in Islam was done by various thinkers from various branches of knowledge, including theologians, mystics, and philosophers. The contributions of these multiple disciplines show how rich and complex the tradition of ethics in Islam is, with each branch of thought offering a unique perspective on developing a framework in Islamic ethics. The shortcoming of this study is that it discusses ethics in the perspective of Islamic philosophy in outline. In future research, this study suggests going deeper into the literature of Islamic ethics specifically on the thought of Muslim philosophers so that future studies of Islamic philosophy are not limited to topics such as the metaphysics of divinity, the creation of nature, and logic. Furthermore, by giving more attention to the study of ethics in Islam, the study of Islamic philosophy has the potential to open a space for dialogue with contemporary moral issues.

PERSON’S CHOICE IN MORAL DILEMMAS SOLUTION SOCIONIC TYPE INFLUENCE

Background. The question of personality traits influence on a person's choice in solving moral issues is quite relevant and is widely represented in modern research in the personality psychology field. No one has conducted such studies using the socionic model yet. Purpose. The purpose of empirical study is to test the socionic type influence on person’s choice in moral dilemmas solving. Methodology. To conduct the research, we used methods of socionic type identification, author’s moral dilemmas solving test, factor and correlation analysis. Results. Provided factor analysis separated all questions from author’s tests into 5 factors, which we interpret like: personal safety, personal values, following public morality regulations, following the rules and laws, safety of loved ones. Correlation analysis for the factors and socionic traits revealed a positive correlation between the factor “personal safety” and the pole “Farsighted”. “Personal values” factor showed a positive correlation with the pole “Asking” and the factor “following the rules and laws” – with the pole “Result”. The factor “following public morality regulations” revealed a positive correlation with the poles “Dynamics” and “Serious”, and the factor “safety of loved ones” showed a positive correlation with the poles “Yielding”, “Tactical” and “Emotivist”. Practical implications. The findings contribute in definition of socionic traits clarification, to better understand their influence on observable human’s behavior. This ensures that practitioners who use socionic methods draw on the experimentally verified hypotheses.

Artificial Intelligence Techniques in Automated Vehicle Systems: A Comprehensive Review

Artificial intelligence (AI) has changed the way automatic car systems work, making them safer, more efficient, and able to drive themselves. This in-depth review looks at the many different AI methods that are used to create and improve automatic car systems. The main focus of this study is on machine learning methods, such as supervised, unsupervised, and reinforcement learning, and how they can be used to help vehicles understand, make decisions, and be controlled. Supervised learning, especially deep learning, is a key part of finding and classifying objects, which is needed to tell the difference between people, cars, and road signs. Many people use Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) because they are very good at handling images and videos accurately, which makes real-time responses easier in changing driving situations. Unsupervised learning methods, like grouping and anomaly detection, make systems more reliable by finding strange trends and behaviors. This makes it easier to know what's going on and plan for future maintenance. Vehicles can learn from interacting with their surroundings thanks to reinforcement learning, which is a key part of improving decision-making. This method is very important for planning routes, adaptive speed control, and avoiding collisions, which makes sure that self-driving cars can handle complicated situations safely and quickly. Also talked about are sensor fusion methods that combine data from LiDAR, radar, and video to give a more complete picture of the surroundings and provide extra information. The review also talks about the moral issues and legal problems that come up with AI-driven self-driving cars. To get a full picture of the field, things like computer openness, data protection, and the moral effects of making choices in tough scenarios are looked at. This review highlights the changing potential of AI in automated car systems by putting together the latest research and developments. It also gives us a look into the directions and improvements that will come next. The goal of this study is to be a useful resource for students, practitioners, and lawmakers who are interested in how autonomous driving technologies are changing over time.

Dilemmas and Solutions for Sustainability-Based Engineering Ethics: Lessons Learned from the Collapse of a Self-Built House in Changsha, Hunan, China

With the rapid development of engineering construction in China, especially the emergence of large-scale engineering projects and self-built residential houses, ethical issues in engineering have become increasingly prominent. Engineering ethics encompass the moral issues within engineering practice. Currently, engineering ethics in China is in its early stages, due to a lack of practical experience and a comprehensive set of ethical norms and operational systems. To effectively prevent and control safety issues in self-built housing projects, and to avoid accidents, this paper firstly focuses on the causes of the collapse of self-built houses in Changsha on 29 April 2022, from the perspective of engineering ethics. By utilizing the meanings and relevant theories of engineering ethics, this paper analyzes the three ethical dilemmas involved in the collapse of self-built houses: the ethical dilemma faced by engineers, the dilemma of government credibility, and the dilemma of engineering ethics education. Subsequently, recommendations are proposed to address these dilemmas, focusing on enhancing engineers’ ethical perspectives, improving government credibility, and strengthening engineering ethics education. Finally, an analysis and decision-making model is constructed based on the Civil Code of the People’s Republic of China. The research findings of this paper have certain reference significance for ensuring the safety of residential buildings, which can effectively motivate governments, owners, designers, constructors, managers, and users to actively develop and promote high-quality sustainable buildings.

Negative consumer–brand relationships in services: does gender matter?

PurposeStudies on the negative aspects of consumer–brand relationships have received increasing attention in academia, but most research on this phenomenon is not focused on services. On the other hand, the literature consistently demonstrates evidence that gender affects consumer behavior. In this context, this study aims to unprecedentedly identify the antecedents of brand hate and the effects of consumer gender across different service sectors.Design/methodology/approachThis research compares the results of two studies with service companies. The first was accomplished with 307 consumers of mobile phone operators, and the second study was performed on 450 higher education students. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling.FindingsIn both studies, females showed greater importance for ideological incompatibility than males. This suggests that females are more sensitive to moral issues and ethical behavior than males. As for males, negative experience is the most relevant antecedent of brand hate in both samples. However, when age is checked, the results indicate that younger males develop more brand hate than older males. This does not happen with females.Originality/valueThis study demonstrates gender differences and compares two samples applied in different service sectors: low-technological and high-touch consumer interactions. The results show that the antecedents of brand hate for males and females in the service sector differ. This study also points out that older males present a different behavior when compared to younger males, which does not happen with females.

Selective Abortions in Montenegro: Legal and Anthropological Analysis

In the old Montenegrin masculine patriarchal culture, having children was one of the primary motivations for marriage. Women in labour faced significant community pressure to give birth to a male child, as evidenced by various ethnographic records and confirmed by contemporary anthropological research. Montenegro exhibits one of the most unbalanced ratios of newborn male to female babies among countries. This necessitates an analysis that integrates legal and anthropological perspectives on son preference. The article explores the socio-historical circumstances and modern expressions of the cult of the male child, followed by an examination of the legal implications of selective abortions. The legal dimension of abortion encompasses a broad normative framework, with the fundamental question concerning the boundary of legal protection in this area, i.e., the limit of state intervention in the personal sphere of individuals and citizens. The legal analysis will also include a reflection on the impact of criminal legal protection on this debate, particularly through the lens of the criminal offense of unlawful termination of pregnancy as stipulated in Article 150 of the Criminal Code of Montenegro. Considering the scope of rights to life, family, and reproduction, and recognizing that pregnancy termination motivated by sex selection is generally prohibited, yet this practice is widespread, the assumption is that the formal legal means to address this issue are limited. As this is a societal phenomenon involving sensitive legal, personal, cultural, religious, political, social, and moral issues, the paper discusses approaches for combating this practice.

A case study of emergent leadership in whole-class discussion of controversial issues

Teachers are increasingly called on to employ dialogic practices to promote active and equitable student participation in academically challenging classroom discourse. However, vocal students who dominate whole-class discussions might threaten or even overthrow the ideal of equitable participation. Situated in a fourth-grade Chinese elementary classroom participating in an intervention seeking to implement dialogic teaching of controversial issues in Morality and Law, the current study examined the discursive patterns of an emergent student leader to reveal her attempts and struggles to actively take part in discussions, the teacher’s management of her dominant participation, and the scaffolding she provided for her less capable peers. We suggest that future professional development on dialogic teaching should better prepare teachers to effectively manage discrepancy in students’ oral participation, focusing on both vocal and silent students. We also call for more research to investigate the possibilities and strategies for students and teachers to share or co-manage leadership in dialogic teaching.

MUSLIM INTELLECTUAL THOUGHT IN THE SOCIAL SPHERE: THE CONCEPT OF THE STATE IN POLITICAL THOUGHT AL-FARABI, AL-MAWARDI, IBN KHALDUN

This article discusses the concept and urgency of the State for human life and the characteristics of heads of State based on the political thoughts of Al-Farabi, Al-Mawardi, and Ibn Khaldun. Islam, being a religion sprung from Allah, does not limit itself to discussing issues of faith and morality but also delves into all aspects of life, including the government. But it is believed that there is clearly no concept of government or kingship in Islam, nor is there a concept of nation-state in the concept of Islam. Understanding the concept of nation will be easier when we use various angles and viewpoints. Since the verses of the Holy Quran and the Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad do not mention a nation that does not have a ruler. However, we rush to the AlQuran and Hadist when we want to know the organs of that country. Islam is a comprehensive religion that addresses all issues, both external and internal. Issues of ketatanegaraan, including issues of national concept according to Islam, are likely to be addressed in this duniawi. This kind of study is known as library research using a descriptive-qualitative approach. Researchers Al-Farabi, Al-Mawardi, and Ibnu Khaldun set out to fill a gap in our knowledge by analysing the political theories of the three major Islamic thinkers

ETHICAL ASPECTS OF GENE EDITING IN BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE

This article is devoted to the analysis of the ethical aspects of gene editing in biology and medicine. It examines the complex moral issues that arise in the context of the use of modern genetic engineering technologies to change genetic information in humans and other organisms. The main focus is on issues of safety, justice, respect for human dignity, as well as the consequences for the environment and biodiversity. The article emphasizes the need for a reasoned and responsible approach to gene editing, taking into account high standards of ethics and legal norms, in order to ensure the development of this field for the benefit of man and society.

Internationalism, Isolationism, and Racism: What Woodrow Wilson Inherited from Thomas Jefferson in the 14 Points

Thomas Jefferson and Woodrow Wilson are influential American political figures who are famous for the succession and development of Jeffersonianism. Through Jeffersonian liberalism and textual analysis of the 14 Points by Woodrow Wilson, the paper finds that 14 Points expand American politics from domestic affairs to international political (covenants and open diplomacy), economic (freedom to navigate of all time), military (reduction of armaments), moral and cultural (national self-determinism all over the globe) issues, through the League of Nations as a way to isolate itself from European order and alliances. Besides, the colonies are excluded from independence despite some equal treatment. Expansionism, isolationism and racism are what Wilson inherited from Thomas Jefferson.

A PERSPECTIVE INTO THE FUTURE OF TEACHING AND LEARNING IN THE CONTEXT OF THE RISING INTEREST IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN EDUCATION. OPPORTUNITIES AND ETHICAL CHALLENGES

: The paper aims to provide an image of the future of teaching and learning in the context of artificial intelligence transforming various industries, including sports, education, and construction. Its place in education is a frequently discussed topic. While some argue that artificial intelligence will revolutionize education, others worry that it will take over to the harm of educators and students. Though robotics in the classroom is still a ways off, artificial intelligence is finding its way into the classroom. AI has the power to improve teaching and learning methods, solve some of the largest issues facing education today, and hasten the achievement of inclusive and equitable quality education. In addition to delivering artificial intelligence courses, EdTech businesses are increasingly using eLearning solutions to personalize learning experiences, pinpoint knowledge gaps, and give focused feedback. Also, AI-driven education is upending conventional teaching methods and influencing how this field will use technology in the future. With the use of complex algorithms and massive data sets, artificial intelligence solutions for education may provide a lot of advantages, yet as with the use of artificial intelligence in any context, there are significant ethical considerations which are a hot topic of discussion in the technology world and beyond, and the majority of university degree programs are including courses on AI ethics in their curricula. Therefore, the paper presents the benefits of AI in the classroom, such as engagement and assistance for students, assessment and evaluation, and individualized learning but also about the difficulties and worries associated with AI in education, including prejudice and privacy issues, as well as the moral issues raised by AI-powered learning. It also discusses the possible effects on the educational system and how students are trained for the workforce of the future as potential applications of AI in education are explored.

Advancing the Moral legitimacy of digital platforms as gatekeepers: a critical analysis from a political corporate social responsibility perspective

This study focuses on digital platforms, such as Google or Meta, that function as “gatekeepers” that dominate their respective markets. They face serious moral legitimacy issues, due to their power to act as private rule-makers in underregulated digital spheres. Such legitimacy issues have remained underexplored thus far, as have gatekeepers’ options for addressing them. Yet moral legitimacy represents a vital resource for organizations, as a justification of their essential right to exist. Drawing on recent advances in political corporate social responsibility theory, this study offers a systematic conceptualization of how gatekeepers can exhibit ethical responsibility in their efforts to gain, maintain, and sustain their moral legitimacy. This systematic conceptualization encompasses different agreement-seeking procedures, online deliberation, a hybrid governance approach that combines regulation and self-regulation, and the provision of public goods.

"I Don't Think a Broken Spirit Can Be Quantified": Perceptions of College Victimization and Its Consequences Among Students at a Hispanic-Serving Institution.

This study investigated students' perceptions of victimization among college students (e.g., extent, location, consequences) through eight focus groups at a large, urban Hispanic-serving institution. Understanding students' perceptions of crime sheds light on the consequences of victimization as well as the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral impacts of the possibility of experiencing victimization. Our results yielded several key findings that warrant further discussion: (1) victimization-particularly sexual and property victimization-is an issue that many students thought about extensively and viewed as important; (2) the psychological impact of victimization and threatened sense of safety were perceived to be enduring consequences of victimization that can impact the college experience; (3) there was nuance to perceptions of "on-" versus "off-" campus victimization, with consequences carrying over to campus life even when incidents occur off campus; and (4) participants expressed both moral and conceptual issues with assigning a dollar amount to consequences of victimization. These results inform how perceptions of victimization risk and anticipated consequences shape student fears and behavior, while also highlighting key areas that universities may consider for prevention and intervention efforts.

Structures of Trust and the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract Sinhala Buddhists in inner-city Colombo, Sri Lanka, turned to local- and national-level structures of trust in their quest to stay safe and mitigate suffering during the COVID-19 pandemic. We explore this through an ethnographic case study of the Sri Narada temple in Narahenpita and a textual analysis of the national government’s response to the pandemic. Our research shows that both the temple and national government advocated similar pathways to immunity, including vaccination, Ayurveda, and Buddhism. We argue that in both instances, conceptions of health are plural and relational and embedded in the broader social context, as opposed to individualist notions of health. They also encompass moral issues around social service, merit, and what it means to be a “good” Buddhist. However, these common pathways led to dissimilar outcomes, mediated by qualitatively different relations of trust.

Corruption: Is it a Moral Issue or a Legal Issue?

The objective of this research is to examine the discourse surrounding corruption, with a particular focus on whether it is perceived as a legal issue or a moral issue. This research was conducted in response to the shortcomings of scholars' analysis in discussing the issue of corruption. Furthermore, in light of the considerable number of corruption cases globally, particularly in Indonesia, it is imperative that the government and relevant stakeholders reframe corruption as a national concern. This research is a descriptive qualitative study, employing data collection techniques through literature studies and analysis using deductive syllogism tools. The research concluded that corruption has become a social disease that continues to spread from upstream to downstream of human life. Currently, corruption is only focused on legal reform, whereas the root or heart of corruption is morality. Corruption is a moral issue, not a legal issue; therefore, it must be addressed through a moral, ethical, and transcendental approach.