Moral Complexity Research Articles

Managing Shared Maritime Heritage: Australian Warships in Timor-Leste

AbstractThis article examines the effective management and governance of World War II shipwrecks with a particular focus on two Australian wartime wrecks in Timor-Leste, HMAS Voyager and HMAS Armidale. With reference to international frameworks such as the 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, as well as Timor-Leste’s evolving domestic regulations, this article explores the challenges in managing these shipwrecks and seeks to broaden the protection and preservation paradigm that defines approaches to other forms of underwater cultural heritage. Particular attention is given to balancing the interests of states, local communities and international actors, while addressing the legal, moral and environmental complexities and sensitivities associated with WWII wrecks. The article aims to contribute to the broader discourse on maritime heritage governance by providing insights into the complex and multiple challenges of managing WWII wrecks, within the context of a nation that only achieved lasting independence relatively recently.

A theoretical analysis of philosophical dimensions in engineering education

This article presents a theoretical analysis of the philosophical dimensions embedded in engineering education, highlighting the importance of integrating ethical, social, and environmental considerations into the development of future engineers. As engineering increasingly shapes society through technological innovation, philosophical inquiry becomes crucial in addressing contemporary challenges such as sustainability, technological ethics, and social justice. The paper explores how philosophical frameworks, such as utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics, provide engineers with tools to critically evaluate the broader impact of their designs and decisions. By embedding these ethical perspectives within the engineering curriculum, educators can prepare students to navigate the moral complexities inherent in technology and innovation. Moreover, the analysis underscores the role of philosophy in promoting sustainability in engineering, encouraging students to adopt a long-term view of environmental stewardship and resource management. The discussion also highlights the importance of addressing issues related to technological ethics, particularly in the development of artificial intelligence, automation, and biotechnology, where ethical challenges are becoming increasingly prominent. In addition, the paper examines the contribution of philosophy in fostering critical thinking and social responsibility, ensuring that engineers consider the societal implications of their work, especially in marginalized communities. Ultimately, this theoretical analysis argues that integrating philosophy into engineering education is essential for preparing engineers who are not only technically proficient but also ethically conscious, socially responsible, and capable of addressing the complex global challenges that define modern society.

Higher education of sustainable food systems: a literature review

PurposeThis study aims to fill data gaps concerning solutions and practices used in sustainable food systems (SFS) in higher education (HE). The development of SFS is a vital global challenge in which HE may play a significant role.Design/methodology/approachLiterature search and content analysis of found papers were performed. Additionally, the quantitative time trend of the emergence of research connected to SFS HE and the connectivity of content within the research papers about research questions were determined by regression analysis and data visualization, respectively.FindingsIt is evident that SFS education in universities (higher education institutes) is emerging, and the number of research papers is rapidly increasing. In the reviewed papers, universities recognized their significant role in managing wicked problems. The motivation for developing SFS education was high, with strong ambitions. SFS in HE includes developing education in-house through trans- and multidisciplinary solutions, developing education with stakeholders and supporting student growth to become responsible professionals and citizens.Practical implicationsWhen developing SFS education in HE both practical and theoretical research is needed. Ethical dimensions should be included in both research orientations because of the moral complexity that exists in SFS issues.Social implicationsThis study shows that competence in trans- and multidisciplinary working is needed. Concomitantly, the ability of cooperation between HE, business and society is vital when solving global food challenges. Also, the local tradition of food cultivation should be respected and maintained.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first review on the development of SFS education in HEIs. A qualitative content analysis and data visualization were used to enrich the review.

Complexities in supportive care for people with metastatic breast cancer: a qualitative study.

The complexity of metastatic breast cancer, its rapidly evolving treatment, and the changing trajectory toward long-term survivorship create unique challenges for the provision of supportive care. The experiences of health professionals enacting supportive care in contexts of those living long-term with incurable cancer have received limited research attention. This qualitative study aimed to gain further insight into health professionals' experiences of supportive care in this context. Semi-structured interviews were conducted via phone and online with 25 health and community-care professionals who support people living with metastatic breast cancer in Australia. A mix of sampling strategies was used. Thematic analysis was undertaken. Findings were interpreted through an ethics of care lens. Three key themes were identified. First, participants experienced supportive care as highly relational. Second, they encountered numerous moral and ethical dilemmas in enacting supportive care. Finally, enacting supportive care was complicated by fragmented and sporadic provision in a system in which supportive care is differentially valued across professions and settings. Findings draw attention to complexities in enacting supportive care in the context of metastatic breast cancer, with implications to patients and professionals. To improve the quality of care provided to patients and minimise the risk of professional burnout, greater attention is needed in supportive care guidelines to the ethical, moral, and emotional complexities experienced by professionals in this context. People living with metastatic breast cancer are a growing proportion of cancer survivors. The knowledge gained through this study may help professionals to better meet the supportive care needs of people living with metastatic breast cancer, a treatable but not curable condition.

Keep quiet or act? Challenges in integrating ethical theory into gerontological nursing care during students’ first clinical rotation: A discussion paper

AimThe aim of the paper is twofold: 1. To present observations based on first-year nursing students’ narratives during clinical rotation in gerontological nursing care; and 2. Explore a nursing educator’s reflections on these observations in relation to the didactic and ethical challenges that occurred. BackgroundThe teaching of ethics is included in nurse education worldwide. Students are in their first clinical placement in residential care of older persons confronted with the moral complexities of gerontological care, where they get little possibility to share emotions and thoughts about ethically challenging nursing situations with a supervising registered nurse. DesignA critical discussion paper. MethodThe educator’s reflections in this discussion paper are based on a narrative assignment in ethics where first-year nursing students reflect on and describe a nursing situation during their clinical rotation in the residential care of older persons. ResultsMost students were acting as mere spectators in the described nursing situation where an older person, ethical standards, or evidence-based care was violated. Some students acted as advocates to the older person and intervened in the situation and a few as inspirers showing alternative ways of handling ethically challenging situations. ConclusionsEducators in nursing programs at the undergraduate level require time for student-centered formative guidance to foster moral courage and practice. During first-year students’ clinical rotation, the learning goals in long-term residential care of older persons are focused on evidence-based basic nursing care. In this, students are confronted with ethically challenging situations, where the possibility to learn from a critical reflective practice is rare. When observing situations where an older person is subjected to unethical or unsafe nursing care it is common that the students take the spectators’ role, not knowing how to deal with what is observed. Some students are taking an intervening role by trying to alleviate the vulnerability of the older person. A few are showing moral courage by directly intervening when experiencing unethical or unsafe nursing care or conduct. In this the student can inspire fellow students or staff during their clinical rotation in alternative ways of handling ethically challenging situations. As older persons are the largest demographic group that nurses will experience, educators need a sound knowledge of ethics as well as gerontological care to be able to meet and nurture students’ ethical reflections during clinical practice and to foster practical wisdom in nursing.

Commerce and Care: Moral Complexity in Technology Adoption Among Bangladeshi Garment Firms

Commerce and Care: Moral Complexity in Technology Adoption Among Bangladeshi Garment Firms

Moral injury appraisals and complex PTSD in refugees: A longitudinal study.

Refugees show elevated rates of complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD). However, relatively little is known regarding the psychological mechanisms that underlie the association between exposure to potentially traumatic events (PTEs) and CPTSD following exposure to war, persecution and displacement. In this study, we investigated the potential mediating role of moral injury appraisals (cognitive appraisals regarding the experience and consequences of morally transgressive events) in the association between PTE exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and disturbances in self-organization (DSO) symptoms. Participants were 889 refugees from Arabic-, Farsi-, Tamil-, and English-speaking backgrounds who completed an online survey in their own language at two time points 12 months apart. We assessed PTE exposure, moral injury-other appraisals (appraising moral transgressions as enacted by others), moral injury-self appraisals (appraising moral transgressions as enacted by the self), PTSD symptoms, and DSO symptoms. Longitudinal structural equation modeling indicated that moral injury-other appraisals mediated the association between PTE exposure and both PTSD and DSO symptoms. In contrast, moral injury-self appraisals only mediated the association between PTE exposure and DSO symptoms. Findings highlight the role of moral injury appraisals in exacerbating traditional PTSD symptoms, as well as the broader symptoms characteristic of CPTSD. Further, results indicate that specific types of moral injury appraisals (relating to one's own and others' perceived moral transgressions) may lead to differential psychological reactions, raising important implications for clinical practice. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Toward a Theology of Compassionate Release: Orthodox Christianity and the Dilemma of Assisted Dying. Confronting End-of-Life Realities with Faith and Compassion

This article examines the subtle interconnection between the sanctity of life and individual autonomy within the context of assisted dying, as seen through the lens of Orthodox Christianity. It seeks to unravel the complex theological, ethical, and pastoral considerations that inform the Orthodox stance on end-of-life issues, particularly the nuanced understanding of suffering, death, and the redemptive potential encapsulated within them. Orthodox theology, with its profound veneration for life as a divine gift, offers a counter-narrative to contemporary discourses that often prioritize personal autonomy and the alleviation of suffering above all. This tradition emphasizes the transformative power of suffering when united with Christ’s own redemptive suffering, proposing a vision of end-of-life care that is rooted in compassion, dignity, and hope for resurrection. The exploration begins with a historical and theological examination of the Orthodox perspective on life’s sanctity, engaging with the teachings of Church Fathers and contemporary theological and bioethical discussions. It highlights the foundational concepts of Orthodox anthropology, which perceives human beings as an indivisible unity of body and soul, reflecting the imago Dei. This anthropological understanding challenges reductionist views of human existence and informs the Orthodox approach to medical ethics, palliative care, and the spiritual accompaniment of the dying. By critically evaluating arguments for and against assisted dying, the article presents a balanced discourse that respects the depth of individual suffering while upholding the intrinsic value of life. It argues that Orthodox Christianity, through its rich theological heritage and pastoral practice, provides a compassionate and ethically nuanced framework for navigating the moral complexities of assisted dying. This framework advocates for an end-of-life care that honors the fullness of the human person, supports the spiritual journey toward eternal life, and fosters a communal embrace of life’s sacred threshold, offering a dignified passage that aligns with the faith’s deepest convictions about human destiny and divine grace.

Echoes of loss: Moral injury and complex bereavement among pet owners in the wake of humidifier disinfectant disasters

AbstractIn this qualitative study, we examine the experiences of nine South Korean individuals impacted by the humidifier disinfectant scandal, a significant social disaster that resulted in the loss or health deterioration of their pets. Although humidifier disinfectants were marketed since 1994, it was not until 2011 that the South Korean government acknowledged their detrimental effects and proposed a ban. This study fills a research gap by focusing on pet owners, a substantial yet understudied demographic affected by this disaster. Our analysis reveals that the prevailing legal culture, demanding victims to substantiate their eligibility for compensation, not only intensified their trauma but also prolonged their grieving process, contributing to complex bereavement. The initial ambiguity regarding their pets' deaths fostered feelings of regret, which, upon realizing the true cause, transformed into profound guilt akin to moral injury. Based on these findings, the study offers policy recommendations to address such complex emotional repercussions in social disaster contexts.

Developing a survey to measure nursing students’ knowledge, attitudes and beliefs, influences, and willingness to be involved in Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD): a mixed method modified e-Delphi study

BackgroundMedical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) was legalized in Canada in 2016. Canada’s legislation is the first to permit Nurse Practitioners (NP) to serve as independent MAiD assessors and providers. Registered Nurses’ (RN) also have important roles in MAiD that include MAiD care coordination; client and family teaching and support, MAiD procedural quality; healthcare provider and public education; and bereavement care for family. Nurses have a right under the law to conscientious objection to participating in MAiD. Therefore, it is essential to prepare nurses in their entry-level education for the practice implications and moral complexities inherent in this practice. Knowing what nursing students think about MAiD is a critical first step. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop a survey to measure nursing students’ knowledge, attitudes and beliefs, influences, and willingness to be involved in MAiD in the Canadian context.MethodsThe design was a mixed-method, modified e-Delphi method that entailed item generation from the literature, item refinement through a 2 round survey of an expert faculty panel, and item validation through a cognitive focus group interview with nursing students. The settings were a University located in an urban area and a College located in a rural area in Western Canada.ResultsDuring phase 1, a 56-item survey was developed from existing literature that included demographic items and items designed to measure experience with death and dying (including MAiD), education and preparation, attitudes and beliefs, influences on those beliefs, and anticipated future involvement. During phase 2, an expert faculty panel reviewed, modified, and prioritized the items yielding 51 items. During phase 3, a sample of nursing students further evaluated and modified the language in the survey to aid readability and comprehension. The final survey consists of 45 items including 4 case studies.DiscussionSystematic evaluation of knowledge-to-date coupled with stakeholder perspectives supports robust survey design. This study yielded a survey to assess nursing students’ attitudes toward MAiD in a Canadian context.ConclusionThe survey is appropriate for use in education and research to measure knowledge and attitudes about MAiD among nurse trainees and can be a helpful step in preparing nursing students for entry-level practice.

Responding to the moral complexities of climate change education through intergenerational dialogue in teacher education

ABSTRACT Persistent youth advocacy for climate action worldwide, and recent policy activity in England, UK focused on climate change and sustainability education (CCSE), provide the context for this study. Drawing on reflections and insights predominantly gathered whilst working as a geography teacher and geography teacher educator in both England and Scotland, I explore the ways in which intergenerational dialogue can support teacher educators in the context of climate change and sustainability education. This includes the ways in which initial teacher education (ITE) involves different groups (e.g., teachers, teacher educators, school students) and provides different spaces (e.g., school sites and university classrooms) which support intergenerational dialogue. I consider the ways in which intergenerational dialogue can help teacher educators engage with the spatial and temporal facets of the moral complexities of climate change and sustainability education.

Human-Guided Moral Decision Making in Text-Based Games

Training reinforcement learning (RL) agents to achieve desired goals while also acting morally is a challenging problem. Transformer-based language models (LMs) have shown some promise in moral awareness, but their use in different contexts is problematic because of the complexity and implicitness of human morality. In this paper, we build on text-based games, which are challenging environments for current RL agents, and propose the HuMAL (Human-guided Morality Awareness Learning) algorithm, which adaptively learns personal values through human-agent collaboration with minimal manual feedback. We evaluate HuMAL on the Jiminy Cricket benchmark, a set of text-based games with various scenes and dense morality annotations, using both simulated and actual human feedback. The experimental results demonstrate that with a small amount of human feedback, HuMAL can improve task performance and reduce immoral behavior in a variety of games and is adaptable to different personal values.

Navigating the theories in the nexus between war and peace

This research examines the relationship between war and peace within the realm of international relations, drawing from a diverse array of theories. It investigates conflict, ranging from power dynamics to ideological disputes, while also evaluating the ethical dimensions of the Just War theory. Through the application of the Just War theory to the dynamic interplay between war and peace as a theoretical framework, this study underscores the vital significance of fostering peaceful dispute resolution, upholding ethical standards in warfare, and undertaking comprehensive post-conflict reconstruction efforts. Employing a historical research design, the study gathers data from secondary sources including journals, books, and ancient encyclopedias, ensuring the credibility of its analysis. Utilizing a descriptive method of data analysis, the research employs deductive logic to maintain a coherent framework and ensure balanced interpretation. Despite disagreements among theories, the study prioritizes accuracy to draw appropriate conclusions. The findings of this study reveal the profound interconnectedness between war and peace, highlighting how conflict arises from a myriad of factors including power struggles, ideological differences, and diplomatic failures. Furthermore, the ethical evaluation of war through the Just War theory provides valuable insights into the moral complexities surrounding armed conflict and its implications for peace-building efforts. Considering these findings, several recommendations are proposed to address the persistent challenge of achieving lasting peace amidst armed conflicts. Emphasizing diplomacy as a primary approach to conflict resolution, prioritizing ethical standards in warfare, and fostering peace education to cultivate values of tolerance and non-violent conflict resolution from an early age are key strategies identified for promoting sustainable peace. By offering recommendations for proactive conflict prevention and strategies in international cooperation, this research aims to contribute to the global pursuit of a more equitable, harmonious, and peaceful world order. Through its rigorous analysis and actionable insights, the study seeks to inform policymaking and advocacy efforts aimed at fostering sustainable peace on a global scale.

A Contemporary Pentecostal Theodicy of a Just God on a Killing Spree

The portrayal of God in the Old Testament differs from that in the New Testament, suggesting an evolving perception and understanding over time. This has led to confusion and a dualistic view of God among individuals throughout history. Particularly perplexing is the divine sanction for the complete annihilation of the Canaanite population, seemingly contradicting God’s just nature. This study investigates the command to exterminate men, women, children, and infants belonging to the Canaanite nations and seeks to reconcile the notion of a just God sanctioning such perceived cruelty and bias. Analyzing the moral, religious, and theological complexities surrounding this issue, the study aims to shed light on the hypothetical inconsistency in God’s attitude. Ultimately, the study asserts that God’s sanctioned killings were justifiable actions driven by His foreknowledge and intended for the salvation of humanity as a whole. However, the study emphasizes that this divine approach does not justify or endorse any contemporary acts of religious extremism, as such violence serves no salvific purpose in God’s current plan for humanity. Grounded in the principles of action, consequence, and responsibility, the Pentecostal theodicy explored in this qualitative investigation, based on literature review and textual analysis, provides insights into the academic question of why a just God would command the total obliteration of the Canaanites. Through this analysis, this study contributes to the advancement of knowledge on the topic. Keywords: Pentecostal Theodicy, Justice, Canaanites, Violence, Extremism, and Biblical text.

Metaphorical Figures for Moral Complexity

Abstract: If literary narrative as a practice is well suited to capture morally complex situations, that is in large part due to the work of literary (that is, narrative and stylistic) form . This article examines the specific contribution that metaphorical language makes to the literary negotiation of moral complexity. The discussion is positioned vis-à-vis debates on the specific forms of moral knowledge that literature can provide, which I distinguish from both propositional meanings and the dilemmas entertained by analytic philosophers (for instance, the trolley problem). Instead, I draw on metaphor theory to suggest that metaphorical language can enrich the moral resonance of literature by deepening (and complicating) readers' engagement with fictional characters and the situations in which they are embedded. These metaphorical figures probe the experience captured by Cora Diamond under the rubric of the "difficulty of reality." This idea is illustrated through a close reading of Lauren Groff's short story "Flower Hunters," which skillfully orchestrates metaphorical language so as to encapsulate the protagonist's existential and moral impasse in times of ecological crisis.

Vrednosni pluralizam u romanima Crni psi i Subota Ijana Makjuana

Ian McEwan, an influential and provocative British novelist and short-story writer, has addressed a variety of issues, distinguishing himself as a socially and politically engaged author. This paper explores contemporary liberalism as depicted in two of McEwan's novels, Black Dogs and Saturday, both charged with moral complexity. The analysis is approached from the perspective of value pluralism, which recognises the plurality of morally correct yet incompatible and incommensu-rable principles or values. These values may conflict with each other, but since all are correct, the conflicts remain unresolved. It is the author's belief that the novels highlight value pluralism through characters who, while navigating a pluralist environment, disclose the challenges and limitations of liberal democracies. The theoretical context this paper relies on is based on ideas of Isaiah Berlin and his notion of value pluralism.

The Evolving Complexities of MAID Care in Canada From a Nursing Perspective

Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) legislation has evolved rapidly in Canada with significant impacts on nursing practice. The purpose of this paper is to describe evolving complexities in legislative context and practice standards that influence the experiences nurse practitioners and registered nurses have with MAID. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 25 registered nurses and 10 nurse practitioners from diverse contexts across Canada. Participants described their practices and considerations when discussing MAID as part of advance care planning; their use of, and challenges with, waivers of consent; their practice considerations in negotiating the complexities of clients for whom death is not reasonably foreseeable; and their moral wrestling with the inclusion of MAID for persons whose sole underlying medical condition is mental illness. Findings illustrate the moral complexities inherent in the evolving legislation and the importance of robust health and social care systems to the legal and ethical implementation of MAID in Canada.

СОВЕСТЬ В ПРЕДСТАВЛЕНИЯХ СОВРЕМЕННОЙ РОССИЙСКОЙ МОЛОДЕЖИ (НА ПРИМЕРЕ МОСКВЫ И МОСКОВСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ)

Conscience is the most important element of the axiological matrix of society, which actualizes its study in conditions of social turbulence. Based on the results of a specific sociological study, it is shown that conscience is associated among the youth of Moscow and the Moscow region with positive concepts covering the moral qualities of a person, and can be interpreted as a moral complex based on honesty, truth, kindness, purity, a sense of shame, awareness and reason; a set of individual qualities based on spirituality, honor, decency, justice, sense of duty; a regulator of actions and decisions, an indicator of humanity, responsibility, dignity. These ideas of modern Russian youth correlate with conceptual approaches to understanding conscience in the classical philosophical heritage and testify to the preservation of the socio-cultural code by young people at the level of the value system. The question of the mechanisms, factors and conditions for the value concepts of conscience among young people to become the basis for decision-making and specific actions requires further research. The results of the study can be used to specify the directions of youth policy for the purpose of spiritual and moral education of the younger generation.

Unraveling the Human Struggle: Eveline and Hamlet through Sartre's Existentialist Lens

This research article delves into the profound existential dilemmas encountered by Eveline in James Joyc’s “Eveline” and Prince Hamlet in Shakespeare’s Hamlet through the application of Jean-Paul Sartre’s existentialist framework. Eveline, the protagonist faces the haunting choice between her familiar life and a new and uncertain future with her lover, while Hamlet tackles with the moral complexities of seeking revenge for his father’s murder. By drawing upon Sartre’s concept of existential choice and the notion of authentic existence, this study aims to analyze the inner conflicts and quest for meaning experienced by these complex literary characters. Thus, this study digs into the intricate themes of personal freedom, responsibility, authenticity, and the quest for meaning. By unraveling the universal human struggle depicted in these characters’ decisions, this article offers an evocative exploration of self discovery and the profound impact of existential choices on the path to an authentic existence. Through a comparative analysis, this article examines the ways in which Eveline and Hamlet struggle with their existential dilemmas and navigate the intricate web of personal freedom and responsibility.

Moral Injury Among Transplant Providers: Evaluating the Effects of Training in End-of-Life Counseling.

Ethical issues are pervasive in healthcare, but few specialties rival the moral complexity of transplant medicine. Transplant providers must regularly inform patients that they are no longer eligible to receive a potentially life-saving operation and the stress of these conversations poses a high risk of moral injury. Training in end-of-life counseling (EOLC) has proven to significantly reduce provider stress and burnout. The purpose of this study was to determine whether training in EOLC reduces levels of moral injury among transplant providers. This was a mixed methods study. We interviewed 10 patient participants and administered a survey to staff in the solid organ transplant department at the University of Kansas Health System. Respondents indicated whether they had received training in EOLC and completed the standardized Moral Injury Symptom Scale-Healthcare Professionals version (MISS-HP). A two-sample, one-sided t-test compared levels of moral injury between trained and untrained staff. Subsequently, we conducted semi-structured interviews with transplant providers, then performed inductive coding followed by thematic network analysis. Thirty-seven percent (14/38) of respondents reported a moral injury score at or above the threshold for psychosocial dysfunction associated with moral injury. Analysis revealed no difference in moral injury scores between the trained and untrained groups (p = 0.362, power (1-β) = 0.842). Thematic network analysis demonstrated high-level themes of "challenges", "training", and "stress relief". Our study demonstrated a concerning prevalence of moral injury among transplant staff and suggested that EOLC training did not significantly mitigate the threat of moral injury.