Moral Obligation Research Articles

Governance and duty in global refugee education: a Kantian perspective

The broad adoption of the human-rights based approach to refugee education has not only accentuated the link between education provision and the realization of human rights; it has re-framed refugees as right-bearers. This conceptual shift from ‘refugee as victim’ to ‘refugee as right-bearer’ carries with it immense implications also for the way we think of the duty-bearers of refugee education. Once we re-conceptualize refugees as right-bearers, we acknowledge, too, the primacy of duty-bearers and ‘global moral obligations’. In this article, I first consider the history of global governance of refugee education, dating back to the ratification of the 1951 UN Refugee Convention. In tracing the shifting role of stakeholders in refugee education, I note, in particular, how the burden of responsibility of education policy and provision has oscillated between local host communities and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Next, I look at how rights and responsibilities are conceptualized in forced displacement context, that is, in the absence of a nation-state—traditionally considered the primary duty-bearer of human rights. Finally, I turn to Kant’s duty-based ethics, and suggest a Kantian perspective can help expand our understanding of duties and duty-bearers in global refugee education.

Harmonia z naturą: odkrywanie zrównoważonego rozwoju przez pryzmat tradycji hinduskiej

The study explores the Hindu tradition’s profound connection to sustainable development, emphasizing the importance of harmony with nature, as dictated by the principles of Dharma (duty) and Ahimsā (non-violence). The Hindu tradition, found in sacred texts such as the Vedas and the Bhagavad Gita, underscores humanity’s ethical and moral obligation to protect and nurture the environment. Key concepts such as vegetarianism, reverence for all life forms, and eco-conscious rituals are integral to this philosophy, offering practical approaches to modern sustainability. Additionally, the paper examines the global perspective promoted by the concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, which underscores our interconnectedness with the world. In conclusion, the Hindu tradition provides a valuable perspective on sustainable development, emphasizing the unity of all life and our shared responsibility to safeguard our planet, underscoring the significance of living in harmony with nature.

Factors of interest of general practitioners in scientific research in first-level care centers in Bolivia

Introduction: Publication, as part of scientific and academic communication, is a key element of the ethical and moral obligation of every researcher. Our study addresses the factors of interest that general practitioners have in scientific research in first-level public health care centers in the municipality of El Alto.Objective: Determine the factors of interest that general practitioners have in scientific research in first-level public health care centers in the municipality of El Alto, department of La Paz, Bolivia.Methods: It is a qualitative, descriptive, analytical and cross-sectional study, under a non-experimental design. The universe consisted of 3,520 general practitioners in the department of La Paz, 103 general practitioners agreed to participate as a sample of the research, and who met inclusion and exclusion criteria.Results and discussion: 68% of the doctors are between 31 and 40 years old. 46.6% graduated from a university abroad, however it had no impact on the research process. 62.1% of all doctors have an academic degree at the bachelor's level. The majority of doctors after graduating do not continue with higher professional training studies. 80.6% did not publish scientific articles. 41.7% indicate that they do not carry out scientific research because there is no institutional support.Conclusions: The majority of doctors who participated in our study are relatively young – adults. Regardless of the school they graduate from, it has no impact on the research processes. Their academic degree is a bachelor's degree, followed by diplomas and none with a doctorate. After graduating, they do not continue with higher or postgraduate studies. The vast majority of doctors do not publish any research articles. Based on these results, it is necessary to implement strategies that encourage the development of research in general practitioners at the first level of care.

The Religious Aspect of Confucianism During The Ly-Tran Dynasties, Vietnam

This article explores the religious dimensions of Confucianism during the Ly-Tran dynasties (1009-1400 AD) in Vietnam, a period marked by significant sociopolitical and cultural transitions. Initially introduced as a moral and ethical philosophy from China, Confucianism underwent a complex process of localization, blending with indigenous Vietnamese beliefs and practices as well as Buddhism and Taoism. Through historical records, literary works, and ritual practices documented in “The Complete Annals of Đại Việt” and other classical texts, this study delves into how Confucianism not only served as a guiding principle for governance, education, and social norms but also manifested religious aspects that influenced spiritual and religious life in Vietnam. The religious aspects of Confucianism during this era are evident in several key areas. Firstly, the concept of Heaven (Tian) and the Mandate of Heaven played a crucial role in legitimizing royal authority, with rulers and Confucian scholars frequently invoking divine will to justify political actions and social order. This sacralization of monarchy underpinned by Confucian ideals facilitated the integration of Confucianism into Vietnamese spiritual life. Secondly, the incorporation of Confucian rituals and practices, such as the Heaven Worship Ceremony (Tế Giao) and the veneration of Confucius and other sages at the Temple of Literature, highlights the religious dimensions of Confucian practice, emphasizing reverence, filial piety, and the moral obligations of rulers and subjects alike. Moreover, the article discusses how Confucianism interacted with and was influenced by Buddhism and Taoism, leading to a syncretic religious landscape in Vietnam. This interaction is illustrated through the blending of Confucian principles with Buddhist and Taoist ideals, affecting notions of kingship, governance, and the cosmological order. In conclusion, the religious aspect of Confucianism during the Ly-Tran dynasties significantly contributed to the shaping of Vietnamese identity, governance, and cultural heritage. By examining the religious dimensions of Confucianism, this article provides a more nuanced understanding of its role in Vietnamese society, highlighting the complex interplay between philosophy, religion, and politics in historical Vietnam.

Effects of User Experience in Automated Information Processing on Perceived Usefulness of Digital Contact-Tracing Apps: Cross-Sectional Survey Study.

In pandemic situations, digital contact tracing (DCT) can be an effective way to assess one's risk of infection and inform others in case of infection. DCT apps can support the information gathering and analysis processes of users aiming to trace contacts. However, users' use intention and use of DCT information may depend on the perceived benefits of contact tracing. While existing research has examined acceptance in DCT, automation-related user experience factors have been overlooked. We pursued three goals: (1) to analyze how automation-related user experience (ie, perceived trustworthiness, traceability, and usefulness) relates to user behavior toward a DCT app, (2) to contextualize these effects with health behavior factors (ie, threat appraisal and moral obligation), and (3) to collect qualitative data on user demands for improved DCT communication. Survey data were collected from 317 users of a nationwide-distributed DCT app during the COVID-19 pandemic after it had been in app stores for >1 year using a web-based convenience sample. We assessed automation-related user experience. In addition, we assessed threat appraisal and moral obligation regarding DCT use to estimate a partial least squares structural equation model predicting use intention. To provide practical steps to improve the user experience, we surveyed users' needs for improved communication of information via the app and analyzed their responses using thematic analysis. Data validity and perceived usefulness showed a significant correlation of r=0.38 (P<.001), goal congruity and perceived usefulness correlated at r=0.47 (P<.001), and result diagnosticity and perceived usefulness had a strong correlation of r=0.56 (P<.001). In addition, a correlation of r=0.35 (P<.001) was observed between Subjective Information Processing Awareness and perceived usefulness, suggesting that automation-related changes might influence the perceived utility of DCT. Finally, a moderate positive correlation of r=0.47 (P<.001) was found between perceived usefulness and use intention, highlighting the connection between user experience variables and use intention. Partial least squares structural equation modeling explained 55.6% of the variance in use intention, with the strongest direct predictor being perceived trustworthiness (β=.54; P<.001) followed by moral obligation (β=.22; P<.001). Based on the qualitative data, users mainly demanded more detailed information about contacts (eg, place and time of contact). They also wanted to share information (eg, whether they wore a mask) to improve the accuracy and diagnosticity of risk calculation. The perceived result diagnosticity of DCT apps is crucial for perceived trustworthiness and use intention. By designing for high diagnosticity for the user, DCT apps could improve their support in the action regulation of users, resulting in higher perceived trustworthiness and use in pandemic situations. In general, automation-related user experience has greater importance for use intention than general health behavior or experience.

Membangun Masyarakat Digital Yang Beretika: Mengintegrasikan Nilai-Nilai Kristen Di Era Teknologi Digital 5.0

The rapid development of digital technology 5.0 presents major challenges for Christians and creates conflict between Christian values ​​and rapidly developing technological practices. This research aims to analyze the relevance of Christian values ​​in the context of Technology 5.0 and discuss integration strategies in digital society. Increased use of technology leads to increased human and social awareness and rational responses, which creates uncertainty that needs to be addressed. Using qualitative methods, this research will explain how Christian values ​​such as honesty, justice, and love are still present in the dynamics of an interconnected digital society. In addition, this research discusses integration strategies that can be carried out by individuals, groups, churches, and Christian organizations so that these values ​​are not only recognized but also applied in everyday life. This study focuses on a deeper understanding of the impact of technology on Christian values, providing concrete solutions to overcome ethical and moral challenges in a digital society. Through collaboration between church leaders, technology experts, and Christian community members, this research aims to lay the foundation for digital social change, creating an environment that demonstrates Christian ethical and moral obligations in the era of Digital Technology 5.0.

The Political Unconscious in Ian McEwan’s Amsterdam: The Post-Cold War Paradigm Shift and Morality in the Era of the Late Capitalist Market

Amsterdam opens a new phase in Ian McEwan’s writing career both for its differences from his earlier novels and short stories and for its Booker Prize success. Although the novel’s early critics designate the novel as a lightweight diversion from McEwan’s more serious subject matter, he earnestly dismisses these views and argues that while Amsterdam indeed differs from his novels written up to that point, this does not minimise the novel’s significance. This article takes up McEwan’s side in this debate in that Amsterdam is indeed a significant novel which reflects and reproduces perfectly well a post-Cold War paradigm shift in the world from a bipolar to a unipolar socio-political global order with which the previous power positions are forced, in the 1990s, to transform. McEwan’s novel reflects this socio-political transformation, and it symbolically addresses the crises of power, authority, and direction by way of creating a tension, in its narrative, between moral obligation and self-interest, where moral duty aligns with left-wing politics and self-interest with right-wing politics. This article further argues that the novel does not only reflect and reproduce that historical-political context but also, when it is interpreted using Fredric Jameson’s interpretative model for exploring texts’ political unconscious, serves as a symbolic resolution of its given historical-political moment.

Les aléas du suivi orthophonique chez l’adolescent avec autisme : les facteurs influençant sa (non) mise en œuvre

ObjectiveThis exploratory qualitative study aims to identify factors influencing orientation, access to speech therapy professionals and its maintenance in adolescents with autism. This was carried out by questioning them about their perceptions of the place and objectives of speech therapy concerning teenagers with autism spectrum disorders in a context where adolescents struggle to benefit from it. Sample and MethodEight child psychiatry professionals including four child psychiatrists, three speech therapists and a psychomotor-therapist took part. These semi-structured interviews have been analyzed using the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). ResultsThe perception of adolescents with ASD as carriers of severe behavioral disorders and unlikely to be e subject to significant clinical changes has an unfavorable influence on the indication for speech therapy at this age. In addition, the management of the shortages in speech therapy is done to the detriment of adolescents in order to prioritize the youngest. Speech therapy follow-ups are experienced as cumbersome with a lack of specific assessments and speech therapy tools for this age. DiscussionCommunication disorders are insufficiently assessed by prescribing professionals who have a more vague representation of the specificities of speech therapy work at this age. In the current situation of speech therapy shortage, speech therapists are torn between the desire to continue to follow an adolescent, whose development potential is not always perceived, and the moral and clinical obligation to take care of toddlers who are generally prioritized. ConclusionThese results reveal the need for more specific speech therapy assessments and tools for adolescents with autism to better target their communication needs and offer more appropriate care. Precise training on the issue of ASD in adolescence would make it possible to consider the diversity of needs and presentations of disorders at this age. Speech therapy monitoring of adolescents with autism raises questions about possible changes in the practice of speech therapy.

Factors and challenges affecting Enactus members’ social entrepreneurial actions: a focus group study

PurposeThere is a paucity of studies on factors influencing social entrepreneurial behaviours or actions. Against this background, this study aims to explore factors and challenges affecting Enactus members’ social entrepreneurial actions in Nigeria.Design/methodology/approachThis study adopted a qualitative approach, and data were gathered through three focus group discussions involving 25 people (18 Enactus members, 4 faculty advisors and 3 business advisory board members). The study adopted a content analysis technique for data analysis.FindingsThe findings reveal that social mission orientation, desire to create social impact and social problems influence Enactus members’ social entrepreneurial actions. Other influencing factors include social entrepreneurial passion, moral obligation, social empathy and social support. In addition, the study finds that financial and time constraints affect Enactus members’ social entrepreneurial actions.Practical implicationsThe findings have implications for social entrepreneurs/enterprises, governments/policymakers and Enactus members.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first qualitative study that provides insights into the factors influencing a group of people towards social entrepreneurial actions.

Effect of Moral Obligation on Sales Tax Compliance among SME Taxpayers in Juba, South Sudan

Tax compliance promotes social and economic growth by reducing the government's fiscal imbalance and debt while also providing funding for public services. Currently, the National Revenue Authority of South Sudan is focusing on maximizing tax revenue production from the country's huge number of small and medium enterprises, and this study contributes to that endeavour. The study's main goal was to examine the moral obligation, of sales tax compliance among SMEs. This study was guided by Tax Morale Theory. The study used an explanatory research design and the study's target population was 1,320 SMEs, with 307 SMEs in Rejaf Sub-County registered for sales tax. The data was examined using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The study found that there is a positive and significant effect of moral obligation on sales tax compliance (β1 =0.241, p&lt;0.05), The study recommends that South Sudan's Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning build a strong mechanism for monitoring and evaluating the efficiency of tax policy implementation. Furthermore, research should involve a more diversified set of SMEs to capture a greater variety of opinions, taking into account differences in size, industry, and ownership structure.

The Consequences of Evidence- Versus Non-Evidence-Based Understandings of the “Truth”: How Russian Speakers in Germany Negotiate Trust in Their Transnational News Environments

Extant research on migrants’ media use and trust has delivered mixed evidence on whether, and in which ways, migrants stay loyal to their homeland news media and/or develop trust in host-society media, particularly when the narratives of the two types of media clash. To advance this strand of research, this study scrutinizes how an audience group with migration background, who lived the first part of their lives under authoritarian rule but then relocated to a democracy, negotiates trust in their multilingual, transnational news environments. Specifically, we conducted semi-structured interviews with forty-two Russian-speaking first-generation migrants living in Germany in 2021. As we find, distinct understandings of the concept of “truth” played a pivotal role in how our participants negotiated trust in their transnational news environments. We distinguish broadly two understandings of “truth”: (1) “truth” as a category grounded in factual evidence and (2) “truth” as a non-evidence based category grounded in values, emotions, or identities. Illustrative for the second understanding, some participants felt a strong moral obligation to believe Kremlin-sponsored media as they perceived these organizations as representing their homeland, independently of whether their news coverage was factually accurate or not. The two understandings of “truth” also affected how and where participants sought for what they considered the “truth.” In the “Discussion” section, we argue that particularly the non-evidence-based truth-understandings formulated by our participants, and the ensuing truth-seeking strategies are conducive to the reach and persuasive impact of Kremlin-sponsored content among Russian speakers living abroad.

Seeing Photographically and the Memory of Photography

“Seeing photographically” is an act of cultural memory. In an era of AI-generated images, screenshots, “disappearing” or “view once” photographs, and myriad other practices that challenge the definitional boundaries of photography, the phrase invokes past understandings of the medium’s sensory affordances, transferring them into a continually changing present. Focusing on a case study of the digital “rescue” of found film chemical photography, the article excavates cultural memory processes that relocate photographic seeing to digital arenas. The memory of “seeing photographically” does more, it claims, than preserve photography as a “zombie category” that disguises the reality of computational imagery. Rather, it helps construct and maintain a media ideology of what photography was and is, and of its continuing cultural, and especially existential, significance. Mobilizing worldviews, social values, and moral obligations associated with photography in the past, “seeing photographically” reanimates them in contemporary contexts of media ubiquity, intensified visibility, and existential anxiety, with profound ramifications.

Self-Reported Religiosity and Spirituality of Registered Nurses in Virginia.

The professional nurse cares for an increasingly diverse population, varying in ethnicity, culture, and faith beliefs that influence health and wellness. The moral obligation of the nurse to provide individualized, holistic care of clients includes spiritual care. Supported by the Agape Model of Nursing, nurses should understand their personal religiosity and its impact on the care they provide. The purpose of this study was to better understand the self-reported religiosity and spirituality of registered nurses licensed to practice in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

What’s Natural About Capital? Agroecology as Resistance to the New Frontier of Colonial Capitalist Carbon Farming

ABSTRACT The recent acceleration of the financialisation of nature, in which a farmer’s role as a good custodian of land has shifted from a moral obligation to an economic opportunity, has expanded capitalism’s spheres of accumulation beyond agricultural commodities to the very building blocks they rely upon: water, carbon, and biodiversity. This “metabolic shift” [Moore, Jason W. 2017. “Metabolic Rift or Metabolic Shift? Dialectics, Nature, and the World-Historical Method.” Theory and Society 46 (4): 285–318. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11186-017-9290-6] deepens the metabolic rift between economy and ecology in a self-defeating repudiation of farmers’ environmental values. The resulting hegemony in neoliberal colonial capitalism is accelerating rather than ameliorating climate change and biodiversity loss. In this paper, I analyse the values and activities of three farmer organisations in what is now called Australia, concluding that it is in convivial, not capitalist, agriculture – agroecology – that we will find intergenerational and decolonial justice and assure everyone’s right to flourish in common.

How much (more) is fair to pay? The ethics of merit in assessing poverty wages in organizations

Purpose This study aims to conduct a comprehensive analysis of poverty salaries and minimum wage in light of virtue ethics and a new natural law perspective on work. Design/methodology/approach Existing approaches to poverty wages are critically examined, including the nonworseness claim and legal minimalism. This paper introduces a more nuanced framework, taking into account the concepts of merit and participation in light of virtue ethics. Findings We argue that the fairness of minimum wage policies can be assessed as a matter of contributive-distributive justice by considering individual contributions to an organization's outcomes within an approach that provides a robust foundation for reconciling the dignity of work with the operational realities of organizations. Research limitations/implications Empirical research is needed to validate the practical application of the proposed conceptual framework for addressing poverty wages. Practical implications The paper provides better decisional arguments for employers concerned with poverty salaries in their organizations considering the moral dimensions of wage policies and employee well-being, offering guidance for potential adjustments in compensation practices. It also contributes to the discourse on social and economic justice by emphasizing the moral obligations of organizations in fostering a just and dignified work environment without the employee's participation. Originality/value This paper presents a novel approach that blends virtue ethics and new natural law principles, emphasizing the moral responsibilities of employers and organizations in addressing the conditions of the working poor. It also highlights the potential for a “lesser evil” situation, morally acceptable when it serves as a transitional phase aimed at improving working conditions and employee well-being.

Moral Obligations in Conditions of Partial Compliance

Moral Obligations in Conditions of Partial Compliance

The responsibility of sports federations to facilitate and fund concussion research and the role of active participant involvement and engagement

ABSTRACT It is generally accepted that we need more research into concussions and other injuries with potential long-term effects in sport because such research underpins effective, evidence-based prevention, management, support, and treatment. This paper provides an analysis of the obligations of sports federations to support and facilitate such research, as well as an analysis of the role active participants in the sport should have in the research process. The paper focuses on concussion and concussion research, though very similar arguments apply to other common sports injuries with potential long-term effects. The paper argues that sports federations have a moral obligation and a prudential interest in initiating, facilitating, and funding concussion research. This follows from their duty of care towards active participants and from considerations of reciprocity. The ability to discharge these research obligations depends on the resources available to a particular federation, but those who can discharge them should do so. The paper further argues that athletes and other active participants in sport should be involved in all aspects of the concussion research process from conception to design, i.e. that Active Participant Involvement and Engagement (APIE) should be a non-negotiable element of concussion research projects. This is supported by instrumental reasons, but also by philosophical argument based on standpoint epistemology and on ethical arguments related to the interests of active participants. Standpoint epistemology is the epistemological position that the knowledge a person has and can have depends on that person’s standpoint in the world. Keywords: Concussion, funding, participant involvement, sport, sport association, sport federation

Do Food Deliveries Lead to More Plastic Waste? A Study on Consumers’ Intention to Reuse Food Delivery Containers

This study aims to examine the determinants of consumers’ intention to reuse food delivery containers (ITR). The hypotheses will be tested on 200 food delivery service users in Malaysia and will be analysed using the partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). Understanding consumers’ ITR could promote practical environmental sustainability. Practically, the study will provide insights to the food delivery service industry, policymakers, and relevant stakeholders to encourage consumer behaviour change by reusing food delivery containers in line with Sustainable Development Goal 12. This study aims to investigate the following variables that influence the intention to reuse food delivery containers namely government support, moral obligations, subjective norms, perceived control behaviour, attitude, and government support. The study enhances the existing literature by extending the government support - independent variable. In addition, this study could benefit food and beverage merchants, food delivery companies, and government agencies.

Worldwide Regulation of the Medical Emergency Kit and First Aid Kit.

INTRODUCTION: On-board medical emergencies are increasing. Different geographies have different legislation and requirements for medical emergency kits and first aid kits. A comprehensive review to compare the contents of both kits was conducted, including the International Air Transport Association, European Union Aviation Safety Agency, and Federal Aviation Administration, as well as some from other geographical areas of the globe to cover continents and regions with the highest air traffic, such as Brazil, Kenya, Australia, and Taiwan.METHODS: On June 10, 2023, a search was conducted using standardized medical terms (medical subject headings) within the PubMed® database. The relevant terms identified were "Aircraft" and "Medical Emergencies"; articles published within the last 10 yr were filtered. Subsequently, even articles published before 2013 were consulted if cited by the initial ones. The main regulatory entities' documentation was found using the Google search engine and consulted.CONCLUSIONS: It is impossible to be prepared for every emergency on board. Still, as doctors, we have a moral and ethical obligation to try to improve the outcomes of those emergencies. Getting a standardized report of every on-board emergency is crucial. That would make optimizing the items to include in the emergency and first aid kits easier. There are many similarities among the compared entities, but essential differences have been found. There is room for improvement, especially for pediatric travelers.Oliveira ATB. Worldwide regulation of the medical emergency kit and first aid kit. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2024; 95(6):321-326.

Effect of alternative dosing strategies on sustainable healthcare: A carbon footprint analysis of nivolumab and pembrolizumab treatment in the Netherlands.

e13564 Background: Hospitals contribute significantly to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and face a moral obligation to prioritize reduction of GHG emissions. Drugs constitute an important component of the GHG emissions of hospitals. Alternative dosing strategies (ADS) have been implemented to improve the cost-effectiveness of pembrolizumab and nivolumab (Table). However, the impact of these ADS on GHG emissions remains unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to analyse the effect of ADS implementation on the carbon footprint of treatment with pembrolizumab and nivolumab. Methods: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology was used to quantify the environmental impact. The impact category climate change was used to quantify the carbon emissions (CO2e). The GHG Protocol was used to categorize the emissions into scopes 1, 2 and 3. Life Cycle Inventory and Impact data from an academic hospital in Rotterdam were used in the LCA to calculate the CO2e for pembrolizumab and nivolumab, their different dosing intervals, and the impact of ADS. Results: In 2022, the carbon emissions related to nivolumab and pembrolizumab treatment were 445 tons CO2e, with an average of 94 kg CO2e per dosage. Pharmaceutical production was the main driver of treatment-related GHG emissions (93% of total emissions on average). Applying ADS, resulted in carbon emission reductions of 21.4-26.2% and 9.3-11.2% for pembrolizumab and nivolumab respectively (table 1). Conclusions: This study shows the substantial environmental impact of cancer treatments with pembrolizumab and nivolumab and calls for further implementation of ADS for pembrolizumab and nivolumab and other anti-PD-(L)1 monoclonal antibodies and more sustainable pharmaceutical production processes. These findings help to create environmental awareness and contribute to the promotion and understanding of sustainable low-carbon healthcare practices. Overview of registered doses of pembrolizumab and nivolumab, alternative dosing strategies and potential reductions in GHG emissions, based on real world data in The Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. [Table: see text]