Worldview Research Articles

Agency.

Agency is action aimed at goals selected by an agent. A deterministic world view leaves scant room for agency. To reconcile the arguments, we represent action as nested control systems, ranging from clearly deterministic to clearly volitional. Negative feedback minimizes deviations from setpoints (goals). Goals are determined by higher modules in a hierarchy of systems, ranging from gamma-efferent spindles through reflexes to operant responses; these last, and the larger system that contains them, called the Self, comprise volitional agents. When operants become habitual they descend to closed teleonomic systems-automaticity. Change in emotional states, and unpredicted changes in the context-raise them back to full volitional systems. At the highest level is the Self-the brain's model of the agent. When aroused out of open teleonomic functioning, it must reconsider means and ends. It does so by simulating action plans, using the same neural systems it uses to effect them. The simulated stimuli and responses are conscious, approximating their perceptions as experienced in real time; this verisimilitude gives them their hedonic value. Positive feedback plays a key role in these complex adaptive systems, as it focuses and holds attention on the most salient percepts and goals, permitting the self-organization of action plans. The Self is not a separate entity, but a colloquy of command modules wearing the avatar of the agent. This system is put into correspondence with Grossberg's Adaptive Resonance Theory. Free will and determinism emerge not as binary opposites, but the modulating inputs to a spectrum of systems.

Case Report: Case report : Mindfulness training led to catharsis and mindfulness-to-meaning in a patient with social anxiety disorder comorbid with persistent depressive disorder (Dysthymia)

Background The use of mindfulness in the treatment of anxiety and depression is becoming more and more widespread, but there are few reports that it has fundamentally changed patients’ sense of life. Case Presentation This report showed 9 year’s progress of treatment for Social Anxiety Disorder and Persistent Depressive Disorder in a 41-year-old female patient experiencing a long-term painful married life with a reckless husband and controlling mother-in-law. During the past 25 months, she received 180 sessions of mindfulness training, resulting in complete remission of the anxiety and depression symptoms. After the 30th session she experienced an episode of the catharsis during the mindfulness training and experienced what can be called Mindfulness-To-Meaning, which is characterized by durable eudaimonic well-being in the face of adversity. Conclusions The psychological mechanisms that supported arriving at Mindfulness-To-Meaning are delineated as: Heightened (1) awareness which promoted (2) verbalization of the primary theme of suppression, in which the stress was (3) appraised metacognitively. Then (4) decentering permitted integrating this painful theme into a new adaptive self and world view, which resulted in (5) emotional catharsis, or release. Furthermore (6) positive appraisal of this experience enhanced awareness and led to the experience of (7) Mindfulness-To-Meaning.

Apakah Financial Behavior dan Intellectual Capital Memengaruhi Kinerja dan Sustainability UMKM di Kabupaten Pasuruan?

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have been recognized in the world view because they have a vital role in economic development in developed and developing countries. According to Law Number 20 of 2008 which defines that MSMEs or Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises are productive businesses owned by individuals or groups which have met certain criteria set by this law. Ministry of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (Kemenkop UMKM) in 2023, there will be positive growth of MSMEs with 8.71 million units and Indonesia's GDP will reach 19,588 trillion rupiah in 2022. Therefore, optimal performance of MSMEs is necessary for sustainability and economic growth. The aim of this research is to determine and measure the influence of financial behavior and intellectual capital on the performance and sustainability of MSMEs in Pasuruan Regency. The sample selection in this study used purposive sampling of 64 fostered MSMEs in Pasuruan district. For statistical tests and data processing, use SmartPLS 4.0 by looking at the outer model and inner model values.

Working Memory Training Is Good for Your World View and for Your Cortical Connectivity, Too

Working Memory Training Is Good for Your World View and for Your Cortical Connectivity, Too

The current state of spirituality: A four world view

ABSTRACT Though spirituality has become more prevalent in holistic Biopsychosocial-Spiritual (BPSS) health it is still scarcely acknowledged by the US healthcare system, its clinicians and along with it its systemic benefits. This article aims to provide a summarization of those benefits through Peek’s (2008) four world view (i.e. clinical, financial, operational, and training) of health care and discuss the lack of acknowledgment amongst these benefits. To better diversify the authors outlook on spirituality the modern clinical version of spirituality (Koenig 2008) was utilized as a clinical framework. The application of this framework is due in part to clinicians and their discomfort being one of the driving forces behind the lack of acknowledgment. Through this framework, clinicians can create a more welcoming stance for diverse spiritual presentations and increase acknowledgment of spirituality for their patients within the healthcare system. Due to this framework being conducive to a clinical stance it would benefit the acknowledgment of spirituality by beginning in the world of training. This stance would directly address clinician discomfort and increase the overall acknowledgment of spirituality. Improvements within the training world should be prioritized while also highlighting important conversations that should be happening simultaneously in the other three worlds (Table 1).

Source vs sink limitations on tree growth: from physiological mechanisms to evolutionary constraints and terrestrial carbon cycle implications.

The potential for widespread sink-limited plant growth has received increasing attention in the literature in the past few years. Despite recent evidence for sink limitations to plant growth, there are reasons to be cautious about a sink-limited world view. First, source-limited vegetation models do a reasonable job at capturing geographic patterns in plant productivity and responses to resource limitations. Second, from an evolutionary perspective, it is nonadaptive for plants to invest in increasing carbon assimilation if growth is primarily sink-limited. In this review, we synthesize the potential evidence for and underlying physiology of sink limitation across terrestrial ecosystems and contrast mechanisms of sink limitation with those of source-limited productivity. We highlight evolutionary restrictions on the magnitude of sink limitation at the organismal level. We also detail where mechanisms regulating sink limitation at the organismal and ecosystem scale (e.g. the terrestrial carbon sink) diverge. Although we find that there is currently no direct evidence for widespread organismal sink limitation, we propose a series of follow-up growth chamber manipulations, systematized measurements, and modeling experiments targeted at diagnosing nonadaptive buildup of excess nonstructural carbohydrates that will help illuminate the prevalence and magnitude of organismal sink limitation.

Sinful Worlds, Divine Purposes, and Justifications of Slavery in Alonso de Sandoval’s De instauranda Aethiopum salute

Abstract To twenty-first-century eyes, the question of how Jesuits could minister to enslaved people, while simultaneously enslaving them, can seem hard to resolve. This article examines the work of the Jesuit Alonso de Sandoval (1576–1652), De instauranda Aethiopum salute, as a window into the worldview of a Jesuit who was also an enslaver. The apparent tension between the two Jesuit activities of ministry and slaveholding has often led to distorted representations of Sandoval as a humanitarian or proto-abolitionist. This article seeks to resolve the apparent tension by examining Sandoval as a religious thinker who articulated justifications of transatlantic slavery. It argues that in De instauranda a view of the temporal world as inherently sinful, and a faith in God’s ultimate plan for the salvation of the fallen world, combined to justify and celebrate transatlantic slavery as an instrument of salvation. Sandoval’s faith in divinely ordained hierarchies meant that he saw no contradiction between Christian charity and colonial slavery. This worldview deserves further attention from scholars who wish to understand the mentalité of the seventeenth-century Society of Jesus on its own terms.

Our morality tells us what to eat – A systematic review on attitudes towards genetically modified foods

Genetically modified foods (GMF) have long been discussed as one of the potential means to bring about our urgently needed agricultural transformation. However, even as long, the public in Europe and Northern America has rejected GMF. Motivated by this ongoing polarisation about GMF, we conducted a systematic review on factors that impact GMF perceptions and attitudes. Adding to previous reviews on GMF attitude, such as Frewer et al. (2013), we are particularly interested in how differences in attitudes between the Global North and Global South (GS) unfold. With that, we also contribute to overcoming a bias that we noted: the majority of studies on this topic has been conducted in the Global North. Moreover, because recent research on moral evolution shows how vital morality is for attitude formation, we are particularly interested in the role of moral beliefs in forming attitudes on GMF. Our study followed the PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews. A total of 55 papers were included in the review, 45 of those from the initial search, and 10 from the additional search, specifically focusing on the GS. Our results show a heterogenous dynamic behind the prediction of attitude. Interestingly, morality is shown to be an important factor. Specifically, we find that moral concerns, for example of fairness, world views, religion, play a prominent role in GMF attitudes. Thus, when designing policies and improving science communication about GMF, moral benefits of the technology need more consideration and should be sensibly addressed. Furthermore, and perhaps most importantly, the population in the GS should be given greater consideration in issues that affect the whole world. Related to GMF attitude and perception, our analysis shows that they bring a different perspective, as well as different needs, to the discussion.

Juozas Keliuotis in the Target of KGB in 1956–1978

The life of Juozas Keliuotis, one of the most conspicuous cultural workers of Lithuania, in Soviet times shows the specificity of the psychological pressure on intellectuals. The KGB unit in Lithuania involved many personalities in its manipulatory games. J. Keliuotis was of no exception. Persecuted and morally broken he wrote the memoirs revealing sufferings in the camp and violations of human rights. In 1962–1975, KGB spared no efforts seeking to find and obtain the memoirs of the intellectual in question. Even though the security failed to fetch the manuscripts of the intellectual, it succeeded in hindering for a long time their passing over to the West. Dealing with the independent Lithuanian authoritative persons was planned by experienced and influential KGB operational workers. In 1956–1978, J. Keliuotis was shadowed by quite a number of agents. It was people from the environment of the intellectual that were mostly hired. Most frequently he had to communicate with the agents of influence. For J. Keliuotis’ control not only agents were used, but also different ways for his efficient shadowing. KGB, with interruptions, applied various so-called operational technical measures: listened to his conversations, carried out secret searches in his apartment, made photos, and controlled J. Keliuotis’ correspondence. Due to constant and active spying by KGB, J. Keliuotis lost trust in his close people. KGB aimed at neutralizing the cultural influence of intellectuals. It was useful to discredit the authoritative persons by instigating them to be in conflict with émigré in terms of cultural relations. In 1971, J. Keliuotis spoke forcibly in the press, not only condemning the activity of emigrants, but also demonstrating economic and cultural “achievements” of Soviet Lithuania. The article of the intellectual was re-edited by operational employees in the direction useful for the Soviet system. The forced trampling on his world outlook meant the fictitious demonstration of loyalty to the Soviet regime. Moreover, such repentance in the press showed that a certain person was gripped by KGB. Public statements of intellectuals were used for Soviet propaganda, and the persons themselves who lost their authority were pushed aside. The individuality of J. Keliuotis in fighting with émigré was necessary for KGB as the tool of manipulation aimed at denying the historic truth. Nevertheless, in the eyes of the public of Soviet Lithuania J. Keliuotis remained as the enlightened person from the times of independence and the advocate of Western modern art. Keliuotis was persecuted until his death 1983 The LSSR Supreme Court rehabilitated the intellectual on December 16, 1998. Only with the change in the political situation, persecution of persons of anti-Soviet disposition and not loyal to the Soviet system was stopped.

Pastoral women and their rangelands in Tanzania: a feminist critical discourse reframing

In northern Tanzania, pastoral women are targets of gender equality efforts that attempt to translate gender and environment theory into conservation action. These conservation efforts, much like other development agendas in Tanzania, are often driven by international narratives that oversimplify the knowledge, position, and power of pastoral women. Within the context of the integrated conservation and development agenda, this study turns attention to local discourse to investigate pastoral women’s work, positions, and roles in relation to their rangelands in northern Tanzania. Textual materials from three local non-governmental organisations were the focus of a novel ‘names, chains, and frames’ feminist critical discourse analysis method. Analysis of the data provides new information about the characteristics of pastoral women’s lives in northern Tanzania. In contrast to international development representations, pastoral women’s identities are complex and shifting, while their rangelands are both a place of nurturing and of conflict. This study also points out the potential negative impacts of conservation and development activities on women, especially lower-income pastoralists. Ultimately, results of this study invite actors to break away from dichotomous world views and Western-driven notions of nature. We advocate that a willingness to look through locally constructed frames will lead to the design of a new generation of integrated conservation and development projects that more successfully honor today’s pastoral women.

Prospective teachers’ mathematical world views and beliefs about mathematics teaching and learning goals

As mathematics teachers’ beliefs form the basis of their classroom practices, it is important to gain greater insight into them and their development. This study examines and compares the beliefs of prospective teachers without and with practical experiences regarding the nature of mathematics and mathematics teaching and learning goals. As a result of combining qualitative and quantitative data analysis, it is possible to obtain a deeper understanding of prospective teachers’ beliefs and their potential change due to practical experiences. Eleven students participated in a survey consisting of a questionnaire and an interview. In order to analyse the participants’ answers, the examined beliefs were categorised into four mathematical world views. Both the quantitative and qualitative analyses provide evidence that the evaluated beliefs have not changed as a result of practical experiences. All respondents considered the application of mathematics to be a teaching goal. The dynamic and static nature of mathematics is reflected in their views regarding the essentials of learning mathematics.

A global survey to understand general vaccine trust, COVID-19 and influenza vaccine confidence.

The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted the way that the world views vaccines. While safe and effective, COVID-19 vaccines were, and continue to be met with hesitancy and misinformation. We aimed to understand public perceptions and trust in COVID-19 vaccinations and how the pandemic has impacted perceptions of non-COVID-19 vaccines. Survey data were collected between August 7, 2023-August 16, 2023, from 7,000 respondents aged 18 years and older from the United States (n = 1,000); Nigeria (n = 1,000); United Kingdom (n = 1,000); France (n = 1,000); Canada (n = 1,000); Brazil (n = 1,000); and India (n = 1,000). Trust in COVID-19 vaccines was highest in Brazil (84.6%) and India (80.4%) and lowest in the United States (63.5%) and France (55.0%). 47.5% of respondents agreed that they trust traditional protein-based vaccines more than mRNA vaccines, 13.5% disagree and 39.0% are neutral about their trust in protein-based versus mRNA vaccines. Overall, 53.9% of respondents reported that the COVID-19 pandemic impacted their perceptions of vaccines with half of these respondents (51.7%) reporting that the pandemic made them think that other vaccines are more important as they understand how critical vaccines can be at preventing serious illnesses. These data can be used by health system decision makers, public health and researchers to understand how vaccine trust impacts perceptions of COVID-19 and influenza vaccines globally and develop tailored interventions that address local concerns.

Inca Civilization and the Natural World: an Ecocritical Exploration of Pablo Neruda's "the Heights of Macchu Picchu"

This paper offers an ecocritical exploration of "The Heights of Macchu Picchu," regarding the complicated relationship between nature, culture, and resistance within the poem. Through a qualitative textual analysis, the study investigates Neruda's portrayal of the Andean landscape and the Inca civilization by focusing on imagery, figurative language, and thematic elements. Employing ecocritical concepts of anthropocentrism and biocentrism, the analysis seeks to discern Neruda's ecological perspective and its implications for contemporary environmental discourse. The study reveals that Neruda's poem embodies a biocentric perspective valuing nature for its intrinsic worth and emphasizing the interconnectedness of all life forms. Through vivid imagery and metaphorical language, Neruda celebrates the enduring power and majesty of the natural world and challenges traditional anthropocentric views. Additionally, the poem portrays Macchu Picchu as a symbol of resistance against cultural oppression, suggesting that cultural resistance can find sustenance in the natural world. Ultimately, this study deepens our understanding of Neruda's masterpiece and its relevance to current discussions on nature, culture, and the interconnectedness of humanity and the environment. Through Neruda's poetic vision, readers are inspired to reevaluate their relationship with the natural world and strive for a more harmonious coexistence with nature in our modern era of environmental challenges.

Aziz Gardi's world view of Kurdish culture and literature

Aziz Gardi's world view of Kurdish culture and literature

The Concept of “World” in Ancient Turkic World View

Abstract The relevance of this work is that modern society shows interest in and explores the issue of traditional values, which are the result of social transformations. The development of a national, traditional worldview in the study and cognition of the surrounding world is still being investigated today. The purpose of the study is to conduct a general analysis of the establishment and origin of the worldview of the ancient Turkic peoples and to show the essential aspects of the classical worldview of modern Turkic peoples. The following methods were used in this study: historical, dialectical, comparative, historical, and descriptive methods, analysis and synthesis, as well as deductive and inductive methods. The result of the study was the coverage of not only the question of the worldview of the ancient Turks but also the relevance of this topic in the modern world and the role of a person in society. The study reveals the attitude of the Turks toward society, beliefs, worldview, and understanding of the “World” by nomadic Turkic peoples and describes the main function of the world. The practical significance of this topic lies in the motivation of a person to learn about their origin, culture, and traditions. The study of the world, life, and death of the Turkic peoples will provide a deeper understanding of the traditional culture and worldview of the ancient Turks. The paper covers the topic of the origin of culture and civilization among the Turks. The heroic epic “Oguz Kagan” is considered, and the manifestation of divine faith in the work is analyzed. The idea of the “World” in the epic was clarified by the beliefs of the ancient Turks.

PHRASEOLOGICAL UNITS REPRESENTING COSMIC CHRONOTOPE IN THE RUSSIAN POETIC WORLDVIEW (including the materials from the dictionary „Phraseological units in the Russian poetry of the 19th – 21st centuries“)

This article is devoted to the study of phraseological units that represent the cosmic chronotope in the Russian poetic world view in the poetry discourse of the 19th – 21st centuries, based on the conceptual paradigm “human – globe – space”. The article considers the peculiarities of the system organisation, the originality of the concept-forming and style-forming functioning of the main components of the conceptual paradigm within the context of some particular poetry and within a certain poetic discourse, presented by a number of poems of the 19th – early 21st centuries in the dictionary “Phraseological Units in Russian Poetry”. The choice of poetry is determined by a descriptive and philosophically generalised expression of the concept. The biggest attention is paid to the way the main ideas, that are figuratively reflected in this poetic discourse, are realised. The considered phraseological units are grouped around the following ideas – anthropocentrism, immortality and life in eternity, posthumously reward for a person’s lifetime exploits, ascetic nature of inspiration.

Navigating wicked problems: the unrecognised contribution of social pedagogy to Aotearoa New Zealand’s successful Covid-19 response

Aotearoa New Zealand’s government, alongside its Indigenous Māori and Pacific communities, spearheaded a unique and effective response to the first three years of the Covid-19 crisis that swept the world. The measures taken enabled the country to largely keep its society within its borders open and functional, minimise the impact of the pandemic on individual lives and community well-being and keep morbidity rates low. While there have been numerous studies and articles exploring this national response, to this point no examination has been undertaken through a social pedagogical lens. This article identifies key concepts from the discipline that are relevant to Aotearoa New Zealand’s context, discusses the ways in which these were (albeit unknowingly) applied during the peak of the pandemic and explores future potential for application in social and public health policy and practice. Weaving together a shared framework of Māori, Pacific and unique Aotearoa New Zealand world views and cultural practices alongside the principles of social pedagogy presents an exciting opportunity to shape a national crisis response that is effective and meets the needs of diverse communities. It is argued that making the contribution of social pedagogy visible has the potential to enhance responses to wicked problems in times of crisis and further the acceptance of the discipline in the southern hemisphere.

The classical and modern trends of interaction between European philosophy and medicine

The interaction between European philosophy and medicine during historical periods of the New Time, the Enlightenment era and XX-XXI century is highlighted in the article. Special attention is paid to the influence of research in the world outlook and motivation basis of human activity, conducted by the main philosophers of the classical and modern time; on the formation of theoretical and axiological basis of modern medicine, as well as the concept of interrelation of human’s mental and physiological health. The main aspects of theoretical research in ontology (or metaphysics), gnoseology (epistemology), methodology, social philosophy and ethics connected to medicine theory and practice are also discussed in the article.

11.Q. Round table: A Guide for creating a code of ethics for public health professionals and institutions

Abstract The professional discipline of public health is driven by its values. Public health professionals face decisions that have far-reaching ethical implications. Our norms, values, beliefs and the way we see the world, as individuals, communities and institutions which serve us, do matter and fundamentally affect our decisions, behaviours, policies, and practice. The ability to be aware and reflect on norms and values when taking decisions, is a decisive professional virtue in public health practice. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region (ASPHER) Roadmap for the professionalisation of the public health workforce, has highlighted ethics as an essential pillar for professionalisation, a core competency, and the need for a Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct for good public health practice. In order to further advance the issue the Global Network for Academic Public Health (GNAPH), ASPHER, the European Public Health Association (EUPHA), the UK Faculty of Public Health and other partners set up an expert international joint working group on public health ethics and law (PHELWG). The PHEL expert working group - which includes senior public health professionals, ethicists, lawyers and academics - has been working to carry out research and develop a guide for creating a Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct for public health professionals and institutions. This has included consideration of the competencies, principles and values for good public health practice. The project has involved literature review, research and the wide professional experience of the international group of experts who have been working on the issue.The development of a guide for creating a code of ethics for public health professionals and institutions is part of the overall objective of the PHELWG to build a ethico-legal competency, capacity and resilience of public health workforce. The proposed Guide and related resources will be a timely resource, practical tool and support for public health professionals, organisations, or regulatory bodies to develop their own local country code of ethics and build further ethico-legal capacity of their public health professional workforce and institutions. Purpose of the roundtable workshop will be to: - present the guide on creating a code of ethics for public health public health professionals and institutions, which will be launched at that time - Share the proposed ethical competencies/skills, principles and values for good public health practice, with particular consideration of Indigenous knowledge and world views - reflect and consult with the workshop participants around the guide and the proposed pilot sites for implementing the Codes in various centres. Key messages • Development of Code of ethics and professional conduct is a key requirement for public health professionalization. • The Guide for creating code of ethics by international expert group provides significant resource for development of codes locally. Speakers/Panelists Kasia Czabanowska Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands Farhang Tahzib Faculty of Public Health, Haywards heath, UK Paul Athanasopoulos Public Health Department, Stirling, UK

An Investigation Into the Unconscious Influence of Mortality Salience Upon Sentencing Decisions.

This study aimed to explore if unconscious awareness of death influences the harshness of offender sentencing. According to Terror Management Theory death is anxiety-provoking, and self-esteem and a belief in a shared cultural worldview keep anxiety at bay. When these factors are challenged then death awareness increases. These dynamics could be relevant in a court setting in which judges have to make decisions regarding offenders who may have different world views and in cases that trigger the awareness of mortality. We used subliminal priming to activate the awareness of death and recorded the effect it had on decision-making against a hypothetical offender. Participants (N = 303) were recruited and randomly assigned to either an experimental mortality condition or a neutral control condition. Analysis revealed that death-related subliminal priming brought about harsher sentencing effects than the control. The results suggest that subconscious awareness of death may bias decision-making when sentencing.