This essay is a revision of ?Rudiments of an Ethics of News Reporting,?; which won honorable mention in the 1985 Carol Burnett/University of Hawaii/ AEJMC Prize for Student Papers on Journalism Ethics. It argues that news reporting suffers from a misplaced faith in individual autonomy, a faith that resists a sense of social duty on the basis of negative freedom; therefore, journalism stands in need of a moral theory that recognizes community and personhood as fundamental human characteristics essential to ethical (...) decision?making. (shrink)

Industrial shrimp farming has been promoted by international development and financial institutions in coastal indebted poor countries as a way to obtain foreign exchange earnings, reimburse external debt, and promote development. The promotion of the shrimp industry is a clear example of a more general trend of support of export-oriented primary products, consisting in monocultures of commodities, as opposed to the promotion of more diverse, traditional production directed to feed the local population. In general, it is assumed that export-oriented aquaculture (...) and agriculture, in a framework of liberalization policies, facilitates economic growth and this is associated with poverty reduction and the improvement of food security. However, it has been shown that the promotion of export-oriented production, mostly in the hands of big corporations, can have detrimental consequences for the livelihoods of local populations and the environment. As a result, international institutions, NGOs, and the industry aim to minimize these impacts by promoting sustainable export-oriented production. But some impacts may remain, since the main issue is the primary focus on international deregulated markets and the search for cheap primary products. To illustrate the relationships between the mainstream concept of development, the environmental and social impact of industrial farming systems, and the promotion of export-oriented production in developing countries, this article analyzes the case of the shrimp aquaculture industry. (shrink)

Meat?eating as a human practice has been under ethical attack from philosophers such as Peter Singer and Tom Regan on both utilitarian and deontological grounds. An organicist ethic, on the other hand, recognizes that all life other than the primary producers, the plants, must feed on life. This essay affirms, with many environmental ethicists, the moralconsiderability of biota other than the human, but denies that this enlargement of the moral community beyond Homo sapiens necessarily precludes our eating of meat. First, (...) absolute deontological arguments against meat?eating are disputed, then utilitarian?hedonistic arguments are shown not to be sufficient to require ethical vegetarianism. Both sorts of arguments have strengths, however, that set us on guard against current abuses in the meat?raising and slaughtering industries. If the principle of ?due respect? for beings with different degrees of intrinsic value is honored, then moderate meat?eating under reformed social practices can be seen as licit. Two final problems then require investigation: the problem of dietary justice for poor humans and the problem of ?speciesism?. Dealing with the latter requires discussion of cannibalism and the ethics of humans being eaten by still higher ?aliens? (shrink)

Mass media ethics and the classical liberal ideal of the autonomous individual are historically linked and professionally dominant--yet the authors of this work feel this is intrinsically flawed. They show how recent research in philosophy and social science--together with a longer tradition in theological inquiry--insist that community, mutuality, and relationship are fundamental to a full concept of personhood. The authors argue that "persons-in-community" provides a more defensible grounding for journalists' professional moral decision-making in crucial areas such as truthtelling, privacy, organizational (...) culture, and balanced coverage. With numerous examples drawn from life as well as from theory, this book will interest journalists, editors, and professionals in media management as well as students and scholars of media ethics, reporting, and media law. (shrink)

This paper offers theoretical explanations for why “guided touch” or manual touch with verbal communication can be an effective way of treating the body and the mind. The active inference theory suggests that chronic pain and emotional disorders can be attributed to distorted and exaggerated patterns of interoceptive and proprioceptive inference. We propose that the nature of active inference is abductive. As such, to rectify aberrant active inference processes, we should change the “Rule” of abduction, or the “prior beliefs” entailed (...) by a patient’s generative model. This means pre-existing generative models should be replaced with new models. To facilitate such replacement—or updating—the present treatment proposes that we should weaken prior beliefs, especially the one at the top level of hierarchical generative models, thereby altering the sense of agency, and redeploying attention. Then, a new prior belief can be installed through inner communication along with manual touch. The present paper proposes several hypotheses for possible experimental studies. If touch with verbal guidance is proven to be effective, this would demonstrate the relevance of active inference and the implicit prediction model at a behavioral level. Furthermore, it would open new possibilities of employing inner communication interventions, including self-talk training, for a wide range of psychological and physical therapies. (shrink)

Após afirmar que os dois sentidos aristotélicos do ato são insuficientes para dizer o ente tal como este se encontra na realidade, o trabalho mostra como o novo sentido que Lúlio atribuiu à noção de ato permitiu-lhe superar a limitação própria dos conhecimentos obtidos mediante as operações da faculdade cognoscitiva e alcançar, com ajuda de sua Ars, o ato de ser dos entes.

Apresentam-se, em forma de sintética perspectiva histórica, alguns dos temas principais da metafisica do ser, de modo a mostrar a articulação do pensamento filosófico desde Parmênides a Tomás de Aquino, salientando-se no fim de cada período as conquistas que ficaram em aberto. A seguir, expõe-se a metafisica Juliana, afirmando-se que esta seguramente consistiria numa tentativa de continuar a especulação e o aprofundamento sobre o ato de Ser, a partir do ponto alcançado pela especulação anterior. O trabalho pode ser visto portanto (...) como uma chave para a leitura das obras lulianas. (shrink)

This study is divided in three parts. First, it shows which are the specific truths of Christianism, that distinguish it from other monotheistic religions. In the second part, establish the lullian metaphysics´suppositions that consent to embrace this truths. Finally, the third part is an attempt to expose the arguments and demonstrations characteristic of Lullian theory of knowledge.

Esta comunicación muestra que elpensamiento del filósofo mallorquín avanza conrelación ai estado de la doctrina tradicional sobrelas nociones clásicas de naturaleza y personaporque arranca de su teoria de las Dignidades,según la cual el ser se presenta como actividadformalizada. Si "pensar", "escuchar" y "ver" sonactos, lo son por el acto de ser, y tendrá que seréste, el acto en primer lugar diferenciado.Además, la importante teoria Juliana de las obraspropias y apropiadas permite una explicación dela naturaleza humana muy consistente con larealidad. Se (...) empieza por explicar cómo surge elhombre por su acto de ser. Según Llull, e! hombreradica en e! "soy", un "acto común" que conectaalma y cuerpo. La naturaleza humana es la únicaque reúne en si todo lo criado y es gracias a ellaque las criaturas pueden alcanzar su fin. Sedemuestra que el alma existe, es criada, y es máspor su fin que por su esencia, y es, porconsiguiente, eterna. Finalmente, Llull dice queexiste en nosotros un entender interior ypripligenio, siempre en acto, por media del cualtenemos noticia de nuestro ser, del ser de lascosas y de Dios. (shrink)

Estudam-se realidades básicas da moral - o ente, o ato de ser e a causalidade eficiente intrínseca - e se conclui que se harmonizam apenas com aquelas metafísicas denominadas do ser. que concebem o ser como a primeira perfeição à qual se reduzem todas as outras. Critica-se a posição essencialista. Examina-se a noção de ser implícita nos escritos de Tomás de Aquino que, por superar a concepção formalista do ser, permite uma compreensão adequada da vida moral.,Da mesma maneira, a noção (...) do ser que se extrai da obra de Raimundo Lúlio não difere essencialmente daquelas apresentadas pelas metafisicas do ser, e por isso a moral Juliana sobre ela assente é permanente e adequada à pessoa humana. (shrink)

This paper introduces pragmatic hypotheses and relates this concept to the spiral of scientific evolution. Previous works determined a characterization of logically consistent statistical hypothesis tests and showed that the modal operators obtained from this test can be represented in the hexagon of oppositions. However, despite the importance of precise hypothesis in science, they cannot be accepted by logically consistent tests. Here, we show that this dilemma can be overcome by the use of pragmatic versions of precise hypotheses. These pragmatic (...) versions allow a level of imprecision in the hypothesis that is small relative to other experimental conditions. The introduction of pragmatic hypotheses allows the evolution of scientific theories based on statistical hypothesis testing to be interpreted using the narratological structure of hexagonal spirals, as defined by Pierre Gallais. (shrink)

Prior reports suggest that affective effects in visual word processing cannot be fully explained by a dimensional perspective of emotions based on valence and arousal. In the current study, we focused on the contribution of approach and avoidance motivational systems that are related to different action components to the processing of emotional words. To this aim, we compared frontal alpha asymmetries and brain oscillations elicited by anger words associated with approach motivational tendencies, and fear words that may trigger either avoidance, (...) approach or no action tendencies. The participants’ task was to make decisions about approaching or distancing from the concepts represented by words. The results of cluster-based and beamforming analyses revealed increased gamma power band synchronization for fear words relative to anger words between 725 and 750 ms, with an estimated neural origin in the temporal pole. These findings were interpreted to reflect a conflict between different action tendencies underlying the representation of fear words in semantic and emotional memories, when trying to achieve task requirements. These results are in line with the predictions made by the fear-hinders-action hypothesis. Additionally, current data highlights the contribution of motivational features to the representation and processing of emotional words. (shrink)

This research characterizes and compares the job satisfaction of fitness professionals in Portugal between genders, ages, professional experience, professional title, and educational qualifications. A total of 401 fitness professionals answered the online questionnaire Job Satisfaction Scale, which has 16 factors rated on a Likert scale with seven levels. The statistical analysis comprises descriptive and statistical tests to compare the results of two or more groups. Overall, the results demonstrated that fitness professionals were moderately satisfied with their work. The lower degrees (...) of job satisfaction were concerning salary, opportunities for promotion, and stability at work. The highest levels of job satisfaction were related to the freedom to choose their work method, their work colleagues, the physical conditions of their workplace, and the opportunity to use their competencies. There were no differences in job satisfaction in terms of gender and a few differences between professional title and between educational levels. Regarding age and professional experience, the results showed significant differences in almost all factors, suggesting that, as fitness professionals get older and more experienced, their job satisfaction is greater. The results of this study suggest that even though fitness professionals are, in general, moderately satisfied with their work, some aspects can be improved by employers to increase their satisfaction levels. Such findings would assist employers in guiding the job satisfaction of their employees with consequent enhancements in the services provided by fitness professionals, which can increase participants’ retention in exercise fitness activities. (shrink)

Morphological EvoDevo is a field of biological inquiry in which explicit relations between evolutionary patterns and growth or morphogenetic processes are made. Historically, morphological EvoDevo results from the coming together of several traditions, notably Naturphilosophie, embryology, the study of heterochrony, and developmental constraints. A special feature binding different approaches to morphological EvoDevo is the use of formalisms and mathematical models. Here we will introduce anatomical network analysis, a new approach centered on connectivity patterns formed by anatomical parts, with its own (...) concepts and tools specifically designed for the study of morphological EvoDevo questions. Riedl’s concept of burden is tightly related to the use of anatomical networks, providing a nexus between the evolutionary patterns and the structural constraints that shape them. (shrink)

. The uniform prior distribution is often seen as a mathematical description of noninformativeness. This paper uses the well-known Three Prisoners Paradox to examine the impossibility of maintaining noninformativeness throughout hierarchization. The Paradox has been solved by Bayesian conditioning over the choice made by the Warder when asked to name a prisoner who will be shot. We generalize the paradox to situations of N prisoners, k executions and m announcements made by the Warder. We then extend the consequences of hierarchically (...) placing uniform and symmetrical priors for the probability p of the Warder naming Prisoner B, say. We prove that breaks of indifference and neutrality caused by assignment of uniform and symmetrical priors in lieu of degenerate indifference probabilities hold in general. Speaking of unknown probabilities or of probability of a probability must be forbidden as meaningless. Bruno de Finetti, 1977 I regard the use of hierarchical chains as a technique helping you to sharpen your subjective probabilities. I. J. Good, 1981. (shrink)

A field study collecting behavioral data was conducted to investigate effects of behavioral interventions, commonly known as nudges, in promoting the consumption of organic fruits and vegetables. Consumption, both organically and conventionally produced fruits and vegetables, was measured in a grocery store during 4 days where consumers were exposed to informational messages in combination with either emotional images or social norm messages. Measurements of daily consumption without exposure to nudges were carried out during four other days. The results showed no (...) effect of the nudging strategy; instead, it pointed to the importance of the price as a determinant of buying decisions. Buying ecological alternatives was associated with lower price differences between the ecological and non-ecological alternatives. We conclude that combined nudges and collected psychological data from participants may contribute to more successful nudging interventions. Some political measures in balancing the price difference between organically and conventionally produced products might also be interesting strategies in order to promote the consumption of organic fruits and vegetables. (shrink)

Divisão do trabalho e apologia da ordem em Thomas Hobbes e Norbert Elias Resumo: O artigo expõe os juízos afirmativos granjeados por Thomas Hobbes e Norbert Elias a respeito da divisão do trabalho e de suas relações com a ordem social, a despeito das diferenças de métodos e de métricas dos autores em pauta. De Thomas Hobbes, recolhe-se a demonstração, com subjacência no raciocínio hipotético-dedutivo do filósofo inglês, de que, do indivíduo, palmilha-se à sociedade, do contrato que edifica o Estado, (...) envereda-se à divisão do trabalho como uma das maneiras de estatuir o conforto necessário à manutenção da sociedade civil. De Norbert Elias, apanha-se a relação processual entre sociogênese e psicogênese que, sem opor indivíduo e sociedade, trata da formação da divisão do trabalho e da individualidade como fenômenos inseparáveis e peculiares ao processo civilizador. Palavras-chave: Divisão do trabalho. Ordem social. Thomas Hobbes. Norbert Elias. Division of work and apology of the order in thomas hobbes and norbert elias: The article exposes the assertive judgments made by Thomas Hobbes and Norbert Elias concerning the division of labor and its relations with the social order, despite the differences of methods and metrics of the authors in question. From Thomas Hobbes, the demonstration, based on the hypothetical-deductive reasoning of the English philosopher, is gathered from the demonstration that, from the individual, ingrained in society, from the contract that builds the State, the division of labor is divided as one of the ways of establishing the comfort necessary for the maintenance of civil society. From Norbert Elias, one picks up the procedural relation between sociogenesis and psychogenesis that, without opposing individual and society, deals with the formation of the division of labor and individuality as inseparable phenomena peculiar to the civilizing process. Key-words: Division of labor. Social order. Thomas Hobbes. Norbert Elias. División del trabajo y apología del orden en thomas hobbes y norbert elias Resumen: El artículo expone los juicios afirmativos desmenuzados por Thomas Hobbes y Norbert Elias acerca de la división del trabajo y de sus relaciones con el orden social, a pesar de las diferencias de métodos y de métricas de los autores en pauta. De Thomas Hobbes, se recoge la demostración, con subyacencia en el razonamiento hipotético-deductivo del filósofo inglés, de que, del individuo, se adapta a la sociedad, del contrato que edifica el Estado, se entra en la división del trabajo como una de las formas de estatuir el confort necesario para el mantenimiento de la sociedad civil. De Norbert Elias, se recoge la relación procesal entre sociogénesis y psicogénesis que, sin oponer individuo y sociedad, trata de la formación de la división del trabajo y de la individualidad como fenómenos inseparables y peculiares al proceso civilizador. Palabras clave: División del trabajo. Orden social. Thomas Hobbes. Norbert Elias. (shrink)

Osteopathy is a person-centred healthcare discipline that emphasizes the body’s structure-function interrelationship—and its self-regulatory mechanisms—to inform a whole-person approach to health and wellbeing. This paper aims to provide a theoretical framework for developing an integrative hypothesis in osteopathy, which is based on the enactivist and active inference accounts. We propose that osteopathic care can be reconceptualised under active inference as a unifying framework. Active inference suggests that action-perception cycles operate to minimize uncertainty and optimize an individual’s internal model of the (...) lived world and, crucially, the consequences of their behaviour. We argue that active inference offers an integrative framework for osteopathy, which can evince the mechanisms underlying dyadic and triadic exchanges and osteopathic care outcomes. We propose that this theoretical framework can underpin osteopathic care across the lifespan, from preterm infants to the elderly and those with persistent pain and other physical symptoms. In situations of chronicity, as an ecological niche, the patient-practitioner dyad provides the osteopath and the patient with a set of affordances, i.e., possibilities for action provided by the environment, that through shared intentionally, can promote adaptations and restoration of productive agency. Through a dyadic therapeutic relationship, as they engage with their ecological niche’s affordances—a structured set of affordances shared by agents—osteopath and patient actively construct a shared sense-making narrative and realise a shared generative model of their relation to the niche. In general, touch plays a critical role in developing a robust therapeutic alliance, mental state alignment, and biobehavioural synchrony between patient and practitioner. However, its role is particularly crucial in the fields of neonatology and paediatrics, where it becomes central in regulating allostasis and restoring homeostasis. We argue that from an active inference standpoint, the dyadic shared ecological niche underwrites a robust therapeutic alliance, which is crucial to the effectiveness of osteopathic care. Considerations and implications of this model—to clinical practice and research, both within- and outside osteopathy—are critically discussed. (shrink)