Philosophy Commons^™

Everybody Hates Rainbows, D. E. Wittkower

Philosophy Faculty Publications

[First paragraph]
“The Culture Industry.” Does that phrase make you as uncomfortable as it makes me? Culture shouldn’t be an industry; it should be something natural and organic. Culture is our communal history and legacy; the context in which we learn and grow, and to which we may contribute. In the past, our culture might have consisted of the stories we learned as children, the songs we all sang together, perhaps traditional clothing or dances. In some sense, it’s hard to imagine today.

Alterations In Default Network Connectivity In Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Related To Early Life Trauma, Robyn L. Bluhm, Peter C. Williamson, Elizabeth A. Osuch, Paul A. Frewen, Todd K. Stevens, Kristine Boksman, Richard W.J. Neufeld, Jean Théberge, Ruth A. Lanius

Philosophy Faculty Publications

Background: The "default network" consists of a number of brain regions that exhibit correlated low-frequency activity at rest and that have been suggested to be involved in the processing of self-relevant stimuli. Activity in many of these areas has also been shown to be altered in individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We hypothesized that the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC)/precuneus, part of the default network, would exhibit altered connectivity at rest with other areas of the default network and regions associated with PTSD.

Methods: Seventeen medicated and unmedicated female patients with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to early-life trauma …

Asca Code Of Ethics And The Relevance Of Eastern Ethical Theories, Amy Cook, Rick Houser

Counseling, School Psychology & Sport Faculty Publication Series

As schools become increasingly diverse through immigration and growth of minority groups, it is important that school counselors incorporate culturally sensitive ethical decision-making in their practice. The use of Western ethical theories in the application of professional codes of ethics provides a specific perspective in ethical decision- making, but may not provide school counselors with a broad cultural perspective. We discuss the use of Eastern theories of ethics (Taoism and Hinduism) and their relevance to the ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors to inform school counselors’ work with Asian immigrant students.

A Response To Bruni And Sugden, Julie A. Nelson

Economics Faculty Publication Series

An article by Luigino Bruni and Robert Sugden published in this journal argues that market relations contain elements of what they call ‘fraternity’. This Response demonstrates that my own views on interpersonal relations and markets – which originated in the feminist analysis of caring labour – are far closer to Bruni and Sugden's than they acknowledge in their article, and goes on to discuss additional important dimensions of sociality that they neglect.

Thirty-Fourth Annual Midwest Philosophy Colloquium, 2009-2010, University Of Minnesota - Morris. Philosophy Department

Midwest Philosophy Colloquium

Programs for the thirty-fourth Midwest Philosophy Colloquium at the University of Minnesota Morris in 2009-2010.

Ethics Across The Curriculum, Or, On Being Bilingual, Lois Eveleth

Faculty and Staff - Articles & Papers

Both philosophical ethical systems and religious ethics are eminently desirable in higher education today. And, like two languages, and despite the differences, they can and should complement each other. In an increasingly secular milieu, our graduates will have to be "bilingual."

Republicanism And Crime, Richard Dagger

Political Science Faculty Publications

These are but two of the difficult questions that arise when one examines the claim that crime is a public wrong. I take it, though, that their difficulty is an indication of the importance of thinking through the presuppositions and implications of this conception of crime, not a reason to abandon it. A thorough 'thinking through' is too large and complex a task for this chapter, but it is possible to make a case here for the right way to proceed with such an undertaking. That right way, in my view, is to look to the republican tradition of political …

Empathy, Mental Dispositions, And The Physicalist Challenge, Karsten Stueber

Philosophy Department Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Review Essay: Toward A Science Of Morality, David A. Jensen

Faculty Publications

An ongoing discussion in the history of ethics and philosophy involves how the natural sciences, or, alternatively, naturalistic assumptions, might inform particular ethical issues and ethical theory in general. In this respect, two recent books—The Ethical Brain: The Science of Our Moral Dilemmas by Michael S. Gazzaniga, and Moral Minds: The Nature of Right and Wrong by Marc D. Hauser—belong to a seasoned tradition that attempts to reconcile these seemingly divergent forms of thinking. These books focus, in particular, on the emerging developments in neuroscience, evolutionary biology, cognitive psychology, and other related areas. Both authors believe these developments can offer …

A Theory Of Cultural Glocality, Sarah Elizabeth Fernandez

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A Theory of Cultural Glocality shows how globalization can be salvaged from the negativity that often surrounds it. Globalization has been the target of criticism that claims globalization is pushed on cultures and in the process is destroying local cultures. The purpose of this thesis is to explore the limitations of globalization critics and show that it is not a negative force, that there is a healthy form of globalization. Therefore, globalization does not have to be considered disastrous for local cultures. Glocalizing provides cultures with a way to balance the local and the global in a healthy way where …

The New Invention Creation Activity Boundary In Patent Law, Margo A. Bagley

Faculty Articles

This Essay identifies a new boundary in patent law - illegal or immoral invention creation activity - and explores the possible chal­lenges and opportunities it may facilitate. The boundary currently is neither robust nor extensive, and whether and under what cir­cumstances it should exist at all is open to debate.

Rawls, Political Liberalism, And Moral Virtues, Joseph Alava Kabari

Dissertations

The argument of this dissertation is that John Rawls, although primarily concerned with social and political justice, and not with virtue ethics, gives a major place and role to the moral virtues in his theory of political liberalism, as in all of his system of justice as fairness. Some philosophers, mostly of the Aristotelian-Aquinian traditions, have generally lamented what they regard as the abandonment of the moral virtues by modern and contemporary, liberal, moral philosophers. The liberals, the critics claim, turn instead to the principles of justice and right, and to the language of moral obligations and of human rights. …

A Critical Evaluation Of John Hick's Religious Pluralism In Light Of His Eschatological Model, Haejong Je

Dissertations

Introduction to the Problem

The philosophy of John Hick, who is famous for his religious pluralism, has received vigorous study in terms of its epistemology, authority, the concept of God, and Christology. However, less attention has been given to his pareschatology. As explained below, initial investigation shows that there is a need for in-depth study of Hick’s religious philosophy in this area.

The Problem

Based upon preliminary research, Hick’s religious pluralism seems to reveal a critical problem with external correspondency, as follows. His pareschatology, which is an attempt to accept all eschatologies of major world religions as valid, may as …

Deceit In War And Trade, William I. Miller

Book Chapters

This chapter offers “a genealogy on deceit in war and trade”. It starts with deceit in Ovid and the Old Testament and works its way all the way up to the present day, considering the deceptions of such famous tricksters as Odysseus, David, the Vikings, Machiavelli, William the Conqueror, even Montaigne. It then considers the practices of some famous deceivers in contemporary business culture, such as Bernie Ebbers, Dennis Koslowski, and Kenneth Lay.

Editors’ Introduction, Harris Friedman, Glenn Hartelius

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

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Reconciling Modern Knowledge With Ancient Wisdom, Papalii F. Avegalio

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

This paper is about an academic as well as cultural journey of (re)affirmation. Imbued with

Western knowledge, I was nearly swayed to alter my beliefs and core assumptions towards a

modern world view. I was referred to an article by Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese (hereafter Tui

Atua) which significantly assuaged the tensions of seemingly opposing values rooted in two

different world views. I realized now that in many ways, Tui Atua’s publications on Samoan

wisdom, culture and philosophy had the effect of a gentle wind tapping my shoulder. The

articles reaffirmed my sense of heritage and strengthened my resolve to …

The Plurality Of Religions And The Spirit Of Pluralism: A Participatory Vision Of The Future Of Religion, Jorge N. Ferrer

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

This paper first uncovers the subtle spiritual narcissism that has characterized historical approaches

to religious diversity and discusses the shortcomings of the main forms of religious pluralism that

have been proposed as its antidote: ecumenical, soteriological, postmodern, and metaphysical. It

then argues that a participatory pluralism paves the way for an appreciation of religious diversity that

eschews the dogmatism and competitiveness involved in privileging any particular tradition over the

rest without falling into cultural-linguistic or naturalistic reductionisms. Discussion includes the

question of the validity of spiritual truths and the development of a participatory critical theory of

religion. The essay concludes …

Towards A Transpersonal Psychology Of Daoism: Definitions, Past Research, And Future Directions, Christopher Cott, Adam Rock

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

This paper is aimed at facilitating the study of Daoism, a collection of Chinese philosophical

beliefs and psychospiritual practices with a history of thousands of years and a living

community that stretches throughout East Asia, from a transpersonal psychology perspective.

Transpersonal psychologists who wish to embark upon a study of Daoist phenomena

must first be cognizant of the often nebulous parameters of the Daoist field of inquiry.

Therefore, an overview is offered of the two primary Daoist informational sources: the living

Daoist tradition as represented predominantly by the Quanzhen and Tianshi traditions,

and textual sources in collections such as the …

Paradigm Shift, Then And Now: The Shakespearean Winter’S Tale And Renewal Through The Feminine, Judy Schavrien

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

This paper explores postmodern and Shakespearean-baroque parallels in asking, “Can we

make a New World?” In Shakespeare’s case, paradigm shift was occurring willy-nilly—a New

World hoving into view, geographically, socio-politically, spiritually, and through a science

that shifted views of earth and heaven. This inquiry into The Winter’s Tale, in search of a

new coherence then and now, discovers that Shakespeare envisioned a rebalancing of hypermasculine

internal and external life by way of the Feminine, both youthful and mature.

Portraying the tragic ruler at the center of his tale as part puer and part jealous tyrant, Shakespeare

established what is almost …

Holarchical Development: Discovering And Applying Missing Drives From Ken Wilber’S Twenty Tenets, Kevin J. Bowman

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

Ken Wilber’s AQAL model offers a way to synthesize the partial truths of many theories

across various fields of knowledge such as evolutionary biology and sociology, developmental

psychology, and perennial and contemporary philosophy to name only a few. Despite its

reconciling power and influence, the model has been validly criticized for its static nature

and its overemphasis on the ascendant, versus descendant, path of development. This

paper points out areas of Wilber’s writing that suggest a way to overcome these criticisms.

Doing so allows for the refinement of AQAL’s Twenty Tenets for an extension of its formal,

dynamic features. This …

Ayahuasca–From Dangerous Drug To National Heritage: An Interview With Antonio A. Arantes, Beatriz C. Labate, Ilana Goldstein

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

This interview with Antonio A. Arantes, Brazilian anthropology professor and recognized

specialist on the topics of intellectual property and traditional knowledge, addresses the 2008

request by Brazilian ayahuasca groups to be recognized as part of the immaterial cultural

heritage of Brazil. In the first portion of the interview, Arantes reflects on the challenges

of the new conceptions of the Brazilian national immaterial policy program. He discusses

several examples of cultural goods recognized by the Brazilian state, such as the candomblé

and the samba, and analyzes the controversial issues involving authenticity and tradition in

these and other similar cases. In the …

Reflections On Transpersonal Psychology’S 40th Anniversary, Ecopsychology, Transpersonal Science, And Psychedelics: A Conversation Forum, Mark A. Schroll, Stanley Krippner, Miles A. Vich, James Fadiman, Valerie Mojeiko

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

Recollections of humanistic and transpersonal psychology’s origin’s morph into the

pros and cons of humanistic/transpersonal oriented schools developing APA accredited

clinical programs. This discussion dovetails with the question will ATP ever become an

APA division, raising an interesting alternative for those of us considering a career in

counseling: becoming a spiritual coach. Enter the issue of psychedelic therapy and the

Supreme Courts decision to allow ayahuasca as a sacrament by the Uniao Do Vegetal

Church, and the importance of why humanistic and transpersonal psychology need to

clearly map out the territories and sub-divisions of science and religion. Finally this

conversation …

Perspectives In Spirituality: Introduction To Special Topic Section, Glenn Hartelius, Harris Friedman

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

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Identity And Spirituality: Conventional And Transpersonal Perspectives, Douglas A. Macdonald

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

Though the relation of spirituality to self has long been recognized in established spiritual

and religious systems, serious scientific interest in spirituality and its relation to identity has

only started to grow in the past 20 years. This paper overviews the literature on spirituality

and identity. Particular attention is given to describing and critiquing conventional and

transpersonal perspectives with emphasis given to empirically testable theories. Using

MacDonald’s (1997, 2000) five dimensional model of spirituality, a structural model of

spirituality is proposed as is a model of spiritual identity formation.

Xenophilia As A Cultural Trap: Bridging The Gap Between Transpersonal Psychology And Religious/Spiritual Traditions, Harris Friedman

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

Xenophilia, seen as a type of romanticism, is proposed as an explanation for the tendency

within transpersonal psychology to privilege so-called exotic religious and spiritual traditions,

as opposed to the xenophobic tendency within mainstream Western psychology of

religion and spirituality to privilege the Judeo-Christian tradition. Claims made in a recent

article published in a major psychology journal that Buddhism does not rest on supernatural

faith and is the most psychological spiritual tradition are challenged as examples of this type

of romanticism. Demographic trends showing conversion rates to Buddhism in the US

are contrasted with conversion rates to Christianity in South …

A Viable Model And Self-Report Measure Of Spiritual Intelligence, David B. King, Teresa L. Decicco

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

A four-factor model of spiritual intelligence is first proposed. Supportive evidence is reviewed for the

capacities of critical existential thinking, personal meaning production, transcendental awareness,

and conscious state expansion. Based on this model, a 24-item self-report measure was developed

and modified across two consecutive studies (N = 619 and N = 304, respectively). The final version

of the scale, the Spiritual Intelligence Self-Report Inventory (SISRI-24), displayed excellent internal

reliability and good fit to the proposed model. Correlational analyses with additional measures of

meaning, metapersonal self-construal, mysticism, religiosity, and social desirability offer support

for construct and criterion-related validity. According to both …

Reflections On A Silent Meditation Retreat: A Beginner’S Perspective, Chad V. Johnson

International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

This paper explores the experience of a silent meditation retreat from the perspective of

a novice practitioner. The 7-day Scientist Meditation Retreat was held at the Spirit Rock

Meditation Center in Woodacre, California. It was intended to provide meditation researchers

an intensive silent retreat experience. The author shares his reflections throughout the retreat

and concludes with some of the personal insights he gained.

The Justice Of Saving Our World: Rawlsian Theory Applied To Environmentalism And Alternative Energy, Devon Bryson

Global Tides

While respect for nature pervades contemporary thought, issues of environmentalism and alternative energy largely lack a place in modern global conceptions of social justice. A theoretical or philosophical defense of these issues is therefore necessary to reinforce intuitions about nature, and ground them upon some substantive justification. One can find this justification in the Rawlsian theory of justice, which already informs many modern liberal notions. Rawlsian justice relies upon the Kantian notion that humans are autonomous beings— beings that are “ends” in themselves (that have inherent value). Rawls’ theory of justice attempts to respect each of these “ends.” However, traditional …

Peace Is Not Perpetual, Autonomous, Or Rational, Danielle Poe

Philosophy Faculty Publications

When I write about and teach Immanuel Kant, I am always impressed and seduced by the beauty and neatness of his work. After all, Kant makes morality a science; answers are clear and distinct, black and white. Individuals make ethical decisions by using reason according to universally accessible principles. People should do the right thing, not because it is easy, not because it makes them feel good, and not because they have been raised to do so. People should do the right thing because it is their duty, and they determine their duty by asking, "Can I universalize my action?" …

Leisure And Liberal Education: A Plea For Uselessness, John E. Jalbert

Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies Faculty Publications

A liberal education informs a person in the proper use of leisure. Liberal education, as the word liberal suggests, is intimately connected with the idea of personal freedom.

The central role of the liberal or liberating arts is to free us, if only for short periods of time, from mundane affairs, from the need to subordinate our lives, wills, and intellects to external demands, from the need—whether real or merely felt—to place ourselves under the sway of the marketplace in order to make a living. After all, human excellence requires more than the material ends that are procured through labor, …