Towards ethical nihilism
- Authors: Villet, Charles M.
- Date: 2008-08-15T07:42:58Z
- Subjects: Ethics , Nihilism (Philosophy)
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:7744 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/861
- Description: My study is not concerned with all the implications of Nietzsche’s nihilism, but deals specifically with the challenge his nihilism poses for philosophical conceptions of ethics and morality. My interest lies in the possibilities for conceptualizing an ethical nihilism. By this I mean that I want to remain focused on Nietzsche’s own understanding of nihilism (and Foucault’s development of its implications) in my search for possible ways of moving beyond nihilism’s destruction of traditional morality, instead of trying to ‘save’ morality or ethics by moving beyond nihilism as such. The aim of this study is thus to gauge whether an ethical theory can be developed making constructive use of nihilism and its methodologies. I conceptualize the possibility of ethical nihilism within four chapters. In chapter one I undertake an analysis of the methodology that nihilism provides and demonstrate the theory of knowledge that it underpins. This theory of knowledge results in a diagnosis of the human condition and knowledge within Western modernity. Here the central question is: What does Nietzsche’s theory concerning the formation of knowledge look like? In chapter two I discuss the perspective of so-called passive nihilism, which represents Nietzsche’s diagnosis of the illness or crisis facing humans in Western modernity. Passive nihilism denotes both the illness itself and one particular response to this crisis, namely one of denial. Passive nihilists fixate on holding onto a specific identity as well as a specific form of knowledge as being essential, i.e. as ‘given’, or ‘discovered’. One form of knowledge which emanates from passive nihilism is traditional morality. I will investigate how passive nihilism and the associated form of morality impact on the concrete body of one’s fellow human being, i.e. the Other. As the result of the impact of morality the Other is viewed as a formation in the sense that she is made up of aspects that simply mirror the Self’s privileged compilation of knowledge as it is anchored within the identity of the Self. Here the central question will be: How does passive nihilism problematize the formation of the Other? In chapter three I discuss the remedy to the crisis of modernity as proposed by Nietzsche, namely his vision of so-called active nihilism. Active nihilism considers knowledge and identity as ‘constructed’ and ‘invented’. This perspective holds many interesting implications for one’s own concrete body, i.e. the Self. I will investigate the manner in which active nihilism empowers the Self, which is also viewed as a formation in the sense that her own identity is made up of aspects inhering within a certain privileged compilation of knowledge. Here the central question will be: How does active nihilism problematize the formation of the Self? Chapter four serves as the conclusion to this study. I will discuss Foucault’s elaboration on the remedy that Nietzsche proposes to the nihilist crisis. In light of what Foucault has to say I answer in the affirmative the central question underpinning the research problem of this study: Is a form of ethical, active nihilism possible? In response to this question I propose in some detail a new form of ethics that takes its cue from the insights provided by active nihilism, following my Nietzschean reading of Foucault. , Dr. H. Louise du Toit Prof. Johan J. Snyman
- Full Text:
- Authors: Villet, Charles M.
- Date: 2008-08-15T07:42:58Z
- Subjects: Ethics , Nihilism (Philosophy)
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:7744 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/861
- Description: My study is not concerned with all the implications of Nietzsche’s nihilism, but deals specifically with the challenge his nihilism poses for philosophical conceptions of ethics and morality. My interest lies in the possibilities for conceptualizing an ethical nihilism. By this I mean that I want to remain focused on Nietzsche’s own understanding of nihilism (and Foucault’s development of its implications) in my search for possible ways of moving beyond nihilism’s destruction of traditional morality, instead of trying to ‘save’ morality or ethics by moving beyond nihilism as such. The aim of this study is thus to gauge whether an ethical theory can be developed making constructive use of nihilism and its methodologies. I conceptualize the possibility of ethical nihilism within four chapters. In chapter one I undertake an analysis of the methodology that nihilism provides and demonstrate the theory of knowledge that it underpins. This theory of knowledge results in a diagnosis of the human condition and knowledge within Western modernity. Here the central question is: What does Nietzsche’s theory concerning the formation of knowledge look like? In chapter two I discuss the perspective of so-called passive nihilism, which represents Nietzsche’s diagnosis of the illness or crisis facing humans in Western modernity. Passive nihilism denotes both the illness itself and one particular response to this crisis, namely one of denial. Passive nihilists fixate on holding onto a specific identity as well as a specific form of knowledge as being essential, i.e. as ‘given’, or ‘discovered’. One form of knowledge which emanates from passive nihilism is traditional morality. I will investigate how passive nihilism and the associated form of morality impact on the concrete body of one’s fellow human being, i.e. the Other. As the result of the impact of morality the Other is viewed as a formation in the sense that she is made up of aspects that simply mirror the Self’s privileged compilation of knowledge as it is anchored within the identity of the Self. Here the central question will be: How does passive nihilism problematize the formation of the Other? In chapter three I discuss the remedy to the crisis of modernity as proposed by Nietzsche, namely his vision of so-called active nihilism. Active nihilism considers knowledge and identity as ‘constructed’ and ‘invented’. This perspective holds many interesting implications for one’s own concrete body, i.e. the Self. I will investigate the manner in which active nihilism empowers the Self, which is also viewed as a formation in the sense that her own identity is made up of aspects inhering within a certain privileged compilation of knowledge. Here the central question will be: How does active nihilism problematize the formation of the Self? Chapter four serves as the conclusion to this study. I will discuss Foucault’s elaboration on the remedy that Nietzsche proposes to the nihilist crisis. In light of what Foucault has to say I answer in the affirmative the central question underpinning the research problem of this study: Is a form of ethical, active nihilism possible? In response to this question I propose in some detail a new form of ethics that takes its cue from the insights provided by active nihilism, following my Nietzschean reading of Foucault. , Dr. H. Louise du Toit Prof. Johan J. Snyman
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Law, ethics, morality in public life in South Africa
- Authors: Asmal, Kader
- Date: 2008-11-10T08:02:11Z
- Subjects: Joseph, Helen , Asmal, Kader , Ethics , Law , Morality
- Type: Inaugural
- Identifier: uj:14907 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/1552
- Description: It seems to me that we need to revisit our views on the role of ethics and morality in public life as we approach an unprecedented level of upheaval in our political landscape which offers both threats and opportunities. But we will only benefit from these events if we do not fall into the trap of personality politics but actually ask ourselves profound questions about what challenges these events pose to our values and our views and what principled positions we wish to adopt in response to ensure that our journey as a young democracy continues to evolve on the basis of sound practices. And our questions must move beyond individuals, institutions and statutes if we are to make real progress and not simply tick another box on an institutional matrix of how we may be performing. We need to entrench a values-driven approach to these questions where we measure our personal actions and statements every single day and not just look at our country’s compliance with various global or other indices that track corruption and various other vagaries that others may regard as opportunities in public life or by virtue of public life. In South Africa we have taken numerous steps over the years to pass various statutes and build institutions that have addressed what I would call the more ‘formulaic’ aspects of the question of integrity and morality in public life. But we have to take a very critical look at the disjuncture if not rupture between intent and action, between codification and clarification by moral, sound, ethical and principled action as a daily diet requirement of public life and ask critical questions of our performance. Where there has been compliance with the instruments it has not been as sound as it could be as a recent study has shown. Where there has not been compliance our enforcement of possible punitive measures for breaches has also not always been as stellar as it could have been.
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- Authors: Asmal, Kader
- Date: 2008-11-10T08:02:11Z
- Subjects: Joseph, Helen , Asmal, Kader , Ethics , Law , Morality
- Type: Inaugural
- Identifier: uj:14907 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/1552
- Description: It seems to me that we need to revisit our views on the role of ethics and morality in public life as we approach an unprecedented level of upheaval in our political landscape which offers both threats and opportunities. But we will only benefit from these events if we do not fall into the trap of personality politics but actually ask ourselves profound questions about what challenges these events pose to our values and our views and what principled positions we wish to adopt in response to ensure that our journey as a young democracy continues to evolve on the basis of sound practices. And our questions must move beyond individuals, institutions and statutes if we are to make real progress and not simply tick another box on an institutional matrix of how we may be performing. We need to entrench a values-driven approach to these questions where we measure our personal actions and statements every single day and not just look at our country’s compliance with various global or other indices that track corruption and various other vagaries that others may regard as opportunities in public life or by virtue of public life. In South Africa we have taken numerous steps over the years to pass various statutes and build institutions that have addressed what I would call the more ‘formulaic’ aspects of the question of integrity and morality in public life. But we have to take a very critical look at the disjuncture if not rupture between intent and action, between codification and clarification by moral, sound, ethical and principled action as a daily diet requirement of public life and ask critical questions of our performance. Where there has been compliance with the instruments it has not been as sound as it could be as a recent study has shown. Where there has not been compliance our enforcement of possible punitive measures for breaches has also not always been as stellar as it could have been.
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Plagiarism: are we losing the battle in higher education?
- Authors: Nicholson, Denise
- Date: 2010-05-17
- Subjects: Plagiarism , Academic dishonesty , Ethics , Internet access
- Type: Presentation
- Identifier: uj:1580 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/3313
- Description: Plagiarism is not a new phenomenon. In fact it has been around for a long time. Even famous authors and creators have allegedly plagiarized others’ works. However, the digital era has created new opportunities for plagiarists and more problems for teaching staff. The Internet offers students a treasure trove of digital resources which are easy to access, use and reproduce. Despite the Internet also providing the means to detect plagiarism, there has been an increase in plagiarism in higher education. Plagiarism has become a real concern for South African tertiary institutions. This paper will discuss plagiarism in relation to educational and cultural backgrounds, academic integrity and ethical codes and will give possible reasons why students plagiarize, some ways of avoiding and detecting plagiarism and some possible solutions to the problem.
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- Authors: Nicholson, Denise
- Date: 2010-05-17
- Subjects: Plagiarism , Academic dishonesty , Ethics , Internet access
- Type: Presentation
- Identifier: uj:1580 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/3313
- Description: Plagiarism is not a new phenomenon. In fact it has been around for a long time. Even famous authors and creators have allegedly plagiarized others’ works. However, the digital era has created new opportunities for plagiarists and more problems for teaching staff. The Internet offers students a treasure trove of digital resources which are easy to access, use and reproduce. Despite the Internet also providing the means to detect plagiarism, there has been an increase in plagiarism in higher education. Plagiarism has become a real concern for South African tertiary institutions. This paper will discuss plagiarism in relation to educational and cultural backgrounds, academic integrity and ethical codes and will give possible reasons why students plagiarize, some ways of avoiding and detecting plagiarism and some possible solutions to the problem.
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Descriptive research into the role of ethics in engineering and its perceived need for engineering students and young graduate engineers
- Authors: Dannhauser, George Frederik
- Date: 2012-09-12
- Subjects: Ethics , Engineering ethics , Engineering ethics -- Study and teaching
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:10111 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/7494
- Description: M.Ing. , Engineering is a combination of natural and human science skills and expertise. Engineers are required to satisfy the needs of their customers at a human science level, yet they are also expected to solve problems that require meticulous calculation at a natural science level. Engineers who can negotiate with customers, but who do not have the competencies to solve complex problems, will find the profession extremely complicated and frustrating. On the other hand if engineers have developed the required skills to tackle and solve the most intricate problems but are unable to communicate and interact with their clients, they will soon realise that they are isolated from the community. Because of the workload associated with the curriculum for engineering studies at tertiary level, academic staff find it difficult to include topics other than hard core engineering in the curriculum. Potential engineers have to realise that they are entering a profession that requires -a- lifelong learning commitment to stay abreast of developments, especially because of the explosion of developments in high technology. The challenge lies with educational institutions, employers and the engineering fraternity alike to ensure that qualified engineers, technologists and technicians are wellbalanced, highly-skilled professionals with the ability to interact with the public at large. Engineering students need to be exposed to a wide range of additional skills, such as motivational, communication, negotiating, financial and psychological. A subject that is seldom addressed in educational institutions is ethics and its role in an engineer's life. Because ethics is based on various complex foundations, such as the various religions, cultural backgrounds and different values and norms of groups of people, academic staff tend to avoid broaching the topic. This dissertation has probed the complexities of ethics and how it differs depending on the background of a specific group of people or a specific profession. It further investigated the perceived needs among engineering students and qualified engineers so that engineering students can be exposed to ethics and the importance of a basic knowledge of ethics before they can be regarded as fully-fledged engineers. Results of a market research has revealed that qualified engineers and engineering students are aware of the importance of an expanded curriculum that would include the additional subjects mentioned earlier. The findings correlate with similar results obtained in a market research in United States of America. Literature claimed that Europe was lagging behind USA with regard to the inclusion of ethics in their curriculum but that it was rectifying the situation. he issue under discussion is that all role-players in South Africa should join forces to incorporate ethics in the curriculum of tertiary education institutions and in the in-house-training programmes of businesses. This programme can later be extended to include other human science skills. Control measures should be introduced to ensure the work done in South Africa by the engineering fraternity is in line with international standards. This will enable South Africa to remain a competitive role-player in the global market.
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- Authors: Dannhauser, George Frederik
- Date: 2012-09-12
- Subjects: Ethics , Engineering ethics , Engineering ethics -- Study and teaching
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:10111 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/7494
- Description: M.Ing. , Engineering is a combination of natural and human science skills and expertise. Engineers are required to satisfy the needs of their customers at a human science level, yet they are also expected to solve problems that require meticulous calculation at a natural science level. Engineers who can negotiate with customers, but who do not have the competencies to solve complex problems, will find the profession extremely complicated and frustrating. On the other hand if engineers have developed the required skills to tackle and solve the most intricate problems but are unable to communicate and interact with their clients, they will soon realise that they are isolated from the community. Because of the workload associated with the curriculum for engineering studies at tertiary level, academic staff find it difficult to include topics other than hard core engineering in the curriculum. Potential engineers have to realise that they are entering a profession that requires -a- lifelong learning commitment to stay abreast of developments, especially because of the explosion of developments in high technology. The challenge lies with educational institutions, employers and the engineering fraternity alike to ensure that qualified engineers, technologists and technicians are wellbalanced, highly-skilled professionals with the ability to interact with the public at large. Engineering students need to be exposed to a wide range of additional skills, such as motivational, communication, negotiating, financial and psychological. A subject that is seldom addressed in educational institutions is ethics and its role in an engineer's life. Because ethics is based on various complex foundations, such as the various religions, cultural backgrounds and different values and norms of groups of people, academic staff tend to avoid broaching the topic. This dissertation has probed the complexities of ethics and how it differs depending on the background of a specific group of people or a specific profession. It further investigated the perceived needs among engineering students and qualified engineers so that engineering students can be exposed to ethics and the importance of a basic knowledge of ethics before they can be regarded as fully-fledged engineers. Results of a market research has revealed that qualified engineers and engineering students are aware of the importance of an expanded curriculum that would include the additional subjects mentioned earlier. The findings correlate with similar results obtained in a market research in United States of America. Literature claimed that Europe was lagging behind USA with regard to the inclusion of ethics in their curriculum but that it was rectifying the situation. he issue under discussion is that all role-players in South Africa should join forces to incorporate ethics in the curriculum of tertiary education institutions and in the in-house-training programmes of businesses. This programme can later be extended to include other human science skills. Control measures should be introduced to ensure the work done in South Africa by the engineering fraternity is in line with international standards. This will enable South Africa to remain a competitive role-player in the global market.
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Verantwoordbaarheid van eutanasie : 'n etiese analise
- Authors: Möller, Francois Petrus
- Date: 2015-10-13
- Subjects: Medical ethics , Ethics , Euthanasia - Moral and ethical aspects
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:14264 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/14723
- Description: M.A. (Philosophy) , Please refer to full text to view abstract
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- Authors: Möller, Francois Petrus
- Date: 2015-10-13
- Subjects: Medical ethics , Ethics , Euthanasia - Moral and ethical aspects
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:14264 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/14723
- Description: M.A. (Philosophy) , Please refer to full text to view abstract
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Research ethics in the kalahari : issues, contradictions and concerns
- Authors: Tomaselli, Keyan
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Kalahari , ≠Khomani bushmen , Ethics
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://ujcontent.uj.ac.za8080/10210/387733 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/225464 , uj:22771 , Citation: Tomaselli, K. 2016. Research ethics in the kalahari : issues, contradictions and concerns.
- Description: Abstract: The effects of ethical clearance or institutional review board practices are discussed in relation to the experiences of academic field researchers on the one hand and indigenous research participants and/or co-generators of knowledge on the other. Ethical procedures such as protection (do no harm), control (micromanaging methods) and exploitation (taking ownership) are discussed in relation to researcher experiences in Southern Africa. Researcher-researched relations, researcher and subject alienation, ethics creep and the clash of ontologies is examined. Some tentative solutions are mentioned.
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- Authors: Tomaselli, Keyan
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Kalahari , ≠Khomani bushmen , Ethics
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://ujcontent.uj.ac.za8080/10210/387733 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/225464 , uj:22771 , Citation: Tomaselli, K. 2016. Research ethics in the kalahari : issues, contradictions and concerns.
- Description: Abstract: The effects of ethical clearance or institutional review board practices are discussed in relation to the experiences of academic field researchers on the one hand and indigenous research participants and/or co-generators of knowledge on the other. Ethical procedures such as protection (do no harm), control (micromanaging methods) and exploitation (taking ownership) are discussed in relation to researcher experiences in Southern Africa. Researcher-researched relations, researcher and subject alienation, ethics creep and the clash of ontologies is examined. Some tentative solutions are mentioned.
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Unethical practices in the South African construction industry
- Aigbavboa, Clinton, Oke, Ayodeji, Tyali, Sibiwe
- Authors: Aigbavboa, Clinton , Oke, Ayodeji , Tyali, Sibiwe
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Construction , Corruption , Ethics
- Language: English
- Type: Conference proceedings
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/215531 , uj:21429 , Citation: Aigbavboa, C., Oke, A & Tyali, S. 2016. Unethical practices in the South African construction industry.
- Description: Abstract: Development of infrastructure to meet the needs of South Africans is a major concern for the construction industry, however the failure of the industry to keep up with the expectation has drawn some criticism from the citizens. Lack of adherence to ethical practices that help ensure transparency and accountability within the industry is a major impediment towards being a consistent and an effective contributor to the growth of the South African economy. This study therefore examines unethical practices in South African Construction Industry and measures to address the menace for better project performance. Well-structured questionnaires were administered on registered and experienced construction professionals within the industry and Mean Item Score (MIS) was used to analyse the returned data. Non-adherence to ethical practices in the industry are as a result of greed, favouritism, political influence, monopoly of bigger companies over smaller and emerging companies and pressure to meet unrealistic company objective and deadlines. The unethical practices prevalent in the industry include bribery and fraud, falsification of experience, illegal award of tenders and collusive tendering. These unethical practices result to dissatisfied clients, poor workmanship, poor quality of infrastructural development and loss of public trust. Professionals, especially construction and project managers should shoulder the responsibility of stamping out unethical practices in the industry by developing viable measures to achieve the goal. More so, whistle-blower protection mechanisms need to be revised and improved to encourage effective monitoring and sanctioning of individuals involved in unethical practices in the industry.
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- Authors: Aigbavboa, Clinton , Oke, Ayodeji , Tyali, Sibiwe
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Construction , Corruption , Ethics
- Language: English
- Type: Conference proceedings
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/215531 , uj:21429 , Citation: Aigbavboa, C., Oke, A & Tyali, S. 2016. Unethical practices in the South African construction industry.
- Description: Abstract: Development of infrastructure to meet the needs of South Africans is a major concern for the construction industry, however the failure of the industry to keep up with the expectation has drawn some criticism from the citizens. Lack of adherence to ethical practices that help ensure transparency and accountability within the industry is a major impediment towards being a consistent and an effective contributor to the growth of the South African economy. This study therefore examines unethical practices in South African Construction Industry and measures to address the menace for better project performance. Well-structured questionnaires were administered on registered and experienced construction professionals within the industry and Mean Item Score (MIS) was used to analyse the returned data. Non-adherence to ethical practices in the industry are as a result of greed, favouritism, political influence, monopoly of bigger companies over smaller and emerging companies and pressure to meet unrealistic company objective and deadlines. The unethical practices prevalent in the industry include bribery and fraud, falsification of experience, illegal award of tenders and collusive tendering. These unethical practices result to dissatisfied clients, poor workmanship, poor quality of infrastructural development and loss of public trust. Professionals, especially construction and project managers should shoulder the responsibility of stamping out unethical practices in the industry by developing viable measures to achieve the goal. More so, whistle-blower protection mechanisms need to be revised and improved to encourage effective monitoring and sanctioning of individuals involved in unethical practices in the industry.
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A movement seeking to embody support of patriarchal structures and patterns in church and society : Gretha Wiid's Worthy Women movement
- Authors: Nortjé-Meyer, Lilly
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Church and society , Ethics , Ecumenical movement , Worthy Women Movement (South Africa) , Wiid, Gretha
- Language: English
- Type: Book Chapter
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/217708 , uj:21673 , Citation: Nortje-Meyer, L. 2017. A movement seeking to embody support of patriarchal structures and patterns in church and society : Gretha Wiid's Worthy Women movement. In: Ecclesial reform and deform movements in the South African context / editors: Ernst M. Conradie & Miranda Pillay; series editor: Renier Koegelenberg. Stellenbosch : Sun Press. p.86-94.
- Description: Abstract: Please refer to full text to view abstract
- Full Text: false
- Authors: Nortjé-Meyer, Lilly
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Church and society , Ethics , Ecumenical movement , Worthy Women Movement (South Africa) , Wiid, Gretha
- Language: English
- Type: Book Chapter
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/217708 , uj:21673 , Citation: Nortje-Meyer, L. 2017. A movement seeking to embody support of patriarchal structures and patterns in church and society : Gretha Wiid's Worthy Women movement. In: Ecclesial reform and deform movements in the South African context / editors: Ernst M. Conradie & Miranda Pillay; series editor: Renier Koegelenberg. Stellenbosch : Sun Press. p.86-94.
- Description: Abstract: Please refer to full text to view abstract
- Full Text: false
Elements of environmental ethics in ancient Greek philosophy
- Authors: Chemhuru, Munamato
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Environment , Ethics , Environmental ethics
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/245071 , uj:25356 , Citation: Chemhuru, M. 2017. Elements of environmental ethics in ancient Greek philosophy. Phronimon, 18:15–30. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17159/2413-3086/2017/1954. , ISSN: 2413-3086 (Online)
- Description: Abstract: In this article, I consider how ancient Greek philosophical thinking might be approached differently if the environmental ethical import that is salient in it is critically considered. After pointing out how environmental ethics is generally construed in much of the discourse on current philosophical thinking, I spell out some unexplored elements of environmental ethical thinking that are implicit in ancient Greek philosophy. In the end, I challenge some common notions in Western environmentalism that take environmental ethics as a fairly new discourse of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Ultimately, I suggest that ancient Greek philosophical thinking ought to be judiciously interpreted from an environmental ethical perspective.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Chemhuru, Munamato
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Environment , Ethics , Environmental ethics
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/245071 , uj:25356 , Citation: Chemhuru, M. 2017. Elements of environmental ethics in ancient Greek philosophy. Phronimon, 18:15–30. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17159/2413-3086/2017/1954. , ISSN: 2413-3086 (Online)
- Description: Abstract: In this article, I consider how ancient Greek philosophical thinking might be approached differently if the environmental ethical import that is salient in it is critically considered. After pointing out how environmental ethics is generally construed in much of the discourse on current philosophical thinking, I spell out some unexplored elements of environmental ethical thinking that are implicit in ancient Greek philosophy. In the end, I challenge some common notions in Western environmentalism that take environmental ethics as a fairly new discourse of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Ultimately, I suggest that ancient Greek philosophical thinking ought to be judiciously interpreted from an environmental ethical perspective.
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The role of organisational ethics management within the South African public service
- Thonzhe, Nethonzhe, Vyas-Doorgapersad, Shikha
- Authors: Thonzhe, Nethonzhe , Vyas-Doorgapersad, Shikha
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Corruption , Ethics , Organisational ethics
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/250795 , uj:26141 , Citation: Thonzhe, N. & Vyas-Doorgapersad, S. 2017. The role of organisational ethics management within the South African public service.
- Description: Abstract: There is a limited body of knowledge on the role of organisational ethics management, systems and mechanisms in promoting and driving ethics on strategic, system and operational levels. Public officials still have to be convinced of the importance of ethics within their organisations. Getting the ethics message across to large groups of employees in a cost-effective, yet powerful manner remains a challenge. An in-depth conceptualisation and contextualisation of ethics is required to strategise organisational ethics management in the public service. The article attempts to unlock the transdisciplinary relationship of philosophy and public administration to determine the significance of ethical reasoning in decisionmaking structures. Due to the advent of New Public Management (NPM), Public Administration faces a paradigmatic shift towards decentralisation and relativism that demands more accountability and responsibility...
- Full Text:
- Authors: Thonzhe, Nethonzhe , Vyas-Doorgapersad, Shikha
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Corruption , Ethics , Organisational ethics
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/250795 , uj:26141 , Citation: Thonzhe, N. & Vyas-Doorgapersad, S. 2017. The role of organisational ethics management within the South African public service.
- Description: Abstract: There is a limited body of knowledge on the role of organisational ethics management, systems and mechanisms in promoting and driving ethics on strategic, system and operational levels. Public officials still have to be convinced of the importance of ethics within their organisations. Getting the ethics message across to large groups of employees in a cost-effective, yet powerful manner remains a challenge. An in-depth conceptualisation and contextualisation of ethics is required to strategise organisational ethics management in the public service. The article attempts to unlock the transdisciplinary relationship of philosophy and public administration to determine the significance of ethical reasoning in decisionmaking structures. Due to the advent of New Public Management (NPM), Public Administration faces a paradigmatic shift towards decentralisation and relativism that demands more accountability and responsibility...
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An investigation of the ethical education training experiences of practicing educational psychologists
- Authors: Pereira, Nicola
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Educational psychologists , Ethics
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/286516 , uj:31004
- Description: M.Ed. (Educational Psychology) , Abstract: Ethical education and training programmes for student psychologists are a requirement of any university programme designed for training student psychologists, to ensure that professional educational psychologists are adequately prepared to deal with the ethical dilemmas they may face. The aim of this research study was to investigate the ethical education and training experiences of practising educational psychologists in the context of South Africa. This was done through semi-structured interviews with six practising educational psychologists in South Africa. The study was qualitative in nature and a generic qualitative approach was adopted. The data collected from the semi-structured interviews was analysed through a template analysis process and themes and codes were identified. The findings indicated that the participants received a sound theoretical understanding of ethics, however, this understanding could not always be applied consistently to assisting educational psychologists in handling the ethical dilemmas they came across while practising as educational psychologists. There appeared to be a lack of understanding of African Ethics and how this may impact the ethical dilemmas that were described and there was a lack of understanding of the approaches that should possibly be adopted by educational psychologists who are faced with ethical dilemmas in the context of working in a school environment. The main conclusion from this research investigation is that the participants mostly had a good theoretical understanding of ethics but there was not enough exposure to relevant practical case studies, especially in the context educational psychologists working in schools. A further finding is that there is lack of in-depth understanding of African Ethics and how this applies to professional educational psychologists working in South Africa...
- Full Text:
- Authors: Pereira, Nicola
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Educational psychologists , Ethics
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/286516 , uj:31004
- Description: M.Ed. (Educational Psychology) , Abstract: Ethical education and training programmes for student psychologists are a requirement of any university programme designed for training student psychologists, to ensure that professional educational psychologists are adequately prepared to deal with the ethical dilemmas they may face. The aim of this research study was to investigate the ethical education and training experiences of practising educational psychologists in the context of South Africa. This was done through semi-structured interviews with six practising educational psychologists in South Africa. The study was qualitative in nature and a generic qualitative approach was adopted. The data collected from the semi-structured interviews was analysed through a template analysis process and themes and codes were identified. The findings indicated that the participants received a sound theoretical understanding of ethics, however, this understanding could not always be applied consistently to assisting educational psychologists in handling the ethical dilemmas they came across while practising as educational psychologists. There appeared to be a lack of understanding of African Ethics and how this may impact the ethical dilemmas that were described and there was a lack of understanding of the approaches that should possibly be adopted by educational psychologists who are faced with ethical dilemmas in the context of working in a school environment. The main conclusion from this research investigation is that the participants mostly had a good theoretical understanding of ethics but there was not enough exposure to relevant practical case studies, especially in the context educational psychologists working in schools. A further finding is that there is lack of in-depth understanding of African Ethics and how this applies to professional educational psychologists working in South Africa...
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Art or dark art? moral failure and ethical obligation in South African public relations practice
- Verwey, Sonja, Muir, Clarissa
- Authors: Verwey, Sonja , Muir, Clarissa
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Public relations , Ethics , Moral framework
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/290206 , uj:31501 , Citation: Verwey, S. & Muir, C. 2018. Art or dark art? moral failure and ethical obligation in South African public relations practice. Communitas 2018 23: 1-17, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18820/24150525/Comm.v23.1.
- Description: Abstract: Ethical failures are not just philosophical problems, but also economic problems that hold significant social and political consequences for the social and communal contexts in which these are enacted. Recent ethical scandals such as Bell Pottinger and Cambridge Analytica have reawakened public debate on ethical standards in professional practice. While some research on PR roles has been conducted in the South African context since 2002, there are no formally documented studies regarding the moral philosophy and ethics of PR practice in South Africa. This article seeks to determine how South African PR practitioners respond to their ethical obligations. Research findings confirm that partisan values still dominate and that contexts of practice do not facilitate ethical practice by meeting ethical obligations through ethics of care and communality. The findings seem to indicate that the roots of ethical failures in the industry run deep. South African PR practice will continue to be regarded as a “dark art” unless it can free itself of moral constraints inherent to the reflexive modernist PR practices and assumptions that prevail. To facilitate a transition away from compliance to codes of conduct towards greater moral accountability, moral character in role enactment must be engaged with on a more profound level.
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- Authors: Verwey, Sonja , Muir, Clarissa
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Public relations , Ethics , Moral framework
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/290206 , uj:31501 , Citation: Verwey, S. & Muir, C. 2018. Art or dark art? moral failure and ethical obligation in South African public relations practice. Communitas 2018 23: 1-17, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18820/24150525/Comm.v23.1.
- Description: Abstract: Ethical failures are not just philosophical problems, but also economic problems that hold significant social and political consequences for the social and communal contexts in which these are enacted. Recent ethical scandals such as Bell Pottinger and Cambridge Analytica have reawakened public debate on ethical standards in professional practice. While some research on PR roles has been conducted in the South African context since 2002, there are no formally documented studies regarding the moral philosophy and ethics of PR practice in South Africa. This article seeks to determine how South African PR practitioners respond to their ethical obligations. Research findings confirm that partisan values still dominate and that contexts of practice do not facilitate ethical practice by meeting ethical obligations through ethics of care and communality. The findings seem to indicate that the roots of ethical failures in the industry run deep. South African PR practice will continue to be regarded as a “dark art” unless it can free itself of moral constraints inherent to the reflexive modernist PR practices and assumptions that prevail. To facilitate a transition away from compliance to codes of conduct towards greater moral accountability, moral character in role enactment must be engaged with on a more profound level.
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Public relations professionals’ perceptions of a moral framework for public relations practice in agency contexts
- Authors: Carter, Simone Jaclyn
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Communication , Public relations , Ethics
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/294279 , uj:32014
- Description: Abstract: This study seeks to understand South African PR professionals’ perceptions of a moral framework for PR practice in agency contexts. PR professionals are guided by their moral frameworks for practice. However, conflicting loyalties lie at the heart of ethical decision-making in PR. Two conflicting views underpin the debate on ethics and PR practice. On one side, the positive role that PR contributes to society is emphasised through dialogical and reflective practice, and on the other side, PR is viewed as modernist, one-way communication predicated upon compliance and blind obedience to commissioning interests. Ethical PR conduct is outlined as the simultaneous balancing of three distinct interests namely: duty to self, client and society. However, the demands of balancing conflicting interests often result in moral tension and even role strain for the PR professional. On the one hand PR professionals may find that they practice asymmetrically, reflexively, and simply comply with prescribed ethical codes of conduct rather than holding their own moral accountability. On the other hand, professionals may find that they are able to assume a strategic activist role, and practice symmetrically and reflectively, where ethical decision-making is agent-centred and predicated upon ethics of care and virtue. The results of this study suggest that South African PR professionals’ moral decision-making fluctuate between modern and postmodern ethics and that PR professionals’ moral accountability is predicated by the moral assumptions that underlie their practice. This results in an ethical paradox because inasmuch as professionals hold a community outlook and practice ethically in accordance to their role within an interdependent eco-system, this eco-system is not exclusionary of moral tensions that arise between interests. PR professionals in agency contexts may find themselves to be products of an ethical paradox, with PR professionals practicing both asymmetrically and symmetrically in order to meet not only the agency’s needs, but also those of the clients and the public. This research provides insight into how moral accountability and ethicality is conceptualised by PR professionals in agency contexts and contributes to PR scholarship and practice by outlining how agency-based PR professionals are guided by their moral frameworks for practice. , M.A. (Strategic Communication)
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- Authors: Carter, Simone Jaclyn
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Communication , Public relations , Ethics
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/294279 , uj:32014
- Description: Abstract: This study seeks to understand South African PR professionals’ perceptions of a moral framework for PR practice in agency contexts. PR professionals are guided by their moral frameworks for practice. However, conflicting loyalties lie at the heart of ethical decision-making in PR. Two conflicting views underpin the debate on ethics and PR practice. On one side, the positive role that PR contributes to society is emphasised through dialogical and reflective practice, and on the other side, PR is viewed as modernist, one-way communication predicated upon compliance and blind obedience to commissioning interests. Ethical PR conduct is outlined as the simultaneous balancing of three distinct interests namely: duty to self, client and society. However, the demands of balancing conflicting interests often result in moral tension and even role strain for the PR professional. On the one hand PR professionals may find that they practice asymmetrically, reflexively, and simply comply with prescribed ethical codes of conduct rather than holding their own moral accountability. On the other hand, professionals may find that they are able to assume a strategic activist role, and practice symmetrically and reflectively, where ethical decision-making is agent-centred and predicated upon ethics of care and virtue. The results of this study suggest that South African PR professionals’ moral decision-making fluctuate between modern and postmodern ethics and that PR professionals’ moral accountability is predicated by the moral assumptions that underlie their practice. This results in an ethical paradox because inasmuch as professionals hold a community outlook and practice ethically in accordance to their role within an interdependent eco-system, this eco-system is not exclusionary of moral tensions that arise between interests. PR professionals in agency contexts may find themselves to be products of an ethical paradox, with PR professionals practicing both asymmetrically and symmetrically in order to meet not only the agency’s needs, but also those of the clients and the public. This research provides insight into how moral accountability and ethicality is conceptualised by PR professionals in agency contexts and contributes to PR scholarship and practice by outlining how agency-based PR professionals are guided by their moral frameworks for practice. , M.A. (Strategic Communication)
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A proposal for personalised and relational qualitative religious studies methodology
- Authors: Baron, Phillip
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Epistemology , Ethics , Personlised and relational research
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/407505 , uj:34304 , Citation: Baron, P. 2019: A proposal for personalised and relational qualitative religious studies methodology.
- Description: Abstract: Please refer to full text to view abstract.
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- Authors: Baron, Phillip
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Epistemology , Ethics , Personlised and relational research
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/407505 , uj:34304 , Citation: Baron, P. 2019: A proposal for personalised and relational qualitative religious studies methodology.
- Description: Abstract: Please refer to full text to view abstract.
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Ethically resilient teachers, what might that be? A comparison across two educational levels : pre‐school and university in South Africa
- Baron, Philip, Baron, Anne Catherine
- Authors: Baron, Philip , Baron, Anne Catherine
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Cybernetics , Education , Ethics
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/293587 , uj:31926 , Citation: Baron, P. & Baron, A.C. 2019. Ethically resilient teachers, what might that be? A comparison across two educational levels : pre‐school and university in South Africa.
- Description: Abstract: When comparing pre‐school teachers with university lecturers, society generally acknowledges the latter as a highly skilled professional while the former does not achieve such admiration or financial reward. Upon studying this status quo, the authors introduce ethically resilient teaching as a set of seven+1 common qualities that are shared by both levels of educators. The purpose of this paper is to present these qualities, describing how they relate to the function of teaching and learning with the aim of bridging the perceived gap between these two levels of educators...
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- Authors: Baron, Philip , Baron, Anne Catherine
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Cybernetics , Education , Ethics
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/293587 , uj:31926 , Citation: Baron, P. & Baron, A.C. 2019. Ethically resilient teachers, what might that be? A comparison across two educational levels : pre‐school and university in South Africa.
- Description: Abstract: When comparing pre‐school teachers with university lecturers, society generally acknowledges the latter as a highly skilled professional while the former does not achieve such admiration or financial reward. Upon studying this status quo, the authors introduce ethically resilient teaching as a set of seven+1 common qualities that are shared by both levels of educators. The purpose of this paper is to present these qualities, describing how they relate to the function of teaching and learning with the aim of bridging the perceived gap between these two levels of educators...
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Improving teaching and learning of ethics and human rights in the radiography undergraduate programme with the HECAF model
- Kekana, Ramadimetja Mable, Steenekamp, Karen
- Authors: Kekana, Ramadimetja Mable , Steenekamp, Karen
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Radiography , Ethics , Human rights
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/293159 , uj:31870 , Citation: Kekana, R.M. & Steenekamp, K. 2019. Improving teaching and learning of ethics and human rights in the radiography undergraduate programme with the HECAF model. Education as Change, 23:1-23. https://doi.org/10.25159/1947-9417/4440
- Description: Abstract: Education for healthcare professionals, including radiography, is focused on cognitive, affective and psychomotor learning. The aim of this article is to present and argue for the consideration of the HECAF model, which is designed to improve the teaching and learning of Ethics and Human Rights in the radiography undergraduate programme. This model was developed as a result of a qualitative study using action research as a research design. There were two phases, namely situation analysis and appreciative inquiry. The study used multiple data collection tools. Quantitative data was collected during phase one and qualitative data was collected in phase two. Content analysis was appropriate because it could be used for both quantitative and qualitative data. Participants were facilitators of learning, third-year radiography students and clinical supervisors from the eight higher education institutions that offer radiography education and training in South Africa. Ethical approval was granted. The HECAF model is presented as a strategy that can improve the teaching and learning of Ethics and Human Rights in the undergraduate radiography programme. HECAF is as an acronym for humanness, environment, core curriculum, assessment and feedback. It is argued in this article that the HECAF model can contribute to enhancing professional conduct and ethical behaviour in the clinical radiography environment.
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- Authors: Kekana, Ramadimetja Mable , Steenekamp, Karen
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Radiography , Ethics , Human rights
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/293159 , uj:31870 , Citation: Kekana, R.M. & Steenekamp, K. 2019. Improving teaching and learning of ethics and human rights in the radiography undergraduate programme with the HECAF model. Education as Change, 23:1-23. https://doi.org/10.25159/1947-9417/4440
- Description: Abstract: Education for healthcare professionals, including radiography, is focused on cognitive, affective and psychomotor learning. The aim of this article is to present and argue for the consideration of the HECAF model, which is designed to improve the teaching and learning of Ethics and Human Rights in the radiography undergraduate programme. This model was developed as a result of a qualitative study using action research as a research design. There were two phases, namely situation analysis and appreciative inquiry. The study used multiple data collection tools. Quantitative data was collected during phase one and qualitative data was collected in phase two. Content analysis was appropriate because it could be used for both quantitative and qualitative data. Participants were facilitators of learning, third-year radiography students and clinical supervisors from the eight higher education institutions that offer radiography education and training in South Africa. Ethical approval was granted. The HECAF model is presented as a strategy that can improve the teaching and learning of Ethics and Human Rights in the undergraduate radiography programme. HECAF is as an acronym for humanness, environment, core curriculum, assessment and feedback. It is argued in this article that the HECAF model can contribute to enhancing professional conduct and ethical behaviour in the clinical radiography environment.
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Ethical considerations in adult and community education research in Nigeria : issues and perspectives
- Olaniran, Sunday Olawale, Baruwa, Ikeoluwapo B.
- Authors: Olaniran, Sunday Olawale , Baruwa, Ikeoluwapo B.
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Ethics , Adult education , Community education
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/455394 , uj:40304 , Citation: Olaniran, S.O. & Baruwa, I.B. 2020. Ethical considerations in adult and community education research in Nigeria : issues and perspectives. , DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40979-020-00057-3
- Description: Abstract: There is a growing international interest in ethical issues in research and the process by which it can be enhanced. Unlike in the past when research studies were conducted abruptly, almost all organisations and research institutes now have various mechanisms to ensure compliance with ethical standards and procedures. Adult and community education research in Nigeria continues to gain the attention of governments and Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) due to the need to improve the literacy rate among adult learners and out-of-school youths in the country. However, in many workshops and training involving academics and development workers, much of the discussions on ethical issues in data collection and research reportage are not given the necessary attention that it requires. This review paper explores the ethical issues in adult and community education research with a view to re-awakening the consciousness of adult education scholars and practitioners, both in Nigeria and on the continent of Africa, to rethink how research data and processes are managed, such that it conforms with best practices globally.
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- Authors: Olaniran, Sunday Olawale , Baruwa, Ikeoluwapo B.
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Ethics , Adult education , Community education
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/455394 , uj:40304 , Citation: Olaniran, S.O. & Baruwa, I.B. 2020. Ethical considerations in adult and community education research in Nigeria : issues and perspectives. , DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40979-020-00057-3
- Description: Abstract: There is a growing international interest in ethical issues in research and the process by which it can be enhanced. Unlike in the past when research studies were conducted abruptly, almost all organisations and research institutes now have various mechanisms to ensure compliance with ethical standards and procedures. Adult and community education research in Nigeria continues to gain the attention of governments and Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) due to the need to improve the literacy rate among adult learners and out-of-school youths in the country. However, in many workshops and training involving academics and development workers, much of the discussions on ethical issues in data collection and research reportage are not given the necessary attention that it requires. This review paper explores the ethical issues in adult and community education research with a view to re-awakening the consciousness of adult education scholars and practitioners, both in Nigeria and on the continent of Africa, to rethink how research data and processes are managed, such that it conforms with best practices globally.
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