Three apparently unrelated developmental processes – mammalian myogenesis, the choice of neural fate and sex determination in Drosophila – are controlled by a common mechanism. Most of the genes governing these processes encode transcriptional factors that contain the helix‐loop‐helix (HLH) motif. This domain mediates the formation of homo‐ or heterodimers that specifically bind to DNA through a conserved basic region adjacent to the HLH motif. Dimers differ in their affinity for DNA and in their ability to activate transcription from HLH (...) binding‐site containing promoters. In addition, the activity of HLH proteins is inhibited by dimerization with another class of HLH proteins that lack a basic domain entirely or have an altered one. These structural properties provide a molecular mechanism to explain the synergistic and antagonistic functional relations among the HLH encoding genes that control several developmental pathways. (shrink)

Moral distress has received much attention in the international nursing literature in recent years. In this article, we describe the evolution of the concept of moral distress among nursing theorists from its initial delineation by the philosopher Jameton to its subsequent deployment as an umbrella concept describing the impact of moral constraints on health professionals and the patients for whom they care. The article raises worries about the way in which the concept of moral distress has been portrayed in some (...) nursing research and expresses concern about the fact that research, so far, has been largely confined to determining the prevalence of experiences of moral distress among nurses. We conclude by proposing a reconsideration, possible reconstruction and multidisciplinary approach to understanding the experiences of all health professionals who have to make difficult moral judgements and decisions in complex situations. (shrink)

In the last three decades, considerable theoretical and empirical research has been undertaken on the topic of moral distress among health professionals. Understood as a psychological and emotional response to the experience of moral wrongdoing, there is evidence to suggest that—if unaddressed—it contributes to staff demoralization, desensitization and burnout and, ultimately, to lower standards of patient safety and quality of care. However, more recently, the concept of moral distress has been subjected to important criticisms. Specifically, some authors argue that the (...) standard account of moral distress elucidated by Jameton :542–551, 1984) does not refer to a discrete phenomenon and/or that it is not sufficiently broad and that this makes measuring its prevalence among health professionals, and other groups of workers, difficult if not impossible. In this paper, we defend the standard account of moral distress. We understand it as a concept that draws attention to the social, political and contextual determinants of moral agency and brings the emotional landscape of the moral realm to the fore. Given the increasing pressure on health professionals worldwide to meet efficiency, financial and corporate targets and reported adverse effects of these for the quality and safety of patient care, we believe that further empirical research that deploys the standard account moral distress is timely and important. (shrink)

A psychoanalytic and philosophical exploration of sublimation as a key term in Jacques Lacan's theories of ethics and feminine sexuality.

In 1991, Jones developed an issue-contingent model of ethical decision making in which moral intensity is posited to affect the four stages of Rest's 1986 model. Jones claimed that moral intensity, which is "the extent of issue-related moral imperative in a situation", consists of six characteristics: magnitude of consequences, social consensus, probability of effect, temporal immediacy, proximity, and concentration of effect. This article reports the findings of two studies that analyzed the factor structure of moral intensity, operationalized by a 12-item (...) Perceived Moral Intensity Scale adapted from the work of Sing-hapakdi et al. [1996, Journal of Business Research, 36, 245-255] and Frey [2000, Journal of Business Ethics, 26, 181-195]. The two items that were purported to measure CE were dropped due to their inability to effectively tap into the characteristic proposed by Jones. Factor analyses of the remaining 10 items supported a 3-factor structure, with the MC, PE, and TI items loading on the first factor, the PX items loading on the second factor, and the SC items loading on the third factor. These factors were labeled: Probable Magnitude of Consequences, Proximity, and Social Consensus. The authors conclude that moral intensity consists of three characteristics, rather than the six posited by Jones. (shrink)

Following an extensive review of the moral intensity literature, this article reports the findings of two studies (one between-subjects, the other within-subject) that examined the effect of manipulated and perceived moral intensity on ethical judgment. In the between-subjects study participants judged actions taken in manipulated high moral intensity scenarios to be more unethical than the same actions taken in manipulated low moral intensity scenarios. Findings were mixed for the effect of perceived moral intensity. Both probable magnitude of consequences (a factor (...) consisting of magnitude of consequences, probability of effect, and temporal immediacy) and social consensus had a significant effect; proximity did not. In the within-subject study manipulated moral intensity had a significant effect on ethical judgment, but perceived moral intensity did not. Regression of ethical judgment on age, gender, major, and the three perceived moral intensity factors was significant between-subjects, but not within-subject. Ethical judgment was found to be a more robust predictor of intention than perceived moral intensity using a within-subject design. (shrink)

The factor structure of the Multidimensional Ethics Scale (MES; Reidenbach and Robin: 1988, Journal of Business Ethics 7, 871–879; 1990, Journal of Business Ethics 9, 639–653) was examined for the 8-item short form (N = 328) and the original 30-item pool (N = 260). The objectives of the study were: to verify the dimensionality of the MES; to increase the amount of true cross-scenario variance through the use of 18 scenarios varying in moral intensity (Jones: 1991, Academy of Management Review (...) 16, 366–395); and, to examine the items for measurement precision using item-response theory (IRT) methods. Results of confirmatory and exploratory factor analysis failed to conclusively support the hypothesized 3- (short form) or 5-factor (long form) structure; both instruments were instead dominated by a general factor. Item response theory analyses using Samejima’s (1969, Psychometrika Monograph Supplement 34, (4, Pt. 2)) graded response model revealed that many items in the 30-item pool performed very well, and suggested that a different collection of items be used to form a short-form version of the MES. Our proposed 10-item instrument includes more discriminating items than the 8-item version, and has the added advantage of including two items from each of the five ethical philosophies represented in the original 30-item pool. (shrink)

Angelaki, Volume 17, Issue 2, Page 31-48, June 2012.

Good work in nursing is work that is scientifically effective as well as morally and socially responsible. The purpose of this study was to examine variables that sustain good work among entering nurses (with one to five years of experience) and experienced professional nurses despite the obstacles they encounter. In addition to role models and mentors, entering and experienced nurses identified team work, cohesiveness and shared values as levers for good work. These nurses used prioritization, team building and contemplative practices (...) to overcome obstacles. Entering professional nurses tended to avoid conflict in the work setting. Experienced nurses reported forming teams of decision makers who share similar values to resolve conflict. These findings have implications for nurse education and nursing practice. Reflection on the importance of values and virtue in sustaining good work is important. Entering professional nurses should be encouraged to seek positive role models and reflect on the lessons that can be learned from experienced exemplary nurses. (shrink)

SUBJECTION AND SUB JECT1VATION ETIENNE BALIBAR will begin by sketching out a problematic, or research programme, on which have been working for some time ...

The management of covid-19 and the so-called "new normality" have brought with a timely debate of ideas about the future of sovereignty. Leaving aside hegemonic and neoliberal technophilia, this debate has generated two mutually exclusive approaches based on controversial statements by the philosopher Giorgio Agamben, namely: one that foresees an undemocratic horizon subject to new technologies and another that emphasizes the transversal character and contradictory of these. In this work, by appealing to the theory of techno-economic paradigms, I critically set (...) out the main reasonings of the debate and I reflect on the future of democracy. (shrink)

Scholars have advocated for the inclusion of metacognition in our understanding of the ethical decision making process and in support of moral learning. An instrument to measure metacognition as a domain-specific capacity related to ethical decision making is not found in the current literature. This research describes the development and validation of the 20-item Moral Metacognition Scale. Psychometric properties of the scale were assessed by exploration and confirmation of the factor structure, and the demonstration of convergent, discriminant, and predictive validity. (...) Moral metacognition, as measured by the MMS, was significantly correlated with ethical awareness and ethical judgment. Limitations of our research, suggestions for future exploration, and practical implications are discussed. (shrink)

This article briefly outlines some of the key problems with the way in which the moral realm has traditionally been understood and analysed. I propose two alternative views of what is morally interesting and applicable to nursing practice and I indicate that instability has its upsides. I begin with a moral tale – a 'Good Samaritan' story – which raises fairly usual questions about the nature of morality but also the more philosophically fundamental question about the relationship between subjectivity and (...) moral agency. I then consider this relationship from the perspectives of two twentieth century philosophers: Emmanuel Levinas and Michel Foucault. Levinas' basic point is that the experience of ethical subjectivity is made possible through others: the demand to respond to the existence of others is the basic social structure that precedes individual freedom. If Levinas posits intersubjectivity as a fundamental or primitive feature of the moral realm, Foucault poses an even more basic question: how have moral subjects and relations of obligation been constituted? The aim of ethical inquiry, for Foucault, is to describe the network of discourses, institutions, relations, and practices through which certain kinds of subjects are constituted and constitute themselves, e.g. as a kind of person who can act morally. Finally, I consider some recent research in philosophy of nursing which illustrates how Levinasian and/or Foucauldian perspectives can deepen understanding of nurses' moral practices, specifically, the work of Norwegian public health nurses, Canadian pediatric nurses, and Irish midwives. I suggest that in spite of the instability of morality in general and the particular ethical challenges that face nurses, there are grounds for hope and possible strategies for living in unstable times. (shrink)

Este artículo presenta una explicación del sentido común moderno a partir de una reconstrucción de lecturas críticas de Marx y Schumpeter. Se defiende que nuestro sentido común está estrechamente relacionado con la tecnología y que esta comporta fetichismo y funcionalidad. El artículo tiene cuatro partes. Primeramente, expongo las consideraciones generales que requiere una aproximación filosófica al sentido común y concreto la filosofía de la historia en la que baso mi análisis. Segundo, argumento que el sentido común moderno es indisociable de (...) la moral y la política y ambas lo son de posibles conflictos de tipo radical en cuanto al ser humano y su historia. Tercero, comento por qué estos posibles conflictos tienen que ver con lo que Marx llama en El capital la maquinaria capitalista y desarrollo esta idea desde la teoría de los paradigmas tecnoeconómicos. Finalmente, sostengo que esta teoría neoschumpeteriana debe ser criticada desde la filosofía, así como adoptada para una teoría y práctica críticas del sentido común moderno, el cual tiene en las gestiones de la COVID-19 un punto culminante. (shrink)

This paper introduces an extension A of Kleene's axiomatization of Brouwer's intuitionistic analysis, in which the classical arithmetical and analytical hierarchies are faithfully represented as hierarchies of the domains of continuity. A domain of continuity is a relation R(α) on Baire space with the property that every constructive partial functional defined on {α : R(α)} is continuous there. The domains of continuity for A coincide with the stable relations (those equivalent in A to their double negations), while every relation R(α) (...) is equivalent in A to ∃αA(α, β) for some stable A(α, β) (which belongs to the classical analytical hierarchy). The logic of A is intuitionistic. The axioms of A include countable comprehension, bar induction, Troelstra's generalized continuous choice, primitive recursive Markov's Principle and a classical axiom of dependent choices proposed by Krauss. Constructive dependent choices, and constructive and classical countable choice, are theorems, A is maximal with respect to classical Kleene function realizability, which establishes its consistency. The usual disjunction and (recursive) existence properties ensure that A preserves the constructive sense of "or" and "there exists.". (shrink)

In the author's Relative lawlessness in intuitionistic analysis [this JOURNAL. vol. 52 (1987). pp. 68-88] and An intuitionistic theory of lawlike, choice and lawless sequences [Logic Colloquium '90. Springer-Verlag. Berlin. 1993. pp. 191-209] a notion of lawless ness relative to a countable information base was developed for classical and intuitionistic analysis. Here we simplify the predictability property characterizing relatively lawless sequences and derive it from the new axiom of closed data (classically equivalent to open data) together with a natural principle (...) of invariance under finite translation. We characterize relative lawlessness in terms of a notion of forcing. Finally, we study relative lawlessness on an arbitrary fan and show that the collection of lawless binary sequences (which is comeager in the sense of Baire) has probability measure zero. The reasoning is predominantly constructive. (shrink)

In April 2004 the Irish Government commissioned Judge Maureen Harding Clark to compile a report to ascertain the rate of caesarean hysterectomies at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, Republic of Ireland. The report came about as a result of complaints by midwives into questionable practices that were mainly (but not solely) attributed to one particular obstetrician. In this article we examine the findings of this Report through a feminist lens in order to explore what a feminist reading of (...) the Report and the events that led to the inquiry will bring to light. We consider how sex and gender feature in the Lourdes case, draw attention to the deeply gendered asymmetries of power and privilege that existed between the men and women at the centre of this inquiry, and explore the impact such asymmetries had on this particular situation. (shrink)

This note explores the common core of constructive, intuitionistic, recursive and classical analysis from an axiomatic standpoint. In addition to clarifying the relation between Kleene’s and Troelstra’s minimal formal theories of numbers and number-theoretic sequences, we propose some modified choice principles and other function existence axioms which may be of use in reverse constructive analysis. Specifically, we consider the function comprehension principles assumed by the two minimal theories EL and M, introduce an axiom schema CFd asserting that every decidable property (...) of numbers has a characteristic function, and use it to describe a precise relationship between the minimal theories. We show that the axiom schema AC00 of countable choice can be decomposed into a monotone choice schema AC00m (which guarantees that every Cauchy sequence has a modulus) and a bounded choice schema BC00. We relate various (classically correct) axiom schemas of continuous choice to versions of the bar and fan theorems, suggest a constructive choice schema AC1/2,0 (which incidentally guarantees that every continuous function has a modulus of continuity), and observe a constructive equivalence between restricted versions of the fan theorem and correspondingly restricted bounding axioms \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$${AB_{1/2,0}^{2^{\mathbb{n}}}}$$\end{document}. We also introduce a version WKL!! of Weak König’s Lemma with uniqueness which is intermediate in strength between WKL and the decidable fan theorem FTd. (shrink)

The specific type of torture to which Abu Ghraib prisoners were submitted was predicated on the assumption that hejab, or the islamic system of modest, makes Muslims especially vulnerable to shame. This paper investigates this supposed link between hejab and the affect of shame through an analysis of the philosophical and psychoanalytic literature on shame and the films of the iranian filmmaker, Abbas Kiarostami. Beginning with a discussion of the massive impact of hejab regulations on Iranian cinema, the author shows (...) how Kiarostami’s critique of these regulations becomes a powerful argument for shame as against the modesty system. (shrink)

Kripke recently suggested viewing the intuitionistic continuum as an expansion in time of a definite classical continuum. We prove the classical consistency of a three-sorted intuitionistic formal system IC, simultaneously extending Kleene’s intuitionistic analysis I and a negative copy C° of the classically correct part of I, with an “end of time” axiom ET asserting that no choice sequence can be guaranteed not to be pointwise equal to a definite sequence. “Not every sequence is pointwise equal to a definite sequence” (...) is independent of IC. The proofs are by Crealizability interpretations based on classical ω-models ${\cal M}$ = $\left$ of C°. (shrink)

This paper introduces, as an alternative to the (absolutely) lawless sequences of Kreisel and Troelstra, a notion of choice sequence lawless with respect to a given class D of lawlike sequences. For countable D, the class of D-lawless sequences is comeager in the sense of Baire. If a particular well-ordered class F of sequences, generated by iterating definability over the continuum, is countable then the F-lawless, sequences satisfy the axiom of open data and the continuity principle for functions from lawless (...) to lawlike sequences, but fail to satisfy Troelstra's extension principle. Classical reasoning is used. (shrink)

In this paper, we offer an argument in favor of the modular character of mind, based on a more detailed proof of the modular character of the linguistic capacity: in comparing the properties of different components of grammar in a specific area we will draw general consequences about the properties of the cognitive system. More specifically, we analyze and compare the properties, in logical form (LF)and in phonology, of “empty eIements” - eIements that are “visible” or “full” at some level (...) of representation, but not at another level.Our analysis shows that empty eIements are governed at LF by principIes on variables. binding conditions, and thematic principles, that relate eIements at a distance. In phonology, on the other hand, empty elements, i.e., empty segments and empty properties, can be obtaines by deletion and are governed by very different principles (underspecification, principles relating to recoverability of deletion effects), andthese principles relates eIements under strict adjacency. In addition, when a principle seems to be operating in a similar fashion in both components, as in the case of the Projection Principle, it involves lexical properties, which are properties affecting all components. We conclude, hence, that grammar is a modular system, with different components following different principles but related of course, among other things, by the properties of lexical structure.It follows from this analysis that a theory that views language as part of a homogeneous cognitive capacity cannot be mantained: cognition cannot be nonmodular in a strict sense, since a subpart of it, the linguistic capacity is modular itself. We conclude also that the linguistic capacity being modular, we ean only expect that, when studied in more detail, other cognitive capacities will be shown to differ intheir structure still more from the language system. (shrink)

Realizabilities are powerful tools for establishing consistency and independence results for theories based on intuitionistic logic. Troelstra discovered principles ECT 0 and GC 1 which precisely characterize formal number and function realizability for intuitionistic arithmetic and analysis, respectively. Building on Troelstra's results and using his methods, we introduce the notions of Church domain and domain of continuity in order to demonstrate the optimality of “almost negativity” in ECT 0 and GC 1 ; strengthen “double negation shift” DNS 0 to DNS (...) 1 and use it with GC 1 and Markov's Principle MP to characterize the classically provably realizable formulas of analysis; and show that intuitionistic analysis with GC 1 , MP and DNS 1 is consistent and satisfies Troelstra's and Church's Rules. We end with a discussion of semi-intuitionistic theories and a conjecture. (shrink)

Bringing together the best of international research, _Clare of Assisi: Life, Writings and Spirituality_ examines Clare's history and hagiography and offers critical translations and literary analyses of her Forma Vitae and her four letters to Agnes of Prague.

The Republic of Ireland has some of the most restrictive abortion legislation in the world which grants to the ‘unborn’ an equal right to life to that of the pregnant woman. This article outlines recent developments in the public discourse on abortion in Ireland and explains the particular cultural and religious context that informs the ethical case for access to abortion services. Our perspective rests on respect for two very familiar moral principles – autonomy and justice – which are at (...) the centre of social and democratic societies around the world. This article explains the context for the deployment of these concepts in order to support the claim that the current legislation and its operationalisation in clinical practice poses serious risks to the health, lives and well-being of pregnant women, tramples on their autonomy rights and requires of them a self-sacrifice that is unreasonable and unjust. (shrink)

This title offers an ethical framework for end-of-life decision making in healthcare settings. Its objective is to foster and support ethically and legally sound clinical practice in end-of-life treatment and care in Ireland.

The basics -- The family as an institution for the development of values -- The role of community and culture in shaping land use policy -- The mending wall : religion and ethics at the dawn of a century -- Character education : a dialogue -- Restoring trust in government : the role of integrity and responsiveness -- Is there a crisis of citizenship? -- Organizational ethics and responsibility -- Media ethics -- Reflections on values, ethics, and personal responsibility.