Kierkegaardian intersubjectivity and the question of ethics and responsibility

Kierkegaardian Intersubjectivity and the Question of Ethics and Responsibility By Kevin Krumrei. Kierkegaard's contributions to philosophy are generally admitted and recognized as valuable in the history of Western philosophy, both as one of the great anti-Hegelians, as the founder (arguably) of existentialism, and as a religious thinker. However valid this may be, there is similarly a generally admitted critique of Kierkegaard in the Western tradition, that Kierkegaard's philosophy of the development of the self leads the individual into an isolated encounter with God, to the abandonment of the social context. In other words, a Kierkegaardian theory of intersubjectivity is a contradiction in terms. This is voiced eloquently by Emmanuel Levinas, among others. However, Levinas' own intersubjective ethics bears a striking resemblance to Kierkegaard's, with respect to the description and formulation of the basic problem for ethics: the problem of aesthetic egoism. Further, both Kierkegaard and Levinas follow similar paths in responding to the problem, from Kierkegaard's reduplication in Works of Love, to Levinas' notion of substitution in Otherwise than Being. In this comparison, it becomes evident that Levinas' reading of Kierkegaard is mistaken, for Kierkegaard's intersubjective ethics postulates, in fact, the inseparability and necessity of the self s responsible relation to others in the self s relation to God, found in the command, "you shall love your neighbour as yourself."

Buddhism and the earth : environmental thought in early Buddhist philosophy

Introduction Fundamental to the philosophy of Buddhism, is the insight that there is "unsatisfactohness" (dukkha) in the world and that it can be eliminated through the practice of the Noble Eight Fold Path. Buddhism also maintains that the world as we experience and entities that exist are bereft of any substantiality. Instead existence is manifest through dependent origination. All things are conditional; nothing is permanent. However, inherent in this dependent existence is the interconnectedness of all beings and their subjection to the cosmic law of karma. Part of cultivating the Eight Fold path includes a deep compassion for all other living things, 'trapped' within this cycle of dependent origination. This compassion or empathy (karuna) is crucial to the Buddhist path to enlightenment. It is this emphasis on karuna that shows itself in Mahayana Buddhism with respect to the theory of the boddhisatva (or Buddha-to-be) since the boddhisatva willingly postpones his/her own enlightenment to help others on the same path. One of the ramifications of the theory of dependent origination is that there is no anthropocentric bias placed on humans over the natural world. Paradoxically the doctrine of non-self becomes an ontology within Buddhism, culminating in the Mayahana realization that a common boundary exists between samsara and nirvana. Essential to this ontology is the life of dharma or a moral life. Ethics is not separated from ontology. As my thesis will show, this basic outlook of Buddhism has implications toward our understanding of the Buddhist world-view with respect to the current human predicament concerning the environment. While humans are the only ones who can 4 attain "Buddhahood", it is because of our ability to understand what it means to follow the Eight fold path and act accordingly. Because of the interconnectedness of all entities {dharmas), there is an ontological necessity to eliminate suffering and 'save the earth' because if we allow the earth to suffer, we ALL suffer. This can be understood as an ethical outlook which can be applied to our interaction with and treatment of the natural environment or environment in the broadest sense, not just trees plants rocks etc. It is an approach to samsara and all within it. It has been argued that there is no ontology in Buddhism due to its doctrine of "non-self". However, it is a goal of this thesis to argue that there does exist an original ontology in Buddhism; that according to it, the nature of Being is essentially neither "Being nor non-being nor not non-being" as illustrated by Nagarjuna. Within this ontology is engrained an ethic or 'right path' (samma marga) that is fundamental to our being and this includes a compassionate relationship to our environment. In this dissertation I endeavour to trace the implications that the Buddhist worldview has for the environmental issues that assail us in our age of technology. I will explore questions such as: can the Buddhist way of thinking help us comprehend and possibly resolve the environmental problems of our day and age? Are there any current environmental theories which are comparable to or share common ground with the classical Buddhist doctrines? I will elucidate some fundamental doctrines of early Buddhism from an environmental perspective as well as identify some comparable modern environmental theories such as deep ecology and general systems theory, that seem to share in the wisdom of classical Buddhism and have much to gain from a deeper appreciation of Buddhism.

Utilitarianism and Buddist ethics: a comparative approach to the ethics of animal research

This thesis explores the comparison utilitarianism and Buddhist ethics as they can be applied to animal research. It begins by examining some of the general discussions surrounding the use of animals in research. The historical views on the moral status of animals, the debate surrounding their use in animals, as well as the current 3R paradigm and its application in Canadian research are explored. The thesis then moves on to expound the moral system of utilitarianism as put forth by Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill, as well as contemporary additions to the system. It also looks at the basics of Buddhist ethics well distinguishing the Mahayana from the Therevada. Three case studies in animal research are used to explore how both systems can be applied to animal research. It then offers a comparison as to how both ethical systems function within the field of animal research and explores the implications in their application on its practice.

Methodology in Economics: the Logic of Appraisal

This Paper Intends to Develop a Coherent Methodological Framework Concerned with the Appraisal of Scientific Theories in Economics, and Which Is Based on a Postulated Aim of Science. We First Define the Scope of a Methodological Inquiry (Precise Definition of What Is Meant by the Logic of Appraisal of Scientific Theories) and Review the Work of Popper and Lakatos in the Philosophy of Science. We Then Use Their Results to Develop a Rational Structure of Scientific Activity. We Identify and Analyse Both a Micro and Macro Framework for the Process of Appraisal and Single Out the Importance of So-Called 'Fundamental Assumptions' in Creating Externalities in the Appraisal Process Which Forces Us to Adop a Multi-Level Analysis. Special Attention Is Given to the Role and Significance of the Abstraction Process and the Use of Assumptions in General. the Proposed Structure of Scientific Activity Is Illustrated with Examples From Economics.

Consistent Relations

Consistency, a natural weakening of transitivity introduced in a seminal contribution by Suzumura (1976b), has turned out to be an interesting and promising concept in a variety of areas within economic theory. This paper summarizes its recent applications and provides some new observations in welfarist social choice and in population ethics. In particular, it is shown that the conclusion of the welfarism theorem remains true if transitivity is replaced by consistency and that an impossibility result in variable-population social-choice theory turns into a possibility if transitivity is weakened to consistency.

Question period of the Liberal Neutrality Conference (May 1-3, 2008)

This is the audio recording of all discussion sessions of the International Conference on the Re-evaluation of Liberal Neutrality organized by CR��UM, Montreal May 1-3 2008. (The conference announcement is at http://www.creum.umontreal.ca/spip.php?article765) // Ceci est l'enregistrement audio des p��riodes de discussion du colloque organis�� par le CR��UM (Montr��al, 1-3 mai 2008) et portant sur une r��-��valuation de la neutralit�� lib��rale. (L'annonce du colloque est �� l'adresse http://www.creum.umontreal.ca/spip.php?article765)

Peut-on satisfaire les exigences en mati��re d���appr��ciation des risques dans l�����valuation ��thique d���un protocole de recherche Impliquant des ��tres humains

L�����valuation des risques est une ��tape incontournable pour l���approbation d���un protocole de recherche impliquant des ��tres humains. Toutefois, cette ��valuation est tr��s difficile et beaucoup de sp��cialistes croient que les sujets sont insuffisamment prot��g��s contre les exp��riences ��thiquement inacceptables. Il est possible que les difficult��s rencontr��es lors de cette ��valuation proviennent d���une mauvaise d��finition du concept de �� risque ��, cette d��finition ignorant certaines caract��ristiques fondamentales du risque qui remettent en question sa nature quantifiable et pr��visible. Dans cet article, nous allons examiner cette hypoth��se �� travers trois ��l��ments-cl��s de l�����valuation ��thique des projets de recherches : 1) la quantification du risque, 2) l���anticipation du risque, et 3) l�����tablissement d���un niveau de risque �� partir duquel une exp��rience devient ��thiquement inacceptable.

L���ali��nation, le cons��quentialisme et les exigences de la morale

Parution originale sous le titre �� Alienation, Consequentialism and the Demands of Morality �� dans Philosophy and Social Affairs, vol. 13, No. 2 (Printemps 1984), pp. 134-171. Traduit de l���anglais par Eric Guidon, r��vis�� par Christine Tappolet. Nous aimerions remercier Peter Railton pour avoir relu cette traduction.

Daniel Weinstock interviews Lisa Eckenwiler and Chris Macdonald -- music by General International

Daniel Weinstock, director of CR��UM, interviews two professors that were invited to pursue their work at CR��UM during the summer of 2008. His invitees are Lisa Eckenwiler, Associate Professor of Philosophy in the Department of Philosophy and in the Department of Health Administration and Policy at George Mason University; and Chris Macdonald, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Saint Mary���s University in Halifax. You will also hear General International, an experimental/avant-garde music band that was formed only a few months ago.

Les sources d'incoh��rences des initiatives de financement du logement social au Nicaragua

Le Nicaragua conna��t un d��ficit en logement tr��s pr��occupant. Celui-ci est du en grande partie �� l���incapacit�� du secteur financier �� satisfaire la demande des familles �� faible revenu. De nombreuses initiatives ont ��t�� mises en place par des organismes provenant des trois sph��res soci��tales pour pallier ce probl��me. Certains l���ont fait avec succ��s d���autres sans. Aujourd���hui bien que ces initiatives aient comme objectif de r��pondre au probl��me existant, le d��ficit continu de se creuser. Ce m��moire propose une analyse des causes du probl��me afin de comprendre pourquoi les initiatives mises en place ne fonctionnent pas comme elles le devraient. Il met en avant le manque de coordination qui existe enter les acteurs et d��montre que l���ensemble du secteur fonctionne selon une organisation �� en silo �� r��v��latrice d���un manque de coh��rence des politiques de financement du logement. Enfin il analyse les origines possibles d���une telle organisation et des incoh��rences politiques qui l���ont amen��e. Par cette analyse, il tente de d��terminer la part de responsabilit�� relative imputable �� l�����tat nicaraguayen et �� l���Aide Publique au D��veloppement qui est la principale source de fonds de tous ces programmes.

Everyday Ethics: Framing youth participation in organizational practice

Much of the literature on ethical issues in child and youth participation has drawn on the episodic experiences of participatory research efforts in which young people���s input has been sought, transcribed and represented. This literature focuses in particular on the power dynamics and ethical dilemmas embedded in time-bound adult/child and outsider/insider relationships. While we agree that these issues are crucial and in need of further examination, it is equally important to examine the ethical issues embedded within the ���everyday��� practices of the organizations in and through which young people���s participation in community research and development often occurs (e.g., community-based organizations, schools and municipal agencies). Drawing on experience from three summers of work in promoting youth participation in adult-led organizations of varying purpose, scale and structure, a framework is postulated that presents participation as a spatial practice shaped by five overlapping dimensions. The framework is offered as a point of discussion and a potential tool for analysis in ecipation in relation to organizational practice.

The ethical dilemma of lifestyle change: designing for sustainable schools and sustainable citizenship

his paper explores how participation and sustainability are being addressed by architects within the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme in the UK. The intentions promoted by the programme are certainly ambitious, but the ways to fulfil these aims are ill-explored. Simply focusing on providing innovative learning technologies, or indeed teaching young people about physical sustainability features in buildings, will not necessarily teach them the skills they will need to respond to the environmental and social challenges of a rapidly changing world. However, anticipating those skills is one of the most problematic issues of the programme. The involvement of young people in the design of schools is used to suggest empowerment, place-making and to promote social cohesion but this is set against government design literature which advocates for exemplars, standard layouts and best practice, all leading to forms of standardisation. The potentials for tokenistic student involvement and conflict with policy aims are evident. This paper explores two issues: how to foster in young people an ethic towards future generations, and the role of co-design practices in this process. Michael Oakeshott calls teaching the conversation of mankind. In this paper, I look at the philosophy of Hannah Arendt, Emmanuel Levinas, Maurice Merleau-Ponty and Luce Irigaray to argue that investigating the ethical dilemmas of the programme through critical dialogue with students offers an approach to meeting government objectives, building sustainable schools, and fostering sustainable citizenship.