What Does Value Matter? The Interest-Relational Theory of the Semantics and Metaphysics of Value

Value and reasons for action are often cited by rationalists and moral realists as providing a desire-independent foundation for normativity. Those maintaining instead that normativity is dependent upon motivation often deny that anything called '"value" or "reasons" exists. According to the interest-relational theory, something has value relative to some perspective of desire just in case it satisfies those desires, and a consideration is a reason for some action just in case it indicates that something of value will be accomplished by that action. Value judgements therefore describe real properties of objects and actions, but have no normative significance independent of desires. It is argued that only the interest-relational theory can account for the practical significance of value and reasons for action. Against the Kantian hypothesis of prescriptive rational norms, I attack the alleged instrumental norm or hypothetical imperative, showing that the normative force for taking the means to our ends is explicable in terms of our desire for the end, and not as a command of reason. This analysis also provides a solution to the puzzle concerning the connection between value judgement and motivation. While it is possible to hold value judgements without motivation, the connection is more than accidental. This is because value judgements are usually but not always made from the perspective of desires that actually motivate the speaker. In the normal case judgement entails motivation. But often we conversationally borrow external perspectives of desire, and subsequent judgements do not entail motivation. This analysis drives a critique of a common practice as a misuse of normative language. The "absolutist" attempts to use and, as philosopher, analyze normative language in such a way as to justify the imposition of certain interests over others. But these uses and analyses are incoherent - in denying relativity to particular desires they conflict with the actual meaning of these utterances, which is always indexed to some particular set of desires.

Myths of Modern Education

My focus is on assessment criteria of language proficiency in community college education. To demand clear writing is an application of scientism; it seeks to keep separate the fact/value distinction of positivism. This dangerously undermines the democratizing possibilities of education, since clear writing, taken to its extreme, is ultimately anonymous and dehumanizing. The active student-as-citizen is, therefore, subsumed under the neoliberal dictate of the passive student-as-consumer. The process of language acquisition is reduced to a fictitious act of knowledge transmission and regurgitation, and, therefore, those subversive aspects of language learning, such as creativity and critical inquiry, are undermined. An initial overview of the tenets of modernity will provide a conceptual framework for this examination.

Les sciences sociales devraient-elles être neutres? : le rôle des chercheurs(ses) face à la normativité du discours éthique et politique, de Weber à Putnam.

L'objectif de ce mémoire est de comprendre la neutralité axiologique non pas comme une exigence épistémologique, mais plutôt comme un idéal éducationnel. Max Weber propose une science basée sur la description factuelle, de laquelle on exclut la formulation de jugements de valeur. Pour l'auteur, il est préférable de séparer les jugements descriptifs des jugements évaluatifs dans le but de préserver l'autonomie intellectuelle des étudiants. Comme il serait contraire au principe d'autonomie de laisser le professeur influencer et convaincre ses étudiants, de façon partisane, d'adhérer à certaines thèses normatives, Weber propose un mécanisme pour éviter que le professeur n'influence ses étudiants de manière illégitime. Les critiques contemporaines de la neutralité axiologique, en particulier celles de Sen et Putnam, voient dans le critère de neutralité un rejet de l'entrelacement logique des faits et des valeurs. Ils critiquent la supposée subjectivité des valeurs et, ce faisant, défendent une conception enrichie de la science où les valeurs éthiques sont présentes. Weber n'a jamais défendu qu'il était impossible de mener une analyse à la fois descriptive et normative. Seulement, on doit s'interroger sur les lieux où s'exprime la normativité, et s'assurer que toutes les conditions sont présentes pour qu'une discussion normative tende réellement à l'objectivité.

Rethinking science for sustainable development: Reflexive interaction for a paradigm transformation

If we postulate a need for the transformation of society towards sustainable development, we also need to transform science and overcome the fact/value split that makes it impossible for science to be accountable to society. The orientation of this paradigm transformation in science has been under debate for four decades, generating important theoretical concepts, but they have had limited impact until now. This is due to a contradictory normative science policy framing that science has difficulties dealing with, not least of all because the dominant framing creates a lock-in. We postulate that in addition to introducing transdisciplinarity, science needs to strive for integration of the normative aspect of sustainable development at the meta-level. This requires a strategically managed niche within which scholars and practitioners from many different disciplines can engage in a long-term common learning process, in order to become a “thought collective” (Fleck) capable of initiating the paradigm transformation. Arguing with Piaget that “decentration” is essential to achieve normative orientation and coherence in a learning collective, we introduce a learning approach—Cohn's “Theme-Centred Interaction”—which provides a methodology for explicitly working with the objectivity and subjectivity of statements and positions in a “real-world” context, and for consciously integrating concerns of individuals in their interdependence with the world. This should enable a thought collective to address the epistemological and ethical barriers to science for sustainable development.

Care delivery value chains for ophthalmic clinics in Switzerland

Perceived patient value is often not aligned with the emerging expenses for health care services. In other words, the costs are often supposed as rising faster than the actual value for the patients. This fact is causing major concerns to governments, health plans, and individuals. Attempts to solve the problem have habitually been on the operational effectiveness side: increasing patient volume, minimizing costs, rationing, or closing hospitals, usually resulting in a zero-sum game. Only few approaches come from the strategic positioning side and "competition" among hospitals is still perceived rather as a danger than as a chance to create a positive-sum game and stimulate patient value. In their 2006 book, "Redefining Health Care", the renowned Harvard strategy professor Michael E. Porter and hospital management expert Professor Elizabeth Olmsted Teisberg approach the challenge from the positive-sum perspective: they propose to form Integrated Practice Units (IPUs) and manage hospitals in a modern, patient value oriented way. They argue that creating value-based competition on results should have the same effect on the health care sector like transparency and competition turned other industries with out-dated management models (like recently the inert telecommunication industry) into highly competitive and customer value creating businesses. The objective of this paper is to elaborate Care Delivery Value Chains for Integrated Practice Units in ophthalmic clinics and gather a first feedback from Swiss hospital managers, ophthalmologists, and patients, if such an approach could be a realistic way to improve health care management. First, Porter's definition of competitiveness (distinction between operational effectiveness and strategic positioning) is explained. Then, the Care Delivery Value Chain is introduced as a key element for understanding value-based management, followed by three practice examples for ophthalmic clinics. Finally, recommendations are given how the Care Delivery Value Chain can be managed efficiently and how the obstacles of becoming a patient-oriented organization can be overcome. The conclusion is that increased transparency and value-based competition on results has the potential to change the mindset of hospital managers-which will align patient value with the emerging health care expenses. Early adapters of this management approach will gain a competitive advantage. [Author, p. 6]

Coopetitive advantage – How firms create and appropriate value by collaborating with their competitors

Collaboration between competing firms (coopetition) has emerged as an important issue forn business practice in many industries. Extant literature has examined coopetition on many levels of analysis, but lacks clarity in distinguishing it explicitly from cooperation between noncompeting organizations. Because of this, the performance implications of coopetition from the perspective of an individual firm are still ambiguous – some research suggests positive results whereas other studies suggest detrimental outcomes. The aim in this dissertation is to narrow these gaps by exploring how firms create and appropriate value through collaboration with their competitors. The dissertation is divided into two parts. The first part comprises an overview of the relevant literature, as well as the conclusions of the whole study, and the second part includes six research publications. Both qualitative and quantitative methodologies are utilized. The results suggest that coopetition embodies the distinctive logic of value creation and appropriation from the perspective of an individual firm, and thus differs in terms of performance implications from cooperation between non-competitors. The distinction comes from the fact that competitors have somewhat similar understanding, capabilities and interest related to certain markets, which is potentially both challenging and beneficial in terms of the individual firm’s competitiveness. It appears from the findings that there are distinctive firm-external and firm-specific factors affecting the success of a coopetition strategy. This study makes three main contributions. First, on the conceptual level it shows the distinction between coopetition and cooperation between non-rivals as a collaborative inter-organizational relationship. Secondly, it sets out a framework and propositions that enhance understanding of how value is created and appropriated in coopetition from the perspective of an individual firm. Thirdly, it offers empirical evidence of how coopetition affects firms’ innovation and market performance, and identifies the focal internal and external factors involved. In general terms, the thesis adds to our knowledge of how a firm can successfully utilize a coopetition strategy in its pursuit of improved performance.

Creating shared value – a nova abordagem estratégica de Responsabilidade social empresarial

Dissertação de Mestrado apresentada ao Instituto Supeior de Contabilidade e Administração do Porto para a obtenção do grau de Mestre em Marketing Digital, sob a orientação da Doutora Sandrina Francisca Teixeira

Avaliação da performance empresarial: o economic value added (EVA®) e a sua relação com o valor da empresa

Mestrado em Contabilidade e Gestão das Instituições Financeiras

A importância da gestão baseada na criação de valor para o acionista (Value-Based Management): o caso do Grupo Galp Energia

A avaliação de empresas sempre constituiu um tema de elevada reflexão, sendo que vários especialistas tentam encontrar os modelos que melhor se adaptam a situações específicas e para as quais precisam de determinar um valor. No contexto empresarial português começa a ganhar significância a prática da gestão orientada para a criação de valor (Value-Based Management). O conceito de Value-Based Management assistiu a um particular desenvolvimento nos últimos 20 anos como resultado da globalização e desregulamentação dos mercados financeiros, dos avanços nas tecnologias de informação e do aumento da importância dos investidores institucionais. Vários analistas apresentaram evidência de que as empresas que adotam sistemas VBM melhoram o seu desempenho económico em relação a outras de dimensão semelhante no mesmo setor. É neste contexto que o EVA (Economic Value Added) se apresenta como uma métrica de desempenho privilegiada nos processos de controlo das decisões estratégicas tomadas. No presente trabalho pretendemos abordar o conceito da gestão baseada na criação de valor e a sua importância para o acionista, o que implica rever outros modelos de avaliação tradicionais baseados no valor contabilístico. Como métrica de avaliação do desempenho passado da empresa ao nível da criação de valor vamos dar particular importância ao estudo do EVA, fazendo referência à possível correlação entre esta métrica e o MVA (Market Value Added). O objetivo principal é analisar empiricamente a relação do EVA como medida de desempenho associada à criação de valor para os acionistas com a performance da empresa. Com efeito, vamos efetuar um estudo de caso, que vai incidir sobre um grupo empresarial português, referência no seu setor de atividade, o Grupo Galp Energia, cotado na Euronext Lisbon. Pensamos que a crescente prática da gestão baseada na criação de valor nas empresas cotadas em Portugal e a necessidade de aferir os resultados desta, tornam esta investigação pertinente, para além do facto de serem poucos os estudos empíricos à questão da criação de valor e a sua correlação com o valor acrescentado de mercado e com o valor de mercado dos capitais próprios das empresas cotadas em Portugal.

Factorization of elliptic boundary value problems by invariant embedding and application to overdetermined problems

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Doutor em Matemática

Evaluating the potential of yeast strains to produce added value products for the food and/or pharmaceutical industries

This study focus in the valorization of the apple pomace with the main goal of obtaining added value products. For that, hot compressed water technology was used for the extraction of phenolic compounds and hydrolysis of polysaccharides presents in the lignocellulosic structure of apple pomace to obtain simple sugars. The sugars have been utilized as alternative carbon source for growth, lipid accumulation and carotenoids production by five different yeast Yarrowia lipolytica, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, Rhodotorula glutinis, Rhodosporidium babjevae and Rhodosporidium toruloides. Hydrolysis experiments were carried out with constant pressure of 100 bar, flow rate of 2mL/min and temperatures between 50°C and 250°C. The amount of total sugars present in apple pomace hydrolysates showed maximum values for the hydrolysis temperatures of 110°C and 190°C. In fact, these temperatures revealed the best results regarding the monosaccharides quantities. The amount of 5-HMF and furfural in each hydrolysate varied through the different temperatures. Maximum values for 5-HMF were obtained with 170°C, while furfural showed to be maximum at 210°C. Extraction of phenolic compounds were performed in simultaneously with hydrolysis reactions. Total phenolic compounds (TPC) increased along the temperature, however with small variations between 170°C and 250°C. Hydrolysates were then used as alternative carbon source to yeast growth. R. mucilaginosa shows the highest optical density, with the hydrolysate obtained at 130°C. Carotenoids produced by these yeast scored a total of 7.02μg carotenoids/g cell dry weight, while for the control assay, the same yeast scored 9.31μg caratonoides/g cell dry weight. β-carotene was quantified by HPLC, were 33% of the carotenoid production by R. mucilaginosa with hydrolysate as carbon source, corresponded to β-caroteno.

Potencialidades de elementos pré-fabricados de madeira na reabilitação

Dissertação de mestrado em Construção e Reabilitação Sustentáveis

What value can be attached to a concept of mystery and has it a place in contemporary Western culture?

The idea for this thesis arose from a chain of reactions first set in motion by a particular experience. In keeping with the contemporary need to deconstruct every phenomenon it seemed important to analyse this experience in the hope of a satisfactory explanation. The experience referred to is the aesthetic experience provoked by works of art. The plan for the thesis involved trying to establish whether the aesthetic experience is unique and individual, or whether it is one that is experienced universally. Each question that arises in the course of this exploration promotes a dialectical reaction. I rely on the history of aesthetics as a philosophical discipline to supply the answers. This study concentrates on the efforts by philosophers and critical theorists to understand the tensions between the empirical and the emotional, the individual and the universal responses to the sociological, political and material conditions that prevail and are expressed through the medium of art. What I found is that the history of aesthetics is full of contradictory evidence and cannot provide a dogmatic solution to the questions posed. In fact what is indicated is that the mystery that attaches to the aesthetic experience is one that can also apply to the spiritual or transcendent experience. The aim of this thesis is to support the contribution of visual art in the spiritual well being of human development and supports the uniqueness of the evaluation and aesthetic judgement by the individual of a work of art. I suggest that mystery will continue to be of value in the holistic development of human beings and this mystery can be expressed through visual art. Furthermore, this thesis might suggest that what could be looked at is whether a work of art may be redemptive in its affect and offset the current decline in affective religious practice.

Emotional intelligence: On definitions, neuroscience, and marshmallows

In his timely article, Cherniss offers his vision for the future of "Emotional Intelligence" (EI). However, his goal of clarifying the concept by distinguishing definitions from models and his support for "Emotional and Social Competence" (ESC) models will, in our opinion, not make the field advance. To be upfront, we agree that emotions are important for effective decision-making, leadership, performance and the like; however, at this time, EI and ESC have not yet demonstrated incremental validity over and above IQ and personality tests in meta-analyses (Harms & Credé, 2009; Van Rooy & Viswesvaran, 2004). If there is a future for EI, we see it in the ability model of Mayer, Salovey and associates (e.g, Mayer, Caruso, & Salovey, 2000), which detractors and supporters agree holds the most promise (Antonakis, Ashkanasy, & Dasborough, 2009; Zeidner, Roberts, & Matthews, 2008). With their use of quasi-objective scoring measures, the ability model grounds EI in existing frameworks of intelligence, thus differentiating itself from ESC models and their self-rated trait inventories. In fact, we do not see the value of ESC models: They overlap too much with current personality models to offer anything new for science and practice (Zeidner, et al., 2008). In this commentary we raise three concerns we have with Cherniss's suggestions for ESC models: (1) there are important conceptual problems in both the definition of ESC and the distinction of ESC from EI; (2) Cherniss's interpretation of neuroscience findings as supporting the constructs of EI and ESC is outdated, and (3) his interpretation of the famous marshmallow experiment as indicating the existence of ESCs is flawed. Building on the promise of ability models, we conclude by providing suggestions to improve research in EI.

Assessing the value of CAN-gene mutations using MALDI-TOF MS.

PURPOSE: To identify cancer-linked genes, Sjöblom et al. and Wood et al. performed a genome-wide mutation screening in human breast and colorectal cancers. 140 CAN-genes were found in breast cancer, which in turn contained overall 334 mutations. These mutations could prove useful for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. METHODS: We used a MALDI-TOF MS 40-plex assay for testing 40 loci within 21 high-ranking breast cancer CAN-genes. To confirm mutations, we performed single-plex assays and sequencing. RESULTS: In general, the mutation rate of the analyzed loci in our sample cohort was very low. No mutation from the 40 loci analyzed could be found in the 6 cell lines. In tissue samples, a single breast cancer tissue sample showed heterozygosity at locus c.5834G>A within the ZFYVE26 gene (Zinc finger FYVE domain-containing gene 26). CONCLUSIONS: Sjöblom et al./Wood et al. already showed that the vast majority of CAN-genes are mutated at very low frequency. Due to the fact that we only found one mutation in our cohort, we therefore assume that at the selected loci, mutations might be low-frequency events and therefore, more rarely detectable. However, further evaluation of the CAN-gene mutations in larger cohorts should be the aim of further studies.