Fitting Ethics to the Land: H. Richard Niebuhr's Ethic of Responsibility and Ecotheology

Much of ecotheology and environmental philosophy has moved deductively from theological and ethical constructs to questions of how we should relate to the natural world. Such approaches are limited in their ability to guide us toward appropriate environmental action for they do not necessarily fit the way the natural world actually functions. Niebuhr's ethic of response, on the other hand, begins with the concrete situation and is inherently ecological for it focuses on interrelationships in an on-going community. It is inductive in character and open to being informed by new findings in the natural and social sciences; thus it is exceptionally well suited to environmental problems, which involve complex scientific, social, and economic questions.     

IDENTITY AND DISTINCTION IN SPINOZA'S ETHICS1

Abstract: In Ethics 1p5, Spinoza asserts that “In Nature there cannot be two or more substances of the same nature or attribute”. This claim serves as a crucial premise in Spinoza's argument for substance monism, yet Spinoza's demonstration of the 1p5 claim is surprisingly brief and appears to have obvious difficulties. This paper answers the principle difficulties that have been raised in response to Spinoza's argument for 1p5. The key to understanding the 1p5 argument lies in a proper understanding of the substance‐attribute relationship and the principles of metaphysical individuation that Spinoza accepts.     

RESILIENCE IN LOW-INCOME, EMPLOYED, AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN

This study focuses on resilience in poor women and asks the question: In the face of a lifetime of adversity, stress, and poverty, what are the factors that enable some poor women to lead positive and productive lives? Fifty low-income, urban, African American women were interviewed, and factors that contribute to their resilience were explored. Specifically, we examined the influence of supportive and problematic social ties, downward social comparison, and self-efficacy on resilience, as measured by scales designed to assess well-being. In addition, the participants' perceptions of factors that contribute to their resilience were elicited. The women in the sample were between the ages of 19 and 54, were employed at least 20 hours per week, and had at least one child below the age of 13 at home. Multiple regression analyses revealed that problematic social ties and downward social comparison together predicted over 48% of the variance in resilience.     

A Comparison of Meltzoff,Trevarthen, and Stern

Whereas the first paper of this series compared the work of five theorists of intersubjectivity in psychoanalysis, this paper compares three theorists of intersubjectivity in infant research, Andrew Meltzoff, Colwyn Trevarthen, and Daniel Stern. By evaluating the points at which the theorists concur and differ, we hope to clarify the meanings or “forms” of intersubjectivity in infancy. All three have addressed the question of how infants can sense the state of the other, and all have used the concept of cross-modal correspondences as a central aspect of the answer. Nevertheless each has a distinctly different theory of intersubjectivity in infancy.     

Stability of Religious Orientation and Academic Dishonesty

This study examines the probable influence of individual religiosity on academic cheating among a group of Seventh-day Adventist youth, grades 6 through 12. A multiple-regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between academic beliefs or behaviors and academic dishonesty. The following research questions were investigated: (1) Is there a relationship between students' religious experience or religious activities and academic honesty? (2) What religious variables influence academic honesty? and (3) What is the correlation between the stability of religious orientation and academic honesty? Although the final model proved to be statistically significant, the findings suggest no direct impact on academic honesty. The implications of this study and the influential factors are discussed.