Rolston, Lonergan, and the Intrinsic Value of Nature

In recent metaethical debate over ways to justify the notion of intrinsic natural value, some neopragmatists have challenged realist conceptions of scientific and moral truth. Holmes Rolston defends a critical-realist epistemology as the basis for a metaphysics of "projective nature" and a cosmological narrative—both of which set up a historical ontology of objective natural value. Pure ecological science informs the wilderness experience of Rolston's ideal epistemic subject, the "sensitive naturalist." The author argues that Rolston's account of the relation between knowing and valuing can be clarified and strengthened by appropriating Bernard Lonergan's transcendental method. Conversely, Lonergan's view of moral self-transcendence can be developed further in light of Rolston's virtue epistemology, which is embodied in the figure of the sensitive naturalist.     

Estimation of Group Priorities and Value of Information

In this paper, we present a Bayesian approach to model uncertainty about a group's priorities in a multicriteria evaluation problem and develop a methodology to quantify amount of information provided by a sample of priorities. In so doing, we discuss how the quantification of the information content can be used to decide to elicit additional priorities from the group. We illustrate the implementation of our approach and discuss additional insights that it provides using real‐life data from an academic department's priority analysis. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

数量让位价值：5～10岁儿童公平分配发展的“此消彼长”

操纵资源价值与数量的比例关系，形成互不影响的数量平等与价值平等，考察5～10岁儿童在不同卷入情境中公平分配发展的特点。结果发现：（1）6岁以后儿童公平分配发展存在数量平等“消”和价值平等“长”的特点；（2）与第一方卷入情境相比，在第三方卷入情境中9～10岁儿童公平行为发展存在差异，而公平认知不受卷入情境影响；（3）儿童公平认知发展能正向指导公平行为表现，但会受卷入情境、年龄和性别影响。     

Cognitive mapping approach analyzing societal decision‐making

Cognitive mapping (CM) approach is reviewed, and the method is applied in analyzing an important case of societal decision‐making. It is shown that CM is an effective way of representing argumentation, consequences, and the linkage between the concepts. The method integrates causal modelling and rational choice theory with parts of cognitive psychology. CM allows for a systematic arguing of issues. The decision‐making problem described here concerns building a new nuclear power plant in Finland. There occurred strong proponents representing mainly the industry and technocratic and engineering experts, and an equally strong resistance represented by ordinary citizens, parliamentarians, and experts. The argumentation went ten years pro and cons before the parliament in 1993 decided against building the proposed nuclear power plant. It gives an ideal case to study the argumentation and contradictions there in as a whole by developing and applying a cognitive mapping approach.     

Ambivalences about Nature and Naturalism A Supernaturalist Response to Theodore W. Nunez

As a die-hard supernaturalist, someone "at two with nature" (Woody Allen) who would be at one with God, the author has mixed feelings about Theodore Nunez's defense of "naturalism." Unlike neopragmatists, the author is not troubled by Nunez's general realism about value; he takes exception not to Nunez's theoretical account of truth, but to his specific axiology. He does not share Nunez's confidence that "projective nature" can provide reliable moral inspiration, suggesting instead that such inspiration can arise only from trust in the holiness of God.     

The Purusārthas: An Axiological Exploration of Hinduism

Three doctrines have often been identified in the context of Hindu civilization as its distinctive markers: the doctrine of the varnas (or the doctrine of the four classes), the doctrine of asramas (or the doctrine of the four stages of life), and the doctrine of the purusarthas (or the doctrine of the four goals of life). The study of the last of these has been comparatively neglected and the doctrine has even been dubbed a myth (Krishna 1996, 189–205). The purpose of this article is twofold: to establish the cogency of the doctrine of the purusarthas in the face of such criticism and to indicate the directions in which the doctrine could be developed further.     

浅议伊斯兰教拜主行善的基本价值观

拜主行善是伊斯兰文明基本价值观之一。拜主行善观在思想观念与行为实践上为穆斯林确立了评价事物、抉择行为的基本准则,不仅彰显出伊斯兰教信仰与现实交融的务实精神,也诠释了史上穆斯林以包容胸襟汲取、承继、整合、创新出人类伟大文明的内在因素与有效机制。     

病人的价值取向在诊疗决策中的作用

病人在诊疗中的自主性是医学发展及病人权利意识增长的产物,它有利于尊重病人的权利及人格,使病人对诊疗有更好的认同和依从性,提升诊疗效果和减少医疗纠纷,但尊重病人的自主性也有一定的限度,医生有特殊干涉权。