The setting of evidential standards is a core practice of scientific assessment for policy. Persuaded by considerations of inductive risk, philosophers generally agree that the justification of evidential standards must appeal to non-epistemic values but debate whether the balance of non-epistemic reasons favours varying evidential standards versus maintaining fixed high evidential standards in assessment, as both sets of standards promote different and important political virtues of advisory institutions. In this paper, I adjudicate the evidential standards debate by developing a novel (...) argument from justice, drawing on the IPCC’s assessment of climate impacts as a case study. I argue that in assessments marked by background evidential inequality, maintaining fixed high evidential standards results in an unequal distribution of ‘epistemic power’ among stakeholders, producing a ‘powerful assessment’ for the data-rich (a high rate of findings) and a ‘weak assessment’ for the data-poor (a low rate of findings). Where such inequalities of epistemic power disadvantage those in data-poor regions with respect to fundamental interests, such as basic human rights, we have decisive reasons of justice to vary evidential standards. (shrink)

Introduction End-of-life (EOL) decision-making involves complex ethical, cultural, and religious considerations, particularly within minority communities. In Israel, the Arab population, comprising approximately 21% of the country’s population, remains underrepresented in EOL research. This study explores the EOL care preferences of elderly Arab individuals and their families, focusing on the interplay between cultural values, religious beliefs, and personal autonomy. Methods A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with 24 participants, including elderly individuals (aged 60+) and their family members. Participants were (...) recruited through purposive and snowball sampling in community settings across northern Israel. Data were transcribed, translated, and thematically analyzed to identify key patterns in attitudes toward EOL care. Results Findings reveal a strong preference among elderly Arab participants for a peaceful and dignified death at home rather than in a medicalized setting. Quality of life was prioritized over life-prolonging treatments, with religious beliefs playing a significant role in shaping perspectives. However, cultural taboos and generational differences hindered open communication within families. Many younger family members assumed their elders preferred life extension, while elderly participants often desired comfort-focused care. Additionally, a lack of awareness of advance care planning tools limited the ability of patients to formally express their preferences. Discussion A major challenge identified in this study is the absence of open discussions about EOL preferences, driven by cultural taboos, emotional discomfort, and fear. Many participants avoided such conversations due to beliefs that discussing death invites misfortune or imposes an emotional burden on loved ones. Younger family members, in particular, hesitated to engage in these discussions, leading to decisions based on assumptions rather than explicit patient wishes. Encouraging structured, culturally sensitive conversations and increasing awareness of advance care planning could help ensure that patients’ preferences are recognized and respected. Conclusions Bridging the gap between assumptions and actual preferences requires culturally sensitive communication, increased awareness of advance care planning, and structured family discussions. These measures will ensure that EOL care respects both individual autonomy and cultural values, fostering a more inclusive and patient-centered healthcare approach. (shrink)

There have been recent arguments against the idea that substructural solutions are uniform. The claim is that even if the substructuralist solves the common semantic paradoxes uniformly by targeting Cut or Contraction, with additional machinery, we can construct higher-level paradoxes (e.g., a higher-level Liar, a higher-level Curry, and a meta-validity Curry). These higher-level paradoxes do not use metainferential Cut or Contraction, but rather, higher-level Cuts and higher-level Contractions. These kinds of paradoxes suggest that targeting Cut or Contraction is not enough (...) for solving semantic paradoxes; the substructuralist must target Cut of every level or Contraction of every level to solve the paradoxes. Hence, the substructuralists do not provide as uniform of a solution as they hoped they did. In response, we argue that the substructuralists need not admit these additional machineries. In fact, they are redundant in light of the validity predicate (i.e., there is no gain in terms of expressive power). The validity predicate is powerful enough to creep these paradoxes in the object level. The substructuralist does not need to ascend to metainferences to construct higher-level paradoxes. Moreover, there is a reading available to the substructuralist such that all the higher-level structural rules would collapse to instances of the object-level structural rules (e.g., meta \(_n\) Cut and meta \(_n\) Contraction would become instances of Cut and Contraction). We then address Barrio et al.’s worry that the validity predicate has its shortcomings; the substructuralist cannot internalize some of its metarules. We claim that the validity of metarules can be internalized without the need to strengthen the validity predicate. However, a problem raised by Barrio et al. is still present—the problem of internalizing unwanted instances of Cut in Cut-free approaches. We argue that this internalization problem is not unique to the validity predicate; the same problem is present with other problematic predicates, such as the truth predicate and the provability predicate. (shrink)

Mobile health research involving pervasive sensors, mobile apps and other novel data collection tools and methods present new ethical, legal, and social challenges specific to informed consent, data management and bystander rights. To address these challenges, a participatory design approach was deployed whereby stakeholders contributed to the development of a web-based commons to support the mHealth research community including researchers and ethics board members. The CORE platform now features a community forum, a resource library and a network of nearly 600 (...) global members. The utility of the participatory design process was evaluated by analyzing activities carried out over an 8-month design phase consisting of 86 distinct events including iterative design deliberations and social media engagement. This article describes how participatory design yielded 55 new features directly mapped to community needs and discusses relationships to user engagement as demonstrated by a steady increase in CORE member activity and followers on Twitter. (shrink)

In this paper, we provide a recipe that not only captures the common structure of semantic paradoxes but also captures our intuitions regarding the relations between these paradoxes. Before we unveil our recipe, we first talk about a well-known schema introduced by Graham Priest, namely, the Inclosure Schema. Without rehashing previous arguments against the Inclosure Schema, we contribute different arguments for the same concern that the Inclosure Schema bundles together the wrong paradoxes. That is, we will provide further arguments on (...) why the Inclosure Schema is both too narrow and too broad. We then spell out our recipe. The recipe shows that all of the following paradoxes share the same structure: The Liar, Curry's paradox, Validity Curry, Provability Liar, Provability Curry, Knower's paradox, Knower's Curry, Grelling-Nelson's paradox, Russell's paradox in terms of extensions, alternative Liar and alternative Curry, and hitherto unexplored paradoxes. We conclude the paper by stating the lessons that we can learn from the recipe, and what kind of solutions the recipe suggests if we want to adhere to the Principle of Uniform Solution. (shrink)

In recent decades, a complex regime of national, regional, and global climate assessments has emerged to apprehend the vast body of evidence on climate change and deliver authoritative reports to policymakers. Focusing on the assessments of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, this chapter synthesises insights across recent philosophy of science, together with the broader findings of “assessment studies”, to outline the many ways in which social, ethical, and political values impinge on climate assessment reports. Notably, the chapter demonstrates how (...) entrenched social-epistemic features of assessment – features that remain stable despite changes in authorship – constrain the agency of authors and the decisions that can be entertained in assessment. These features include the institutionalisation, political constitution, synthesis-orientation, curatorial nature, and agenda-setting power of assessments. Thus, the chapter provides an institutional analysis of values in climate assessment reports that does not reduce to tracking the psychological states or moral compasses of authoring scientists. (shrink)

Our research investigates how the inclusion of a company on an independent ethics index affects its attractiveness to institutional investors. Using a sample of 864 U.S. firms over the 2010–2018 period, we find that institutional investors significantly increase their holdings in companies in the quarter that they are included on the ethics index and maintain larger holdings in the four quarters following the inclusion on the Ethisphere list relative to pre-inclusion period, with dedicated institutional investors being more swayed to invest (...) than transient investors. This paper adds to the emerging literature on intermediate signaling by showing that a firm's inclusion on an ethics index reduces information asymmetry with institutional investors. Our evidence suggests that public companies should effectively, rather than ceremonially, adopt sound governance structures and invest in socially responsible activities, as these actions can increase their likelihood of being included on ethics indices. By doing so, these firms send credible signals about their ethical compass, granting them access to valuable institutional investments. (shrink)

The release of over 6,000 genetically modified mosquitoes (GMM) into uninhabited Malaysian forests in 2010 was a frantic step on the part of the Malaysian government to combat the spread of dengue fever. The field trial was designed to control and reduce the dengue vector by producing offspring that die in the early developmental stage, thus decreasing the local Aedes aegypti population below the dengue transmission threshold. However, the GMM trials were discontinued in Malaysia despite being technologically feasible. The lack (...) of systematic studies in terms of cost-benefit analysis, questionable research efficacy and safety-related concerns might have contributed to the termination of the field trial. Hence, this research aims to evaluate the feasibility of GMM release in Malaysia by using a holistic approach based on an Islamic ethical-legal assessment under the maslahah-mafsadah (benefit-risk) concept. Three main strategies based on the maslahah-mafsadah concept approach have been applied: 1) an evidence-based approach, 2) an impact-based approach and, 3) a priority approach. The analysis concluded that GMM could be categorised as zanniyyah (probable). GMM is a promising alternative for dengue control, but many issues must be addressed before its widespread adoption. (shrink)

BackgroundOver the past few years, five domains of importance about the current state of bioethics in Saudi Arabia have shaped the perspective of most research: doctor-patient relationship, informed consent, do-not-resuscitate, organ donation, and transplantation, medical students’ knowledge and attitudes about medical ethics curriculum. This systematic review aimed to systematically identify, compile, describe and discuss ethical arguments and concepts in the best-studied domains of bioethics in Saudi Arabia and to present cultural, social, educational, and humane perspectives. MethodsSix databases were searched using (...) Boolean operators (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, Google Scholar) from December 2020–June 2021. The search and report process followed the statement and flowchart of preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA).ResutlsThe search resulted in 1651 articles, of which 82 studies were selected for a final review and assessment. There is a gradual increase in research, whereby a substantial increase was observed from 2017. Most of the published articles focused on ‘Organ Donation & Transplantation’ with 33 articles, followed by ‘Doctor-Patient Relations’ with 18 publications. Most of the published articles were from Central Province (33), followed by Western Province (16). The authorship pattern showed a collaborative approach among researchers. The thematic analysis of keywords analysis showed that ‘Saudi Arabia,’ ‘attitude PHC,’ ‘organ donation,’ ‘knowledge and education,’ and ‘donation’ have been used the most commonly.ConclusionThis systematic quantitative synthesis is expected to guide researchers, stakeholders, and policymakers about the strengths and gaps in knowledge and attitudes regarding medical ethics in Saudi Arabia, both among the general public and health professionals. (shrink)

Interfaith dialogue is a vital tool for promoting understanding and cooperation between different religious communities. This article presents a comparative study of the Islamic and Buddhist perspectives on interfaith dialogue. Drawing on primary sources from both religions, this study explores the theological foundations of interfaith dialogue and the practical strategies employed by Muslims and Buddhists in promoting interfaith understanding. The similarities and differences between the two religions’ approaches to interfaith dialogue are analysed, examining how their respective beliefs, practices, and histories (...) shape their attitudes towards religious diversity. The research design is qualitative using library research by emphasizing content analysis on Islam and Buddhism scripture. The results show that Islamic paradigms of interreligious dialogue is da’wah (propagation, invitation or introducing Islam) that rooted from Tawḥīd, in contrast Buddhism, promotes on liberation from human suffering which rooted Bhavana and mindfulness. The study contributes to the principle of interfaith dialogue and provides insights into the potential of interfaith relation for sustaining harmony, peace, and mutual respect in diverse societies. Studies suggest the understanding of each fundamental to encourage Muslim and Buddhists scholars to produce comprehensive interreligious dialogue, theologically and philosophically. (shrink)

The substructural Strict/Tolerant logic based on strong Kleene valuations (_sST_) was motivated by its ability to express a fully transparent truth predicate and the tolerance principle without falling into the traps of semantic and soritical paradoxes. Even though _sST_ rejects the meta-inferential rule of Cut, it has been shown that many instances of Cut are recoverable. Thus, not only can theories of truth and vagueness based on _sST_ avoid the semantic and soritical paradoxes, but these theories stay very close to (...) classical theories, which is counted as a virtue of _sST_. In a recent paper by Murzi and Rossi, the authors argue that the notion of (un)paradoxicality plays a major role in recapturing the “safe” instances of Cut. However, the theory of truth based on _sST_ cannot be extended to express the notion (un)paradoxicality on pain of revenge paradox. Similarly, in a recent paper by Bruni and Rossi, the authors argue that the theory of vagueness based on _sST_ cannot be extended to express the notion of determinateness on pain of revenge paradox, even though “determinateness” plays a major role in the theory. In this paper, we argue that given the analysis of these revenge paradoxes, the Strict/Tolerant logician should prefer the weak Kleene variation of the Strict/Tolerant logic ($$w$$_ST_). We argue that $$w$$_ST_ can express a fully transparent truth predicate and the tolerance principle as well as the notions of (un)paradoxicality and determinateness (though we prefer to use the notion of groundedness to encompass both of these notions) while still being immune to revenge. We conclude that the logic $$w$$_ST_ is more appealing than _sST_, for it has the same virtues as _sST_ while it has an unmatched expressive power. (shrink)

This paper offers preliminary notes on Buddhism in modern Muslim exegesis with an emphasis on Tafsir al-Qasimi by Muhammad Jamal al-Din al-Qasimi (1866–1914) and al-Mizan fi Tafsir al-Qurʾan by Muhammad Husayn Tabatabaʾi (1892-1981). The research adopts a qualitative design using content analysis to collect the data. In this paper two main questions regarding both exegetes will be explored. The first question concerns the sources of both scholars for their information about Buddhism by including the discussion in their exegesis. The second (...) question concerns the methodology they used to discuss Buddhism in the Qurʾan since this has not been done by any classical exegetes nor among the most modern exegetes. Studies have found that the approach of the two exegetes is different from both the classical and modern exegetes because their work also contains resources from the fields of comparative religion and the history of religion to make their work relevant in the current context and reliable to be referred to by any parties. The author concludes that both al-Qasimi and Tabatabaʾi used analysis (taḥlil) in discussing verses related to the position of the Buddha. (shrink)

The UN aspires to ensure—through Goal 7 of the SDGs—that all major aspects of shared prosperity among the world population are further enhanced by having access to clean, affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy. By 2030, approximately between 2 and 3 billion people will have to rely on unsustainable fuels and technologies. Accordingly, this chapter aims to examine access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy, which is the key to the development of all other aspects of having a habitable life guaranteed (...) under most of the constitutions as a ‘right to life’. It argues that although there is no explicit mention of ‘energy justice’ as ‘human rights’ in international human rights conventions, there exists a ‘subtle connection’ between the ‘right to life’—guaranteed under numerous international conventions as well as most of the constitutions—and ‘access to energy’ which requires special attention from all stakeholders. (shrink)

The adoption of halal practices in the food and beverage industry is crucial for ensuring compliance with Islamic principles and meeting the growing demand for halal products. This qualitative study explores the perspectives of food and beverage producers and halal authorities on the implementation of halal practices in supply chain management. Focus group discussions were conducted with nine industry participants under the auspices of the Indonesian Institute for the Study of Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics (LPPOM). The discussions aimed to identify (...) behaviors and actions in adopting halal practices based on personal perceptions. The focus group discussions were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed to identify patterns and classify ideas into categories. The findings reveal nine key indicators of halal practice adoption behavior, including purchasing halal raw materials, managing warehouse storage areas, maintaining personal hygiene, managing the cleanliness of facilities and equipment, controlling the sourcing of halal materials, controlling the production process, disseminating halal information, conducting internal audits, and managing financial transactions. The study highlights the importance of these practices in preventing contamination, ensuring strict production processes, promoting effective communication, and maintaining financial transparency. The insights gained from this exploratory research contribute to a deeper understanding of halal practice adoption behavior and support the development of conceptual models for halal supply chain management in the food and beverage industry. (shrink)

Relationship-oriented questions have always been at the crossroads of ethnoreligious identity, religious freedom, religious conversion, religious prejudice, and religious pluralism throughout Muslim-Buddhist co-existence in the sixth century within the Malay Archipelago. Other faiths could be freely practised except for propagation towards Muslim communities with Islam being the religion of the federation. This study aimed to explore Muslim-Buddhist relation types and the issues underpinning the following themes: history, identity, and concerns. Content and thematic analysis as well discourse analysis were utilised as (...) the study method for data collection and evaluation. Resultantly, the Muslim-Buddhist interaction pattern in Malaysia has occurred (culturally and religiously) from the early establishment of both religious communities. This relation, which has shifted in ethnoreligious orientation at every interaction level, opens more avenues and complexities requiring holistic management. (shrink)

This article examines the relationship between religion, tradition and identity as seen from the myth about eclipses in a village in Central Java. Javanese people in rural areas still hold beliefs passed down from their ancestors about eclipses, both lunar and solar eclipses. Using a qualitative approach, the results of the study showed that the villagers believe that eclipses occur because of evil giants called buto named Batara Kala who try to devour the sun or the moon. This natural phenomenon (...) is believed to bring disaster to pregnant women and livestock. To fight the disaster, they must perform certain ceremonies or rituals. Based on ethnographic studies, this research provides an overview of eclipse mythology for Javanese locals and analyses it from identity theory. This shows that mythical rituals reflect a continuous identity formation. Although the traditions associated with these myths to some extent transcend the boundaries of the Islamic religion, they remain unchallenged. CONTRIBUTION: This research suggests that myths play an important role in the life and identity of the people who believe in them and perform the rituals associated with them. (shrink)

Little is known about the background of atheism in Malaysia and how Muslims respond to the phenomenon, although provocations by Malaysian atheists often take place on social media. This study addressed the gap by exploring the atheism phenomenon in Malaysia’s ethnoreligious-oriented society. Data were collected from in-depth interviews and content analysis using the qualitative method. All data were analysed thematically using the software for qualitative analysis, ATLAS.ti. The resulting superordinate themes that emerged from the analysis include the phenomenon of Malaysian (...) atheism, the factors for becoming atheists and the theme of arguments. The study’s findings are three-fold. Firstly, atheism started in Malaysia after globalisation began. Secondly, most Malaysian atheists were influenced by internal factors based on emotional–psychological elements rather than being scientifically oriented. Last but not least, the main themes of Malaysian atheist arguments are ‘God’s justice’, ‘the problem of evil’ and ‘science rationalism’. As a response, Muslims counter the atheism phenomenon by providing an effective approach to preserving social cohesion and harmony in an ethnoreligious society.Contribution: This article suggests that although atheism is regarded as a challenge to society since Malaysia is an ethnoreligious-oriented society, atheism needs to be countered through proper education as early prevention, besides encouraging healthy discussions. (shrink)

Cryonics is a technique for freezing dead bodies at very low temperatures in the hope they will be revived at some time in the future when medical technology becomes available. At present, there are no known revival methods; however, the role of innovation in medical practice leads certain individuals to hypothesize that death will be reversible in the future. While cryonics might resonate with certain questionable contemporary Western cultural themes of death denial and neoliberalism its uptake remains minuscule. Several reasons (...) may be pertinent. First cryonics does not fit with existing western cultural views of death and medicine. Second, poor marketing, prohibitive cost, and the lack of involvement with the funerary industry may be significant factors impacting poor intake. Third, the cryonics discourse around ideas of ‘death’ constructs a barrier that prevents ‘outsiders’ from relating to the task of cryonicists. Fourth, the general public may have a poor understanding of this technology. Finally, there may be religious objections and cultural reductions due to the lack of ritual and thus no possibility of memorializing the dead, which impacts the human appeal of cryonics. (shrink)

Atheism is an ideology that rejects the existence of God and has gained increasing prominence in societies globally, including Malaysia. Atheism significantly challenges the religious orientation of Malaysian society. Specifically, atheism challenges spiritual and ethical foundations, unity, and cultural heritage linked to religious beliefs. Understanding these challenges is vital to formulate proactive measures, education, and informed dialogue to mitigate the negative impact of atheism on Malaysian society. This study explored the effects of atheism on Malaysian religious society via library research (...) analysis. Scholarly articles, books, and reputable online resources on religious and atheism underwent content analysis, which yielded five key findings. Firstly, atheism leads to the loss of spiritual guidance and morality. Secondly, atheism potentially erodes ethical values and societal norms, and subsequently reduces social trust and cohesion. Thirdly, atheism contributes to moral relativism and ethical ambiguity, which potentially undermines established moral frameworks and social norms. Fourthly, atheism can weaken community cohesion. Lastly, atheism threatens religious institutions and practices. Additionally, the absence of the role of God might undermine the cultural and heritage importance of religion. This study presented critical insights on the negative societal effects of atheism. By exploring the potential consequences of atheism on social cohesion, moral foundations, and existential perspectives, this study highlighted the need for religious education as part of atheism prevention and rehabilitation. (shrink)

Purpose This study aims to find out the impact of social media fake news on social, political and ethical behavior. The moderating role of hostile attribution bias on the relationships between social media fake news and framing social, political and ethical behavior is also investigated. Design/methodology/approach The philosophical foundation of this study is rooted in the positivism paradigm. The methodology is quantitative, and the approach is deductive. A Likert scale closed-ended questionnaire was used, and data was collected from frequent social (...) media users through a purposive sampling technique from 390 respondents. Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling was used for data analysis. Findings The finding of this study shows that social media fake news has a significant relationship with social, political and ethical behavior. The finding also shows that hostile attribution bias is also moderating the relationship of social media fake news with the social and political behavior of social media users. Research limitations/implications The results of this study have implications for both the researchers and policymakers. This study suggests that policy-makers should come forward and take steps to control the issue of social media misinformation and lessen its impact on social, political and ethical behavior. Originality/value This research integrates fake news with human behavior and extends the current understanding regarding the role of social media in shaping human behavior. (shrink)

Inspired by Said’s concept of exile, Camus’ 1947 novel The Plague, and testimonies from our students, this paper explores the striking similarities between experiences of exile and the COVID-19 pandemic. Both exile and the pandemic are seen as intrusive forces causing rupture and discontinuity in one’s life at the physical, psychological and socio-cultural levels. This paper demonstrates that for many Palestinians – including us and our students – the pandemic manifests what Freud termed ‘repetition compulsion’. That is, many of our (...) students interpret the detrimental and precarious impact of the pandemic as a complex form of exile, a nuanced understanding that blends a historical, communal memory of displacement with a present, universal crisis. This paper further explains that the themes of exile and displacement in Camus’ The Plague provide us and our students with a focal point to examine the striking, albeit anachronistic, similarities between the pandemic caused by Israeli occupation and the COVID-19 virus. This uncanny relationship between the pandemic and exile is further substantiated by the fact that the pandemic has provided cover, or at least distraction, for the escalation of oppressive political actions, thus deepening the entrenchment of a physical and psychological ‘exile’ for Palestinians. (shrink)

The weaponizing of scientific expertise to oppose regulation has been extensively studied. However, the relevant studies, belonging to the emerging discipline of agnotology, remain focused on the analysis of empirical corruption: of misinformation, doubt mongering, and other practices that cynically deploy expertise to render audiences ignorant of empirical facts. This paper explores the wrongful deployment of expertise beyond empirical corruption. To do so, I develop a broader framework of morally subversive expertise, building on recent work in political philosophy (Howard, 2016). (...) Expertise is subversive if it sets up its audience to fail morally, either intentionally or negligently. I distinguish three modes of subversive expertise: empirical subversion (the focus of agnotology), normative subversion and motivational subversion. Drawing on these distinctions, I offer a revisionary account of the Trump Administration’s regulatory science as a case study. I show that the Trump Administration’s use of expertise to dismantle climate regulation, contra the standard charge, cannot be explained using the resources of agnotology alone: the Administration produced highly reliable climate assessments, detailing the risks of climate change, candidly admitting the harms of its proposed policies, and still successfully deployed these findings to justify massive climate deregulation. The lesson of the analysis is that dismissing the expertise that underpins climate deregulation as empirically corrupt ‘anti-science’ both obscures its actual role in the politics of climate change and understates its wrongfulness: it misses the breadth of the assault on moral agency that sustains climate injustice. (shrink)

Research involving children and youth, particularly those from culturally sensitive and vulnerable backgrounds, presents intricate ethical, methodological, and epistemological challenges. While acknowledging parents’ legitimate protective role, unjustified parental gatekeeping often regulates access to minors’ participation and can create tensions between adult-centric authority and minors’ evolving capacity for agency. These ambiguities get further obscured when minors’ self-identified experiences and fluid identities—especially in multilingual and culturally diverse contexts—diverge from parental assumptions or hegemonic discourses surrounding identity and autonomy. In this paper, I critically (...) interrogate these tensions, foreground the limitations of procedural ethics when faced with emergent obstacles, and advocate for adaptive, participant-centered frameworks rooted in dialogic engagement. Drawing on three research projects that I conducted in Canada, I demonstrate how child-engaging, multimodal methodologies can facilitate semiosis and empower minors to articulate their lived realities while safeguarding their emotional safety and agency. In this regard, intersectional reflexivity emerges as a constitutive and vital framework, allowing me to address power asymmetries and ethical dilemmas with situational responsivity. This paper reconceptualizes consent as an iterative and relational process rather than a static obligation by foregrounding minors’ narratives and respecting their welfare. Ultimately, the study contributes to advancing ethically robust and transformative research practices that amplify marginalized voices, dismantle systemic inequities, foster nuanced, inclusive engagements with vulnerable participants, and challenge dominant epistemological hierarchies and centering minors’ perspectives as constitutive of broader social discourse. (shrink)

Since the emergence of the global challenges of COVID-19 pandemic, its impact could be widely viewed in various human society aspects, such as education, business trading and also social interaction limit. Apart from many discussions on the pandemic from a wide range of such perspectives, scholarly attention is still rarely mainly in trying to elaborate the critical overview from an Islamic perspective following theological, historical, and sociological points of view. In this paper, the critical elaboration of the pandemic has been (...) widely discussed by analysing the contents of sacred scriptures and responses from an Islamic point of view. The literature was critically conducted from religious sources such as the Qur’an and Hadith, and also related contemporary works. The finding reveals that the pandemic has been given full attention as stated in the Qur’an and narrated in Hadith by taking a lesson from pandemics and strategically battling the pandemic. The following attentions were addressed in order to strengthen the Muslim community and society in order to support the health protocols arranged by the local and international health organizations. The value is that religion’s clear comprehension could give continued support to encourage the Muslim community especially and general society at large in the attempts to battle the spreading pandemic. -/- . (shrink)

On local philosophy and ethics in Indonesia and Malaysia; collection of articles.

This article investigates the traditional local values to extent what could be contributed towards provisioning welfare production. The region of Morella in Ambon, Indonesia, was selected as a case study to explore the influence of indigenous communities on the provision of welfare. The research employed document analysis, in-depth interviews, and observations to serve specific themes, which informed the data analysis process. The findings of study inform that indigenous communities play a significant role in four specific themes related to welfare provision (...) production. These themes include sustainable livelihoods, Adat values-based social welfare, customary values to social protection, and integrated values on welfare services. While local customary values are not typically integrated into welfare provision practices to aid in the reformulation of social policies, these traditional values are crucial in the development of welfare state schemes tailored to specific localities. This research enhances the comprehension of the integration of customary local values in the formulation of social policies within multicultural societies. (shrink)

The eastern coastal zone of Bangladesh is endowed with dynamic Terrestrial ecosystem. The wide river estuaries, the uninterrupted Teknaf coast, and the rich biodiversity of the study area provide ample opportunities for socio-economic development. Nevertheless, the terrestrial ecosystem of the east coast has been deteriorating in an accelerated rate owing to unethical anthropogenic interventions. Few studies regarding ethical attitudes of local communities to conserve the coast were conducted earlier. The main theme of the study was to identify the detrimental consequences (...) of unethical anthropogenic intervention upon the terrestrial ecosystem of Teknaf Peninsula, Chattogram. The objectives were (i) to measure the heavy metal concentration and (ii) the physio-chemical quality of soil, and (iii) to analyze the depletion of vegetation coverage at the study area. Five heavy metals like- Cadmium, Copper, Iron, Lead, and Zinc; and three physio-chemical parameters such as, the pH, Electrical Conductivity, and Temperature of sample soil were measured. The average concentration of Pb in soil (0.25 mg/g) is 10 times higher than world average (0.03 mg/g), while the concentration of Fe at Himchari area (S 03) soil is 1.54 mg/g more than world average (3.4 mg/g). The physio- chemical parameters are within standard range. Unethical discharge of toxic effluents from shrimp hatcheries, and municipal garbage dumping are main sources of pollution, which ensue into degradation of the terrestrial and coastal and marine ecosystems. Further, the vegetation coverage has depleted manifolds. Hence, the Department of Environment (DoE), Bangladesh 1 declared the area as an ‘Ecologically Critical Area’ (ECA). The concerned stakeholders, like- CPP volunteers and officials, Forest Division, Fisheries Research Institute, Bangladesh Water Development Board, Union Chairman and Journalists of Cox’s Bazar recommended insertion of moral ethics among local stakeholders through trainings, motivational lectures, demonstrations and dramas, as well as, incorporation of lessons about consequences of unethical and unscrupulous activities upon geo- environment into text books. Though least practice has been found regarding the practice of moral values and ethics during the survey, the present research advocates in developing ‘Knowledge pool’ about coastal environment, creating awareness, and developing moral ethics among the local, regional and national stakeholders. (shrink)

It is well established that micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), as a dominant form of business globally, undoubtedly significantly contribute to national economies and the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Nonetheless, how family-owned MSMEs contribute to the SDGs (sustainability performance) is a relatively less explored domain. This study investigates the role of family governance practices and family social capital in achieving economic, social, and environmental goals, corresponding to SDGs 8, 11, and 13, respectively. We collected data from 421 (...) family MSMEs through survey questionnaires. We employed a partial least squares approach to structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to test the research hypotheses and analyzed the data in SmartPLS4 software. The findings revealed that effective family governance practices in family MSMEs positively impact economic, social, and environmental SDGs, while well-managed family social capital catalyzes this significant relationship. This implies that to effectively contribute to the SDGs, the owner family needs to establish an effective family governance mechanism and also manage and capitalize on its social capital. (shrink)

Purpose: This research examines postmodernism's influence in social and political change and its relationship to popular culture. It examines how postmodernism changed media studies, cultural anthropology, gender studies, and youth culture. This study seeks to address gaps in our knowledge by analyzing how postmodern notions promote a more flexible cultural analysis and challenge traditional identity and representation theories. Materials and Methods: Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, Walter Benjamin, Susan Sontag, and Angela McRobbie are among the postmodernists and cultural theorists explored in the (...) book. Ethnographic, empirical, political, feminist, and cultural studies are used to study popular culture's evolution. This multidisciplinary research examines fashion, media, and moral panics in current youth culture to analyse cultural shifts. Findings: Postmodernism makes individuals doubt their beliefs, which fractures and changes their identities, according to the research. It concludes that cultural studies must remain flexible and unrigorous to address current social and political issues. The study shows that postmodernism has changed youth culture, media consumption, and gender relations. Additionally, it examines how famous cultural theorists have affected postmodernism and mainstream media discourse. Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: Cultural studies must evolve to keep up with postmodern society's changing dynamics, according to study. It claims that empirical and interdisciplinary research are needed to understand cultural changes. It also invites cultural experts to investigate popular culture more openly and flexibly and reevaluate feminist theory in postmodern contexts. (shrink)

A comprehensive understanding of the thoughts and sources referenced by dialogue partners is fundamental to effective interfaith dialogue. This article offers a scholarly analysis of Imam al-Ghazali's (d. 1111 CE) approach to interfaith dialogue, particularly his interactions with Christianity as outlined in his work, al-Raddu al-Jamīlu li Ilahiyyat ʿĪsā bi-Ṣarīḥi al-Injīli. Employing a content analysis methodology, this study examines al-Ghazali's principal writings on interreligious engagement, with a special emphasis on Christian-Muslim relations. The findings indicate that al-Ghazali adopts a triadic approach: (...) debate, theological comparison, and apologetics. He begins by identifying the primary theological divergence between Islam and Christianity—the divinity of Jesus. Subsequently, he employs theological comparison, reinterpreting contentious texts by referencing both the Gospel and the Qur'an. Additionally, al-Ghazali uses rational critique to highlight the perceived weaknesses in Christian doctrinal positions. This study suggests that al-Ghazali's method can be instrumental in contemporary theological discourse, promoting a nuanced and critical exploration of the areas of convergence and divergence among different religious traditions. -/- . (shrink)

This study analyses the influence of the Korean wave, or hallyu, on the potential erosion of local culture among Indonesia’s Gen Z, as well as how they can harmonize local values with the principles of Islamic philosophy. The Korean wave phenomenon is growing rapidly along with advances in technology and social media, which strengthens Gen Z’s interaction with foreign cultures. This phenomenon has not only affected many young generations in various countries, including Gen Z in Indonesia. This study uses a (...) descriptive qualitative approach to examine the influence of the Korean wave on Gen Z cultural values ​​within the framework of Islamic philosophy. The data in this study were obtained through several data collection techniques, including structured interviews and direct observations conducted in various Korean wave fan communities to observe behavioral patterns, social interactions, and how the influence of Korean culture is reflected in the daily lives of Gen Z, and data analysis was conducted using an interpretative approach. This study shows the positive impacts of the Korean wave or hallyu, such as increased interest in learning foreign languages, enhanced creativity, and greater appreciation for the arts. However, there is a risk of diminishing local cultural identity. Therefore, Gen Z must balance the acceptance of foreign cultures with the preservation of local traditions through a lifestyle grounded in Islamic values. According to Ibn Miskawayh, the development of moral character and self-control is essential in filtering external cultural influences. This approach enables young people to remain open to globalization while maintaining their cultural and spiritual identity. (shrink)

Acknowledging the foundational role of home is essential to understand the phenomenon of home-based work. Toward this end, we advocate the adoption of epistemic compassion in research on home-based work to move beyond reductionist views and illuminate the risks of modern slavery.

Photograph by Beno Rothenberg, Isreal State Archive, probably late April/early May 1948 (Azoulay 91)."'If you had been with me, boy, when we crossed the Latrun road on our way to Jerusalem, you would really have seen the Green Belt: the greenery of our pine-clad hills, trees everywhere hugging one another, branch intertwined with branch, while lovers embraced beneath them.' […] 'Was this why you demolished the Latrun villages, Imwas, Yalu, and Bait Nuba, and drove their inhabitants away, master?'"When I think (...) trees, you think desert.I do not think about trees at all.When do the trees stop?In Gaza, the trees stop at "the desert's ebb and flow," where green is the measure of cultivated expansion, yellow the... Read More. (shrink)

This essay explores the decolonial potential of Object-Oriented Ontology (OOO) through Timothy Morton’s notion of hyperobjects and its recurring figure of the demonic. While Morton critiques anthropocentrism and invokes non-Western ideas, their reliance on science as the arbiter of reality creates an implicit hierarchy that confines the demonic to a residual role. The article argues for rethinking the demonic as a historical co-author rather than a metaphor or a belated effect of scientific excess. Reappraising Morton’s use of Derrida’s hauntology and (...) engaging with postcolonial concepts of uneven development, this essay situates spectrality within layered temporalities where scientific and non-scientific epistemologies intersect. This theoretical move is illustrated through an ethnographic account of Islamic rituals in a Malaysian hospital, where traditional healers address ghosts inhabiting advanced medical technologies. These practices destabilize Western epistemological dominance and foreground coexistence across ontological differences. The essay proposes an object-oriented demonology attentive to historical unevenness and alternative modes of knowing beyond Western scientific universalism. (shrink)

The current study aimed to examine the relationship between the quality of work life, represented by the homework interface, working conditions, general well-being, and social support provided by family and friends, and nurses’ job embeddedness (on-off the job), as well as to test their relationships with nurses’ career and life success. The study used analytical and descriptive methods to analyze data collected from 210 nurses working in health institutions in Egypt. The finding showed a positive correlation between the dimensions of (...) quality of life, social support from family and friends, and job embeddedness (on-off the job), along with their impact on nurses’ career and life success. The findings indicate that nurses’ ability to perform dual roles, balance work and family responsibilities, and manage time effectively helps them achieve career and life success. An organization that implements occupational safety measures, prevents risks and injuries, allows freedom and independence, and adopts flexible work practices makes performing difficult tasks less stressful, helping nurses adhere to professional ethics and respect ethical rules. The practical and theoretical implications of the study model are discussed. (shrink)

This study aims to define the impact of digital addiction on adolescents in Emirati society from cultural, behavioral, and social aspects. The studied sample consisted of parents who were members of the Parents Council in the Emirate of Sharjah. The sample comprised 50 people, and the data were collected from them via an online survey questionnaire featuring demographic questions. The study makes several findings. Specifically, the most commonly used modern technologies were mobile phones, and most adolescents reported using modern technologies (...) for more than 4 h a day. The most important impacts on adolescents resulting from digital addiction were isolation, introversion, excessive nervousness, the emergence of cases of behavioral deviation, increased aggression, and rebellion against the societal system. This study thus reveals a statistically significant impact of digital addiction on the cultural, behavioral, and social aspects of adolescents. (shrink)

This chapter focuses on how disasters are conceptualized from a gender perspective and will explore concepts such as violence and death against the backdrop of gender inequalities. It will critically examine the conceptualization of a disaster in terms of humanitarian response and execution of policies that aim to protect individuals in disaster situations and mediate the risks that emerge during certain contexts, such as refugee or internally displaced camps. Finally, it will be concluded that disasters, as conceptualised from a gender (...) perspective, still need a more all-encompassing theoretical framework to account for the lived experiences of individuals in terms of their gender identity in societies during times of disasters. (shrink)

The study aims to identify the degree of possession of government school principals in the Karbala Governorate Education Directorate of artificial intelligence applications. The descriptive analytical approach was used. To achieve the study objectives, a questionnaire which contained (34) items was developed, divided into five dimensions. The study community was (114) male and female principals. The study sample consisted of (94) male and female managers, and the sample was selected randomly. The results of the study showed that the degree of (...) possession of government school principals in the Karbala Governorate Education Directorate of artificial intelligence applications was average. The results of the study also showed that there were no statistically significant differences at the significance level (α=0.05) attributed to the study variables (gender, academic qualification, experience in artificial intelligence techniques). In light of the study results, the researchers recommended several recommendations, most notably: paying attention to training courses in the field of information and communications technology, especially in the subject of artificial intelligence, by organizing meetings and workshops with the aim of raising awareness among individuals and society about the importance of artificial intelligence, encouraging the Iraqi Ministry of Education to its teaching staff and providing them with incentives to employ artificial intelligence applications in their administrative and educational work, introducing artificial intelligence applications into curricula and courses and paying attention to them, and providing specialized teaching staff in this field. (shrink)

During the COVID-19 epidemic, personal safety has received increasing attention, leading to behavioral changes. Mobile-wallet makes it easier for people to keep social distance, which helps stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Evolving Internet technology has brought about changes in consumer lifestyle. The current situation of COVID-19 has created a business environment to shift from traditional ways and adopt e-commerce solutions worldwide. Grounded in technology acceptance model theory, this study’s objective is two-fold: First, this study intends to examine perceived (...) susceptibility to COVID-19, perceived severity of COVID-19, insecurity and discomfort as the predictors of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. Second, the current research intends to test the moderating effect of electronic words-of-mouth on the relationship between attitude and usage intention. Using survey methods, 226 usable responses were collected through a mall intercept survey in Pakistan. Data were analyzed using partial least square. The results revealed that PEOU and PU positively influence attitude toward M-wallet. This study has found that attitude positively influences the usage intention in adopting M-wallet. The results also support the moderating role of eWOM. These findings contribute to the marketing literature in several ways, particularly in Pakistan. This is the first study to use eWOM as a moderating variable in the TAM theory. In addition, this study adds to the current body of knowledge by considering eWOM as a multi-dimensional construct novel in m-wallet literature. (shrink)

The article examines Muhammad Asad’s epistemological ground, reflected in his works on the principle of Islamic governance and its basic constitution and foundational structure. In this regard, he formulated the constitutional ideas of the Islamic state, whose constitution contains the provision of Islamic law that practices and implements the norms and postulates of the Divine Writ. This idea was partly enshrined in some of Global South constitutional law, whose political establishment was formed in 1947. It essentially discussed Muhammad Asad’s political (...) ideas and their underlying philosophy as espoused in his works. The work was conducted using qualitative approaches to library research. The data were analyzed using descriptive, analytical, and comparative techniques. The finding shows that Muhammad Asad had formulated a comprehensive theoretical framework of the legal aspect of Islamic governance drawn up from the fundamental principle and doctrine of the sharia and its moral norms deriving from the Qur’anic and the sunnah bases while advocating democratic ideals and principles based on conventional practice and requirement of the modern context of the nation-state. (shrink)

This intercultural study attempts to find a bridge between Heidegger’s criticism of metaphysics as Ontotheology, his search for overcoming it in his later thinking about the hiddenness of Being itself, and Ibn ‘Arabi’s mystical doctrine of unity of Being— which is likewise characterized as the absolute hiddenness—through a return to their common ground in Platonic negative theology. Heidegger’s interpretation of Plato’s allegory of the Sun and the role of the Good beyond Being, and the unsaid correspondence between Heidegger’s “Being itself” (...) and the Neoplatonic “One” build the bridge to the analysis of absoluteness as absolute hiddenness in Islamic mysticism. Through this interpretation, the Islamic philosophical tradition could be faced with Heidegger’s accusation of Ontotheology, potentially discovering possibilities for a philosophically relevant dialogue with Heidegger’s thought. (shrink)

This study employs the Porter hypothesis framework to test the moderating role of production cost in the relationship between resource-efficiency actions and financial performance for German small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). For this purpose, we employ the 2012, 2018, and 2021 Flash Eurobarometer surveys to analyze how consistently SMEs adopt resource-efficiency actions, and the impact of these actions on their performance and costs. We also conduct a generalized method of moments regression analysis (GMM). Among the seven resource-efficiency actions proposed, saving (...) water had a significant positive (negative) influence on financial performance in 2012, 2021, and (2018). Saving energy and using renewable energy had a positive and significant (insignificant) effect on financial performance in 2018, 2021, and (2012). Finally, selling scrap material to other companies had a positive and significant impact in all years. Furthermore, increased production costs negatively moderate the relationship between eco-efficiency action scores and financial performance. The results indicate that the “strong” version of the Porter hypothesis is not supported: It only holds when the implementation of eco-efficiency actions reduces production costs and increases financial performance. (shrink)

Given that personal source of information is preferred by the customers over company-generated marketing communications, promoting advocacy behavior among customers is of much importance for every organization. Literature suggests that an organization's corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities significantly influence individual behavior. However, the advocacy behavior of customers (ADB), from a CSR perspective, did not receive due attention. To address this literature gap, the current study attempts to explore the relationship among CSR and ADB with the intervening role of brand admiration (...) (BA). To collect the data, customers of a large fast-food service organization in Pakistan were approached. The proposed relationships were tested through the structural equation modeling (SEM) technique. The statistical evidence verifies a positive link between CSR and ADB, while BA mediated this relationship. These findings will be supportive to the fast-food business to realize the critical role of CSR for a meaningful customer-company relationship in the face of competition. (shrink)

Recently, there has been growing interest in the use of ontology as a fundamental tool for representing domain-specific conceptual models to improve the semantics, accuracy, and relevance of domain users’ query results. Although the amount of data has grown steadily over the past decade, much data shares similar characteristics that can be captured by a foundational ontology. In this paper, we show how queries based on a foundational ontology can be evaluated and their performance measured. We also present a Foundational (...) Patterns benchmark to help select the most efficient triple memory and its layout. We evaluate the foundational benchmark with both generated and real datasets for state-of-the-art triple stores. (shrink)