A Different Way of Seeing Things

2020 ◽  
pp. 93-122
Author(s):  
Kristen Renwick Monroe
Keyword(s):  
Political Action ◽  
Scientific Explanation ◽  
Moral Imagination ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Moral Issues ◽  
Creative Behaviour ◽  
Innovative Solutions ◽  
Mechanical Models ◽  
Moral Problems ◽  
Moral Choices

Kristen Monroe analyses the Rudolphs’ innovative use of political psychology in their study of identity, political leadership, and the consequences of perception for political action. She draws inspiration from the Rudolphs’ work on Gandhi to develop the concept of ‘moral imagination’, or the capacity to empathize with other people’s lives in ways that recast moral issues in a light that leads to innovative solutions to moral problems. Moral imagination plays a crucial role in explaining altruism and heroism. Conversely, people’s capacity to dehumanize others is an important cause of terrorism and genocide. Monroe’s analysis underscores the importance of emotions in shaping: peoples’ perceptions, moral choices, and political action. She advocates moving beyond mechanical models of ‘scientific’ explanation and developing a humanistic social science that leaves us open to surprises resulting from the innovatively creative behaviour of our fellow human beings.

scholarly journals POLITIK PEMUSNAHAN DAN PEMUSNAHAN POLITIK : Telaah Kritis Atas Konsep Hannah Arendt Tentang Totalitarisme

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 129
Author(s):  
Mathias Daven
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
Political Theory ◽  
Hannah Arendt ◽  
Political Action ◽  
Concentration Camp ◽  
Concentration Camps ◽  
Total Domination ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Totalitarian Regime

If we wish to understand a totalitarian system as a whole, we need first to understand the central role of the concentration camp as a laboratorium to experiment in total domination. Arendt’s analysis of totalitarianism in the twentieth century shows how a totalitarian regime cannot survive without terror; and terror will not be effective without concentration camps. Experiments in concentration camps had as their purpose, apart from wiping out any freedom or spontaneity, the abolishing of space between human beings, abolishing space for politics. Thus, totalitarianism did not mirror only the politics of extinction, but also the extinction of politics. As a way forward, Arendt analyses political theory that forces the reader to understand power no longer under the rubric of domination or violence – although this avenue is open – but rather under the rubric of freedom. Arendt is convinced that the life of a destroyed nation can be restored by mutual forgiveness and mutual promises, two abilities rooted in action. Political action, as with other acts, is identical with the ability to commence something new. Keywords: Totalitarisme, antisemitisme, imperialisme, dominasi, teror, kebebasan, kedaulatan, kamp konsentrasi, politik, ideologi, tindakan

The Moribund Moralist: Ethical Lessons in Calvin's Commentary On Joshua

2005 ◽  
Vol 85 (1) ◽  
pp. 149-168
Author(s):  
Raymond A. Blacketer
Keyword(s):  
Wars Of Religion ◽  
Moral Issues ◽  
Moral Problems ◽  
The Law

AbstractCalvin's final commentary, an exposition of the book of Joshua, reflects both Calvin's immersion in and dialogue with the exegctical and theological tradition, as well as his concern with the image and identity of Reformed believers, and especially the Huguenots of France. Prominent in this commentary is Calvin's wrestling with moral issues that arise in the text. Calvin's scrupulous treatment of these moral problems reflects his concern to depict Reformed believers as people who are loyal and obedient to the authorities and to the law, and as people who are truthful and avoid deception and duplicity. It also reflects his concern that his coreligionists actually strive to live up to that image. On occasion Calvin's treatment of these moral issues ends in an unresolved tension — a tension that reflects the moral and political ambiguities that French Reformed believers faced at the beginning of the Wars of Religion in France.

Scientific approaches to the analysis of problems of citizenship and patriotism in modern humanitarian discourse

2020 ◽  
pp. 67-73
Author(s):  
L. Drobizheva-Razumovskaya ◽  
A. Lisenkova ◽  
M. Pismanik
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Policy ◽  
National Strategy ◽  
Great Contribution ◽  
Moral Issues ◽  
State Institute ◽  
Russian Scientific ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Moral Problems ◽  
The Russian Federation ◽  
Practical Conference

The paper analyzes the vectors of development of the strategy of the state national and cultural policy of the Russian Federation in the last decade (2009–2019), presented in the materials of the plenary and sectional reports of the participants of the all-Russian scientific and practical conference “Cultural, religious and moral problems of formation of citizenship” of the Perm state Institute of culture. Since 2009, the Institute has organized twelve all-Russian scientific and practical conferences and round tables with the participation of leading Russian scientists-humanitarians who have made a great contribution to understanding and forecasting possible risks and opening prospects related to topical issues of implementing the national strategy of civil unity and inter-confessional interaction. Every year, based on the results of round tables and plenary sessions, the organizing Committee develops a package of proposals for optimizing and improving the effectiveness of the measures presented in the strategy, which is sent to state authorities and public organizations. This paper presents a wide range of topics that were reflected in the last conference, focusing on the understanding of cultural, religious and moral issues related to the formation of citizenship of Russians.

Religious Traditions in Politics: Protestantism

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evert van Leeuwen
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Political Action ◽  
John Calvin ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Equal Rights ◽  
Political Dimension ◽  
Early 21St Century ◽  
Religious Traditions ◽  
God's Image

Protestantism was labeled when German noblemen wished to retain control of their own country church. Martin Luther’s theology based on faith and the scripture became in this way a matter of political dispute. His rejection of the pope as the final authority in matters of religion brought the Lutheran country churches within the power and economy of the local noble rulers, liberating them from financial obligations to Rome. Luther’s actions were, in the first phase of Protestantism, followed by those of Anabaptists and cantons in Switzerland (Huldrych Zwingli) and cities in France (Martin Bucer in Strasbourg; John Calvin in Geneva). Calvin stood for a kind of theocratic regime based on his doctrine of predestination. His views spread over France and the Low Countries (Belgium, Netherlands) as a liberation from the feudal system. In the second phase of Protestantism, the political dimension became less significant, and the focus became instead upon Protestant believers’ looking inward to find the Light, or God, in themselves. Political action then became the consequence of the intention to do well, by seeking justice and seeing that every human being is created in God’s image. Many groups were persecuted, as the earlier Anabaptists were, and left Europe for the New World. There they became activists for the abolition of slavery, equal rights for all human beings, and social justice. The third phase of Protestantism is characterized by ideas of rebirth and regeneration. Sin and evil can be washed away and people can start a new life in the blessing of Jesus Christ, following his guidance as evangelicals. In matters of politics, personal norms and values become more important than social justice or reform, leading to bans on, for instance, abortion and homosexuality as sinful ways of life. In the early 21st century, a significant number of Protestant groups are active in right-wing politics, and their membership continues to grow in the Americas, Africa and Asia.

scholarly journals ‘To Act upon one's Time …’ From the impulse to resist to global political strategy

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Birgit Müller
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Collective Action ◽  
Political Action ◽  
The Political ◽  
Political Strategy ◽  
Political Resistance ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Strategic Action ◽  
Political Actions

This article reflects on the possibilities for political action emerging out of quotidian engagements. Following controversies on the patenting of seeds in Canada and globally within the Committee for Food Security I explore what gave the impulse for political resistance in these different arenas. How did collective action emerge and how did it sustain itself? Three political concepts are important for understanding the political actions that I observed: Eigen-Sinn, empathy and strategy. These allowed me to follow and theorize political engagements. I first reflect on the potential to resist as a capacity of all human beings, because they have Eigen-Sinn: the capacity to attribute their own meanings to things, and act in their own self-interested way according to the meaning given. Self-interested action can only become political, however, when humans go beyond their strictly individual interests and empathize with others (humans and nonhumans), what Adorno described as getting into ‘live contact with the warmth of things’. Finally, I discuss how collective action can become not only possible, but also effective, by building and defending a space for strategic action.

The constant mediation of resentment and retaliation

2012 ◽  
Vol 38 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 351-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdullahi Ahmed An-Naͨim
Keyword(s):  
Political Action ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
Human Relationships ◽  
Political Reality ◽  
Human Value ◽  
Moral Choices ◽  
Globalized World ◽  
Political Actions

This article calls for moral choices and political action to escape the trap of the duality of aggression and resistance, of domination and liberation. Conflict is a permanent feature of human relationships, but violence is not only unproductive in resolving conflict, but can be rendered unnecessary by developing normative resources and institutional mechanisms for mediating conflict. Taking self-determination as a core human value and political reality in today’s globalized world, this article argues that we should reconceive realpolitik to escape the trap by acknowledging the moral choices of others, and striving to be persuasive about our moral choices and political actions. Persuasion, and not violence, provides sustainable mediation of conflict. The article concludes with a brief discussion of the possibilities of mediation of the trap of resentment and retaliation in Dar Fur, Sudan, through multilayered strategies from immediate and short- to long-term action by local, regional and global actors.

Billy Graham as American Religious and Cultural Symbol

2015 ◽  
Vol 108 (3) ◽  
pp. 471-481
Author(s):  
Curtis J. Evans
Keyword(s):  
Point Of View ◽  
Moral Judgments ◽  
Religious Leader ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
The Past ◽  
Historical Figures ◽  
Billy Graham ◽  
Public Consciousness ◽  
Moral Choices ◽  
Great Pain

Writing a biography challenges us in fundamental ways as scholars of religion, as historians, and as human beings. We are forced to reckon with the implicit and explicit theological commitments of religious persons, the ways they inhabited the world, the sometimes “strange country” that is the past, and the varied ways in which our subjects took for granted things by which we find ourselves and our age so troubled. While we may eschew “taking sides” in our attempts to be good scholars and under the noble goal of not wanting simplistically and reflexively to impose our contemporary moral judgments upon figures from the past, we cannot avoid discussing the moral choices historical actors made, assessing their prominence in their time, their influence on their broader surroundings, and their legacy beyond their times. All of these factors have great bearing on how we narrate the lives of historical figures and how we represent them in the present. James Baldwin's impassioned claim that it is with “great pain and terror [that] one begins to assess the history which has placed one where one is, and formed one's point of view” might sound a bit overly deterministic, but it is worth remembering when thinking self-consciously about how we critically assess and evaluate those about whom we write. Grant Wacker's new biography of Billy Graham, America's Pastor, invites the reader along to grasp more fully what this looks like as Wacker, a self-described “partisan of the same evangelical tradition Graham represented,” masterfully evokes and unfolds Graham as a shaper of public consciousness and a spokesperson for millions of “ordinary Americans.” This work possesses the virtues of the careful and considered reflections of a seasoned historian's analysis of the life of a famous religious leader who is deeply admired by many Americans. It is about the closest we will get to a full appreciation of Graham the man and Graham the icon.

scholarly journals Coloring Single Nanoparticle Trajectory in Live Cell with its Own History: a Presuppositionless Preprocessing Approach

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hansen Zhao ◽  
Zhenrong Huang ◽  
Feng Ge ◽  
Xiangjun Shi ◽  
Bin Xiong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Single Particle ◽  
Complex Dynamics ◽  
Live Cell ◽  
State Transitions ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Global Pattern ◽  
Model Free ◽  
Mechanical Models ◽  
Data Points ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

AbstractAnalyzing single particle trajectories is a prominent issue in understanding complex dynamics such as nanoparticle-cell interactions. Existing methods treat data points as isolated “atoms” and use predefined mechanical models to “frame” their complicated relationship. Herein, we propose a “historical evolution” based model-free strategy. It allows spatiotemporal heterogeneity embedded in a trajectory to self-emerge as consecutive colored segments before any model assumption, provide both an overall picture and local state transitions on the particle movement with minimum information loss, and inspire further model-based investigation. We demonstrate with simulations and experiments that the underlying mechanisms of various time-series and motion states of single nanoparticles on live cell membranes could all be revealed successfully. Since complexity studies at different levels of molecules, particles, cells, human beings, vehicles, and even stars could all be reduced to analyzing spatiotemporal trajectories of “single particles”, this presuppositionless approach will help fundamental researches on many important systems.Impact StatementA preprocessing strategy for single particle trajectory analysis is established by providing an intuitive global pattern from “historical experiences” of the particle without predefining any mechanical models.

scholarly journals Reading Silence

2018 ◽  
pp. 74-94
Author(s):  
Larry Jackson
Keyword(s):  
Political Theory ◽  
Political Action ◽  
Ordinary Language ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Ordinary Language Philosophy ◽  
Language Philosophy ◽  
Stanley Cavell ◽  
Everyday Language ◽  
Theory Of Justice ◽  
Wide Range

Stanley Cavell roams across a wide range of fields in his first book, Must We Mean What We Say? most obviously those of epistemology, ethics, and aesthetics. But nowhere in the book’s ten essays does he advance an explicit political theory. Still, this book, published in 1969 and written over the course of the preceding decade, quietly poses persistent political questions, even in essays on such topics as skepticism and King Lear, Kierkegaard’s Book on Adler and Beckett’s Endgame, atonal music and ordinary language philosophy. Just who is the “we” spoken of in the book’s title (we philosophers? we Americans? we human beings?)? Is there any relationship between democratic equality and the philosophical appeal to our everyday language, as described in the book’s eponymous essay? 1 Does the account that Cavell offers in his piece on Wittgenstein of practices and behaviors shared across cultures—the “whirl of organism” of our forms of life—suggest a nascent theory of human solidarity? Our freedom in language and the responsibility we bear for meaning, topics of the book’s opening essays, raise the question of what we might owe to one another and how we might offer—or withhold—it in our choices of words. Is this the beginning of a theory of justice? The concept of acknowledgment, described in the book’s final essays as a response to the challenge of skepticism, shifts the problem from what I can know to what I might do. Is this a theory of moral or political action (or both)?

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