scholarly journals Can bioethics be an honest way of making a living? A reflection on normativity, governance and expertise

2020 ◽  
pp. medethics-2019-105954
Author(s):  
Silvia Camporesi ◽  
Giulia Cavaliere
Keyword(s):  
Science And Technology ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Ethical Research ◽  
Governance Of Science ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Turf Wars ◽  
Specific Contribution ◽  
Field Of Inquiry

The authority of bioethics as a field of inquiry and of bioethicists as scholars with a distinctive expertise is being questioned on various fronts. Sarah Franklin’s 2019 Nature commentary ‘Ethical research – the long and bumpy road from shirked to shared’ is the latest example . In this paper, we respond to these challenges by focusing on two key issues. First, we discuss the theory and practice of bioethics. We argue that both of these endeavours are fundamental components of this field of inquiry and that bioethics cannot be reduced to the contribution that it makes to the production of biopolicy, as Franklin suggests. Second, we contend that bioethicists have distinctive skills and knowledge that place them at an epistemic advantage in discussing normative questions. Hence, we reject views that deny the specific contribution that bioethicists can bring to assessing the ethics and governance of science and technology. We conclude by arguing that—despite formal and substantive differences between disciplines—philosophers, social scientists and other scholars should join forces and engage in critical friendships rather than turf wars to move towards the just governance of science and technology.

Some Issues of Detection and Investigation of Traces of Crimes

2019 ◽  
pp. 49-60
Author(s):  
Nikolai Karepanov
Keyword(s):  
Science And Technology ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Material Objects ◽  
Sign Systems ◽  
Payment Cards ◽  
Physical Objects ◽  
Human Hands

The author argues that traces include surrounding reality objects (physical objects and fields), altered by phenomena or events that occurred as a result of movement, processes and actions. The identification and investigation of traces of the investigated events is most often carried out at the places of their occurrence, separately studied and analyzed after their seizure in specially adapted and appropriately equipped conditions. The methods of traces detection are very diverse and are being constantly improved, so it is difficult even to classify them. Still, it is possible to distinguish some methodologies proposed in theory and practice. The author considers some methods of identifying traces when searching for living persons and corpses, identifying corpses; identifying and fixing traces of human hands; identifying traces on payment cards; identifying electronic traces, identifying traces of removing embossed images; identifying traces using the latest achievements of science and technology; identifying traces and constructing sign systems in description of material objects. The necessity of introduction of a standard of detecting and investigating the traces of crimes is also discussed, and a system of actions that should be included into this standard is proposed.

scholarly journals An inter-disciplinary approach to the energy transition in South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Iain Todd ◽  
Darren McCauley
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Transition Process ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Static Approach ◽  
Tackle Climate Change ◽  
Fossil Fuel Industry ◽  
Energy Justice

AbstractThe compelling need to tackle climate change is well-established. It is a challenge which is being faced by all nations. This requires an approach which is truly inter-disciplinary in nature, drawing on the expertise of politicians, social scientists, and technologists. We report how the pace of the energy transition can be influenced significantly by both the operation of societal barriers, and by policy actions aimed at reducing these effects. Using the case study of South Africa, a suite of interviews has been conducted with diverse energy interests, to develop and analyse four key issues pertinent to the energy transition there. We do so primarily through the lens of delivering energy justice to that society. In doing so, we emphasise the need to monitor, model, and modify the dynamic characteristic of the energy transition process and the delivery of energy justice; a static approach which ignores the fluid nature of transition will be insufficient. We conclude that the South African fossil fuel industry is still impeding the development of the country’s renewable resources, and the price of doing so is being met by those living in townships and in rural areas.

Feminist (Theatre) Historiography / Canadian (Feminist) Theatre: A Reading of some Practices and Theories

1992 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 144-151
Author(s):  
Susan Bennett
Keyword(s):  
Position Paper ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Feminist Theatre ◽  
The Past ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Theatre Historiography ◽  
Theoretical Analyses ◽  
Extended Discussion

Through this position paper the author seeks to provide a focus for extended discussion of some of the key issues arising from feminist approaches to theatre research. She indicates some of the insights made possible by feminist theoretical analyses of theatre historiography as well as some of the implications of the various positions inscribed in articles on Canadian feminist theatre historiography over the past ten years. The author hopes to facilitate more discussion of the wide variety of feminist challenges to and transformation of the theory and practice of theatre research and theatre historiography.

scholarly journals Organizations and national culture

Sociologija ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 347-368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dusan Mojic
Keyword(s):  
National Culture ◽  
Organizational Theory ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Cultural Influences ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Multicultural Organizations ◽  
Organizational Study ◽  
The 1960S

The paper deals with the most important contributions in studying cultural influences on organizations. The interest of social scientists in this topic began in the 1960s, based on the belief that it was necessary to overcome the dominant parochialism of US researchers in organizational theory and practice. Increasing internationalization of business activities, especially in the 1970s, imposed the need for large-scale studies and for finding practical solutions to the completely new problems encountered by multicultural organizations whose number was constantly rising. In spite of numerous and serious difficulties in every cross-cultural organizational study, several decades of development in this field have produced important theoretical and empirical contributions, enabling further advances in this scientific and practical discipline.

Conducting Ethical Research

2015 ◽  
pp. 107-133
Author(s):  
Sunila Lobo
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Mobile Devices ◽  
Formal Training ◽  
Rapid Progress ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Ethical Research ◽  
Consumption Practices ◽  
Conducting Research ◽  
And Gender ◽  
The 1960S

Since the 1960s, social scientists have explored the ethics of conducting research. However, there is little guidance in conducting ethical research in the more conservative societies of the Middle East. The rapid progress of technology has meant that these societies have been become increasingly networked, even the most restrictive ones, with a growing use of mobile devices. The purpose of the chapter is to describe the reflection on the research conducted on mobile consumption practices of female Saudi youth. The conduct of the research is based on both the researcher's formal training and also, intuitively negotiated, in practice, as she navigated this particularly sensitive context. The influence of the interplay between culture and gender emerges as the researcher reflects on the research conducted. The consideration of the ethics of the research continues post research completion.

Defining the undefinable: an analysis of definitions of community archives

2019 ◽  
Vol 68 (8/9) ◽  
pp. 617-634
Author(s):  
Sarah Welland ◽  
Amanda Cossham
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Archival Theory ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Community Archives ◽  
Area Of Interest ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Community Archive ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This paper aims to explore definitions and notions of what a community archive is, and the tensions between different understandings of community archives. Design/methodology/approach The paper is a critical analysis of community archives definitions and understanding from researchers and practitioners across the wider heritage information sector. Findings Community archives are a growing area of interest for researchers because of the archives’ intrinsic link to the community and their provision of the evidence of it. While discussion often focuses on a paradigm of transformative purpose, existing definitions around community archives continue to be tenuous, reflecting different real or perceived types and practices and the perspective of the author and the sector they work within. Variations in definition can also occur because of differences in perspective around theory and practice, with many practitioner-based definitions intrinsically bound with the community they represent. This can result in community archives being defined as “alternative” based on mainstream practice or “political” based on theoretical purview, or “meeting the needs of community” by the community archivists themselves. Research limitations/implications The paper is conceptual and does not attempt to provide one definition that covers the perceived extent of community archives. It is part of work in progress on the nature of community archives and the impact such discourse may have on archival theory and practice. Originality/value This paper provides an overview of some of the key issues and themes impacting a definition of community archives, and in doing so works towards a broader understanding the nature of community archives. In most cases, the concept of “community” seems to provide a common definitive element and practitioner definitions focus on addressing the needs of self-defined community to a greater or lesser extent.

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