Evolutionary Psychology: Sexual Ethics and Our Embodied Nature

2002 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 112-116
Author(s):  
Sherwood O. Cole
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Psychology ◽  
Present Article ◽  
Gender Relations ◽  
Sexual Ethics ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
Sexual Relations ◽  
Behavioral Ethics ◽  
Holistic View ◽  
Excellent Article ◽  
Biological Nature

As a supplement to Van Leeuwen's excellent article on evolutionary psychology, the present article expands upon the importance of our embodied nature (i.e., biological processes) to a consideration of the ethics of human gender relations. An attempt is made to demonstrate that biological processes are important to the interpretation, formulation, and behavioral implementation of any ethical system of human sexual relations based upon Biblical teachings. Two examples of the importance of biology to implementing behavioral ethics (homosexuality and heterosexual offenses) are briefly discussed. Finally, it is suggested that we need to accept the importance of our biological nature without accepting the assumptions of evolutionary psychology and that only a “holistic” view adequately reflects our created nature.

Persons as Biological Processes

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Sophie Meincke
Keyword(s):  
Personal Identity ◽  
Higher Order ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
Philosophical Debate ◽  
Single Moment ◽  
Ontological Framework ◽  
Biological Nature

Human persons exist longer than a single moment in time; they persist through time. However, so far it has not been possible to make this natural and widespread assumption metaphysically comprehensible. The philosophical debate on personal identity is rather stuck in a dilemma: reductionist theories explain personal identity away, while non-reductionist theories fail to give any informative account at all. This chapter argues that this dilemma emerges from an underlying commitment, shared by both sides in the debate, to an ontology that gives priority to static unchanging things. The claim defended here is that the dilemma of personal identity can be overcome if we acknowledge the biological nature of human persons and switch to a process-ontological framework that takes process and change to be ontologically primary. Human persons are biological higher-order processes rather than things, and their identity conditions can be scientifically investigated.

scholarly journals Vitamins A and E: metabolism, roles and transfer to offspring

2005 ◽  
Vol 93 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Debier ◽  
Y. Larondelle
Keyword(s):  
Intestinal Absorption ◽  
Present Article ◽  
Tissue Damage ◽  
Growth And Development ◽  
Therapeutic Agents ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
Tissue Uptake ◽  
Biological Functions ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Blood Transport

Vitamins A and E are essential, naturally occurring, fat-soluble nutrients that are involved in several important biological processes such as immunity, protection against tissue damage, reproduction, growth and development. They are extremely important during the early stages of life and must be transferred adequately to the young during gestation and lactation. The present article presents an overview of their biological functions, metabolism and dynamics of transfer to offspring in mammals. Among other topics, the review focuses on the biochemical aspects of their intestinal absorption, blood transport, tissue uptake, storage and catabolism. It also describes their different roles as well as their use as preventive and therapeutic agents. Finally, the mechanisms involved in their transfer during gestation and lactation are discussed.

Improving social and cognitive skills of socially maladjusted youth: the example of the pedagogical innovation in resocialization of minors

2018 ◽  
Vol 573 (8) ◽  
pp. 27-34
Author(s):  
Justyna Siemionow
Keyword(s):  
Present Article ◽  
Cognitive Skills ◽  
Sensitive Period ◽  
Cognitive Systems ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
Pedagogical Innovation ◽  
New Model ◽  
Regulatory Systems ◽  
Socially Maladjusted ◽  
Youth Centre

Adolescence is often a period of especially heightened vulnerability as a consequence of potential disjunctions between developing brain, behavioral and cognitive systems that mature along different timetables and under the control of both common and independent biological processes. Taken together, these developments reinforce the emerging understanding of adolescence as a critical or sensitive period for a reorganization of regulatory systems, a reorganization that is fraught with both risks and opportunities. Moreover, this period is the time of making important decisions by juveniles which are connected with their future. In the present article I describe the new model of working with pupils (from comprehensive school) and juveniles (from the Youth Centre) and propose to combine these two groups of participants which is a new solution in this area. Discussion in this article focuses on the benefits of different task which will be organized for both groups: pupils and juveniles. There is a growing pedagogical need to develop this type of programs.

Personhood in Classical and Process-Oriented Metaphysics

Horizons ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 96-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph A. Bracken
Keyword(s):  
Present Article ◽  
Common Ground ◽  
Life Support ◽  
Process Philosophy ◽  
Sexual Ethics ◽  
Moral Issues ◽  
Process Oriented ◽  
Compare And Contrast ◽  
Pro Life ◽  
Pro Choice

One major source of conflict in contemporary sexual ethics (e.g., artificial contraception and abortion) is the implicit difference in the worldviews represented by the terms “pro-life” and “pro-choice.” Those who are pro-life support the notion of human personhood as a fixed and unchanging reality from conception to death; those who are pro-choice, in contrast, support the notion of human personhood as developmental, never fully realized. The pro-life position basically reflects the worldview of classical metaphysics; the pro-choice position is logically grounded in process philosophy and theology. The aim of the present article is to compare and contrast these two worldviews so as to see whether or not there is unexpected common ground between the two that could logically justify a consensus position on the more specific moral issues.

scholarly journals Absentives or ambidirectionals?

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 109-193
Author(s):  
Axel Holvoet ◽  
Vaiva Žeimantienė
Keyword(s):  
Present Article ◽  
Distinct Type ◽  
Past Tense ◽  
Motion Events ◽  
External Observer ◽  
Holistic View ◽  
The Past ◽  
Motion Event

The present article introduces the ambidirectional, a construction (or sometimes just a distinct type of use of a gram basically serving another function) referring to two-way motion events in the past. The discussion starts out from the notion of absentive, which has already established itself in the literature since de Groot (2000). In many languages the construction ‘be’ + INF, claimed to be an absentive, exists only in a past-tense variety. It is argued that such constructions do not meet the definitional criteria for absentives. We here propose to describe them as ambidirectionals, by which we understand a construction (or a specific type of use of a gram with a broader array of functions) denoting two-way motion-cum-purpose events in the past. The absentive can be characterised as a particular type of use of an ambidirectional construction, which allows different focusing: either a holistic view is given of the motion event or its outward point is focused upon, and in the latter case the presence of an external observer yields the absentive interpretation. The fact that the constructions involved are basically ambidirectional explains why in many languages they are restricted to the past, while other languages allow occasional or regular extensions to the domain of the present.

Stepping out of the ‘Difference’: Discerning the Dalit Female Standpoint in Bama’s Sangati

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-164
Author(s):  
Yogisha ◽  
Nagendra Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Present Article ◽  
Gender Relations ◽  
Feminist Literature ◽  
Life Conditions ◽  
Outer World ◽  
Dalit Women ◽  
Fresh Perspective ◽  
The Difference ◽  
New Perspective ◽  
Oppositional Consciousness

The term Dalit carries, within itself, a structural negativity since its inception in every sphere of life be it political, social or economic. It encapsulates the trials and tribulations of a crushed and suppressed community, which is known as the ‘Dalit community’. Dalit literature is a manifestation of the life of Dalit community, which is nothing but a painful saga of an endless suffering. Initially, it was viewed as an all-male affair, but in recent times we have seen the emergence of very powerful narratives by Dalit females. Thus, paving the way for Dalit feminist literature with a new perspective and new ideology which can be termed as ‘Dalit female standpoint’. It unravels some hidden territories of Dalit females’ lives and talks about their situation, location and experiences. Sangati, a very powerful novel written by Bama, a Dalit female writer, stands testimony to the things mentioned above as it presents the agency and audacity of the Dalit women who question their subjugation and raise a step against the biased society. Their knowledge towards the outer world gives them a new outlook and fresh perspective on life as they re-examine gender relations as fundamental to the broader ideologies of caste. The present article seeks to explore the life conditions of Dalit females as they are caught in the vortex of caste, gender and class and their grit and resolve to survive despite all odds by harping on their oppositional consciousness.

EMASCULATING HUMOR FROM ALGERIA'S DARK DECADE, 1991–2002

2020 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-86
Author(s):  
Elizabeth M. Perego
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Present Article ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Gender Relations ◽  
Gender Issues ◽  
Male Behavior ◽  
Armed Struggle

AbstractThis paper explores shifting notions of Algerian masculinities during the Dark Decade (approximately 1991–2002) as articulated through humor. Both in the period leading up to and during conflict, Algerian cartoonists and joke tellers played with socially accepted norms concerning male behavior. In the armed struggle, however, comedy reflected how the terrifying and random violence that characterized the conflict may have disturbed local gender relations and definitions. The conflict prevented men from practicing masculinity in preestablished ways, most notably through the protection of self, family, and community. The present article contributes to the broader literature on gender during the armed struggle as well as in the Middle East and North Africa more widely, to argue that humor, a critically under-considered aspect of the cultural lives of Algerians and men across the region, provided civilians with space to navigate changes in gender issues brought about by the harrowing circumstances of the Dark Decade.

Sex, Bricks and Mortar: Constructing Class in a Central Indian Steel Town

2014 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 1242-1275 ◽  
Author(s):  
JONATHAN PARRY
Keyword(s):  
Gender Relations ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
Constitutive Relationship ◽  
Sexual Relations ◽  
Construction Sites ◽  
Widespread Belief ◽  
And Gender ◽  
The One ◽  
Unorganized Sector

AbstractBased on a case study of informal sector construction labour in the central Indian steel town of Bhilai, this paper explores the intersection and the mutually constitutive relationship between social class on the one hand, and gender (and more specifically sexual) relations on the other. It is part of an attempt to document and analyse a process of class differentiation within the manual labour force between aspirant middle class organized sector workers and the unorganized sector ‘labour class’. With some help from the (pre-capitalist) ‘culture’ of their commonly work-shy men-folk, their class situation forces ‘labour class’ women onto construction sites where they are vulnerable to the sexual predation of supervisors, contractors and owners. That some acquiesce reinforces the widespread belief that ‘labour class’ women are sexually available, which in turn provides ‘proof’ to the labour aristocracy that they themselves are a different and better breed, superior in culture and morals. Class inequalities produce a particular configuration of gender relations; gender relations (and in particular sexual relations) produce a powerful ideological justification for class differentiation. This proposition has strong resonances with processes reported from other parts of the world; but in the Indian context and in its specific focus on sex it has not been clearly articulated and its significance for class formation has not been adequately appreciated.

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