scholarly journals 基因工程與社會正義

2002 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-77
Author(s):  
Ser-Min SHEI
Keyword(s):  
Equal Opportunity ◽  
Social Institutions ◽  
Genetic Profile ◽  
Medical Resources ◽  
Unequal Distribution ◽  
Digital Commons ◽  
Distribution Of Resources ◽  
Genetic Profiles ◽  
Genetic Medicine ◽  
The Impact

LANGUAGE NOTE | Document text in Chinese; abstract also in English.基因醫學的進步，有朝一日將使得一個人在出生時的基因組合，不再只是純然的運氣，而是社會體制可以影響和決定的。會這一天來臨時，社會正義是否要求社會提供給父母親必要的基因醫療資源，以避免讓下一代因為基因差異而在機會上不平等？是否要求社會應該提供所有成員必要的基因醫療服務，以確保人與人之間在基因組合上平等？本文從合理契約論的角度來分析對這兩個問題，提出負面的答案。合理契約論的正義觀結合了亞里斯多德與羅爾斯對於正義之概念的分析，主張：社會有欠於每個成員去選擇一個他不能合理拒絕的體制。在這個架構下，本文把基因差異所衍生出來的機會不平等，置於分配正義的脈絡來考察。本文分析了泛公平式的機會平等原則、中立化基因差異原則、基因平等原則，並且指出這些原則的困難。本文認為，為了避免社會成員因為基因缺陷而有生不如死的抗議，社會有義務要做到讓所有的人帶有一定程度的基因品質。但由於基因工程可能會改變人的同一性，本文論證，在合理契約論的架構下，社會並沒有義務去提供必要的基因醫療資源來中立化基因差異，更沒有義務去落實基因平等。但本文也論證，在允許資源不平等、尊重家庭自主性的體制裡，公平式的機會平等要求社會必須補償基因組合較差者。而為了避免補償不足，社會也許應該提供基因醫療資源，縮小人與人之間因為基因差異而衍生的機會不平等，雖然這並不是社會有欠於基因組合較差者的義務。Genetic medicine has made so many unthinkable things possible these days that someday we might be able to determine the features of anyone's genetic profile. Once this is feasible, then the distribution of genetic profiles is no longer a matter of natural lottery. It is then to be decided by social institutions and to be assessed in term of social justice. This paper is concerned with the questions as to whether society then should provide genetic medical resources for parents so that the impact on opportunity of genetic inequalities could be neutralized or minimized, and whether society should bring about genetic equality. I answer both questions negatively from the perspective of a conception of justice, which I have been developing. I call this conception reasonable contractarianism, which holds that society owes to each member a duty to choose an institutional scheme that he or she (if properly motivated) could not reasonably reject. I argued that the brute luck view of equal opportunity, which might give positive answers to the questions I pose, is implausible. In my view, society is obligated to make sure that no one could complain that given his genetic profile, he would rather prefer not being born at all to living. To discharge this obligation, I argue, society should provide gene-based medical resources to help parents give birth to genetically healthy babies. Such provision is necessary for society to do what it owes to its members. I also argue that choosing an institutional scheme that respects the autonomy of family allows unequal distribution of resources, amounts to choosing a scheme that is unfair to those who are genetically inferior. Society should compensate for them. In the end, I suggest that in order not to fail to provide sufficient compensation, society might have to reduce the inequality of opportunity induced by the autonomy of family via genetic measures, despite that this is not what society owes to those who would come to exist with genetically inferior profiles.DOWNLOAD HISTORY | This article has been downloaded 24 times in Digital Commons before migrating into this platform.

scholarly journals Impact of Resource Distribution and Availability on Primary Schools Pupil Learning Outcomes: Case Study of Chintheche Education Zone, Nkhata Bay, Malawi

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 239-260
Author(s):  
Mercy Khumbo Nyirenda
Keyword(s):  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Primary Education ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Resource Distribution ◽  
Head Teachers ◽  
Unequal Distribution ◽  
Distribution Of Resources ◽  
Optimal Resource ◽  
Pupil Learning ◽  
The Impact

This study investigated the impact of resource distribution on learning outcomes on nine purposively selected primary schools in the Chintheche Education Zone (previously known as Chihame Zone 1), Nkhata Bay District. Criteria for eligibility were that a school should have administered primary school leaving examinations at least three (3) times and was easy to access by public transport. In addition to document analysis, the study collected data using a questionnaire administered to the head teachers of each school, the Primary Education Advisor (PEA), and District Education Manager (DEM). Descriptive statistical analysis was done to compare pupil performance between schools with optimal resource availability and those without. The study found that the distribution of resources in the Chintheche Education Zone is unequal even though the zone is under one Primary Education Advisor. Schools closest to the trading centre have more resources and perform better than schools located far away from the trading centre and lacking almost in everything. The findings suggest that the unequal distribution of resources affects selection of pupils to secondary schools. The study recommends that fair and equitable distribution of resources would go a long way to achieving equity in access to secondary education.

Ethnic Conflict and the Politics of Greed Rethinking Chimamanda Adichie's

Matatu ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 173-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nick Mdika Tembo
Keyword(s):  
Ethnic Conflict ◽  
Economic Decline ◽  
Final Solution ◽  
Ethnic Nationalism ◽  
State Collapse ◽  
Unequal Distribution ◽  
Ethnic Stereotypes ◽  
Group Loyalty ◽  
Distribution Of Resources ◽  
The Impact

The African continent today is laced with some of the most intractable conflicts, most of them based on ethnic nationalism. More often than not, this has led to poor governance, unequal distribution of resources, state collapse, high attrition of human resources, economic decline, and inter-ethnic clashes. This essay seeks to examine Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's through the lens of ethnic conflict. It begins by tracing the history and manifestations of ethnic stereotypes and ethnic cleavage in African imaginaries. The essay then argues that group loyalty in Nigeria led to the creation of 'biafranization' or 'fear of the Igbo factor' in the Hausa–Fulani and the various other ethnic groups that sympathized with them; a fear that crystallized into a thirty-month state-sponsored bulwark campaign aimed at finding a 'final solution' to a 'problem population'. Finally, the essay contends that Adichie's anatomizes the impact of ethnic cleavage on the civilian Igbo population during the Nigeria–Biafra civil war. Adichie, I argue, participates in an ongoing re-invention of how Africans can extinguish the psychology of fear that they are endangered species when they live side by side with people who do not belong to their 'tribe'.

scholarly journals Translational genomic research: the role of genetic polymorphisms in MBSR program among breast cancer survivors (MBSR[BC])

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 693-702
Author(s):  
Jong Y Park ◽  
Cecile A Lengacher ◽  
Richard R Reich ◽  
Carissa B Alinat ◽  
Sophia Ramesar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Genomic Research ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Symptom Improvement ◽  
Genetic Profile ◽  
Genetic Profiles ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Genetic variations of breast cancer survivors (BCS) may contribute to level of residual symptoms, such as depression, stress, fatigue, and cognitive impairment. The objective of this study was to investigate whether particular single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) moderated symptom improvement resulting from the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Breast Cancer (MBSR[BC]) program. An overarching goal of personalized medicine is to identify individuals as risk for disease and tailor interventions based on genetic profiles of patients with diseases including cancer. BCS were recruited from Moffitt Cancer Center and University of South Florida’s Breast Health Program and were randomized to either the 6-week MBSR(BC) program (n = 92) or Usual Care (n = 93). Measures of symptoms, demographic, and clinical history data were attained at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks. A total of 10 SNPs from eight genes known to be related to these symptoms were studied using genomic DNA extracted from blood. Our results were examined for effect sizes, consistency, and statistical significance (p < .05). Three SNPs (rs4680 in COMT, rs6314 in HTR2A, and rs429358 in APOE) emerged as having the strongest (though relatively weak) and most consistent effects in moderating the impact of the MBSR program on symptom outcomes. Although effects were generally weak, with only one effect withstanding multiple comparisons correction for statistical significance, this translational behavioral research may help start the identification of genetic profiles that moderate the impact of MBSR(BC). The ultimate goal of this study is the development of personalized treatment programs tailored to the genetic profile of each patient.

scholarly journals Factors Moderating the Association between Cannabis Use and Psychosis Risk: A Systematic Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanne J. van der Steur ◽  
Albert Batalla ◽  
Matthijs G. Bossong
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Genetic Profile ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Psychosis Risk ◽  
Specific Factors ◽  
Use Behavior ◽  
Genetic Profiles ◽  
The Impact

Increasing evidence indicates a relationship between cannabis use and psychosis risk. Specific factors, such as determinants of cannabis use or the genetic profile of cannabis users, appear to moderate this association. The present systematic review presents a detailed and up-to-date literature overview on factors that influence the relationship between cannabis use and psychosis risk. A systematic search was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines in MEDLINE and Embase, and 56 studies were included. The results show that, in particular, frequent cannabis use, especially daily use, and the consumption of high-potency cannabis are associated with a higher risk of developing psychosis. Moreover, several genotypes moderate the impact of cannabis use on psychosis risk, particularly those involved in the dopamine function, such as AKT1. Finally, cannabis use is associated with an earlier psychosis onset and increased risk of transition in individuals at a clinical high risk of psychosis. These findings indicate that changing cannabis use behavior could be a harm reduction strategy employed to lower the risk of developing psychosis. Future research should aim to further develop specific biomarkers and genetic profiles for psychosis, thereby contributing to the identification of individuals at the highest risk of developing a psychotic disorder.

An Econometric Analysis on the Relationship between Globalisation and Inequality in South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-89
Author(s):  
Jacques de Jongh
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Causality Analysis ◽  
Global Integration ◽  
Development Indicators ◽  
Long Run ◽  
The World ◽  
Distribution Of Resources ◽  
Short Run ◽  
The Impact

Globalisation has had an unprecedented impact on the development and well-being of societies across the globe. Whilst the process has been lauded for bringing about greater trade specialisation and factor mobility many have also come to raise concerns on its impact in the distribution of resources. For South Africa in particular this has been somewhat of a contentious issue given the country's controversial past and idiosyncratic socio-economic structure. Since 1994 though, considerable progress towards its global integration has been made, however this has largely coincided with the establishment of, arguably, the highest levels of income inequality the world has ever seen. This all has raised several questions as to whether a more financially open and technologically integrated economy has induced greater within-country inequality (WCI). This study therefore has the objective to analyse the impact of the various dimensions of globalisation (economic, social and political) on inequality in South Africa. Secondary annual time series from 1990 to 2018 were used sourced from the World Bank Development indicators database, KOF Swiss Economic Institute and the World Inequality database. By using different measures of inequality (Palma ratios and distribution figures), the study employed two ARDL models to test the long-run relationships with the purpose to ensure the robustness of the results. Likewise, two error correction models (ECM) were used to analyse the short-run dynamics between the variables. As a means of identifying the casual effects between the variables, a Toda-Yamamoto granger causality analysis was utilised. Keywords: ARDL, Inequality, Economic Globalisation; Social Globalisation; South Africa

Here there Be Tygers: Profit, Non-profit, and Loss in the Age of Disintermediation

1997 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Jensen
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Europe ◽  
Social Institutions ◽  
Scholarly Publishing ◽  
The Political ◽  
Quality Information ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Non Profit ◽  
High Quality Information ◽  
Europe De L’Est ◽  
The Impact

Abstract: Scholarly publishing and access to high-quality information may in fact be threatened, rather than improved, by the revolution in communications, particularly in a fully commercial Internet. The effects of the political revolution in Eastern Europe on scholarship and quality publishing are used as a touchstone of the dangers that occur when naïve revolutionaries make swift changes without fully recognizing the impact upon delicately balanced social institutions such as non-profit organizations. Résumé: La révolution en communications, particulièrement en ce qui regarde un Internet commercialisé, plutôt que d'améliorer l'édition savante et l'accès à de l'information de haute qualité, pourrait en fait poser une menace pour ceux-ci. Cet article examine comment la révolution politique en Europe de l'Est a influé sur la recherche et l'édition de qualité. Il utilise cet exemple pour examiner les dangers que peuvent courir certains révolutionnaires naïfs quand ils instaurent des changements rapides san songer à leur impact sur des institutions sociales à équilibre délicat comme les organisations à but non lucratif.

scholarly journals Philosophical foundations for digital ethics and AI Ethics: a dignitarian approach

AI and Ethics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Hanna ◽  
Emre Kazim
Keyword(s):  
Human Dignity ◽  
Social Institutions ◽  
Moral Obligations ◽  
Philosophical Foundations ◽  
Human Needs ◽  
Form Of Life ◽  
Digital Ethics ◽  
Human Happiness ◽  
Ai Ethics ◽  
The Impact

AbstractAI Ethics is a burgeoning and relatively new field that has emerged in response to growing concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on human individuals and their social institutions. In turn, AI ethics is a part of the broader field of digital ethics, which addresses similar concerns generated by the development and deployment of new digital technologies. Here, we tackle the important worry that digital ethics in general, and AI ethics in particular, lack adequate philosophical foundations. In direct response to that worry, we formulate and rationally justify some basic concepts and principles for digital ethics/AI ethics, all drawn from a broadly Kantian theory of human dignity. Our argument, which is designed to be relatively compact and easily accessible, is presented in ten distinct steps: (1) what “digital ethics” and “AI ethics” mean, (2) refuting the dignity-skeptic, (3) the metaphysics of human dignity, (4) human happiness or flourishing, true human needs, and human dignity, (5) our moral obligations with respect to all human real persons, (6) what a natural automaton or natural machine is, (7) why human real persons are not natural automata/natural machines: because consciousness is a form of life, (8) our moral obligations with respect to the design and use of artificial automata or artificial machines, aka computers, and digital technology more generally, (9) what privacy is, why invasions of digital privacy are morally impermissible, whereas consensual entrances into digital privacy are either morally permissible or even obligatory, and finally (10) dignitarian morality versus legality, and digital ethics/AI ethics. We conclude by asserting our strongly-held belief that a well-founded and generally-accepted dignitarian digital ethics/AI ethics is of global existential importance for humanity.

scholarly journals Why do inequality and deprivation produce high crime and low trust?

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Benoît De Courson ◽  
Daniel Nettle
Keyword(s):  
Social Mobility ◽  
Social Trust ◽  
Economic Resources ◽  
Unequal Distribution ◽  
Mutual Advantage ◽  
Distribution Of Resources ◽  
Current Resource ◽  
Optimal Action ◽  
High Crime ◽  
Model Features

AbstractHumans sometimes cooperate to mutual advantage, and sometimes exploit one another. In industrialised societies, the prevalence of exploitation, in the form of crime, is related to the distribution of economic resources: more unequal societies tend to have higher crime, as well as lower social trust. We created a model of cooperation and exploitation to explore why this should be. Distinctively, our model features a desperation threshold, a level of resources below which it is extremely damaging to fall. Agents do not belong to fixed types, but condition their behaviour on their current resource level and the behaviour in the population around them. We show that the optimal action for individuals who are close to the desperation threshold is to exploit others. This remains true even in the presence of severe and probable punishment for exploitation, since successful exploitation is the quickest route out of desperation, whereas being punished does not make already desperate states much worse. Simulated populations with a sufficiently unequal distribution of resources rapidly evolve an equilibrium of low trust and zero cooperation: desperate individuals try to exploit, and non-desperate individuals avoid interaction altogether. Making the distribution of resources more equal or increasing social mobility is generally effective in producing a high cooperation, high trust equilibrium; increasing punishment severity is not.

scholarly journals HPA axis multilocus genetic profile score moderates the impact of interpersonal stress on prospective increases in depressive symptoms for offspring of depressed mothers.

2017 ◽  
Vol 126 (8) ◽  
pp. 1017-1028 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cope Feurer ◽  
John E. McGeary ◽  
Valerie S. Knopik ◽  
Leslie A. Brick ◽  
Rohan H. Palmer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Hpa Axis ◽  
Genetic Profile ◽  
Interpersonal Stress ◽  
Profile Score ◽  
Depressed Mothers ◽  
The Impact

Intergroup Inequality in Wealth Ownership in Rural India: Caste, Tribe and Religion

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-132
Author(s):  
Nitin Tagade ◽  
Sukhadeo Thorat
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Wealth Inequality ◽  
Sample Survey ◽  
Rural India ◽  
Unequal Distribution ◽  
Majority Population ◽  
Intergroup Inequality ◽  
The Impact

In India, the rural economy still remains crucially important in the economic wellbeing of the majority population. The low income and high poverty in rural areas are closely associated with unequal distribution of income-earning assets, particularly agricultural land and non-land capital assets. In this article, therefore, we try to understand the intergroup inequality in wealth ownership across caste, ethnic and religious groups in rural India based on the 2013 data from the All India Debt and Investment survey carried out by National Sample Survey Office. The results indicate high interpersonal wealth inequality so also the intergroup wealth inequality at the aggregate level and by type of assets in rural India. The impact of caste on the ownership of wealth clearly indicates high ownership among Hindu high caste and Hindu other backward caste at the cost of low wealth share or ownership of the SC/ST indicating the existence of graded inequality.

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