Hume and Superfluous Value (or the Problem with Epictetus’ Slippers)

Author(s):  
Christopher J. Berry

Taking its cue from Epictetus’ condemnation of superfluous refinements, Hume’s defence of luxury is examined. This defence incorporates a rejection of the virtue of poverty and its conceptual replacement with a notion of impoverishment as undesirable. Hume identifies benefits from the pursuit of refinement at both the social and individual level. In the former it supplies an incentive that encourages industry and prosperity and in the former it vindicates the positive enjoyment that comes from material goods.

Author(s):  
Le Thi My Hanh ◽  
Luis Alfaro ◽  
Tran Phuong Thao

This world is constantly changing and rapidly moving,-particular in the Industry 4.0 revolution, people must change to follow and keeping with this new trend. Education is the human foundation toward the “Truth - Good - Beautiful”, and comprehensive development of personal competencies as knowledge, skills and behaviors. A nation, such as Vietnam, if they want to integrate into global economy and affirming their position, they will need the “Talented - Virtuous” human resource who could meet the high demand of society. The purpose of this study was to propose a model of competency value chain at individual level for the educational managers, analyzing some factors of this value chain model and how to apply to Vietnamese education system in the fourth Industry era. The authors wanted to focus on the social value added that the educational managers’competency could bring as the result of this research.


foresight ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 309-328 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evgeniya Lukinova ◽  
Mikhail Myagkov ◽  
Pavel Shishkin

Purpose – This paper aims to study the value of sociality. Recent experimental evidence has brought to light that the assumptions of the Prospect Theory by Kahneman and Tversky do not hold in the proposed substantive domain of “sociality”. In particular, the desire to be a part of the social environment, i.e. the environment where individuals make decisions among their peers, is not contingent on the framing. Evolutionary psychologists suggest that humans are “social animals” for adaptive reasons. However, entering a social relationship is inherently risky. Therefore, it is extremely important to know how much people value “sociality”, when the social outcomes are valued more than material outcomes and what kinds of adaptations people use. Design/methodology/approach – We develop a new theory and propose the general utility function that features “sociality” component. We test the theory in the laboratory experiments carried out in several countries. Findings – Our results suggest that when stakes are low the theory of “sociality” is successful in predicting individual decisions: on average, people do value “sociality” and it surpasses the monetary loss. Originality/value – The main contribution of this paper is the breakdown of the risk attitudes under low stakes and individual level of decision-making. Another advancement is the ability to formalize the social utility or the theory of “sociality” in an economic model; we use general utility function that we define both on the outcomes and on the process of the decision-making itself and test in laboratory studies.


2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 528-544 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ioannis Giotopoulos ◽  
Alexandra Kontolaimou ◽  
Aggelos Tsakanikas

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore potential drivers of high-growth intentions of early-stage entrepreneurs in Greece before and after the onset of the financial crisis of 2008. Design/methodology/approach To this end, the authors use individual-level data retrieved from Global Entrepreneurship Monitor annual surveys (2003-2015). Findings The results show that high-growth intentions of Greek entrepreneurs are driven by different factors in the crisis compared to the non-crisis period. Male entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs with significant work experience seem to be more likely to be engaged in growth-oriented new ventures during the crisis period. The same appears to hold for entrepreneurs who are motivated by an opportunity and also perceive future business opportunities in adverse economic conditions. On the other hand, the educational level and the social contacts of founders with other entrepreneurs are found to drive ambitious Greek entrepreneurship in the years before the crisis, while they were insignificant after the crisis outbreak. Originality/value Based on the concept of ambitious entrepreneurship, this study contributes to the literature by investigating the determinants of entrepreneurial high-growth expectations in the Greek context emphasizing the crisis period in comparison to the pre-crisis years.


Author(s):  
Chayanika Mitra

This article attempts to capture gender bias in education expenditure among the religious (Hindu, Muslim and others) and the social groups (SC, ST and General) in West Bengal. Oaxaca–Blinder decomposition technique is used to obtain gender bias for a specific demographic group. Further, an attempt has been made to identify the religious or social groups with the acute problem of gender bias. In this work, 71st round (January–June 2014) education expenditure data (individual level) provided by NSSO (National Sample Survey Office) is used. JEL: I24, R1, C55


2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 21-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luan Gao ◽  
Luning Liu ◽  
Yuqiang Feng

Prior research on ERP assimilation has primarily focused on influential factors at the organizational level. In this study, the authors attempt to extend their understanding of individual level ERP assimilation from the perspective of social network theory. They designed a multi-case study to explore the relations between ERP users' social networks and their levels of ERP assimilation based on the three dimensions of the social networks. The authors gathered data through interviews with 26 ERP users at different levels in five companies. Qualitative analysis was used to understand the effects of social networks and interactive learning. They found that users' social networks play a significant role in individual level ERP assimilation through interactive learning among users. They also found five key factors that facilitate users' assimilation of ERP knowledge: homophily (age, position and rank), tie content (instrumental and expressive ties), tie strength, external ties, and centrality.


2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 163-176
Author(s):  
Katarina Rukavina

The paper analyses the concept of space in contemporary art on the example of Suprematist Composition No. 1, Black on Grey by Kristina Leko from 2008. Referring to Malevich’s suprematism, in December 2008 Leko initiated a project of art intervention in Ban Jelačić Square in Zagreb, where she intended to cover in black all commercials, advertisements, signs and names of various companies. This poetic intervention, as the artist calls it, was intended to prompt people to relativise material goods in the pre-Christmas period. However, despite the authorisation obtained from the city authorities, the companies concerned refused to remove their respective advertisements, be it for only for 24 hours, so this project has never been realised. The project, however, does exist in the virtual space, which is also public, and continues to act in the form of documentation. The non-feasibility of the intervention, or rather its invisibility on Jelačić Square, makes visible or directly indicates the ordering of the powers and the constellation of values in the social sphere, thus raising new questions. Indeed, in this way it actually enters the public space, sensitising and expanding it at the same time.


Author(s):  
Yaneth Herazo Beltr ◽  
Regina Dom

Introducción: Aparte de ser un problema médico, la discapacidad es un fenómeno socioeconómico, ya que una persona en situación de discapacidad tiene mayores restricciones para acceder, por ejemplo, a un empleo. Objetivo: Se propone estimar la correlación entre pobreza extrema y discapacidad en los departamentos de Colombia, según los datos del Censo General de 2005. Materiales y Métodos: Se realizó un estudio analítico ecológico. Como indicadores de discapacidad, se tomaron los datos del Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadísticas (DANE) y el indicador pobreza extrema del Departamento Nacional de Planeación (DNP). Se determinó el coeficiente de correlación (r) mediante el método de regresión lineal, usando el programa SPSS. Resultados: El análisis estableció la relación positiva entre las variables estudiadas, así: entre limitaciones permanentes para caminar y pobreza extrema, la correlación fue más fuerte (r=0,227), pero no significativamente estadística (p=0,286); igual, entre pobreza extrema y las limitaciones para autocuidado (r=0,161) y para el uso de brazos y manos (r=0,139), fue positiva, aunque débil. Conclusión: Los anteriores coeficientes de correlación (r) indican que la pobreza influye en la situación de discapacidad de las personas en forma acorde con la actividad que se analice, lo cual permite concluir que la pobreza es un factor contextual influyente en la discapacidad.ABSTRACTIntroduction: Disability is considered a socio-economic phenomenon; a person in situation of disability has greater restrictions to access to employment. Objective: To estimate the correlation if any exists, between extreme poverty and disability in Colombian regions. The study is to be based on the 2005 general census. Materials and Methods: Analytic and ecologic study. 2005 general census data from the National Beauro of Statistical Administration (DANE) was used to form indicators of disability. For extreme poverty, indicators from the National Planning Bearue (DNP) were collected. The correlation coefficient (r) was determined through the linear regression method utilizing the SPSS software application. Results: The analysis establishes a positive correlation between permanent walking limitations and extreme poverty (r = 0,227); however, not significant (p = 0,286). Likewise, a positive correlation was found between extreme poverty and self-care (r=0,161); between extreme poverty and use of arms and legs (r=0,139). The correlation is weaker for the latter parameters. Conclusion: The obtained correlation coefficients (r) indicate that poverty affects the disability condition based on the analyzed activity. Further, the results lead us to conclude that poverty is a contextual factor around disability. It is recommended that other analytical methods be utilized to establish causal relationships between disability and poverty at an individual level. The purpose would be to obtain a deeper understanding of how personal and environmental conditions lead to the social exclusion of individuals with disabilities.


1997 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. Brustad ◽  
Michelle Ritter-Taylor

Psychological processes in sport are inextricably linked to the social contexts within which they occur. However, research and practice in applied sport psychology have shown only marginal concern for the social dimensions of participation. As a consequence of stronger ties to clinical and counseling psychology than to social psychology, the prevailing model of intervention in applied sport psychology has been individually centered. Focus at the individual level has been further bolstered by cognitive emphases in modem psychology. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the need for a balanced consideration of social and personal influences. Four social psychological dimensions of interest will be explored, including athletic subculture membership; athletic identity concerns; social networks of influence; and leadership processes. The relevance of these forms of influence will be examined in relation to applied concerns in the areas of athlete academic performance, overtraining and burnout, and disordered eating patterns. At minimum, consultants need to address contextual and relational correlates of psychological and performance issues.


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 156-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fiona Spotswood ◽  
Tim Chatterton ◽  
Yvette Morey ◽  
Sara Spear

Purpose This paper aims to introduce key concepts from practice theory (PT) to the social change agenda and draw on the unique contributions of the social marketing field. PT has underpinned a growing stream of research in pro-environmental studies seeking to reduce impacts of particular behaviours, but it remains theoretical. By drawing on social marketing’s applied roots, this paper introduces a practice-theoretical intervention planning process (P-TIPP) which frames the unique contribution of social marketing in behaviour change and foregrounds practice- not individual-level change. Design/methodology/approach The P-TIPP draws on the total process planning model, introducing the concept of “practice as entity” and “practice as performance” to frame intervention planning tasks. The process locates the contribution of social marketing within a transdisciplinary framework which emphasises transforming collective conventions. Findings This is a conceptual paper, but the possibility for PT to make a significant contribution to the world of social marketing is outlined. Research limitations/implications P-TIPP is untested. Also, practices can be difficult to identify and somewhat abstract. Finally, it can be challenging to introduce the approach to policy, funding and practitioner procedures. Practical implications The implications of P-TIPP are that social change interventions are devised, underpinned and planned using insights from PT, such as the way behavioural patterns fit into broader understandings of practice. The subsequent social change agenda will be inherently transdisciplinary, sustainable and reduce focus on individual power to change. Originality/value This paper is a first attempt at exploring what PT, and social marketing can learn from each other for the future effectiveness of social change activity.


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