The Phenomenological Claims of Gratitude as a Religious Experience and Its Moral Worth

2021 ◽  
pp. 185-213
Author(s):  
Essien D. Essien
Keyword(s):  
Life Experiences ◽  
Moral Worth ◽  
Human Society ◽  
Human Flourishing ◽  
Emotional Quality ◽  
Moral Sentimentalism ◽  
Moral Failure ◽  
Social Obligation ◽  
Human Quality ◽  
Gratitude Interventions

Contemporary thinking regarding the phenomenon of gratitude portrays it as a fundamental attribute of every human being as well as a commendable and beneficial human quality capable of enhancing human flourishing in society. This study demonstrates that although a variety of life experiences can elicit feelings of gratitude, there is evidence that the moral human society considers gratitude as a force capable of encouraging acts of beneficence. Apparently though, in the lens of ethics, gratitude is a purely person-to-person phenomenon, while ingratitude is seen as a profound moral failure. This research addresses issues of why moralists generally see gratitude as an obligation and stressed its dutiful aspects rather than its emotional quality. Findings show that until the advent of moral sentimentalism, gratitude interventions had always produced positive outcomes and benefits which in the heart of ethics is a duty and social obligation towards human benefactors and God.

scholarly journals Development Within a Religious Ontology? The Argument from Islamic Dharma

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 1038-1056
Author(s):  
Fernande W. Pool
Keyword(s):  
Life Experiences ◽  
Religious Life ◽  
Ethnographic Research ◽  
Human Society ◽  
Research Participants ◽  
The Core ◽  
Development Framework

AbstractDrawing on long-term ethnographic research with Muslims in India, this article suggests that religion should not (only) be understood as a sub-category of development but as an integral part of the meta-ontology based on which one should engage with development initially. Value-driven development implies a normative view of society, and a ‘more human’ society is at the core of worthwhile development. For the research participants, their ontological conceptions (notions of what being human means) and the ethical autonomy to deliberate on a normative view of life and society are embedded in the Islamic dharma. To approach religion as only a sub-category in an otherwise secular development framework marginalises these, and probably many other, religious life experiences and ontological notions from the outset. Instead, secular and religious ontologies should be considered at par in an inclusive dialogue on worthwhile development.

The Law of Robbery

2011 ◽  
pp. 127-134
Author(s):  
David Novak
Keyword(s):  
Central Element ◽  
Double Standard ◽  
Jewish Law ◽  
Human Society ◽  
Human Flourishing ◽  
The Law ◽  
Anti Jewish

This chapter focuses on the prohibition of robbery, which is based on the principle that society is necessary for human flourishing. And a central element of the construction of any human society is property, or the relation of persons to things, especially in economic transactions. The rabbinic tradition makes fine distinctions between Jews and gentiles regarding robbery, ultimately creating a double standard. Although the practical effects of a socially unfair law were removed, the rabbis maintained that Noahide law remained stricter than Jewish law regarding robbery. Like other violations of the Noahide commandments, the penalty was assumed to be death. In atypical historical circumstances—especially times of war or oppression—the rabbinic supposition was that all gentile robbery was aggressive and occurred because of anti-Jewish attitudes and not greed. Because the crime was ideological and not practical, its intent was far more lethal and therefore any act of robbery, no matter how minor, was to be punished with death.

scholarly journals Social obligations: theoretical and legal aspects

2020 ◽  
pp. 71-74
Author(s):  
Tereziia Popovych
Keyword(s):  
Social Interactions ◽  
Legal Aspects ◽  
Human Society ◽  
Moral Obligations ◽  
Social Obligation ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Human Responsibility ◽  
The One ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Law And Legislation

The article is devoted to the study of the nature of social obligation, its genesis and variants. It has been established that historically social obligations have arisen with the emergence of the beginnings of morality in human society and the awareness of human responsibility towards one another within their community. In the future, with the development of humanity and the diversity of social interactions, the institute of obligation was modified to take on new features. Thus, if in the early periods of existence of human society, it was impossible to speak about their belonging to the legal field, given the absence of any, at least minimal, fixation of this category at the normative level, then the development of law and legislation led to the emergence of legally binding obligations. It has been researched that social obligation means a socially recognized need for a certain behavior of a person, a kind of proper or useful, which is objectively conditioned by the needs of existence and development of other persons, social groups, nations, humanity. The article also analyzes that, depending on the particular nature of the emergence of specific social obligations, the characteristics of the subject that establishes them, and defines the guarantees of its implementation, distinguish varieties of social obligation. Allocated moral obligations, religious obligations, corporate, professional, legal and other obligations. Moreover, the author considers it inappropriate to completely differentiate between these phenomena, since all of them, as embodiments of certain socially necessary behavior, are interconnected and can be considered as a logical continuation of each other. In addition, it is emphasized that the substantive characteristic of a legal obligation as a special type of social obligation is a "legal necessity". The latter, on the one hand, indicates that the obligation exists and develops within the limits of the lawful and statutory conduct required by law. On the other hand, it expresses the content of the obligation and its inherent behavior. The "need" to disclose the obligation plays the same role that the "opportunity" plays in the concept of the rights and freedoms of the individual.

Ownership and Obligations

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory S. Alexander
Keyword(s):  
The State ◽  
Human Flourishing ◽  
The Social ◽  
Property Owners ◽  
Social Obligation

This chapter is the theoretical heart of the book. It develops the argument that inherent in the concept of ownership itself is an obligation that property owners owe to members of their communities to enable them to flourish. More specifically, the state may legitimately make certain demands on owners to contribute to the maintenance of the matrices and services that nurture the capabilities that are necessary for human flourishing. The chapter considers, and rejects, alternative possible bases for the obligations that property owners owe to others, particularly contract and reciprocity. Instead, the argument here is that the social obligation inherent in ownership is based on human dependency.

scholarly journals Meaning in life and the experience of older people

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-30
Author(s):  
Peter Derkx ◽  
Pien Bos ◽  
Hanne Laceulle ◽  
Anja Machielse
Keyword(s):  
General Theory ◽  
Older People ◽  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Life Experiences ◽  
Moral Worth ◽  
Older Men ◽  
Life Narratives ◽  
Qualitative Exploration

In this article, we introduce a general theory about meaning in life developed by our first author, and apply it to the context of ageing. The seven components of meaning distinguished by this theory – purpose, moral worth, selfworth, control, coherence, excitement and connectedness – are discussed in turn. After presenting the theory, we confront the seven  components with extensive life narratives of two older men – in a first empirical qualitative exploration of how meaning dimensions appear in the life experiences of older people. This dialogue between theory and narrative is used to provide concretisation and clarification of the seven components, thereby enhancing the understanding of the theory, while at the same time suggesting possible refinements and directions for future exploration of meaning in life in the context of ageing.

Can Animals Attain Membership Within a Human Social/Moral Group?

2004 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 429-435
Author(s):  
Eli Kanon ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Division Of Labor ◽  
Moral Status ◽  
Moral Worth ◽  
Human Society ◽  
Moral Treatment ◽  
Labor Theory

Justice is illustrated by how humans treat others. Human society can no longer be considered just if it continues to treat animals instrumentally, disregarding the moral worth of each individual creature. Emile Durkheim's division of labor theory offers a groundwork for providing animals limited rights within a human-dominated society. Solidarity can be fostered between animals and humans by internalizing the principle that all organisms are interdependent. This principle is the foundation for granting animals moral status. By recognizing the role animals play in our society, we can acknowledge our obligations to them. Utilizing a mechaorganic solidarity, humans can establish justification for moral treatment of animals.

scholarly journals Truth Matters: Living in Dangerous Times - Aquinas on the Virtue of Truth-Telling

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-48
Author(s):  
Fainché Ryan
Keyword(s):  
Thomas Aquinas ◽  
Social Climate ◽  
Human Society ◽  
Human Flourishing ◽  
Truth Telling ◽  
Instrumental Value ◽  
Intrinsic Good ◽  
Cardinal Virtue

Abstract Current political and social climate seems to have as a presupposition the view that truth-telling has a merely instrumental value. This paper will explore Thomas Aquinas’ writing on truth and truth-telling, arguing that truth-telling is an intrinsic good, a human virtue and a component of human flourishing. In Aquinas’ view the virtue of truth-telling is a satellite virtue within the cardinal virtue of justice, and as such imperative for the flourishing of human society.

Bioethics and Human Flourishing: Christian Wisdom in a Secular Age

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-153
Author(s):  
Ana Iltis
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Moral Worth ◽  
Healthcare Decision ◽  
Human Flourishing ◽  
Healthcare Organizations ◽  
The Third ◽  
Healthcare Decision Making ◽  
Health And Disease ◽  
Secular Age

AbstractThe gulf between Christian and secular bioethics has far-reaching implications for public policy, healthcare organizations, clinicians, and patients and their families. There also are significant differences among various Christian approaches to bioethics. Differences and similarities between Christian and secular bioethics as well as among Christian approaches to bioethics are evident across three domains explored in this issue of Christian Bioethics. The first concerns different approaches to or methods for resolving ethical questions. The second concerns the ways in which understandings of health and disease and human anthropology shape our judgments about what we may do in the pursuit of health or in response to disease. The third concerns how our perceptions of and regard for others affect judgments of moral worth and can influence healthcare decision-making.

Funktionen des autobiographischen Gedächtnisses bei jungen und älteren Erwachsenen

2014 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 201-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tabea Wolf ◽  
Daniel Zimprich
Keyword(s):  
Life Experiences ◽  
Ältere Erwachsene

In der neueren Forschung werden drei Funktionen des autobiographischen Gedächtnisses unterschieden: Autobiographische Erinnerungen können ein Gefühl von Selbst-Kontinuität unterstützen, aktuelles oder zukünftiges Handeln leiten (direktiv) und soziale Interaktionen erleichtern. Bislang gibt es kaum Untersuchungen, in denen die Nutzung dieser Funktionen über verschiedene Altersgruppen hinweg betrachtet wird. In der vorliegenden Studie wurden 227 junge und 185 ältere Erwachsene mit dem Thinking About Life Experiences Questionnaire (TALE) befragt, mit dem sich die drei Funktionen des autobiographischen Gedächtnisses situationsübergreifend erfassen lassen. Aus entwicklungstheoretischer Sicht ist anzunehmen, dass im jungen Erwachsenenalter die Selbst- und die direktive Funktion häufiger genutzt werden, da in dieser Lebensphase das eigene Selbstbild gefestigt und Pläne für die Zukunft gemacht werden. Für die soziale Funktion werden keine Unterschiede erwartet. In Übereinstimmung mit den theoretischen Annahmen und bisherigen Befunden gaben die jungen Erwachsenen an, die Selbst- und die direktive Funktion häufiger zu nutzen als ältere Teilnehmer das taten. Dasselbe Ergebnis zeigte sich aber auch für die soziale Funktion.

Dogs’ (Canis familiaris) attention to human perception: Influence of breed groups and life experiences.

2017 ◽  
Vol 131 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marianne T. E. Heberlein ◽  
Dennis C. Turner ◽  
Marta B. Manser
Keyword(s):  
Life Experiences ◽  
Canis Familiaris ◽  
Human Perception
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