On the coupling of relativistic particle to gravity and Wheeler–DeWitt quantization

A system consisting of a point particle coupled to gravity is investigated. The set of constraints is derived. It was found that a suitable superposition of those constraints is the generator of the infinitesimal transformations of the time coordinate [Formula: see text] and serves as the Hamiltonian which gives the correct equations of motion. Besides that, the system satisfies the mass shell constraint, [Formula: see text], which is the generator of the worldline reparametrizations, where the momenta [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], generate infinitesimal changes of the particle’s position [Formula: see text] in spacetime. Consequently, the Hamiltonian contains [Formula: see text], which upon quantization becomes the operator [Formula: see text], occurring on the right-hand side of the Wheeler–DeWitt equation. Here, the role of time has the particle coordinate [Formula: see text], which is a distinct concept than the spacetime coordinate [Formula: see text]. It is also shown how the ordering ambiguities can be avoided if a quadratic form of the momenta is cast into the form that instead of the metric contains the basis vectors.

Privity: Rights, Standing, and the Road Not Taken

Privity is generally understood as a rule comprising a burdens limb and a more controversial benefits or ‘rights’ limb. This rendition of privity is too simplistic. Privity has multiple aspects, but its underlying complexity has been obscured by an overwhelming focus on ‘rights’, explaining in part the persistent unclarity plaguing the area. In this article, I argue that an elision of concepts has hampered our understanding of privity and its reform. The literature on contractual rights to performance and secondary rights to damages for their breach is legion. By contrast, standing, as a separate and distinct concept, has been overlooked. These are concepts that need to be more clearly differentiated. While not a panacea to resolve all issues, it is a necessary step to a firmer handle over the distinct issues at stake, and to opening up a novel angle to privity reform—third-party standing—the road not taken.

General Principles of S. L. Frank’s “Mystical Realism” as a Method of Knowing the Absolute

This article attempts to analyze S. L. Frank’s philosophy to identify a distinct concept – “mystical realism”. Two key works on the ontology of the thinker have been considered: “Subject of knowledge” belonging to the early period of his creative work, and “Incomprehensible” written in the late period. The tradition of Frank’s intellectual heritage analysis is represented by the works of I.I. Evlampiev, P.P. Gaidenko, P. Elen, A.M. Khamidulina and other professionals aimed at finding elements of intuitive (mystical) cognition of the Absolute in the context of objective being. It resulted in the idea that “mystical realism” is based on the combination of rational and irrational knowledge aimed at acquiring the Absolute. S.L. Frank shows the presence of something mystical (Absolute) in the context of objective being, and further he reveals the presence of something mystical (Absolute) in the spiritual being of a person. The presence of something mystical within reality is represented by two main transcendence ways: “outward expression of a spirit” and “inward expression of a spirit”. It allows the philosopher to speak about the Absolute as a fundamental principle that created the uni-verse and at the same time as a call of eternity coming into an objective world through a spiritual life of a person.

Accounting student burnout and engagement: The role of major satisfaction in mitigating or enforcing functional and dysfunctional behavior

This study begins by establishing the nature of the debatable relationship between student burnout and engagement in an accounting context and investigates the impact of student major satisfaction as an antecedent factor for accounting student burnout and engagement. Hence, a survey of 280 students was conducted using Maslash Burnout inventory-student survey, Utrecht Work Engagement Scale and the Academic Major Satisfaction Scale for Students. The results partially support the argument that student engagement is independent and is a distinct concept from burnout. Furthermore, student major satisfaction was found to significantly impact both concepts. The results can be important for an appropriate university intervention in mitigating or enforcing these behaviors.

The origin of imported TV content and the public service remit in European PSBs: RTVE and the BBC

This article analyses the role of foreign content in the public broadcasting corporations from two major European markets, Spain and the United Kingdom. Through a quantitative approach to schedules and in-depth interviews with the heads of the acquisitions departments, it is demonstrated that RTVE and BBC, both public media corporations, have a very different approach to the scheduling of acquisitions due to their distinct concept of public service remit. While in Spain this is focused on the cultural diversity of programmes, the approach in the United Kingdom is to only promote British productions.

“Secularization”

This chapter evaluates Hans Blumenberg's interpretation of the modern age, which is thrown into sharper relief in a text that would become the basis for his most famous book, The Legitimacy of the Modern Age. Presented in 1962 at the seventh German congress of philosophy, “'Secularization': Critique of a Category of Historical Illegitimacy” (1964) challenges the notion of modernity as the illegitimate appropriation of medieval theological patterns, concepts, and institutions. Against such a substantialist view of history, Blumenberg presents a functional model in which “positions” of past thought systems become vacant and are “reoccupied” with new but unrelated concepts. Eschatology, to give an example, is not secularized into the concept of progress. Instead, once it loses its status as an explanation for the course of history, this function is taken up by the entirely distinct concept of scientific progress.

Distrust in corporate communications: does it matter?

PurposeThis study provides much needed empirical data to conceptualise organisational distrust in communications' scholarship. A limited understanding of distrust has implications for corporate communication scholars and practitioners as, ultimately, efforts to rebuild trust and reduce distrust in organisations and corporations may be hindered if we do not truly understand the complexity and nature of the concepts we are trying to repair.Design/methodology/approachA repeated single-criterion card-sort method was utilised in this study to allow the sample of 40 respondents to identify the terms they associate with organisational trust and distrust.FindingsFrom the current study's findings, it is proposed that there is support for organisational distrust to be considered and studied as a separate and distinct concept to organisational trust within the corporate communications and public relations literature. The current study's findings do not neatly reflect all the items included in existing scales for organisational distrust, and accordingly this suggests that further research into distrust as a concept is warranted.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature by presenting a proposed conceptualisation of organisational distrust and providing further evidence for organisational distrust and organisational trust to be studied as related but separate concepts. Developing a more comprehensive conceptualisation of organisational trust and distrust is important for both communication scholars and practitioners as it allows for a more accurate understanding of relationship quality between stakeholders and organisations.

Behavioural Finance; a Concept or Catalyst Explaining Distortions in Investment Decision

Behavioural finance, recent development, challenging the classical models, explains investment risk at the instance of irrationality of cognitive psychological influence and phenomenon in arriving at investment decision. Claimants of business financial assets make choices that satisfy their interest best dependent on relevant and reliable financial information, communicated to potential investors. Distortions in the processes may lead to investment failure, and taking responsibility is severally assigned. The study investigates how behavioural finance is a distinct concept and theory as cognitive psychology or diagnostic phenomenon in distortions in investment decision. Literature is perused to address the study objective. In the contemplation of the study behavioural finance may deviate as a unique concept on its own in investment decision making, but catalyst and arbiter for goal congruence to be achieved at any stage in the decision process.

Supercilious monk at Kiṭāgiri

This paper focuses on the concepts of etiquette and politeness within a genre of Buddhist texts known as “vinaya”, or monastic law. These texts were created for the purpose of regulating behavior within the monastic institution. While they are often described by the tradition as a set of ethical principles, the content of monastic law codes also includes many things that would be better categorized as examples of normative protocol, encompassing mundane, everyday social situations that promote harmony between the monastic institution and its economic patrons. I argue here that a distinct concept of politeness can be gleaned from the narratives in these texts, despite the lack of such a category in the tradition’s own account of itself. To illustrate this point, I analyze several stories concerned with the proper deportment of monastics, demonstrating that the standards for monastic behavior were sometimes at odds with the expectations of the lay communities that supported them.

What Isn't a Norm? Redefining the Conceptual Boundaries of “Norms” in the Human Rights Literature

What makes the “norm” a distinct concept? How do norms differ from other aspects of the moral and social fabric of society? In this article I argue that imposing stricter boundaries on the norm concept could have significant analytical payoffs, especially in the human rights literature. Greater conceptual clarity on the boundaries of the norm concept highlights three important distinctions: the difference between norms and moral principles, norms and supererogatory standards, and norms and formal law. Clarifying what a norm is (and, importantly, what it is not) improves our analytic equipment and theories, but the inquiry is not purely a theoretical exercise. Clarifying the norm concept enables us to ask new questions about, and rethink old findings on issues like the role of shaming in human rights advocacy, the origins of norms and challenges to their construction, what constitutes evidence of the existence of a norm, and whether, in fact, all human rights have been translated into norms.