Search Results (79)

In service-intensive, compliance-driven settings such as banking, identifying how internal corporate social responsibility (ICSR) fosters employees’ vitality and learning is crucial for sustainable organisational performance. Amid growing interest in employee thriving, this study explores how perceived internal corporate social responsibility (PICSR) and moral meaningfulness (MM) shape thriving at work (TaW) through organisational embeddedness (OE). Rooted in self-determination theory, the findings reveal OE as a key mediator between PICSR and TaW, shedding light on how ICSR initiatives influence employee dynamics. The study also reveals that MM alone does not significantly predict TaW directly, but does so indirectly through OE, highlighting the importance of contextual mechanisms. Additionally, it identifies a surprising negative moderating effect of risk-taking, one dimension of intrapreneurial behaviour (IB), on the relationship between OE and TaW, while innovativeness, another dimension, shows no such effect. Theoretical and practical implications underscore the importance of aligning ICSR practices with employees’ psychological needs, supporting moral alignment, and tailoring support for intrapreneurs. Organisations must achieve a balance between autonomy and security to sustain engagement and innovation, advancing human and organisational sustainability, ultimately leading to thriving. Full article

Background/Objectives: Studies have shown that healthcare providers struggle to discuss difficult end-of-life issues, including palliative sedation (PS), with patients and relatives. This qualitative study aimed to evaluate communication challenges related to PS among healthcare providers in eight European countries. Methods: In each country, two clinical settings providing palliative care were selected. Two moral case deliberation (MCD) sessions were conducted, each with 3 to 9 palliative healthcare professionals (HCPs). They discussed patient cases involving PS and refractory symptom management. Sessions were audio-recorded, transcribed, anonymized, and analyzed using a framework analysis. Results: Key issues included core communication values—open, empathetic, and honest dialogue—which were consistent across countries but varied in practice. In The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, and the UK, communication prioritized patient autonomy through timely discussions and family dialogue. In Spain and Italy, family-centered communication approaches predominated, while in Romania and Hungary, tendencies for selective disclosure were also evident, along with delegated decision-making and complex family dynamics. Certain challenges reflected professional experience rather than national culture. Nurses mediated across contexts, while terminology surrounding palliative sedation remained a source of ambiguity. Conclusions: This is the first study to present HCPs’ perceptions of communication issues related to PS across Europe. Despite variations between settings, consistently open dialogue among patients, families, and HCPs emerged as the most valued element. These findings highlight the need to better understand how end-of-life communication about PS varies in practice and underscore the importance of considering healthcare providers’ real-world experiences to improve communication with patients and families. Full article

This paper offers a critical analysis of traditional Muslim sexual morality and questions its validity in the present. It focuses on two elements: (1) nikāḥ as a legal marriage contract characterized by asymmetrical gender roles and (2) historically permitted sexual relations with enslaved women, as well as Muslim positions on sexual intercourse with minors. After a conceptual clarification of sexual autonomy, I examine the positions of different legal schools and contextualize their norms within broader social and intellectual histories. Building on the approach of “overcoming the text,” I argue that foundational religious texts can no longer serve as the normative basis for a contemporary sexual ethic. Instead, I redefine the notion of “illegitimate sexuality” (zinā) based on the principle of sexual autonomy and show how modern legal and social frameworks (rule of law, welfare state, medical evidence) render earlier functions of sexual regulation obsolete. The Qurʾanic concept of maʿrūf serves as a dynamic ethical reference point. The goal is a paradigm shift toward a Muslim sexual ethic that centers autonomy, equality, and human dignity while critically dismantling inherited structures. Full article

Conventional medicine relies solely on the interaction between the doctor and the patient, not necessarily including the family in discussions about therapy and diagnosis. Nevertheless, recent research indicates that the presence of a family member during a doctor’s visit improves both communication between the doctor and the patient, as well as the patient’s understanding of information related to their health condition. Additionally, by adopting this approach, family members can better understand what obligations arise at this stage and the patient’s needs. Studies have shown that collaboration with family members has significantly reduced mortality rate and improved their quality of life, as the family strengthened their confidence in their abilities by providing moral and emotional support. Even though family support and involvement seem to be very important, sometimes patients have reported that overly active family involvement becomes intrusive, as it violates their privacy and disrupts their autonomy. That is why it is important for family members directly involved in recovery to learn to respect the boundaries set by the patient. Both the patient and their family experience stressful moments during this recovery period, which necessitate their attention. The involvement of family members in the recovery process reduces their levels of anxiety and stress, as they can closely monitor the patient’s progress. Additionally, integrating family members into the rehabilitation program can provide further benefits for the patient, as the presence of a family member leads to increased comfort and motivation. Full article

The body–soul relationship serves as a crucial entry point for exploring the intersection of Plato’s dialogues with ancient Greek religious thought, particular Orphic doctrines. In critically inheriting and reconstructing core elements of Orphism, Plato initiates a paradigm shift from mythos to logos—transitioning from mythic narrative to philosophical reasoning. In the context of Greek religious history, Orphism was the first to articulate a dualism between soul and body, depicting the body as a “prison” that confines the divine soul. While Plato frequently references this framework in his dialogues, he simultaneously exposes its inherent contradictions. By distinguishing between the soul’s pure and embodied states, Plato rejects the Orphic notion of bodily impurity. Instead, he reinterprets the body’s negativity not as religious “original sin,” but as the interference of sensory experience and desire in rational life. He affirms that the soul maintains its rational autonomy even in embodiment, with desire and thymos (spirit) emerging naturally from this process, thereby disclosing the soul’s intrinsic structure. In place of a strict dualism, Plato introduces a tripartite model of the soul, positioning thymos as the mediating force between reason and desire. The ambiguity of thymos functions as a self-regulating mechanism that enables the soul to maintain dynamic balance. In this moral psychology, virtue is no longer defined as the soul’s rejection of the body, but as the soul’s harmonious order and natural growth within it. Plato thus adopts a complex and cautious stance toward Orphism, ultimately transcending its passive ethical outlook and transforming a mythical doctrine into a rational philosophical system. Full article

Person-centered care emphasizes shared decision-making and a holistic approach to support patient autonomy. This scoping review aimed to clarify the definitions and approaches of person-centered physical rehabilitation (PCPR) that satisfy patients with schizophrenia and to identify specific methods to increase their satisfaction. Methods: This scoping review was conducted in accordance with the recommendations of the Joanna Briggs Institute and adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews checklist. The studies were screened, the data were extracted, and the findings were charted. Results: PCPR is an individually optimized rehabilitation approach that is centered around the “person” and is aimed at supporting the entire life of the individual, while respecting their values and wishes. This approach emphasizes the importance of patients actively participating in their own treatment and enhancing their self-management abilities rather than relying solely on medical techniques. PCPR involves empowering patients, particularly patients with schizophrenia; establishing comprehensive rehabilitation plans; and adopting flexible responses. Conclusions: Effective PCPR enhances healthcare providers’ moral sensitivity and ability to manage complex needs, thereby improving patient satisfaction and motivation to join physical rehabilitation. Furthermore, to conduct PCPR for patients with schizophrenia effectively, it is crucial to provide not only physical rehabilitation, but also appropriate psychosocial support, and to promote the establishment and maintenance of healthy lifestyle habits. Full article

Background: The genomic era has transformed not only the tools of medicine but the very logic by which we understand health and disease. Whole Exome Sequencing (WES), Clinical Exome Sequencing (CES), and Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) have catalyzed a shift from Mendelian simplicity to polygenic complexity, from genetic determinism to probabilistic interpretation. This epistemological evolution calls into question long-standing notions of causality, certainty, and identity in clinical genomics. Yet, as the promise of precision medicine grows, so too do the tensions it generates: fragmented data, interpretative opacity, and the ethical puzzles of Variants of Uncertain Significance (VUSs) and unsolicited secondary findings. Results: Despite technological refinement, the diagnostic yield of Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) remains inconsistent, hindered by the inherent intricacy of gene–environment interactions and constrained by rigid classificatory systems like OMIM and HPO. VUSs (neither definitively benign nor pathogenic) occupy a liminal space that resists closure, burdening both patients and clinicians with uncertainty. Meanwhile, secondary findings, though potentially life-altering, challenge the boundaries of consent, privacy, and responsibility. In both adult and pediatric contexts, genomic knowledge reshapes notions of autonomy, risk, and even personhood. Conclusions: Genomic medicine has to develop into a flexible, morally sensitive paradigm that neither celebrates certainty nor ignores ambiguity. Open infrastructures, dynamic variant reclassification, and a renewed focus on interdisciplinary and humanistic approaches are essential. Only by embracing the uncertainty intrinsic to our biology can precision medicine fulfill its promise, not as a deterministic science, but as a nuanced dialogue between genes, environments, and lived experience. Full article

The Apple TV+ series Severance (2022–present) offers a dystopian portrayal of workplace life that intensifies real-world dynamics of control, boundary management, and identity regulation. This paper analyzes Severance as a speculative case study in organizational theory, treating the show’s fictional world as a site for conceptual reflection. Drawing on critical management studies and labor process theory, we examine how mechanisms of control, the regulation of work–life boundaries, and the fragmentation of autonomy and subjectivity are depicted in extreme form. We argue that fiction—particularly speculative satire—can serve as a tool of theoretical production, not merely illustration. Rather than restating familiar critiques, Severance allows us to see workplace norms with renewed clarity, surfacing the moral and psychological consequences of surveillance, coercion, and instrumentalized consent. A methodological note outlines our interpretive approach to narrative fiction, and a discussion of implications situates the analysis within broader debates about organizational ethics, resilience, and critique. Full article

Standard arguments for open borders draw on cosmopolitan premises. By contrast, statism as a theory of global justice seems to be at odds with open borders. If states are only responsible for protecting the autonomy of citizens and do not owe foreigners equal consideration of their claims, it appears to follow that they may legitimately exclude unwanted immigrants as long as their human rights are not at stake. In this article, I argue that one can be a statist and still defend open borders. Even though moral equality gives rise to demands of distributive justice only in the context of shared subjection to the authority of the state, such that foreigners are not entitled to equal treatment, moral equality demands that the state shows equal respect for their autonomy. Immigration restrictions that are not aimed at protecting the autonomy of citizens are incompatible with equal respect for foreigners’ autonomy, since they subject the latter to unilateral coercion without it being necessary for the former to lead autonomous lives. Full article

This study investigates how the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage influences personal value systems and self-actualization in the context of late modernity, where individualism and instrumental rationality often constrain moral and communal development. Drawing on Schwartz’s value theory and Kaufman’s scale of self-actualization, we conducted an online survey of 500 pilgrims to examine self-reported value changes following the pilgrimage. Factor analyses tested whether these changes aligned with theoretical value structures and how they related to self-actualization. The findings suggest that pilgrimage fosters a shift from self-enhancement toward self-transcendence, with self-direction aligning more closely with universalism and benevolence—indicating a socially oriented form of autonomy. Increases in self-actualization correlate positively with self-transcendence values (universalism and benevolence), self-direction, and conservation values (tradition, conformity, and security) while showing negative associations with power and achievement. The pilgrimage experience appears to realign values toward altruism, moral engagement, and sustainability. By integrating personal growth with ethical and communal orientations, the Camino de Santiago emerges as a meaningful context for multidimensional repair. In this way, the pilgrimage can be understood as a journey of repair—mending value hierarchies fractured by late modern life and restoring a sense of belonging, care, and transcendent purpose. Full article

This paper examines the ethical frameworks that guide Āyurvedic practices and compares them with those underlying contemporary Western medicine. At the heart of current bioethical debates is the question of whether certain principles can be universally valid across cultures. This paper argues that while the moral vision of Āyurvedic medicine significantly differs from that of Western medicine in various respects, both systems share fundamental ethical principles, notably beneficence and non-maleficence. However, important distinctions arise in their respective conceptions of autonomy and justice, suggesting that these principles may not be as universally applicable as the former two. Drawing on the “four principles” approach of modern Western medical ethics, as outlined in Beauchamp and Childress’s Principles of Biomedical Ethics, this paper challenges the assumption that the principles of autonomy and justice are culturally neutral. Through a comparison with Āyurvedic ethics, we highlight how these principles may not be as universally relevant as commonly assumed, raising important questions about the possibility of a global bioethical framework. Full article

This study explores the contemporary relevance of Confucian educational thought in the context of Vietnam’s ongoing educational reform. It examines how foundational Confucian principles—particularly those related to moral cultivation, pedagogical methods, and the role of the learner—can be adapted to align with modern educational objectives. Employing a qualitative, comparative methodology, the research analyzes classical Confucian texts, historical records, and current Vietnamese education policy documents, alongside Humboldtian liberal ideals. The findings demonstrate that Confucian values such as benevolence (ren), ritual propriety (li), and exemplary moral conduct continue to offer meaningful frameworks for promoting ethical development and civic responsibility. Pedagogical techniques, including heuristic questioning, modeling, and situational teaching, remain relevant to modern goals like critical thinking and learner autonomy. While some critiques highlight limitations in Confucianism’s hierarchical structure or insufficient scientific orientation, this study also incorporates existing research showing that Confucian education—particularly across East Asia—has been positively associated with fostering students’ creativity and critical thinking. This paper distinguishes itself by proposing a hybrid model that critically adapts Confucian pedagogy in conjunction with Humboldtian liberalism to enhance both moral grounding and cognitive autonomy in Vietnamese education. The research concludes that a critically integrative approach can support Vietnam in building a culturally grounded, morally resilient, and globally competitive education system. Full article

This article examines the role of religion in Russia’s national security system through the lens of ontological security, assessing whether contemporary Russia is undergoing a process of desecularisation or, conversely, an intensified form of secularisation. Employing the theoretical framework of ontological security, this study argues that Russia’s securitisation of religion serves as a mechanism for consolidating state control, legitimising authoritarian governance, and constructing a distinct civilisational identity in opposition to Western liberalism. The Russian Orthodox Church, rather than functioning as an autonomous religious institution, has been absorbed into the state apparatus, where it operates as an instrument of state ideology. Religious rhetoric permeates Russian strategic security documents, reinforcing narratives of national exceptionalism, historical continuity, and moral superiority, particularly in justifying Russia’s geopolitical ambitions and military actions, including its war against Ukraine. The analysis challenges prevailing interpretations of religious resurgence in Russia, arguing that the increasing presence of religion in public life does not necessarily signify desecularisation. Instead, the instrumentalisation of religion for political and security purposes suggests a process of extreme secularisation, wherein religious institutions lose their autonomy and doctrinal substance, becoming tools of state power. Full article

“If it wasn’t for the women” is a common refrain in Black Church culture, made most popular by Cheryl Townsend Gilkes’ sociology of religion work in the 1990s. As conversations grow around a perceived disconnection from the church—particularly among younger generations—many Black congregations and denominations are asking the following question: Where do we go from here? One possible response is to ask the women. Black women have long been central to the sustenance and theological framing of the Black Church. However, many contemporary Black women theologians and church-adjacent writers are reshaping religious discourse in ways that move beyond traditional ecclesial boundaries and into the interiority of Black womanhood. This turn should be considered essential in any reimagining of the Black Church. This paper employs content analysis to examine five contemporary works by Black women thinkers—Candice Benbow, Lyvonne Briggs, Tricia Hersey, EbonyJanice Moore, and Cole Arthur Riley—whose writings reflect Black women’s embodied spirituality, theological imagination, cultural meaning-making, and institutional critique within Black religious life. Rather than signaling a decline in moral or spiritual life, their work points to the search for sacred spaces that are more liberative, inclusive, and attuned to lived experience. Through a thematic analysis of Power, Authority, and Institutional Critique; Afrofuturistic Visioning of Faith; Sacred Embodiment and Spiritual Praxis; Language and Rhetorical Strategies; Gender, Sexuality, and Sacred Autonomy; and Liberation, Justice, and Social Transformation, this study contributes to the evolving conversation on Black women’s spirituality, leadership in religious spaces, and a possible iteration of the Black Church. Full article

In the current clinical psychiatric practice in most of the world, treatment decisions are based on a person’s capacity to make these decisions. When a person lacks the capacity to understand and appreciate treatment decisions, in many jurisdictions a third-party substitute decision maker (SDM) is appointed on his or her behalf in order to promote safety and optimal clinical outcome. In Ontario, Canada, for example, family members (typically) or public guardians are appointed as SDMs, and they form an integral part of the medical–legal system in psychiatric care. Clinicians working with both patients and their SDMs in these circumstances encounter unique challenges and deliver care in specialized ways, though little research has focused on their experiences and reflections. Based on focus group data, this qualitative study uses a descriptive and interpretative phenomenological approach through thematic analysis to examine these aspects from clinicians working in both inpatient and outpatient settings of an urban teaching hospital’s psychiatric services in Toronto, Canada. Seven key themes emerged: Clinicians (1) appreciate hardships and challenges in lives of SDMs and patients—including the challenging emotions and experiences on both sides, and the risks and relational changes from being an SDM; (2) have an understanding of the patient’s situation and respect for patient autonomy and wishes—they are promoter of autonomy and mindful of patients’ prior wishes amidst patients’ fluctuating capacity, facilitating communication, keeping patients informed and promoting transitioning from SDM to self-determination; (3) have a special working relationship with family SDMs—including supporting SDMs, avoiding harm from delayed or denied treatment, and educating and collaborating with SDMs while maintaining professional boundaries; (4) at times find it difficult working with SDMs—stemming from working with over-involved or uninterested family SDMs, coping with perceived poor SDM decisions, and they sometimes ponder if SDMs are necessary; (5) delineate differences between family and Public Guardian and Trustee (PGT) SDMs—they see PGT as closely aligned with medical decision makers, while family SDMs are more intimately involved and more likely to disagree with a physician’s recommendation; (6) recognize the importance of the SDM role in various contexts—through seeing social values in having SDMs, and acknowledging that having SDMS help them to feel better about their actions as they work to protect the patients; and (7) express ideas on how to improve the current system—at public, societal, and family SDM levels. We conclude that clinicians have unique mediating roles, with privilege and responsibility in understanding the different roles and challenges patients and SDMs face, and have opportunities to improve patient and SDM experiences, clinical outcomes, carry out education, and advocate for ethically just decisions. These clinical roles also come with frustration, discomfort, moral distress and at times vicarious trauma. Clinicians’ unique understanding of this complex and nuanced intersection of patient care provides insight into the core issues of autonomy, duty to care and protect, advocacy, and emotional dynamics involved in this sector as a larger philosophical and social movement to abolish SDMs, as advocated by the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability (CRPD), is taking place. We briefly discuss the role of supported decision making as an alternative as. Full article