The author finds Roland S. Persson's (2012a) paper to be timely, fascinating, important and powerful. At risk of mixing metaphors, it provides much food for thought and a penetrating lens through which all those vested in the optimal realisation of human potential would be prudent to review their own perceptions, boundaries of belief and…

Those who are in higher education dream of a world of changed values where the inchoate, contested, but urgent constellation of things that they collectively believe in, work for, and seek on college campuses has spread well beyond any specific "quad" and has instead become something of a global norm. Imagine that higher education is no longer…

Virtual worlds, such as Second Life[R], are the latest star in the online communication sky. Created by Linden Lab, Second Life is a three-dimensional environment that provides a context for avatars to communicate and socialise with other avatars in a variety of settings (Bell, 2009). Virtual worlds have been used to train people with intellectual…

Reviews literature on cultural and individual work values indicating that economic patterns of society and values embedded in those patterns influence individual work values. Recommends research on individual work values focus on complexities of relationship between cultural and social values and individual work values. (ABL)

Liberation theology accepts the reconstruction of human and cosmic purpose through an interpretation of classical religious ideas in the light of Marxist categories. The avowed justification of liberation theology, the alleviation of the poor, can be best achieved by other means and ideas more in conformity with the tenets and means of classical…

It is time to make pharmaceutical education more humanistic. There are established techniques, syllabi, and courses for imparting human values to learners. One or two faculty members integrating human values into courses can make a significant impact on students, even if the goal is simply to create awareness or increase sensitivity. (MSE)

The author discusses the restraint of liberty. He notes that whereas the underlying importance given to liberty within a society's scheme of values does vary over time, it is pivotal reflection in moral, social, and political theory to ask whether this variation may be legitimated. (CT)

Demonstrates how five daytime television shows present American values regarding love and sex, money and materialism, and shame and guilt. (DD)

Suggests that modern science adopts materialist strategies toward relationships between empirical data and theory because of an elective affinity between such strategies and a certain outlook on the control of nature. Claims that, when the roles of social values and cognitive values are kept distinct, sound theory acceptance can still be…

Criticizes Hugh Lacey's use of the term "materialist" when describing materialist strategies used during structuralist explanation in scientific practice. Examines the grounds for supposing an affinity between these strategies and the growing subordination of human values to the attractions of technological transformations of nature.…

Suggests that Hugh Lacey's example of a clear-cut distinction between material and social constraints or possibilities in the Green Revolution is misleading. Proposes a material analysis of the control situation placed within the material framework of the social structure within which the control system is employed. (Author/WRM)

Lends further depth to arguments put forth by Hugh Lacey. Addresses the allegation made by the indigenous science movement that violence is evident in the control of nature because science is inherently violent--a charge which, if not refuted, undermines the claim that science is neutral. Considers the shortcomings of a school science curriculum…

Responds to criticisms of the previous article, "Scientific Understanding and the Control of Nature." Clarifies themes in the first article and reaffirms the significance of distinguishing between cognitive and social values to gain a better grasp of scientific understanding. (Author/WRM)

This paper proposes that there is available in contemporary philosophy a foundation for an ethic of communication that avoids the naive belief in absolutes and yet provides a coherent, defensible, and practical set of standards to guide communication choices. The philosophers and philosophies identified are Hans-Georg Gadamer and his discussion of…

Argues that there are two types of values held by all individuals. Contends that "hard" values are exemplified by consistent behavior and sacrifice whereas "soft" values are merely illustrated by making choices. Calls for a national consensus on recommended values that would be taught in the schools. (CFR)