SERÁ QUE OS COMPROMISSOS A PRIORI DO FUNCIONALISMO MORAL SÃO, DE FACTO, A PRIORI?

O funcionalismo moral, uma teoria desenvolvida por Frank Jackson e Philip Petti, afirma que podemos obter conhecimento moral determinando os lugares comuns acerca da moralidade que tipicamente são aceites por agentes concretos. É uma posição que tem compromissos a priori importantes; podemos descobrir a posteriori que uma propriedade descritiva particular é idêntica a uma propriedade moral particular, mas é a priori que a coisa que é idêntica à propriedade moral desempenha um papel moral particular. Jackson defende uma posição metafísica particular e o funcionalismo moral é um desenvolvimento desta posição aplicada à ética. Neste artigo adapto uma objecção feita por D. H. Mellor contra a metafísica de Jackson para mostrar que os compromissos a priori do funcionalismo são, de facto, a posteriori. Só podemos descobrir se as afirmações alegadamente a priori do funcionalismo moral são verdadeiras através de uma investigação a posteriori.Moral functionalism, a metaethical theory developed by Frank Jackson and Philip Pettit, claims that we can attain moral knowledge by ascertaining the commonplaces about morality that are typically accepted by actual agents. It has important a priori commitments; whilst we may discover a posteriori that a particular descriptive property is identical to a particular moral property, it is a priori that the thing that is identical to the moral property, whatever that thing actually is, plays a particular role. Jackson holds a particular metaphysical position, and moral functionalism is a development of that position as it applies to ethics. In this paper I adapt an objection made by D.H. Mellor against Jackson’s metaphysics to show that moral functionalism’s a priori commitments are actually a posteriori. We can only discover if moral functionalism’s purportedly a priori claims are true through a posteriori investigation

Racial Socialization and Fear of Crime

Several studies have found a link between ethnocentric attitudes and fear of crime, where negative attitudes toward other races are associated with fear of crime. In the literature on fear, this is referred to as subcultural diversity. It may be that people are socialized to fear other racial and ethnic groups and that this will impact how they respond to stressful situations. That is, if people have a heightened fear of people who look different than they do, some may be more likely to respond to perceived threats with violence in an effort to protect themselves. In this paper, we consider the idea that racial socialization and fear of crime might have played a part in the killing of Trayvon Martin. Specifically, using a sample of undergraduate students, we will examine the presence of parental racial socialization (cultural socialization, preparation for bias, and promotion of mistrust) and its impact on fear of crime, comparing these attitudes by race and gender. We will then examine how these factors impact responses in a situational scenario similar to the Trayvon Martin case

Racial Socialization and Fear of Crime

Several studies have found a link between ethnocentric attitudes and fear of crime, where negative attitudes toward other races are associated with fear of crime. In the literature on fear, this is referred to as subcultural diversity. It may be that people are socialized to fear other racial and ethnic groups and that this will impact how they respond to stressful situations. That is, if people have a heightened fear of people who look different than they do, some may be more likely to respond to perceived threats with violence in an effort to protect themselves. In this paper, we consider the idea that racial socialization and fear of crime might have played a part in the killing of Trayvon Martin. Specifically, using a sample of undergraduate students, we will examine the presence of parental racial socialization (cultural socialization, preparation for bias, and promotion of mistrust) and its impact on fear of crime, comparing these attitudes by race and gender. We will then examine how these factors impact responses in a situational scenario similar to the Trayvon Martin case

Empirical psychology and its effect on natural moral realism

I argue that empirical research can have important implications for various metaethical theories. I take an area of recent psychological interest, moral judgement-making, and show how current psychological research affects Peter Railton’s naturalist moral realism in particular. I first outline Railton’s naturalism and show that it is a viable metaethical theory that is amenable to psychological research. In particular, I outline Railton’s conception of ‘idealised agents’ and their relationship to actual agents, which is important for his naturalism. I then consider G.E. Moore’s Open Question Argument and Horgan and Timmons’ Moral Twin Earth argument, which try to show that various forms of naturalism cannot work. I demonstrate that Railton’s naturalism can avoid the arguments for reasons that lay it open to empirical resting. I then consider Jonathan Haidt’s psychological argument that we do not typically make moral judgements rationally, but through emotionally-based intuitions. As Railton’s naturalism depends greatly on rationality, this might be a problem. However, Haidt does not show that we should make moral judgements non-rationally, nor that rationality is typically unimportant in moral judgementmaking. Railton must take greater note of non-rational factors, but psychological research on intuitions may actually support his naturalism. I next use R.J.R. Blair’s work to show that psychopaths cannot make genuinely moral judgements. Railton implies that they can, but the empirical evidence is against him. It also shows that the psychopath’s problem arises from an emotional deficit rather than from a rational one, and that we cannot make moral judgements without certain non-rational powers. I argue that the psychopath thus creates problems for Railton’s naturalism, because it raises difficulties for the relationship between actual agents and idealised agents. I end by looking at what other metaethical theories can profitably use empirical research

A critique of a priori moral knowledge

Many ethicists believe that if it is possible to know a true moral proposition, it is always possible to ascertain a priori the normative content of that proposition. I argue that this is wrong; the only way to ascertain the normative content of some moral propositions requires the use of a posteriori information. I examine what I call determinate core moral propositions. I assume that some of these propositions are true and that actual agents are able to know them. Ethicists whom I call coreapriorists believe that it is always possible to ascertain a priori the normative content of such propositions. Core-aposteriorists believe that this is false, and that sometimes a posteriori information must be used to ascertain that normative content. I develop what I call the a posteriori strategy to show that core-apriorists are likely to be wrong, and so core-aposteriorists are correct. The strategy examines the details of particular core-apriorist theories and then shows that the theories have one of two problems: either some of the knowable determinate core moral propositions in the theories are not knowable a priori, or some of the propositions are not determinate, so they cannot perform the epistemological work required of them. Therefore, some knowable determinate core moral propositions are only knowable with the aid of a posteriori information. I apply the strategy to four different core-apriorist theories. The first is Henry Sidgwick’s theory of self-evident moral axioms, as recently developed by Katarzyna de Lazari-Radek and Peter Singer. The second is Matthew Kramer’s moral realism. I then examine Michael Smith’s moral realism, and Frank Jackson and Philip Pettit’s moral functionalism. The a posteriori strategy shows that there are serious difficulties with all four theories. I conclude that it provides good evidence that the core-apriorist is mistaken, and that the core-aposteriorist is right

Radioresistance of Mosquitos Exposed to Continuous Sub-Lethal Doses of Ionizing Radiation

This experiment is an investigation of the mosquito’s ability to adapt to high levels of background gamma radiation. Radiation was used as a selective pressure to induce radioresistance among a group of Aedes aegypti mosquitos. Mosquitos were grouped into a High Background Group (HBG) or a Low Background Group (LBG), the LBG being the control group. The HBG was exposed to a continuous field of ionizing gamma radiation significantly higher than the normal background radiation level for the Bryan/ College station (B/CS) area. The HBG spent more than 23 hours per day exposed to the increased levels of radiation. The dose rate ranged from 36 rad/day to 28 rad/day over the course of several weeks. The radiation exposure to the mosquitos began at the larval stages and continued throughout the adult stages of the mosquito’s lifecycle. During the developmental stages of life living tissues are most susceptible to radiation. Thus by delivering radiation doses during those stages, it provided greater opportunity to induce radioresistance in the mosquitos DNA. Mosquitos in the LBG were reared using the same techniques as the HBG, but in radiation levels similar to that of typical background radiation levels in the B/CS area. The average normal background dose rate at the mosquito lab location is 24 mrem/ year. After mosquitos in the HBG obtained a total dose of approximately 1000 rads over the course of several weeks, the HBG was exposed to a challenge dose provided by a high dose rate gamma source which delivered a total dose of about 70,000 rads over the course of 7-10 hours. Additionally, mosquitos in the LBG were also exposed to the same challenge dose for an equivalent amount of total dose, ±10%. Upon completion of the challenge dose, the LBG was cared for utilizing the same methods as before. The HBG, however, did not receive additional high doses of radiation and were only exposed to background radiation similar to the exposure to the LBG. Survival percentages were documented and compared immediately following the challenge dose and continued until all mosquitoes perished. The mosquitos in the HBG consistently had higher survival rates when compared to the LBG. For mosquitos in the first round LBG, 50% lethality was reached on Day 3 post challenge dose. Mosquitos in the second round LBG, 50% lethality on Day 1 post challenge dose. After the challenge exposures to the LBG, 62% of round one and 72% of round two survived the duration of the exposure. Mosquitos in the first round HBG reached 50% lethality on Day 6 post challenge dose. The second round HBG reached 50% lethality on Day 9 post challenge dose. After the challenge exposure to the HBG, 92% of round one and 100% of round two survived the duration of the exposure. One specific mosquito from the first HBG developed an abnormal abdominal cavity prior to the challenge dose, but it is not believed to have contributed to the mosquito’s radioresistance

Closing the Gap between College Students’ Professional Attire Needs and Career Readiness

With the rising cost of college, many students face a range of economic challenges, including the professional attire required for job and internship interviews. In response to this problem, the University of North Carolina offers a career-readiness program that allows students to “shop” for free professional clothing at its on-campus Food Pantry. The program is called Attire for Hire (AFH) and the purpose of this study was to examine its impact on participants in need of professional interview clothing. Participants were asked to complete a survey regarding their satisfaction, confidence, and knowledge of career development after the implementation of the AFH event. All participants reported to have acquired career branding skills, professionalism skills and at least one item of interview-ready clothing. Due to the lack of existing literature, the findings presented in this study provide preliminary support for the value of on-campus programs like AFH. More research is needed on this topic as colleges and universities consider innovative ways to prepare all students for the successful transition into the workplac

Empirical psychology and its effect on natural moral realism

I argue that empirical research can have important implications for various metaethical theories. I take an area of recent psychological interest, moral judgement-making, and show how current psychological research affects Peter Railton’s naturalist moral realism in particular. I first outline Railton’s naturalism and show that it is a viable metaethical theory that is amenable to psychological research. In particular, I outline Railton’s conception of ‘idealised agents’ and their relationship to actual agents, which is important for his naturalism. I then consider G.E. Moore’s Open Question Argument and Horgan and Timmons’ Moral Twin Earth argument, which try to show that various forms of naturalism cannot work. I demonstrate that Railton’s naturalism can avoid the arguments for reasons that lay it open to empirical resting. I then consider Jonathan Haidt’s psychological argument that we do not typically make moral judgements rationally, but through emotionally-based intuitions. As Railton’s naturalism depends greatly on rationality, this might be a problem. However, Haidt does not show that we should make moral judgements non-rationally, nor that rationality is typically unimportant in moral judgementmaking. Railton must take greater note of non-rational factors, but psychological research on intuitions may actually support his naturalism. I next use R.J.R. Blair’s work to show that psychopaths cannot make genuinely moral judgements. Railton implies that they can, but the empirical evidence is against him. It also shows that the psychopath’s problem arises from an emotional deficit rather than from a rational one, and that we cannot make moral judgements without certain non-rational powers. I argue that the psychopath thus creates problems for Railton’s naturalism, because it raises difficulties for the relationship between actual agents and idealised agents. I end by looking at what other metaethical theories can profitably use empirical research

Association between levodopa and ischemic heart disease

Background Several studies linked the use of levodopa to an increase in homocysteine level, which can lead eventually to ischemic heart disease (IHD) in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients. There is a lack of large population studies that have investigated the cardiovascular safety of levodopa. Objectives The main objective of the study is to investigate the one-year risk of IHD hospitalisation, all-cardiovascular hospital hospitalisation, and all-cause mortality among users of L-dopa compared with users of Monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) inhibitors (as a reference). Methods A population-based study evaluated data obtained from the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) Databank of residents in Wales, aged 40 years or older, newly treated with PD medications between 2000 and 2016. The General Practice (GP) database was used to identify the PD diagnostic codes, PD medications, and other medications used by PD patients. Hospital data were used to identify the first hospitalisation event (IHD and other cardiovascular events). A fully adjusted propensity score multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to examine associations between levodopa and the study outcomes. The index date was set at the date of the first PD prescription in the newly diagnosed PD patients. Other variables included gender, comorbidities, social deprivation score and previous medications history were controlled for. Findings There were 5,140 participants on levodopa and 494 on MAO-B inhibitors. L-dopa was not associated with IHD (p=0.561), other cardiovascular events (p=0.233), or all-cause mortality (p=0.334). For IHD, the lack of difference was seen also in the unadjusted model and in the age-only adjusted model. Conclusions This study has shown that L-dopa does not increase the risk of IHD, cardiovascular risk, or all-cause mortality in the newly diagnosed PD patient within one year after the therapy initiation. This could contribute to the safety profile of L-dopa therapy. Future research with a longer follow up period is warranted

The Grizzly, August 30, 2007

Ursinus Opens the New Building on the Block • Ursinus Battles U.S. News: Interview with President Strassburger • Sex at Ursinus • Who are the New RDs? • Spotlight: Student Emergency Response Volunteers (SERV) • Fresh Faces at Ursinus • Opinions: Freeganism: The New, Gentle Face of Anarchy; Global Warming: Modern Day Witch Hunt • Dubble Vision: Football Forecast • Ready, Set, Go Bears!https://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1740/thumbnail.jp