Obligation, Responsibility, and Alternate Possibilities

Harry Frankfurt is well-known for his argument, in [1], against the Principle of Alternate Possibilities: "(PAP) A person is morally responsible for what he has done only if he could have done otherwise." In [2], pp. 95-96, he argues that the rejection of (PAP) does not require rejection of the Kantian principle that 'ought' implies 'can': "(K) An agent S has a moral obligation to perform [not to perform] an act A only if it is within S's power to perform [not to perform] A.

Responsibility Regarding the Unthinkable

Connie is walking down Main Street. From a distance, she sees a young child screaming for help, blood pouring from a gash in his head. There are many other pedestrians on the street but, to Connie's amazement and horror, they ignore the child's pleas and pass him by. She rushes up to the child, seeking to help him. Any other course of action would have been unthinkable to her, for Connie is a compassionate person. Is Connie morally responsible for not ignoring the child's pleas for help? This is the question that I shall explore in this paper. But be forewarned: I shall not try to provide a definitive answer to this question

Evaluatively Incomplete States of Affairs

The main point of this paper has been to show that the concept of evaluative incompleteness deserves consideration. In addition, I have suggested that it is plausible to accept that certain states of affairs in fact are evaluatively incomplete. But I have not sought to prove that this is so; indeed, I do not know how such proof might be given. Just which states of affairs, if any, are evaluatively incomplete is an extremely vexed question, and it is not one to which I have attempted to supply any systematic answer. My aim has been merely to point out that it is arguable that certain states of affairs are evaluatively incomplete — a fact that ought not to be overlooked due to an unquestioning acceptance of (II) and a fact which, certainly, ought not to be ruled out by fiat due to an adherence to definitions and assumptions which imply that (II) is false

A Content Analysis of Qualitative Research in the Journal of Teaching in Physical Education from 1998 to 2008

Previous reviews of research have documented the increasing use of qualitative inquiry in physical education. In this research note, the authors present a content analysis of qualitative research articles published between 1998 and 2008 in the Journal of Teaching in Physical Education (JTPE). A total of 110 empirical articles were published that included a qualitative component, 38.2% of those used mixed methods. Results include analyses of types of qualitative research, research focus, theoretical frameworks, data collection techniques, trustworthiness techniques, and participants. The Research Authorship Score revealed that qualitative research tends to rely on teams of researchers in the conduct of studies. By extending previous work, this study reveals that qualitative research continues to play a significant role in research on physical education

Keeping the motivation going

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to acknowledge and provide tips for ongoing motivation needs of an organization. Design/methodology/approach – This article discusses several examples in the literature regarding motivational elements. Findings – This article advocates for seeking new approaches to motivating employees as financial concerns deepen. Originality/value – This is the author's point-of-view and experience

What Is This Thing Called Happiness? by Fred Feldman

A review of the book “What is This Thing Called Happiness?” by Fred Feldman

Influence Change from the Bottom Up Toolkit [slides]

Slides from a presentation given March 9, 2020 at the LAUNC-CH Conference in Chapel Hill, NC. If you think you have no power to influence change within your organization or you find yourself feeling restricted in your current job duties, you can rethink your approach to work and life through utilizing the concepts of methodologies laid out in this presentation. This toolkit will highlight suggested resources that can be used by all levels of an organization to be more persuasive and have a positive influence on others. These resources include works such as Jon Gordon’s “The Energy Bus,” Robin Sharma’s “The Leader Who Had No Title,” and Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves’s “Emotional Intelligence 2.0.” Attendees will come away with resources and concepts they can use to move their careers forward with positive energy and self-reflection

Using Evidence for Library Space Planning.

Faced with expanding collections and a rise in student population, Jackson Library, the main library of the University Libraries at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, made the decision to hire a space consultant in order to repurpose existing library space in front of an addition still 7- 10 years away. In order to provide information useful to this project for both the consultant hired and decision- making administrators, the library developed a program and conducted an assessment of space usage. The three-part assessment program included surveys, observation studies and focus group discussions that generated evidence and data useful to influence the work of the space consultant. In addition, the assessment information gathered provided library administration with a list of service enhancements that could be implemented immediately without a large capital outlay. The final recommendations that came from the space consultant’s work is supported by evidence gained from the library’s assessment activities as well as feedback and suggestions from library faculty and staff. This process also became a first step in the development of an ongoing culture of assessment activities to improve library services and promote the learning value of the libraries as a place

Prima Facie Obligation and Doing the Best One Can

I believe that one ought, morally, to do the best one can. This is, of course, controversial. I don't propose to debate the issue here, however, but wish rather to address a related one: how such a theory of absolute obligation — a "maximizing" theory — might accommodate prima facie obligation. My sense is that many believe that maximizing theories cannot accommodate prima facie obligation, and that this has led some maximizers to reject the concept of prima facie obligation while leading some of those who appeal to this concept to reject maximization. I shall suggest, on the contrary, that maximizing theories are well-equipped to accommodate prima facie obligation; I shall do this by proposing an analysis of absolute obligation in terms of certain concepts and then using some of these concepts to analyze prima facie obligation. My purpose is threefold: to enhance our understanding of prima facie obligation; to show that appeal to prima facie obligation is not a good reason for rejecting maximization; and to rehabilitate the concept of prima facie obligation in the eyes of maximizer

Taking Some of the Mystery out of Omissions

Philosophers often talk of acts of omission, but such talk is immediately puzzling; for omissions (of all sorts) appear to be paradigms of not-doing rather than doing, even though no omission is merely a not-doing. But, as I shall seek to show, although talk of acts of omission is frequently misleading, it is not altogether inappropriate and is not to be eschewed, as some would argue