A Contemporary Consideration of the Role of Metaphysics in Systematic Theology: The Contributions of Pope John Paul II and Claude Tresmontant

It has been traditionally held that Catholic theology has notable metaphysical threads deeply connected with the fabric of its faith and its systematic presentation. This dissertation focuses upon those metaphysical threads in order to explore their past, present and possible future status within theology. In each section the goal is to investigate the contributions of John Paul II and Claude Tresmontant and the role they believe metaphysics has within Catholic Systematic theology. This work attempts to present and assess whether, which, and why components of metaphysics, according to John Paul II and Tresmontant, should be retained even in light of modern philosophical challenges. Chapter Two highlights the thought of Claude Tresmontant. Tresmontant was convinced that there was a distinct Christian Metaphysics. He maintains that metaphysics is a necessary outgrowth of a thoughtful commitment to a Judeo-Christian biblical perspective. His metaphysical focus draws our attention towards cosmological and anthropological considerations. Chapter Three explores the thought of Pope John Paul II who advocated metaphysics as a way to ground both the contributions of phenomenology and Christian ethics, as well as being a precondition for achieving rationally grounded thought. Since Pope John Paul II\u27s Fides et Ratio calls for metaphysics to be reinstated to its proper place within the Catholic intellectual tradition, this chapter investigates how John Paul II envisions integrating metaphysics within systematic Catholic thought. A thoughtful reflection upon these two thinkers seeks to provide a better understanding of at least some of what may be at stake by either maintaining, significantly revising, or abandoning the metaphysical tradition. Chapter Four presents the postmodern challenge to a continued metaphysics within Christian philosophical theology. The arguments of both Jean-Luc Marion and Gianni Vattimo seek to explicate the perspectives of thinkers of the postmodern philosophical tradition, arguing for the elimination of foundationalism in all its forms. Chapter Five places all four thinkers in dialogue and concludes with some propositions for future collaboration

Criminology in the professions: turning academic benchmarks into employability skills

This report reflects on a case study example of teaching a dedicated employability module in an undergraduate criminology curriculum. The report uses various sets of data collected from students, criminology alumni, a sample of employers and university academic and support staff, to reflect on pertinent issues relating to graduate employability. Findings suggest that understanding the links between critical academic theory, technical knowledge and generic skills, are empowering both for staff and students, and such a framework represents a creative way of addressing the QAA criminology employability benchmarks. Whilst staff are unable to change the national context relating to graduate employability, understanding the pertinent issues and contradictions within the area helps in counteracting potential ‘bad news’ and also enables students to be more aware of what they need, beyond their degree, to be successful in gaining appropriate employment. Apart from the research detailed below, outcomes include a DVD entitled ‘Life after Criminology’ which features contributions from criminology alumni, academic and careers staff and students, and also a Mahara portfolio including materials used for a criminology information day held in July 2010

An ethnographic study of the culture in a diagnostic imaging department

The aim of this study was to explore the culture in a Diagnostic Imaging Department (DID) with the primary focus on Diagnostic Radiographers (DRs). The objectives were to describe the culture in a DID and highlight the current workplace cultural issues that face DRs, to explore how people learn to become a DR and how they become professionally socialised, and to observe and describe how DRs communicate and interact within the DID. Method An ethnographic approach was used and participant observation was carried out for a four month period in a DID in the East of England. Semi-structured interviews with ten key informants were carried out to explore further the issues uncovered by the observation. Results The data was analysed using thematic analysis and four overarching concepts were identified. Relationships with patients Relationships with colleagues Structure and environment Characterising the role of the DR DRs exhibit resistance to change; and ambivalence to research, continuing professional development (CPD) and evidence-based-practice. Domination by the medical profession remains and affects the culture. DRs continue to conform to accepted behaviour; this is passed on through role modelling. They make a rapid assessment of patients in order to deal with them; theytend not to become involved with patients emotionally; exercising professional detachment. Team working evidently plays an important role in the DID. Conclusion The results of this study help to describe the complex nature of the culture in the DID. The DID is a task-focussed environment where efficiency is important, as a result patient care and quality of service may suffer. DRs need to be more pro-active in promoting and developing their profession. Recommendations Further research is recommended into patient care skills, the level of or need for emotional intelligence, coping strategies used and the process of professional socialisation.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

The Tracking of Morning Fatigue Status Across In-Season Training Weeks in Elite Soccer Players.

PURPOSE: To quantify the mean daily changes in training and match load and any parallel changes in indicators of morning-measured fatigue across in-season training weeks in elite soccer players. METHODS: Following each training session and match, ratings of perceived exertion (s-RPE) were recorded to calculate overall session load (RPE-TL) in 29 English Premier League players from the same team. Morning ratings of fatigue, sleep quality, delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS), as well as sub-maximal exercise heart rate (HRex), post-exercise heart rate recovery (HRR%) and variability (HRV) were also recorded pre-match day and one, two and four days post-match. Data were collected for a median duration of 3 weeks (range:1-13) and reduced to a typical weekly cycle including no mid-week match and a weekend match day. Data were analysed using within-subjects linear mixed models. RESULTS: RPE-TL was approximately 600 AU (95%CI: 546-644) higher on match-day vs the following day (P0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Morning-measured ratings of fatigue, sleep quality and DOMS are clearly more sensitive than HR-derived indices to the daily fluctuations in session load experienced by elite soccer players within a standard in-season week

Quantification of training and match-load distribution across a season in elite English Premier League soccer players

Objective: To examine training and match loads undertaken by soccer players competing in the English Premier League. Methods: Using a retrospective design, external (GPS) and internal training loads (sessions ratings of perceived exertion [sRPE-TL]) were examined in 26 players across the competition phase of the 2012–2013 English Premier League season. Within-subject linear mixed-models estimated the mean effects (95% confidence interval [CI]) for load data across 6-week mesocycles and 1-week microcycles. Results: Daily sRPE-TL (95% CI range, 15 to 111 AU) and total distance (95% CI range, 179 to 949 AU) were higher during the early stages (mesocycle 1 and 2) of the competition period. Overall, high-speed activity was similar between mesocycles. Across the training week, load was greater on match day and lower pre match-day (G-1) vs. all other days, respectively (p &lt; 0.001). sRPE-TL (~70–90 AU per day) and total distance (~700–800 m per day) progressively declined over the 3 days before a match (p &lt; 0.001). High-speed distance was greater 3 days (G-3) before a game vs. G-1 (95% CI, 140 to 336 m) while very high-speed distance was greater on G-3 and G-2 than G-1 (95% CI range, 8 to 62 m; p &lt; 0.001). Conclusion: Periodisation of in-season training load is mainly evident across the weekly microcycle reflecting the recovery and preparation for matches.</p