Why be Moral in a Virtual World

This article considers two related and fundamental issues about morality in a virtual world. The first is whether the anonymity that is a feature of virtual worlds can shed light upon whether people are moral when they can act with impunity. The second issue is whether there are any moral obligations in a virtual world and if so what they might be. Our reasons for being good are fundamental to understanding what it is that makes us moral or indeed whether any of us truly are moral. Plato grapples with this problem in book two of The Republic where Socrates is challenged by his brothers Adeimantus and Glaucon. They argue that people are moral only because of the costs to them of being immoral; the external constraints of morality. Glaucon asks us to imagine a magical ring that enables its wearers to become invisible and capable of acting anonymously. The ring is in some respects analogous to the possibilities created by online virtual worlds such as Second Life, so the dialogue is our entry point into considering morality within these worlds. These worlds are three dimensional user created environments where people control avatars and live virtual lives. As well as being an important social phenomenon, virtual worlds and what people chose to do in them can shed light on what people will do when they can act without fear of normal sanction. This paper begins by explaining the traditional challenge to morality posed by Plato, relating this to conduct in virtual worlds. Then the paper will consider the following skeptical objection. A precondition of all moral requirements is the ability to act. There are no moral requirements in virtual worlds because they are virtual and it is impossible to act in a virtual world. Because avatars do not have real bodies and the persons controlling avatars are not truly embodied, it is impossible for people to truly act in a virtual world. We will show that it is possible to perform some actions and suggest a number of moral requirements that might plausibly be thought to result. Because avatars cannot feel physical pain or pleasure these moral requirements are interestingly different from those of real life. Hume’s arguments for why we should be moral apply to virtual worlds and we conclude by considering how this explains why morality exists in these environments

Bom yeoreum gaeul gyeoul geurigo bom (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring)

This is a review of Bom yeoreum gaeul gyeoul geurigo bom (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...and Spring) (2003)

Northfork

This is a review of Northfork (2003)

Killing and Feeling Bad: Animal Experimentation and Moral Stress

This paper is prompted by the introspective account of animal experimentation provided by Marks in his paper ‘Killing Schrödinger’s Feral Cat’ in this journal. I offer an ethical interpretation of Marks\u27 paper, and add personal reflections based on my own experiences of being involved in animal experimentation. Identifying the emotional and cognitive experiences of Marks and myself with Rollin’s concept of ‘moral stress’ I explore this effect that conducting animal experimentation can have on the people involved. I argue, based partly on personal anecdotal experience, that this stress varies depending on the organisational structure of animal experimentation, and one’s position within that structure. Under conditions of divided labour, other things equal, I claim that moral stress may be reduced for those involved. Since moral stress can have negative effects on those that experience it, this seems like an improvement of animal experimentation, in at least this respect. However, I interpret Marks as suggesting that it would be worse if animals were being harmed in animal experimentation and those involved were not feeling moral stress, or moral stress was diminished. I examine what value moral stress might have, since loss of this value could justify preserving it. I provide a tentative argument that the reduction in moral stress promoted by division of labour and through other means does not sacrifice moral value in the way Marks seems to imply. More generally, this paper aims to continue the constructive sharing of views about animal experimentation by those who are or have been involved in it, with a view to gaining a better understanding of animal experimentation, and making moral progress within it

The West Island Site (41MXI65)

This paper describes a set of artifacts collected from the West Island site, a poorly known Titus phase cemetery in Ellison Creek Reservoir. The site is on a small knoll adjacent to a small spring branch that flows into the now-inundated Ellison Creek, a tributary of Big Cypress Creek. The site knoll is now no more than one foot (30 em) above the normal pool elevation of Ellison Creek Reservoir, and it is usually totally submerged. Up to five feet (1.52 meters) of white sand caps the knoll, and overlies the clay subsoil. Due to continued submergence, the knoll is being eroded by the reservoir, anq. consequently many stone tools and pieces of lithic debris are present along the water\u27s edge. Dart points and arrowpoints have been found at the site, along with some pottery sherds, but no grounds tone implements. Small amounts of charcoal were found around the top of the knoll in pockets of modern mussel shell and gravels, but its association with the site deposits is unknown. No middens are known to be present on the knoll. The West Island site has been previously dug by private collectors sometime before 1965. Turner had examined some of the site collections, and reported that, ceramic vessels of the types Avery Engraved, Bailey Engraved, Bullard Brushed, Cowhide Stamped, Harleton Appliqued, Hodges Engraved, Karnack Brushed-Incised, Maydelle Incised, Ripley Engraved, Simms Engraved, Taylor Engraved, and Wilder Engraved were present in an unknown number of burials. These types of decorated ceramics are characteristic of the Titus phase, which dates from about 1400 to the 1600s

Determining the Influence of Hunter Access on Antlerless Elk B License Harvest in Select Areas of Southwest, Central and Eastern Montana

Antlerless elk hunting is a critically important tool for wildlife managers to help manage populations of elk. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) conducted a survey following the 2010 general big game hunting season to determine the effect that hunter access might have on Antlerless Elk B License utilization and associated harvest in select areas of the state where concerns have been expressed about hunting access. A mail-back survey was used to determine, the extent to which respondents were able to gain access to public and private lands to hunt antlerless elk, what types of properties respondents were able to secure permission to hunt, the extent to which respondents were able to successfully harvest antlerless elk, and respondent satisfaction with the Antlerless Elk B Licenses they received in 2010. Questionnaires were successfully mailed to a total of N = 5,297 Elk B License holders and there were a total of n = 2,954 survey respondents resulting in an overall response rate of 56 percent. Survey results revealed several key findings that have significant elk population management implications. While respondents used different hunting access or property types to varying degrees the type of property accessed played a prominent role in determining antlerless elk harvest success rates and antlerless elk harvest distribution. A majority of the survey respondents who hunted or attempted to hunt using their Antlerless Elk B License reported that they were satisfied with the license they received in 2010

D’une gestion policière réactive à la gestion des manifestants ? La police et les manifestations anti-mondialisation au Canada

Des débats ont animés cette dernière décennie autour de la question d’une évolution supposée de la gestion de l’ordre « occidentale » et de ses pratiques, quittant un mode réactif, confrontationel et visant la dispersion des manifestants, pour un modèle davantage ancré sur la notion de dé-escalade du conflit, avec une gestion fondée sur les renseignements, la communication mutuelle et des négociations : vers la « gestion » des manifestants. Les raisons d’un tel changement se situent dans un mouvement général de libéralisation et de démocratisation accrue de ces sociétés, un processus de changement social général, faisant passer ces sociétés d’un état moderne à un état moderne avancé. Les raisons de l’implication de la police dans ces changements se situent dans sa relation avec l’Etat, ses inquiétudes sur la légitimité de l’action et sur une société de plus en plus fondée sur la notion de risque. Mais la police ne participe pas au changement uniquement du fait de pressions extérieures, elle est agent de ce changement par son savoir et ses expériences du passé.There has been some significant debate over the last decade concerning a purported trend in « Western » public order policing and practices away from a primarily reactive, confrontational and protester dispersal model, to one that is based more within the notion of de-escalation of conflict, entailing intelligence-led policing, mutual communication and negotiated accommodation, i.e. towards the “management” of crowds. The reasons for such a shift have been located variously within a general movement towards a more liberal democratic society in these countries, and the process of social change generally, resulting in an increasing movement from modern to advanced-modern society. Again, the reasons why the police are involved in this developmental change is seen as being due to their relationship with the state, concerns about legitimate action and their operating within an increasingly risk-based society. However, the police themselves are not solely effecting change by responding to external pressure, but also act as agents of change themselves on the basis of police knowledge and lessons learned

Le contrôle des différences en Europe : l'inclusion et l'exclusion comme logiques sécuritaires et économiques

Mike KING Vers une critique du débat sur l'" Europe Forteresse " Le débat actuel sur l'évolution des frontières européennes s'articule, d'une part, autour d'une tendance à l'ouverture des frontières extérieures et, d'autre part, autour de l'effet direct de celle-ci, à savoir l'introduction de " mesures de contrôle compensatoires ". Au niveau de la recherche sur les immigrés, les réfugiés et les demandeurs d'asile, ce débat est centré sur un concept que l'on désigne d'habitude par le terme d..

Citarum River Landfill

The Citarum River is failing to support the millions of Indonesians who live along the river basin because of how polluted it is. The water is full of trash, detergents, human waste as well as hazardous chemicals that are affecting the health and lives of these people. In the Village of Sukaharja the people live under extremely impoverished conditions and do not have an effective waste management solution. Therefore, all of the trash and waste of the people who live along the river basin ends up in the water. This is making the already polluted river even more contaminated. If nothing is done to prevent the waste from entering the water, the Citarum River will continue being one of the worlds most polluted rivers and will not be able to support the millions of Indonesians who depend on the river for survival.https://digitalcommons.wpi.edu/gps-posters/1210/thumbnail.jp

Exploring Surgeons' Perceptions of the Role of Simulation in Surgical Education: A Needs Assessment

Introduction: The last two decades have seen the adoption of simulation-based surgical education in various disciplines. The current study’s goal was to perform a needs assessment using the results to inform future curricular planning and needs of surgeons and learners.Methods: A survey was distributed to 26 surgeon educators and interviews were conducted with 8 of these surgeons.  Analysis of survey results included reliability and descriptive statistics. Interviews were analyzed for thematic content with a constant comparison technique, developing coding and categorization of themes.Results: The survey response rate was 81%. The inter-item reliability, according to Cronbach’s alpha was 0.81 with strongest agreement for statements related to learning new skills, training new residents and the positive impact on patient safety and learning.   There was less strong agreement for maintenance of skills, improving team functioning and reducing teaching in the operating room. Interview results confirmed those themes from the survey and highlighted inconsistencies for identified perceived barriers and a focus on acquisition of skills only.  Interview responses specified concerns with integrating simulation into existing curricula and the need for more evaluation as a robust educational strategy.Conclusion: The findings were summarized in four themes: 1) use of simulation, 2) integration into curriculum, 3) leadership, and 4) understanding gaps in simulation use. This study exemplifies a mixed-methods approach to planning a surgical simulation program through a general needs assessment