The Dignity of Human Life: Sketching Out an 'Equal Worth' Approach

The term “value of life” can refer to life’s intrinsic dignity: something nonincremental and time-unaffected in contrast to the fluctuating, incremental “value” of our lives, as they are longer or shorter and more or less flourishing. Human beings are equal in their basic moral importance: the moral indignities we condemn in the treatment of e.g. those with dementia reflect the ongoing human dignity that is being violated. Indignities licensed by the person in advance remain indignities, as when people might volunteer their living, unconscious bodies for surrogacy or training in amputation techniques. Respect for someone’s dignity is significantly impacted by a failure to value that person’s very existence, whatever genuine respect and good will is shown by wanting the person’s life to go well. Valuing and respecting life is not, however, vitalism: there can be good and compelling reasons for eschewing some means of prolonging life

Beginning Teachers’ Motivations and Aspirations through Teacher Education

ABSTRACT: Much research has focused on what motivates people to take on a teaching career. An open question remains – how do their motivations and aspirations change through their professional education? We sampled secondary teacher education candidates near the end of their qualification (N=72) in Melbourne Australia (age: M=21.44, SD 2.77). Participants rated their responses for “then” (recalling their entry to teacher education) and “now” for a range of items. They answered open-ended questions regarding future plans and aspirations, and their teaching related abilities. Responses revealed significant changes in most perceived motivations and aspirations, with all changes in an upward direction. Findings are interpreted in light of the current climate of teacher shortages

Promoting girls’ and boys’ engagement and participation in senior secondary STEM fields and occupational aspirations

Sufficient numbers of people with science and mathematics qualifications are needed for continuing growth in productivity and industry innovation. The Australian Industry Group (2015, p. 5) cautioned, ‘the pipeline of STEM skills to the workforce remains perilous’ because participation in sciences and advanced mathematics at school and university is in decline, participation is not comparable with other nations, and our students underperform in major international studies. Gender differences in enrolments and career plans continue to fuel the concern of researchers with interest in gender equity. Many have argued girls prematurely restrict their options by discontinuing particular STEM subjects in adolescence, which has ramifications for women’s later wellbeing from economic and psychological perspectives. Much research has concentrated on whether and how girls/boys are differently motivated in particular learning domains, towards different career aspirations, and how features of the learning environment can promote or diminish their motivations. In the STEPS Study (http://www. stepsstudy.org), I have been following longitudinal samples of youth over the past two decades using these frames to examine boys’/girls’ motivations in particular subjects; how motivations matter differently for girls/boys; in directing them towards particular purposes and aspirations; and as they are influenced by features of their learning environments. STEM participation is an issue in Australia, as in the US and many countries of the OECD. There have been two main arguments put forward as to why we should care

The origin of persons : tracing back the moral subject

In this thesis, 'person' is treated as a term with some moral content (fairly unspecific to begin with) describing the reader and myself, at least at the present time. I begin by looking at psychological theories of personal identity, both reductionist and 'Simple', and find that there are good reasons for abandoning both such approaches. Then I examine different theories on the necessity of origin, concluding that our time of origin is essential to our existence, and that the actual combination of our parents' gametes is essential to our origin, whether or not the two coincide. Our particular thoughts, in contrast, are not essential to our origin or existence; any or all these thoughts might never have occurred to us.I then look at theories according to which human persons are physical beings, but do not originate with the organism itself. Theories according to which personhood is a stage of an organism are, I argue, impossible to reconcile with the widespread belief that our personal status is inseparable from ourselves. Thus the organism before whatever stage is said to mark the onset of personhood will similarly be a candidate for personal status. On the other hand, the theory that the onset of personhood is marked by some substantial change with the advent of some new capacity, threatens us with two superimposed psychological substances: the person, and the organism which seems to acquire the capacity.Tracing back the entity which undergoes change, I examine various forms of potential in relation to very early human development, offering a new theory on the specific active tendencies which define our existence. Human persons are, I argue, 'rational-type' organisms, whose morally significant interests begin with their origin as living wholes. In the remaining chapters I look at the content of our personal status, in general, and at a time close to our origin

Final report June 2023: Research impact evidence scheme - research impact: Dr. Helen Adam

This research addressed the question: What is the impact of the research of Dr. Helen Adam into the culturally responsive use of diverse literature on practitioners, school communities, policy makers and the wider community? Key Findings: The primary beneficiaries of Adam’s work include policy makers, educational professionals & consultants, academics, teacher trainers, and librarians. The secondary beneficiaries of Adam’s research include school children and their families, school communities and the wider community. Adam’s research is of pervasive and profound significance in educational sectors and is rapidly becoming of global significance. Adam’s research is transformative and impacts on the lives of educators, their learners, and communities. Adam needs to strive to increase impact in the publishing sector

Reply to the letter to the editor regarding 'Clinical assessment of subacromial shoulder impingement – which factors differ from the asymptomatic population?'

[Extract] Not surprisingly, impingement is a term which does not reflect the underlying cause of all shoulder pain. Hence there is healthy debateregarding alternate terminology (Braman et al., 2013; J. S. Lewis, 2011 ; McFarland et al., 2013). However, it continues to be a term used throughout the medical literature and in an attempt to embrace this wider audience, until there is agreement about terminology, it was chosen for use in this paper

Isokinetic clinical assessment of rotator cuff strength in subacromial shoulder impingement

Background: Current conservative management of subacromial shoulder impingement (SSI) includes generic strengthening exercises, especially for internal (IR) and external (ER) shoulder rotators. However, there is no evidence that the strength or the ratio of strength between these muscle groups is different between those with SSI (cases) and an asymptomatic population (controls). Objective: To identify if isokinetic rotator cuff strength or the ratio of strength is significantly different between cases and controls. Study Design: Case Control Study. Method: Fifty one cases with SSI and 51 asymptomatic controls matched for age, gender, hand dominance and physical activity level completed isokinetic peak torque glenohumeral IR and ER testing. Within the SSI group, 31 dominant limbs were symptomatic and 20 non-dominant limbs were symptomatic. IR and ER were measured separately using continuous reciprocal concentric (con) and eccentric (ecc) contraction cycles at a speed of 600 degrees per second and again at 1200 degrees per second. Values of peak torque (PT), relative peak torque (RPT) and ratios were compared using independent t-tests between the SSI and asymptomatic groups. Results: Significant strength differences between the two groups were present only when the symptomatic SSI shoulder was the dominant shoulder (con ER PT at 600 /second, ecc ER PT at 1200 /second, ecc ER RPT at 1200 /second and ecc IR PT at 600 /second and 1200 /second). Conclusions: Changes in rotator cuff strength in SSI may be related to limb dominance, which may have implications for strengthening regimes

Clinical assessment of subacromial shoulder impingement – Which factors differ from the asymptomatic population?

Copyright © 2016. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ This author manuscript is made available following 12 month embargo from date of publication (19 Dec 2016) in accordance with publisher’s copyright policyBackground To date, the significance of factors purported to be associated with subacromial shoulder impingement (SSI) and what differences, if any, are present in those with SSI compared to a matched asymptomatic population has not been identified. Gaining information about differences between people with SSI and asymptomatic people may direct clinicians towards treatments that impact upon these differences. Objective Compare the assessment findings of factors suggested to be associated with SSI; passive posterior shoulder range, passive internal rotation range, resting cervical and thoracic postures, active thoracic range in standing and scapula positioning between cases experiencing SSI and a matched asymptomatic group (controls). Method Fifty one SSI cases and 51 asymptomatic controls were matched for age, gender, hand dominance and physical activity level. The suggested associated factors were measured bilaterally. Independent t-tests were used to compare each of these measurements between the groups. Any variables for which a significant difference was identified, were then included in a conditional logistic regression analysis to identify independent predictors of SSI. Results The SSI group had significantly increased resting thoracic flexion and forward head posture, as well as significantly reduced upper thoracic active motion, passive internal rotation range and posterior shoulder range than the matched asymptomatic group. No independent predictors of SSI were identified in conditional logistic regression analysis. Conclusion Thoracic posture, passive internal rotation range and posterior shoulder range were significantly different between cases experiencing SSI and a matched asymptomatic group

Double effect reasoning: why we need it

The “principle of double effect” is a vital tool for moral decision making and is applicable to all areas of medical practice, including (for example) end-of-life care, transplant medicine, and cases of conscientious objection. Both our ultimate and our more immediate intentions are relevant in making and evaluating choices— though side effects must be kept proportionate and can be morally conclusive when linked with some intentions. Intentions help to form the character of doctors, and of human beings generally. While hypocrisy is certainly possible in regard to this form (and other forms) of moral reasoning, double effect reasoning, sincerely practised, remains indispensable in identifying moral problems and solutions