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Conclusion I: The Importance of the Individual

Gunther Martin

in Divine Talk: Religious Argumentation in Demosthenes

This chapter summarizes the results from the analysis of the public speeches. Speeches delivered by the same speaker prove similar in the selection of religious arguments; the same need not be true ... More

This chapter summarizes the results from the analysis of the public speeches. Speeches delivered by the same speaker prove similar in the selection of religious arguments; the same need not be true for speeches written by the same person. This suggests that there was a need for a consistent exploitation of a speaker's argumentation qua performer, i.e., a consistent ethos of the public speakers; the personal beliefs of speechwriters seem not to have any influence. Demosthenes dispenses with argumentation that works only on the religious level. Religion is rather exploited in its public role, as a force for social cohesion.Less

Contaminated Mindware

Keith E. Stanovich, Richard F. West, and Maggie E. Toplak

in The Rationality Quotient: Toward a Test of Rational Thinking

Knowledge becomes implicated in rationality in two different ways. When the knowledge bases discussed in Chapter 9 are missing, the problem is called a mindware gap. A different type of mindware ... More

Knowledge becomes implicated in rationality in two different ways. When the knowledge bases discussed in Chapter 9 are missing, the problem is called a mindware gap. A different type of mindware problem arises because some acquired mindware can be the direct cause of irrational actions that thwart our goals. This type of problem has been termed the problem of contaminated mindware. Four subtests of the CART assess contaminated mindware: the Superstitious Thinking subtest; Antiscience Attitudes subtest; Conspiracy Beliefs subtest; and Dysfunctional Personal Beliefs subtest. The history of each subtest is described, as well as a large study of each subtest in which correlations with cognitive ability and thinking dispositions are examined. Correlations among these subtests themselves are reported.Less

Political views and understandings

Peter Shirlow, Jonathan Tonge, James McAuley, and Catherine McGlynn

in Abandoning Historical Conflict?: Former Political Prisoners and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland

This chapter analyses the motivations underpinning participation in the conflict in Northern Ireland. It shows that experiential and situational factors were more important than historical belief and ... More

This chapter analyses the motivations underpinning participation in the conflict in Northern Ireland. It shows that experiential and situational factors were more important than historical belief and family tradition, and that motivations for joining were often reactive and ideological development followed, rather than preceded, violent actions and imprisonment. In engaging with the narratives presented by former prisoners, the chapter seeks to capture the complexity of combatant lives and experiences. Whilst drawing upon the interpretations of events and life histories, it aids the contextualisation of some broader arguments presented elsewhere in the book. The narratives presented are structured around past events that shaped the views of combatants; whether ‘combatants’ engaged in ‘military’ activity primarily because of strongly held personal beliefs, deeply held ideological perspectives, or some combination of both. As in other societies, Northern Ireland is characterised by dominant sets of competing and contested attitudes bounded and reinforced by patterns of political socialisation.Less

Conscientious Objection

Judith N. Shklar

Samantha Ashenden and Andreas Hess (eds)

in On Political Obligation

Shklar draws a distinction between civil disobedience and conscientious objection. The difference is mainly to be found in the fact that the former consists in attempts to change the democratic ... More

Shklar draws a distinction between civil disobedience and conscientious objection. The difference is mainly to be found in the fact that the former consists in attempts to change the democratic polity while the latter does—not the latter claims only the right to follow through on a personal conscientious decision.Less

Apathy and Ignorance: False Prophets of Autism and the Anti-Vaccine Movement

Michael B. A. Oldstone

in Viruses, Plagues, and History: Past, Present, and Future

This chapter highlights the story of autism, the widespread acceptance of its incorrect cause, and the impact on use of vaccines, all stemming directly from deliberate, false reporting. The basic ... More

This chapter highlights the story of autism, the widespread acceptance of its incorrect cause, and the impact on use of vaccines, all stemming directly from deliberate, false reporting. The basic conflict is twofold. First, involvement of a scientific method that must be reproducible, be reliable, and possess substantial proof is in conflict with common/personal beliefs. Second, doctors, scientists, and public health workers, despite their mandate to listen to parents and patients concerning their opinions, must base medical conclusions on evidence that validates the outcome of each patient’s health issue. It is in this milieu that autism and the anti-vaccine groups still do battle. In 1998, Lancet, a usually respectable and reputable English journal, published Dr. Andrew Wakefield’s opinion that the measles, mumps, rubella (German measles) vaccine injected into the arms of children caused inflammation, leading to harmful chemicals entering the bloodstream through the gut (intestine). These factors, he said, traveled to the brain, where the harmful chemicals/toxins caused autism. In the face of this “fake news” about the source of autism and measles, the vaccination rate for measles dropped in the United Kingdom and Ireland.Less

Recognizing and Managing Professional Boundaries

Rebecca Spizzirri

in The Ethical Practice of Forensic Psychology: A Casebook

Ethical practice as a psychologist and forensic practitioner requires close attention to maintaining professional boundaries. Boundary-related issues represent a key consideration for psychologists ... More

Ethical practice as a psychologist and forensic practitioner requires close attention to maintaining professional boundaries. Boundary-related issues represent a key consideration for psychologists across a wide range of professional roles. In this chapter, this significant ethical domain is explored and the nuanced yet clear implications for forensic psychology practice are highlighted. This chapter covers issues such as recognizing and managing conflicts of interest which can arise, avoiding accepting professional engagements which result in multiple relationships, and how to manage personal views and experiences which conflict with professional obligations. Considerations related to providing emergency services to examinees and the consequences of providing such services are also discussed.Less

Liturgical and Religious Music in Europe, 1500–1800

in The Power of Song: Music and Dance in the Mission Communities of Northern New Spain, 1590–1810

This chapter examines the liturgical and religious music brought by Franciscan and Jesuit missionaries to New Spain and ultimately to the frontier missions during the period from 1500 to 1800. It ... More

This chapter examines the liturgical and religious music brought by Franciscan and Jesuit missionaries to New Spain and ultimately to the frontier missions during the period from 1500 to 1800. It explains that the sacred music of the liturgy helped to foster group identity among believers and missionaries and that musical devotion represented an outward sign of inner piety and a restatement of personal belief. This chapter mentions that each religious order developed their own specific rules and practices regarding the place of music in their communities.Less