Journal of Ethics in Higher Education

Book Review: E. Öhlmann and J. Stork (Eds.), Religious Communities and Ecological Sustainability in Southern Africa and Beyond

2023-12-07T23:34:03+00:00

This is a book review of Philipp Öhlmann & Juliane Stork (Eds.), Religious Communities and Ecological Sustainability in Southern Africa and Beyond, Globethics Sustainability Series No. 1, Geneva: Globethics Publications, 2024, ISBN 978-2-88931-548-2. Following the great importance of the Southern African region for the debates on Sustainability and Climate change, the proposed book tackles many of the issues around the topic. Extracted from the 2020 expert consultations Religious Communities and Ecological Sustainability in Southern Africa (RCSD Berlin) and Water, Environment and Climate Action (WECARE), from one side, and the conference Churches in Southern Africa as Civil Society Actors for Ecological Sustainability (University of Pretoria), the volume presents a plethora of articles and contributions offering an extensive dive on issues such as the role of local churches and congregations in sustainable development, resources for scholars to analyze the best practice cases, inquiries on the future of the region, and more.

Applied Ethics at Corvinus Business Ethics Center

2023-12-15T17:20:41+00:00

Between practical ethics, which seeks to define a wide range of ethical norms and ways of ethical reasoning on firm philosophical basis, including the definition of the foundation of ethics, and business ethics, environmental ethics or health ethics the difference is only about the degree we get to apply practically ethics. The Business Ethics Center of Corvinus University of Budapest, lead by Prof. Laszlo Zsolnai, takes all these levels very seriously. The external observer who would want to review the activities of the Center would immediately get in trouble if all that he would expect is either great theories on practical ethics, or only concrete observations on how, in some precise context, ethics is applied by economic science professionals. Indeed, as we shall review, the 30 Years Report of the Business Ethics Center of Corvinus University Budapest presents the most important conferences and workshops that they organized, describes significant books they published, and summarizes the main findings of their decades-long research. Crucially, the functioning of the Center is based on the conviction that ethics is a relevant aspect of all levels of economic activity, from individual and organizational to societal and global. Business ethics is practiced by the Center as an action-oriented, interdisciplinary scientific inquiry where normative and descriptive elements are intermingled.

Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education

2023-12-11T16:16:34+00:00

This article proposes a model of analysis to guide factual comprehension and normative positioning around the use of AI in higher education. We will analyse the four most impactful options of use of AI in the higher education sector considering the current development of this technology. These are: the co-construction of knowledge, the use of AI for tutoring or mentoring, the rise of adaptive platforms and predictive capabilities. We will propose an exercise of analytical reflection for each use, appealing to some of the dimensions of the proposed model to guide their use. The result is intended to be fruitful, insofar as it warns against the risk of biasing the analysis by losing sight of the deeper implications and commitments required to discern the use of AI.

Éducation et genre en RD Congo

2023-12-20T15:42:35+00:00

L’auteur de Représentations et normes liées à la masculinité : Construction d’un concept hier et aujourd’hui. Pour une masculinité positive dans une perspective biblique, Genève : Globethics, 2023, 327p. ISBN : 978-2-88931-511-6 présente ici le problème à la fois plus large et plus étroit des défis de l’éducation dans le contexte du genre. Ce défi éducatif est plus étroit car par éducation on entend un bagage d’expériences de formation, une sorte d’émulation scolaire précise, celle enseignée par le maître d’école, et on ne fait pas référence, par exemple, aux traditions et aux mœurs transmises au sein de la famille, ni à l’édification et à l’élévation de l’âme associées à l’expérience religieuse. L’éducation et le contexte du genre peuvent aussi ouvrir un horizon plus large que la question du genre masculin, traité dans l’essai de l’auteur ; cet horizon ne reste pas moins un défi. Tandis que les « lois sont soit inconnues soit quotidiennement violées en faveur du respect des normes établies par la culture. » On assiste en RD Congo à l’augmentation de la vulnérabilité des femmes, processus initié en grande partie dans le milieu scolaire.

AI in Higher Education

2023-12-20T17:05:29+00:00

This scholarly inquiry examines the interplay between artificial intelligence (AI) and academic integrity within higher education. Through a comprehensive synthesis of academic literature, the study delves into the multifaceted implications of AI tools on academic practices, pedagogical approaches, and the evolving landscape of academic integrity within higher education. The findings, derived from an extensive analysis of scholarly works, offer profound insights into the challenges posed by the integration of AI in higher education. The impact on academic dishonesty, the nuances of pedagogical shifts, and the dynamic relationship between students and AI are scrutinized, contributing to a nuanced comprehension of the intricate dynamics within the academy.

Ethics as a Way of Life

2023-12-21T16:03:17+00:00

The dynamic landscape of ethics in higher education is pivotal as organizations and individuals navigate diverse stakeholder needs. Ethical responsibility becomes an integral facet of all professionals, highlighting the crucial role of ethical education in preparing students for post-graduation success. The acquisition of ethical competence, rooted in knowledge of ethical principles, equips students with the tools to make ethical decisions, shaping their ethical behavior and responses. Yezreel Valley College exemplifies this commitment, with a well-defined Code of Academic Ethics reflecting universal values and principles, overseen by the College Ethics Committee. In summary, this case study offers insights into Yezreel Valley College's ethical education practices, emphasizing the significance of ethics in higher education and the dynamic interplay between ethics and professionalism. The college's proactive approach positions it as a leader in addressing ethical challenges and adapting to changing environments while fostering ethical competence in its students.

McTaggart’s Paradox and Philosophy of Time

2023-12-15T18:02:31+00:00

Asking “What is time?” can be both a simple and a profound question. In this article we intend to introduce the reader to the philosophy of time. To do so, we will deal with McTaggart's paradox. By explaining it and introducing the basic concepts to understand it, we will be able to get an idea of what this branch of philosophy is all about. The main intention of this article is not to explain anything new but to clarify the background of a debate by explaining its roots. By taking a deep dive into the concept of time, we will see that it is not a simple concept at all.

In any subsequent possible definition with regards to concepts such time for education or time for ethics, a logical clarification of what time is important and will color all further predication of the concept of time. Considering the impact of digital transformation in our lives in general, and in education in particular, a philosophy of time brings major elements such as paradoxes, which are not of practical character but important for the semantic of the words, such as “duration”, “temporal position” of events, etc.

Education and the Narrative Aspect of Temporality

2023-12-19T15:45:46+00:00

Byung-Chul Han (Seoul, 1959) establishes one of the most meaningful and deep understandings of the experience of the contemporary subject. In his view, temporality has suffered a radical atomization that translates into a fragmented life experience: a collection of isolated instants devoid of a sense of duration. As a by-product of this circumstance, we see our very way of thinking and learning changing accordingly. Where we used to find knowledge, we now see information. The aim of this paper will be to explore the transformative power of education in the context of our “broken” temporality.

The Transformative Role of Ethics in Education

2023-12-16T18:18:32+00:00

The German philosopher, writer, and statesman Wilhelm von Humboldt (1767–1835) has played a key role in the transformation and development of education in Prussia and beyond its borders. If time is change and can be measured as progress towards social transformation, then time serves some concrete utility transposed in the field of education. For the purpose of social transformation and development of education, Humboldt has used various strategies, among which ethics or morals had a certain impact on education. Despite the importance of this aspect, the ethical understanding of the philosopher has not been researched deeply yet. The following paper analyses this question according to Humboldt’s writings and shows its relevance for education. The aim of this research is to reveal insights that have the potential to serve the development of education even now.

The Sandglass as Allegory for Ethical Evolution

2023-12-22T18:40:11+00:00

As a child we all admired the sparkling desert crystal sand grains of the sandglass, and while they slowly, silently rolled down, occasionally, we started dreaming, after having turned it very carefully, watching the grains taking different directions, as the sand was suddenly starting to dance! While the sunlight reflected on the even flow of crystal grains, imagination soared far, into the actual deserts, desert ships, camels, into the fantasy worlds… It was good to dream, freely, realistically, or with a free imagination. As in the sandglass time moments are overlapping, never simply a passing of time as bidirectional succession of points. The duration of the present suggests a radical experience of the hic et Nunc. The sandglass gives us also about five minutes to figure out the right order of our experience. It is both short as an aphorism, both long enough to captures some real perfection and harmony in the world. In our dialogue we tried to crystallize a few central ethical notions, such as an ethical evolution in time, captured by the allegory of the sandglass, which opens not only the imagination but also challenges the decision-maker: “Now quick, take the right decision, I give you five minutes!”

Les temps futurs de l’éducation

2023-12-20T14:58:18+00:00

Cet article se focalise sur un aspect précis du concept de temps dans l’éducation, sur les priorités que les temps futurs de l’éducation doivent choisir comme les directions les plus pertinentes pour nos sociétés. Les temps structurent et accompagnent la vie de chacun, marquent le passage entre les générations et deviennent un indicateur du développement des sociétés.

Temporal Horizons in Education

2023-12-20T18:04:08+00:00

This paper extracts the findings of the impact study on the Learning Facilitator programme’s study, a 6-month blended learning professional programme accredited by the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt (Germany) and delivered by Jesuit Worldwide Learning to teachers in context of marginalisation. Focused on elucidating how the Learning Facilitator programme nurtures graduates' soft skills in teaching and fosters their servant-leadership, this paper underscores how the programme redefines the temporal horizons for its participants, enabling them to transcend established frames of reference and cultivate inclusive and conducive learning environments both within and beyond the confines of traditional classrooms. This contribution seeks to bring the seldom heard voices at the centre of the discussion on “time for education”, echoing graduates’ critical exploration in reevaluating conventional frames of reference in pedagogical contexts.