The purpose of this work is to show the importance of ethical consistency and its application in the decision-making process when allocating health care resources with respect to the Canada Health Act. Based on the specific decisions in its history and the development of its principles, I suggest that the Act can be interpreted as indicating a particular moral basis and that this could have an influence on how resources are allocated. I will focus on three claims supporting the argument that services can be delivered in a consistent and methodical manner that respects this particular moral foundation. First, the outcomes of decisions justified by simultaneous use of logically incompatible and distinct moral theories are problematic. I suggest that an approach to reasoning that uses one type of moral theory throughout the decision-making process results in less ambiguous outcomes. Second, based on key points in the history of the Canada Health Act, I believe there is a moral theory, deontological in nature, and that it captures the spirit behind the Act's development and current formulation. Third, decision-makers in Canada should follow one deontological theory when allocating health care resources to avoid inconsistencies, and to work within the moral framework of the Act as I have interpreted it. A delivery system that consistently follows this procedure may have different outcomes than the current methods of macro-allocation, and these differences may have effects on the amount and availability of health care services.

The majority of people on Earth now live in cities, and estimates hold that 60 percent of the world’s cities have yet to be built. Now is the time for philosophers to develop a philosophy of the city to address the forthcoming issues that urbanization will bring. In this dissertation, I respond to this need for a philosophy of the city by developing a theory of city identity, developing some of the theory’s normative implications, illustrating the theory with a case study, and outlining the nature and future of philosophy of the city more generally. Indeed, this dissertation is only a part of my larger project of founding and institutionalizing this new field of both academic and socially-engaged philosophical activity. Throughout the history of the discipline, other areas such a personal identity have received numerous considerations, along with the concept of identity as an abstraction. For example, there is a bounty of research addressing problems pertaining to how objects and people retain an identity over time and claims about identity in general. While one could argue that cities are not any different than any other object, such an account fails to consider that a city’s dynamic nature makes it dissimilar to other things. To illustrate this point, I develop a position called dynamic composition as identity theory that provides a framework for understanding the identity of a city, exhibiting that views within analytic metaphysics are too narrow to apply to all cases. After establishing a concept of city identity, I use an applied mereology to develop a model of city identity that shows how the parts of a city fit together to form a complete city. This model introduces the normative dimension of my project by providing a way to identify how incongruence between a city’s parts can cause problems for residents’ wellbeing. To understand the moral dimensions of infrastructure, I argue that moral theory alone is ill prepared to adequately demonstrate its full range of effects. Yet, instead of developing another moral theory, we can supplement existing moral theories with the concepts of sustainability and resilience thinking to account for the elements that traditional moral systems neglect. I support this view with a detailed account of transportation infrastructure. Namely, I show that current frameworks for assessing transportation infrastructure are inadequate, and employ the method of complex moral assessment developed earlier to make such assessments. Lastly, I show how the research in this dissertation counts as intra-disciplinary research, a new kind of method for philosophical research.

This study examines the association between the attitudes of students toward computers and their knowledge of the ethical uses of computers. The focus for this research was undergraduate students in the Colleges of Arts and Sciences (Department of Computer Science), Business and Education at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas.

A cross-sectional quantitative causal research design was employed to explore the relationship between adolescent digital aggression, cyberbully behavior and moral disengagement. A survey was created and electronically administered to 1077 high school students in Grades 9-12 in a selected school district in Texas. High school students were chosen because research has shown a decrease in traditional bullying and an increase of digital aggression and cyberbullying at this developmental level. A principal component analysis (PCA) of the survey was conducted to determine latent constructs. The results of the PCA revealed 6 latent variables, which included moral disengagement, school climate and culture, social relationships, spirituality, family systems, and mood (anger). Moral disengagement was the dependent variable in the current study, while the remaining latent constructs were treated as independent variables. In addition to the latent constructs, student demographics and self-identification as a cyberbully or cybervictim were included as independent variables in the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and multiple regression models. An ANOVA of the survey items where the participants self-identified as a cyberobserver, a cybervictim or a cyberbully was initially conducted. Participants who identified as a cyberobserver explained less than 1.0% of the variance in moral disengagement. Additionally, participants who identified as a cybervictim also explained less than 1.0% of the variance in moral disengagement. However, participants identified as a cyberbully accounted for 7.28% of the variance in moral disengagement. Results of the multiple regression analyses indicated that gender, age, school climate and culture, social relationships, academic success, ethnicity, family systems, spirituality, and mood (anger) significantly impacted a student’s willingness to morally disengage and participate in digital aggression. Among these variables, the variance explained in moral disengagement ranged from 0.8% (Social Relationships) to 16.8% (Mood-Anger). The variables of socio-economic status and grade in school were not statistically significant predictors of moral disengagement. The results of this study are relevant for school administrators, counselors and teachers as digital aggression and cyberbully behaviors appear to be growing as ‘smart phone’ and other ‘always on’ technology trend to younger populations nationwide. The results of this study further underscore the importance of creating a school climate and culture that promotes a safe and secure learning environment for all students. This may be accomplished by incorporating adolescent aggression and bully prevention programs in school curriculums to address both traditional and digital aggressive behaviors. Recommendations are presented and future research is discussed.

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited / In response to the 9/11 attacks and continuing threats of mass-casualty terrorism, the United States has adopted a new security strategy that emphasizes anticipatory actions including preventive war. Prevention, undertaken in the absence of an act of aggression or an imminent threat, is prohibited by modern conceptions of just war and international law. Many critics of the strategy fear that any legitimization of preventive war would endanger international stability. But an examination of the relevant ethical issues from the perspective of just war doctrine reveals contradictions within a blanket prohibition of preventive war. Preventive "strategic interventions" against illiberal regimes-states that correlate with the threats of terrorism and weapons of mass destruction-parallel humanitarian interventions in that they have an ethical basis in the relationship between human rights and the right of state sovereignty. A widely-accepted minimum standard of human rights, incorporated into new international institutions and/or an explicit revision of the definition of just war, could serve as an ethical boundary for both preventive wars and humanitarian interventions. The formal qualification of prevention and its merger with humanitarian goals could bring enhanced international legitimacy and support to preventive actions by the United States and its allies. / Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy

M.Com. (Financial Management) / Over the last three decades, socially responsible investing (SRI) has emerged as one of the foremost issues faced by individuals and institutions in their daily activities. While the roots of responsible investing date back to the 18th century, the recent focus on responsible investing has been impactful. There has been growth in understanding the impact of investors’ decisions on long-term sustainability of business and society. In South Africa, the recent amendment of Regulation 28 of Pension Funds Act of 1956 and the introduction of the Code for Responsible Investing in South Africa (CRISA) are some of the latest developments in support of SRI. This minor dissertation evaluates the performance of SRI funds relative to traditional funds from January 2006 to June 2011. Specifically, the focus is on four main measures. Firstly, SRI funds relative to SRI funds’ own mandated benchmark; secondly, SRI funds relative to proxy market benchmark indices; thirdly, SRI funds relative to a matched sample of traditional unit trust funds; and lastly, SRI indices relative to traditional market indices. Twenty-seven funds were analysed in the study. The first finding was that SRI funds outperform their respective benchmarks on an unadjusted basis. Secondly, SRI funds showed slightly better risk-adjusted performance compared to proxy benchmark indices. Thirdly, SRI funds underperformed against a matched sample of traditional peers. Lastly, the FTSE/JSE SRI Equity Index underperformed against the general market equity index, but outperformed both the bonds and money market indices.

M.Com. (Financial Management) / The concept of social responsibility has been in existence for centuries, but the modern notion of corporate social investment (CSI) only emerged in the 1950s. Since then, the adoption of initiatives and integration of CSI by corporations has seen a steady growth, primarily driven by stakeholders. The rise of CSI can also be attributed to a better understanding of its associated business benefits. The relationship between CSI and company performance has been investigated since the mid-1970s and consensus about this relationship has still not been reached. In this study, secondary data from company reports is used to perform a panel regression analysis to determine the relationship between CSI and company financial performance for 30 South African companies listed on both the FTSE/JSE Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) Index and FTSE/JSE Top 40 Index for the period 2010 to 2013. The relationship between the financial performance measures, return on assets (ROA), earnings per share (EPS) and CSI was confirmed as positive while the relationship between CSI and return on equity (ROE) was confirmed as negative. Mixed or inconsistent results makes it impossible to support the notion of a positive or negative relationship for the study overall. The results of this study only prove a relationship between CSI and financial performance in South Africa for the relevant companies and cannot therefore be generalised.

This thesis examines the problem of utilitarian ageism in Quality-Adjusted Life Years and contrasts it with the biblical principles of community and honor that are to characterize treatment of the elderly. Chapter 1 provides a general orientation into the issue of health care allocation. Attention is given to the history of modern health care allocation and describes its rapid evolution. Chapter 2 provides a more detailed analysis of health care allocation demonstrating the necessity for some system of allocation in modern American health care. It concludes by presenting the QALY model as a potential basis for modern health care allocation decision making. Chapter 3 examines the problems of QALYs as a basis for health care allocation. After the use of quality of life and health life years is evaluated the relationship between utilitarianism and QALYs is explored, focusing on QALYs' discrimination against elderly. Chapter 4 examines the biblical perspectives of elder care, identifying the principles of honor and community as foundational. The underlining principles of justice and biblical love provide a foundation for biblical elder care. Chapter 5 compares the QALY and biblical models. The comparison is accomplished by noting the contrasts in philosophical foundations, economic strategies and priorities in the distribution of limited health care resources. Chapter 6 concludes by contending that QALY calculations are ageist and therefore an unjust basis on which to base decisions regarding the distribution of limited health care resources. This work contends that a potentially less efficient, but a better moral basis for resource allocation are the biblical principles of honor and community. These two principles enable a more holistic approach to dealing with the needy elderly in health care allocation. / This item is only available to students and faculty of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. If you are not associated with SBTS, this dissertation may be purchased from <a href="http://disexpress.umi.com/dxweb">http://disexpress.umi.com/dxweb</a> or downloaded through ProQuest's Dissertation and Theses database if your institution subscribes to that service.

This study is an examination of the perceptions youth ministers have regarding the character qualities and leadership competencies needed for effective youth ministry. The study also examines the perception that youth ministers have regarding potential leadership flaws that may lead to ineffective youth ministry. The researcher surveyed a sample from 1,300 full-time youth ministers representing youth ministers serving in the United States from various denominations as well as no denomination. A survey presenting a list of character qualities and youth ministry leadership competencies was sent to the sample. The respondents were instructed to rank each item from 1-3, 1 = primary, 2 = secondary, 3 = necessary. They were then instructed to list up to five potential leadership flaws that they believed would render a youth minister ineffective. The researcher analyzed the data in light of significant prior research for common themes that demonstrated a needed emphasis in youth ministry education and training. Key words . Youth ministry, youth minister, youth ministry education, adolescents, character qualities, ministerial leadership competencies, leadership flaws, church leadership, leadership effectiveness, leadership styles, leadership failure / This item is only available to students and faculty of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. If you are not associated with SBTS, this dissertation may be purchased from <a href="http://disexpress.umi.com/dxweb">http://disexpress.umi.com/dxweb</a> or downloaded through ProQuest's Dissertation and Theses database if your institution subscribes to that service.

M.A. / Fraud and corruption as well as other forms of organizational wrongdoing has become a serious problem in South Africa. If employees become aware of the fact that a superior is involved in some form of wrongdoing they find themselves in a dilemma. If they report the transgression without being authorized to do so, they face the possibility of being victimized within the organization. The unauthorized disclosure of information about organizational wrongdoing by an employee has become known as whistleblowing. Whistleblowing could have positive consequences for the organization, as it provides the possibility that organizational misconduct could be exposed and dealt with. However, the unauthorized nature of the exposure often results in the organization focussing its attention on the messenger rather than the message. As a consequence the whistleblower is often ostracized until he or she leaves the organization voluntarily or is forced out, while the misconduct is ignored or even covered up in a misguided attempt to protect the organization’s reputation. The act of whistleblowing therefore often has a very detrimental effect on the individual whistleblower’s career, family relationships and self-image. Apart from the possible negative consequences faced by the individual when engaging in whistleblowing, the organization within which the whistleblowing occurs can also be negatively affected. Individual employees are their best form of detection when something is wrong within the organization. However, if the whistleblower is victimized and leaves the organization, it means that the organization loses a valuable employee and that the misconduct will continue. Furthermore, in future when employees become aware of some form of dishonesty they will tend to turn a blind eye rather than report the important information. Financial institutions and in particular banks, are particularly vulnerable to the possibility of fraud and corruption or other forms of misconduct occurring. Rather than focussing on the experiences of the whistleblower, this study investigated the views of managers at a commercial bank with regard to the nature and ways of managing whistleblowing in the organization. Senior managers were interviewed during the course of this study and three issues came to the fore. Firstly, the managers generally showed very little understanding with regard to the nature and implications of whistleblowing for the organization. Secondly, the organizational culture seems to concentrate mainly on creating an environment that is conducive to protecting the stakeholders’ interests than allowing reporting of wrongdoing to take place. Thirdly, there does not seem to be any effective mechanisms in place that could facilitate the disclosure of organizational misconduct in such a manner that it would result in a beneficial outcome for both the individual disclosing the information and the organization. The study concludes by making some recommendations with regard to ways in which a culture of ethics can be created in an organization. This would entail instituting mechanisms of confidential reporting, which would promote the authorized disclosure of organizational misconduct and therefore pre-empt the necessity of blowing the whistle. / Prof. J.M. Uys