Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Perhaps one of the most talked about subjects worldwide and in South Africa these days is the abortion issue. A growing number of women admit to having had one. Basically there are two opposing views and values on the question of abortion. We normally hear people referring to the 'abortion issue'; my understanding of this is that there is a dialogue going on at the moment concerning abortion. In South Africa before the current Choice of Termination of Pregnancy (TOP) Bill, some activists' women and the ever-growing 'feminists' movements were lobbying and demanding that abortion be decriminalised. As we may all be aware, up until 1 February 1997, abortion or termination of pregnancy (TOP) in South Africa was conceivable under very restrictive atmosphere. Before the introduction of the current Termination of Pregnancy Bill, a majority of women had no access to abortion services in the country, hence the growing number of back-street job. By implication this means that most women given the choice, would not seek the experience of abortion, but if they do, it would be available to the in safe, legal, accessible and affordable service. Not only does the Act conceal that terminating pregnancy that occurred through criminal acts such as rape and incest is justifiable. The current liberal Termination of Pregnancy Bill also gives pregnant women the 'right' or 'freedom' to abort whenever and for whatever reason they deem fit. Part of the ethical dilemma of the abortion issue is that there are those who holds a view that always where there is a conflict of rights and interests, the foetus' rights must give way to, or that the foetus' rights must be overridden by those of a pregnant women. Pro-choice advocates maintain that a woman's choice to terminate her pregnancy is her own business and hers alone, in other words, this for them is a private decision. Well, I argue that this is not necessarily the case, ethically, the father of the unborn child should also be considered in such a decision. Given that virtually every abortion has risks, the parents of the aborting woman and to some extent the society at large are involved. Therefore, to solely talk of the 'mother's right to choose' is basically suggest that morality is "relative" and such relativism is conceived from the idea of privatisation of abortion and life in general. In the following pages I will look at the arguments in support of abortion and against it, and these are criticised. Also discussed are the ethical implications of the new South African Termination of Pregnancy Act. Broadly speaking, technology advancement has made it possible to detect the unborn baby's physical condition (sometimes even its mental state) while the mother is still pregnant. The ethical implications of this medical intervention are used to decide whether the unborn child should live or die. Given this, if the purpose of these prenatal diagnosis were for the destruction of the unborn, therefore, advocates of the movements such as 'the right to life', and 'pro-lifers' would argue that because of particularly twisted purpose, prenatal diagnosis must be abolished. Furthermore, I will acknowledge that the Termination of Pregnancy Bill as we have it, is appraised by feminists movements and others who are not necessarily feminists as allowing increased and unrestricted access to 'free' and 'safe' abortion in the government hospitals and clinics. However, I argue that this was rather prematurely introduced. I argue that a number of pregnant women claiming to be poor still present themselves to private doctors and private clinics for abortion and they pay anything between R 600- 800 or more depending where these services are provided. On the other hand, for one reason or another, other women still choose to terminate their pregnancies back street way although the risks are high in such servicing stations. In the light of these facts, one wonders whether it is appropriate to legislate for the termination of pregnancy or would it have been a worthwhile decision to delay the legislation of abortion for a while and thoroughly make a research and relevant preparation for it. I also argue that ideology plays an important part in the abortion debates. Besides, the abortion debate is also characterised by indoctrination, the purpose of which is to leave other confused. In both cases facts are misrepresented or false statements are made, and this for me is ethically unacceptable. I will also comment on the importance of linguistics, that is, the proper understanding of normal English terms and what I refer to as 'deceptive language' used by campaigners. Inthe last part of this thesis, I will outline some basic approaches to ethics and which belong to what is referred to as postmodernism. The Postmodern worldview deconstructs metanarratives so that no one particular belief is more believable than another. This worldview bring with it ethical relativism, which is a theory which holds that morality is relative to the individual. Three movements are given as an example of this move toward ethical relativism, they are: (a) Emotivism, (b) Subjectivism, and (c) Situationalism While I will argue that rape and incest are evil acts, and support abortion in cases involving such acts, however, I also believe that abortion is not the answer to the problem of rape and incest. I will propose a number of recommendations the South African government should have made before legislating for abortion. For instance, by creating separate abortion service facilities even in the hospital premises, with properly trained staff; so that people who came to seek advice for abortion are not intimidated by those who go to full terms with their pregnancy. Included in this thesis is a case study to demonstrate the complexity of the abortion issue to everyone involved. Some psychological and emotional symptoms following abortion will be outlined and this according to women who do share their abortion story is a reality they have to live with every day of their lives. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Aborsie is moontlik een van die mees veelbesproke kwessies van ons tyd, sowel in Suid- Afrika as wêreldwyd. 'n Groeiende aantal vroue erken dat hulle al een gehad het. Basies is daar twee opponerende gesigspunte en waardes betrokke by die twispunt rondom aborsie. Aborsie was voor die aanvaarding van die jongste wetgewing (d.w.s. voor 1 Februarie 1997) in Suid-Afrika slegs moontlik onder streng beperkings. Voor die huidige wet ( die "Termination of Pregnancy Bill") in werking gekom het, het die meerderheid vroue geen toegang tot aborsie gehad in Suid-Afrika nie, wat gelei het tot 'n toename in agterstraat aborsies. Die nuwe wet gee nie slegs die reg om te aborteer aan vroue wat swanger is as gevolg van kriminele optrede soos verkragting of bloedskande nie. Die huidige, buitengewooon liberale wet gee ook vir alle praktiese doeleindes aan die vroue die reg om aborsie op versoek te ondergaan tot op 20 weke van swangerskap. Die doel van hierdie werkstuk is om hierdie nuwe liberale wet aan 'n krities ondersoek te onderwerp. Deel van die etiese dilemma rondom die kwessie van aborsie spruit voort uit die feit dat daar diegene is wat reken dat, indien daar enige konflik tussen regte en belange is, die regte van die fetus ondergeskik is aan die regte van die swanger vrou. Diegene ten gunste van aborsie voer aan dat die keuse gemaak moet word deur die betrokke vrou, en dat so 'n keuse uitsluitlik haar eie is. Ek argumenteer dat dit nie noodwendig die geval is nie. Die vader van die ongebore kind behoort ook 'n sê te hê in hierdie saak. Gegee dat elke aborsie sekere risiko's insluit, het die ouers van die betrokke vrou en die samelewing ook 'n belang by so ,'n situasie. Dus is om slegs te praat van die 'vrou se reg om te Ides' om te suggereer dat moraliteit "relatief' is, en sulke relativisme word afgelei van die idee van die privatisering van aborsie en die lewe in die algemeen. In die volgende bladsye sal ek die argumente vir en teen aborsie analiseer en kritiseer. Die etiese implikasies van die nuwe Termination of Pregnancy Act word veral bespreek. Tegnologiese vooruitgang het dit moontlik gemaak dat die ongebore baba se fisiese (en soms selfs mentale) kondisie bepaal kan word voor geboorte. Die etiese implikasies van die mediese intervensie word gebruik om te besluit of die ongebore baba moet lewe of sterf Dus, indien die doel van prenatale diagnose die moontlike vernietiging van die ongeborene insluit, sal diegene wat teen aborsie is, argumenteer dat so 'n verwronge doel veroorsaak dat sulke ondersoeke gestaak behoort te word. Ek sal erken dat die nuwe wet waardeer word deur feministe, en andere wat nie noodwendig feministe is nie, as 'n wet wat dit moontlik maak dat daar toenemende en onbeperkte toegang is tot 'gratis' en 'veilige' aborsies in regeringshospitale en klinieke. Maar ek wil argumenteer dat die wet te vroeg aangeneem is. Ek argumenteer dat 'n groot aantal verwagtende vroue voorgee dat hulle arm is en poog om 'n aborsie te kry by private dokters en klinieke, en dan tussen R600 - R800 of meer betaal vir so 'n diens, afhangende van waar dit geskied. Aan die ander kant, om een of ander rede, kies sommige vroue steeds om hulle swangerskappe te termineer deur agterstraat-aborsies, ten spyte van die risiko's. Gegewe hierdie feit, wonder mens of dit gepas was on 'n wet in te stel aangaande die terminasie van swangerskap, en of dit nie beter sou wees om die wetgewing uit te stel tot volledige navorsing gedoen is en voorbereiding getref is nie. Ek argumenteer ook dat ideologie 'n belangrike rol speel in die aborsie-debat. Die aborsie-debat word ook gekenmerk deur indoktrinasie ten einde mense te verwar. In beide gevalle is daar die wanvoorstelling van feite of word valse stellings gemaak, wat eties onaanvaarbaar is. Ek salook kommentaar lewer oor die belangrikheid van taal, dws die korrekte verstaan van normale (Engelse) terme en wat ek na verwys as die 'misleidende taal' wat gebruik word deur sekere kampvegters betrokke by die debat. In die laaste deel van die werkstuk sal ek sekere basiese benaderings tot etiek ondersoek, veral dié wat na verwys word as "postmodernisme". Die Postmoderne gesigspunt dekonstrueer metanarratiewe sodat geen spesifieke oordeel langer meer geloofwaardig is as 'n ander nie. Hierdie gesigspunt word dan ook vergesel deur etiese relativisme, wat huldig dat moraliteit relatief is tot die individu. Drie bewegings word genoem as voorbeelde van hierdie beweging na etiese relativisme, nl: (a) Emotivisme, (b) Subjektivisme, en (c) Situasie-etiek Alhoewel ek argumenteer dat verkragting en bloedskande morele verkeerd is, en alhoewel ek aborsie in sulke gevalle voorstaan, glo ek nie dat aborsie 'n antwoord bied op die probleem van verkragting en bloedskande nie. Ek sal 'n aantal voorstelle maak aangaande wat eintlik moes gebeur het voor die regering die huidige aborsiewet aanvaar het. Byvoorbeeld, dat aparte aborsie-fasiliteite, selfs by die hospitaal en met opgeleide personeel, geskep moes word ten einde te voorkom dat diegene wat advies vra aangaande aborsie nie geïntimideer word deur persone wat nie wil aborteer nie. Ingesluit in hierdie studie is 'n gevallestudie wat die kompleksiteit van die kwessie rondom aborsie, vir al die rolspelers, demonstreer. Sekere emosionele en sielkundige simptome, veroorsaak deurdat 'n persoon besluit het om te aborteer, sal geskets word. Vir vroue wat 'n aborsie ondergaan het is hierdie 'n realiteit waarmee hulle elke dag moet saamleef

Efter flertalet skandaler och kriser samt en ökad kunskap om hur jorden påverkas av individers agerande behöver också företag börja ta sitt ansvar. Det utvidgade ansvaret kallas CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) eller ansvarsfullt företagande och det arbetet kräver självregleringar exempelvis med hjälp av uppförandekoder. Livsmedelsföretag är en bransch där allt fler företag satsar på ansvarsfullt företagande och använder uppförandekoder. Kodernas innehåll och effekt utgör två inriktningar inom forskningen som har studerats tidigare med ett blandat och motsägande resultat angående dess effekt på det etiska beteendet. Dock återfinns relativt få studier om den tredje inriktningen som berör hur koderna transformeras i organisationer och hur kontextuella faktorer kan inverka i processen. Syftet med studien är således att få en ökad förståelse för vad som kan påverka uppförandekodernas effekt på beteende genom att studera en intern transformativ process, det vill säga hur en kod implementeras, används och kommuniceras. Vidare syftar studien också till att skapa förståelse för varför koden fungerar som uppvisat och belysa dess roll i att skapa en etisk företagskultur. Studien har genomförts med en kvalitativ forskningsstrategi för att på djupet skapa förståelse för fenomenet uppförandekoder. En fallstudiedesign utgjordes av en livsmedelskoncern med fokus på två olika butikskedjor, bolag A och B. Huvudsakligen har intervjuer genomförts och kompletterats med information från årsredovisningen, hållbarhetsredovisningen och hemsidan. Resultatet av studien visar att arbetet med uppförandekoden som riktar sig till leverantörerna, påverkas av interna och externa kontextuella faktorer. Främst används koden av personer i inköpsprocessen. På butiksnivå är det dock ingen som känner till uppförandekoden men det framkommer ett eventuellt behov av att även de får mer kunskap om hur arbetet med leverantörerna sker. Dels för att möta kundernas frågor i butik men också för att känna stolthet och trygghet vilket kan stärka deras identitet. Därmed är uppförandekodens roll i att skapa en etisk företagskultur större på central nivå jämfört med butiksnivå, men för att skapa ett genuint engagemang anses ledarna vara viktigast. På butiksnivå innehar det andra dokumentet etiska riktlinjer, med krav inåt i organisationen, en möjlig indirekt påverkan via ledarna eftersom ca 1000 tjänstemän årligen signerar det. Det innebär dock att långt ifrån samtliga medarbetare kommer i direkt kontakt med någon form av uppförandekod. Studien visar därmed att etiska kärnvärden och etiskt ledarskap i kombination utgör ett värderingsstyrt ledarskap som innehar en större roll i att skapa en etisk företagskultur på butiksnivå. / After multiple scandals, crises as well as increased knowledge in how the earth is affected by actions of individuals, there is a need for companies to start owning their responsibility. The extended responsibility named CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) or responsible business, demands work in form of self-regulations with help from codes of conduct. Grocery retailers are in an industry where more companies aim to be responsible businesses and uses codes of conduct. Regarding the research field of codes, the contents of the codes and their effects make two directions that have been researched earlier with various and inconsistent results regarding the codes’ effect on behaviour. However, little research has been found regarding the third direction, which involves research in how the codes transform in organizations and contextual factors can affect this process. The aim with the study is therefore to receive a greater understanding of what might affect codes’ effect on behaviour, by studying an internal transformation process, that is, how a code gets implemented, used and communicated in the organization. Furthermore, the study aims to explain why the codes work as shown and tries to enlighten its role in creating an ethical corporate culture. The study has been conducted by a qualitative research strategy in order to create a greater understanding for the phenomena that is codes of conduct. A case study design was made with focus on a food group and two of its store chains called firm A and B. Primarily interviews have been completed and complemented by information from the annual report, sustainability report and the website. Results of the study show that the work with the code of conduct directed towards suppliers are being affected by internal and external contextual factors. People involved in the purchase process mainly use the code. At store level however, no one is greatly aware of the code of conduct. Nevertheless, it is apparent that there is a need for more knowledge regarding how the work with suppliers takes place. Partly because there is need to be able to answer customer’s questions, but also because the employees should feel pride and security, which can strengthen their identity. Consequently, the role of the code of conduct in creating an ethical corporate culture is larger on a central level rather than on store level, but in order to create genuine engagement leaders are the most important. On store level, another document called ethical guidelines; aimed inwards the organization, has a possible indirect effect through store managers since 1000 officials annually sign it. This implies that far from all employees come in direct contact with any kind of code of conduct. The study rather shows that the combination of ethical core values and ethical leadership creates a values-based leadership that holds a greater role in creating an ethical corporate culture, on store level.

This dissertation examines Peter Singer's proposed ethical value of the "person" in Rethinking Life and Death . Chapter 1 introduces and outlines Singer's proposal, which argues for abortion, infanticide, euthanasia, and assisted suicide. His proposal consists of four key points. First, there is the foundation for his proposal--rejecting creation for evolution. Second, there is the substance of his proposal--replacing the value of the "human" with the value of the "person." Third, there is the criteria for his proposal--using "indicators" and "relevant characteristics" to identify the kinds of beings who qualify as "persons." Fourth, there are the consequences of his proposal--promising an ethical "Copernican Revolution." Chapters 2-5 critically evaluate the four key ideas from Singer above. The evaluation of the respective key idea in each chapter covers five steps: (1) the context of Singer's proposal; (2) the content of Singer's proposal; (3) positive evaluation; (4) negative critique; and (5) conclusion. The research methodology for the dissertation is to treat Singer's ethical proposal on the "person" as a hypothesis to be tested by his own truth standards of logical consistency, empirical evidence, and practicality. Following these four key chapters, Chapter 6 provides "Summary and Conclusions." The conclusion of this dissertation is that Peter Singer's proposal on life and death is not to be commended because its key elements are not supported by his own standards for testing truth. In fact, when examined by his own truth tests, Singer's program should be rejected because its foundation is faulty, its substance is illusory, its criteria are circular, and its consequences would be grave. / 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 links ethical leadership theory to the implementation of improved leadership practices and examines whether ethical leadership characteristics actually exist, particularly in highly operational environments. The study analyses how ethical leadership can be embedded by process, by applied leadership (role modelling), and by changing culture and climate. The conclusion reveals that all three approaches are needed for an implementation and depend on middle managers, otherwise no organisational transformation is possible. The research design of this qualitative study analyses data from 100 in-depth interviews using inductive categorisation, aiming to retrieve deep, rich and unprompted data from a highly developed and advanced production facility. The ethical leadership characteristics, and evidence specific influences on leadership behaviour, revealing 14 perceived leadership issues resulting in a leadership climate which negatively influences motivation, performance, and corporate culture. These issues were found to be responsible for deteriorating work climate, motivation, morale, and team spirit. Particularly favouritism, inequalities, shouting, blaming, internal competition and unclear strategies ruin motivation, employee health, and co-operation. Concerning the implementation of a better suited leadership culture, a research framework model is developed, integrating transformational change and leadership. Findings document that the influence of middle managers acting as role models seems to be greater than research suggests. Key findings also show that individual leadership development without changing the corporate realities is not sufficient to implement ethical strategies. Neglecting to actively control the leadership climate can have devastating effects even for very successful operations. Considering the pressure of goal attainment in highly operational areas, an absence of unethical behaviour can already be seen as a success for leaders. Finally, a change process sequence for shaping leadership climate was identified. These research results are highly relevant for organisations and leaders wishing to be engaged in improving their leadership quality.

This thesis is a study of ethics and multiplicity as found within contemporary commercial settings. Drawing on Science and Technology Studies (STS) sensibilities and ethnographic-style research, the thesis proposes that current ethical phenomena should be understood as a user-enacted chimerical object: an object that is multiple in its ontology and as much enacted by what it is, as what it is not. This research is particularly pertinent now because the term 'ethical' has become commonplace in modern Western life, including crucially within commercial activities. In certain uses, doing ethics becomes synonymous with doing business. Despite the increasing prevalence of what is considered 'ethical business', the exploration of how the term is appropriated and enacted remains largely under-examined. Through examination of research material gathered during extensive ethnographic studies in three self-avowedly 'ethical organisations' - an ethical start-up, an ethical confectionery company, and an ethical consultancy - the thesis addresses this research gap. By focusing on the users of ethical business, the investigation questions traditional market assumptions of homogeneity within producing organisations, the supposed linear transfer of ethical knowledge, what we can know about 'users', and the genesis of novel ethical realities. Through this questioning the thesis provides new insights on the ethical object. The thesis additionally builds upon questions of how far we can push the boundaries of what we can know about knowledge, and whether it is possible to bring the mess of investigation back into the reporting. Developing previous applications of constitutive reflexivity, the research symmetrically investigates the appropriateness of my application of STS sensibilities to ethical business as a new research area, and interrogates my thesis as an ethical object in order to address the underlying question(s) of whether 'STS means ethical business?'

Thesis deals with the ethical problems at the wards of psychiatric hospital. The environment of a psychiatric hospital in the context of its target group psychiatric patients is a source of ethically important situations, which must be solved by the medical social worker. This puts high demands on the worker as he is the/an executive tool of medical social work.The goal of the thesis is to identify ethically important situations, to suggest their solution and eventually to reflect these solutions with the ethical theories, ethical codes, inner rules of the psychiatric hospital and other statutory norms. The structure of the thesis is adjusted to this goal: first, I define the environment of the hospital, describe the target group and medical social worker profession. Secondly, I describe ethical problems identified before, suggest their solutions and reflect them. Finally, in the last part of the thesis, in the discussion, I contemplate about preliminary ethical understanding as a basis for identification of the ethical problems and I ponder other factors that matters in reaching the remedies of ethical problems.

Text in English / Health Studies / M.A. (Nursing Science)

This work examines the use of nonhuman animals in the farming industry and seeks to understand why this practice takes place and what supports its continuation. The research is approached from a critical realist perspective and after a description of past and current practices in the industry, it uses abduction and retroduction to determine the essential conditions for the continuation of the phenomenon of nonhuman animal farming. One essential condition is found to be the existence of negative discourses relating to nonhuman animals and this aspect is examined in more detail by analyzing a corpus of texts from a farming magazine using Critical Discourse Analysis. Major discourses which were found to be present were those of production, science and slavery which construct the nonhumans respectively as objects of scientific investigation, as production machines and as slaves. A minor discourse of achievement relating to the nonhumans was also present. Further analysis of linguistic features examined the way in which the nonhumans are socially constructed in the discourses. Drawing on work in experimental psychology by Millgram, Zimbardo and Bandura it was found that the effects of these discourses fulfil many of the conditions for bringing about moral disengagement in people thus explaining why billions of people are able to support animal farming in various ways even though what happens in the phenomenon is contrary to their basic ethical and moral beliefs.

Bakgrund: Enhetschefen har inte bara ett komplext uppdrag för egen del, utan är också en viktig del för sina medarbetares och brukares välmående och miljö, samt hur verksamheten speglas och speglar sociala regler utåt. Detta sätter stora krav på förmågan att balansera många olika arbetsuppgifter i relation till människors livsvillkor och kan därmed försätta enhetschefen i etiska situationer som skapar stress. Därav finns en relevans i att undersöka etisk stress hos enhetschefer. Syfte: Syftet med studien är att undersöka hur arbetsvillkor kan medföra etisk stress hos enhetschefer inom kommunal äldreomsorg. Metod: Med studiens kvalitativa ansats har sex individuella semistrukturerade intervjuer genomförts med informanter från två olika kommuner. Intervjuerna spelades in och transkriberades för analys med tematisk ansats. Till studiens teoretiska utgångspunkter antog forskarna en sensitiv ansats till Karasek och Theorells krav- kontroll- och stödmodell samt delar av socialpedagogisk handlingsdimension där fokus lades på delaktighet, lärande och erkännande. Dessa fick fungera som analysverktyg i relation till befintlig forskning på området.  Resultat: Studien uppmärksammar en okunskap om etisk stress hos informanterna. Det framkommer hög arbetsbelastning samt begränsningar till ett närvarande ledarskap, vilket skapar stress för samtliga informanter. Informanterna har utvecklat en viss acceptans för att bibehålla och hantera sitt uppdrag. Studien resulterar i att informanterna kommer till insikt att de inte bara utmanas i etiska dilemman som skapar stress, utan också dagligen utsätts för etisk stress.

Digital piracy, the illegal copying or downloading of copyrighted digital products without approval from the copyright holders, has brought great economic loss to the software and digital media industries. Previous studies using moral developmental theory have not found consistent relationships between moral judgment and attitudes towards digital piracy. While some researchers have developed individual test items to assess relationships between moral judgment and attitudes toward digital piracy, others have relied on the Defining Issues Test (DIT). However, in that the DIT represents a general measure of moral judgment based on broad social issues, it, too, may not adequately assess an individual’s reasoning specific to issues regarding digital piracy. The purpose of this study was to create a reliable instrument (i.e., DP-DIT) modeled after the DIT designed to assess moral judgment regarding digital piracy as well as to examine and compare the ability of both DP-DIT and DIT2-short to predict attitudes, intentions and behaviors regarding digital piracy of college students. Results indicated the reliability of both the DIT2-short and the DP-DIT were discounted, quite likely due to the small number of stories contained in each. DP-DIT appeared to have greater predictive ability due to its advantage in predicting attitudes toward digital piracy, especially using DP-DIT MNS. However, even though here DP-DIT MNS was the strongest predictor of attitudes toward digital piracy, it explained a limited amount of variance. Further research to improve reliability and validity of DP-DIT is warranted.