The 'prevalence of the calm passions over the violent' is Hume's general formula for both virtue and happiness. I argue in this dissertation that Hume's detailed account of the causes and effects of the relative calmness and strength of motivating passions in Treatise 2.3 is a main goal of Hume's project in the Treatise, Books I and II, and the reason why he published them together in 1739 as a "compleat chain of reasoning by themselves." However, despite widespread recognition of the general importance of this doctrine to Hume's 'science of man', no adequate attempt has been made to investigate those sections of Treatise 2.3 which bear directly on a deeper understanding of the causes of this 'prevalence of the calm passions'. Such attention is particularly warranted because, as I argue, these sections of the Treatise constitute Hume's attempt at an 'anatomy' of deliberation which accounts for the principles of human nature by which we successfully regulate our conduct and remain constant in pursuit of our long-term greater good. However, these sections also give rise to interpretative challenges that threaten the coherence of this central doctrine. Accordingly, my aim in this dissertation is to analyze Hume's anatomy of deliberation and of the prevalence of calm passions in Treatise 2.3 and to work through the interpretative difficulties it poses. I present a novel resolution of these interpretative problems which calls attention to the importance both of Hume's Treatise, Book I account of causal belief and of his neglected account of the influence of the passions on the imagination and understanding for his theory of motivation. I demonstrate that it is only when we attend to these key features of Hume's account of human nature that we can appreciate the coherent Humean theory of prudential motivation that emerges from Treatise 2.3.

The aim of this thesis is to provide an argument that enhancement technologies are a form of enablement more significant than their physical effects; rather, that enhancement might be a fundamental element of humanity. This allows a refutation of the standard bioconservative position, that to increase capacity beyond that of a "normal" Homo sapiens necessarily defeats humanity, or at least nebulous aspects of it. I here argue instead that humanity is affirmed, and furthermore that enhancements are in fact inherently good, valuable, and worthwhile pursuits; on the assumption that it is, as critics of enhancements and transhumanism say, inherently good, valuable, and worthy of preservation to be human. I suggest thus that to enhance is the essence of, and the key to, the continuum of humanity. In the introduction, I set out the reasons why this type of research is increasingly necessary, namely that it is important to rationally consider the effects which new enhancement and related technologies will have on our persons and on our society. Secondly, it presents my rationales for taking liberal stances on questions such as the scope and definition of enhancement, the supposed therapy- enhancement divide, and on access to enhancement technology; in order to provide a reasoned base from which to build the core themes of the thesis. It goes on to address a number of the archetypical critical arguments against enhancement, in support of these core themes. Part II of the thesis contains the papers and delivers the main arguments in sequence- firstly, the need for the application of rationality in policymaking and commentary on bioethical concerns, and secondly the importance of considering motivation when attempting to divine the best course of action to regulate beings and technologies that we have not yet experienced, and the manner of which we cannot entirely predict. This is followed by an argument as to whether it is reasonable to treat enhanced or other purported novel beings that could result from these technologies as different from ourselves, and thus warranting such policy considerations. To accomplish this, the thesis delivers a fresh angle on the relationship between Homo sapiens sapiens, the human, and whatever is posited to supersede it, the posthuman. A central theme is the idea that humanity is a "matter of sufficiency"- an end-state for moral status, not a stepping-stone which one can be 'post'. These arguments culminate in a contention that it is enhancement that acts as the unifying factor in our evolution and existence, and that there is therefore unlikely to be any good reason to see beings that follow the humans of today as being different in any significant way. The thesis concludes with an exploration of the progression of these themes, as well as identifying the place of my work amongst the wider academic literature around enhancement and the nature of the human. Finally, the most promising avenues for future research are explored.

Le contexte historique et épistémologique de l’émergence de la génétique des comportements en tant que discipline trouve ses racines dans différentes disciplines biologiques : la génétique, la biologie de l’évolution et la biologie moléculaire. Ces dernières font partie du paradigme néodarwinien moléculaire. De cette origine, elle a hérité deux grands domaines de recherche, la génétique quantitative et la génétique moléculaire. Ils ont chacun des objectifs et des méthodologies différents. Les études concernant l’intelligence, les comportements agressifs, les comportements addictifs et l’orientation sexuelle permettent notamment d’illustrer ces différences. Elles permettent également de faire un état des lieux des recherches menées dans ce domaine parfois hautement polémique. En fait, la génétique des comportements est marquée par deux ères épistémologiques, l’ère génomique qui a débuté dans les années 1980 et l’ère post-génomique, qui comme son nom l’indique, lui succède dès le début des années 2000. Les résultats apportés par l’ensemble de ces recherches imposent une conclusion, les approches théoriques et techniques phares de l’ère génomique sont insuffisantes à rendre compte de la complexité des phénomènes développementaux liés aux comportements. L’ère post-génomique tente donc de combler les faiblesses de l’ère précédente. Ainsi, la biologie développementale revient au premier plan et ce retour est souhaité depuis longtemps par un courant philosophique majeur né dans les années 1990, la Developmental Systems Theory. L’ère post-génomique est également caractérisée par un pluralisme pragmatique, à la fois théorique et expérimental. La nécessité de multiplier les modes d’appréhension des comportements s’impose car leur complexité intrinsèque est reconnue et tend à être assumée. Les résultats plus récents apportés par les recherches sur l’intelligence, les comportements agressifs, addictifs et l’orientation sexuelle illustrent cette évolution épistémologique. L’opposition entre inné et acquis échoue à rendre compte de la complexité et du dynamisme développemental des phénotypes comportementaux./ The historical and epistemological context of the birth of behavioral genetics as a discipline has its roots in different biological domains: genetics, evolutionary biology and molecular biology. They are parts of the molecular neo-Darwinian paradigm. From this multiple outset, behavioral genetics has inherited two major areas of research, quantitative genetics and molecular genetics. They each have different purposes and methodologies. The study of researches on IQ, aggressive behaviors, addictive behaviors and sexual orientation illustrate these differences. It also permits to make an overview of results provided in this field that is sometimes highly controversial. In fact, behavioral genetics is marked by two epistemological eras, the genomic era that began in the 1980s and the postgenomic era that began by the early 2000s. The results provided by all these researches lead to one conclusion, the theoretical and technical approaches of the genomic era is insufficient to show the complexity of developmental phenomena associated with behaviors. The postgenomic era attempts to correct the weaknesses of the previous era. Thus, developmental biology comes back in the foreground and the necessity of this return has been defended by a major philosophical theory born in 1990, the Developmental Systems Theory. The postgenomic era is also characterized by a theoretical and experimental pragmatic pluralism. The complexity of the developmental patterns of behaviors is recognized and tends to be assumed. The latest results produce by researches on IQ, aggressive behaviors, addiction and sexual orientation illustrate these epistemological changes. The opposition between nature and nurture fails to properly apprehend the developmental dynamism of behavioral phenotypes.

The human rights have a general value, Its key content is fully respect for human nature dignity. For the protection of the personal fundamental right is the most concrete behavior to human nature dignity, Most people is argue for personal fundamental right strongly, For the purpose is reflect the value of personal subject, but not depend on the country or the other personal tool. For a long time¡Athe probationers are downgrade and from the common people get that difference treated, fundamental right¡¦s protect ought to be paid attention to and paid close attention to. The text since being the constitutional foundation to research the job right, inhabit the freedom of remove, the self-determination right of information, and even serve in the army some. With the discussion of this text, I expect to be able to distinguish the guide orientation of the criminal policy for country further, besides complementing with various kinds of tactics and application that handle, Must has the concept on people's fundamental right protect even more. I believe that our country will running of the law only like this, the practice achievement that human rights runs a country, fully respecting with emphasized to all people's human nature dignity.

The <I>Essays on the Active Powers of Man </I>are Thomas Reid's last major work, where the Scottish philosopher presents an original theory of human agency. This thesis is a critical reconstruction of Reid's theory, showing how it completes his earlier <I>Essays on the Intellectual Powers. </I>It is argued that Reid's theory of agency must be understood as uncovering the essential aspects of the actions of human persons, and therefore that it provides an understanding of the nature of personality and of the agency proper to persons. If Reid's arguments often appear as negative responses to philosophers that have preceded him, Locke and Hume in particular, what underlies these criticisms is in fact a positive and coherent conception of man. The metaphysics of personal identity and agency thus constitutes the framework in which Reid develops a moral psychology in a naturalistic spirit, as well as an analysis and defence of the possibility of free agency, what he calls man's "moral liberty". By virtue of their natural constitution, human beings are able to exert their voluntary abilities according to particular reasons. They are thereby free from necessity and capable of self-government, as moral and responsible agents. Reid's theory of action and morality reveals important aspects of human nature, and especially the irreducibility of human agency and personality. The <I>Essays on the Active Powers </I>then constitute an essential part of his philosophy, whether it be understood as a "science of man" or as a "philosophy of common sense".

FREITAS, Willam Gerson de. A trajetória agônica do homem hobbesiano. 2011. 127f. – Dissertação (Mestrado) – Universidade Federal do Ceará, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Filosofia, Fortaleza (CE), 2011. / Submitted by Gustavo Daher (gdaherufc@hotmail.com) on 2017-09-14T12:12:02Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2011_dis_wgfreitas.pdf: 826946 bytes, checksum: 5f75218cf17963b0d3a5d7fd485b6ee2 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Márcia Araújo (marcia_m_bezerra@yahoo.com.br) on 2017-09-14T14:33:03Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2011_dis_wgfreitas.pdf: 826946 bytes, checksum: 5f75218cf17963b0d3a5d7fd485b6ee2 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-09-14T14:33:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2011_dis_wgfreitas.pdf: 826946 bytes, checksum: 5f75218cf17963b0d3a5d7fd485b6ee2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / The aim of this work is to discuss the concept of man on Thomas Hobbes in the three pillars that make up your theory: the state of nature, the contract and the State. First, it discusses the equality of men, the three causes of war of all against all, and how to understand the relationship between your theory and the historical moment in which he lived. Secondly, it is shown the concept of contract as a product of human capacity to transform the reality, and also the relationship between the mechanical and the moral, and the union of reason and passion in your anthropology. Finally, it analyzes the divine authority of the state and, because of this, the possibility of failure on the part of sovereign power with the rationale of the pact between individuals, which is the preservation of life. It intend to demonstrate that the seventeenth-century thinker sees the human condition as an agonizing journey, in which even the best guarantee of peace, the State, presents the possibility of serious drawbacks. / O objetivo deste trabalho é discutir a concepção de homem em Thomas Hobbes nos três pilares que compõe sua teoria: o estado natural, o contrato e o Estado. Em primeiro lugar, se analisa a igualdade entre os homens, as três causas da guerra de todos contra todos, e como compreender a relação entre a teoria do autor e o momento histórico em que ele viveu. Em segundo lugar, mostra-se a concepção de contrato como produto da capacidade humana de transformação da realidade e, ainda, a relação entre a mecânica e a moral, e a união de razão e paixões em sua antropologia. Por fim, destaca-se o Estado como detentor de uma autoridade divina e, em virtude disto, a possibilidade do descumprimento, por parte do poder soberano, com a razão de ser do pacto entre os indivíduos, a preservação da vida. Pretende-se demonstrar que o pensador seiscentista concebe a condição humana como uma trajetória agônica, na qual até mesmo a maior garantia de paz, o Estado, apresenta a possibilidade de sérios inconvenientes.

This thesis examines the basic attitude of individual (presented as Homo economicus) on the market, as well as the part of the group that he/she lives in. First part deals with economic phenomenon, where Homo economicus is placed on the market and his role is described through some examples of transactions and certain processes on microeconomics and macroeconomics level. The other part deals with human nature, which is connected with Homo economicus. The aim of this chapter is to prove that there is some part of human nature that exist in all of us and thus in Homo economicus as well. Some of the main passions and urges are described and attached to individual, deepening the general picture of Homo economicus. This part of the thesis gives a different approach to Homo economicus' nature, based on a more social structure where one is placed in a society, which is presented through individual's interaction with others, as well as through the need of accomplishing himself/herself as a human being in the society. Lastly, the aim is to show that Homo economicus is inevitably connected to human nature. In order to achieve the ambition, he/she needs society, needs the others, and from that need a qualitative jump can occur because one is pushing the society forward. The importance of society in...

This thesis explores in what way the organisation IHOPE discuss the concept of Anthropocene in text. The texts analysed are based on a selection from publications on IHOPE’s webpage that encompass the word ‘Anthropocene’. The thesis further discusses the role of archaeology in the Anthropocene debate and glances at the agency theory in a discussion of the emergence of Anthropocene as defined as a new geological era. The thesis also discusses this definition and compares it to other alternative definitions as well as diving into the debate of the starting point of this proposed era. A short introduction is made of environmental determinism and its role in archaeology, and how that possibly relates to the background for the idea of Anthropocene. The texts analysed are presented through John Dryzek’s categories for discourse analysis on environmental issues in order to answer the research questions. / Studien utforskar hur organisationen IHOPE diskuterar konceptet Antropocen i sina texter. Texterna som analyseras baseras på ett urval av publikationer från IHOPE:s hemsida, specifikt de som använder ordet ‘Antropocen’. Studien diskuterar även rollen för arkeologi i debatten kring Antropocen och tittar på agensteori i en diskussion kring uppkomsten av Antropocen i dess definition som en geologisk period. Studien diskuterar även denna definition and jämför den med andra definitioner samt dyker in i debatten gällande när denna geologiska period anses ha börjat. En kort introduktion till miljödeterminism ges och dess roll inom arkeologi samt hur det kan relatera till bakgrunden för idén om Antropocen. Texterna som analyseras presenteras genom användningen av John Dryzeks kategorier som är utformade för diskursanalyser av miljörelaterade frågor. Metoden används för att söka besvara forskningsfrågorna.

This discussion purports to be an original study of the poetry of Emily Dickinson, a study based chiefly on the poems themselves and not on a digest of critical views and opinions.

This integrating essay is based on an Aristotelian-Thomism in exploring ethical decisionmaking and corporate governance mechanisms to address issues of corporate deviant behaviour, and ultimately, human flourishing. Eight (8) peer-reviewed journal articles analyse the causes of moral failings of corporate governance and ethical decision-making mechanisms, and propose to address these ethical deficits: (1) Virtue Theory as a Dynamic Theory of Business proposes a meta-theory of business that links the concepts of virtues, the common good, and the dynamic economy, (2) A Communitarian Model of Business: A Natural Law Perspective offers a communitarian view of business in defining the business organisation as one that incorporates its social purpose that acknowledges the primacy of people over profits, (3) Corporate Governance: An Ethical Perspective makes the distinction between ethical and legal compliance approaches to corporate governance in arguing the necessity and importance of the former approach as a basis for an effective legal compliance culture, (4) Striking a Balance between Rules and Principles-Based Approaches for Effective Governance: A Risks-Based Approach highlights the drawbacks of an excessively heavy reliance on rules-based approaches to corporate governance, (5) Ethical Decision-Making: A Case for the Triple Font Theory offers a comprehensive, systematic, practical approach to ethical decisionmaking that attempts to integrate virtue ethics into act-oriented normative ethical theories, (6) Reconciling Situational Social Psychology with Virtue Ethics attempts to reconcile the virtue ethicssituational social psychology debate, (7) Slippery when Wet: The Real Risk in Business identifies factors that contribute to corporate deviant behaviour from both an individual and organisational perspectives, and (8) An Aristotelian-Thomistic Approach to Management Practice argues that an Aristotelian-Thomistic humanism better promotes human dignity as it corrects the dysfunctional aspects and ethical deficits than its utilitarian naturalistic humanism counterpart. The failure to integrate an Aristotelian-Thomistic understanding of the virtues and natural law ethical principles of subsidiarity, solidarity, human dignity, and the common good into business practice threatens the stability and survival of the firm since they are required to correct the dysfunctional aspects and ethical deficits of certain aspects of market behaviour.