Rugby refereeing requires its practitioners to possess certain qualities. MacIntyre (1981) emphasises the importance of moral goods defined with respect to a community of virtuous persons engaged in a social practice. Whereas a virtue ethics account of playing and coaching has evolved (Brown, 1990; McNamee, 1995), little philosophical work exists on the role and status of elite match officials. The significance attached to the outcome of elite sport contests provide principled and instrumental reasons as to why this particular sporting aspect requires attention. Existing sports officiating research deals primarily with psychological (Bar-Eli et al., 1995; Boyko et al., 2007; Nevill et al., 2002; Weinberg et al., 1990) and physiological issues (Castagna et al., 2007; Inácio da Silva et al., 2008; Reilly et al., 2006). This work does little to explain the role and function of elite officiating. This interpretive study aims to enhance role understanding within a MacIntyrean framework, using elite Rugby Union officiating in Wales as its particular context. It examines the extent to which elite Rugby officiating can be considered part of a social practice by investigating the elite referee’s role as an arbitrator of justice and fairness and other responsibilities that may constitute the internal goods and virtues that safeguard the game. This analysis provides principled foundations for identifying those aspects of the referee development structure that represent ‘good practice’ and those that require reform. Key findings suggest (i) that Rugby refereeing is unique within sports officiating, (ii) that officiating is an integral yet imprecisely understood part of the practice; what Morgan (2007) refers to as a social collaboration and (iii) that greater interactivity between playing, coaching and officiating would enhance the growing understanding of Welsh Rugby as a commodified product. Subsequent recommendations include implementing a holistic approach to developing the game through the creation of a Rugby triumvirate and maximising the limited resources in the referee development process through early talent identification.

Thesis (MPhil (Philosophy))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study finds its roots in the ancient quarrel, as mentioned by Plato 400 BC, between poets (artists) and philosophers on the nature of our ethical existence. The ancient philosophers participating in the ancient quarrel, such as Plato, had a metaphysical understanding of our existence and they believed that we should communicate about our ethical existence through a style which acknowledges the transcendental nature of our human existence. The styles and language used by the philosophers of the ancient quarrel were therefore often very abstract, and mostly concerned with the rationality of human reasoning. The ancient poets participating in this quarrel, however, did not share the metaphysical worldview of their philosophical rivals. They denied the transcendental nature of our existence, and argued that our ethical existence should be portrayed and communicated through a style which acknowledges the fact that we are humans with a concrete existence. The poets of the ancient quarrel also promoted a style which acknowledges humans as beings with both rational and emotional faculties. It is for this reason that we find today in literature concerned with moral matters, both the abstract style of moral philosophy which is concerned with the rational aspects of our existence, and the concrete style of fictional literature which is concerned with the emotive aspects of our existence. The quarrel on how to communicate about the nature of our ethical existence is, however, an ongoing debate which is still prevalent in our modern times. This study turns to the modern argument of Martha Nussbaum on how to communicate about the nature of our ethical existence. Nussbaum argues that the abstract style of philosophical texts on morality acknowledges the abstract and rational aspects of our human nature and existence, but that it often fails to fully acknowledge the fact that we are concrete human beings for whom emotions play an integral part in our ethical existence. She therefore believes that moral philosophy should be presented in combination with fictional literature in order to give a true and complete picture of our ethical existence. This study thus enters into a critical dialogue with Nussbaum on her proposal to combine fictional literature with moral philosophy. Accordingly, this study focuses on three specific aspects of our ethical existence, which Nussbaum argues, are acknowledged through fictional literature such as novels, but not through the typical style of abstract moral philosophy. They are; 1) that human values are plural and often incommensurable; 2) that the particulars of situations play an important role in ethical deliberation; and 3) that human emotions and the imagination form a big part of our ethical existence. The fundamental aim of this study is thus to answer the question whether the style of fictional literature actually acknowledges the three above mentioned aspects of our ethical existence. The novel which is used to determine this is Alan Paton’s Cry the Beloved Country. Nussbaum classifies the three above mentioned aspects of our ethical existence as 1) The Non- Commensurability and Plurality of Values; 2) Priority of the Particular; and 3) Ethical Value of the Emotions and Imagination. These three aspects are, however, derived from Aristotle’s ethics and they form, as Nussbaum has argued, the bases of the Aristotelian ethical position – a position from which practical knowledge can be obtained. The aim of this study is therefore not only to determine whether certain fictional literature acknowledges the three fundamental aspects of the Aristotelian ethical position, but it also aims to answer the question whether the Aristotelian ethical position (and therefore practical wisdom) can be obtained through the reading of fictional literature such as novels. The study concludes that some fictional literature, such as the novel Cry, the Beloved Country, does in fact adequately portray the three fundamental features of the Aristotelian ethical position, and that Nussbaum’s proposal should receive serious consideration, since the inclusion of some fictional literature into moral philosophy my lead to deeper ethical understanding from which practical wisdom can be obtained. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie vind sy oorsprong in die eeue oue stryd, soos al reeds geïdentifiseer deur Plato 400 vC, tussen digters (kunstenaars) en filosowe oor die aard van ons etiese bestaan. Die antieke filosowe wat deelgeneem het aan hierdie eeue oue vete, soos byvoorbeeld Plato, het ‘n metafisiese verstaan van ons bestaan gehad, en het daarom geglo dat ons oor ons etiese bestaan moet kommunikeer deur middel van style wat erkenning gee aan die transendentale aard van ons menslike bestaan. Die style en taal wat deur die filosowe van hierdie eeue oue vete gebruik is, was dus dikwels baie abstrak en uiters bemoeid met die mens se rasionele denkvermoëns. Die antieke digters wat deelgeneem het aan hierdie vete het egter nie, soos die filosowe, ‘n metafisiese wêreldbeskouing van ons bestaan gehad nie. Hulle het die transendente aard van ons bestaan ontken, en het daarom daarop aangedring dat ons etiese bestaan voorgestel en oor gekommunikeer moet word deur style wat erkenning gee aan die feit dat ons mense is met ‘n konkrete bestaan. Hulle het egter ook aangedring op ‘n styl wat erkenning gee dat mense beide rasionele en emosionele wesens is. Dit is weens hierdie rede dat ons vandag, in literatuur aangaande morele kwessies, die abstrakte en meer rasioneel geöriënteerde styl van morele filosofie, sowel as die konkrete en meer emosioneel geöriënteerde styl van fiktiewe literatuur aantref. Daar is egter vandag steeds nie klaarheid oor hoe daar oor ons etiese bestaan gekommunikeer moet word nie, en onenigheid is dus steeds te bespeur in huidige debatte oor hierdie tema. Hierdie studie ondersoek ‘n moderne argument, soos voortgestaan deur Martha Nussbaum, oor die wyse waarop daar oor die aard van ons etiese bestaan gekommunikeer moet word. Nussbaum neem die standpunt in dat die abstrakte styl van morele filosofiese tekste erkenning gee aan die abstrakte en rasionele aard van ons menslike aard en bestaan, maar dat dit nie altyd daarin slaag om erkenning te gee dat ons mense is met ‘n konkrete etiese bestaan waarin emosies (eerder as net rasionele denke) ook ‘n baie belangrike rol speel nie. Hierdie studie neem dus die vorm aan van ‘n kritiese dialoog met Nussbaum aangaande haar voorstel om fiktiewe literatuur te kombineer met morele filosofie. Gevolglik fokus hierdie studie op drie spesifieke aspekte van ons etiese bestaan, wat Nussbaum glo wel deur fiktiewe literatuur aangespreek word maar nie altyd deur tekste van morele filosofie nie. Hierdie drie aspekte is 1) dat menslike waardes uiteenlopend en dikwels onversoenbaar is; 2) dat die partikuliere elemente van situasies ’n belangrike rol speel in etiese besluitneming; en 3) dat ons menslike emosies en verbeelding ’n groot deel uitmaak van ons etiese bestaan. Die fundamentele doel van hierdie studie is dus om te bepaal of die styl van fiktiewe literatuur wel erkenning gee aan die drie bogenoemde aspekte van ons etiese bestaan. Die fiktiewe werk wat gebruik is om dit te bepaal, is Alan Paton se Cry, the Beloved Country. Nussbaum klassifiseer die drie bogenoemde aspekte van ons etiese bestaan as 1) Onversoenbaarheid and Pluraliteit van Waardes; 2) Prioriteit van die Partikuliere; en 3) Etiese Waarde van die Emosies en Verbeelding. Hierdie klassifikasie vind egter sy oorsprong in die etiek van Aristoteles, en vorm dus volgens Nussbaum die basis van die Aristoteliaanse etiese posisie – ‘n posisie van waaruit praktiese wysheid geput kan word. Die doel van hierdie studie is dus nie net om te bepaal of fiktiewe literatuur erkenning gee aan die drie fundamentele aspekte van die Aristoteliaanse etiese posisie nie, maar die doel is ook om te bepaal of die Aristoteliaanse etiese posisie (en dus praktiese wysheid) bekom kan word deur die lees van fiktiewe literatuur. Die studie kom tot die gevolgtrekking dat sekere fiktiewe literatuur, soos die werk Cry, the Beloved Country, inderdaad wel bevredigende erkenning gee aan die drie eienskappe van ons etiese bestaan, soos veronderstel deur die Aristoteliaanse etiese posisie, en dat Nussbaum se voorstel ernstige aandag behoort te geniet, aangesien die insluiting van sekere fiktiewe literatuur in morele filosofie ‘n dieper etiese verstaan teweeg kan bring, waaruit praktiese wysheid geput kan word.

A great deal of evaluations are commissioned and conducted every year in social work, but research reports a lack of use of the evaluation results. This may depend on how the evaluations are conducted, but it may also depend on how social workers use evaluation results. The aim of this thesis is to explore and analyse evaluation practice in social work from an empirical, normative, and constructive perspective. The objectives are partly to increase the understanding of how we can produce relevant and useful knowledge for social work using evaluation results and partly, to give concrete suggestions on improvements on how to conduct evaluations. The empirical data has been organised as four cases, which are evaluations of temporary programmes in social work. The source materials are documents and interviews. The results show that findings from evaluations of temporary programmes are sparingly used in social work. Evaluations seem to have unclear intentions with less relevance for learning and improvement. In contrast, the evaluators themselves are using the data for new purposes. These empirical findings are elaborated further by using the knowledge form phronesis, which can be translated into practical wisdom. The overall conclusion is that social work is in need of knowledge that social workers find relevant and useful in practice. In order to meet these needs, researchers and evaluators must broaden their knowledge view and begin to include practical knowledge instead of solely relying on scientific knowledge when conducting evaluations. Finally, a new evaluation model is suggested. It is called phronesis-based evaluation and is argued to have great potential to address and include professionals’ praxis-based knowledge. It advocates a view that takes social work’s dynamic context into serious consideration and acknowledges values and power as important components of the evaluation process.

Socialarbetare använder sig av flera typer av kunskap för att hantera komplexiteten av deras arbete, en del får man via utbildning men en del behöver förkroppsligas utifrån ett eget utforskande. Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka hur fronesis kommer till uttryck bland socialarbetare som jobbar med ungdomar med missbruksproblematik. Med inspiration från hermeneutik har i denna studie utforskat hur socialarbetare översätter deras tidigare erfarenheter till praxis. Empirin består av sex intervjuer med praktiserande socialarbetare som har flera års erfarenhet i behandlande arbete med ungdomar. Datat analyserades utifrån fronesis teori vilket är uppbyggd ur tre subkategorier: praktisk handling, moralen och personlig utveckling. Fronesis i denna studie är förmågan att anpassa sig till sammanhanget hos en situation och förmågan att handla i enlighet med en målsättning. Resultatet visar att subkategorierna gick att identifiera hos informanternas utsagor samt hade påverkan på varandra. Analysen visar att behandlarens målsättning kunde påverka både arbete samt möjligheter till vidare utveckling. / Social workers use several types of knowledge to get about in their complex work, some of which is given through education but some you have to embody on your own. The aim of this study is to use phronesis as a theory and see if this theory can explain some of the nature behind social workers experience-based knowledge. Using an approach inspired by hermeneutics this study aimed to explore how social workers translate their experience into praxis. The data consists of six interviews with practicing social workers with several years of experience in caring work with adolescents. The material was analyzed with phronesis theory which is built up by three subcategories¨: practical action, morals and personal development. Phronesis in this study is the ability to adapt to the context of the situation and the ability work towards a goal. The results show that the subcategories were identifiable in the data and had an influence on one another. Analysis shows that one’s goals could have effect on work and possibilities for further growth.

Em nossa leitura do diálogo Fédon, partiremos da análise dos motivos que Sócrates apresenta para não temer a morte, os quais se baseiam no discurso acerca da natureza da alma, para analisar os indícios que a racionalidade, mais precisamente a phronesis, oferece acerca dos limites entre o domínio supra-sensível e o domínio da vida humana. Tal reflexo, ao mesmo tempo em que denuncia sua natureza e orienta o homem verso ao exercício de filosofar, dá indicações acerca das limitações do intelecto para dizer sobre esse domínio, distinto do domínio da sensibilidade. Verificaremos a colaboração da phronesis na elaboração do discurso sobre a imortalidade, o qual justifica o destemor da morte, e os vários sentidos em que podemos compreendê-la no diálogo. / In our searching of the dialogue Phaedo, we will start by analyzing the reasons that Socrates presents to not fear death, wich are based on discourse about the nature of the soul, to examine the evidence that rationality, specifically the phronesis, offers about the boundaries between the area of the super-sensitive and the human life´s area. Such reflection, while denouncing their nature and guides the man towards to the exercise of philosophy, also provides at same time references about the limitations of the intellect to say about this area, distinct of the area of sensitivity. We will check the collaboration of phronesis in the development of the discourse on immortality, wich justifies the fearlessness of the death, and the various ways in which we can understand it in dialogue.

The purpose of this study was to determine if practical wisdom can be recognized as one factor that may be attributed to the success of individuals sitting in the position of superintendent in a school district. Practical wisdom is defined as something developed over time through experiences and knowledge. It guides decision making on moral and practical issues. The changing political climate coupled with increased accountability and the increased rate at which superintendents have been retiring, have created the necessity to identify some factors that contribute to a superintendent’s success. This study provides an assessment of practical wisdom in a single case study analyzed through this research of a female superintendent in a medium sized school district.

<p>This paper evaluates some arguments made against the conceptions of right action within virtue ethics. I argue that the different accounts of right action can meet the objections raised against them. Michael Slote‘s agent-based and Rosalind Hursthouses agent-focused account of right action give different judgments of right action but there seems to be a lack of real disagreement between the two accounts. I also argue that the concept of right action often has two important parts, relating to action guidance and moral appraisal, respectively, and that virtue ethics can deal with both without a concept of right action.</p>

This paper evaluates some arguments made against the conceptions of right action within virtue ethics. I argue that the different accounts of right action can meet the objections raised against them. Michael Slote‘s agent-based and Rosalind Hursthouses agent-focused account of right action give different judgments of right action but there seems to be a lack of real disagreement between the two accounts. I also argue that the concept of right action often has two important parts, relating to action guidance and moral appraisal, respectively, and that virtue ethics can deal with both without a concept of right action.

By using the scientific essay as a method, I explore what facts affect the roles of me, the professional, and the patient during our first interaction. I also explore in which way the interaction could be affected by its location. My own professional experience as a physiotherapist is portrayed by two examples of patient-therapist interaction where the dialogue is “slow” and a sense of consensus, which is my goal, does not occur. Philosophers, authors and scientists help me to explore and reflect about my practical knowledge and how it can be developed. The essay shows different aspects on what losing health is about and how it influences the inequality in the interaction between the patient and the healthcare provider. Dialogue is a part of the treatment and when establishing a plan of rehabilitation it is important to get the relatives involved. By using different aspects of interpersonal meetings between me and the patient in this essay I want to develop the art of acting wisely in the moment, phronesis, which is the term philosopher Aristoteles created.

Submitted by Suelen Reis (suziy.ellen@gmail.com) on 2013-04-29T13:30:09Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Claudio Amorim.pdf: 1225394 bytes, checksum: 5a359a8fec7ef979e8d5691067f51e29 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Maria Auxiliadora Lopes(silopes@ufba.br) on 2013-06-10T19:05:31Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Claudio Amorim.pdf: 1225394 bytes, checksum: 5a359a8fec7ef979e8d5691067f51e29 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-06-10T19:05:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Claudio Amorim.pdf: 1225394 bytes, checksum: 5a359a8fec7ef979e8d5691067f51e29 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / Apoiando-se no instrumental teórico e técnico da matemática, da eletrônica e da computação, a cibernética estabeleceu-se com uma das forças que modelam o mundo contemporâneo. Um dos aspectos da nossa herança cibernética, a automação, ao diversificar substancialmente as formas possíveis das relações de produção, propõe novos e urgentes desafios, na mesma medida em que oferece oportunidades inéditas para a emancipação da humanidade. Até o presente, a automação tem servido sobretudo à concentração e abuso do poder político e econômico. Também tem contribuído para o desemprego e para a desqualificação da dos trabalhadores. Favorecendo a produção em altíssima escala, a automação contribui ainda para a exacerbação do consumismo, e conseqüentemente, da alienação. Nesse contexto, o uso dos sistemas automatizados como força transformadora, a serviço do bem-estar social, requer o reposicionamento das competências humanas, ora desafiadas pelos avanços diários da tecnologia, que se materializa por meio de dispositivos e sistemas cada vez mais complexos e autônomos. Apoiado no estudo da automação na indústria e nas aeronaves, o presente trabalho tem como objetivo elucidar os principais desafios educacionais rumo à cooperação significativa e conseqüente entre pessoas e autômatos. Com base na visão de Vieira Pinto de tecnologia como instrumento de emancipação, e na visão de Paulo Freire de educação como emancipação, propõe-se que novas práticas educacionais são necessárias para formar pessoas capazes de compreender, conceber e operar sistemas cibernéticos cada vez mais eficazes, para o bem da humanidade. Embora os seres humanos cooperem com os autômatos, tanto no âmbito teórico como em tarefas práticas, apenas os humanos são seres da práxis, intencionais, sociais e comprometidos uns com os outros. Sugere-se que o desenvolvimento de pessoas plenamente competentes fundamente-se na integração de três virtudes intelectuais aristotélicas: epistéme (conhecimento teórico), tékhne (savoir-faire) e phrónesis (sabedoria prática, ou bom senso). / Salvador