In this thesis I explore human-animal relations amongst the Bebelibe of the Commune of Cobly, in the northwest of the Republic of Benin, West Africa, with a focus on how they relate to their tikedimɔmɔnte (true totem(s), literally “interdict(s)-true”). I start with an historical review of totemism, the debates it generated and how these contributed to the recent ontological turn in anthropology. I then explore the theoretical ideas I use for my analysis, which include “presencing” and the “ontological penumbra” (J. Merz 2017b; J. Merz and S. Merz 2017). Presencing builds on semiotics by explaining how people make meaning present through their engagement in and with the world around them, whilst ontological penumbras are the shadowy spaces of limbo that affect our whole being and that people need to negotiate as part of making sense of their engagement with the world. As part of these theoretical frameworks, I examine the “onton”, as introduced by Johannes Merz (2017b). Ontons are experiential, agentive and relational entities that are the result of presencing processes. Ontons, however, cannot be divided into representations (signifiers) and represented (signified) as signs can. An engagement in the world between different entities in an ontonic and thus nonrepresentational sense necessitates my introducing further notions including shared “ontonity” (instead of shared humanity) and “ontonhood” (rather than personhood). I demonstrate how these theoretical ideas work with reference to human-animal relations primarily amongst the Bebelibe in the Commune of Cobly. In order to do this, I provide an in-depth, “thick description” (Geertz 1973) ethnography that explores how people perceive and relate to animals through hunting, domestication, attitudes to eating meat, animal commodification, reincarnation, shapeshifting and totemism. As part of my analysis I also examine the impact of Christianity on human-animal relations by exploring several incidents involving Christians and their tikedimɔmɔnte.

This thesis deals extensively with ‘the Art of Leading Oneself’. In the course of this paper, an understanding of the term ‘leading oneself’ is given. Furthermore a reflection upon the reasons why it is necessary in nowadays society and business world to lead oneself is provided. The core of the thesis constitutes a thorough discussion of possible elements of the art of leading oneself. In conclusion it is to be said, that on the basis of the knowledge of an individual’s frames of references, a framework of personal values and vision should be created. In a second dimension it is necessary to deeply reflect upon the inner Self and to gain insight about the authentic Self. Through the acknowledgement that an individual can learn from failures, the principles of the crucibles are described. In a third dimension, the bridge to ‘the Art of Leading Others’ is build and a rough overview of the necessities of sensegiving in the communication process is given. Concluded, it can be said, that it is of utmost importance to know and incorporate the authentic Self in every activity. / Diese Masterthesis behandelt und beschreibt im ausführlichen Maße ‚die Kunst sich selbst zu führen’. Innerhalb dieser Arbeit erarbeite ich ein Verständnis über das Konzept des ‚sich selbst Führens’. Des Weiteren wird über die Notwendigkeit der Selbstführung in der schnelllebigen Berufs- und Sozialwelt reflektiert. Der Kern der Arbeit konstituiert eine ausführliche Diskussion über mögliche Elemente des ‚sich selbst Führens’. Zusammenfassend kann gesagt werden, dass auf Basis des Wissens über die individuellen Bezugssysteme ein persönliches Wertesystem und eine darauf aufbauende Vision erstellt werden soll. In einer zweiten Ebene ist es notwendig eine tiefe Reflektion über das Innere Selbst durchzuführen um Erkenntnis der tieferen Einsicht des authentischen Selbst zu erlangen. Durch die Anerkennung und Wertschätzung seiner persönlichen Misserfolge sollte das Verständnis geschaffen werden, aus Fehlern zu lernen. In einer dritten Dimension wird die Brücke zur ‚Kunst andere zu Führen’ erschaffen und ein grober Überblick über die Notwendigkeiten einer sinnstiftenden Kommunikation wird gegeben. Resümierend kann gesagt werden, dass es von äußerster Bedeutung ist, sich selbst zu kennen und sein authentisches Selbst in jeder alltäglichen Aktivitäten zu integrieren.

Grounded theory method was used to explore the experiences of patients suffering the effects of psychological trauma who had received eye movement desensitization and reprocessing approach (EMDR) as treatment. Saturation of the categories was achieved with the analysis of 15 interviews. The basic social psychological process that emerged is transforming suffering and the core category is changes in perception. The three subcategories, relinquishing, presencing and emerging, form the conceptual framework for the stages of transforming suffering. The stages of relinquishing, presencing and emerging contain concepts and their properties to guide practice. The two dimensions of processing subsumed within each stage are temporal perspectives (past, present and future) and processing fields (physical field, cognitive field and transformative field). These concepts help explain the progression of the patient to experience resolution of the trauma and/or related symptoms/behaviors. Transforming suffering: changes in perception using EMDR is the resultant substantive theory. The implications of this theoretical framework for psychotherapeutic practice and future research are reviewed.

In this autoethnographic journey we aim to redefine sustainability by becoming aware of our current dominant thought paradigm which created the current sustainability issues in the first place. This thesis explores the nuances of growth in consciousness and a transformation in our internal capacities through transformative direct-intuitive practices and tools. We argue that the root of the current sustainability challenges can be seen as an amplification created through our dominant perception of reality. Therefore, a need for an intrinsic transformational shift is fundamental in order to fully act toward sustainability. ‘Sustainability’ is not a state of the world, nor only a pathway to a specific state. In this inquiry, sustainability is perceived as the ability to recognize the paradigmatic premises of the pathway that we are creating and to become aware of the implications of these premises in an effort that we may create more inter-relational, regenerative, fair, beautiful worlds. This includes transforming feelings of eco-anxiety, which we not only see as a symptom of the ‘external’ environmental crisis but also of our current relationship with ourselves.

No description available.

Introduction: Nursing presence occurs when nurses expend themselves on the behalf of a unique patient. This phenomenon requires further research to develop instruments. The Presence of Nursing Scale (PONS) measures the patient’s perspective (Kostovich, 2012). Psychometric testing of PONS-Revised using exploratory factor analysis is warranted to further develop a reliable and valid measure of nursing presence. Contextual workplace variables need exploration in inpatient settings for correlation with nursing presence. Method(s): A convenience sample of 122 adult inpatients from ten acute-care nursing units in a Southeastern Magnet hospital were surveyed to conduct the first psychometric testing of this revised instrument using exploratory factor analyses. Seven research questions evaluated potential correlations between the PONS-R, patient satisfaction using nurse-sensitive measures of HCAHPS, nursing unit-specific workforce factors and patient demographic factors. Results: PONS-R demonstrated high internal consistency reliability (r = .974), test-retest reliability (statistically significant at the .01 level) and divergent validity (p=.002). PONS-R compared to nurse HCAHPS measures was statistically significant at the .01 level, (r = .736). EFA revealed one factor (eigenvalues over 1), with a weak secondary factor centered on intimacy factors suggesting addition of items and repeated study with a larger sample size to further psychometrically develop the instrument. Unexpected negative correlations were found with unit-workforce factors including average RN experience level (r= -.185, significant at the .05 level), and average RN age (r = - .218). An unexpected positive correlation was found - percentage of Associate degree nurses (r = .269, statistically significant at the .05 level. The Triangle region was correlated with a higher PONS-R score (p = .038; n=4), otherwise no statistically significant correlations were found for PONS-R and patient demographics nor patient-specific variables such as estimated number of RN providing care, nor length of stay on the unit. Discussion & Conclusions: Further psychometric testing is indicated with larger samples and perhaps with the inclusion of intimacy factor items. Additional correlational studies focused on other patient quality outcomes measures with expansion of nurse demographics is indicated to explore for confounding variables.

In order to address complex challenges and bring about transformations, change agents need to possess the necessary capacities. Contemplative pedagogies such as Social Presencing Theater (SPT) may play a crucial role in developing such capacities. Therefore, this thesis explores how the embodiment method SPT could contribute to Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), in order to support change agents in development. SPT and its learning environment, outcomes and possible contributions to ESD were researched through surveys with twelve participants of a two-day SPT training, as well as interviews with eleven SPT facilitators. According to the results, SPT has the potential to offer relevant contemplative practices that cultivate the capacities that leaders need to address complexity and uncertainty. The findings suggest that as a learning process, SPT can foster capacities within change agents and groups, promoting awareness and mental flexibility to recognize and work with dynamic systems. SPT also appears to foster specific learning outcomes, including several key competencies for sustainability. We recommend applying SPT in the context of strategic leadership development for sustainability, to promote sustainability education that is strategic, holistic, and innovative.

No description available.

Ancien élève de Husserl et Heidegger, Günther Anders (1902-1992) composa une oeuvre philosophique dont la particularité est d'interroger la situation de l'homme face aux événements les plus sombres du 20e siècle. Ce travail, élaboré à partir d'une lecture de l'oeuvre éditée à ce jour, complétée par celle du Nachlass, vise à ressaisir l'unité, la cohérence et la singularité de sa pensée autour d'une question majeure : comment un monde technicisé, un monde sans hommes, est-Il compatible avec une éthique pour des hommes sans monde ? Décrire les ombres du monde, celles d'abord laissées par un monde humain technicisé, c'est déceler les idéalités de la technique qui recouvrent chaque chose d'une évidence artificielle. Observer le monde fabriqué par des hommes devenus des ombres, c'est aussi percevoir qu'ils peuplent un environnement dont ils sont les produits. Ce monde artificiel, à défaut de ne faire que soulager l'hostilité naturelle, ajoute d'autres souffrances au poids de la nécessité, que les arts parviennent à peine à déjouer. Théoriser les ombres du monde, c'est relever la négativité d'un nihilisme réalisé par la technique, à refuser. L'hypothèse philosophique ici défendue est celle d'un nihilisme métaphysique conçu comme préalable nécessaire au refus de toute autre pratique nihiliste. A cet effet, à partir de l'oeuvre d'Anders se conçoit une philosophie occassionnelle comme pratique théorique d'une sobriété tragique. Si briser toute idée métaphysique aboutit à désenchanter les victimes de trop naïves généralités, cette théorie n'impose cependant en rien de s'interdire de faire de la métaphysique. / As a former student of Husserl and Heidegger, Günther Anders (1902-1992) wrote a philosophical work which characteristic is to examine the situation of man facing the darkest events of the 20th century. Our thesis developed with a reading of the edited work supplemented by the Nachlass, aims to synthesize the unity consistency and uniqueness of his thoughts by asking a specific question : how a technical world, a world without men, could be compatible with any ethic for men without world ? To describe the shadows of the world left by a technical one, is meant to identify idealities which cover everything with an artificial obviousness. To observe the world made by men, who themselves became shadows, is like to perceive thet they are living in a environment whose they are the products. This artificail world, instead of relieving man about the nature hostility, adds other difficulties, which the technology is only sometimes able to cope with. To theorize the shadows of the world is meant to seek the specific negativity of nihilism, which is produced by technology. Our task is to show that we can refuse the nihilism as an attitude. The philosophical hypothesis defended here is metaphysical nihilism designed as prerequisite for the refusal of any other nihilistic praxis. The philosophical work of Anders allows us to conceive an occasional philosophy as a theoretical practice, pointed out as a tragic sobriety. If to break any metaphysical idea leads to disenchant the naïve victims of generalities, this theory however does not refrain us from doing metaphysics.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / The PeerSpirit Circle is a non-hierarchical, intentional, and relationship-centered practice of collaboration. There is a lack of scientific knowledge about the phenomenon of the PeerSpirit Circle in nursing or its potential impact on nursing practice, education, research, and the evolution of the profession and health care. The health care milieu is often entrenched in ways of being that do not support sustained change. For vitality to prosper and creativity to abound, paradigmatic shifts and new models of practice that emphasize collaboration are being called for. The purpose and aims of this phenomenological research study are to explore and give voice to the experiences of nurses who have participated in the PeerSpirit Circle model of practice with other nurses. The study includes interviews from five registered nurses from Canada and the United States conducted from 2009–2010 and interpreted from a Gadamerian philosophical hermeneutic perspective. The research findings reveal three themes: (1) experiencing the Circle container” where participants begin to understand the value of intentional preparation of the interpersonal space for safe human interaction and stronger collaboration—there are experiences of gathering, protecting, appreciating ritual, and sharing stories; (2) Experiencing space where protected space seems to be the essential element to inspire the presencing of participants with self and other, which in turn engenders genuine dialogue, a sense of sacred space, and freedom to be authentic; and (3) Experiencing our humanity, an unfolding theme, where participants experience reconnection with and understanding of their deeper humanity, stronger congruence with their core values, deeper experiences of caring and courage, personal and professional growth, and a profound appreciation for belonging to a lineage of nurses. The findings inspire a deeper understanding of barriers to congruence between values and action in nursing and nurses’ need to acknowledge, honor, support, and protect each other’s vulnerability. The implications for nursing practice, education, and research show that the PeerSpirit Circle model is a beneficial for use in all settings.