Psychologists have proposed that schools should teach for wisdom, but this proposal has rarely been investigated. The present study examines secondary school English language arts as a site of wisdom learning. This qualitative study investigates the instructional goals and beliefs of 16 secondary English teachers (8 beginner, 8 experienced). Interviews were analysed using techniques based in Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Results are discussed in light of psychological research, studies of English teaching, and the Ontario curriculum. Some elements of wisdom teaching appear to be supported in English education. Teachers connected literature teaching and classroom practices to students' life learning, emphasizing life themes, connections to self and experience, self-reflective learning, and individual needs. Experienced teachers frequently made direct connections between life/wisdom learning and student engagement, while beginners voiced concerns about negotiating supportive student- teacher relationships. Implications for proposals to teach for wisdom in schools are discussed, including a possible role for critical literacy.

The overall aim of this thesis is twofold: first, to develop and validate questionnaires that could be used for investigating relationships between perceptions of conscience, moral sensitivity and burnout and second, to describe patterns of self-comfort used to ease stress and illuminate meanings of living with a troubled conscience. The thesis comprises five studies and is based on both quantitative and qualitative data. In study I, a questionnaire was constructed to assess perceptions of conscience; the Perceptions of Conscience Questionnaire (PCQ). This 15 item-questionnaire was distributed to 444 care providers. Statistical analyses of responses showed sufficient distribution and a stable six factor solution congruent with reviewed literature. The six factors were labelled: ‘the voice of authority’, ‘warning signal’, ‘demanding sensitivity’, ‘asset’, ‘burden’ and ‘depending on culture’. The findings suggest that the PCQ is a valid questionnaire. The aim of study II was further development of an existing questionnaire assessing care providers’ moral sensitivity, enabling its use in various care contexts. The revised nine-item questionnaire, the Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire Revised version (MSQ-R), was distributed to 278 care providers with various professional backgrounds. Statistical analyses of responses showed sufficient distribution and a three-factor solution congruent with reviewed literature. The three factors were labelled: ‘sense of moral burden’, ‘sense of moral strength,’ and ‘sense of moral responsibility.’ The findings suggest that MSQ-R is valid for use in various healthcare contexts. In study III, the PCQ, the MSQ-R and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) were distributed to a population of psychiatric care providers (n=101) to investigate relationships between perceptions of conscience and moral sensitivity and levels of burnout. The hierarchical cluster analysis shows two clusters with Pearson’s r >.50. Cluster A comprising items such as: being sensitive, interpreting and following the voice of conscience that warns us against hurting other or ourselves and developing as human beings was labelled ‘experiencing a sense of moral integrity’. Cluster B comprising items such as: feeling inadequate, doing more than one has strengths for, feeling always responsible, having difficulties to deal with wearing feelings, perceiving that conscience gives wrong signals and express social values, having to deaden one’ conscience, were all related to scores of the MBI subscales emotional exhaustion (EE) and depersonalisation (DP). Cluster B was labelled ‘experiencing a burdening accountability’. The results show that levels of ‘experiencing a burdening accountability’ are closely related to levels of being at risk of burnout. The aim of study IV was to describe patterns of self-comforting measures used to ease stress. The written accounts of 168 care providers and healthcare students were analysed by means of qualitative content analysis. The findings disclose two dimensions: an ability to use early learned measures to take care of oneself (ingression) and an ability to feel intimately related to life, other human beings and universe or God (transcendence). The findings provide valuable knowledge about self-comfort as a coping strategy. The aim of study V was to illuminate meanings of living with a troubled conscience. Ten psychiatric care providers, respondents of study III with various perceptions of conscience were interviewed. The interviews were interpreted using a phenomenological - hermeneutical method. The findings show that one meaning of living with a troubled conscience is being confronted with inadequacy and struggling to view oneself as ‘good enough.’ The comprehensive understanding indicates that inadequacy, both one’s own and that of organization one represents, infuse feelings of shame rather than feelings of guilt. Shame concerns one’s identity and need of reconciliation. Conclusions: The results reveal two ways of encountering a troubled conscience. One is being unable to interpret the ethical demand from a troubled conscience. This is indicated by connections between levels of moral burden and levels of burnout. The other way is being able to interpret the ethical demand and using one’s troubled conscience to develop practical wisdom. This means facing shame of feeling inadequate, reconciling images of the ideal self and self-contempt, and becoming realistic about what one can do. In this process comfort seems to be a mediator of reconciliation.

Chapter one begins with a definition and exposition of the concept of theodicy, and a topology for characterizing comparative theodicies is suggested. It is argued that the basis on which theodicies might be compared is the foundational ontological principles on which they are built. Chapter two is a lengthy discussion regarding the meaning of terms such as omnipotence omniscience omnibenevolence, moral evil and natural evil. Chapter three begins with a critical analysis of a variety of theodicies found throughout the history of Christian theology. The final conclusion drawn in this chapter is that none of the proposed answers is acceptable. Acceptability is measured in three important ways: First, is the position logically consistent, second, does it conform, at least in a broad way, to the major tenents of the Christian form of life, and third, does this position take the individual sufferer seriously? In chapter four a foundation is laid for a response to the problem of evil which is to follow in chapter five. In this penultimate chapter an analysis of the Book of Job is offered which centers on the interpretation of Yahweh's speeches out of the whirlwind. It is suggested that the crux of Jobs repentance is to be understood in connection with Job "seeing God." In chapter five, an attempt is made, using the help of Karl Barth, D. M. Mackinnon, P. T. Forsyth, Ludwig Wittgenstein and John Wisdom, as well as some insights gained from chapter four, to argue that there is a teleological response to the problem of evil that is logically consistent, true to the Christian form of life and sensitive to the needs of the individual sufferer.

Drawing on some 30 years’ experience in the UK and Central Europe, the author offers four assertions, three about education generally and the fourth that of the title. There the case is argued that statistics is a branch of logic, and therefore should be taught by experts in such subjects as philosophy and law and not exclusively by athematicians. Education in both Statistics and these other subjects would profit in consequence.

Thesis (M. A.)--Southern California College, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 106-116).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Flinders University, School of Education. / Typescript bound. Includes bibliographical references: (leaves 217-224) Also available online.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--State University of New York at Binghamton, Department of Philosophy, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references.

Intitulée : «La connaissance de soi, dans la perspective de Socrate», cette thèse a pour but d’étudier les caractéristiques de la démarche de Socrate, en ce qui concerne la connaissance de soi et son importance. La mise en œuvre de la vie humaine, telle qu’elle mérite d’être vécue, au sens socratique, est l’objectif indispensable de cet engagement philosophico-spirituel, qui consiste à rendre à l’homme, l’identité existentielle qui lui est essentiellement propre. C’est donc à la recherche de cette identité concrète, que Socrate a toujours invité ses interlocuteurs, et invite encore les lecteurs, à faire usage de leur intellect, afin de découvrir la partie la plus divine de leur âme. La question de la connaissance de soi, dans la perspective de Socrate relève plus précisément de la connaissance de l’âme, considérée comme le véritable soi, portant en elle l’empreinte divine. Par conséquent, se connaître soi-même vise la contemplation de cette particularité propre à l’homme, laquelle le conduit à son excellence. L’aspect subjectif de cette entreprise rationnelle, garantit totalement l’indépendance de l’individu, à la recherche de lui-même, lui permettant également d’acquérir les connaissances qui résident en lui, selon la théorie de la réminiscence. D’où la nécessité de s’appliquer à cette tâche essentielle de l’existence humaine, afin de lui donner un véritable sens humain. La connaissance de l’intelligible―faisant partie intégrante de sa recherche―, cet éveilleur de l’esprit a mis en œuvre, d’une manière extraordinaire, les outils essentiels de sa philosophie pratique, à savoir : la dialectique, la réfutation et la maïeutique, portées par son Amour, en vue de faire sortir ses semblables de leur caverne d’ignorance, en les invitant à se diriger vers le monde intelligible. Il ne s’agit donc pas de chercher un idéal, dans l’espoir de de s’y conformer, ce qui met en péril la liberté du sujet, mais de s’accomplir le plus concrètement, le plus parfaitement possible, comme un être humain excellemment achevé. C’est dans ce contexte précis, que la connaissance de soi, dans la perspective de Socrate, sera prise comme le modèle par excellence de cet accomplissement. / Entitled “Self-khowledge, from the perspective of Socrates” this thesis intends to examine fundamental characteristics of the Socrates’ authentic approach to self-knowledge, and the utmost importance of it. Implementation of human life, as it deserves to be lived, in the Socratic sense of the word, is the essential purpose of this philosophical and spiritual commitment, which aims at giving back to the human being the ontological identity, of his own by essence. Therefore, Socrates always invited his interlocutors, and still now invites his readers, to search for this concrete identification, and to use their intellect in order to discover the most divine part of their soul. The self-knowledge problem in the Socrates’ perspective is questioned here, for it precisely comes from the soul knowledge, considered as the genuine one-self, bearing in it the heavenly imprint. Therefore, “to know one-self“ aims at contemplating the divine part of our one-self, which leads the man to his excellence, as such he is destined to become. The subjective aspect of this rational enterprise gives a guarantee of total independence to the individual seeking his one-self. It also allows him to acquire the knowledge that lies in him according to the “reminiscence theory, “hence the necessity for him is to take great care of this essential task of a human life, in order to give it a real human significance. To know what is intelligible, being an integral part of his research, “He who awakened the mind“developed in a wonderful manner essential tools of his practical philosophy which are: dialectics, refutation, maieutic, as supported by his Love, intending to let his fellow-men to get out of their “cave“ of ignorance, by inducing them to head for the intelligible world. It does not mean to seek an ideal with the hope to look like it, which unquestionably puts at risk the individual’s freedom, but to find out one’s own fulfilment in the most possible concrete and perfect way as an excellently accomplished human being. In this very context, self-knowledge, such as Socrates meant it, will be considered as the pre-eminent model of this accomplishment.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Adult Learning and Leadership / Kakali Bhattacharya / Royce Ann Collins / The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how two Black women, born 1946 to 1964, discuss their sexuality in relation to their understanding of spirituality and informal learning. Using the Black Feminine Narrative Inquiry framework informed by womanism, Black feminism, and narrative structures used by Black women novelists, this qualitative study analyzed the vulnerable, empowered, and spirit-driven narratives (VES Narratives) collected from the participants to explore their experiences with spirituality, sexuality, and informal learning. The data collection methods included wisdom whisper talks to elicit spirituality and sexuality timelines and glean information from the participants’ treasure chests.

Submitted by Andrea Hayashi (deachan@gmail.com) on 2016-06-21T16:59:01Z No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacao-josadaque-martins-silva.pdf: 1078446 bytes, checksum: 320bf2c866cb3fa829285f2a4dec34d3 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Andrea Hayashi (deachan@gmail.com) on 2016-06-21T17:11:34Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacao-josadaque-martins-silva.pdf: 1078446 bytes, checksum: 320bf2c866cb3fa829285f2a4dec34d3 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-21T17:11:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacao-josadaque-martins-silva.pdf: 1078446 bytes, checksum: 320bf2c866cb3fa829285f2a4dec34d3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-11-15 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Procurar-se-á neste trabalho expor certas direções para um estudo da correlação entre as noções de “vontade” e “medida” no diálogo De beata uita de Santo Agostinho. O diálogo De beata uita consiste numa reflexão sobre a natureza da felicidade, tendo como ponto de partida o desejo universal de ser feliz. Ao perguntar-se pela natureza da felicidade, Santo Agostinho se dá conta de que o ser humano só pode ser feliz se tem o que quer, mas, como aprende de Cícero, constata que ter o que se quer é diferente de ser feliz, pois é possível não ser feliz tendo tudo o que se quer, uma vez que nem sempre o ser humano deseja aquilo que é bom. Sob essa perspectiva, a posse de bens pode ser compatível com a infelicidade – sinônimo de indigência –. Para evitar a infelicidade ou corrigir o desejo equivocado, requer-se sabedoria, a medida da alma que orienta a vontade para desejar o que é bom. É ela também que, no limite, orienta para a busca e a posse de um bem que não se perca, o único capaz de corresponder ao desejo da felicidade. Tal bem só poderá existir numa natureza divina. Assim, o tratamento dado ao tema da felicidade no De beata uita não se reduz à identificação de uma realidade que satisfaça o desejo de ser feliz, mas implica necessariamente uma investigação da vontade em sua relação com algo que a oriente, isto é, a sabedoria ou medida da alma. / The aim of this thesis is to show some possibilities for a study of the correlation between the concepts of “will” and “measure” in St. Augustine’s dialogue De beata uita. This dialogue is a reflexion about the nature of happiness, and its starting point is the universal wish of being happy. Asking about the nature of happiness, Augustine realizes that human beings can be happy only if they got what they want, but on the other hand, as he learns from Cicero, he notes that having what is wanted is different from being happy, because human beings do not always want what is good for them and, so, might be submissive to the malice of their own will. Seen from this perspective, the possession of temporal goods can be compatible with unhappiness - synonymous with indigence - if one has no wisdom, i.e., the measure of the soul that guides the will to desire what is good. Augustine, because of this, looks for a good whose possession may not be lost, an imperishable, immutable, permanent and independent good. Such goodness can exist only in a divine nature, whence the assertion that happiness is in God. Therefore, the topic of happiness, in De beata uita, is not limited to the identification of a reality that satisfies the desire for being happy, but it is directly related to the theme of the will, because the desire for happiness is a desire for an immutable good (God). So, as it was already mentioned, the aim of this thesis is to examine the meaning assigned by Augustine for wisdom as a measure of the soul (and, therefore, as a guideline of the will), in the pursuit process for happiness.