Addiction, moral identity and moral agency: Integrating theoretical and empirical approaches. By clarifying and evaluating scientific claims about the moral impacts of addiction on the judgment and practices of drug addicted persons and by investigating the perspectives of users and treatment professionals, our project will contribute to the development of ethical and effective public policy, treatment and education programs in the addictions area, thus helping to address the causes and reduce t ....Addiction, moral identity and moral agency: Integrating theoretical and empirical approaches. By clarifying and evaluating scientific claims about the moral impacts of addiction on the judgment and practices of drug addicted persons and by investigating the perspectives of users and treatment professionals, our project will contribute to the development of ethical and effective public policy, treatment and education programs in the addictions area, thus helping to address the causes and reduce the impact of biological, social and environmental factors which diminish life potential in drug addicted persons. The innovative features of this project will enhance Australia's international reputation in bioethics and moral psychology, extend the reach of experimental philosophy, and facilitate future interdisciplinary work.Read moreRead less
Radical Conservatism and the Political Crisis of Modernity 1900-2000. This project seeks to examine the responses made by three of the most important conservative thinkers of the modern age to the crisis in liberal values and democratic principles that took place between 1900 and 1945 in Europe and elsewhere. The theorists in question are Max Weber, Oswalt Spengler and Carl Schmitt. A comparative study of their writings will be made, focussing upon the impact of their work on radical conservati ....Radical Conservatism and the Political Crisis of Modernity 1900-2000. This project seeks to examine the responses made by three of the most important conservative thinkers of the modern age to the crisis in liberal values and democratic principles that took place between 1900 and 1945 in Europe and elsewhere. The theorists in question are Max Weber, Oswalt Spengler and Carl Schmitt. A comparative study of their writings will be made, focussing upon the impact of their work on radical conservative groups in Germany and the policies formed by the latter. The study will conclude with an application of their findings to our understanding of the rise of a populist radical conservatism in contemporary Australia.Read moreRead less
The ethics of international intervention for humanitarian, pro-democratic and anti-terrorist reasons: The legal, ethical and institutional means of regulating interventions. Interventions are increasingly demanded for humanitarian, pro-democratic and anti-terrorist reasons. Changed geo-politics and the waning sovereignty of many states increase their likelihood. Using ethical, legal and institutional analysis informed by interdisciplinary case studies, this project brings together those workin ....The ethics of international intervention for humanitarian, pro-democratic and anti-terrorist reasons: The legal, ethical and institutional means of regulating interventions. Interventions are increasingly demanded for humanitarian, pro-democratic and anti-terrorist reasons. Changed geo-politics and the waning sovereignty of many states increase their likelihood. Using ethical, legal and institutional analysis informed by interdisciplinary case studies, this project brings together those working on these separate areas - the US Council on Foreign Relations and its International Task Force on Threats to Democracy, three Canadian Research Centres and the Key Centre (drawing on its work and those of other Australians). The aim is to provide potential answers to when, whether, how and by whom interventions should occur and the institutional means for regulating such interventions.Read moreRead less
Spinoza, Kant and Deleuze on freedom and ethical difference: an immanent approach. Transcendent moral philosophies, such as those in the Kantian tradition, have significant disadvantages when it comes to developing ethical and political tools for multicultural communities such as Australia, as they lack the flexibility to negotiate between moral and religious groupings adhering to competing moral absolutes. In using Deleuze's thought to develop a non-transcendent or immanent approach to ethics, ....Spinoza, Kant and Deleuze on freedom and ethical difference: an immanent approach. Transcendent moral philosophies, such as those in the Kantian tradition, have significant disadvantages when it comes to developing ethical and political tools for multicultural communities such as Australia, as they lack the flexibility to negotiate between moral and religious groupings adhering to competing moral absolutes. In using Deleuze's thought to develop a non-transcendent or immanent approach to ethics, the project seeks to address this problem. It will provide a means of negotiating this plurality of beliefs without recourse to transcendent or universal values, or to any one dominant moral code. This approach aims to have a marked impact on national debate over the philosophical and practical possibilities of such an ethics.Read moreRead less
Dementia, moral agency and identity. The project aims to examine the ethical issues raised by dementia and the care of those with the condition. The project will examine and evaluate the capacities those with dementia retain for social agency, valuing and relationships. The project will test and refine theories of agency, identity and vulnerability in the light of the cognitive deficits accompanying dementia. The project will lead to the delivery of more efficient healthcare through the developm ....Dementia, moral agency and identity. The project aims to examine the ethical issues raised by dementia and the care of those with the condition. The project will examine and evaluate the capacities those with dementia retain for social agency, valuing and relationships. The project will test and refine theories of agency, identity and vulnerability in the light of the cognitive deficits accompanying dementia. The project will lead to the delivery of more efficient healthcare through the development of increased understandings of the relevant ethical considerations for treatment, and recommendations for new and ethical approaches to policy on dementia. It brings benefits to the well-being and relationships of those with this condition, their families and friends, and the professionals who care for them.Read moreRead less