Present in countless public places around the world, systems that capture facial images and process them from large biometric databases are often piloted by governments that say they are concerned with the safety of the population and the prevention of terrorist attacks and other incidents. That the cameras inhibit crimes or assist in their investigation, […]
Mindfulness as a practice and Mindfulness as a trait
Today mindfulness research is one of the fastest ascending lines of scholarship, with its influence extending beyond peer-reviewed studies, having a large adoption of the practice in development and training programs of corporations, featuring in news programs, scientific journals devoted to the study of the subject and even apps that can be downloaded in almost […]
Virtues for the protection of life
What virtues do we need to protect someone’s life? When we understand that each person has a value in herself, we reject actions that humiliate, mistreat or incur someone’s life. The person herself, the target of these actions, may complain in this situation, seeks for her rights. But what if this person has no capacity […]
How to interpret the results of a personality test?
Interpreting the results of a personality test can be a confusing and difficult task, maybe even causing discomfort. Considering this problem, this text seeks to minimize the obstacles encountered when interpreting this kind of test, through simplified explanations. It’s important to say that the analysis made in this text uses specifically the Big Five Aspect […]
Ethics and the rise of sentiments
In 1759, Adam Smith published his book “Theory of Moral Sentiments”. In this book, the Scottish thinker considered that moral actions were guided by sympathy, that is, in the inate human capacity of putting oneself in the place of other people, in choosing to act morally not having in mind what the action can bring […]
Virtues and our relationships
As we reflect on life, personal actions, and the events around us, we wonder what can lead us to a happier life, and we often think that our relationships influence this happiness, as well as how coexistence would be easier and more peaceful if moral issues and ethics were common concerns. When we think of […]
The Gift: give, receive and return
We experience modernity, me, you, the people around us. We live in modern times and let ourselves be seduced by modernity with its air of liberation. It frees us from our obligations, our relationships, our ties. Modern society allows us to live alone, if we wish, it allows us to have no children, to “choose” […]
Rediscovering Adam Smith’s “Three Primary Virtues”
“It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own inter-esteem. We address ourselves, not to their humanity but to their self-love, and never talk to them of our own necessities but of their advantages.”. It is with this […]
Moral dilemmas in Emergency Management: a reflection on ethical choices
The challenges presented in the management of tragedies – such as environmental disasters – and the way in which they differ from everyday life require preventive reflection that prepares public managers for the moral dilemmas and ethical choices that those situations impose. The importance of connecting ethics in emergency management is advocated by Naomi Zack […]
Truth, transcendence and logic
It is very common for people to fail to concatenate the simplest ideas. Logic, as a philosophical question, helps us to understand the ways of thinking and aims at determining what is and is not true. For many people the logic is incomprehensible, that is, they cannot put together elementary everyday issues. In this sense, […]