Doctor of Philosophy, University of Toledo, 2019, Educational Theory and Social Foundations

The main purpose of this dissertation is to analyze the complex developmental and conflict prevention challenges in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria as well as the role education can play in the pursuit of justice in that context from within the theoretical framework of Amartya Sen's capability approach to justice. The capability approach to justice is grounded in the idea of the realization of a conception of the good conceived as substantive freedom, as a combination of the development of internal capacity with the provision of substantive social opportunities for people to do and be what they have reason to value. It is argued that the capabilities approach is the most appropriate theoretical framework for articulating the diagnosis and remedies of injustice in the context of the Niger Delta as compared to Rawlsian and Utilitarian theories of justice. The evaluative standard employed in the analysis is how well a theoretical framework of justice diagnoses and addresses the resource conversion problem, the problem of differential resource conversion which undermines human well-being, is at the core of the Niger Delta's developmental challenges. Furthermore, it is argued that a capability-based educational approach, aligned with progressive and social reconstructive philosophical principles, has the potential to empower the people to pursue social justice in the Niger Delta through the facilitation of public reasoning and deliberation.

Committee: Dale Snauwaert (Committee Chair); Lynne Hamer, (Committee Member); Al-Daraweesh Al-Daraweesh (Committee Member); Noela Haughton (Committee Member) Subjects: Education; Education Philosophy; Peace Studies

Bachelor of Arts, Marietta College, 2018, Leadership

The Syrian refugee crisis is a humanitarian failure of the modern day. As the rebellion continues to fight for a peaceful democracy, the Syrian government exerts more military force. Displacing over 11 million refugees both internally and externally, the crisis has quickly expanded beyond the influence of the state. As a result, refugees have flooded the international system. Neighboring states directly feel this pressure through the physical presence of refugees and have acquiesced to offer refuge at a mass level. The European itself has mandated an equally dispersion of refugees among member states. However, the United States, separated from both the physical and geographical pressure of refugees, has only offered refuge to approximately 50,000. This paper analyzes the current situation of the crisis through the application of three ethical lenses to determine how the United States should ethically respond. The three ethical lenses include Kantianism, Utilitarianism, and Rawlsian ethics. The applications suggested that from an ethical perspective, respect for humanity and human rights, a much more engaged response is not only necessary but ethically required of the United States.

Committee: Robert McManus Dr. (Advisor); Alexandra Perry Dr. (Committee Member); Beverly Hogue Dr. (Committee Member) Subjects: International Relations; Political Science

Bachelor of Arts (BA), Ohio University, 2018, Philosophy

In his polemic novel 'Demons' Fyodor Dostoevsky noted the destructive power of political actors 'possessed' by the righteousness of ideas over concern for actually existing people. The ideologies of the 20th century, Liberalism, Fascism and Socialism contain within them absolute statements of ontology, teleology and broad human purpose that allow them to incorporate any and all aspects of human social existence into their state projects. The absolute and universal nature of the claims made by these ideologies causes a state of incommensurability in dialougue with other systems that can lead to violent action as political disagreement is translated into ontological incompatibility leading to demonization and dehumanization. This project aims to propose a system based on a modified form of Burkean conservatism that allows for a recognizes the importance of universal beliefs in the context of humility. A humility rooted in the knowledge of the historical contingency of political situations and the inevitability of philosophical change leading to an epistemological skepticism as to the absolute validity of ideological claims. Instead of locating the need for community on shared convictions, political action is rooted in a shared sense of suffering and responsibility interpreted through the Russian Orthodox concept of Sobornost- where each person is responsible for the suffering of others and has an obligation to relieve the suffering of the world in shared humility.

Committee: Julie White PhD (Advisor) Subjects: Philosophy

Doctor of Philosophy, University of Toledo, 2016, Foundations of Education: Philosophy of Education

The ecological crisis as defined by the scientific community raises questions that challenge contemporary ethical, political, and educational theory. Situating the problem in the tradition of democratic theory, this study lays out a Rawlsian political liberal conception of sustainability that hinges upon a liberal conception of justice that places moral duties on the state, the citizen, and the educational institutions of contemporary societies. As such the idea of ecological integrity rises to the category of a matter of justice which requires a political principle of sustainability that functions as a normative precommitment. This normative precommitment in turn places moral duties on the government of democratic peoples and concomitantly the citizenry that are the source of legitimate democratic authority. The demanding role of citizenship in this conception thus places an imperative on education which by its nature is a normative activity and thus demands a renewed civic purpose for education that entails the sustainability as well as the stability of democratic society.

Committee: Dale Snauwaert PhD (Committee Chair); Lynne Hamer PhD (Committee Member); Revathy Kumar PhD (Committee Member); Vicki Dagostino PhD (Committee Member); Fuad Al-Daraweesh PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Education; Education Philosophy; Environmental Justice; Environmental Philosophy; Ethics

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, 2016, Philosophy, Applied

This dissertation defends an ideal of democratic citizenship inspired by John Dewey's theory of human flourishing, or “growth.” In its emphasis on the interrelatedness of individual development and social progress, Deweyan growth orients us toward a morally substantive approach to addressing the important question of how diverse citizens can live together well. I argue, however, that Dewey's understanding of growth as a process by which conflicting interests, beliefs, and values are integrated into a more unified whole—both within the community and within the self—is inadequate to the radical pluralism characteristic of contemporary liberal democratic societies. Given the pragmatist insight into the crucial role of socialization in identity formation, the problem with conceptualizing the ideal self as an integrated unity is that, for many, the complexity and diversity of our social world presents an insuperable obstacle to sustaining a unified (or always unifying) self. Most of us have multiple “selves” forged by the various groups with whom we identify and the often incongruous roles we play in our personal, professional, and/or public lives. Hence I offer a reconstruction of Deweyan growth that accounts for persistent yet positively valued diversity, both within the self and within the community. On the view I urge, which draws on the work of neopragmatist Richard Rorty and Chicana feminist Gloria Anzaldua, divisions within the self and between citizens are not merely problems always to be overcome, but potential resources for creating a stronger, more inclusive democracy.

Committee: Don Callen (Committee Chair); James Campbell (Committee Member); Albert Dzur (Committee Member); Kevin Vallier (Committee Member); Montana Miller (Committee Member) Subjects: Epistemology; Ethics; Philosophy

MA, University of Cincinnati, 2002, Arts and Sciences : Philosophy

In the thesis entitled "Justice and Multi-Party Politics" I argue that minor-party candidates in the United States cannot fairly compete in elections with major-party candidates. In an attempt to understand their situation I turn to the theory of justice advanced by John Rawls. But Rawls's approach runs into difficulties when suggesting ways in which we might improve the situation for minor-party candidates. I therefore suggest that we also utilize the concept of the public sphere, as elucidated by Jurgen Habermas, to see our way clear of the difficulties. But Habermas, while providing a better account of the problem, still fails to give a satisfactory proposal for improving the situation. I therefore enlist the theoretical insights of Nancy Fraser and Iris Young, who suggest that the public sphere will operate most fairly when it is actually made up of multiple heterogeneous publics. Political parties are examples of publics, so I consider whether adopting reforms that would encourage a multi-party system would result in a more just political process. Additional parties might help some groups, especially those that have historically lacked political voice, a greater role in government. But additional parties could also serve to fragment social movements or even to allocate additional resources to hate groups. After considering some of the problems that a multi-party American political system might face, I argue that the potential benefits of such a system outweigh the risks if certain reforms are adopted and party building begins at the local level and builds upward.

Committee: Chris Cuomo (Advisor) Subjects:

MA, University of Cincinnati, 2001, Arts and Sciences : Philosophy

In the thesis titled "Distributive Justice and the Impact of Emotional Responses," I argue that the distributive understanding of justice is myopic and ignores many forms of oppression that can be perpetuated by institutions. I will also maintain, as Iris Young suggests, that moral theory should be equipped to address concerns regarding the unconscious or seemingly uncontrollable emotions and behavior of agents. In an effort to make my case, I will incorporate into this thesis fragments of a narrative by James Baldwin as it appeared in Notes of A Native Son (1955) and supplement my reading with references to other, less formal, narratives. I will also utilize the theory of emotions Jenefer Robinson presented in her paper "Startle" as well as the writings of Iris Young to show that our emotional reactions can be responsible for sending potentially damaging messages and therefore fit within the parameters of what a theory of justice needs to address in a society formed by histories of oppression. On the view that I am endorsing, we should expect that having our presence received in certain ways on a regular basis will make for an emotionally trying experience. Continual reminders of the fact that we are seen as a threat or repulsive would make us avoid or feel uncomfortable in different settings given what it was we expected to be subjected to. I conclude that the unconscious emotional responses of agents can, and very often do, result in the violation of liberties that are central to theories of justice like the one endorsed by Rawls and that the liberties in question will continue to be violated so long as these reactions and their complicated causes are not understood as matters of justice.

Committee: Chris Cuomo (Advisor) Subjects: Philosophy

Master of Arts, University of Toledo, 2011, Philosophy

Liberalism has failed. The paradox in modern society between capitalism and democracy has violated the very principles of liberty, equality, and social justice that liberalism bases its ideology behind. Liberalism, in directly choosing capitalism and private property has undermined its own values and ensured that the theoretical justice, in which its foundation is built upon, will never be. This piece of work will take the monumental, landmark, liberal work, A Theory of Justice, by John Rawls, as its foundation to examine the contradictory and self-defeating ideological commitment to both capitalism and democracy in liberalism. I will argue that this commitment to both ideals creates an impossibility of justice, which is at the heart of, and is the driving force behind liberal theory. In liberalism‟s place, I will argue that Pierre-Joseph Proudhon‟s anarchism, as outlined in, Property is Theft, offers an actual ideological model to achieving the principles which liberalism has set out to achieve, through an adequate and functioning model of justice.

Committee: Benjamin Pryor Dr. (Committee Chair); Ammon Allred Dr. (Committee Member); Charles Blatz Dr. (Committee Member) Subjects: Philosophy

Master of Arts, University of Toledo, 2004, Philosophy

The significance that establishing relationships holds for ethical theory can be evidenced in the network culture that is emerging in contemporary society. John Rawls' Contractarianism, despite its aim to be an ethic of “justice and fairness”, is not always capable of addressing the broad range of human qualities and virtues as is required in a complex world. Thus, I explore alternatives to Contractarianism, such as the moral particularity of Iris Murdoch, Lawrence Blum, and others as well as the corporeal generosity of Rosalyn Diprose. I then propose my own Mutualist model of generosity that asserts an appreciation for intimacy and symbolic exchange, the acceptance of risk, and above all, a commitment to an authentic responsiveness to others. Through an examination of the aesthetic of networked art, I show that an ethic of interconnectedness can be established through acts of generosity.

Committee: Susan Purviance (Advisor) Subjects: Philosophy

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, 2009, Philosophy

The two main goals of this dissertation are to provide a clear and practical conception of desert that is applicable across distributive contexts and to provide a detailed account of the role that desert can and should have in different contexts on different levels of a just society. This dissertation advances the view that desert is an important, but not the only important, conceptual component of justice. In addition to offering a defense of the concept of desert itself and its use as a distributive criterion, the dissertation provides a detailed conceptual account of desert. The dissertation advocates a conception of desert in distributive contexts that is based on a person's efforts and performances, and it includes important distinctions between different types of desert and between desert and other important distributive concepts. A main contention in this work is that, since desert is an important conceptual component of justice, it should always be considered when questions of justice arise. John Rawls has written about the basic structure of a society, which he understands to be the structure of a society's major political and social institutions. Rawls rejects the idea that desert is an important criterion that must be accounted for in basic-structure principles of justice. While giving special attention to Rawls's difference principle, the dissertation examines certain difficulties surrounding his rejection of desert as an important component of basic-structure justice. The opposing view of this dissertation is that, if they are to be just, basic-structure principles must leave room for desert in various contexts so that it is not trumped by some overarching social concern. In addition, the dissertation advances the view that the use of desert as a distributive criterion is most appropriate in local contexts. The dissertation ends with an examination of the role of desert in certain issues of local justice, such as employment and university admissions dec (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Steven Wall (Advisor); Fred D. Miller Jr. (Committee Member); Jeffrey Moriarty (Committee Member); Ellen F. Paul (Committee Member) Subjects: Philosophy