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Christine A. James, Philosophy Publications, 1996-2019

 Record Group — Bag: james-christine_publications_1996-2019_bag
Collection number: UA-8-12-1_ER003

Scope and Contents

Electronic journal articles by Dr. Christine A. James, Philosophy Department (Valdosta State University), 2011-2019. Includes 28 publications from a variety of academic journals.

Table of Contents

  1. James, Christine (2011). Communication in online fan communities: The Ethics of Intimate Strangers. Empedocles: European Journal for the Philosophy of Communication, 2(2), 279–289. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/5753 Download PDF
  2. James, C. (1996). Reconceptualizing Masculinity: Review Essay. DisClosure: A Journal of Social Theory. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/5781 Download PDF
  3. James, C. (1998). Irrationality In Philosophy and Psychology: The Moral Implications of Self-Defeating Behavior. Journal of Consciousness Studies, 5(2), 224–234. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/5784 Download PDF
  4. James, C. (2004). Huntington or Halliburton? The Real Clash of Civilizations in American Life. Journal for The Study of Religions and Ideologies, (8), 43–54. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/5790 Download PDF
  5. James, C. (2020). A Caricature of Intimacy: Online Fan Communities and Intimacy between Strangers. BRILL: Love on Trial: Adjusting and Assigning Relationships, 1–10. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/5793 Download PDF
  6. James, Christine A. (2005). The Benefits of Comedy: Teaching Ethics with Shared Laughter. AE-Extra. April 2005. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/5796 Download PDF
  7. James, C. (2013). The Economic and Family Context of Philosophical Autobiography: Acting "As-If" for American Buddenbrooks. Journal of Philosophy of Life, 3(1), 24–43. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/5877 Download PDF
  8. James, C. (2010). Communication in online fan communities: The ethics of intimate strangers. (2010). Empedocles: European Journal for the Philosophy of Communication, 2(2), 279–289. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/5954 Download PDF
  9. James, C. (2009). Language and Emotional Knowledge: A Case Study on Ability and Disability in Williams Syndrome. Biosemiotics, 151–167. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/5955 Download PDF
  10. James, C. (2008). Evolution and Conservative Christianity: How Philosophy of Science Pedagogy Can Begin the Conversation. Spontaneous Generations: A Journal for the History and Philosophy of Science, 185–212. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/6111 Download PDF
  11. James, C. (2008). Philosophy of Disability . Essays in Philosophy, 9(1), 1–6. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/6112 Download PDF
  12. James, C. (2005). Sonar Technology and Shifts in Environmental Ethics. Essays in Philosophy A Biannual Journal, 6(1), 1–27. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/6113 Download PDF
  13. James, C. (2004). Review of "Science and Other Cultures: Issues in Philosophies of Science and Technology." Essays in Philosophy A Biannual Journal, 5 (1), 1–10. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/6114 Download PDF
  14. James, C. (1997). Feminism and masculinity: Reconceptualizing the dichotomy of reason and emotion. International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, 17(1/2), 129–152. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/6115 Download PDF
  15. James, C. (1995). Feminist ethics, mothering, and caring. Kinesis: Graduate Journal in Philosophy, 22(2), 1–17. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/6116 Download PDF
  16. James, C. (2019). Philosophy, Humor, and the Human Condition: Taking Ridicule Seriously. Book Reviews: Palgrave Macmillan, 315–317. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/6117 Download PDF
  17. James, C. (2016). Teaching Ethics in Public Administration. Global Encyclopedia of Public Administration Public Policy, and Governance, 1–7. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/6122 Download PDF
  18. James, C. (2013). Heartbreak Hotei: Spirituality and Metabolic Syndrome. Chronic Illness, Spirituality, and Healing, 183–198. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/6123 Download PDF

Dates

  • 1996-2019

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Extent

28 Electronic Records (28 Electronic records. 85 Files, 28 Folders. 23.5 MB (24,667,986 bytes).) : james-christine_publications_1996-2019_bag.zip ZIP archive .zip 24.25 MB 25,432,384 10/12/2022 1:33:11 PM

Language

From the Collection: English

Additional Description

Abstracts



  • James, Christine (2011). Communication in online fan communities: The Ethics of Intimate Strangers. Empedocles: European Journal for the Philosophy of Communication, 2(2), 279–289. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/5753 Download PDF

    Abstract: Dan O'Brien gives an excellent analysis of testimonial knowledge transmission in his article ‘Communication Between Friends' (2009) noting that the reliability of the speaker is a concern in both externalist and internalist theories of knowledge. O'Brien focuses on the belief states of Hearers (H) in cases where the reliability of the Speaker (S) is known via ‘intimate trust', a special case pertaining to friendships with a track record of reliable or unreliable reports. This article considers the notion of ‘intimate trust', specifically in the context of online fan communities, in which the amount of time as a member of an online fan community and the extent of one's posting history often results in something like ‘intimate trust' between fans who are, for all other purposes, strangers. In the last two years, Twitter has provided a number of celebrities with a place to update fans and ‘tweet' back and forth an innumerable number of times in any given day. This accentuates the intimacy to such a level that it becomes a ‘caricature of intimacy' – the minute-to-minute updates accentuate the illusion that the fan ‘knows' the celebrity, but the distance and mediation are still carefully maintained. This is an issue with both ethical and epistemological implications for fan-fan and fan-celebrity relationships online, considering ethics of care and ethics of justice, whether fans ‘owe' celebrities a certain amount of distance and respect, and whether stars owe the fan something in return, either in the sense of reciprocal Kantian duties or Aristotelian moderation.

    Keywords: Aristotle; intimacy; reliabilism; erotomania; social networking;



  • James, C. (1996). Reconceptualizing Masculinity: Review Essay. DisClosure: A Journal of Social Theory. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/5781 Download PDF

    Abstract: Recent feminist and postmodern thought has critiqued traditional conceptions of masculinity, describing the effect that the distinctive masculinity of the "man of reason" has had on the history of philosophy, on consciousness, and on the academy. A common characteristic of the recent literature on masculinity is that it reflects the historical and cultural context in which it is written -- a context of binary, hierarchical dualisms which involve certain symbolic associations. These dualisms, such as Man-Woman, masculine-feminine, and reason-emotion, arguably find their roots in Pythagorean philosophy and can be traced through the Renaissance to our current historical context. One example is our conception of reason: the association of maleness with a clear, determinate mode of thought, i.e. reason, was incorporated into the form-matter distinction that was central to Greek thought. This paper will show that in cases where women attempt to redefine the dichotomy by revaluing the traditionally feminine (like feelings and emotions) over the traditionally masculine (like reason) their work is often mistakenly criticized for being purely political; conversely, when men attempt to redefine the same dichotomy in an attempt to allow men to "get back in touch with their feelings," to be nurturers, their work is described in terms of providing a better epistemology. The current literature on masculinity explores alternatives to rewriting or redefining Woman that try to avoid the problem of status remaining with redefinition. This alternative is rewriting or redefining Man. Through redefining Man, one may be able to reconceptualize the privileged side of the hierarchical dualism in such a way that it is no longer privileged. Deprivileging, as well as redefining Man, is argued by theorists of masculinity to be possible because while the devalued status of the inferior side of a hierarchical dualism tends to keep the same status when redefined, it may be possible to redefine the privileged side of the dualism in such a way that it loses its privileged status. Unfortunately, many of these attempts to rewrite or redefine masculinity have detrimental faults of their own. Finally, this paper will discuss more promising possibilities for new definitions of Man, as well as a vision for better interaction between the work of women and men in general.

    Keywords: feminism; masculinity; social and political philosophy; feminist ethics



  • James, C. (1998). Irrationality In Philosophy and Psychology: The Moral Implications of Self-Defeating Behavior. Journal of Consciousness Studies, 5(2), 224–234. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/5784 Download PDF

    Abstract: The philosophical study of irrationality can yield interesting insights into the human mind. One provocative issue is self-defeating behaviours, i.e. behaviours that result in failure to achieve one's apparent goals and ambitions. In this paper I consider a self-defeating behaviour called choking under pressure, explain why it should be considered irrational, and how it is best understood with reference to skills. Then I describe how choking can be explained without appeal to a purely Freudian subconscious or 'sub-agents' view of mind. Finally, I will recommend an alternative way to understand self-defeating behaviour which comes from a synthesis of Peter Strawson's explanation of 'self-reactive attitudes', Mark Johnston's notion of 'mental tropisms', and revised Freudian descriptions of the causes of self-defeating behaviour.

    Keywords: Philosophy of Mind; Normative Ethics; Philosophy of Psychology; Consciousness Studies; Self Deception



  • James, C. (2004). Huntington or Halliburton? The Real Clash of Civilizations in American Life. Journal for The Study of Religions and Ideologies, (8), 43–54. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/5790 Download PDF

    Abstract: A wide variety of sources, including the Huntington literature and popular mass media, show that Huntington's "clash of civilizations" idea actually has very little value in understanding the current global political context. The central assumption of Huntington's view, that cultural kinship ties influence loyalties and agreements on a global scale, has little to do with the daily lives of American citizens and little to do with the decisions made by the current presidential administration. The mass media evidence from the United States shows that the the most important "kinship" ties are not religious or cultural, but economic. The argument involves a deeper analysis of the current trend towards religious programs on American television, a timeline of events relating to the Halliburton – Cheney relationship, and views expressed by members of the United States military in Stars and Stripes.

    Keywords: Religion; Sociology; Economics; Philosophy; Political Philosophy; Intercultural Communication; Religion and Politics; Cosmopolitanism; Culture; Islam; Television; Civilization; Kinship



  • James, C. (2020). A Caricature of Intimacy: Online Fan Communities and Intimacy between Strangers. BRILL: Love on Trial: Adjusting and Assigning Relationships, 1–10. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/5793 Download PDF

    Abstract: In the 1952 film Singing in the Rain, the song "Lucky Star" described portals being opened on earth so that fans and celebrities could co-mingle in celestial bliss. With the advent of the internet, such a portal opened wide. In the mid-1990s celebrity websites and unofficial fan sites kept fans informed about their favorite celebrity's latest projects, and often created communities between fans themselves. Much more than a 1960-1970's style fan newsletter, the internet gave fans a feeling of intimacy, but a mediated intimacy. In the last two years, Twitter has provided a number of celebrities with a place to update fans and “tweet” back and forth an innumerable number of times in any given day. This accentuates the intimacy to such a level that it becomes a “caricature” – the minute-to-minute updates accentuate the illusion that the fan “knows” the celebrity, but the distance and mediation are still carefully maintained. What are the philosophical implications of such relationships between fans and celebrities? Are fangurls and fanboys merely in love with the feeling of being in love, a modern day counter example to Plato's Gorgias? Should one employ an ethic of care between fans and celebrities, or should one apply an ethics of justice approach? Do fans "owe" celebrities a certain amount of distance and respect, for example, should they refrain from patronizing celebrity stalker paparazzi websites? If a fan chooses to spend years engaging in website creation and maintenance for their favorite star, does that star then owe the fan something in return, in the sense of reciprocal Kantian duties? If we return to the example of Singing in the Rain, it quickly becomes clear that anAristotelian approach involving moderation of the appetites is necessary. At first, Kathy Selden disingenuously pretends she doesn't know who the star,Don Lockwood, is. The song “Lucky Star”, in which she confesses the extent of her fan obsession, was cut out of the original theatrical release of the film. What makes Kathy Selden an exemplary fan is the way she moderates her desires and lives out the Golden Mean – helping DonLockwood in saving his film The Dueling Cavalier, but intending to end their liaison when it becomes clear that her own career and talents would be misused. Fan-Celebrity relationships on the internet would benefit from this type of Aristotelian moderation.

    Keywords: social networking; fandom; erotomania; de Clérambault's syndrome; Aristotle; Kant; Mill; Plato; love; intimacy



  • James, Christine A. (2005). The Benefits of Comedy: Teaching Ethics with Shared Laughter. AE-Extra. April 2005. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/5796 Download PDF

    Abstract: Entertainment and mass media contributed to the students' mindset and the lens through which they viewed and interpreted their lived experience. Comedic mass media in the form of television sitcoms and films were common choices for inexpensive entertainment, in their childhood, in their past, in their homes, and now in their college dorms and apartments. In asking students to connect their own history with cultural trends depicted in comedy in film and television, even through the history of television, gave the students a familiar venue to critically consider their own intellectual growth and development and that of American society as a whole.

    Keywords: Ethics; Art; Pop Culture and philosophy; Screen Comedy; Comedy; Virtue Ethics; Philosophy Of Race; Film and Television Comedy; Comedy Studies



  • James, C. (2013). The Economic and Family Context of Philosophical Autobiography : Acting "As-If" for American Buddenbrooks. Journal of Philosophy of Life, 3(1), 24–43. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/5844 Download PDF

    Abstract: This paper addresses the project of philosophical autobiography, using two different perspectives. On the one hand, the societal, economic, and family contexts of William James are addressed, and connected a modern academic context of business ethics research, marketing and purchasing decision making, and the continuing financial crisis. The concepts of “stream of consciousness” and “acting as-if” are connected to recent literature on William James. On the other hand, the significance of family context, and the possible connection between the William James family and the author, is addressed through shared family narratives interspersed throughout the paper.

    Keywords: Business Ethics, Sociology, Economics, Philosophy, Ethics, Corporate Social Responsibility, International Law, Human Rights, Virtue Ethics, Corporate Governance, Natural Law, Philosophy Of Law, Biography, Environmental Sustainability, Ethics and economics, International Strategy, Autobiography, Soft Law, Global Economic Governance, Philosophy of Law



  • James, C. (2000). The Common Vernacular of Power Relations in Heavy Metal and Christian Fundamentalist Performances. DRAFT, 1–21. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/5845 Download PDF

    Abstract: Wittgenstein's comment that what can be shown cannot be said has a special resonance with visual representations of power in both Heavy Metal andFundamentalist Christian communities. Performances at metal shows, and performances of “religious theatre”, share an emphasis on violence and destruction. For example, groups like GWAR (God What an Awful Racket)and Cannibal Corpse feature violent scenes in stage shows and album covers,scenes that depict gory results of unrestrained sexuality that are strikingly like Halloween “Hell House” show presented by neo-Conservative,Fundamentalist Christian churches in the southeastern United States' “BibleBelt”. One group may claim to celebrate violence, the other sees violence as a tool to both encourage “moral” behavior, and to show that the Christian church is able to “speak the language” of young people who are fans of metal, gore, and horror.Explicit violence, in each case, signifies power relationships that are in transformation: Historically, medieval morality plays and morality cycles had been used as a pedagogical tool, a welcoming, inclusive, interactive,embodied sharing of religion and ideology. (McCarthy, 1998; Gottschall 2004; Baldwin 2006) In the modern-day context of fundamentalist religious education, these Hell House performances seek to exclude outsiders and solidify teen membership in the Christian community (Collins-Hughes 2006).Hell House performances are marketed to the young church members, and are seen as a way to reinvigorate conservative Fundamentalist Christianity.Women and girls routinely take part in, and often organize Hell House events. Teenage girls involved in the pro-life movement often look forward to playing a girl suffering the aftereffects of an abortion, complete with fake blood and screams worthy of metal gore shows.In the context of heavy metal, violent performances do not seek to exclude, but provide an outlet for a variety of socially unacceptable or unpopular feelings. Psychologists have argued for the therapeutic value of emotional musical performance for adolescent males experiencing social isolation (Lachmann 2006). For example, US high school shooters, such asKip Kinkel, would benefit from expression through music providing outlets for anger, such as Mahler; an important counter-argument to the common media assumption that the violent music may cause violent acts. The primary examples in the literature tend to be young men, but the notion of violent performance having potential benefits can also be applied to women. “Hard and Heavy-Gender and Power in a Heavy Metal Music Subculture” by LeighKrenske and Jim McKay (2002), an ethnographic and autobiographical analysis of a heavy metal club and its denizens, illustrates how female heavy metal fans negotiate power relationships and define themselves, asserting themselves into an atmosphere of (controlled) male aggression, and symbolic oppression of females. The most challenging situations involve women as performers, and the quest to be taken seriously as a performer.In each context there is an apparent, if not actual, empowering of women who are willing to play particular kinds of roles. The use of violence and gore has a value beyond merely shocking the audience, it is arguably away that some women find their voice, both for fundamentalist Christians and fundamentalist gore metal fans

    Keywords: Aesthetics, politics, conservative Christianity, power relations, psychoanalysis, violence, social theory



  • James, C. (2012). Prisons for Profit in the United States: Retribution and Means vs. Ends. Zeitschrift Fur Menschenrechte: Journal for Human Rights, 6(1), 76–93. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/5846 Download PDF

    Abstract: The recent trend toward privately owned and operated prisons calls attention to a variety of issues involving human rights. The growing number of corporatized correctional institutions is especially notable in the United States, but it is also a global phenomenon in many countries. The reasons cited for privatizing prisons are usually economic; the opportunity to outsource prison services enables local political leaders to save tax revenue, and local communities are promised a chance to create new jobs and bring in a new industry. This article will address the history of prisons and the recent trend toward privatizing prisons and the perception of prisons as a for-profit enterprise. This new economic order brings with it a set of human rights concerns, including the relationship of for-profit prisons to increased numbers of incarcerated persons and increased sentences, racism and classism. The contractual relationship between political leaders and prison corporations will be addressed, noting that conditions of liability frequently mean that prison administrations lack motivation to safeguard the human rights of prisoners. The human rights issues often extend outside of the private prison itself, having a negative effect on the local community.

    Keywords: Business Ethics, Political Philosophy, Ethics, Globalization, Corporate Social Responsibility, International Law, Human Rights, Virtue Ethics, Corporate Governance, Natural Law, Philosophy Of Law, Prison Industrial Complex, Environmental Sustainability, Ethics and economics, International Strategy, Soft Law, Global Economic Governance, Philosophy of Law



  • James, C. (1998). Hegel, Harding, and Objectivity. Southwest Philosophy Review , 14(1), 111–122. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/5847 Download PDF

    Abstract: Jean Hyppolite describes Hegel's project in the Phenomenology of Spirit as “the development and formulation of natural consciousness and its progression to science, that is to say, to philosophic knowledge, to knowledge of the absolute” (Hyppolite 1974, 4). This development or progression is the “work of consciousness engaged in experience,” as phenomenal knowledge necessarily leads to absolute knowledge. Thus from the very nature of consciousness one is led toward the absolute, which is both substance as well as subject. This paper will argue that Hegel's account of the development of consciousness and its progression towards knowledge has certain commonalities with feminist philosophy of science. Frequently, feminist theorists cite Hegel specifically in reference to his discussion of the master/slave relationship, or his discussion of ethics, two sections of the Phenomenology of Spirit in which Hegel explicitly attempts to delineate a role or place for women. Many of these sections do have decidedly anti-feminist implications, as has been correctly pointed out by many scholars. Especially in the section on Antigone, where Hegel ascribes the private sphere of life in the home to woman and the public sphere of life in the polis to man, Hegel is clearly unconcerned with the subordination of women, prescribing means of resistance, or finding alternatives to promote the removal of women's oppression.1 Although Hegel's political and moral theory does not reflect a feminist perspective, in this paper I will argue that Hegel's theory of knowledge, the progress towards absolute knowledge described above, has much in common with recent feminist epistemology and philosophy of science. A central implication of this conclusion is that feminist theorists would do well to regard Hegel not merely politically, as an example of another “dead white male” philosopher who participated in the oppression of women; but also epistemologically, as a possible ally in the creation of better theories of knowledge that will regard the experience of culturally situated subjects as important sources of knowledge.2 This conclusion will be argued in two ways. First, I will illustrate how Hegel reconceptualizes the relationship between subject and object, and subject and community, and the related notion of objectivity. This type of objectivity will be shown to be a variety of “dialectical objectivity,” following Allan Megill's delineation of four senses of objectivity. This reading of Hegelian subject-object relations and objectivity will then be compared to Sandra Harding's concept of “strong objectivity,” a very similar type of dialectical objectivity which stands as an excellent example of current feminist epistemology and standpoint theory. From this similarity, it will be shown that Hegelian and feminist epistemology have much more in common than previously thought.

    Keywords: Cognitive Science, Philosophy, Philosophy of Science, Phenomenology, Hegel, Standpoint feminist theory, Feminist Philosophy of Science



  • James, C. (1998). Irrationality in philosophy and psychology: the moral implications of self-defeating behavior. Journal of Consciousness Studies, 5(2), 224–234. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/5848 Download PDF

    Abstract: The philosophical study of irrationality can yield interesting insights into the human mind. One provocative issue is self-defeating behaviors, i.e. behaviors that result in failure to achieve one's apparent goals and ambitions. In this paper I consider a self-defeating behavior called choking under pressure, explain why it should be considered irrational, and how it is best understood with reference to skills. Then I describe how choking can be explained without appeal to a purely Freudian subconscious or ‘sub-agents' view of mind.Finally, I will recommend an alternative way to understand self-defeating behavior which comes from a synthesis of Peter Strawson's explanation of ‘self-reactive attitudes', Mark Johnston's notion of ‘mental tropisms', and revised Freudian descriptions of the causes of self-defeating behavior.

    Keywords: Philosophy, Philosophy of Mind, Ethics, Normative Ethics, Philosophy of Psychology, Consciousness Studies, Self Deception



  • James, C. (2020). Metaphor in the Lab: Humor and Teaching Science. The Philosophy of Humor Yearbook, 225–235. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/5859 Download PDF

    Abstract: Using humor, empathy, and improvisation to make science more accessible to the average person, the center has helped many scientists communicate more effectively about what they do. In many cases, this involves taking science down from the metaphorical “ivory tower” and bringing it into the comfort zone of students and people who may not have had a positive experience in science classes. A variety of metaphors are used to make science “come alive.” This is an interesting counter example to earlier theories of metaphor and comedy such as the “disparagement theory” (Mio and Graesser 1991) which described jokes as more successful if they relied on disparaging metaphors that build community through shared hostility. The metaphor approach builds community and creates inclusion through “social-facilitative functions of playful language” (Ritchie and Schell 2009). When a scientist helps a layperson or student understand humorous metaphors, it communicates the literal meaning of terms, but also the contextual meaning, research practices, and the laboratory social setting. This is argued through examples of humor, comedy, and metaphor—a timely issue given current political discussions in the United States.

    Keywords: pedagogy, science, humor, metaphor, laboratory life



  • James, C. (2018). The Neurological Research on Laughter: Social Context, Joys, and Taunts. Israeli Journal for Humor Research, 7(1), 8–16. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/5861 Download PDF

    Abstract: One theory about comedy is that the stand-up comedian is always engaged in a quest for “respectability.” As the center of attention, the comedian has a unique opportunity to share specific truths with authority, but at the same time, the comedian engages in self-deprecation and being an occasional butt of their own joke. In Elmer Blistein's classic book Comedy in Action (1964), he relates a story about Danny Kaye. When Kaye'sfive-year-old daughter saw him perform in a nightclub, he noticed her crying and asked her what was wrong. She replied, “I don't like people to laugh at my Daddy” (Blistein 1964: 17). Kaye's daughter was struggling with the difference between “laughing at” and “laughing with.” The comedian constantly negotiates being the butt of the joke who is the object of laughter, and being the expert who is in control of the performance and laughing with the audience. In either case, neurobiological analysis of laughter shows striking differences in types of laughter and the active locations of the brain in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans. One research team has documented a “laughter neural network” showing that joyous and taunting laughter each produced different connectivity patterns in parts of the brain involved in sound association, thinking and visual imagery.The fact that laughter occurs in a social context where roles and statuses between individuals are interpreted and reinterpreted is very important. Complex social laughter is used in a conscious and goal-directed manner to influence and modify the attitudes and behaviors of those around us. “Polite laughter” as a way to acknowledge things that members of a group all find funny can reinforce social communication and cooperation. Researchers have documented this behavior among great apes and chimpanzees. Phenomenologically, the frequency and pitch of laughter produced in different social settings can vary widely in accordance with the emotional state of the laughter, with the difference in pitch between joyous laughter and taunting “schadenfreude”laughter at another's misfortune showing distinct differences. The social context of laughter and its neurobiological basis is central to the distinction between laughing at someone and laughing with someone

    Keywords: Neuroscience, Neuropsychology, Laughter, Humor Studies, Primate Studies, Primate Behavior



  • James, C. (2009). Learning outcomes. Metaphilosophy and Religious Studies Capstone , 1–7. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/5868 Download PDF

    Abstract: A capstone course taught in a seminar setting, emphasizing individual research projects on selected themes, presented by students to their peers and to the philosophy and religious studies faculty. This is a reading, research and writing intensive course, so it will require you to read,think about, and write about a considerable amount of material. The most important aspect of the course is that it involves independent research leading up to a publishable quality research paper and a set of presentations during the semester. The class does not involve lecture, rather we will engage in seminar style critique of everyone's oral and written work as you would in a graduate program.

    Keywords: Capstone, metaphilosophy, religious studies



  • James, C. (2015). Aesthetics in the Age of Austerity: Building the Creative Class. Anthology of Philosophical Studies, 9(5), 37–48. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/5874 Download PDF

    Abstract: Aesthetic theorists often interpret and understand works of art through the social and political context that creates and inspires the work. The recent economic recessions, and the accompanying austerity measures in many European countries, provide an interesting test case for this contextual understanding. Economists debate whether or not spending on entertainment and arts drops during times of recession and austerity. Some economists assume that spending will decline in times of austerity, but others point to evidence that spending on creative arts and entertainment remains steady and even increases during a recession because of the relief and escapism that the arts provide. Tax incentives and production rights are often given to filmmakers in the United States; in hopes that such projects will enliven a local economy and provide work for a local creative community. In the context of recent austerity measures in Greece and Spain, new and creative ways for members of the arts community to bring about new projects, and fund them in ways that critique political leadership, have emerged. Following Richard Wollheim's classic aesthetic theory of “criticism as retrieval,” we should be mindful of the cultural values that are at stake in the creativity-culture market now being created. In any case, some scholars estimate that austerity measures in many countries will last until 2020, giving us ample opportunity to be even more “creative” with both financial incentives and artistic achievements. Keywords: Austerity, Cultural Economy, Creative Class, Tax Incentives, Aesthetics, Microtheatres, Entertainment

    Keywords: Aesthetics, Aesthetics and Politics, Aesthetics and Economy



  • James, C. (2014). Data Science and Mass Media: Seeking a Hermeneutic Ethics of Information. Proceedings of the Society for Phenomenology and Media, 15, 49–58. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/5876 Download PDF

    Abstract: In recent years, the growing academic field called “Data Science” has made many promises. On closer inspection, relatively few of these promises have come to fruition. A critique of Data Science from the phenomenological tradition can take many forms. This paper addresses the promise of “participation” in Data Science, taking inspiration from Paul Majkut's 2000 work in Glimpse, “Empathy's Impostor: Interactivity and Intersubjectivity,” and some insights from Heidegger's "The Question Concerning Technology." The description of Data Science provided in the scholarly literature includes “the study of the generalizable extraction of knowledge from data” (Dhar 2013, 64), “data stewardship and data sharing…access to data at higher volumes and more quickly, and the potential for replication and augmentation of existing research” (Hartter et al., 2013, 1), and “personal information, health status, daily activities and shopping preferences that are recorded and used to give us instant feedback and recommendations based on previous online behavior.” (Shin 2013) United States universities have begun to offer graduate programs in “data science”, anticipating the growth of this field for marketing, national security, and health industries. These universities include New York University, Columbia University, Stanford, Northwestern, and Syracuse.

    Keywords: Hermeneutics, Phenomenology, Big Data, Big Data Analytics, Philosophy of Science and Technology In Society



  • James, C. (2013). The Economic and Family Context of Philosophical Autobiography: Acting "As-If" for American Buddenbrooks. Journal of Philosophy of Life, 3(1), 24–43. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/5877 Download PDF

    Abstract: This paper addresses the project of philosophical autobiography, using two different perspectives.On the one hand, the societal, economic, and family contexts of William James are addressed, and connected a modern academic context of business ethics research, marketing and purchasing decision making, and the continuing financial crisis. The concepts of “stream of consciousness” and“acting as-if” are connected to recent literature on William James. On the other hand, the significance of family context, and the possible connection between the William James family and the author, is addressed through shared family narratives interspersed throughout the paper.

    Keywords: Business Ethics, Philosophy, Ethics, Corporate Social Responsibility, International Law, Human Rights, Virtue Ethics, Corporate Governance, Natural Law, Philosophy Of Law, Environmental Sustainability, Ethics and economics, International Strategy, Autobiography, Soft Law, Global Economic Governance



  • James, C. (2010). Communication in online fan communities: The ethics of intimate strangers. (2010). Empedocles: European Journal for the Philosophy of Communication, 2(2), 279–289. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/5954 Download PDF

    Abstract: Dan O'Brien gives an excellent analysis of testimonial knowledge transmission in his article ‘Communication Between Friends' (2009) noting that the reliability of the speaker is a concern in both externalist and internalist theories of knowledge.O'Brien focuses on the belief states of Hearers (H) in cases where the reliability of the Speaker (S) is known via ‘intimate trust', a special case pertaining to friendships with a track record of reliable or unreliable reports. This article considers the notion of ‘intimate trust', specifically in the context of online fan communities, in which the amount of time as a member of an online fan community and the extent of one's posting history often results in something like ‘intimate trust' between fans who are, for all other purposes, strangers. In the last two years, Twitter has provided a number of celebrities with a place to update fans and ‘tweet' back and forth an innumerable number of times in any given day. This accentuates the intimacy to such a level that it becomes a ‘caricature of intimacy' – the minute-to-minute updates accentuate the illusion that the fan ‘knows' the celebrity, but the distance and mediation are still carefully maintained. This is an issue with both ethical and epistemological implications for fan-fan and fan-celebrity relationships online, considering ethics of care and ethics of justice, whether fans ‘owe' celebrities a certain amount of distance and respect, and whether stars owe the fan something in return, either in the sense of reciprocal Kantian duties or Aristotelian moderation

    Keywords: Aristotle, intimacy, reliabilism, erotomania, social networking



  • James, C. (2009). Language and Emotional Knowledge: A Case Study on Ability and Disability in Williams Syndrome. Biosemiotics, 151–167. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/5955 Download PDF

    Abstract: Williams Syndrome provides a striking test case for discourses on disability, because the characteristics associated with Williams Syndrome involve a combination of “abilities” and “disabilities”. For example, Williams Syndrome is associated with disabilities in mathematics and spatial cognition. However, Williams Syndrome individuals also tend to have a unique strength in their expressive language skills, and are socially outgoing and unselfconscious when meeting new people. Children with Williams are said to be typically unafraid of strangers and show a greater interest in contact with adults than with their peers. This apparently keen social knowledge is a counterexample to the discussion of disability among academic philosophers, especially philosophers of the early modern period. Locke infamously used the example of disability to claim that Descartes' arguments in favor of innate ideas were incorrect. On the contrary, Williams Syndrome may stand as an example of innate social knowledge; something that could benefit current discourse in philosophy, disability theory, and medical ethics.

    Keywords: Philosophy, Disability Studies, Critical Disability Studies, Biosemiotics, Philosophy of Cognitive Science



  • James, C. (2008). Evolution and Conservative Christianity: How Philosophy of Science Pedagogy Can Begin the Conversation. Spontaneous Generations: A Journal for the History and Philosophy of Science, 185–212. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/6111 Download PDF

    Abstract: I teach Philosophy of Science at a four-year state university located in the southeastern United States with a strong college of education. This means that the Philosophy of Science class I teach attracts large numbers of students who will later become science teachers in Georgia junior high and high schools—the same schools that recently began including evolution "warning" stickers in science textbooks. I am also a faculty member in a department combining Religious Studies and Philosophy. This means Philosophy of Science is often expected to provide dialogue, debate, and bridge-building on the issues of creationism and evolution. I am expected to provide a welcoming atmosphere to all the religious perspectives that the students bring to class, but at the same time I feel responsible for giving them a serious respect for evolution. This tension between religious tolerance and secular science education has had important consequences in American schools, most notably with the issue of Intelligent Design Theory (ID) in the classroom.

    Keywords: Human Evolution, Philosophy, Philosophy of Science, Education, Pedagogy



  • James, C. (2008). Philosophy of Disability . Essays in Philosophy, 9(1), 1–6. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/6112 Download PDF

    Abstract: Disability has been a topic of heightened philosophical interest in the last 30 years. Disability theory has enriched a broad range of sub-specializations in philosophy. The call for papers for this issue welcomed papers addressing questions on normalcy, medical ethics, public health, philosophy of education, aesthetics, philosophy of sport, philosophy of religion, and theories of knowledge. This issue of Essays in Philosophy includes nine essays that approach the philosophy of disability in three distinct ways: The first set of three essays provide a careful analysis of John Rawls, and the application of his work in ethics and justice to societies in which persons with disabilities, especially cognitive disabilities, can take active part in the processes of civil society. The second set of three essays branch out into continental philosophy, and are especially engaged with issues of community membership, communication, translation, and hermeneutics. The third set of three essays address disability specifically through the arts and aesthetics; asking questions on the portrayal of disabled persons in the arts and its implications for normalcy, sexuality, beauty, and the sublime.

    Keywords: Philosophy, Disability Studies, Critical Disability Studies



  • James, C. (2005). Sonar Technology and Shifts in Environmental Ethics. Essays in Philosophy A Biannual Journal, 6(1), 1–27. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/6113 Download PDF

    Abstract: The history of sonar technology provides a fascinating case study for philosophers of science. During the first and second World Wars, sonar technology was primarily associated with activity on the part of the sonar technicians and researchers. Usually this activity is concerned with creation of sound waves under water, as in the classic “ping and echo”. The last fifteen years have seen a shift toward passive, ambient noise “acoustic daylight imaging” sonar. Along with this shift a new relationship has begun between sonar technicians and environmental ethics. I have found a significant shift in the values, and the environmental ethics, of the underwater community by looking closely at the term “noise” as it has been conceptualized and reconceptualized in the history of sonar technology. To illustrate my view, I will include three specific sets of information: 1) a discussion of the 2003 debate regarding underwater active low- frequency sonar and its impact on marine life; 2) a review of the history of sonar technology in diagrams, abstracts, and artifacts; 3) the latest news from February 2004 on how the military and the acoustic daylight imaging passive sonar community has responded to the current debates.

    Keywords: Philosophy, Philosophy of Science, Philosophy of Technology



  • James, C. (2004). Review of "Science and Other Cultures: Issues in Philosophies of Science and Technology." Essays in Philosophy A Biannual Journal, 5 (1), 1–10. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/6114 Download PDF

    Abstract: Dialogue between feminist and mainstream philosophy of science has been limited in recent years,although feminist and mainstream traditions each have engaged in rich debates about key concepts and their efficacy. Noteworthy criticisms of concepts like objectivity, consensus, justification, and discoverycan be found in the work of philosophers of science including Philip Kitcher, Helen Longino, Peter Galison, Alison Wylie, Lorraine Daston, and Sandra Harding. As a graduate student in philosophy of science who worked in both literatures, I was often left with the feeling that I had joined a broken familywith two warring factions. This is apparent in the number of anthologies that have emerged on both sidesin the aftermath of the “Science Wars” (Gross, Paul R., Norman Levitt, and Martin W. Lewis, eds. 1996;Koertge, Noretta, ed. 1998; Sokal, Alan and Jean Bricmont. 1998; etc.)

    Keywords: Philosophy, Philosophy of Science, Feminist Theory, History of Science



  • James, C. (1997). Feminism and masculinity: Reconceptualizing the dichotomy of reason and emotion. International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, 17(1/2), 129–152. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/6115 Download PDF

    Abstract: In the context of feminist and postmodern thought, traditional conceptions of masculinity and what it means to be a “Real Man” have been critiqued. In Genevieve Lloyd's The Man of Reason, this critique takes the form of exposing the effect that the distinctive masculinity of the “man of reason” has had on the history of philosophy. One major feature of the masculine-feminine dichotomy will emerge as a key notion for understanding the rest of the paper: the dichotomy of reason-feeling, a parallel and a foundational aspect to the dichotomy of masculinity and femininity. In exploring the history of symbolic conceptions of masculinity in ancient Greece, the Renaissance, and the present, one finds that the oppression of women is integrally linked to the traditional tie between masculinity and reason. There have been many efforts in recent feminist philosophy to rewrite or redefine “Woman” in such a way as to alleviate the oppression of women. I argue that the effectiveness of rewriting Woman for this purpose is problematic, primarily because any rewriting of this type must occur in the current historical context of hierarchical dualisms, like Man-Woman, masculine-feminine, male-female. These binary oppositions arguably find their roots in Pythagorean philosophy and can be traced through the Renaissance to our current historical context. It is these dualisms that have traditionally valued the masculine side of the Man-Woman dichotomy more than the feminine. Further, it will be argued that the hierarchical dualism of Man and Woman is so pervasive that if we rewrite or redefine the inferior, deprivileged side of that dualism, we cannot correct its devalued status. Instead, we redefine that which is undervalued but retain its devalued status. This particular aspect of attempts to critique hierarchical dualisms like reason and feeling has been reflected in the writings of many feminists, male and female. This paper will show that in cases where women attempt to redefine the dichotomy by revaluing the traditionally feminine (like feelings and emotions) over the traditionally masculine (like reason) their work is often mistakenly criticized for being purely political; conversely, when men attempt to redefine the same dichotomy in an attempt to allow men to “get back in touch with their feelings,” to be nurturers, their work is described in terms of providing a better epistemology. The current literature on masculinity explores alternatives to rewriting or redefining Woman that try to avoid the problem of status remaining with redefinition. This alternative is rewriting or redefining Man. Through redefining Man, one may be able to reconceptualize the privileged side of the hierarchical dualism in such a way that it is no longer privileged. Deprivileging, as well as redefining Man, is argued by theorists of masculinity to be possible because while the devalued status of the inferior side of a hierarchical dualism tends to keep the same status when redefined, it may be possible to redefine the privileged side of the dualism in such a way that it loses its privileged status. Unfortunately, many of these attempts to rewrite or redefine masculinity have detrimental faults of their own. Finally, this paper will discuss more promising possibilities for new definitions of Man, as well as a vision for better interaction between the work of women and men in general.

    Keywords: Philosophy, Feminist Theory, Masculinity Studies, Masculinities



  • James, C. (1995). Feminist ethics, mothering, and caring. Kinesis: Graduate Journal in Philosophy, 22(2), 1–17. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/6116 Download PDF

    Abstract: The relationship between feminist theory and traditionally feminine activities like mothering and caring is complex, especially because of the current diversity of feminist scholarship. There are many different kinds of feminist theory, and each approaches the issue of women's oppression from its own angle. The statement, "feminist ethics is about mothering and caring," can be critically evaluated by outlining specific feminist approaches to ethics and showing what role mothering and caring play in each particular view. In this paper, feminine and feminist perspectives are delineated, and the four classic feminist approaches (liberal, Marxist, radical, and socialist) are summarized. I argue that to some extent all of the examples of feminist ethics are "about" mothering and caring. In some cases this is because the particular view describes mothering and caring as features of the roots of women's oppression, or as a positive force in changing the prevailing social order to do away with oppression. I include a discussion of an additional role mothering might play in the socialist feminist framework.

    Keywords: Feminist Theory, Motherhood and Public Discourse, Ideologies of Motherhood



  • James, C. (2019). Philosophy, Humor, and the Human Condition: Taking Ridicule Seriously. Book Reviews: Palgrave Macmillan, 315–317. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/6117 Download PDF

    Abstract: Over the last few decades, the philosophy of comedy has begun to develop a set of specific questions that have provided a wealth of insights: for example, the ethics of jokes within social and political philosophy; or the incongruity theory of humor within epistemology; or the role of humor in healing and applied bio-ethics; or the cognitive difference between types of humor related to philosophy of mind and neurobiology. What was needed in the literature, and what LydiaAmir achieves in her new book, is a comprehensive view of humor that connects a variety of areas of philosophy in a framework. The conceptual framework that is introduced and developed by Amir is that of the Homo risibilis: not merely the human being as laughing, but the human being who understands their condition, sees the ridiculousness and humor within it, and then transcends that ridiculousness.

    Keywords: Philosophy, humor, human condition



  • James, C. (2016). Teaching Ethics in Public Administration. Global Encyclopedia of Public Administration Public Policy, and Governance, 1–7. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/6122 Download PDF

    Abstract: The teaching of ethics in public administration is afield that has grown considerably over the last 40 years. This is because of concerns within educational institutions that offer the Masters in Public Administration (MPA) and Doctor of PublicAdministration (DPA) graduate degrees, as well as the belief that citizens beyond the profession hold that public administrators must be account-able, must act in ways that are transparent and public, and must keep to a high standard of ethical behavior. To this end, professional organizations like the National Association of Schools of Public. Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) have asserted the importance of ethics in the pedagogical structures of MPA, DPA, and PhD programs,and a large number of philosophy and political science departments offer undergraduate applied ethics courses on Ethics in Public Administration and Ethics in Public Policy. There are a variety of specific areas to consider: the student audience,the ethical theories and values that are included,and the case studies or dilemmas that students use to practice their decision-making methods and keeping the course relevant and current to the professional life of public administrators currently working in the field. Courses in ethics in public administration are frequently the first step to a broader sense of professionalization for the student, as well as an opportunity to address a deeper set of values and concerns beyond administrative or bureaucratic procedures.

    Keywords: Course material; Ethics; Pedagogy; Standards; Values



  • James, C. (2013). Heartbreak Hotei: Spirituality and Metabolic Syndrome. Chronic Illness, Spirituality, and Healing, 183–198. https://hdl.handle.net/10428/6123 Download PDF

    Abstract: Colloquially, the medical diagnosis of “metabolic syndrome” and the physical condition of obesity might not be understood as chronic illness or chronic disease. To the lay person, chronic illness often refers to something “out of the patient's control.” In contrast, chronic illness such as Crohn's disease and celiac disease are not usually thought to be the result of repeated, habitual, poor dietary choices on the part of the patient; this is even less so with chronic conditions like multiple sclerosis or cystic fibrosis. Metabolic syndrome is not necessarily considered a chronic condition, because it can be remediated through lifestyle changes, healthier choices in food intake, and physical activity. Nevertheless, metabolic syndrome is directly related to chronic illness in terms of a specific set of clinical outcomes that are recognized by the Centers for Disease Control as chronic diseases, among them “heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and arthritis” (CDC, 2012). These chronic diseases are often listed in the medical diagnostic literature as clinical outcomes of metabolic syndrome, “a condition characterized by multiple risk factors” (AHA, 2004). The Mayo Clinic defines metabolic syndrome as a cluster of conditions—increased blood pressure, a high blood sugar level, excess body fat around the waist or abnormal cholesterol levels—that occur together, increasing your risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Having just one of these conditions doesn't mean you have metabolic syndrome. However, any of these conditions increase your risk of serious disease. (Mayo Clinic, 2011)

    Keywords: Metabolic Syndrome, Celiac Disease, External Argument, Philosophical Approach, Buddhist Tradition



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Organized in order downloaded. Each article in /objects/ subdirectory with Vtext metadata and sip-lock files.

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James, Christine A. [See `subDoc20220811.pdf`]

229.259.7609

chjames@valdosta.edu

Downloaded from the web. See `article-list.pdf`

1. https://valdosta.academia.edu/ChristineJames 2. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Christine-James-11

UUID

4911C316-A705-AE91-4807-45C71D2BFA05

james-christine_publications_1996-2019_bag.zip SHA-1: 76933a619dda17bbd786b39cea5364be3a33fc38

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