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2021 Report: Perspectives of Corruption
Shiseida Sade Kelly Aponte
Liberty University
Author’s Note: This report has been created by the independent empirical analysis
of the student, Shiseida Sade Kelly Aponte. In no way shall there be reproduction
of any part of this academic work without proper citation or explicitly expressed
permission from Shiseida Sade Kelly Aponte. If there are any questions, comments,
suggestions, or concerns, please contact Shiseida Sade Kelly Aponte.
Abstract
Different worldviews offer differing insights and methods of explanation regarding
an understanding of universal phenomena. The biblical worldviews involve
explanatory ideas, designed and encrypted in respect to divine revelation. The
philosophical worldviews involve critically analytic ideas based on reasoning. The
scientific worldviews involve a systematic, experimental method to explore ideas.
The vast range of insights assist the scholar-practitioner in developing sufficient
understanding to comprehensively identify and address problematic concerns. In this
investigation, biblical story of "the Fall of Man" will form the basis from which
to extrapolate and infer the causes of problematic issues of empirical phenomena.
The worldviews will aid development of a comprehensive explanation concerning
problematic issues, particularly, within the selected research area.
Introduction
In the pursuit of truth, different worldviews offer differing insights and methods
of explanation regarding an understanding of universal phenomena (Johnson, 2010;
Park, Konge & Artino, 2020). Biblical, philosophical and scientific domains offer
different perspectives of the state of perceived issues and possible solutions. The
vast range of insights assist the scholar-practitioner in developing sufficient
understanding to comprehensively address problematic concerns (Burkholder et al.,
2019). In the biblical worldviews of the Hebrew scriptures, "the Fall of Man"
occurs during prehistoric existence, wherein disobedience results in an onslaught
of reverberating problematic consequences (Klein & Klein, 2020), posing salvation
as solution (Naugle, n.d.). Herein, the "the Fall of Man" will be explained through
the biblical, philosophical, and scientific worldviews. When viewed as levels of
explanation (Bell, Staines & Michell, 2011; Johnson, 2010; Woods, 2021: Contrast-
Cooperation model), the domains are being understood as distinctly different, yet
complimentary components of a coherent whole; thereby, "the Fall of Man" will form
the basis from which to extrapolate and infer the causes of problematic issues of
empirical phenomena. The worldviews will aid the development of a comprehensive
explanation concerning problematic issues, particularly, within the research area
of the psychological implications of cleanliness in the fashion industry.
The Fall of Man: Biblical Worldviews
Stemming from authority and divine revelation, linguistic and temporal
considerations confound the exegesis of scripture apart from subjective conjecture
(Klein & Klein, 2020; Mitchell, 1897; van der Merwe, 2022; cf. Wolters, 2005). With
the biblical worldviews, there is an intellectual appeal distinct from philosophy
and science (Woods, 2021). Generally, the biblical worldviews seem to involve an
understanding that attributes problematic phenomena as errors stemming from "the
Fall of Man". However, it seems important to be mindful of the fact that biblical
practice is, in part, composed of different religious orthodoxies construed by
humans into an intellectual framework influenced by culture and philosophy
(ibidem). Regardless of denomination, "the Fall of Man" is viewed as an account of
a disobedient act (Genesis 3; cf. Mitchell, 1897) that fundamentally altered the
conscious awareness of those involved (Katz, 1996). As a result, a punishing curse
(Hachalinga, 2017) leads to a disruption in the perfect order (cf. greatness rooted
in obedience, King-Farlow & Hunt) originally ordained by the God reality
(Deuteronomy 28:1-14; cf. Klein & Klein, 2020). The disruption of order results in
corruption, distortion and perversion (i.e. disorder, uncleanliness; e.g., Cherlin,
2004); immorality is thus perpetuated by the unredeemed portions of Creation
(Deuteronomy 28:15-68; cf. Hahne, 2010; Rae, 2006). According to the biblical
worldviews, the remedy of the incurred moral scourge exceeds the quality of
Aristotelian good habits and Kantian duty-based philosophical reasoning (Woods,
2021). Biblical scripture refers to redemption occurring through salvation,
proffered through the Christ being, which, through the removal of the curse (van
der Merwe, 2022), provides the potential for perfection restored through obedience
in relationship with the God reality (Deuteronomy 29; cf. Naugle, n.d); a remedy
whose encrypted truth exceeds efforts of noble character, dutiful regard and moral
strength (King-Farlow & Hunt, 1982).
The Fall of Man: Philosophical Worldviews
Stemming from theology, reasoned and reflective thinking became philosophy
(McFatter, 2009); however, without the assumption of divine revelation (Woods,
2021). Philosophy is a intellectual domain of systematically pursuing a reasoned
explanation of truth that seems less arduously riddled, yet more variegated, than
the theological assertions of the biblical worldviews (Trumbull Ladd, 1913). Many
philosophers' reflective thinking predates biblical dissemination. As such, apart
from a general consensus in biblical discourse concerning "the Fall of Man",
philosophical perspectives of inherent human error are vast and typically explored
through ethics, rationality, and morality (Woods, 2021). For example, although
immersed in culture of the Greco-Roman pantheon, Aristotle explains moral
ineptitude in terms of a failure to develop good habits and strong character; while
17th century Descartes emphasizes reason and Kant explains immorality as a lack of
a sense of duty (King-Farlow & Hunt, 1982). Further, Augustus (AD 13-14) emphasizes
acts of deference, duty, leadership, order, respect of the gods, responsibility,
and triumph; Epictetus (AD c. 125/1701) explains immorality as a lack of awareness
and self-control, an indiscretion of the vulgar; while Aurelius (AD 167/1863)
emphasizes dignity, duty, mindfulness, mutual regard, respect of the gods, and
restraint.
The Fall of Man: Scientific Worldviews
Stemming from philosophy, the scientific domain includes a host of worldviews based
on empiricism and positivism to explain phenomenological issues and solutions
(Burkholder et al., 2019) that often seem to operate in contrast to the biblical
worldview (Trumbull Ladd, 1913). Similar to the biblical worldview, empiricism
enables science to operate on the basis of empirical experience, involving direct
(i.e. sensory perception) and indirect (i.e. desire, doubt, memory, motivation,
etc.) experiential engagement being the criteria upon which knowledge is based,
derived and pursued (Hossain, 2014). However seemingly limited by inferential
knowledge and subjectivity, empiricism as a theory of knowledge is the basis of
scientific inquiry and often compensated by other theories of knowledge, like
metaphysics and rationalism, when empiricism is perceived as inadequate. In
discovering the laws of empirical phenomena, positivism involves a hypothetical-
deductive method of inquiry in the experimental assessment of the functional
relationship between variables to develop causal explanation, which leads to
prediction and control (Park, Konge & Artino, 2020). As such, due to the lack of
direct evidence, scientific fields might view "the Fall of Man" as a historical
tale designed to meet psychological needs (cf. Katz, 1996 and Krauss, 2012) and
others might attest to the Fall of Man in accordance with the biblical and
philosophical association of their practice. For example, a scientist-practitioner
with a biblical worldview, might endorse the scientific knowledge base in
accordance with the biblical account (Reynolds, 2020); however, a scientist with a
non-biblical, positivist-based worldview, might endorse in the information provided
in the knowledge base, which affirms the biological, chemical, and physical
evolution of creation viewing biblical endorsement as an evolved automaton of
sorts, serving a survival, needs-based psychological mechanism (Bonnette, 2018;
Katz, 1996; cf. Harari, 2011).
Research Area: The Psychological Implications of Cleanliness in the Fashion
Industry and Promoting Sustainable Solutions
At the time of this writing, the research area places "the Fall of Man" as a
probable source of the corruption of cleanliness, with reverberating consequences
perpetuated by disobedience and negligence. The fashion industry is the primary
means of universal commerce, whereby civilization is supported on the basis of
consumer purchase of goods and services. Cleanliness is an essential feature of the
industry that promotes trust in business (Vilnai-Yavetz & Gilboa, 2010) and social-
communal (Bushman & Bushman, 1988) relations. Corruption is the antithesis of
cleanliness (Dimant & Schulte, 2016; cf. Vos et al, 2018), arising in many forms
(e.g., Cherlin, 2004), primarily due to inadequate oversight through abuse of
authority and and inaccurate understanding of power. For example, by implying the
need to reevaluate the source-trade modules of the supply chain foreign
investments, Bahoo, Alon and Paltrinieri (2020) assess corruption in international
business and determine that corruption is influenced by the immorality of the
social-cultural milieu, which challenges efficiency and performance; thus,
rendering management techniques ineffective. Similarly, corruption has infiltrated
corporations (Nyberg & Wright, 2013), economics (Lisciandra, 2014), natural
resource management (Robbins, 2000), research (Luna, 1999), science (Krauss, 2020),
sustainability (Morse, 2006), and universities (Kirya, 2019). Due to the perceived
failure to effectively address persistent social issues, there is a decline in
institutional trust; Kramer (1999) also reveals that trust is essential to
effective organizational functioning, by being a psychological state involving
choice behavior reflective of control, cooperation and coordination, enhanced by
stable values and orderly preferences. Thus, cleanliness not only positively
influences business environments, communities and institutional organizations,
cleanliness also has the potential to impact moral judgement (Hotz, 1897; Huang,
2014; Katzir, Hoffman & Liberman, 2018; Tobia, 2015), by enabling a sense of safety
in the social environment (Magnini & Zehrer, 2021).
The Fall of Man and the Research Area: How Does an Understanding of the Fall of Man
Influence the Ways in Which the Research Area is Viewed?
An understanding of "the Fall of Man" through all three domains (i.e. biblical,
philosophical, scientific) does not necessarily influence the way in which the
research area is viewed so much as it maintains the structure in which the content
of the research area has been (and is being) pursued. For example, in recognition
of a disrupted state of order, the research area will continue to be pursued in
meticulous consideration of an orderly framework so as to carefully unfurl the
strata of the investigated phenomena, eventually forming a coherent, comprehensive
whole. The different domains highlight the significance of human short-comings in
the proliferation of global issues. If human relationships assist in the
establishment of moral principles (Kellenberger, 2001), then it seems necessary to
use the fashion industry not only to fulfill material needs, but to fulfill higher
order needs (Maslow, 1943), thus requiring a global call to action on the basis of
morality, reason, respect and responsibility (cf. Bridges & Bridges, 2017). As
such, it seems duly important to similarly use each domain to forbid the short-
sighted, squandering of resources. As a result, the research area requires
mindfulness of the biblical-philosophic-scientific implications of cleanliness and
corruption, while considering the production of sustainable solutions to attend to
the filth wrought by the corrupt practices of the fashion industry.
Conclusion
In summary, worldviews enable perspectives through which to view ideas in the
pursuit of truth. Although interconnected, the biblical, philosophical, and
scientific domains offer distinctly different perspectives. The biblical worldviews
involve explanatory ideas, designed and encrypted in respect to divine revelation.
The philosophical worldviews involve a critically analytic ideas based on
reasoning. The scientific worldviews involve a systematic, experimental method to
explore ideas. Each domain provides a lens through which to view "the Fall of Man"
as a potential root of problematic concerns (e.g., cleanliness, corruption,
morality). Biblical worldviews seems to explain "the Fall of Man" as an act of
disobedience by the Hebraic people, which disrupted the order of perfection,
resulting in an onslaught of problematic issues remedied through Christian
salvation. Philosophical worldviews explain "the Fall of Man" as either a
fanatically fantastical or reasoned proposition for empirically witnessed problems,
requiring morality, reason, respect and responsibility as remedy. Scientific
worldviews explain "the Fall of Man" using biological evolution and genealogy to
deny or verify the structure of the biblical claim and use other sciences to arrive
at an objective, unbiased conclusion regarding the veracity of the issues and
solutions stemming therefrom. With "the Fall of Man" as the fulcrum of the curren
research pursuit, the research area of studying the psychological implications of
cleanliness in the fashion industry can be effectively explored with different
worldviews; thus, arriving at a comprehensive understanding that enables the
scholar-practitioner to explain, philosophically reason, and scientifically explore
the problematic issues of corruption, disgust and disorderly conduct; thereby,
scientifically crafting solutions that operate in tandem with cleanliness, morality
and orderly conduct.
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