title: The Trolley Problem: A virtue-ethical perspective

authors: van Zyl, Liezl

subjects: applied virtue ethics

abstract: The main reason why virtue ethicists have avoided  the Trolley Debate is that it is, in a sense, "none of our business." The thought experiments are set up to test our intuitions about moral principles (e.g. is the principle, "Do not kill an innocent person" always more stringent than "Rescue people in danger"?) Virtue ethics rejects moral principles and instead focuses the attention on cultivating and exercising the virtues, and asking, "What would a virtuous person do in the circumstances?" To apply this approach to the Bystander and Footbridge cases we have to begin by considering more realistic versions of the two cases, where the available options are not stipulated at the outset. This allows us to see that there is an important difference between the two cases. In Bystander, it requires some quick thinking to realise that he has the option of turning the trolley. Given that he has very little time to make the decision a virtuous person's instincts could prompt him to turn the trolley in an attempt to save the five, or to refrain from doing so in order not to harm the one. In time, and as a benevolent person, he will probably come to believe that turning the trolley was the best thing to do. By contrast, in Footbridge, it will simply not occur to a virtuous person to use someone as a trolleystop. If someone asked him later on, "Why didn't you just push the big man onto the track?" he will reject this suggestion as an impossibility: "No ways!", for it is against the nature of a virtuous person to view and use others as objects.

text: The Trolley Problem: A virtue-ethical perspective The main reason why virtue ethicists have avoided  the Trolley Debate is that it is, in a sense, "none of our business." The thought experiments are set up to test our intuitions about moral principles (e.g. is the principle, "Do not kill an innocent person" always more stringent than "Rescue people in danger"?) Virtue ethics rejects moral principles and instead focuses the attention on cultivating and exercising the virtues, and asking, "What would a virtuous person do in the circumstances?" To apply this approach to the Bystander and Footbridge cases we have to begin by considering more realistic versions of the two cases, where the available options are not stipulated at the outset. This allows us to see that there is an important difference between the two cases. In Bystander, it requires some quick thinking to realise that he has the option of turning the trolley. Given that he has very little time to make the decision a virtuous person's instincts could prompt him to turn the trolley in an attempt to save the five, or to refrain from doing so in order not to harm the one. In time, and as a benevolent person, he will probably come to believe that turning the trolley was the best thing to do. By contrast, in Footbridge, it will simply not occur to a virtuous person to use someone as a trolleystop. If someone asked him later on, "Why didn't you just push the big man onto the track?" he will reject this suggestion as an impossibility: "No ways!", for it is against the nature of a virtuous person to view and use others as objects.

year: 2022

title: Gut structure and diet adaptability of yellowbelly flounder: A step towards integrating Rhombosolea leporina into New Zealand aquaculture

authors: Thomson, Caitlin

subjects: gut structure

abstract: Aquaculture is a rapidly expanding industry as wild fish stocks decline due to overfishing, climate change, and increased seafood consumption. Flatfish, being highly prized, have faced significant declines in the wild, but several species are now being cultivated in land-based recirculating aquaculture systems to meet market demand. Flatfish are low-trophic feeders and thrive in relatively simple farming setups, making them viable candidates for sustainable aquaculture.
In New Zealand, the yellowbelly flounder (Rhombosolea leporina), or pātiki, is a sought-after species in commercial and recreational fisheries. Introducing this species into aquaculture could support the local seafood market and aid in replenishing wild stocks. However, limited research exists on yellowbelly flounder compared to other flatfish, particularly regarding its digestive system and dietary needs. Feed costs are a significant challenge in aquaculture, especially when striving to reduce reliance on unsustainable ingredients like fishmeal and oil while maintaining low feed conversion ratios. Understanding the digestive tract structure and function of the yellowbelly flounder is critical for developing sustainable, species-specific diets.
This study examined the gut structure and function of wild-caught adult and juvenile yellowbelly flounder, as well as juveniles fed a mussel-based diet, a fishmeal-based pellet diet, or subjected to starvation. The histological analysis examined the muscularis externa, mucosal folds, and goblet cell distribution throughout the alimentary canal, while qPCR assessed the expression of the cholecystokinin hormone paralogs (ccka and cckb).
Unexpectedly, findings suggested that yellowbelly flounder may be agastric, differing from other flatfish. Consistent gut tissue patterns, goblet cell presence, and ccka and cckb expression throughout the canal supported this conclusion. The pellet diet did cause higher ccka expression compared to the mussel diet, but overall, the results suggested the yellowbelly flounder is adaptable to varying feeds. While limited by a small-scale study, these results provided a basis for further exploration of yellowbelly flounder digestive capabilities in hopes of facilitating this species into the New Zealand aquaculture industry.

text: Gut structure and diet adaptability of yellowbelly flounder: A step towards integrating Rhombosolea leporina into New Zealand aquaculture Aquaculture is a rapidly expanding industry as wild fish stocks decline due to overfishing, climate change, and increased seafood consumption. Flatfish, being highly prized, have faced significant declines in the wild, but several species are now being cultivated in land-based recirculating aquaculture systems to meet market demand. Flatfish are low-trophic feeders and thrive in relatively simple farming setups, making them viable candidates for sustainable aquaculture.
In New Zealand, the yellowbelly flounder (Rhombosolea leporina), or pātiki, is a sought-after species in commercial and recreational fisheries. Introducing this species into aquaculture could support the local seafood market and aid in replenishing wild stocks. However, limited research exists on yellowbelly flounder compared to other flatfish, particularly regarding its digestive system and dietary needs. Feed costs are a significant challenge in aquaculture, especially when striving to reduce reliance on unsustainable ingredients like fishmeal and oil while maintaining low feed conversion ratios. Understanding the digestive tract structure and function of the yellowbelly flounder is critical for developing sustainable, species-specific diets.
This study examined the gut structure and function of wild-caught adult and juvenile yellowbelly flounder, as well as juveniles fed a mussel-based diet, a fishmeal-based pellet diet, or subjected to starvation. The histological analysis examined the muscularis externa, mucosal folds, and goblet cell distribution throughout the alimentary canal, while qPCR assessed the expression of the cholecystokinin hormone paralogs (ccka and cckb).
Unexpectedly, findings suggested that yellowbelly flounder may be agastric, differing from other flatfish. Consistent gut tissue patterns, goblet cell presence, and ccka and cckb expression throughout the canal supported this conclusion. The pellet diet did cause higher ccka expression compared to the mussel diet, but overall, the results suggested the yellowbelly flounder is adaptable to varying feeds. While limited by a small-scale study, these results provided a basis for further exploration of yellowbelly flounder digestive capabilities in hopes of facilitating this species into the New Zealand aquaculture industry.

year: 2025

title: A Critical Tiriti Analysis of the Treaty Statement From a University in Aotearoa New Zealand

authors: Hamley, Logan

abstract: Universities in Aotearoa New Zealand have been placed under the spotlight for claims of systemic racism. Following the claims made in relation to the University of Waikato in 2020 and University of Otago in 2022, universities have the responsibility to create an inclusive environment where systemic racism is dismantled, to meaningfully partner with Māori to construct a model for decolonisation, and to enhance the academic experience of Māori staff and students by weaving in mātauranga Māori into existing teaching and research practices. The University of Waikato progresses ahead of other universities in its attempt to fulfil Te Tiriti o Waitangi commitment through the introduction of the Treaty Statement. In this paper, the Treaty Statement is used as a case study to identify how universities articulate bicultural commitments. To do so, our team (consisting of Māori and tauiwi scholars) performed a critical Tiriti analysis comprising five phases to investigate the degree of alignment of the statement with Te Tiriti. The desktop analysis showed poor engagement with most Te Tiriti elements. The analysis evaluation of “good” (more than satisfactory) was measured for the consideration of “Māori exercising equitable citizenship”. This article concludes with recommendations of how universities can strengthen their practices to live up to Te Tiriti aspirations.

text: A Critical Tiriti Analysis of the Treaty Statement From a University in Aotearoa New Zealand Universities in Aotearoa New Zealand have been placed under the spotlight for claims of systemic racism. Following the claims made in relation to the University of Waikato in 2020 and University of Otago in 2022, universities have the responsibility to create an inclusive environment where systemic racism is dismantled, to meaningfully partner with Māori to construct a model for decolonisation, and to enhance the academic experience of Māori staff and students by weaving in mātauranga Māori into existing teaching and research practices. The University of Waikato progresses ahead of other universities in its attempt to fulfil Te Tiriti o Waitangi commitment through the introduction of the Treaty Statement. In this paper, the Treaty Statement is used as a case study to identify how universities articulate bicultural commitments. To do so, our team (consisting of Māori and tauiwi scholars) performed a critical Tiriti analysis comprising five phases to investigate the degree of alignment of the statement with Te Tiriti. The desktop analysis showed poor engagement with most Te Tiriti elements. The analysis evaluation of “good” (more than satisfactory) was measured for the consideration of “Māori exercising equitable citizenship”. This article concludes with recommendations of how universities can strengthen their practices to live up to Te Tiriti aspirations.

year: 2024-02-21