title: Why unavoidable moral wrongdoing is impossible

authors: Lane, Aaron

subjects: ethics

abstract: We can be faced with situations in which we act in accordance with the all-things-considered morally right course of action, and yet nevertheless experience an emotion of self-directed distress at the fact that we have so acted. Moreover, we have the intuition that this emotion is rational or appropriate. Literature is scattered with such examples, and they crop up not infrequently in life.

The fact that agents experience justified distress in such situations has been taken as evidence that unavoidable moral wrongdoing is possible. However, if this is the case, then the compelling intuition that an all-things-considered morally right action cannot be wrong must be false.

In this thesis, I offer a way of reconciling these two compelling intuitions that denies the possibility of unavoidable moral wrongdoing. I argue that existing attempts to dissolve this contradiction by arguing in favour of the possibility of unavoidable moral wrongdoing are unsatisfactory; and I contend that, by utilising Susan Wolf’s ideas on the “nameless virtue” (2001), developed in order to solve the problem of resultant moral luck, we can arrive at a more compelling method of dissolving the apparent contradiction. This solution is one that allows us to retain the intuition that a right act cannot also be wrong, while simultaneously allowing for the rationality of emotion of self-directed distress agents experience in situations of apparent unavoidable moral wrongdoing.

text: Why unavoidable moral wrongdoing is impossible We can be faced with situations in which we act in accordance with the all-things-considered morally right course of action, and yet nevertheless experience an emotion of self-directed distress at the fact that we have so acted. Moreover, we have the intuition that this emotion is rational or appropriate. Literature is scattered with such examples, and they crop up not infrequently in life.

The fact that agents experience justified distress in such situations has been taken as evidence that unavoidable moral wrongdoing is possible. However, if this is the case, then the compelling intuition that an all-things-considered morally right action cannot be wrong must be false.

In this thesis, I offer a way of reconciling these two compelling intuitions that denies the possibility of unavoidable moral wrongdoing. I argue that existing attempts to dissolve this contradiction by arguing in favour of the possibility of unavoidable moral wrongdoing are unsatisfactory; and I contend that, by utilising Susan Wolf’s ideas on the “nameless virtue” (2001), developed in order to solve the problem of resultant moral luck, we can arrive at a more compelling method of dissolving the apparent contradiction. This solution is one that allows us to retain the intuition that a right act cannot also be wrong, while simultaneously allowing for the rationality of emotion of self-directed distress agents experience in situations of apparent unavoidable moral wrongdoing.

year: 2025-10-17

title: In situ measurement of metal-ligand complex dissociation rates in cave dripwaters

authors: Guo, Xiaoli

abstract: The purpose of this study was to develop a new method for determining the trace metal binding properties of natural organic matter (NOM) in cave dripwaters. The methodology is based on the diffusive gradients in the thin-films (DGT) technique, but differs from DGT by using advective gradients along hydrogel to resolve temporal trends in dissociation. For this reason, it is referred to as advective gradients in thin-films (AGT). 
NOM is a ubiquitous component in natural waters. The complexation capacities of NOM ligands for metal ions in cave waters has a great impact on the transport of trace metals to, and their incorporation in, calcium carbonate cave deposits (speleothems). The relationship between the kinetics of metal-NOM complexes and the concentration of the metal-carbonate solid solution in actively forming cave precipitates, is the major focus in this study. The primary goal of this research is the determination of the mean kinetics of compositionally-unknown metal-NOM complexes in situ with the application of AGT.
The first part of this study was to calibrate the self-assembled AGT device containing a resin gel (for the binding of metal ions). A range of drip rates was tested to establish the relationship between drip rates and flow velocity within the gel with the aim of establishing a calibration function between drip discharge and flow rate within the gel. The second part of this study was to validate the method using metal-ligand complexes of known character. Synthetic solutions containing organic ligands at known concentrations were measured. The experimental data showed acceptable reproducibility, and the modelling results agreed well with the literature. 
After the laboratory-based study of the AGT method, the device was deployed in Aranui Cave, which is a natural cave located in the Waitomo District, New Zealand. Four transition metals were found in both resin gel samples and the water sample. The accumulation behaviour of the metals in the Chelex-100 resin gel demonstrated the capability of the AGT method to measure trace metals bound to unknown NOM ligands in cave dripwaters. The dynamics of the dissociation of metal-NOM complexes can be reflected by the distinct dissociation patterns of the metals.
This newly developed method can semi-qualitatively determine the dissociation rates of labile and partially labile metal-NOM complexes in natural waters. However, further optimisation of the method will be required to improve the precision and accuracy of measurements. In summary, this study provides the basic framework for further research of a new palaeoclimate proxy utilising trace meta-content in speleothems.

text: In situ measurement of metal-ligand complex dissociation rates in cave dripwaters The purpose of this study was to develop a new method for determining the trace metal binding properties of natural organic matter (NOM) in cave dripwaters. The methodology is based on the diffusive gradients in the thin-films (DGT) technique, but differs from DGT by using advective gradients along hydrogel to resolve temporal trends in dissociation. For this reason, it is referred to as advective gradients in thin-films (AGT). 
NOM is a ubiquitous component in natural waters. The complexation capacities of NOM ligands for metal ions in cave waters has a great impact on the transport of trace metals to, and their incorporation in, calcium carbonate cave deposits (speleothems). The relationship between the kinetics of metal-NOM complexes and the concentration of the metal-carbonate solid solution in actively forming cave precipitates, is the major focus in this study. The primary goal of this research is the determination of the mean kinetics of compositionally-unknown metal-NOM complexes in situ with the application of AGT.
The first part of this study was to calibrate the self-assembled AGT device containing a resin gel (for the binding of metal ions). A range of drip rates was tested to establish the relationship between drip rates and flow velocity within the gel with the aim of establishing a calibration function between drip discharge and flow rate within the gel. The second part of this study was to validate the method using metal-ligand complexes of known character. Synthetic solutions containing organic ligands at known concentrations were measured. The experimental data showed acceptable reproducibility, and the modelling results agreed well with the literature. 
After the laboratory-based study of the AGT method, the device was deployed in Aranui Cave, which is a natural cave located in the Waitomo District, New Zealand. Four transition metals were found in both resin gel samples and the water sample. The accumulation behaviour of the metals in the Chelex-100 resin gel demonstrated the capability of the AGT method to measure trace metals bound to unknown NOM ligands in cave dripwaters. The dynamics of the dissociation of metal-NOM complexes can be reflected by the distinct dissociation patterns of the metals.
This newly developed method can semi-qualitatively determine the dissociation rates of labile and partially labile metal-NOM complexes in natural waters. However, further optimisation of the method will be required to improve the precision and accuracy of measurements. In summary, this study provides the basic framework for further research of a new palaeoclimate proxy utilising trace meta-content in speleothems.

year: 2019

title: Dying to research: An autoethnographic exploration of researching Māori and whānau experiences of end-of-life care

authors: Moeke-Maxwell, Tess

subjects: indigenous

abstract: The authors critically reflect on the autoethnographic process involved in navigating a smooth pathway towards investigating dying, death and bereavement for Māori whānau (families) in a way that supports and gives voice to their experience. This study, based in the Māori & Psychology Research Unit at The University of Waikato, is supported by a Health Research Council Erihapeti Rehu-Murchie Career Development Award. It explores the “end-of-life” journeys of Māori and their whānau in South Auckland and Waikato, through the dying process and subsequent challenges of bereavement. The researcher’s journey from novice to someone fully enmeshed in the struggles and triumphs of conducting research with Māori is examined. There is reflection on the challenges and issues that have emerged since settling on this research topic. These include ethical concerns, and the processes and outcomes associated with negotiating tensions between a shifting academic objectivity and the development of a methodology requiring subjective reflexivity.

text: Dying to research: An autoethnographic exploration of researching Māori and whānau experiences of end-of-life care The authors critically reflect on the autoethnographic process involved in navigating a smooth pathway towards investigating dying, death and bereavement for Māori whānau (families) in a way that supports and gives voice to their experience. This study, based in the Māori & Psychology Research Unit at The University of Waikato, is supported by a Health Research Council Erihapeti Rehu-Murchie Career Development Award. It explores the “end-of-life” journeys of Māori and their whānau in South Auckland and Waikato, through the dying process and subsequent challenges of bereavement. The researcher’s journey from novice to someone fully enmeshed in the struggles and triumphs of conducting research with Māori is examined. There is reflection on the challenges and issues that have emerged since settling on this research topic. These include ethical concerns, and the processes and outcomes associated with negotiating tensions between a shifting academic objectivity and the development of a methodology requiring subjective reflexivity.

year: 2010