Authors:Mahdi Teimouri Pages: 9 - 23 Abstract: Theories of morality have warned us about the possibility of power-wielding in caregiving situations. They argue that moral decisions are often slippery slopes that can easily—unbeknownst to those involved—lead to oppression. One reason for the degeneration of care into power can be explained in terms of the solipsistic interpretation of the care-receiver’s needs. It is not simply the question of the language barrier. The problem is the nature of the care relationship itself which concerns the authority either granted or assumed by the caregiver. Also, in caregiving situations, the caregiver might use care as a smokescreen to hide their self-serving intentions. To further elaborate, I will draw on Zygmunt Bauman’s ideas about care and moral responsibility. His exploration of the problem of care and moral responsibility constitutes the theoretical premise on which I will build my argument using two examples from literature to show how care can lapse into power. I have chosen these two short stories to demonstrate the way caregiving situations are potential mine-fields where a misstep can result in unintended deleterious consequences. Porter’s “He” and O’Connor’s “The Life You Save May Be Your Own” perfectly illustrate this point. PubDate: 2022-02-04 DOI: 10.21533/epiphany.v14i2.368 Issue No:Vol. 14, No. 2 (2022)
Authors:Elçin Parçaoğlu, Arda Acemi Pages: 24 - 37 Abstract: Tolkien’s mythology of Middle-earth is a highly studied corpus in ecology and environmental studies. Due to the cosmogonic nature of this mythology, ecological patterns are both similar and different to our world. Especially in terms of biodiversity, the flora and fauna we encounter in the corpus are at the centre of ecological and environmental approaches. Plant biodiversity supports the unique habitat formation of many regions in the history of this mythology. Being interested in botany, Tolkien paid particular attention to plants’ geographical distribution and location and broke new ground in terms of diversity. In this diversity, there are also some plants that he invented. The purpose of this paper is to compare some plants Tolkien invented – athelas, mallorn, elanor, niphredil, and simbelmynë – with their companion plants in Earth’s current flora. In addition, these plants’ geographic locations in Middle-earth will also be revealed in terms of climate and vegetation diversity. PubDate: 2022-02-04 DOI: 10.21533/epiphany.v14i2.372 Issue No:Vol. 14, No. 2 (2022)
Authors:Sufyan Musah Pages: 52 - 84 Abstract: The purpose of this research is to evaluate the balance of freedom and security in Ghana’s democracy during the Covid-19 pandemic via the precautionary measures announced by the government. Ghana is considered as one of the most stable democracies in Africa. Considering the Covid-19 health crisis, via the periodic briefings of the President, this research seeks to find out if and how the President tried to strike a balance between keeping Ghanaians safe and maintaining basic freedoms. Content analysis is used to analyze the 20 speeches given by the President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Akufo Addo, from March 2020 to March 2021 to assess the President’s choice of words regarding freedom and security. The findings indicate that, in times of the heightened security threat posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the President’s speeches included plentiful words of securitization. However, with the help of a detailed analysis and contextualization of the words used, the paper concludes that the President’s initiatives and directives were geared towards striking a balance between keeping Ghanaians safe and maintaining basic freedoms. PubDate: 2022-02-05 DOI: 10.21533/epiphany.v14i2.371 Issue No:Vol. 14, No. 2 (2022)
Authors:Victor de Passos Pages: 85 - 116 Abstract: The leadership team of an international school decided to recall staff members to China during the early stages of a pandemic. This study begins with a literature review of some of the overarching concepts of psychodynamics while applying this methodology to the analysis of a critical incident. The emotional effects that contradictory messages on behalf of the school leadership team had on the faculty are theorised by looking at the correlation between stress and anxiety felt by teachers experiencing higher levels of scrutiny at the time of the transition to e-learning. An alternative management strategy for school leaders is put forward based on Mishra’s Theory of Trust (1996) to encourage collaborative autonomy in schools during periods of great uncertainty. PubDate: 2022-02-04 DOI: 10.21533/epiphany.v14i2.379 Issue No:Vol. 14, No. 2 (2022)
Authors:Selvira Draganović Pages: 117 - 139 Abstract: With an increase in divorce rates worldwide, it seems that marriage loses its importance and popularity. Still, many people seek romantic partners and marry for many reasons. Research points to the beneficial effects of marital and romantic relationships. What factors make a good and successful marital and romantic relationship and why marriages and relationships fall apart remains to be answered. Since the divorce rates in Bosnia and Herzegovina increase, the purpose of this study was to explore factors in good and successful marriages and reasons for divorce. This is a qualitative study in which a survey with open-ended questions was used to explore participants’ responses. With the help of convenience sampling technique, 366 participants, N= 167 married and N=199 divorced with a mean age M= 43±11 and M= 41±10 respectively were recruited. A content analysis of participants’ responses shows that both a good and successful marriage and reasons for divorce are mostly related to relational interpersonal and intrapersonal factors while external, social factors play a less important role. Married and divorced participants named understanding, love, respect, trust, tolerance, communication skills, agreement and compromise as the top qualities for a successful marriage. As the leading reasons for divorce, divorced participants listed adultery or affairs and other women, alcoholism, violence and aggression, arguments and conflict, and misunderstanding. PubDate: 2022-02-04 DOI: 10.21533/epiphany.v14i2.369 Issue No:Vol. 14, No. 2 (2022)
Authors:Emel Topcu, Ibrahim Halil Menek Pages: 140 - 163 Abstract: This study examines the early multiculturalism of the Abbasid Empire. The purpose is to demonstrate the significance of historical multiculturalism in building a governmental-social system. The analysis of the early Abbasid multiculturalism also integrates Persian and Greco-Roman multicultural models. The study argues that the Abbasid Dynasty, which succeeded the Umayyad Dynasty after a revolution, had introduced a unique multicultural model by establishing a tolerant and libertarian imperial structure. In effect, the Abbasid Dynasty rejected the Umayyad emphasis on the so-called Arab nationalism in its early period (750-833). This study employs a comparative analysis of the early multiculturalism of the Abbasid Empire and modern practices of multiculturalism for textual analysis and conclusions. It is significant to demonstrate how the early multiculturalism of the Abbasid Empire could be correlated to modern multicultural practices. In this regard, the policy of support and encouragement of translation activities by the early Abbasid caliphs, rulers and intellectuals had strengthened this multicultural system, which was inclusive regardless of ethnicity, religion, and race. PubDate: 2022-02-04 DOI: 10.21533/epiphany.v14i2.381 Issue No:Vol. 14, No. 2 (2022)
Authors:Carl Haddrell Pages: 164 - 173 Abstract: This article explores our understanding of visual imagery through an analysis of Foucault’s examination of Magritte’s famous painting Les deux Mystères. Foucault details how the interplay between word and image are firstly perceived and then understood by the viewer. This analysis of Foucault’s text, serves to illuminate and hopefully clarify the often ambiguous relationship between image and text, whilst at the same time demonstrate that the vary same ambiguity is revelled in by those creating and those words and images. PubDate: 2022-02-04 DOI: 10.21533/epiphany.v14i2.378 Issue No:Vol. 14, No. 2 (2022)
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