PLOS ONE: [sortOrder=DATE_NEWEST_FIRST, sort=Date, newest first, q=subject:"Philosophy"]PLOShttps://journals.plos.org/plosone/webmaster@plos.orgaccelerating the publication of peer-reviewed sciencehttps://journals.plos.org/plosone/search/feed/atom?sortOrder=DATE_NEWEST_FIRST&unformattedQuery=subject:%22Philosophy%22&sort=Date,+newest+firstAll PLOS articles are Open Access.https://journals.plos.org/plosone/resource/img/favicon.icohttps://journals.plos.org/plosone/resource/img/favicon.ico2024-03-28T21:24:28ZMoral judgment of objectionable online content: Reporting decisions and punishment preferences on social mediaSarah VahedCatalina GoantaPietro OrtolaniAlan G. Sanfey10.1371/journal.pone.03009602024-03-25T14:00:00Z2024-03-25T14:00:00Z<p>by Sarah Vahed, Catalina Goanta, Pietro Ortolani, Alan G. Sanfey</p>
Harmful and inappropriate online content is prevalent, necessitating the need to understand how individuals judge and wish to mitigate the spread of negative content on social media. In an online study with a diverse sample of social media users (n = 294), we sought to elucidate factors that influence individuals’ evaluation of objectionable online content. Participants were presented with images varying in moral valence, each accompanied by an indicator of intention from an ostensible content poster. Half of the participants were assigned the role of user content moderator, while the remaining participants were instructed to respond as they normally would online. The study aimed to establish whether moral imagery, the intention of a content poster, and the perceived responsibility of social media users, affect judgments of objectionability, operationalized through both decisions to flag content and preferences to seek punishment of other users. Our findings reveal that moral imagery strongly influences users’ assessments of what is appropriate online content, with participants almost exclusively choosing to report and punish morally negative images. Poster intention also plays a significant role in user’s decisions, with greater objection shown to morally negative content when it has been shared by another user for the purpose of showing support for it. Bestowing a content moderation role affected reporting behaviour but not punishment preferences. We also explore individual user characteristics, finding a negative association between trust in social media platforms and reporting decisions. Conversely, a positive relationship was identified between trait empathy and reporting rates. Collectively, our insights highlight the complexity of social media users’ moderation decisions and preferences. The results advance understanding of moral judgments and punishment preferences online, and offer insights for platforms and regulatory bodies aiming to better understand social media users’ role in content moderation.Towards a Feminist Global Health Policy: Power, intersectionality, and transformationHannah EgerShubha ChackoSalma El-GamalThomas GerlingerAlexandra KaaschMarie MeudecShehnaz MunshiAwa NaghipourEmma RhuleYatirajula Kanaka SandhyaOriana López Uribe10.1371/journal.pgph.00029592024-03-07T14:00:00Z2024-03-07T14:00:00Z<p>by Hannah Eger, Shubha Chacko, Salma El-Gamal, Thomas Gerlinger, Alexandra Kaasch, Marie Meudec, Shehnaz Munshi, Awa Naghipour, Emma Rhule, Yatirajula Kanaka Sandhya, Oriana López Uribe</p>
In the realm of global health policy, the intricacies of power dynamics and intersectionality have become increasingly evident. Structurally embedded power hierarchies constitute a significant concern in achieving health for all and demand transformational change. Adopting intersectional feminist approaches potentially mitigates health inequities through more inclusive and responsive health policies. While feminist approaches to foreign and development policies are receiving increasing attention, they are not accorded the importance they deserve in global health policy. This article presents a framework for a Feminist Global Health Policy (FGHP), outlines the objectives and underlying principles and identifies the actors responsible for its meaningful implementation. Recognising that power hierarchies and societal contexts inherently shape research, the proposed framework was developed via a participatory research approach that aligns with feminist principles. Three independent online focus groups were conducted between August and September 2022 with 11 participants affiliated to the global-academic or local-activist level and covering all WHO regions. The qualitative content analysis revealed that a FGHP must be centred on considerations of intersectionality, power and knowledge paradigms to present meaningful alternatives to the current structures. By balancing guiding principles with sensitivity for context-specific adaptations, the framework is designed to be applicable locally and globally, whilst its adoption is intended to advance health equity and reproductive justice, with communities and policymakers identified as the main actors. This study underscores the importance of dismantling power structures by fostering intersectional and participatory approaches for a more equitable global health landscape. The FGHP framework is intended to initiate debate among global health practitioners, policymakers, researchers and communities. Whilst an undeniably intricate and time-consuming process, continuous and collaborative work towards health equity is imperative to translate this vision into practice.Science at risk? Considering the importance of academic freedom for STEM research production across 17 OECD countriesFrank FernandezVolha ChykinaYin Chun Lin10.1371/journal.pone.02983702024-02-15T14:00:00Z2024-02-15T14:00:00Z<p>by Frank Fernandez, Volha Chykina, Yin Chun Lin</p>
Since 2011, a declining trend in academic freedom globally has paralleled a rising tide of neo-nationalism. We use fixed effects models to examine data from the Varieties of Democracy (V-DEM) academic freedom index and bibliometric data for 17 OECD countries across nearly three decades (1981–2007) that precede the recent decline in academic freedom. We find substantial, statistically significant, positive relationships between cross-nationally comparable and longitudinal measures of academic freedom and volume of STEM publications. Additionally, academic freedom positively influenced the quality of STEM publications as measured by journal rankings. Our findings were relatively consistent across various measures of academic freedom and model specifications. We discuss implications for safeguarding academic freedom, applying neo-institutional theory, and identifying directions for future research.Moral conformity in a digital world: Human and nonhuman agents as a source of social pressure for judgments of moral characterKonrad BocianLazaros GonidisJim A.C. Everett10.1371/journal.pone.02982932024-02-15T14:00:00Z2024-02-15T14:00:00Z<p>by Konrad Bocian, Lazaros Gonidis, Jim A.C. Everett</p>
Could judgments about others’ moral character be changed under group pressure produced by human and virtual agents? In Study 1 (<i>N</i> = 103), participants first judged targets’ moral character privately and two weeks later in the presence of real humans. Analysis of how many times participants changed their private moral judgments under group pressure showed that moral conformity occurred, on average, 43% of the time. In Study 2 (<i>N</i> = 138), we extended this using Virtual Reality, where group pressure was produced either by avatars allegedly controlled by humans or AI. While replicating the effect of moral conformity (at 28% of the time), we find that the moral conformity for the human and AI-controlled avatars did not differ. Our results suggest that human and nonhuman groups shape moral character judgments in both the physical and virtual worlds, shedding new light on the potential social consequences of moral conformity in the modern digital world.LGBTQ+ identities in the Indian audiovisual advertisements: A content analysisBhagirath Jetubhai Khuman10.1371/journal.pone.02940712024-01-18T14:00:00Z2024-01-18T14:00:00Z<p>by Bhagirath Jetubhai Khuman</p>
In the late 2000s, LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and others) identities began to surface in Indian audiovisual marketing campaigns. By 2021, brands had produced at least 105 advertisements featuring LGBTQ+ identities. This research conducts an analysis of these campaigns, examining aspects such as their release date, featured characters, gender identity, sexual orientation, character age, narrative usage, genre, theme, and setting. The study reveals a substantial surge in advertising campaigns since 2018, with brands strategically launching them during Pride Month, Valentine’s Day, and Women’s Day. Characters embodying gay, lesbian, and transgender identities were most prevalent. Advertisements spotlighting gay, lesbian, or both gay and lesbian characters predominantly emphasised themes of love, featuring youthful characters and urban settings. In contrast, advertisements featuring transgender characters centred on human rights, with older characters and non-urban settings. Based on these findings, it is recommended that the number of LGBTQ+ marketing campaigns should continue to rise, diversifying character identities, ages, and settings while being released throughout the year.A critical juncture for human rights in global health: Strengthening human rights through global health law reformsBenjamin Mason MeierLuciano Bottini FilhoJudith Bueno de MesquitaRoojin HabibiSharifah SekalalaLawrence O. Gostin10.1371/journal.pgph.00026632023-12-08T14:00:00Z2023-12-08T14:00:00Z<p>by Benjamin Mason Meier, Luciano Bottini Filho, Judith Bueno de Mesquita, Roojin Habibi, Sharifah Sekalala, Lawrence O. Gostin</p>Migration and health right: Probabilistic estimate of the factors that impact on health right of the migrant population, Peru 2019–2021Juan Arroyo-LagunaMariella HuánucoPedro La ChiraDavid Jumpa Armas10.1371/journal.pone.02885842023-12-06T14:00:00Z2023-12-06T14:00:00Z<p>by Juan Arroyo-Laguna, Mariella Huánuco, Pedro La Chira, David Jumpa Armas</p>
The study aims to identify factors associated with the violation of the right to health of the regular migrant population with respect to the nonmigrant population in Peru during the period 2019–2021, based on the complaints of health services users. It is a three-year cross-sectional and retrospective study on a total population of 122,505 complainants to the National Superintendency of Health (SUSALUD). The types of health rights used were those established in Peruvian Law No. 29414. An unordered multinomial probability model was used to estimate the probability of belonging to five types of violated rights based on the regular migrant and nonmigrant population, and the exogenous variables that affect this probability. The individual significance tests of the model, the tests for combining categories and the test of independence of irrelevant alternatives by means of the Wald and Hausman-McFadden tests were previously taken. The results indicated an increase in complaints from regular migrants of 5.6% in the 2019–2021 period unlike nonmigrants who had a decrease of 12.2%. The greatest probability that health rights of regular migrants are violated refers to access to information and the right to care and recovery, where their probability of violation is 27.7% and 25.4%, respectively (p-v < 0.05, CI = 95%). Likewise, health rights are more likely to be violated if they are women; if they are adults (41 years old on average); if they do not possess any type of health insurance; if they use Peruvian Ministry of Health (MINSA) services; and if they are located in metropolitan cities, such as Lima and Callao.A comparison of traumatic experiences and human rights violations of persons with mental health conditions or psychosocial disabilities and persons with other disabilitiesJin HashimotoTakashi IzutsuShodai SunagozakaSatoshi IiyamaAtsuro Tsutsumi10.1371/journal.pone.02927502023-11-27T14:00:00Z2023-11-27T14:00:00Z<p>by Jin Hashimoto, Takashi Izutsu, Shodai Sunagozaka, Satoshi Iiyama, Atsuro Tsutsumi</p>
This study compares the traumatic and human rights violation experiences of persons with mental health conditions or psychosocial disabilities and those of persons with other disabilities in the Philippines. Additionally, the role of gender in exposure to traumatic experience and human rights protection levels is explored. Of those registered as persons with disabilities in the city of Muntinlupa, 3000 subjects were randomly selected and 1,024 among them (Male = 510, Female = 512, Others = 2) agreed to participate in this study. This comparative study adopts a cross-sectional design. The survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire. The researchers mobilized health workers, officially recruited by the city, to visit the target participants’ houses and to distribute the questionnaires to collect data. The questionnaire comprises items related to the participants’ socio-demographic characteristics, exposure to traumatic experiences, and human rights-based well-being. Regarding the frequency of exposure to traumatic experiences, a little difference was found in physical domestic violence (abuse) between the two groups (Frequency = 20 (9.66), 44 (5.39%), χ2 = 5.154, p < 0.05). Regarding human rights-based well-being, no significant difference was found between persons with mental health conditions or psychosocial disabilities and persons with other disabilities. However, the human rights-based well-being of women with mental health conditions or psychosocial disabilities was significantly worse than that of women with other types of disabilities. Concrete and day-to-day human rights challenges in several areas in addition to inaccessibility to various services may have contributed to the human rights challenges encountered by women with mental health conditions or psychosocial disabilities. De-stigmatization of women with mental health conditions or psychosocial disabilities, the implementation of awareness-raising campaigns on various levels, and developing capacity of women with mental health conditions or psychosocial disabilities on how to protect their own rights may help improve the status quo.The Theory of Planned Behaviour doesn’t reveal ’attitude-behaviour’ gap? Contrasting the effects of moral norms vs. idealism and relativism in predicting pro-environmental behavioursLaura ZaikauskaitėAlicja GrzybekRachel E. MumfordDimitrios Tsivrikos10.1371/journal.pone.02908182023-11-27T14:00:00Z2023-11-27T14:00:00Z<p>by Laura Zaikauskaitė, Alicja Grzybek, Rachel E. Mumford, Dimitrios Tsivrikos</p>
The inconsistency between pro-environmental attitudes and behaviours called the ’attitude-behaviour’ gap, has been reported in many scenarios relating to sustainable actions. However, the reasons for it are not entirely clear. It has been proposed that the ’attitude-behaviour’ gap is driven by the moral dimension whereby moral attitudes fail to translate into subsequent moral behaviours. If so, the lacking integration of moral dimension into the environmental domain serves as a generalisable factor to improve the accuracy of predicting pro-environmental behaviours. Hence, we aimed to explore (i) whether the addition of a moral element to the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) shows the ’attitude-behaviour’ gap and (ii) whether the ethics position questionnaire (EPQ) is a more suitable measure of morality within the TPB framework, as compared to that of moral norms. The results from 181 US MTurk participants disclosed that the addition of the moral element to the TPB framework did not reveal the presence of the ’attitude-behaviour’ gap, despite both moral norms and idealism significantly predicting pro-environmental attitudes. The findings do not indicate whether moral norms or idealism should be used as a more accurate measure of morality within the TPB framework, although relativism was found to have no significant effects. Further investigation of why the moral element does not reveal the ’attitude-behaviour’ gap within the TPB framework predicting pro-environmental behaviours would help understand the reasons why rational choice models tend to overestimate theoretical vs. real-life engagement with sustainability.Towards mental health as a human right: The key role of lived experienceLouise Gaynor-Brookon behalf of the PLOS Medicine Editors10.1371/journal.pmed.10043072023-10-10T14:00:00Z2023-10-10T14:00:00Z<p>by Louise Gaynor-Brook, on behalf of the PLOS Medicine Editors </p>Climate change and the problem of social costWilliam K. Jaeger10.1371/journal.pclm.00002872023-09-20T14:00:00Z2023-09-20T14:00:00Z<p>by William K. Jaeger</p>
This paper assesses the prospects for climate stabilization from both positive and normative economic perspectives, and with an eye to the conditions necessary for collective action across the three domains: domestic, international, and intergenerational. While it is well-established that international freeriding and transaction costs pose major impediments to successful environmental agreements, this analysis identifies the intergenerational domain as the source of intractability due to long delays between bearing the mitigation costs and enjoying their eventual climate benefits. This lag causes the net benefits for median-aged voters’ to be negative over their expected remaining lifespans. Drawing from several Integrated Assessment Models of the benefits and costs of climate stabilization actions, the analysis concludes that programs of domestic and international climate actions will be hopelessly stymied by the failure of the actions to pass individual and collective rationality tests. However, these dire findings leave the door open to the possibility that some other change in circumstances might undercut this conclusion. In particular, the assignment of rights has that potential. Indeed, these circumstances echo the canonical insights from Ron Coase’s observation in The Problem of Social Cost (1960) that the arrangement of rights can have large effects on welfare when transaction costs for an externality are high. Current climate rights amount to a <i>de facto</i> open access right to pollute the atmosphere. Were a right to a stable climate for both for current and future generations recognized, added weight or leverage would add potency to support for climate stabilization policies and international agreements. These legal changes could represent a counterweight to offset the inadequacy of support from the current self-interested generation. Indeed, some recent climate litigation argues that many nations’ constitutions already encompass an affirmative right to a stable climate, a proposition that could represent a powerful means to break the climate impasse.Modern slavery in the United Kingdom: The illegal migration act risks undermining efforts to combat exploitationSian Oram10.1371/journal.pmed.10042792023-09-05T14:00:00Z2023-09-05T14:00:00Z<p>by Sian Oram</p>
The Illegal Migration Act, which recently passed through the United Kingdom (UK) parliament, poses a serious threat to the well-being of victims of modern slavery and efforts to combat exploitation. The Act gives the UK Government greater powers to deny support and allow the detention and deportation of potential victims and has been widely criticised, including by medical associations and charities. Measures included in the Act risk perpetuating the deprivation of safety, dignity, and medical care experienced by victims, instead of providing the protections to which they should be entitled.
In this Perspective, Sian Oram discusses the potential implications of the Illegal Migration Act for victims of modern slavery in the United Kingdom.Integrating the rights-based and capability approaches in the analysis of maternal healthcare utilization in sub-Saharan Africa: A multilevel modelling studySimona SimonaNakena LikandoAndrew BandaMillion Phiri10.1371/journal.pgph.00022842023-08-29T14:00:00Z2023-08-29T14:00:00Z<p>by Simona Simona, Nakena Likando, Andrew Banda, Million Phiri</p>
The rights-based and capability approaches received increased attention relative to maternal health in the aftermath of the 2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). This may be in view of the sub-optimal progress gained in reducing maternal and child mortality, especially in developing countries. Despite the combined potential of these approaches, there are limited empirical studies testing their viability in aiding our understanding of maternal healthcare utilization in developing countries. This is what this study sought to accomplish. We combined several datasets, including the Demographic Health Surveys (DHS), World Development Indicators, the World Governance Indicators and Freedom House. Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models were applied on three indicators of maternal healthcare utilization (antenatal care visits, institutional delivery, and postnatal check-ups) in relation to selected variables representing right-based and capability approaches. After controlling for relevant individual and community-level factors, the results show that living in countries with high freedom status (POR = 1.19) and higher female secondary school enrolments (POR = 1.54) increases the odds of adequate antenatal care. Residence in countries with high freedom status (POR = 1.33) and higher voice and accountability (POR = 1.72) has a positive influence on institutional delivery. Similar results are reported for postnatal care where country freedom status (POR = 1.89), voice and accountability (POR = 1.25) and female school enrolment (POR = 1.41) are significant predictors. The results imply that the rights-based and capability approaches have the potential to enhance maternal healthcare utilization in sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, policy strategies emphasizing on freedoms, accountability, and individual capability functionings should be encouraged in the pursuit of partly achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) number 3.Hidden in plain sight: A systematic review of coercion and Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptive methods (LARC)Victoria BoydellRobert Dean SmithGlobal LARC Collaborative (GLC)10.1371/journal.pgph.00021312023-08-18T14:00:00Z2023-08-18T14:00:00Z<p>by Victoria Boydell, Robert Dean Smith, Global LARC Collaborative (GLC) </p>
In recent years there has been extensive promotion of long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARC) globally to increase access to what is widely considered a highly effective contraceptive method. Yet, despite these efforts, evidence points towards the worrying propensity for LARCS to be associated with coercion. Hence, we undertook a meta-narrative review across nine databases to draw together the heterogeneous and complex evidence on the coercive practices associated with LARC programs. A total of 92 papers were grouped into three metanarratives: (1) law, (2) public health and medicine, and (3) the social sciences. Across disciplines, the evidence supports the conclusion that coercive practices surrounding LARC programs always target marginalized, disadvantaged and excluded population(s). Looking at coercion across disciplines reveals its many forms, and we present a continuum of coercive practices associated with LARC programming. We found that each discipline provides only a partial picture of coercion, and this fragmentation is a knowledge practice that prevents us from collecting accurate information on this subject and may contribute to the perpetuation of these suspect practices. We present this review to address longstanding silences around coercion and LARCs, and to encourage the development of clinical and programmatic guidance to actively safeguard against coercion and uphold reproductive rights and justice.Use of machine learning methods to understand discussions of female genital mutilation/cutting on social mediaGray BabbsSarah E. WeberSalma M. AbdallaNina CesareElaine O. Nsoesie10.1371/journal.pgph.00008782023-07-25T14:00:00Z2023-07-25T14:00:00Z<p>by Gray Babbs, Sarah E. Weber, Salma M. Abdalla, Nina Cesare, Elaine O. Nsoesie</p>
Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) describes several procedures that involve injury to the vulva or vagina for nontherapeutic reasons. Though at least 200 million women and girls living in 30 countries have undergone FGM/C, there is a paucity of studies focused on public perception of FGM/C. We used machine learning methods to characterize discussion of FGM/C on Twitter in English from 2015 to 2020. Twitter has emerged in recent years as a source for seeking and sharing health information and misinformation. We extracted text metadata from user profiles to characterize the individuals and locations involved in conversations about FGM/C. We extracted major discussion themes from posts using correlated topic modeling. Finally, we extracted features from posts and applied random forest models to predict user engagement. The volume of tweets addressing FGM/C remained fairly stable across years. Conversation was mostly concentrated among the United States and United Kingdom through 2017, but shifted to Nigeria and Kenya in 2020. Some of the discussion topics associated with FGM/C across years included Islam, International Day of Zero Tolerance, current news stories, education, activism, male circumcision, human rights, and feminism. Tweet length and follower count were consistently strong predictors of engagement. Our findings suggest that (1) discussion about FGM/C has not evolved significantly over time, (2) the majority of the conversation about FGM/C on English-speaking Twitter is advocating for an end to the practice, (3) supporters of Donald Trump make up a substantial voice in the conversation about FGM/C, and (4) understanding the nuances in how people across cultures refer to and discuss FGM/C could be important for the design of public health communication and intervention.