Dispositions to Act in Favor of the Environment: Fatalism and Readiness to Make Sacrifices in a Cross‐National Perspective1

This article hypothesizes that individuals’ environmental attitudes depend not only on their knowledge, interests, emotions, and values but also on the social context in which they live. We test this hypothesis by analyzing the 2000/01 ISSP‐II Survey on Environmental Attitudes; the data include respondents from 23 countries. Our findings show that individual characteristics influence both “pessimistic environmental orientations” and “the willingness to act in favor of the environment.” As for social context, the level of development and affluence, the degree of political centralization, the presence of green movements and parties, and the degree of objective pollution in a country are all important. However, their influences on fatalism and willingness vary.     

Extreme longevity in five countries

Data on the maximum age at death and other indicators of extreme longevity are assembled for five countries (Sweden, England & Wales, France, Japan, and the United States) over various time periods. The raw data are shown in both graphical and tabular formats. Two types of measures are presented: the extreme ages at death reported for a given year (i.e., the maximum, second, third, and fourth highest), and the upper percentiles of the age distribution of deaths by year. The analysis demonstrates that the upper tail of the age distribution of deaths has moved steadily higher over a period of at least 130 years in Sweden. Similar trends are observed (over shorter time periods) for other countries, although in many cases it is argued that the raw data are flawed due to misstatement (in particular, exaggeration) of age at death.Des données sur l'âge maximum au décès et sur d'autres indicateurs de longévité extrême sont rassemblées ici pour cinq pays (Suède, Angleterre et Pays de Galles, France, Japon et Etats-Unis) et sur diverses périodes. Les données brutes sont présentées à la fois de façon graphique et sous forme de tableaux. Deux types de mesures sont présentés: les âges extrêmes au décès pour une année donnée (c'est-à-dire le maximum et les trois autres âges successifs), et les centiles supérieurs de la distribution des décès par année. L'analyse montre que l'extrémé supérieure de la distribution des âges au décès a crû de façon réguliere sur une période d'au moins 130 années en Suède. Des tendances similaires sont observées (sur de plus courtes périodes) pour les autres pays, bien que dans de nombreux cas on puisse montrer que les données brutes sont imparfaites du fait d'une déclaration incorrecte (en particulier d'une exagération) de l'âge au décès.     

历史的道德旨趣——康德关于历史符号的理论

康德认为 ,没有一个关于历史的道德旨趣 ,道德行为者的自律是不稳固的。康德试图这样描述历史的道德旨趣 ,充分挖掘“包涵先天原则的普遍历史的观念” ,同时 ,他认为能产生一个关于道德世界的反思性观念的实践理性 ,需要创造一个历史的道德旨趣以便超越个人的目标。康德关于历史符号的理论讨论的是这样一个问题 :历史的进程并不能直接由经验决定 ,这种进步是按照具有绝对必然性的实践理性的原则进行的。被当成符号的人类经验具有肯定功能 ,它们避免了自然与理性的二分 ,因为它们的源头是想像 ,想像是一个枢纽 ,想像能够传达消息。理性在一个扩大的领域内不能获得善 ,相反 ,是它创造了善 ,这就是为什么理性以历史的道德旨趣为基础的原因。     

Extent and sources of occupational stress in university staff

Canadian higher education sector has undergone numerous changes during the past decades. Increased student enrolments, massive cuts in human resources and constant restructuring are changes likely to have had a considerable impact on all employees (e.g., administrative, trades, and faculty). While many studies conducted in different countries have shown that stress in universities is a problem of alarming proportions, to date, no study of the entire staff of a university has been carried out in Canada. This research uses an approach based on the prevention and management of the sources of occupational stress to study 1086 employees of a Quebec university. Data were collected by means of questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. It was found that the proportion of individuals who reported a high level of psychological distress was twice as high (40%) than that reported for a Quebec-wide sample (20%). Work overload, the relationship with one's superior and participation in decision making were systematically reported as high risks to employees' health. It was found that human resources management practices have not followed the rapid organizational changes which affected the university in the past years. The results are discussed in light of the risk management approach.