AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC SCIENTISTS: CONSCIOUSNESS AND BEHAVIOUR

Transcription

1 AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC SCIENTISTS: CONSCIOUSNESS AND BEHAVIOUR by Helena Ellinor Widolf, B. Soc. Sc., B. Antarctic Studies (Hons.) Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy University of Tasmania (March, 2007) 1

2 DECLARATION This thesis contains no material that has been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma in any tertiary institution. To the best of my knowledge and belief, this thesis contains no material previously published or written by another person, except where due reference is made in the thesis text. To the best of my knowledge and belief, this thesis contains no material that infringes copyright. Helena Ellinor Widolf Date 2

3 STATEMENT OF AUTHORITY This thesis may be made available for loan and limited copying in accordance with the Copyright Act Helena Ellinor Widolf Date 3

4 THESIS ABSTRACT A growing number of contemporary authors are acknowledging that the quality of consciousness of global human society is less-than-ideal. Qualities affiliated with materialism, such as selfishness and greed, are recognised as root causes of the widespread exploitation of the Earth s natural resources. The nurturing of qualities such as high ethical standards, adherence to scriptural knowledge and concern about spiritual matters, is recognised as being increasingly forsaken for the development of qualities such as interest in economic advancement and concern about personal sense enjoyment. Deterioration of the Earth s natural environment has been acknowledged as a consequence of such poorer qualities of human consciousness. As environmental scientists play a key role in determining the direction of environmental management, an investigation was carried out into their quality of consciousness. The study sample was the Australian Antarctic scientific community, whose research findings contribute towards both national and international environmental policy and management. Research methodology included the ancient Vedic triguna and the Buddhist Theravada Abhidharma, two systems of psychological evaluation that determine qualitative standards of consciousness in relation to behaviour. The triguna is comprised of three qualitative levels of consciousness: sattva guna, the mode of goodness (including characteristics such as greater and real knowledge and showing compassion towards others); rajas guna, the mode of passion (e.g. adherence to mundane knowledge and sense enjoyment); and tamas guna, the mode of ignorance (e.g. inertia and destructiveness). Abhidharma factors include Positive Mental Events (e.g. decorum/consideration for others), Negative Mental Events (e.g. lack of a sense of propriety/inconsideration for others) and Negative Emotions (e.g. attachment). Paramitas (perfections) representing ideal behavioural factors (e.g. morality and loving-kindness) were also included in collecting and processing data. Data collection items included an inventory/questionnaire based on the triguna, an interview series based on scientists perspectives on their own professional lives, an examination of Australian Antarctic science literature, and an additional questionnaire addressing ideal guna characteristics in relation to environmental science goals. Results revealed that Australian Antarctic scientists predominate within rajas guna and are predominated by Negative Mental Events. Symptoms of predominance within rajas guna include distortion of the intellect due to too much activity; anxiety; and misery. A predominance of Abhidharma Negative Mental Events means a decline in wholesome behaviours and an increase in unwholesome behaviours. Anticipated ramifications of such predominance on behalf of Australian Antarctic scientists, for Antarctic and global natural environments, include their increasing deterioration as they are managed under sub-standard policies. 4

5 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank my supervisors Julia Jabour, Marcus Haward, John Davidson and Ravi Gomatam who persevered with me over the past four and a half years. Without your help this thesis would not have eventuated. Your guidance was invaluable and your support was very much needed. A big thank you to all IASOS staff for your help and friendship over the years. Thank you to all Australian Antarctic scientists and other personnel who gave of their time to participate in the data-collection for my thesis. Without your cooperation this research project would not have been possible. Thank you to all non-antarctic scientists who also gave of their time to participate in questionnaires. Thank you to my referees who helped with triguna theory. 5

6 TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION Chapter Outline Investigating the Problem The Crisis of Our Times: A Crisis of Consciousness Quality of Consciousness and Australian Antarctic Scientists Thesis Proposition and Thesis Objective Thesis Research Design, Research Parameters, Restrictions and A Brief Thesis Outline Chapter Conclusion.29 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW Chapter Outline In Search of Suitable Theoretical and Methodological Approaches The Topic of Quality of Consciousness within Current Literature Eastern Approaches to the Topic of Quality of Consciousness: An Overview Vedic Literature Vedic Literature: Introduction Translations by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Specific Texts and Their Contents Vedic Cognitive Science Psychological Conditioning and the Three Modes of Material Nature (Triguna) Buddhist Literature Buddhist Literature: An Introduction Specific Texts and Their Contents Enactive Cognitive Science Theravada Abhidharma Factors Chapter Conclusion 63 CHAPTER THREE: CONSTRUCTING A FRAMEWORK FOR DATA COLLECTING AND PROCESSING Chapter Outline Data Collection and Processing Framework: An Overview Framework Purpose and Suitability for the Thesis Objective

7 3.1.2 Framework Parameters Data Collection Items The Australian Antarctic Scientist Inventory The Ideal Guna Situatedness Questionnaire Interview Series Australian Antarctic Science Literature Data Processing Using the Vedic Triguna Triguna Evaluation and Presentation Guides The Australian Antarctic Scientist Inventory The Ideal Guna Situatedness Questionnaire Interview Series Australian Antarctic Science Literature Data Processing Using the Buddhist Theravada Abhidharma Abhidharma Evaluation and Presentation Guides Interview Series Australian Antarctic Science Literature Chapter Conclusion CHAPTER FOUR: THE AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC SCIENTIST INVENTORY AND THE IDEAL GUNA SITUATEDNESS QUESTIONNAIRE Chapter Outline Australian Antarctic Scientist Inventory (AASI): Distribution and Initial Results AASI Distribution, Participation Rate and Procedure Raw AASI Results Summary of AASI Results According to the Three Gunas as Separate Categories AASI Results According to the Stratified Hierarchical Presentation of Scores Examination of AASI Scores for Individual Gunas Examination of AASI Scores for Sattva Guna Examination of AASI Scores for Rajas Guna Examination of AASI Scores for Tamas Guna Examination of the Consistency of AASI Scores Ideal Guna Situatedness Questionnaire (IGSQ) IGSQ Distribution, Participation Rate and Procedure IGSQ Results Chapter Conclusion

8 CHAPTER FIVE: AUSTRALIAN ANTARTIC SCIENCE INTERVIEW SERIES Chapter Outline Introduction Interview Series Participation Rate and Procedure Interview Series Transcription Procedures Processing Using the Vedic Triguna Identification of Quantifiable Responses to Interview Questions Results of Quantification, Significant Statements and Overall Appraisals of Individual Scientist Responses to Interview Series Questions, According to the Triguna Summary of Interview Series Results According to the Triguna Processing Using the Buddhist Theravada Abhidharma Identification of Quantifiable Responses to Interview Questions Results of Quantification, Significant Statements and Overall Appraisal of Individual Scientist Responses According to the Abhidharma Summary of Interview Series Results According to the Abhidharma Chapter Conclusion CHAPTER SIX: AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC SCIENCE LITERATURE FEATURES Chapter Outline Processing Using the Vedic Triguna Analysis of the Contents of the Antarctic Animals Ethics Committee Animal Experimentation Guidelines Results from Interview Series Question No. 7, Regarding Peer-review: Discussion Peer-reviewed Journal Articles: Text-category 1: Physical Science Peer-reviewed Journal Articles: Text-category 2: Biological Science Peer-reviewed Journal Articles: Text-category 3: Human Impact Studies Summary of Results from the Examination of Science Literature Features, According to the Triguna Processing Using the Buddhist Theravada Abhidharma Analysis of the Contents of the Antarctic Animals Ethics Committee Animal Experimentation Guidelines Results from Interview Series Question No. 7, Regarding Peer-review: Discussion Peer-reviewed Journal Articles: Text-category 1: Physical Science Peer-reviewed Journal Articles: Text-category 2: Biological Science Peer-reviewed Journal Articles: Text-category 3: Human Impact Studies Summary of Results from the Examination of Science Literature 8

9 Features, According to the Abhidharma Chapter Conclusion CHAPTER SEVEN: ANALYSIS OF ALL THESIS DATA Chapter Outline Overall Findings: The AASQCP Findings from Results of All Data Collection Items: Construction of the Australian Antarctic Scientist Quality of Consciousness Profile (AASQCP) The AASQCP in Relation to the Findings from IGSQ Results The AASQCP in Relation to the Thesis Proposition and Thesis Objective Correlation Analysis: AASQCP, Research Results from Other Triguna Research and Anticipated Consequences of AASQCP According to a Selection of Buddhist Readings Chapter Conclusion CHAPTER EIGHT: CLOSING DISCUSSION AND FURTHER RESEARCH Chapter Outline Thesis Closing Discussion Significance and Implications of Overall Findings Further Research Further Research for Australian Antarctic Science Further Research for Triguna Studies Further Research for Abhidharma Studies Chapter Conclusion REFERENCES..250 PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS 261 LIST OF TABLES TABLE : Systematisation of Abhidharma Factors...62 TABLE : Data Collection and Processing Framework (DCPF) 67 TABLE : Significance and Implications of Guna Situatedness (SIGS)