This essay confronts the ought-is problem and the universalism-relativism debate by proposing "rational moral essentialism," a framework grounded in minimal, rational criteria for morality. Drawing from thinkers like Hume, Moore, and Kondylis, it argues that morality requires proportionality, necessity, relevance, sustainable coexistence, and respect for human dignity. Rather than searching for universal virtues, it identifies universalizable wrongs, aiming to safeguard meaning against barbarism and amorality. The framework emphasizes practical dialogue and shared ethical boundaries across diverse cultural contexts, while critically avoiding the pitfalls of both moral absolutism and cultural relativism.
Luxury branding shapes fashion, society, and identity by symbolizing status, exclusivity, and aspiration. My essay explores key principles like heritage, craftsmanship, and personalized experiences, alongside theories such as Veblen’s conspicuous consumption and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. It examines fashion as a social signifier and self-expression tool, analyzing how luxury brands influence self-perception and societal structures. A case study on Chanel highlights luxury's role in social stratification and cultural identity. Psychological aspects, peer influence, and digital shifts further emphasize how luxury branding impacts modern consumer behavior and evolving societal norms.
This paper was the output I produced as part of my thesis course in the IREA program. It explored the challenges faced by Filipino migrant women working as domestic workers in Greece, Their awareness of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), and their sources of information about their rights. The study through semi-structured interviews, revealed significant discrimination, language barriers to healthcare, and emotional abuse from employers. It revealed a critical lack of awareness among these workers about their labor rights and legal protections. Social media, was their primary information source, posing risks of misinformation. Recommendations included proactive embassy outreach, a centralized information hub, and state-funded seminars to empower these women to protect their rights.
This study examines Grindr's impact on LGBTQ+ individuals' self-esteem, self-image, and well-being, involving 1594 users sharing their experiences. Grindr serves as a crucial platform for social connection and identity exploration, enhancing self-awareness and community belonging. However, it also poses challenges, with users reporting decreased self-esteem and increased mental health issues. These findings highlight Grindr's dual role: it supports positive self-discovery but can also contribute to psychological distress. The research underscores the importance of creating more supportive and mentally healthy online environments for the LGBTQ+ community, aiming for a comprehensive understanding of digital social dynamics.
This paper examines the frequency and way the ECtHR in correlation with reported pushback cases has been covered by five major Greek newspapers in their online form. It conducts quantitative analysis of the articles published online and proceeds by offering discourse analysis on them. It finally concludes that most frequently the ECtHR and pushbacks were covered by left-leaning newspapers as opposed to the right-leaning ones and with greater attention.
The effects of video games on players’ psychological experience have been the preferred research focus in the field for the past two decades. Recently, researchers have shifted their attention from the effects of adversity to the embrace of empathy. Narrative-focused video games, specifically, allow players to form an empathetic relationship with the characters of a game. The aim of the present thesis is to provide a comprehensive and unique synthesis of the effects of principal narrative elements on video game players’ experience of empathy. The thesis concludes that perspective-taking, the implementation of narrative techniques, and player immersion are the key factors through which empathy is experienced. Although ludic gameplay is negatively correlated to empathy, it is nevertheless a necessary dimension of video games which, in combination with narrative methods, can be potentially utilized to elicit an empathetic response from players.
This paper explores John Dewey’s vision of democracy and analyzes its applications in today’s world. As a pragmatist, Dewey employed a problem-oriented approach to social affairs, hence “democracy as a cooperative experiment”. His ideas to be discussed are the theory of inquiry, the notion of growth, and democracy as a way of living. Modern readings have attempted to revive his ideas for possible desirable effects on political affairs and individual self-development in this globalized world. I shall argue how the critical stance central to Dewey’s philosophy is useful in rethinking modern social ills and fostering global harmony amongst diverse groups.
After 28 years since the first Conference of Parties (COP) and numerous policies adopted in the context of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), it is an interesting fact that greenhouse gas emissions persist on an ascending path. The following research paper is trying to answer the question: “To what extent have parties evolved in terms of ambition from 1995 to 2022?” This question will be approached both quantitatively and qualitatively, through content analysis of the Conference of Parties reports on decisions. This work aims to contribute to future research on the “hows” and “whens” of climate science reflected in policy-making, what ambition means for policy intensity and other questions on the climate nexus.
On May 3rd, 2023, in Belgrade, Serbia, a 13-year-old boy opened fire in “Vladislav Ribnikar” Elementary School, killing 9 children and the school guard. The paper looks at the public’s response to this unseen tragedy, incorporating interviews with a Serbian citizen, reporter and a psychologist. The aim of it is to showcase how people deal with big traumas while providing explanations from a professional to why those reactions happen. If further emphasizes the value of psychological help, community and social support in events this severe.
My work consists of the key principles of luxury brand management, explaining why it is different from other types of brands. Also, my work explains the complex relationship between fashion, society, and the self and how they are all interrelated. Lastly, my work examines the role of a luxury fashion brand in society and for the self.
