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David R. Hufton
Spirit of the Act: Approaching the Inherent Transdisciplinarity of 'Spirituality’


Abstract

In his 2008 Metanexus Conference paper, Gary Boelhower highlights scripture illustrating that wisdom is not an abstract concept, but that it’s about making real choices that reveal people’s character and identity.  He develops the idea that in decision-making ‘wise leaders are conscious and intentional about living their values and priorities.’ This is interesting. I am sure that some are indeed conscious and intentional about living their priorities, but I am convinced that many more live their values and priorities less consciously.  

Boelhower extends a view that ‘wisdom is embedded in common human experience’. He uses scripture to illustrate the view that ‘wisdom does not come from some abstruse unrecognizable revelation’ and that it may arise ‘from close observation and clear thinking’. My research is designed to ‘mine the experience of persons’ for evidence of this wisdom in the reflections of people at work who express a simple, naturalistic ethic of just doing the best job they can - that they may feel compelled to do - based upon an innate sense of values that may be entirely unexamined.

I propose a phenomenological examination of the way in which a cohort of UK police officers makes their everyday operational decisions. I will look for ‘phronesis’ in the Aristotelian and Thomastic traditions seeking, through interviews, to engage people in reflection upon how they actually apply themselves to making decisions and solving problems. I will look for evidence of the outworking of practical virtues, or the applied wisdom that Aristotle might have called eupraxia, or ‘the good activity of free persons’.

‘The spirit’, broadly conceptualised, touches everything as an aspect of all we do and all we are as humans, whether associated with religious tradition or not. Recognising this, my research is an inherently transdisciplinary enquiry encompassing personal and transpersonal concepts, complementing Boelhower’s theological approach. Whilst not at all excluding religious spirituality, I want to know if it is possible to discern whether - and if so to what extent, other concepts or forms of ‘spirituality’ influence officers’ operational choices.

Charles Taylor makes a compelling case for the need to focus on understanding all aspects of spirituality, which he conceptualises principally in terms of ‘meaning-making’ for the individual. Mitroff and Denton found that the secular nature of ‘work’ led many people to feel they leave an essential part of themselves ‘at the door’ when entering the workplace. Despite this, my suspicion is that consciously and sub-consciously, people actually do live their ‘spiritual values and meaning’ - and that the effects of this may be seen behaviourally.

I hope to find out whether an eclectic ‘spirituality’ concept is sufficiently mature, discrete and robust to contribute to a strand of ‘professional transdisciplinarity’ that connects spirituality and ethics with conduct. This may help link corporate social responsibility with personal accountability, bridging gaps between inner and outer modes of living. The development of a more consciously aware, natural wisdom approach may contribute to personal and professional integration, giving expression to living a more holistic and meaningful life.

Biography
David R Hufton is a PhD researcher, directed by Reverend Professor Simon J Robinson FRSA and Professor Gavin Fairbairn at the School of Applied Global Ethics, Leslie Silver International Faculty, Leeds Metropolitan University, UK. He is researching the question as to whether an eclectic concept of ‘spirituality’ informs and directs everyday decision-making and problem-solving in a cohort of UK Police Officers. To do this, he will examine the results of depth interviews for indications of a relationship between spirituality, values and professional ethics.

David was a police officer for 30 years before retirement last year, when he took up his research position full-time. His professional development covered the full range of policing duties, including investigation, armed response and security. He was a qualified and experienced trainer and learning development officer, working in his local agency and for the National Learning and Development Agency. He specialized in diversity, leadership and human relations issues and gained a Masters Degree in Education (Human Relations) from the Centre for the Study of Human Relations at Nottingham University, UK in 1997. He is an associate of the newly formed Institute for Spirituality, Religion and Public Life and the British Association for the Study of Spirituality.


 

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