Rivka T Witenberg

Dr Rivka T Witenberg is an academic and writer focusing on moral development and tolerance. Latest publication: The psychology of tolerance: Conception and development

Rivka T's recent articles

Promoting inclusion instead of hatred in the pandemic.

This week, beginning the 17thof August, it is reported that many people are breaking Covid-19 restriction laws.According to the Deputy Commissioner Rick Nuggent, police issued 42 fines in the last 24 hour (between 17th and 18th of August).These fines included people found at overnight illegal parties in contradiction of Covid restrictions.

It is not racism, it is politics

It could not have escaped anyones notice that the government and the Prime Minister in particular have been accused of racism.This is because of the decision to ban Indians who are Australian or permanent citizens from returning to Australia.

Can you teach people to be more empathetic? Yes and no

Empathy training is trendy in the corporate world. In light of the events in Parliament House in the recent past, empathy training has arrived there too. Rather than demanding that the Liberal National MP Andrew Laming resigns for his alleged misconduct, the Prime Minister has requested that he undertakes empathy training.

What about the security companies? Dont they have corporate ethical responsibility?

We are in stage 4 of the lock-down in Melbourne and that has great implications for personal and social life as well as the economy. As a result of the lock-down, listeners have contacted radio stations, approving of it because it would finally bring about the end of the spreading of Covid-19.

Faulty reasoning in BBC purge. Dealing with art and prejudice.

How will the BBC, other media organisations and theatre companies deal with plays that are clearly prejudicial, injurious and intolerant towards a particular group of people in the future?

RIVKA T. WITENBERG Promoting Tolerance and Acceptance through Education

The role of education is to encourage moral and socially moral/ethical individuals who develop a robust sense of fairness, justice and empathy which will influence tolerance and acceptance.

RIVKA T. WITENBERG A moral dilemma or not.

The outbreak of the COVID-19 has created some problematic dilemmas, at least for some of us. We hear from people of all walks of life asking whether it could be that the cure is worse than the disease.

RIVKA T. WITENBERG.-Panic buying is not hoarding:

Why are people emptying supermarket shelves? They grab not only toilet paper, milk, Panadol, paper towels, rice and spaghetti but also hand sanitisers, cans of all descriptions and more recently alcohol.

Moral Disengagement, Honesty, Transparency, Accountability and the Sports Rort

Generally speaking, most people desire to behave ethically and within moral bounds.

RIVKA T. WITENBERG The paradoxical nature of freedom of speech and hate speech.

The shocking events which have taken place in recent times has again ignited the debate about the paradoxical nature of freedom of speech and the right to express hateful opinions or beliefs without restriction or limits including hate towards others who are different in colour, creed or nationality. How can we guard against hate speech when freedom of speech is highly cherished in democratic societies? Undoubtedly, education has a role to play above and beyond legislation and regulation.

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