Background and Aim: Humans have always sought to improve their quality of life, health, and abilities. Recent advances in genetic engineering have enabled genetic interventions to unprecedentedly improve human capabilities and characteristics and overcome human limitations. Significant developments in biomedical sciences and technologies have made human genetic improvement one of the main issues of applied ethics. The use of genetic technology to improve human characteristics and capacities has encountered opposition. The argument based on human nature is the best-known and strongest argument against genetic improvement. Francis Fukuyama is among the people who presented this argument. In this article, Fukuyama's argument is examined and criticized from an ethical perspective.

Methods: The research method is descriptive-analytical, and data collection was carried out in a library manner.

Ethical Considerations: Honesty and trustworthiness have been observed in writing this article.

Findings: Francis Fukuyama is a strong opponent of genetic engineering and the improvement of human genetic capabilities. In his view, advances in biotechnology change nature and human nature. Human nature includes the most fundamental and pervasive characteristics of the human species, which are genetically derived rather than being influenced by environmental factors, and are the fundamental origin of moral sense, social skills, and philosophical thinking. Fukuyama ultimately distinguishes between treatment and improvement of human capacities and allows the use of biotechnology only for the treatment of genetic diseases. The inability to provide a precise definition of nature, ignoring biotechnological limitations, the lack of a difference between improvement and treatment, the ineffectiveness of the concept of human nature in the ethical analysis of human genetic improvement, and the criterion of human nature as a criterion for determining the ethical and unethical aspects of genetic improvement are among the most important drawbacks of Fukuyama's argument.

Conclusion: Francis Fukuyama's argument faces serious flaws and lacks sufficient credibility. Therefore, he cannot prove the immorality of using genetic engineering to improve human capacities by reasoning based on nature and human nature.

Background and Aim: Forecast into the impacts of artificial intelligence in interdisciplinary studies of social sciences with a strategic approach is one of the urgent needs of Iranian society. One of the key areas is to pay attention to the intellectual health and cognitive identity of generations Z, Alpha, and Beta. This area is affected by two trends; one is the state of education governance with the requirements of the era of artificial intelligence and the other is the epistemic model of artificial intelligence technology. These issues occur in the context of gatekeeping and algorithmic power as well as cognitive and value changes, which this article has analyzed using mixed theoretical foundations.

Methods: The method of the article is general futures research with the technique of Horizon Scanning, which focuses on studying existing conditions and changes to predict ongoing or future events and trends with the aim of identifying challenges, opportunities, ensuring awareness, and preventing future surprises.

Ethical Considerations: Aspects related to interests and benefits have been observed. The data are authentic, reliable, trustworthy and non-sensitive.

Findings: The findings of the article have been analyzed and formulated in four axes as follows: 1- The status of knowledge and educational governance in the era of artificial intelligence, 2- Emerging cognitive and educational issues for the new generation, 3- International strategic solutions and actions, and 4- National strategic solutions and actions.

Conclusion: Overall, the results indicate a lack of guarantees for the cognitive health and identity of the new generation. Of course, despite the complexity and layering of the issues, an attempt has been made to realistically explain the infrastructural and content considerations along with cognitive opportunities and challenges. Paying attention to the relationship between scientific identity and artificial intelligence is a vital and key window for educational governance in Iran.

Background and Aim: Environmental problems not only have harmful effects on human health but also influence economic growth as well as social and cultural development. The aim of this study was to examine the relationships of green education, ethics, and environmental knowledge sharing on activism, with the mediating role of environmental responsibility, within the framework of causal modeling.

Methods: This was a descriptive-correlational study. The statistical population included all employees of the Bushehr Health Network (130 men and 170 women). Due to the limited size of the population, all employees were selected through a census method. Data were collected using the following questionnaires: Environmental Knowledge Sharing by Yu et al. (2022), Environmental Ethics by Firoozfar et al. (2021), Environmental Activism by Alshaer (2021), Perceived Environmental Responsibility by Kumar and Gadzwar, and Green Training and Development by Ojo (2022). Data were analyzed using path analysis through SPSS and AMOS software.

Ethical Considerations: Data collection was conducted with full respect for confidentiality and anonymity of participants.

Findings: The results showed that the direct effect of green training and development on environmental responsibility (T = 2.673, ß = 0.140) and environmental activism (T = 4.108, ß = 0.203) was significant at the 0.01 level. Similarly, the direct effect of environmental knowledge sharing on environmental activism (T = 5.697, ß = 0.283) and environmental responsibility (T = 3.094, ß = 0.164) was significant at the 0.01 level. Furthermore, the direct effect of environmental ethics on environmental responsibility (T = 2.345, ß = 0.126) and the effect of environmental responsibility on environmental activism (T = 3.577, ß = 0.180) were also significant at the 0.01 level.

Conclusion: Environmental knowledge sharing and green education have an impact on environmental responsibility and activism. Moreover, environmental responsibility is influenced by environmental ethics and, in turn, affects environmental activism.

Background and Aim: The aim of this study is to explore and deeply understand the lived experience of long-distance families from the perspective of drivers working on the Snapp internet platform in Tehran, and to analyze the consequences of this type of life.

Methods: This research was conducted using a qualitative method within an interpretive phenomenological approach, so that the lived meaning of this phenomenon could be revealed through participants’ narratives. The target population consisted of Snapp drivers in Tehran who are continuously away from their families for periods of several months. Participants were selected through purposive and snowball sampling based on specific criteria. Data were collected using in-depth, semi-structured interviews. The analysis followed the model proposed by Smith et al. (2009), proceeding through six stages including coding, theme extraction, and clustering.

Ethical Considerations: In all research stages, confidentiality was maintained, and informed consent was obtained from participants.  

Findings: The findings indicated that the consequences of distance-living can be categorized into two main axes: family-related and social. Examining these consequences within such a context offers a contextualized understanding of the Long-distance phenomenon and investigates the impact of this lifestyle on social structure and family relationships. Thematic analysis revealed that living at a distance not only weakens emotional bonds among family members, but also leads to bio-social insecurity and the erosion of the family’s social capital at the societal level. These consequences challenge the family’s role in cultural and social reproduction. Given the evidence suggesting an increase in the population of such families, this study underscores the need to rethink macro-level employment policies and to design institutional solutions aimed at mitigating its negative effects.

Conclusion: The findings of the study emphasize the need to rethink macro-level policies in the field of population and family, aiming to recognize this type of family (distant families) at the national level through the establishment of a national committee and national systems for registration and monitoring of distant families, strengthening welfare and social security systems to reduce economic and psychological pressures, and designing cultural and educational interventions to maintain family and social bonds.

Background and Aim: In today's complex and competitive world, promoting good organizational governance is recognized as a key factor in improving performance, increasing transparency and enhancing the ethical behavior of employees. This study aims to determine the extent to which the implementation of good governance principles can influence the effectiveness of organizational performance and the enhancement of the professional ethics of bank employees.

Methods: The present research was descriptive-correlational and the statistical population included employees and managers of Bank Maskan in Ardabil province in 2023, from which 162 individuals were selected through systematic sampling based on the table of Krejcie and Morgan. The data collection tools included the Organizational Governance Questionnaire by Alipour (2014), the Organizational Effectiveness Questionnaire by Amini Faskhudi and Hadi-Nejad (2012), and the Organizational Ethics Questionnaire by Hunt et al. (1989). For data analysis, Pearson correlation test and structural equation modeling were utilized using SPSS 22 and AMOS software.

Ethical Considerations: After obtaining permission from the management of Bank Maskan and explaining the objectives to the participants, their consent was obtained and they were assured about the confidentiality of the information.

Findings: The results showed a direct and significant relationship between desirable organizational governance and its components with organizational effectiveness (R=0.47) and organizational ethics (R=0.45) (p>0.01). Additionally, the structural model test of the research indicated that desirable organizational governance has a direct impact on organizational effectiveness (β=0.49) and organizational ethics (β=0.46) (p>0.01).

Conclusion: Desirable organizational governance can enhance organizational effectiveness and ethics through increasing transparency, accountability, and human capacities.

Background and Aim: Young people constitute the most valuable human and social capital of any society, and participatory public policymaking plays a pivotal role in strengthening their motivation, self-confidence, and social engagement. Accordingly, this study examines the foundations and requirements of participatory government policymaking in support of population rejuvenation.

Methods: This theoretical–applied study was conducted using a descriptive–analytical approach. Its theoretical framework is grounded in Sherry Arnstein's Ladder of Participation theory, with particular emphasis on its alignment with the government's participatory–supportive policymaking model in the field of population rejuvenation. Data were collected through a library-based method and analyzed using legal and interdisciplinary sources and documents.

Ethical Considerations: The ethical principles governing library-based research, including the authenticity of sources, honesty, and academic integrity, were observed throughout the study.

Findings: The findings indicate that the government's participatory–supportive policymaking model has considerable potential to strengthen the position of the younger generation and advance the objectives of population rejuvenation policies. By reinforcing the family's role in the formation, upbringing, and education of future generations, this model enhances young people's individual and social identity, fosters hope and a sense of belonging, and prepares them to assume social roles and participate in decision-making and policymaking processes. Consequently, this approach contributes to strengthening human capital and enhancing citizens' individual, social, and cultural capacities.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that participatory government policymaking, by creating opportunities for the meaningful involvement of young people in decision-making processes, strengthens their trust, sense of belonging, and social satisfaction. Therefore, aligning population rejuvenation policies with Arnstein's participatory model can serve as an effective framework for enhancing human capital, promoting social responsibility, and strengthening young people's active roles within the family and society.

Background and Aim: The emergence and rapid development of digital technologies have brought about a fundamental transformation in the human lifeworld, exposing children, as the most vulnerable social group, more than others to emerging risks. One of the fundamental challenges of this new ecosystem is the organized, concealed, and multilayered exploitation of children in the digital environment - a phenomenon that not only entails unprecedented legal and ethical dimensions, but also undermines children’s human dignity as a foundational principle of human rights. Drawing on the doctrine of the “right to be forgotten” and adopting an interdisciplinary approach encompassing child rights, digital law, bioethics, and theories of restorative justice, this article provides a structural analysis of the digital exploitation of children. The aim is to elucidate the ethical requirements and legal considerations necessary to safeguard children’s privacy, digital identity, and their right to psychological and social recovery from the enduring and harmful consequences of the digital environment.

Methods: This research is applied in purpose and employs a descriptive-analytical approach. The study is conducted through a comprehensive review of library resources, an analysis of a wide range of legal documents and precedents, and an examination of relevant scholarly works.

Ethical Considerations: Honesty and integrity have been observed in reporting the literature, citing sources, and avoiding any form of bias.

Findings: The data analyzed in this study indicate that, given the various forms of digital exploitation and the imperative of protecting the principle of “children’s privacy” in the digital environment, the doctrine of the “right to be forgotten” has been recognized in certain progressive legal systems as a mechanism for remedying harms to children’s identity and personal information. In Iranian law, however, this doctrine lacks explicit recognition and effective enforcement mechanisms. Furthermore, core principles of bioethics, including the principle of non-maleficence, the principle of justice, respect for children’s autonomy, and the principle of human dignity, are seriously violated in the context of digital exploitation, while legal systems have thus far failed to implement effective mechanisms for the protection of these principles.

Conclusion: There is an urgent need to establish a safe and ethical digital space for children through parental and child education, public awareness initiatives, development of supportive policies, and ultimately, through legislation, enforcement, and regulatory oversight by governments to ensure the protection of children’s rights in the digital world.

Background and Aim: Underdevelopment is a multidimensional phenomenon whose consequences extend beyond the economic and physical dimensions to encompass the ethical, social, and psychological aspects of society. Focusing on the city of Zanjan, the present study examines the harms arising from underdevelopment at three levels: ethical, social, and psychological.

Methods: This study employed a qualitative research design, using semi-structured interviews as the primary data collection technique. The participants comprised experts and key informants, including university professors in sociology, psychology, economics and law, as well as experts from the Law Enforcement Command of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FARAJA), the State Welfare Organization, and the Zanjan Governorate. Interviews were conducted with 25 participants. Participants were selected through purposive sampling with maximum variation. Data were analyzed using open, axial, and selective coding.

Ethical Considerations: The interviews were conducted with the participants’ full knowledge and informed consent. Their personal information was kept confidential throughout all stages of the study, and the interviews were analyzed anonymously.

Findings: The findings indicate that the expansion of administrative and financial corruption, the erosion of ethical values and the culture of effort, declining respect for the law, and moral duality, together with a widening generation gap, family-related constraints, the expansion of informal settlements, and the erosion of social capital, have contributed to weakening social cohesion. Furthermore, the emergence of depression and collective despair, feelings of learned helplessness, anxiety about the future, a sense of identity loss, and relative deprivation has posed serious challenges to the individual and collective mental health of citizens.

Conclusion: Underdevelopment in Zanjan has generated a vicious cycle of ethical erosion, social distrust, and psychological harms, which in turn contributes to the reproduction of underdevelopment. Therefore, achieving sustainable development in the city requires a comprehensive approach that, in addition to economic and institutional reforms, places particular emphasis on rebuilding social capital, strengthening public morality, and promoting the mental health and psychological well-being of citizens.

Background and Aim: Universities are the center of human resources education and training for all different governmental and non-governmental organizations and play an essential role in the development of the country. In order for universities to achieve their long-term and ideal goals, it is necessary to design a model for a virtuous university. Therefore, the purpose of the current research is to design a model of virtue-oriented university as an ethical component with a Meta synthesis approach.

Methods: This research has evaluated and systematically analyzed the studies carried out in the field of Virtuous University with a qualitative approach of the meta composite type and using the seven-step tool of Sandelowski and Barroso. The research community includes articles that were published in the field of Virtuous University between 1392-1403 in internal sources and 2007-2023 in sacred sources. As a result of searching and checking in the databases, 631 works were found. After several stages of screening, finally, 48 articles were selected that were more related to the research criteria in terms of content. Its face validity and its content were confirmed using experts' opinions and the obtained reliability coefficient was 0.71. From the point of view of experts in the subject under review, the presented model is of good quality.

Ethical Considerations: In writing the article, ethical aspects including preserving the authenticity of the texts, honesty and trustworthiness have been observed.

Findings: By studying and carefully examining the finalized sources, 7 components and 45 indicators of Virtuous University were extracted. The findings showed that in order to achieve a virtue-oriented university, one should pay attention to the following components: management and leadership factors, group and inter-organizational relations, individual-oriented virtue-oriented factors, success-oriented and research-oriented factors, structure-oriented factors in promoting virtue-oriented culture, virtue-oriented culture and interaction-oriented virtue-oriented factors.

Conclusion: Emphasis on virtue orientation in universities, in addition to the internal growth and excellence of the organization, provides the foundation for the external growth and excellence of the organization, which can help managers and officials in many planning and comprehensive quality management.

Background and Aim: Today, the country’s schools need leaders who seek transformation, promote creativity and innovation, and at the same time are grounded in ethical principles. Such leaders should be able, through self-improvement and the continuous enhancement of organizational processes, to develop strategies for turning challenges into opportunities. The present study was conducted with the aim of identifying the factors influencing excellence-oriented leadership in educational organizations using a grounded theory approach.

Methods: This applied study was conducted using the Strauss–Corbin grounded theory approach. Participants were selected through purposive sampling followed by the snowball sampling method. The primary source of data collection was semi-structured interviews with 6 faculty members who were experts in the field of educational sciences in Ardabil Province and 10 experienced school administrators in the city of Ardabil. Sampling continued until theoretical saturation was reached, and a total of 16 interviews were conducted.

Ethical Considerations: The confidentiality of the interviewees’ information and identities was fully maintained, and the data were used solely for scientific and research purposes. In addition, the authenticity of the sources and integrity in reporting the findings were duly observed.

Findings: Following data collection, the interview transcripts were analyzed using a systematic coding procedure. The three stages of open, axial, and selective coding were employed. The findings revealed that the factors influencing leadership in the country’s educational organizations (schools) were represented by 131 extracted codes and could be classified into five main categories: individual growth factors, organizational and strategic factors, follower empowerment and agency-enhancing factors, environmental and social factors, and outcomes.

Conclusion: The application of excellence-oriented leadership and its components in educational organizations is an undeniable necessity for promoting transformation, creativity, and ethical orientation, particularly in light of the ultimate goals of the country’s educational system. To this end, educational authorities should adopt an excellence-oriented leadership approach and transform the existing managerial path, which is largely shaped by the bureaucratic structure governing the education system, toward models characterized by excellence-seeking, transformational orientation, creativity, and ultimately ethical leadership. Such a shift can enhance organizational efficiency and effectiveness and ultimately contribute to sustainable organizational development.