Paper: 'Intra-Personal Compromises'

ARGUMENTA

Issue 21

November 2025

https://www.argumenta.org/issue/issue-21/

Intra-Personal Compromises  

Juha Räikkä

University of Turku 

Abstract

The most usual philosophical questions about compromises have been those related to inter-personal compromises, in which parties are compromising with each other, rather than intra-personal compromises, which are often psychologically demanding. This paper aims to fill the gap in the discussion and briefly analyze the nature of intra-personal compromises. The starting point here is the assumption that inter-personal compromises cannot be made without intra-personal compromises, although intra-personal compromises are common even when they are not linked to inter-personal compromises. The main question addressed in the paper is whether the intra-personal compromises that we accept in all kinds of contexts are similar to those intra-personal compromises that we make when we compromise with others. I argue that they are more or less similar, although there are also some distinctive features in intra-personal compromises that are involved in inter-personal compromises. When a person makes an intra-personal compromise in the context of an inter-personal compromise she is forced to act under uncertainty, as she cannot know beforehand what options are really available. The price of the compromise is known only after the negotiation process. This is a special feature, or so I will claim. 

Keywords: Inter-personal compromise, Intra-personal compromise, Bargaining, Uncertainty. 

Räikkä, R. 2025, “Intra-Personal Compromises”, Argumenta 11, 1, 149–162.
https://www.argumenta.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Argumenta-11-1-Juha-Raikka-Intra-Personal-Compromises.pdf
 

For a long time I have viewed the INTERPERSONAL domain of Hodges' model as being concurrent, interchangable, working as the INTRAPERSONAL domain. This paper is a helpful discovery, c/o Philos-L "The Liverpool List" which is run by the Department of Philosophy, University of Liverpool https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/philosophy/philos-l/

There are several examples/cases discussed. While brief, a HOSPITAL CEO example is relevant to studies for Hodges' model, as with, a CRITICAL CITIZEN:

'The above examples are rather similar but have small differences. In the ‘Judge’ example, the overriding principle is based on the importance of institutional rules. In the ‘Hospital CEO’ example, the main concern and the strongest value is pragmatic. In the ‘Critical Citizen’ example, the question is about omission rather than action.' p.157. 

The observation about the CEO speaks volumes, across public and private health sectors (and social care?). There is no discussion of reflection, reflexivity, or critical thinking explicitly. But individual, and collective distinctions, and impacts are explored, especially responsibility and mutuality. Three arguments precede concluding remarks. Further progress might be made exploring and relating these to the concepts of bargaining, uncertainty and compromise through Hodges' model and identity: both person-al and organisational?

🗣️Solving or Resolving Palestinian Human Rights Issues: Relationship "Normalization" | Mohamed ‘Arafa

🗣️ Solving or Resolving Palestinian Human Rights Issues: Relationship "Normalization" | Mohamed ‘Arafa

This session will be the first in the series of conferences “Jurisprudential Dialogues on Human Rights”, which is designed to promote exchanges on topical issues involving human rights and the role of the courts of justice.

 

The aim of this session is to reflect on the violations of the human rights of the Palestinian people — an enduring state of affairs that transcends political or religious lines of judgement. Over the decades, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been marking the international landscape, sparking divisions, human misery, and far-reaching geopolitical consequences.

 

This session will be led by Professor Mohamed ‘Arafa, Professor of Law at the University of Alexandria and Adjunct Professor of Law & the Clarke Initiative Visiting Scholar at Cornell Law School. Joining in will be Professor Rita Ribeiro, from the Institute of Social Sciences at the University of Minho, and Zaina Awartani, PhD researcher at the School of Law of the University of Minho and the School of Researchers of the Research Centre for Justice and Governance (JusGov). The event will be chaired by Sergio Ruiz Díaz Arce, Doctoral Integrated Researcher at JusGov.

 

💻 Zoom room: https://videoconf-colibri.zoom.us/j/95090845748

📍June 13th, 2025 | 4.00 p.m. Online

Scientific Commission

Sergio Ruiz Díaz Arce

Joaquim Freitas da Rocha

Robert Junqueira

 

Organisation

JusGov (JusLab – DH)

School of Law of the University of Minho

 

Support

FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology

Yours respectfully,

Robert Junqueira Executive Coordinator | Research and Scientific Careers Bureau Research Centre for Justice and Governance School of Law of the University of Minho Gualtar Campus 4710-057 Braga - Portugal   T: (+351) 253 60 18 75 E: martinsjunqueira AT direito.uminho.pt

What is 12.5% of Nursing's effort?

individual

|

INTERPERSONAL : SCIENCES

humanistic ----------------------------------------------- mechanistic

SOCIOLOGY : POLITICAL

|

group - population

skills, responsibility, accountability, 6Cs, morale, motivation, trust, self-esteem	12.5% ?
	"What happens here?"

And .. all embedded within, surrounded by ... the Spiritual domain...

  Fair Pay For Nursing

Find out more about the Fair Pay for Nursing campaign and how you can get involved

#FairPayForNursing

What it means to me / us.

RCN Congress 2019 ii "We are all Global Nurses"

The debate about public sector vs. private sector healthcare touches all healthcare professionals. There is no escape. Despite this, from my 40+ years in the NHS - the NHS can act as a cocoon. It's as if the walls are adorned with "Keep Calm and Carry On". For some of us there is a 'keep your head down' mentality. While as a nursing assistant and student nurse, the words "Make sure you join COHSE, NUPE or the RCN" rang out; it was the day job, learning and family that had my attention. I wish I'd got to Congress decades ago.



You can't do everything and this lack of involvement is a blessing in a way. For example, without ever taking anything for granted, I never imagined I would need the help of my union/professional body. When I did and 'we won' thanks to a brilliant RCN Rep. Being represented has this quality to it. Unless, you are an activist, it is a newsletter, journal, annual pay discussion, but this opened my eyes. As a consequence, I encourage students, even more so and others to ensure they are represented and get involved.

To Congress itself: I was surprised and disappointed to hear several years ago about the RCN's cessation of links to the International Council of Nurses [ICN]. Further surprise followed when a Congress debate revealed it was five-six years ago in fact:

Members vote to allow RCN to leave international nursing body

£600,000 is 'politics' in the raw for membership and the RCN Council. The cost of ICN membership  was debated at Congress. There are various arguments. This seemed a break on many levels; social, political, psychological and scientifically.

(Bizarrely, perhaps this state of affairs says something in support of reflection. When the latter is accused of fostering navel-gazing, finance and value for money ... speak volumes, but the RCN's global isolation is navel-gazing realised aggravated by the ongoing psychological experience of Brexit.)

In championing Hodges' model as a global resource for healthcare and education, my parochial perspective from Wigan Pier has felt acute. Online I've long nurtured links with global nursing and healthcare groups: HIFA, HIPNET, GANM, Nursing Now and others. In workshops with nursing students and other disciplines, the ICN and global nursing context is always stressed (the ICD too). [After all, as students and lifelong learners these people do have the World at their feet.]

The relevance of Hodges' model increases daily and - my bias aside - the model's significance is crystalised in this issue for the RCN and its members. As noted in the debate John Gilmore raises the matter of refugees. For those in crisis through natural disaster, conflict and crime amid chaos there is geopsychiatry and the mental health implications for children and future generations of this 'lived experience'. As we await further news on this, below I have mapped key elements of the debate in Hodges' model:

There is a digital archive for members to watch the debate.

individual - self
"My backyard"

|

INTERPERSONAL : SCIENCES

humanistic ----------------------------------------------- mechanistic

SOCIOLOGY : POLITICAL

|

group- population
"The WORLD of Nursing"

Philosophical: Values, Philosophies of Care Mental Health Mental Health of Nurses Parity of Esteem - geoPSYCHIATRY Ethel G. Fenwick and others [ Health Education & Promotion, Sustainability ]	The 'GEO-' in Nursing Nursing logistics Research; Collaboration, Multi-center, Evidence, The 'UNIVERSAL' in UHC Definitions of Nursing Roles Skills & Knowledge Coding & Classification initiatives Global: 20,000,000 nurses ICN predates RCN 'transparency'
The Nursing Community "Voice" 1899 ICN formed SOCIO-[Economic] status of nurses The global: Community of Practice Collegiality Cooperation Collaboration Fellowship "We are all global nurses."	'political' POLICY: Workforce, Migration, Recruitment crisis Safe Staffing (National, Global) Medical Emergencies, Climate change Working groups: Standards, Issues Funding, ICN, RCN and other bodies Support for Developing Nations LMIC The Scope of Nursing Stewardship ICN - Membership model PAY restraint, austerity As of 2013: £614,470 / £1.42 per member Business case

How do you measure the impact of an organisation?

2020 - International Year of the Nurse

20:20 vision IS global

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keep_Calm_and_Carry_On

RCN Congress 2019 i

Last month I finally attended a Congress of The Royal College of Nurses. The time was my own: from the Sunday evening to the Thursday. I'm really grateful to the NW Branch for some financial support as I did stay over, even though it was on my doorstep being in Liverpool. I live between what is the city of my birth (L9, Longmoor Lane) and Manchester.

I knew beforehand that it was unlikely that my proposed item for discussion was unlikely to be accepted. This was immediately obvious when I read the final agenda. Even then there were additions as I could see the mechanics of Congress. There were many more important, timely, critical issues to discuss and debate. What stands out though is not just the funding support but the fact of being encouraged to write something, which wasn't wasted as I posted my item in February (a living draft - that may have a long tail). The human side was inevitably in evidence too: accessibility issues, misunderstandings, things said, things apologised for and vulnerable and minority groups acknowledged and championed. This isn't nursing navel-gazing either. From local experiences, to national there was also an international and global view. Students, the future: were very much in evidence and Congress learned - or more likely were reminded - that they can be disruptive, unpredictable, energetic and they have a voice.

As I watched, listened and learned, the organisation (that's the event itself...) is equally and variously: tried and tested, slick, flexible, responsive, progressive, accepting, friendly, caring!, strident, testing, emotional (yes, moving), celebratory, tiring, educational, inspiring, social and potentially a bit overwhelming ... As you may of gathered - the adage; "you get out of things what you put in" applies. As is often the case I did not do as intended and 'network'. Congress acknowledged the overwhelming/isolating sense in extolling people to reach out to the people around them. If nurses cannot do that then we are in trouble. I kept meeting the same people and it was a great support to have that connection and company. That said, the lack of places to sit at an evening social did not lend itself to getting know fellow members. Standing at a narrow bar eating a hot meal was helped by having to share the ergonomic challenges; an unfortunate but helpful ice-breaker. This was raised as an issue at Congress itself.

There was a political undercurrent with several references and overheard comments pertaining to the RCN's role in negotiating the last pay deal and last year's Extraordinary General Meeting. There is unfinished business here. Not just for the RCN, but the government too. This debacle undermines trust on so many levels, especially after the past decade as experienced by nurses on the 'shop floor'. If that is not painful enough, this matters because it is corrosive generally. While choice matters and yes, health care is an 'industry', the vast majority of us do not want to work in a 'shop'.* We know where to find all the concepts associated with politics in Hodges' model. But, as the social and intra- interpersonal (mental health) domains have atrophied, we must ask where is the NHS on the political grid? A grid that also impacts the whole NHS workforce, social care (don't ask!) and vitally the shaping of career choices for would-be future nurses.

Post ii to follow ...

* How times change? I smile ruefully of how over several decades nurse colleagues have rhetorically suggested that they may look for a job at M&S or John Lewis. What price the retail sector now..? Another post ...?

Non-Cartesian points, opposing corners and capital redux

individual
|

INTERPERSONAL : SCIENCES

humanistic --------------------------------------- mechanistic

SOCIOLOGY : POLITICAL
|

group

"I felt capital Patient?
	Patient capital? like  the  mad man  in the corner,"

a senior NHS figure said of recent top level meetings discussing the financial travails and sliding performance of the provider sector. ... The delineation between these two camps is becoming clearer. ... p.3 

Source: McLellan, A. (2015) Leader: Modernisers must cut the deficit to keep their side of the deal. Health Service Journal, 3 June. 125;6449:p.3.

See also:
Capital 'p': Patient, Person, Person-centred, Personhood

P( l ) AY: Spot the difference?

individual
|

INTERPERSONAL : SCIENCES

humanistic --------------------------------------- mechanistic

SOCIOLOGY : POLITICAL
|

group

Nurses get 1% pay rise MPs should get 10% pay rise, says regulator	NHS Pay Review Body (NHSPRB) Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA)

BBC Radio 4: World At One 5 June 2015 clip Mark Field: "Many of my constituents wonder how it is that any MP could live on £70,000 a year"

Yahoo Finance: Sky News - UK Wage Growth Jumps To 2.7%

Definitions of: 'independent', 'upwards', 'downward', 'vocation'.

Source: link - The Guardian, and various media.