Although there is great concern about protecting those who participate in research, little if any concern has been expressed in the literature about protecting “decliners”—individuals who were invited to participate, but did not. However, there are several situations in which potential participants may experience negative consequences if they choose not to participate—for example, the prison setting, where the power imbalance is obvious and the history of research is not a positive one. We offer several options to protect decliners from possible (...) adverse consequences. (shrink)

A neurosurgical view of consciousness is presented. It is biased by our need to deal with coma. The concept of primary or neurosurgical consciousness is discussed, and the anatomy, physiology, pathology and clinical features described in a simple a way. It is suggested that the dynamic interaction between the reticular activating system and the cerebral cortex is the anatomic and physiologic basis for primary consciousness. It is emphasised that this in no way diminishes the role of the cortex in either (...) primary or higher-order consciousness. In essence, a presentation is made of the neurosurgical view of cortex-brainstem inter- relationships, and the importance of this interrelationship to consciousness. (shrink)

In this collection of essays, Feinberg gathers together a number of articles which he has written over the past few years, most of which have appeared in print elsewhere. The few changes made for the present edition do not alter the fundamental content of any of the articles. In the introduction, Feinberg suggests that just as there are general areas of philosophical interest called "theory of value," "theory of knowledge," etc., so there should similarly be a general rubric for the (...) area dealing with questions which are applicable both to the philosophy of law and moral philosophy. For this purpose, Feinberg chooses "theory of responsibility." Both the title of the book and the name for this area of philosophical concern reflect the difficulties inherent in this general area. "Doing" can be applied to an individual who performs actions. Does "deserving" have an equivalent extension? "Responsibility" is a concept which covers both the moral notion of "culpability" and the legal notion of "liability." But is the same criterion for application of the concept of responsibility operative in both the legal and moral domains? Is the concept of "at fault" used univocally in moral and legal contexts? These are just a few of the many questions which arise when discussing a "theory of responsibility." Feinberg has answers for some. He points readers in a direction from which other answers might be found. If nothing else this book is a good launching pad into an area of philosophical concern which is just beginning to be explored.--W. P. G. (shrink)

Macquarrie is thorough in his coverage of the subject matter, precise in the exposition of his thought, and creative in his attempt to explicate the principles upon which a Christian theology for the twentieth century can be based. In Twentieth Century Religious Thought, Macquarrie concluded that religion and philosophy need each other. There he claimed that from the philosophical side attention should be paid to Martin Heidegger, and from the religious side one should look at Bultmann and Tillich. Macquarrie has (...) done just this in Principles of Christian Theology. This book is divided into three main parts: philosophical theology, symbolic theology, and applied theology. Although there is much of significance in the last two sections, it is in the first one that the author makes his distinctive contribution to theology. His approach is phenomenological. This leads him to an existential interpretation of theology. What he arrived at by means of this approach he called "Existential-Ontological Theism." Although there are some theologians who may have a few doubts as to whether or not Macquarrie has reached his conclusions by stretching some fundamental interpretations too far, it still remains a certainty that this book opens up a new and creative approach to some of the traditional concepts of theology which have been under so much fire in the last few decades.—W. P. G. (shrink)