On July 3, 1996, in Jones v. United States), the United States District Court for the Northern District of California held that plaintiffs in a wrongful birth action cannot recover costs or damages associated with the birth and upbringing of their daughter absent evidence of causation and proof to satisfy liability requirements. Plaintiffs scientific evidence regarding the alleged interaction between antibiotics and oral contraceptives did not satisfy the Daubertstandard, cert. denied,116 S. Ct. 189 )) for admissibility developed by the Supreme (...) Court. In addition, the plaintiffs failed to meet their burden of persuasion on duty of care and causation.On January 16, 1992, Karyn Jones went to a U.S. Army gynecologist, Dr. James Murphy, to obtain a prescription for birth control pills. (shrink)

Most of the twenty-nine essays in this volume have, in whole or in part, appeared elsewhere, either in journals and books or as addresses. They represent with reasonable adequacy the kind of philosophical interests pursued in this country and indicate that the interests are as diverse and varied as those that can be found anywhere else in the world today. Speculative as well as analytic philosophy is represented. This is not, in general, an 'I believe' anthology. Many of the essays (...) are philosophically substantial, although a few are mere summaries of views that the authors have presented in detail elsewhere. Because the volume's only source of unity is the nationality of the authors, it is to be recommended neither as a textbook nor as something to be digested in toto, but for those who can afford it, as a good browser. --C. L. (shrink)

This book forms part of a larger argument begun by Kenny in his The Aristotelian Ethics, and its importance can only be properly appreciated in the light of the view developed there of the relationship of the various Aristotelian ethical treatises. In the earlier book Kenny argues, contrary to the present consensus of scholarly opinion, that the Eudemian Ethics has at least as good a claim as the Nicomachean Ethics to being considered the canonical ethical work of Aristotle. He attempts (...) to show that the so-called common books of the two treatises belong with the EE rather than the NE, that the EE is fully as sophisticated philosophically as the NE and in some respects more so, that there are no external reasons for dating the EE prior to Aristotle’s Lyceum period or indeed to the NE itself, and that the EE and not the NE was regarded as the Aristotelian ethical treatise until as late as the second century A.D. These are far-reaching claims, but Kenny makes a strong case for them—particularly the attribution of the common books to the EE, which amounts nearly to a demonstration. The least one can say is that the extent of Kenny’s success at rehabilitating the EE exposes the fragility of many of the regnant assumptions of contemporary Aristotelian scholarship. (shrink)

Though sketchy and anecdotal, this biography sustains interest because of the wit and uniqueness of its subject. The chapters on Russell's philosophy are keyed to an elementary level.--C. L.

An account of creation revealed to the author through automatic writing. "It came through a thought process that was not my own...."--C. L.

A survey of the various meanings assumed by the concept of force in physics and philosophy from ancient times to the present. Seldom rising above the level of description to the level of historical understanding, it is informative rather than illuminating and, though scholarly, unimaginatively written. -- C. L.

An exposition of the philosophy of the Indian teacher, Dattatreya. The author writes as a student and a disciple.--C. L.

A vigorous, critical examination of Descartes' conception of knowledge and method contained in the early unfinished Regulae. Bold, brief, and accurate, Joachim's lectures are model for the analytical explication of philosophical texts. Joachim ends by constructing a theory of concrete unities as a more satisfactory basis of explanation than the Cartesian method of reduction of complexes to simples.--C. L.

This translation of Thomas' paraphrase and analysis of Aristotle's philosophy of science is, unfortunately, mimeographed and bound in a paper cover. It lacks the introductory material which is needed to orient the reader philosophically and to specify the issues at stake; it also lacks notes giving the meanings of technical terms and comparing the exposition to Aristotle's own text. There is, however, a rather extensive index. The publication of this volume intensifies the historical problem whether commentaries such as this accurately (...) represent medieval conceptions of science. Recent volumes, such as A. C. Crombie's on Grosseteste, indicate that some thinkers at least were arriving at a mathematical conception of physical reality, which could not have been derived from exclusive attention to the Aristotelian corpus.--C. L. (shrink)

A collection of previously published articles by one of the leading translators and interpreters of Hegel's philosophy. Most of the studies about Hegel concern the Phenomenology, although one goes back to his early writings to find the roots of some later doctrines. The other studies are about the philosophical presuppositions of Marxism and their relation to their idealistic sources.--C. L.

A systematic survey of the topics of moral science in the tradition of the "Aristotle via Aquinas" school. It is written in the form of a textbook with review questions, discussion topics, and suggested readings following each chapter. Little notice is taken of the standard criticisms of Aristotle and no attempt is made at originality in presentation.--C. L.

An epistemological discussion of the cognitive claims of religious, especially Christian, faith. Assuming that God exists, how can He be known? Faith is an act of interpreting the world, having much in common with sensory and moral interpretation. The assertions it gives rise to are meaningful, even within an empiricist criterion. God reveals himself only indirectly in order to preserve man's freedom and responsibility.--C. L.

An account of the transition in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries from the image of the world as a finite, hierarchically ordered whole to the image of it as an infinite homogenous system. The author's method is simply to display the ideas of the leading thinkers of this period, culminating in the dispute between Leibniz and the Newtonians. The fact that this volume is an expanded version of a lecture suggests the reason why at least one half of it consists (...) of direct quotations. It is more of an anthology, arranged by a perceptive guide, than a work of history.--C. L. (shrink)

A Thomist analysis of justice, defined as the notion that each man is to be given what is his due.--C. L.

Twelve essays--two about and one by Bentley--on such varied topics as economics, politics, physics, law, and metaphysics. A bibliography of Bentley's writings is appended.--C. L.

A collection of eight essays, including five that have previously been published. The subjects discussed are logical truth, modal logic, conditionals and entailment.--C. L.

A biographical and psychological analysis of Nietzsche's thought, written from a religious point of view. The author concludes that Nietzsche's philosophy is a reflection of four dominant factors: his sickly condition, his sensuality, his pride, and his godlessness.--C. L.

A limited edition of Dewey's earliest book-length exposition of moral theory. It was first published in 1891 when Dewey was still under the influence of German Idealism. --C. L.

A collection of passages from Plato's dialogues which bear on Christian theology and morals, arranged and translated by the Archdeacon of Westminster. --C. L.

A systematic and detailed analysis of the fundamental problems of the philosophy of physics and mathematics. The author stresses the purposive and pragmatic character of physical theory while reviewing the classical conceptions of science. Because he elaborates his ideas with utmost simplicity and because he carefully explains the scientific notions that he is interpreting, this volume could be used as an elementary text. --C. L.

An analysis of science oriented towards logical positivism. The emphasis throughout is upon psychology and the behavioral sciences although Newtonian mechanics is, in one section, selected for a detailed analysis. The title is somewhat misleading, since the interest the book displays is somewhat specialized. This is a philosophy of science rather than a general discussion of the main problems and solutions.--C. L.

A collection of five articles together with reports of discussions. The presidential address of George P. Klubertanz, S. J. proposes that Thomistic ethics be elaborated with special stress upon its experiential contents.--C. L.

Taylor's lucid and provocative analyses of Plato's dialogues, which attempt to tell "just what Plato has to say about the problems of thought and life, and how he says it," reprinted in a soft-cover edition. The original was published in 1926.--C. L.

An examination of logical systems in which distinctions in tense are taken seriously. The problem of the formulation of a tense-logic not committed to determinism is discussed. There is appended an interesting study of the problem of tense in the history of logic, showing the decline of interest in tense distinctions in post-medieval thought. This is a provocative book about a much neglected subject.--C. L.

A paper-back reprint of a polemic written against those intellectuals who have allowed practical passions--nationalism, patriotism, militarism, etc.--to undermine the activity of the disinterested reason. Although written thirty years ago this volume seems especially pertinent today as a warning against the subversion of reason by political realism. --C. L.

A revision of the seventeenth century English translation. --C. L.

A history of the development and significance of the Copernican hypothesis, starting from the fundamental problems of astronomy in ancient thought. The author discusses the involvements of philosophy and religion with this development. -- C. L.

The ideals of liberty, fraternity and equality of the French Revolution have become separated from one another as goals of political activity. The author attempts to demonstrate their essential interrelatedness and "thus to explain why the isolation of any one from the three-dimensional continuum of public life produces abstraction in theory and abominations in practice."--C. L.

Marxism-Leninism, thinks the author, is a "philosophical farrago," a collection of ideas, some false, some trivial, some confused and some inadequately defended. He presents a detailed exposition and criticism of the Marxist theory of knowledge, ontology, ethics, and doctrine of historical materialism. The expository sections are unusually clear and draw upon materials not easily available to English speaking readers. The criticisms are detailed, rigorous, and, even when not convincing, provocative. The chief merit of the book is that the author does (...) not view Marxism from an external set of assumptions as so many critics do, but proceeds in piecemeal fashion, considering each aspect of the theory on its own merits. However, he does not always differentiate between the scattered insights of Marx which can only be aided by analysis, criticism and qualification, and the later dogmatic renderings of these insights, some of which are unsalvageable.--C. L. (shrink)

A systematic treatise on sociology conceived as the study of institutions. Defined as special groups established with customs, laws, and material tools and organized around central aims and purposes, institutions are discussed from a genetic and analytic standpoint.--C. L.

Not since 1738 has there been a complete and compact English edition of this important debate over the implications of Newtonian physics. Clarke's own translation of Leibniz' papers has been retained. Besides writing an excellent introduction, the editor has wisely appended a number of relevant extracts from Newton's works. -- C. L.

The increasing complexity of physical theory has magnified one of the most important educational problems of our time: how to communicate the results of modern science to those whose mode of life they condition, the general public. Can it be done effectively without distortions due to popularization? This volume suggests an affirmative answer. The basic ideas of Newtonian and quantum mechanics, relativity theory and atomic physics are presented clearly and simply, yet without reliance on difficult mathematics and without substituting journalism (...) for rigor. --C. L. (shrink)

After devoting a long section to a systematic exposition of Mann's philosophy, the author analyses, in chronological sequence, his main writings. Though a bit long-winded, the book does contain a good deal of insight into the content of Mann's work.--C. L.

A detailed scholarly history of natural science during the centuries when the modern scientific attitude was formed. The author is specially interested in contrasting Greek and medieval science with the modern. While stating some of the continuities between the old and the new conceptions of nature, he sees modern science as making a decisive break with the procedures and theories of the past. Its chief advances, among others, were the removal of magic and esoteric mystery from science, and its insistence (...) on rigorous standards of observing and experimenting. The detailed learning which this volume exemplifies makes it a valuable guide to the scientific literature of the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries.--C. L. (shrink)

Searching for a middle ground between psychologism and formalism, Toulmin argues that logic is the critical science or art of appraising arguments. Formal logic, by grounding itself upon an analytic conception of validity, is merely a reflection of the classical quest for certainty. But, Toulmin holds, in respect to actual arguments, which, in most fields, are substantial rather than analytic, such a conception is pointless and indicative of a fruitless and problem causing attitude toward the relation between theory and practise.--C. (...) L. (shrink)

Arguing that religion is both false and harmful, Russell asserts the prerogative of the scientific intelligence over dogma, faith and custom. The editor has written and appended an account of how Russell was excluded from teaching at the City College of New York.--C. L.

The approach taken in this introductory exposition of the philosophy of Whitehead’s later period is based upon the view that both the basic questions and the procedure of his earlier investigations in the philosophy of science had changed. Whereas before he had been concerned with problems lying essentially within the domain of theoretical physics, Whitehead came to see that an adequate response to his questions about the post-Newtonian concept of nature leads to the still more general kind of question that (...) has been the subject of systematic philosophy since the time of the Greeks. In order to secure a thoroughly consistent and complete explanation of the concepts treated in empirical science, Whitehead turned to the more fundamental approach of metaphysical philosophy, which proceeds according to certain very general criteria in search of a systematic account of the ultimate, non-derivative, or complete fact. (shrink)