This work provides an interesting, though sometimes rather sweeping, demonstration that the metaphysical problem of the same and the other is also the central problem of literature and literary criticism. The author defends the analogical imagination as the symbolic counterpart of participation in Platonic metaphysics.--D. C. B.

After an exceedingly short treatment of six theories of tragedy, the author concludes that while each has emphasized a necessary component of the tragic, none has really come to grips with its basic "paradox": the fact that while the art of tragedy attempts to explain the mystery of human suffering, such an attempt is doomed to failure.--D. C. B.

A brief statement of medieval linguistic analysis as found chiefly in the works of Thomas Aquinas. A thin survey of contemporary analysis is offered in order to contrast the purported acceptance of analysis as the end of philosophy with Thomas' use of analysis as method. Unfortunately, most of the constructive work in language analysis during the past ten years is not considered. The brevity of the text precludes persuasive treatment; yet the book succeeds in its expressed purpose of sketching some (...) chief differences between the medieval and contemporary approaches in the hope that the confrontation of these currents will bring to the fore the analytic work of Aquinas himself.--D. P. B. (shrink)

Does physics describe anything that can meaningfully be called “independent reality,” or is it merely operational? Most physicists implicitly favor an intermediate standpoint, which takes quantum physics into account, but which nevertheless strongly holds fast to quite strictly realistic ideas about apparently “obvious facts” concerning the macro-objects. Part 1 of this article, which is a survey of recent measurement theories, shows that, when made explicit, the standpoint in question cannot be upheld. Part 2 brings forward a proposal for making minimal (...) changes to this standpoint in such a way as to remove such objections. The “empirical reality” thus constructed is a notion that, to some extent,does ultimately refer to the human means of apprehension and of data processing. It nevertheless cannot be said that it reduces to a mere name just labelling a “set of recipes that never fail.” It is shown that our usual notion of macroscopic causality must be endowed with similar features. (shrink)

As clinical ethics consultants move toward professionalization, the process of certifying individual consultants or accrediting programs will be discussed and debated. With certification, some entity must be established or ordained to oversee the standards and procedures. If the process evolves like other professions, it seems plausible that it will eventually include a written examination to evaluate the core knowledge competencies that individual practitioners should possess to meet peer practice standards. The American Society for Bioethics and Humanities has published core knowledge (...) competencies for many years that are accepted by experts as the prevailing standard. Probably any written examination will be based upon the ASBH core knowledge competencies. However, much remains to be done before any examination may be offered. In particular, it seems likely that a recognized examining board must create and validate examination questions and structure the examination so as to establish meaningful, defensible parameters after dealing with such challenging questions as: Should the certifying examination be multiple choice or short-answer essay? How should the test be graded? What should the pass rate be? How may the examination be best administered? To advance the field of health care ethics consultation, thought leaders should start to focus on the written examination possibilities, to date unaddressed carefully in the literature. Examination models—both objective and written—must be explored as a viable strategy about how the field of health care ethics consultations can grow toward professionalization. (shrink)

Starting from Plato's statement in the Seventh Letter that Plato never intended to write down his philosophy in systematic form, Sinaiko conceives of the dialogues as attempts to combine the power of the spoken word with the written word while avoiding the limitations of either. Dramatic form and philosophic content are interdependent. The three dialogues are interrogated for statements about dialectic, and each dialogue's account of dialectic is taken to be complete in itself. It is not simply a dialectical method (...) which Plato is using; Being itself is dialectical, and there is no final philosophical system but rather an "infinite multiplicity of systems." While it is certain that philosophy for Plato can not be separated from the activity of philosophizing, Sinaiko's claim is far more controversial: that each dialogue "sets forth a complete ontology, an entire philosophical system." One might well disagree with that contention and other more detailed points of interpretation. But Sinaiko's position is defended ably and his book has a philosophical vitality which sets it apart from the usual pedantic efforts to expose this or that Platonic argument.—D. J. B. (shrink)

This beautifully definitive edition of More's Utopia, the fourth volume in the Yale Edition of the complete works, appears on the four hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the original composition. The latin text used is the one of March 1518 ; but included is a complete list of variant readings from the 1516, 1517, and November 1518 editions. Using a lucid revision of G. C. Richards' translation, Hexter and Surtz provide a wealth of helpful details about the textual, linguistic, historical, (...) and cultural character of Utopia as well as a discussion of it as a work of literary art. The text is followed by a number of interesting illustrations and a lengthy, analytical commentary. More's work gave rise to a host of similar descriptions of imaginary lands but it is Utopia which is still commonly read today. Its relatively down-to-earth quality gives Utopia a certain modern appeal, and needless to say, it is an important work for anyone interested in the ordering of human society.—D. J. B. (shrink)

A prosaic and unimaginative introductory textbook. The author claims that his aim is "not to introduce the student to the various philosophies but to introduce him to the kind of thinking from which philosophy comes." The very patness of his presentation, however, discourages original philosophical thinking.--D. P. B.

With regard to the notion of cause—or more generally of influence—the various methods of proof of Bell's theorem do not all have the same bearing. The differences between two of these methods are analyzed, with regard to both their conceptual basis and their conclusions. It is shown that both methods give valuable information but, not too surprisingly, the one that is based on the more detailed and specific definition of the concept of influences, and that makes use of the concept (...) of attribute, leads to conclusions that are also to some extent more specific than those following from the other method. (shrink)

The authors use the term “principlism” to refer to the practice of using “principles” to replace both moral theory and particular moral rules and ideals in dealing with the moral problems that arise in medical practice. The authors argue that these “principles” do not function as claimed, and that their use is misleading both practically and theoretically. The “principles” are in fact not guides to action, but rather they are merely names for a collection of sometimes superficially related matters for (...) consideration when dealing with a moral problem. The “principles” lack any systematic relationship to each other, and they often conflict with each other. These conflicts are unresolvable, since there is no unified moral theory from which they are all derived. For comparison the authors sketch the advantages of using a unified moral theory. (shrink)

Background: Since the passage of the Patient Self-Determination Act, numerous policy mandates and institutional measures have been implemented. It is unknown to what extent those measures have affected end-of-life care, particularly with regard to the do-not-resuscitate order.Methods: Retrospective cohort study to assess associations of the frequency and timing of DNR orders with advance directive status, patient demographics, physician’s specialty and extent of documentation of discussion on end-of-life care.Results: DNR orders were more frequent for patients on a medical service than on (...) a surgical service and were made earlier in the hospital stay for medicine than for surgical patients . 22.18% of all patients had some form of an advance directive in their chart, yet this variable had no impact on the frequency or timing of DNR ordering. Documentation of DNR discussion was significantly associated with the frequency of DNR orders and the time from DNR to death .Conclusions: The physician’s specialty continues to have a significant impact on the frequency and timing of DNR orders, while advance directive status still has no measurable impact. Additionally, documentation of end-of-life discussions is significantly associated with varying DNR ordering rates and timing. (shrink)

Along with a line by line translation and interpretation of the fragments, are four essays: "Parmenides' Concept of Being," "Aletheia and Doxa," "The World of Appearance Described in the Doxa," and "Parmenides in the Ancient Philosophical Tradition." Parmenides did not understand the logical connection between time and process: undifferentiated Being is without process but, curiously enough, possesses temporal duration. The philosophical tradition wrongly interpreted the Doxa as Parmenides' cosmogony. In short, this important book is a splendid example of painstaking scholarship. (...) The footnotes and references to other critical studies of Parmenides are comprehensive.—D. J. B. (shrink)

Interpreting European reactions to the outside world from the beginning of European history to the end of the nineteenth century, Baudet discusses Utopian literature, the idea of the "noble savage," and the search for the temporal and geographical location of paradise. Baudet argues that the more historically oriented and self-satisfied cultures were less inclined toward a nostalgic paradise. All in all, this is a fascinating little essay in social history.—D. J. B.

Beardsley and Beardsley are to be congratulated for providing a definitively "non-run-of-the-mill" introductory text which is entirely intelligible for the beginner and yet genuinely philosophical in content and presentation. Twelve very well written chapters, each with a bibliography, cover most of the important problems in metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics. The authors even try to convey that philosophy has human and moral relevance beyond game activity. A significant feature of the book is its intelligent and prolonged discussion of religious beliefs. The (...) authors keep their own views well into the background and make good their claim to stimulate the student's own thinking. For that reason, teachers of widely different philosophical persuasions will find this book equally useful. —D. J. B. (shrink)

Thomas surveys most of the major philosophers attempting to analyze each figure as a representative of different religious philosophies. While the expositions are competent, much of the material has been well-worked by similar studies. It is unfortunate that the author did not develop his own, often very pertinent, critical remarks usually argued from the standpoint of some form of modified theism. The book, however, is useful as an introductory text or for review purposes.—D. J. B.

A series of amorphous essays, including one by S. Radhakrishnan, so general in content as to be of dubious value. For those who have a developed sense of whimsey, there are a few striking aphorisms to be garnered here and there in the volume.—D. J. B.

As indicated by the title, this book contains seven very scholarly essays on Jewish life and thought in the 19th century. Of particular interest to philosophers is Prof. Emil L. Fackenheim's essay, "Samuel Hirsch and Hegel: A Study of Hirsch's Religionsphilosophie der Juden." In this essay, Fackenheim's masterful knowledge of Hegel is clearly visible. The thirty page essay contains a profound awareness of the theological problems inherent in Hegel's philosophy of religion as well as an awareness of how these problems (...) were explicitly engendered by Hegel's metaphysics. As an introduction to some of Hegel's basic themes, Fackenheim has provided an invaluable, if, unfortunately, all too brief, introduction.—D. J. B. (shrink)

This book gives the beginning student one more passable text to chose for an introductory survey of the history of Western philosophy. Surveys of this sort usually contain some questionable assertions—e.g., referring to Aquinas' proof of God from motion, Stumpf states: "Potentiality means the absence of something and is therefore nothing...". But Stumpf writes clearly enough and includes a useful bibliography.—D. J. B.

This is a splendid study for anyone interested in the minutiae of the authorship and sources of John's Gospel. Bultmann argued for five sources: 1) revelation discourses used in the prologue and elsewhere; 2) a semeia or sign source for the miracle stories; 3) a source underlying the Johannine passion narrative but also incorporating elements of the resurrection tradition; 4) the ecclesiastical redactor who added material and gave the gospel its traditional order; 5) the work of the evangelist himself. Smith (...) scrupulously develops Bultmann's own position and summarizes all of the scholarly reaction and controversy on each point. Smith concludes that while Bultmann's contentions are brilliant and important, they are highly debatable and often relatively untenable. Smith, in contrast, weakly suggests that John's Gospel may have "been left to us in an unfinished state" and ends by wondering whether Bultmann has not overstepped the genuine theological mark by so much rearranging.—D. J. B. (shrink)

Van Til attempts to slay the beast of liberal Protestantism as it rears its ugly head in the writings of three American professors of theology. Van Til's position, though a minority one, is important enough but somehow his major arguments suffer from a certain lack of penetration into the issues.—D. J. B.

Concentrating on Teilhard's Christological interests, this book, written by a fellow Jesuit, is eminently successful in showing the essentially theological character and motivation behind Teilhard's speculations. Christology permeates the supposedly scientific theory of evolution. In Teilhard's universe, Christ is the physical center for mankind and for the material world. This vision of Teilhard's, almost Pauline in scope, is the fascination and the consternation of both theologians and scientists. A concluding chapter treats of some of the theological "risks" implicit in Teilhard's (...) attempted synthesis. Mooney is always helpful in his expositions and gracious in his criticisms. Recent, more radical theological sallies make Teilhard appear surprisingly orthodox but rather more profound. Mooney has done us a service with his book, but one emerges feeling the need for a detailed critique of Teilhard's works.—D. J. B. (shrink)

This, the second volume in the English translation of the famous Theologisches Wörterbuch zum Neuen Testament, covers the Greek words in the delta to eta section of the lexicon. An indispensable exegetical aid, the entire volume is a treasury of information, but of particular interest is the discussion of dike, one of those key New Testament concepts at the heart of subsequent theological speculation.—D. J. B.

This is the first in a series of college texts dealing with biblical archaeology. Written in outline form, the book gives a clear account of the discovery and significance of the Dead Sea Scrolls. A careful analysis is offered for the content of each set of scrolls. Chapter XIX is a comparison of the Qumran sect and early Christianity. Numerous parallels in faith and rite can be drawn between the two groups: e.g., Messianic and eschatological beliefs as well as similar (...) practices of baptism, communal meals, celibacy, etc. The author claims that all of these elements are transformed when integrated into the primitive Christian faith. This book is a very useful and judicious introduction to the Dead Sea Scrolls.—D. J. B. (shrink)

Though the individual chapters appeared as essays in various journals, their cogency and urbane scholarship make them particularly noteworthy in book form. In the chapter "Social Problems in the Early Church" Ehrhardt suggests an important methodological principle: the history of theological development cannot ignore the social conditions of the little people who accepted the Christian message. The most demanding chapter of the book, "Creatio ex Nihilo," is also the most unsatisfactory. Ehrhardt has command of the historical sources, but his treatment (...) of the relevant philosophical problems is less than clear. It need only be added that the first chapter, "The Theology of New Testament Criticism" is a devastating attack on unenlightened faith.—D. J. B. (shrink)

This is Volume IV in the Evangelical Commentary on the Bible. As one might expect, the authors avoid novelty—which does not detract from the value of their work. A lengthy introduction provides a lucid summary of contemporary scholarship on the influence, distinctive features, background, problems, and text of the Fourth Gospel. The authors incline to the view that the Gospel is at least the "witness" of the Apostle John though the actual writing may have been done by a later "John (...) the Presbyter or an unnamed disciple." Each page of the commentary has four divisions: 1) text, 2) exegesis, 3) exposition, 4) footnotes. The exposition is intended to relate John's message to contemporary life and is, therefore, a useful preaching aid.—D. J. B. (shrink)

Using the principles and sometimes the conclusions of his teacher Adolf Stöhr, Cleve insists that he is giving a philosophical interpretation and not simply a philological reconstruction of these Pre-Socratics. The philosophers have been divided into 1) "Religious Reformers", 2) "Philosophers of Nature", 3) "Champions of Culture Politics"—"The Glossomorphics". There will certainly be disagreement on some of Cleve's interpretations but it must be said that Cleve carries through his philosophical reconstruction with admirable lucidity and consistency though, occasionally, some of his (...) criticisms of the "philologists" are rather waspish. Nevertheless, this is a splendid and important study which is a tribute to the author's erudition and insight.—D. J. B. (shrink)

This is a collection of Professor De Koninck's incidental writings, treating of such topics as "Contre l'antisémitisme," "Pie IX sur l'ignorance invincible de la vraie religion," "Ce qui est à César," et al. Whatever the intrinsic merits of these essays, they will be of interest to anyone who has followed the late Professor De Koninck's career as a scholar, teacher, and dedicated Catholic layman.—D. J. B.

A new and idiomatic translation of the most important questions in the Summa Theologica pertaining to the nature of the human soul and human knowledge.--D. P. B.

This is a well-chosen anthology selected from the Levy translation but topically arranged according to Karl Schlechta's German edition. Professor Clive's rather elegant introduction, despite occasional lapses into apparent rhetoric, is penetrating. Clive interprets Nietzsche "dialectically," in terms of Nietzsche's "love-hate relationship to himself." Nietzsche's contributions to philosophy, philology, artistic criticism, and to the literature of stunning aphorisms are all duly noted. But Nietzsche emerges as typically modern in that his own irony, at his best moments, was itself subject to (...) a lucid scepticism.—D. J. B. (shrink)

This, the third volume in The Pelican History of the Church, offers an extremely perspicacious view of the entire period. While there were nationalistic, economic, and political interests responsible for the Reformation and while there was no one, simple religious motivation, underlying all of these causes was a profound dissatisfaction with the moral and religious tone of late medieval society. However haltingly and destructively the Reformation proceeded, it is evident that the result was a general strengthening of authentic religious life (...) in both Protestant and Catholic countries. And where the state assumed some of the secular functions of the medieval Church this seemed to eventually benefit both Church and State. However, Chadwick does not gloss over grosser aspects of the period: the so-called wars of religion, the endless and destructive polemics between churches, and the ruthless confiscation of ecclesiastical property. If greedy lords helped free the Church from the mammon of iniquity, this was accompanied by cultural and artistic losses with no improvement in the lot of the poor country cleric despite the reduced status of the wealthy bishop or abbot. Chadwick is particularly good in his descriptions of the relationship of the political to the religious. But what is of special interest are the sometimes bewildered and reactionary responses of the little Christian to the dramatic events of the time.—D. J. B. (shrink)

Writing in Elizabethan English and Renaissance Latin, Stapleton was one of the leading controversialists in the Catholic Counter Reformation of the sixteenth century. Two areas of specific disagreement were the problem of justification and church government but Stapleton could indulge in the usual bitter polemics of the period by emphasizing Protestant abuses and minimizing similar conditions on the Catholic side. Father O'Connell writes well and is in control of the sources.—D. J. B.

The author laudably attempts to integrate Cassirer's approach to symbolism with current work being done by sociologists, anthropologists and psychologists. The thesis that symbols are the creative link between personality and culture is defended in a variety of ways. The discussion is repetitious and disorganized. Still, the rich array of content deserves attention.--D. C. B.

A sequel to his New Apologists, this latest work sees the "tragic vision" as the Dionysian component of tragedy, in an irreducible tension with the ethical or Apollonian: a conflict characterizing the modern "crisis-mentality" of literature and existentialism. Gide, Kafka, and Melville, are contrasted with D. H. Lawrence, Camus, Dostoevsky, and others in a very illuminating manner.--D. C. B.

This beautifully definitive edition of More's Utopia, the fourth volume in the Yale Edition of the complete works, appears on the four hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the original composition. The latin text used is the one of March 1518 ; but included is a complete list of variant readings from the 1516, 1517, and November 1518 editions. Using a lucid revision of G. C. Richards' translation, Hexter and Surtz provide a wealth of helpful details about the textual, linguistic, historical, (...) and cultural character of Utopia as well as a discussion of it as a work of literary art. The text is followed by a number of interesting illustrations and a lengthy, analytical commentary. More's work gave rise to a host of similar descriptions of imaginary lands but it is Utopia which is still commonly read today. Its relatively down-to-earth quality gives Utopia a certain modern appeal, and needless to say, it is an important work for anyone interested in the ordering of human society.—D. J. B. (shrink)

This book is a sort of junior search for the historical Jesus. The authoress throws in a dash of dialectic by interlarding the cursory text with questions for the reader. The presentation of complex exegetical and theological problems is so oversimplified that this book should prove equally embarrassing for both the liberals and the orthodox.—D. J. B.

The selections in this anthology range from Plato to Tolstoy, concentrating mainly on the Greeks, Kant, and representative figures from eighteenth-century Britain. All of the standard authors are included and speak for themselves. Sesonske has contributed a short but insightful introduction suggesting that a myriad of questions really underlie the seemingly simple question "What is art?" and showing that in each historical period of aesthetic theory there is a shift of terminology and interest. Professor Sesonske has also drawn up an (...) extremely useful bibliography.—D. J. B. (shrink)

Hardly a systematic anthropology, Heschel's book, which has at times an almost devotional flavor, contains enough insights, aphorisms, moral intuitions, and wise asides to be worth reading.—D. J. B.

Southern examines three phases in the development of the western view of Islam from 650 to 1570. In an historical study of these phases he traces the gradual emergence of a critical spirit of inquiry regarding Islam. The author argues that "... medieval scholars and men of affairs came up against problems with which, in a different context, we are familiar."--D. P. B.