Bruce V. Foltz; Hidden Patency: On the Iconic Character of Human Life, Christian bioethics: Non-Ecumenical Studies in Medical Morality, Volume 7, Issue 3, 1 Jan.

The article deals with the lines along which manifold senses of horizonedness emerge and their reference to potentiality as a starting-point. The first section examines Gurwitsch's analyses of field-potentialities and margin-potentialities in the light of distinctions drawn by Husserl in terms of latency and patency. It is contended that Husserl's concept of latency encompasses both modes of potentiality. The second section shows how the world- horizon functions as a background- horizon and alternation- horizon conceived of as the two fundamental (...) modes of non-thematic consciousness. In this respect, an attempt is made to link this theme with Gurwitsch's description of the acquisition of the character of positional index as a worldly existent. The third section is concerned with how potentiality develops into an all-encompassing domain that can be anticipated as an ideal totality and into a pregiven ground, and outlines an approach to the complementarity of this threefold characterization. This development falls out of Gurwitsch's framework for the analysis of horizonedness. The article concludes with a characterization of the encasement-of-one-in-another of horizons. Reasons are suggested for the application of some ideas of Gurwitsch on thematic transformation to this sequence of levels. (shrink)

A cost analysis of the utilization of new expensive vascular grafts is performed, applying the methodology of decision analysis to the theoretical case of a sixty year old male patient undergoing femoropopliteal grafting for limb threatening ischemia. The problem is presented graphically as a decision tree, uncertainties are quantified in terms of probabilities and end outcomes are evaluated in monetary terms. This informations is then utilized to calculate cost values associated with alternative actions.Based on initial cumulative patency figures of (...) the new more expensive grafts and the known performance of the older grafts, the initial high expense for the new grafts is justified economically, if the saphenous vein is not available. This analysis, apart from giving an answer to a specific clinical problem, can be viewed as a general model for cost analysis of surgical procedures. (shrink)

O "Plano para o `Sistema de filosofia fenomenológica' de Edmund Husserl" inclui uma fenomenologia da proto-intencionalidade que, ao mesmo tempo, compreende os proto-impulsos, o inconsciente e a associação como temas de uma fenomenologia progressiva. Enquanto a fenomenologia regressiva parte do dado com o fim de realizar uma análise desconstrutiva, este tipo alternativo de fenomenologia implica uma análise construtiva em relação com o que não é dado na intuição. O artigo procura desenvolver essas questões em quatro passos, seguindo um fio condutor (...) proporcionado pela noção de tensão. Em primeiro lugar, considera-se a fusão associativa enquanto implica uma tensão no sujeito e dá lugar à constituição de objetos. Em segundo lugar, mostram-se as raízes da tensão numa intencionalidade instintiva. Em terceiro lugar, examina-se a relação entre instinto e protogeneratividade. Em quarto lugar, coloca-se em relevo a significação desses temas para as noções de patência e latência. Por último, intenta-se vincular os conceitos husserlianos de tensão e intencionalidade com as noções heideggerianas de carga e ser-no-mundo.El "Plan para el `Sistema de filosofía fenomenológica' de Edmund Husserl" incluye una fenomenología de la protointencionalidad que a su vez comprende los protoimpulsos, lo inconsciente y la asociación como temas de una fenomenología progresiva. Mientras que la fenomenología regresiva parte de lo dado a fin de realizar un análisis desconstructivo, este tipo alternativo de fenomenología implica un análisis constructivo en relación con lo que no es dado en la intuición. El artículo procura desarrollar estas cuestiones en cuatro pasos, siguiendo un hilo conductor proporcionado por la noción de tensión. En primer lugar, se considera la fusión asociativa en tanto implica una tensión en el sujeto y da lugar a la constitución de objetos. En segundo lugar, se muestran las raíces de la tensión en una intencionalidad instintiva. En tercer lugar, se examina la relación entre instinto y protogeneratividad. En cuarto lugar, se pone de relieve la significación de estos temas para las nociones de patencia y latencia. Por último, se intenta vincular los conceptos husserlianos de tensión e intencionalidad con las nociones heideggerianas de carga y ser-en-el-mundo.The "Plan for Edmund Husserl's `System of Phenomenological Philosophy'" encompasses a phenomenology of primal intentionality that in turn comprises primal impulses, the unconscious and association as themes of a progressive phenomenology. Whereas regressive phenomenology starts from the given in order to accomplish a deconstructive analysis, this alternative type of phenomenology entails a constructive analysis with regard to what is not given in intuition. The article attempts to develop these problems in four steps following a main thread afforded by the notion of tension. First, associative fusion is considered insofar as it implies a tension in the subject and brings forth the genesis of objects. Secondly, the roots of tension in an instinctive intentionality are shown. Thirdly, the relationship between instinct and primal generativity is examined. Fourthly, the import of these themes for the notions of patency and latency is disclosed. Finally, an attempt is made to link the Husserlian concepts of tension and intentionality to the Heideggerian notions of burden and being-in-the-world. (shrink)