•  116
    Aquinas's account of human embryogenesis and recent interpretations
    Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 30 (4). 2005.
    In addressing bioethical issues at the beginning of human life, such as abortion, in vitro fertilization, and embryonic stem cell research, one primary concern regards establishing when a developing human embryo or fetus can be considered a person. Thomas Aquinas argues that an embryo or fetus is not a human person until its body is informed by a rational soul. Aquinas's explicit account of human embryogenesis has been generally rejected by contemporary scholars due to its dependence upon mediev…Read more
  •  31
    " If You Could Cure Cancer by Killing One Person, Wouldn't You Have to Do That?"
    In Sandra Shapshay (ed.), Bioethics at the movies, Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 297. 2009.
  •  50
    Exercising Restraint in the Creation of Animal–Human Chimeras
    with Rebecca A. Ballard
    American Journal of Bioethics 8 (6). 2008.
    No abstract
  •  696
    Alongside a revival of interest in Thomism in philosophy, scholars have realised its relevance when addressing certain contemporary issues in bioethics. This book offers a rigorous interpretation of Aquinas's metaphysics and ethical thought, and highlights its significance to questions in bioethics. Jason T. Eberl applies Aquinas’s views on the seminal topics of human nature and morality to key questions in bioethics at the margins of human life – questions which are currently contested in the a…Read more
  •  44
    Cultivating the Virtue of Acknowledged Responsibility
    Proceedings of the American Catholic Philosophical Association 82 249-261. 2008.
    In debates over issues such as abortion, a primary principle on which the Roman Catholic outlook is based is the natural law mandate to respect human life rooted in the Aristotelian philosophy of Thomas Aquinas. This principle, however, is limited by focusing on the obligation not to kill innocent humans and thereby neglects another important facet of the Aristotelian-Thomistic ethical viewpoint—namely, obligations that bind human beings in relationships of mutual dependence and responsibility. …Read more
  •  22
    Star Wars: The Force Awakens
    Philosophy Now 115 48-50. 2016.
    Philosophical review of themes in 'Star Wars - Episode VII: The Force Awakens' by the co-editors of 'Star Wars and Philosophy' and 'The Ultimate Star Wars and Philosophy.'
  •  33
    Advancing the Case for Organ Procurement
    American Journal of Bioethics 9 (8): 22-23. 2009.
    No abstract
  •  28
    Personal Identity and Resurrection: How Do We Survive Our Death? Edited by Georg Gasser (review)
    American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly 87 (4): 781-785. 2013.
  •  32
    The essays in this volume tackle the philosophical questions from these blockbuster films including: Was Anakin predestined to fall to the Dark Side? Are the Jedi truly role models of moral virtue? Why would the citizens and protectors of a democratic Republic allow it to descend into a tyrannical empire? Is Yoda a peaceful Zen master or a great warrior, or both? Why is there both a light and a dark side of the Force? Star Wars and Philosophy ponders the depths of these subjects and asks what it…Read more
  •  34
    Human Dignity in the Biotech Century (review)
    American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly 81 (3): 510-512. 2007.
  •  30
    What Dignitas personae does not say
    The National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly 10 (1): 89-110. 2010.
    Dignitas personae has garnered significant attention both inside and outside Roman Catholic circles, but it lacks the argumentative force not only to present the Church’s ethical judgment but also to persuade non-sympathetic readers. More direct engagement with contrary views would provide a stronger foundation for constructing arguments in public discourse. This article highlights various assertions found in Dignitas personae which call for greater explicit argumentation. Subjects treated inclu…Read more
  •  14
    Extraordinary Care and the Spiritual Goal of Life
    The National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly 5 (3): 491-501. 2005.
  •  27
    The Complex Nature of Jewish and Catholic Bioethics
    American Journal of Bioethics 9 (11): 31-32. 2009.
  • A Mind’s Matter: An Intellectual Autobiography (review)
    Philosophia Christi 5 (1): 291-295. 2003.
  •  20
  •  114
    Aquinas on Euthanasia, Suffering, and Palliative Care
    The National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly 3 (2): 331-354. 2003.
    Euthanasia, today, is one of the most debated issues in bioethics. Euthanasia, at the time of Thomas Aquinas, was an unheard-of term. Nevertheless, while there is no direct statement with respect to “euthanasia” per se in the writings of Aquinas, Aquinas’s moral theory and certain theological commitments he held could be applied to the euthanasia question and thus bring Aquinas into contemporary bioethical debate. In this paper, I present the relevant aspects of Aquinas’s account of natural la…Read more
  •  86
    Fetuses Are Neither Violinists nor Violators
    American Journal of Bioethics 10 (12): 53-54. 2010.
    This Article does not have an abstract
  •  10
    The Routledge Guidebook to Aquinas‘ Summa Theologiae introduces readers to a work which represents the pinnacle of medieval Western scholarship and which has inspired numerous commentaries, imitators, and opposing views. Outlining the main arguments Aquinas utilizes to support his conclusions on various philosophical questions, this clear and comprehensive guide explores: The historical context in which Aquinas wrote A critical discussion of the topics outlined in the text including theology, me…Read more
  •  42
    Dualist and Animalist Perspectives on Death
    The National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly 7 (3): 477-489. 2007.
    In this essay, I outline two contemporary metaphysical accounts of human nature—substance dualism and biological reductionism, also known as “animalism”—by elucidating the views of two representative theorists. I show how these two accounts conceive of death and which criteria for determining death--higher brain, whole-brain, or cardiopulmonary--each advocates. I will then contrast these accounts with Thomas Aquinas’s view of human nature and death.
  •  72
    Response to Jan Deckers' critique of the author's earlier article on the beginning of personhood from a Thomistic perspective in which the author revises and further refines his view.
  •  94
    Potentiality, Possibility, and the Irreversibility of Death
    Review of Metaphysics 62 (1): 61-77. 2008.
    This paper considers the issue of cryopreservation and the definition of death from an Aristotelian-Thomistic perspective. A central conceptual focus throughout this discussion is the purportedly irreversible nature of death and the criteria by which a human body is considered to be informed by a rational soul. It concludes that a cryopreserved corpse fails to have “life potentially in it” sufficient to satisfy Aristotle’s definition of ensoulment. Therefore, if the possibility that such a corps…Read more
  •  14
    _“Brains before bullets” – ancient and modern wisdom for “mechanics and motorcycle enthusiasts”_ Essential reading for fans of the show, this book takes readers deeper into the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club, the Teller-Morrow family, and the ethics that surround their lives and activities. Provides fascinating moral insights into _Sons of Anarchy_, its key characters, plot lines and ideas Investigates compelling philosophical issues centering on loyalty, duty, the ethics of war, authority, rel…Read more
  •  20
    Extraordinary Care and the Spiritual Goal of Life
    The National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly 5 (3): 491-501. 2005.
    Kevin O’Rourke argues that Aquinas’s concept of a “spiritual goal of life,” to which Pius XII refers in his famous allocution of 1957, serves as a basis for declaring that certain treatments, such as artificial nutrition and hydration [ANH] for patients in a persistent vegetative state [PVS], are “extraordinary” and thus morally optional. I examine whether O’Rourke properly interprets Aquinas’s concept in this regard and conclude that he is correct in his assessment and that ANH is properly und…Read more
  •  13
    Reunites the editors of Star Trek and Philosophy with Starfleet’s finest experts for 31 new, highly logical essays Features a complete examination of the Star Trek universe, from the original series to the most recent films directed by J.J. Abrams, Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness Introduces important concepts in philosophy through the vast array of provocative issues raised by the series, such as the ethics of the Prime Directive, Star Trek’s philosophy of peace, Data and Voyager’s Doctor …Read more
  •  25
    Truly Human Enhancement: A Philosophical Defense of Limits, by Nicholas Agar (review)
    The National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly 15 (4): 781-784. 2015.
  •  13
    Catholic Bioethics for a New Millenium. By Anthony Fisher (review)
    American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly 88 (1): 173-176. 2014.
  •  18
    Reply to Beauchamp
    In Arthur L. Caplan & Robert Arp (eds.), Contemporary debates in bioethics, Wiley-blackwell. pp. 25--431. 2014.