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54The Concept of AutonomyGrazer Philosophische Studien 12 (1): 203-213. 1981.In both theoretical and applied contexts the concept of autonomy has assumed increasing importance in recent normative philosophical discussion. Given various problems to be clarified or resolved the author characterizes the concept by first setting out conditions of adequacy. The author then links the notion of autonomy to the identification and critical reflection of an agent upon his first-order motivations. It is only when a person identifies with the influences that motivate him, assimilate…Read more
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11Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted SuicideCambridge University Press. 1998.The moral issues involved in doctors assisting patients to die with dignity are of absolutely central concern to the medical profession, ethicists, and the public at large. The debate is fuelled by cases that extend far beyond passive euthanasia to the active consideration of killing by physicians. The need for a sophisticated but lucid exposition of the two sides of the argument is now urgent. This book supplies that need. Two prominent philosophers, Gerald Dworkin and R. G. Frey present the ca…Read more
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892PaternalismThe Monist 56 (1): 64-84. 1972.I take as my starting point the “one very simple principle” proclaimed by Mill in On Liberty … “That principle is, that the sole end for which mankind are warranted, individually or collectively, in interfering with the liberty of action of any of their number, is self-protection. That the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. He cannot rightfully be compelled to do or forbear because it …Read more
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131Mill's on Liberty: Critical EssaysRowman & Littlefield Publishers. 1997.John Stuart Mill's On Liberty continues to shape modern Western conceptions of individual freedom. In this volume, eight leading Mill scholars comment on this landmark work. Their essays, selected for their importance and accessibility, serve as an excellent introduction to this foundational text
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Intention, foreseeability, and responsibilityIn Ferdinand David Schoeman (ed.), Responsibility, Character, and the Emotions: New Essays in Moral Psychology, Cambridge University Press. pp. 338--354. 1987.A defense of the principle of double-effect.
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3The limits of the criminal lawIn John Deigh & David Dolinko (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of the Philosophy of the Criminal Law, Oxford University Press. pp. 3-16. 2011.
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102Equal Respect and the Enforcement of MoralitySocial Philosophy and Policy 7 (2): 180. 1990.In recent years, there has been renewed interest in the question of when, if ever, the state may use coercion to enforce majority views about what types of conduct are right or wrong, noble or base, decent or indecent. Such interest has been generated by both political and philosophibal pressures. In recent political history, controversies over such issues as abortion, homosexuality, pornography, textbooks in schools, new reproductive technologies such as surrogate parenting and in vitro fertili…Read more
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148Contractualism and the normativity of principlesEthics 112 (3): 471-482. 2002.This is a study of the question of whether moral principles, as justified by a contractualist scheme, such as Scanlon's, are binding on persons, i.e., give them reasons to act in accordance with such principles. I argue that for those agents who meet the motivational conditions that Scanlon lays down, i.e., those who seek to reach agreement with others on principles that are not rejectable, such principles are binding. But on those who do not meet the motivational condition the principles are no…Read more
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128Patients and prisoners: The ethics of lethal injectionAnalysis 62 (2). 2002.An argument against the participation of physicians in capital punishment by means of lethal injection.
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98Lying and nudgingJournal of Medical Ethics 39 (8): 496-497. 2013.Salvaging the Concept of Nudge 1 makes a number of good points about how the concept of a nudge should be understood, and a number of important distinctions in specifying more precisely the important idea of freedom of choice. As Saghai suggests, this is a first cut, and more work needs to be done in clarifying the issues so as to make the idea of a nudge a useful tool for policy purposes.In this Commentary, I want to explore some of the difficulties that remain in getting a clear understanding …Read more
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132The serpent beguiled me and I did eat: Entrapment and the creation of crime (review)Law and Philosophy 4 (1). 1985.This paper examines the legitimacy of pro-active law enforcement techniques, i.e. the use of deception to produce the performance of a criminal act in circumstances where it can be observed by law enforcement officials. It argues that law enforcement officials should only be allowed to create the intent to commit a crime in individuals who they have probable cause to suppose are already engaged or intending to engage in criminal activity of a similar nature.
Davis, California, United States of America
Areas of Specialization
Normative Ethics |
Philosophy of Law |
Social and Political Philosophy |
Areas of Interest
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Applied Ethics |
Meta-Ethics |
Normative Ethics |
Philosophy of Law |
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Value Theory, Miscellaneous |