•  188
    The Hypothetical Consent Objection to Anti-Natalism
    Ethical Theory and Moral Practice 21 (5): 1135-1150. 2018.
    A very common but untested assumption is that potential children would consent to be exposed to the harms of existence in order to experience its benefits. And so, would-be parents might appeal to the following view: Procreation is all-things-considered permissible, as it is morally acceptable for one to knowingly harm an unconsenting patient if one has good reasons for assuming her hypothetical consent—and procreators can indeed reasonably rely on some notion of hypothetical consent. I argue th…Read more
  •  184
    Furthering the Case for Anti-natalism: Seana Shiffrin and the Limits of Permissible Harm
    South African Journal of Philosophy 31 (1): 104-116. 2012.
    Anti-natalism is the view that it is (almost) always wrong to bring people (and perhaps all sentient beings) into existence. This view is most famously defended by David Benatar (1997, 2006). There are, however, other routes to an anti-natal conclusion. In this respect, Seana Shiffrin’s paper, “Wrongful Life, Procreative Responsibility, and the Significance of Harm” (1999), has been rather neglected in the natal debate. Though she appears unwilling to conclude that procreation is always wrong, I…Read more
  •  47
    The catch 22 situation in psychiatry is that for precise diagnostic categories/criteria, we need precise investigative tests, and for precise investigative tests, we need precise diagnostic criteria/categories; and precision in both diagnostics and investigative tests is nonexistent at present. The effort to establish clarity often results in a fresh maze of evidence. In finding the way forward, it is tempting to abandon the scientific method, but that is not possible, since we deal with real hu…Read more
  •  33
    Modern medicine has done much in the fields of infectious diseases and emergencies to aid cure. In most other fields, it is mostly control that it aims for, which is another name for palliation. Pharmacology, psychopharmacology included, is mostly directed towards such control and palliation too. The thrust, both of clinicians and research, must now turn decisively towards prevention and cure. Also, longevity with well-being is modern medicine's other big challenge. Advances in vaccines for hype…Read more
  •  29
    Notes on a Few Issues in the Philosophy of Psychiatry
    Mens Sana Monographs 7 (1): 128. 2009.
    _The first part called the Preamble tackles: (a) the issues of silence and speech, and life and disease; (b) whether we need to know some or all of the truth, and how are exact science and philosophical reason related; (c) the phenomenon of Why, How, and What; (d) how are mind and brain related; (e) what is robust eclecticism, empirical/scientific enquiry, replicability/refutability, and the role of diagnosis and medical model in psychiatry; (f) bioethics and the four principles of beneficence, …Read more
  •  28
    Welcome to the Board, Prof James R. Flynn
    Mens Sana Monographs 7 (1): 210. 2009.
  •  20
    Straight Talk: The Challenge Before Modern Day Hinduism
    Mens Sana Monographs 7 (1): 189. 2009.
    _Hinduism, as an institution, offers very little to the poor and underprivileged within its fold. This is one of the prime reasons for voluntary conversion of Hindus from among its members. B.R. Ambedkar and A.R. Rahman provide poignant examples of how lack of education and health facilities for the underprivileged within its fold, respectively, led to their conversion. This can be countered by a movement to provide large-scale quality health [hospitals/PHCs] and educational [schools/colleges] f…Read more
  •  17
    What Propels The Pharma Industry?
    Mens Sana Monographs 5 (1): 121. 2007.
  •  13
    Resolution of the polarisation of ideologies and approaches in psychiatry
    with S. Singh
    Mens Sana Monographs 2 (2): 5. 2004.
    The uniqueness of Psychiatry as a medical speciality lies in the fact that aside from tackling what it considers as illnesses, it has perchance to comment on and tackle many issues of social relevance as well. Whether this is advisable or not is another matter; but such a process is inevitable due to the inherent nature of the branch and the problems it deals with. Moreover this is at the root of the polarization of psychiatry into opposing psychosocial and biological schools. This gets reflecte…Read more
  •  10
    Guidelines, Editors, Pharma And The Biological Paradigm Shift
    Mens Sana Monographs 5 (1): 27. 2007.
  •  10
    Dr. Bagadia, Sir, is No More
    Mens Sana Monographs 8 (1): 3. 2010.
  •  10
    _In the light of Sri Aurobindo's philosophy, this paper looks into some of the problems of contemporary man as an individual, a member of society, a citizen of his country, a component of this world, and of nature itself. Concepts like Science; Nature,;Matter; Mental Being; Mana-purusa; Prana-purusa; Citta-purusa; Nation-ego and Nation-soul; True and False Subjectivism; World-state and World-union; Religion of Humanism are the focus of this paper. Nature: Beneath the diversity and uniqueness of …Read more
  •  9
    Template for MSM submissions
    Mens Sana Monographs 9 (1): 320. 2011.
  •  8
    Revised Template for MSM Submissions 2012
    Mens Sana Monographs 10 (1): 208. 2012.
  •  7
    Ethical Obligation Towards Research Subjects
    Mens Sana Monographs 5 (1): 107. 2007.
  •  7
    Concerned Journals, Editors And ICMJE
    Mens Sana Monographs 5 (1): 90. 2007.
  •  6
    Questions That This Monograph Raises
    Mens Sana Monographs 5 (1): 134. 2007.