Suicide in the Medically Ill

“The undiscover'd country, from whose bourn No traveler returns puzzles the will, And makes us rather bear those ills we have Than fly to others that we know not of?” (Hamlet III, i)     

Response to Ranganathan

This essay responds to Bharat Ranganathan's “Comment” on my essay, “The Concept of Dignity in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights” (2011). Addressing key criticisms in this “Comment,” I make the following points. First, neither the idea of inherent dignity being “imparted” to humans, nor the Universal Declaration's implication—through its use of terms such as “inherent” and “inalienable”—that humans participate in transcendent reality, necessarily presuppose a Christian metaphysics. Second, a concept such as “inherent dignity” must be affirmed to be intrinsically heuristic unless we are to assume that its meaning can be completely known within the conditions of existence; but this affirmation does not render such concepts “indeterminate of sense.” Finally, Ranganathan's distinction between“weak” and “strong” senses of transcendence is untenable. If human truths beyond all contingencies are knowable (“weak” transcendence), then there must be a real dimension of meaning that transcends all contingencies (“strong” transcendence).     

Risk Factors for Adolescent Suicide and Suicidal Behavior: Mental and Substance Abuse Disorders,Family Environmental Factors,and Life Stress

This review focuses on psychopathologic risk factors for adolescent suicide and suicidal behavior, namely, affective, disruptive, substance abuse, psychotic, and personality disorders. The interaction of psychopathology with age and gender is discussed. The role of family environmental risk factors and stress events in suicide and suicidal behavior, both alone, and in interaction with psychopathology are reviewed. Research reviewed will include psychological; autopsy studies, longitudinal studies examining predictors of suicide, and epidemiologic studies of suicide attempts.     

The Politics of Forgiveness: A Theological Exploration of King Lear

This essay seeks to reflect upon forgiveness as a social and political practice, drawing upon an exploration of the politics of King Lear . It is argued that neither the conservative nor the radical perspective triumphs within the play, but rather both share the same materialist presuppositions which prevent them from engaging in forgiveness, and bring about their destruction. Forgiveness is the solution to this deadlock hinted at within the play itself. Such forgiveness requires a theological horizon and, drawing upon recent debates concerning the self-interest and reciprocity of Christian charity, such an horizon can liberate forgiveness from its misconstruals as apolitical, anti-social and life-denying.