The conception of audience in Perelman and Isocrates: Locating the ideal in the real

The author compares two theoretical models which develop constructs of an ideal audience. Chaim Perelman's universal audience serves a methodological function within the New Rhetoric which provides for the examination of philosophical arguments on values. Implicit within the work of Isocrates is a competing image which asserts that the ideal audience is empowered by the conditions of argument to engage the advocate in discursive praxis to construct and embody a consensus on contingency-driven value debates. The author concludes that the concept of an ideal audience will be most valuable where interest in adherence to theses is less central than attendance to relationships born in and borne by discourse. Such a view has purchase within a constitutive view of rhetorical relations which asserts that the most useful role for argument is as an invitation to engagement. The situation of argumentation within a deontological ethics requires the partnership and participation of individuals in a mutually constructed discursive praxis.David Douglas Dunlap is a Doctoral Candidate in Speech Communication at Pennsylvania State University     

AN ANALYSIS OF AND INTERVENTION IN THE SEXUAL TRANSMISSION OF DISEASE

Sexually transmitted diseases are a serious threat to the public health. Indeed, when an individual seeks medical treatment for a sexually transmitted disease, health authorities frequently attempt to identify, procure, and treat that individual's sexual contact(s). We conducted a comparative analysis of three alternative approaches to tracing the sexual partners of individuals diagnosed as having a sexually transmitted disease. The first approach involved counseling individuals (n = 27) infected with either gonorrhea or nongonococcal urethritis and exhorting them to procure their sexual partners for treatment. In addition to counseling, the second and third approaches involved distributing “occasion cards” for patients to use when informing sexual contacts of the need for treatment. Moreover, in the second approach, the counselor (a nurse or physician) informed infected patients (n = 19) that they and their partners could waive the $3 clinic fee contingent upon the partners seeking treatment within 1 week. In the third approach, the counselor asked infected persons (n = 19) to accept a follow-up telephone contact if their sexual partners failed to seek treatment within 1 week. The third approach was most effective. Ninety percent of the partners identified through this approach sought treatment, versus only about 60% of the partners in the other two conditions. The third approach was also the least expensive, costing about $2.95 to procure each partner for treatment.     

Toward a methodology for moral decision making in medicine

The failure of medical codes to provide adequate guidance for physicians' moral dilemmas points to the fact that some rules of analysis, informed by moral theory, are needed to assist in resolving perplexing ethical problems occurring with increasing frequency as medical technology advances. Initially, deontological and teleological theories appear more helpful, but critcisms can be lodged against both, and neither proves to be sufficient in itself. This paper suggests that to elude the limitations of previous approaches, a method of moral decision making must be developed incorporating both coherence methodology and some independently supported theoretical foundations. Wide Reflective Equilibrium is offered, and its process described along with a theory of the person which is used to animate the process. Steps are outlined to be used in the process, leading to the application of the method to an actual case.     

Epistemic deontology and the Revelatory View of responsibility

According to Universal Epistemic Deontology, all of our doxastic attitudes are open to deontological evaluations of obligation and permissibility. This view thus implies that we are responsible for all of our doxastic attitudes. But many philosophers have puzzled over whether we could be so responsible. This paper explores whether this puzzle can be resolved, and Universal Epistemic Deontology defended, by appealing to a view of responsibility it calls the Revelatory View. On that view, an agent is responsible for something when it reveals the kind of person the agent is. The paper explores four ways of developing the Revelatory View and argues that none of the views ultimately defends Universal Epistemic Deontology.     

针对软骨组织工程研究发展的几点思考

简述软骨组织工程研究发展的新成果,软骨组织工程种子细胞的研究更加广泛深入,出现一些性能卓越的新型组织工程生物材料,更加优化的环境因素更有利于构建组织工程软骨.初步探讨了一些技术性问题,组织工程软骨还存在种子细胞的大规模扩增、软骨退化、软骨表型不稳定等一些技术性问题.探讨了软骨组织工程在临床应用方面的一些医学伦理学问题和对策,展望了我国软骨组织工程的发展前景.     

医学教育人文精神缺失的弊端及对策

人文精神本是医学学科的根本要旨之一,然而,目前医学教育中普遍存在着人文精神缺失的状况.从医学教育的宗旨、医学模式的转变、医学生的综合素质、医患关系方面剖析了人文精神缺失的弊端并提出了相应对策.     

重视医疗缺陷研究全面提高服务质量

随着医疗卫生事业体制改革的不断深入,全面提高服务质量成为医疗市场竞争的一种手段.结合工作实际,分析引发医疗纠纷的各种原因和因素,提出重视每一例投诉,发现问题及时解决的几点措施.通过重视医疗缺陷研究,对症下药,持续改进,逐渐达到全方位的"零缺陷"服务.     

21世纪新的医学目标与高等医学教育改革

面对21世纪社会发展和卫生保健系统的新困境,传统的医学目标遇到很多挑战,现代医学的目标已经形成新的目标.医学教育改革必须适应新的医学目标,以培养高素质医学人才.     

美国医疗保险为什么"抛弃"在职者

美国医疗保险领域存在一个令人费解的现象:老年人、儿童有着相对完善的医疗保险体系,而最具生产能力的在职者却成为公共医疗保险(社会医疗保险)的"弃儿",大量在职人口医疗保险制度的缺乏,对美国社会经济造成了显著负面影响,并开始引起人们的关注.在分析美国不同年龄段人口医疗保险制度现状的基础上,从美国公共医疗保险制度设计、雇主医疗保险制度特点等角度分析美国在职者无医疗保险现象产生的原因及其影响,并探讨美国医疗保险未来的发展走向.     

论医学人文属性复归的途径

医学本是自然科学和人文社会科学的统一体,但因历史和现实的诸多原因,导致医学中人文属性的严重缺失.分析了人文缺失的直接原因和深层根源,强调了医学人文社会属性的不可缺失性,提出了医学人文属性复归之途径.