A common objection to representationalism is that a representationalist view of phenomenal character cannot accommodate the effects that shifts in covert attention have on visual phenomenology: covert attention can make items more visually prominent than they would otherwise be without altering the content of visual experience. Recent empirical work on attention casts doubt on previous attempts to advance this type of objection to representationalism and it also points the way to an alternative development of the objection.
ABSTRACT. It is widely believed to be permissible for a physician to discontinue any treatment upon the request of a competent patient. Many also believe it is never permissible for a physician to intentionally kill a patient. I argue that the prospect of deactivating a patient's artificial heart presents us with a dilemma: either the first belief just mentioned is false or the second one is.Whichever horn of the dilemma we choose has significant implications for contemporary medical ethics.
INTRODUCTIONNew technology can lead us to reconsider old principles. The total artificial heart is one such technology, and the principles are two:( DISCONTINUATION ) It is permissible for a physician to discontinue any treatment upon the request of a competent patient.( PROHIBITION ) It is never permissible for a physician to intentionally kill a patient.DISCONTINUATION enjoys wide support within the medical community. PROHIBITION is controversial-as shown by the debates over euthanasia-but also enjoys considerable support.
According to the Standard View, a doctor who withdraws life-sustaining treatment does not kill the patient but rather allows the patient to die—an important distinction, according to some. I argue that killing (and causing death) can be understood in either of two ways, and given the relevant understanding, the Standard View is insulated from typical criticisms. I conclude by noting several problems for the Standard View that remain to be fully addressed.
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