Criteria of Personal Identity

1975 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-69
Author(s):  
Karl Ameriks

The primary objective of this paper is to improve the defense of the thesis that(1) bodily continuity is the primary criterion of personal identity.This is to be done by establishing (in Parts Ill and IV) that there is a unique sense in which(2) bodily continuity is a necessary condition of personal identity.A secondary objective of the paper is to illustrate (in Part I) the way in which the value and validity of (2) has been obscured in recent defenses and criticisms of (1), which inappropriately interpret it in terms of the claim that(3) bodily continuity is a sufficient condition of personal identity.Since the truth of (3) will be denied, the defense of (1) will also involve arguing (in Part II) that the traditional alternative to the bodily criterion, namely the criterion of memory and psychological characteristics, not only is not a necessary condition of personal identity but also is not a sufficient condition.

1978 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 343-359
Author(s):  
Philip L. Quinn

Suppose that a person P1 dies some time during 1978. Many years later, the resurrection world, a perennial object of Christian concern, begins on the morning of the day of judgment. On its first morning there are in that world distinct persons, P2 and P3, each of whom is related in remarkably intimate ways to P1. You are to imagine that each of them satisfies each of the criteria or conditions necessary for identity with P1 to some extent, that both of them satisfy these conditions to exactly the same extent, and that every other denizen of the resurrection world satisfies each of these conditions to a lesser extent than P2 and P3 do. Thus, for example, philosophers often claim that bodily continuity is a necessary condition for personal identity. If it is, you might assume that the body P2 has on the morning of the day of judgment contains some of the same atoms the body of P11 contained when P1 died, and that P2's body on that day contains exactly n atoms from P1's body at the time of death just in case P3's body on that day contains exactly n atoms from P1's body at the time of death. Or, again, some philosophers hold that connectedness of memory is necessary for personal identity. If so, you are to suppose that on the morning of the day of judgment P3 seems to remember some of the events in the life of P1 having happened to him, and that P3 seems to remember a certain event in the life of P1 having happened to him just in case P2 seems to remember that very event in the life of P1 having happened to him. You are to fill in the details by adding complete parity between P2 and P3 with respect to similarity of DNA molecules, character traits and whatever else you deem relevant to personal identity. And, finally, you are to complete the story by imagining that P2 and P3 live very different sorts of lives in the resurrection world. To heighten the poignancy of the story, you might imagine that P2 enjoys forever after the beatitude promised to the blessed while P3 suffers the everlasting torments reserved for the damned.


2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 71-74
Author(s):  
Md Faizus Sazzad ◽  
Mohammed Moniruzzaman ◽  
Dewan Iftakher Raza Choudhury ◽  
Arif Ahmed Mohiuddin ◽  
Raafi Rahman ◽  
...  

Background: The number of postgraduate students in Cardiac surgical discipline is increasing day by day with incremental proportion are measurably suffering from the unnecessary lingering of the present course curriculum. The primary objective of this study was to find out the last 5 years’ of results of Masters in Surgery course under the University of Dhaka from a student room survey. A secondary objective was to find out positive changes that could show us the way of a step toward up-gradation. Methods: It is a retrospective analysis of all examination results of Cardio-vascular & Thoracic Surgery published since January 2008 to January 2013 from the University of Dhaka with in depth interview of 11 participants. Results: 85.24% students failed to pass part-I of Masters in Surgery for Cardio-vascular & Thoracic Surgery course while, 82.18% in part-II and 71.28% failed to pass the final part. Average 2.51 attempts needed to complete each part of the designed course resulted into lingering of course duration for 42.18 months/student. In the thoracic surgery discipline the number of students alarmingly reduced up to 0% in the recent academic sessions. Conclusions: Masters in Surgery is resulting in unnecessary prolongation of the course. We should step forward to meet the next generation challenge. Journal of Surgical Sciences (2019) Vol. 23(2): 71-74


2021 ◽  
Vol 184 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-28
Author(s):  
Alexander A Leung ◽  
Janice L Pasieka ◽  
Martin D Hyrcza ◽  
Danièle Pacaud ◽  
Yuan Dong ◽  
...  

Objective Despite the significant morbidity and mortality associated with pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma, little is known about their epidemiology. The primary objective was to determine the incidence of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma in an ethnically diverse population. A secondary objective was to develop and validate algorithms for case detection using laboratory and administrative data. Design Population-based cohort study in Alberta, Canada from 2012 to 2019. Methods Patients with pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma were identified using linked administrative databases and clinical records. Annual incidence rates per 100 000 people were calculated and stratified according to age and sex. Algorithms to identify pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma, based on laboratory and administrative data, were evaluated. Results A total of 239 patients with pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma (collectively with 251 tumors) were identified from a population of 5 196 368 people over a period of 7 years. The overall incidence of pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma was 0.66 cases per 100 000 people per year. The frequency of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma increased with age and was highest in individuals aged 60–79 years (8.85 and 14.68 cases per 100 000 people per year for males and females, respectively). An algorithm based on laboratory data (metanephrine >two-fold or normetanephrine >three-fold higher than the upper limit of normal) closely approximated the true frequency of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma with an estimated incidence of 0.54 cases per 100 000 people per year. Conslusion The incidence of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma in an unselected population of western Canada was unexpectedly higher than rates reported from other areas of the world.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (45) ◽  
pp. 118-122
Author(s):  
Victor Paes Dias Gonçalves ◽  
Hugo Leonardo Matias Nahmias ◽  
Marcus Menezes Alves Azevedo

Among contact sports, the practice of martial arts offers a greater risk of causing dental trauma and fractures as contact with the face is more frequent. The primary objective of the research is to evaluate the incidence of mouthguard use, and the secondary objective is to verify which type has a greater predominance and the difficulties in its use correlating to the type of mouthguard used. A documentary study was carried out with 273 athletes of different contact sports, among them: MMA, Boxing, Muay Thai, Jiu-Jitsu, and Taekwondo of the city of Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It was concluded that the most commonly used mouthguard is PB Boils and Bites - Type II and its level of approval is poor, interfering with the athletes’ performance, mainly in relation to the breathing factor.


Author(s):  
Eleonore Stump

This chapter examines biblical narratives to illuminate the role of Christ’s passion and death in bringing a person to a life in grace. Reflection on the narratives shows that Christ’s passion and death are a most promising way for God to help a human person to the surrender which is the necessary condition for spiritual and moral regeneration. The stories of the temptations of Christ show the way in which Christ’s suffering and death are connected to justification and sanctification. A person’s ceasing to resist the grace of God and surrendering to God’s love is the pinnacle on which her salvation has to stand. If we focus on this necessary condition for salvation, we can see the reason for Christ’s suffering. What can be gained by weakness that could not be gotten through power is the melting of a heart accustomed to willed loneliness and hardened against joy.


Antibiotics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 763
Author(s):  
Daniele Roberto Giacobbe ◽  
Chiara Russo ◽  
Veronica Martini ◽  
Silvia Dettori ◽  
Federica Briano ◽  
...  

A single-center cross-sectional study was conducted to describe the use of ceftaroline in a large teaching hospital in Northern Italy, during a period also including the first months of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The primary objective was to describe the use of ceftaroline in terms of indications and characteristics of patients. A secondary objective was to describe the rate of favorable clinical response in patients with bloodstream infections (BSI) due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA-BSI) receiving ceftaroline. Overall, 200 patients were included in the study. Most of them had COVID-19 (83%, 165/200) and were hospitalized in medical wards (78%, 155/200). Included patients with COVID-19 pneumonia were given empirical ceftaroline in the suspicion of bacterial co-infection or superinfection. Among patients with MRSA-BSI, ceftaroline was used as a first-line therapy and salvage therapy in 25% (3/12) and 75% (9/12) of cases, respectively, and as a monotherapy or in combination with daptomycin in 58% (7/12) and 42% (5/12) of patients, respectively. A favorable response was registered in 67% (8/12) of patients. Improving etiological diagnosis of bacterial infections is essential to optimize the use of ceftaroline in COVID-19 patients. The use of ceftaroline for MRSA-BSI, either as a monotherapy or in combination with other anti-MRSA agents, showed promising rates of favorable response.


Author(s):  
Nathaniel J Rhodes ◽  
Atheer Dairem ◽  
William J Moore ◽  
Anooj Shah ◽  
Michael J Postelnick ◽  
...  

Abstract Disclaimer In an effort to expedite the publication of articles related to the COVID-19 pandemic, AJHP is posting these manuscripts online as soon as possible after acceptance. Accepted manuscripts have been peer-reviewed and copyedited, but are posted online before technical formatting and author proofing. These manuscripts are not the final version of record and will be replaced with the final article (formatted per AJHP style and proofed by the authors) at a later time. Purpose There are currently no FDA-approved medications for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). At the onset of the pandemic, off-label medication use was supported by limited or no clinical data. We sought to characterize experimental COVID-19 therapies and identify safety signals during this period. Methods We conducted a non-interventional, multicenter, point prevalence study of patients hospitalized with suspected/confirmed COVID-19. Clinical and treatment characteristics within a 24-hour window were evaluated in a random sample of up to 30 patients per site. The primary objective was to describe COVID-19–targeted therapies. The secondary objective was to describe adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Results A total of 352 patients treated for COVID-19 at 15 US hospitals From April 18 to May 8, 2020, were included in the study. Most patients were treated at academic medical centers (53.4%) or community hospitals (42.6%). Sixty-seven patients (19%) were receiving drug therapy in addition to supportive care. Drug therapies used included hydroxychloroquine (69%), remdesivir (10%), and interleukin-6 antagonists (9%). Five patients (7.5%) were receiving combination therapy. The rate of use of COVID-19–directed drug therapy was higher in patients with vs patients without a history of asthma (14.9% vs 7%, P = 0.037) and in patients enrolled in clinical trials (26.9% vs 3.2%, P < 0.001). Among those receiving drug therapy, 8 patients (12%) experienced an ADR, and ADRs were recognized at a higher rate in patients enrolled in clinical trials (62.5% vs 22%; odds ratio, 5.9; P = 0.028). Conclusion While we observed high rates of supportive care for patients with COVID-19, we also found that ADRs were common among patients receiving drug therapy, including those enrolled in clinical trials. Comprehensive systems are needed to identify and mitigate ADRs associated with experimental COVID-19 treatments.


1986 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 371-382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernadette H. Schell ◽  
Jean-Charles Cachon ◽  
Ozhand Ganjavi ◽  
Frank Porporino

This study compared the Type A tendencies reported on the Behavior Activity Profile questionnaire and those yielded by a taped-voice analysis of 34 male prison inmates convicted for a variety of violent offenses. The primary objective was to provide prison officials with an instrument for detecting repeated assaulters from nonassaulters. The secondary objective was to determine which of the two Type A assessment techniques was more predictive of prisoners' status as assaulters. The multivariate analysis indicated that the profile, prisoners' length of sentence, and number of convictions accounted for 88% of the variance in grouping, assaulter or nonassaulter. Implications for prison administrators and researchers were discussed.


2021 ◽  
pp. 030157422199194
Author(s):  
Vivek J Patni ◽  
Neeraj E Kolge ◽  
Madhura J Pednekar

Introduction: The primary concern in the placement of ramal bone screws is the blind nature of the procedure, as there is a thick, mobile layer of soft tissue over the bone; also, the ramus is not a uniplanar structure but is swerving like a propeller blade. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possibility of establishing clinical guidelines based on visible dental and soft-tissue landmarks for safe, reliable, and accurate insertion of ramal bone screws. Aims and Objectives: Our primary objective was to evaluate the angle formed between the appropriate direction of ramal-implant placement and the line tangential to the buccal surfaces of the first and second permanent molars. Our secondary objective was to evaluate the average distance of the neurovascular bundle from the tip of the bone screw. Materials and Methods: We obtained 80 cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) samples, marked reference lines and points on selected axial and coronal sections, and evaluated the following parameters using the software’s linear- and angular-measurement device: the angle between the appropriate direction of ramal bone screw placement and the line tangential to the buccal surfaces of the first and second permanent molars; and the proximity of the bone screw to the neurovascular bundle. Results: The angle between the constructed line of insertion and the occlusal line, as evaluated from our study, was 19.04 (SD ± 6.89) degrees. The proximity of the neurovascular bundle from the screw is 7.1773 (SD ± 1.73988) mm. Conclusion: We can conclude that ramal bone screws can be placed with a comfortable margin of safety.


Stroke ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 43 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Navdeep S Sangha ◽  
Farhaan Vahidy ◽  
Mallikarjunarao Kasam ◽  
Mohammed Rahbar ◽  
Bursaw Andrew ◽  
...  

Background and Purpose Early hematoma expansion (EHE) has been described in the first 48 hours. SHRINC is a phase 2 prospective safety trial whose primary objective is to assess the safety of pioglitazone (PIO) when administered to patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (SICH) compared to standard care. A secondary objective is to characterize the changes in hematoma resolution and expansion over time. This prospective study addresses the natural history, clinical impact, and associated risk factors of late hematoma expansion (LEX) by serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after SICH. Methods SHRINC aims to enroll 78 subjects between the ages of 18-80 with a SICH of ≥ 5 ml. This analysis includes the first 42 patients enrolled. Four subjects were excluded because they did not have an MRI after day 2. A baseline CTH was performed followed by an MRI within 24 hours of symptom onset. Hematoma volume (Hv) was measured on FLAIR sequences using a previously published semi-automated range of interest method. LEX was defined as an increase in Hv > 0.5 ml after the 48 hour MRI. Factors associated with LEX were evaluated with logistic regression. Longitudinal analyses were used for measurements taken over the follow up period. Results: Ten (26.3%) of 38 subjects displayed LEX. Eight subjects had LEX between day 2 to 14, and 4 between days 14 to 28. The median initial Hv was 16.1cc in LEX patients and 24.1cc in those without expansion (NEX) (p=0.23). Lower platelet counts (p=0.04) and BUN levels (p=0.03) were associated with LEX in univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis suggested that those with higher BUN levels were less likely to have LEX (OR=0.81; 95%CI 0.65-0.99). Blood pressure and EHE (13.2%) were not associated with LEX. There was no difference in neurological worsening (NIHSS increase ≥ 4), 6 month mRS or death between LEX and NEX. Conclusion: This is the first prospective study to address LEX with serial MRIs. LEX occurs between day 2 to 14 and day 14 to 28. Elevated BUN levels may decrease the likelihood of LEX. A limitation of our study is that the effect of PIO on LEX could not be evaluated because SHRINC is a blinded trial. Further studies will assess the pathophysiology of LEX and its potential implications in clinical trials evaluating hematoma growth and resolution.


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