Kantianism, Consequentialism, and Deterrence

Consequentialism ◽

10.1093/oso/9780190270117.003.0012 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 237-258

Author(s):

Steven Sverdlik

Keyword(s):

Moral Principle ◽

Original Position ◽

Central Concept ◽

Formula Of Humanity ◽

Victor Tadros ◽

Rule Out

Many philosophers argue that it is morally objectionable in principle to punish people in order to deter others from committing crimes. Such punishment is said to treat the offender simply as a means to benefit others. This Kantian argument rests on a certain reading of the Formula of Humanity. However, the central concept in that formula is not “treating a person simply as a means” but rather “treating a person as an end.” This conclusion speaks against the moral principle that Victor Tadros uses to support his nonconsequentialist theory of punishment. Furthermore, a plausible way of interpreting the injunction to treat people as ends—Rawls’s original position—does not rule out seeking deterrence. Therefore, Kantianism and consequentialism do not differ in a fundamental way on the permissibility of deterrence. But Rawls’s Kantianism sets an implausible ceiling on the severity of punishments, and consequentialism does not.

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A rapid method for the direct identification of paramyxovirus in canine CSF by ultracentrifugation and negative staining as a rule out for distemper

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100160522 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 48 (3) ◽

pp. 594-595

Author(s):

W.L. Steffens ◽

M.B. Ard ◽

C.E. Greene ◽

A. Jaggy

Keyword(s):

Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Viral Disease ◽

Etiologic Agent ◽

Mucosal Inflammation ◽

Worldwide Distribution ◽

Negative Stain ◽

Viral Particles ◽

Systemic Manifestations ◽

Rule Out

Canine distemper is a multisystemic contagious viral disease having a worldwide distribution, a high mortality rate, and significant central neurologic system (CNS) complications. In its systemic manifestations, it is often presumptively diagnosed on the basis of clinical signs and history. Few definitive antemortem diagnostic tests exist, and most are limited to the detection of viral antigen by immunofluorescence techniques on tissues or cytologic specimens or high immunoglobulin levels in CSF (cerebrospinal fluid). Diagnosis of CNS distemper is often unreliable due to the relatively low cell count in CSF (<50 cells/μl) and the binding of blocking immunoglobulins in CSF to cell surfaces. A more reliable and definitive test might be possible utilizing direct morphologic detection of the etiologic agent. Distemper is the canine equivalent of human measles, in that both involve a closely related member of the Paramyxoviridae, both produce mucosal inflammation, and may produce CNS complications. In humans, diagnosis of measles-induced subacute sclerosing panencephalitis is through negative stain identification of whole or incomplete viral particles in patient CSF.

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Point-Cathode Electron Gun Using Electron-Beam Bombardment for Cathode Tip Heating

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100179749 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 48 (1) ◽

pp. 198-199

Author(s):

Ryo Iiyoshi ◽

Susumu Maruse ◽

Hideo Takematsu

Keyword(s):

Electron Beam ◽

Tungsten Wire ◽

Local Heating ◽

Electron Gun ◽

Original Position ◽

Beam Power ◽

Radius Of Curvature ◽

High Brightness ◽

Beam Focusing ◽

Time Operation

Point cathode electron gun with high brightness and long cathode life has been developed. In this gun, a straightened tungsten wire is used as the point cathode, and the tip is locally heated to higher temperatures by electron beam bombardment. The high brightness operation and some findings on the local heating are presented.Gun construction is shown in Fig.l. Small heater assembly (annular electron gun: 5 keV, 1 mA) is set inside the Wehnelt electrode. The heater provides a disk-shaped bombarding electron beam focusing onto the cathode tip. The cathode is the tungsten wire of 0.1 mm in diameter. The tip temperature is raised to the melting point (3,650 K) at the beam power of 5 W, without any serious problem of secondary electrons for the gun operation. Figure 2 shows the cathode after a long time operation at high temperatures, or high brightnesses. Evaporation occurs at the tip, and the tip part retains a conical shape. The cathode can be used for a long period of time. The tip apex keeps the radius of curvature of 0.4 μm at 3,000 K and 0.3 μm at 3,200 K. The gun provides the stable beam up to the brightness of 6.4×106 A/cm2sr (3,150 K) at the accelerating voltage of 50 kV. At 3.4×l06 A/cm2sr (3,040 K), the tip recedes at a slow rate (26 μm/h), so that the effect can be offset by adjusting the Wehnelt bias voltage. The tip temperature is decreased as the tip moves out from the original position, but it can be kept at constant by increasing the bombarding beam power. This way of operation is possible for 10 h. A stepwise movement of the cathode is enough for the subsequent operation. Higher brightness operations with the rapid receding rates of the tip may be improved by a continuous movement of the wire cathode during the operations. Figure 3 shows the relation between the beam brightness, the tip receding rate by evaporation (αis the half-angle of the tip cone), and the cathode life per unit length, as a function of the cathode temperature. The working life of the point cathode is greatly improved by the local heating.

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Impairment Questions and Answers

Guides Newsletter ◽

10.1001/amaguidesnewsletters.1999.julaug02 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 4 (4) ◽

pp. 4-4

Keyword(s):

Symptom Validity ◽

Validity Testing ◽

Symptom Validity Testing ◽

Negative Results ◽

Tunnel Vision ◽

Questions And Answers ◽

Blurry Vision ◽

Fatigue Evaluation ◽

Choice Testing ◽

Rule Out

Abstract Symptom validity testing, also known as forced-choice testing, is a way to assess the validity of sensory and memory deficits, including tactile anesthesias, paresthesias, blindness, color blindness, tunnel vision, blurry vision, and deafness—the common feature of which is a claimed inability to perceive or remember a sensory signal. Symptom validity testing comprises two elements: A specific ability is assessed by presenting a large number of items in a multiple-choice format, and then the examinee's performance is compared with the statistical likelihood of success based on chance alone. Scoring below a norm can be explained in many different ways (eg, fatigue, evaluation anxiety, limited intelligence, and so on), but scoring below the probabilities of chance alone most likely indicates deliberate deception. The positive predictive value of the symptom validity technique likely is quite high because there is no alternative explanation to deliberate distortion when performance is below the probability of chance. The sensitivity of this technique is not likely to be good because, as with a thermometer, positive findings indicate that a problem is present, but negative results do not rule out a problem. Although a compelling conclusion is that the examinee who scores below probabilities is deliberately motivated to perform poorly, malingering must be concluded from the total clinical context.

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Case Exercise: Toxic Exposure-Related Illness: Causation, Diagnosis, and Permanent Impairment

Guides Newsletter ◽

10.1001/amaguidesnewsletters.2007.marapr02 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 4-8

Author(s):

Frederick Fung

Keyword(s):

Concentration Level ◽

Treatment Plan ◽

Toxic Exposure ◽

Dose Response Relationship ◽

Specialty Board ◽

History Of ◽

Subjective Complaints ◽

Based Medicine ◽

Illness Causation ◽

Rule Out

Abstract A diagnosis of toxic-related injury/illness requires a consideration of the illness related to the toxic exposure, including diagnosis, causation, and permanent impairment; these are best performed by a physician who is certified by a specialty board certified by the American Board of Preventive Medicine. The patient must have a history of symptoms consistent with the exposure and disease at issue. In order to diagnose the presence of a specific disease, the examiner must find subjective complaints that are consistent with the objective findings, and both the subjective complaints and objective findings must be consistent with the disease that is postulated. Exposure to a specific potentially causative agent at a defined concentration level must be documented and must be sufficient to induce a particular pathology in order to establish a diagnosis. Differential diagnoses must be entertained in order to rule out other potential causes, including psychological etiology. Furthermore, the identified exposure at the defined concentration level must be capable of causing the diagnosis being postulated before the examiner can conclude that there has been a cause-and-effect relationship between the exposure and the disease (dose-response relationship). The evaluator's opinion should make biological and epidemiological sense. The treatment plan and prognosis should be consistent with evidence-based medicine, and the rating of impairment must be based on objective findings in involved systems.

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