Some conferences produce proceedings, others an inspiration to labor, which finally leads to a published work. Such has been the case with regard to this volume. In 1984, the Center for Ethics, Medicine, and Public Issues held a conference with the title 'When are Competent Patients Incompetent?' with the support of the Texas Committee for the Humanities, a state-based program of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Assistance was provided by both Baylor College of Medicine and the Institute of Religion. This conference evoked a con siderable interest in examining further the moral...

Science, Technology, and the Art of Medicine contains papers by eminent scholars who discuss issues and concepts regarding the character of medicine. Special attention is given to the extent to which medicine is a science, art, and technology. Investigations are carried out with a particular focus on the nature of medical knowledge. Concepts of medical research, medical causality, intuition, and medical decision-making are examined in the light of medicine's revolutionary advances in the twentieth century. Past perspectives and present perplexities are also examined, bringing...

Thinking Through Breast Cancer is a philosophical analysis of breast cancer inspired by the author's journey as a breast cancer patient. It sets out to show the relevancy of philosophical thinking in medicine today and shares advice about how to navigate the uncertainty of breast cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survival.