We present a qualitative, decision-theoretic account for statements of the form: \You ought to do A, if C". We show that adding a qualitative causal theory (in the form of a graph) as part of an epistemic state is suucient to facilitate the analysis of action sequences, their consequences, their interaction with observations, their expected utilities and, hence, the assertability of conditional...

In this article, we discuss current legal restrictions governing the use of race in medical research. In particular, we focus on whether the use of race in various types of research is presently permitted under federal law and the federal constitution. We also discuss whether federal restrictions on the use of race in research ought to be expanded, and whether federal policies that encourage th...

We present a qualitative, decision-theoretic account for statements of the form: "You ought to do A, if C". We show that adding a qualitative causal theory (in the form of a graph) as part of an epistemic state is sufficient to facilitate the analysis of action sequences, their consequences, their interaction with observations, their expected utilities and, hence, the assertability of condition...

The Praxis model of reasons for action takes choice among alternative courses of action to be a matter of what must, ought, is worth and may not be done. It envisages practical decision making systems being given their reasons for action as requirements, duties, rules of valuation, proscriptions and contingent circumstances in a knowledge base. The model’s principles of selection and automated ...

In this paper we will investigate the “Ought implies Can” (OIC) thesis. We will concentrate on explanations and interpretations of OIC, clarifying its uses and relevance. The OIC thesis is relevant to debates that ranges from semantics and pragmatics to legal philosophy, deontic logic and the philosophy of action and mind. We state the different theses that have been proposed concerning OIC and...

term stress is used, most often subjectively, with various meanings, the physiological inition, and appropriate term as responses in different situations. The flexibility of normal tabolism allows the development of responses to environmental changes which fluctuate ularly and predictable over daily and seasonal cycles. Thus every deviation of a factor its optimum does not necessarily result in...

global health research is essentially a normative undertaking: we use it to propose policies that ought to be implemented. to arrive at a normative conclusion in a logical way requires at least one normative premise, one that cannot be derived from empirical evidence alone. but there is no widely accepted normative premise for global health, and the actors with the power to set policies may use...