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100 BOOK REVIEWS to a special sense here and admits it is a species of a much more generic use of the term. If one investigates his explanation of this more generic use of " ratio " one finds it comes pretty close to what is generally understood to be the principle of sufficient reason as applied to the quidditative order. (ibid) At any rate it would seem more correct to say that the " principle of real reason " understood in this sense is a derivation or limited application of the much broader principle of sufficient reason. The latter then could hardly "borrow" its evidence from the former, as is maintained. In neither of these cases is it clear to this reviewer that these changed attitudes towards the principle of contradiction and the principles of sufficient reason are emendations over the earlier views. These observations are not intended to minimize the many excellencies of the book, the splendid marshalling of matter, the orderly presentation, the precise thinking and sound argumentation, the objective analysis of opposing opinions that it otherwise displays. It was felt necessary, nevertheless, to take special exception to those views that obviously depart from strictly Thomistic thinking. For while the major theses of St. Thomas have been merely proposed, not imposed (since it is philosophy, not faith which is concerned) in all Catholic schools of higher learning " veluti tutae normae directivae," according to the ruling of the Sacred Congregation of Studie~, and while a man is free to disagree with them, still they ought not lightly to be set aside. And if they are set aside only after serious thought, then their opposite surely ought not to be proposed as " Thomistic " doctrine even in the sense (that Father Esser speaks of) "quo ipse St. Thomas monet veritatem esse explorandam." (Praefatio auctoris, p. iv) For while St. Thomas would indeed honor a man who differed with him with good but not convincing reason, even he would object to such differences being represented as his own under the specific description " thomistica metaphysica." St. John's Seminary, Brighton, Mass. FRANCIS X. MEEHAN. Principles of Medical Ethics. By JoHN P. KENNY, 0. P., Ph. D. Westminster : Newman, 195~. Pp. ~~l with index. $3.~5. The present century has seen a tremendous development in surgical and medical science and techniques. It is unnecessary to remark that all right thinking men must rejoice in any legitimate scientific developments which can bring relief to the many ills of suffering humanity. Unfortunately, however , not all modern procedures in the sphere of medicine and surgery have kept within the framework of the moral law and, to this extent, have not been truly scientific. For it is an irrefragable principle of the Christian BOOK REVIEWS 101 ethic that an end, however excellent and desirable in itself, cannot justify unlawful means and techniques of attaining it. So, to cite the obvious though often misinterpreted example: it is never lawful directly to kill the unborn child even when this is the sole means of saving the life of the mother. The modern development in the medical and surgical spheres has, therefore, posed new problems for the moralist. It is not that the moralist of today has to search out new ethical principles. The principles have been there from the dawn of human history: they are derivatives from the natural law which is the participation of the external law in the rational creature and is, accordingly, universal and immutable, reaching out to and governing the conduct of all men of all time. The task of the moralist today is to apply the principles of the natural law to the new factors. Or, to put it slightly the other way round, his task is to assess the new developments and techniques in the light of the old and perennial principles. These remarks have been to some extent suggested by the title of the work under review. The emphasis is on principles-The Principles of Medical Ethics. And that emphasis is good and timely. So many today think or seem to think or at least would like to suggest that an authoritative pronouncement -such as a Papal Address--on a point of medical ethics is a...

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