Philosophy 230
Study questions: Buchanan and Brock's "Deciding for Others:
Competency"
1. The authors argue that the concept of competence is
"decision-relative" and "threshold"
in nature? What do they
mean by this? How do they defend their view?
2. What capacities do the authors think are relevant to
competency in making health care
decisions? How do they explain
these capacities?
3. What is the "fixed minimum threshold" concept of
competence? What objections do the
authors raise against it?
4. Considering the authors' account of competence as a whole,
what problems might arise for
their view? How might they solve
these problems?