ABSTRACT
In Chapter 1 we distinguished between the second-order critical function of philosophy regarded as a medical humanity, and the supplementary function of literature and other arts. We have illustrated the critical function of philosophy in Chapters 1-5, and hope to have shown its relevance to the ethical issues in health care. We shall now turn to the supplementary function of the humanities and consider what they can add to traditional medical ethics. In particular, we shall argue that they can have an ethically desirable influence on medical perceptions and attitudes. We shall begin with literature, and move to the other arts in Chapter 7.
