D. Joy Riley, M.D., M.A.
Executive Director
The law in the Roman Republic in 49 B.C. was very clear about an army crossing a small stream outside Rome: it was considered an act of war. Julius Caesar knew this, and led his 13th Legion across that stream, declaring, in the historian Suetonius’ words, “The die is cast!” Caesar and his army did not turn back, but continued on to war, and ultimately defeated Pompey the Great. This turning point in history is referenced whenever we talk about approaching a point of no return and utter the phrase, “crossing the Rubicon.”
“The Rubicon” sculpture (pictured above) by Karen Swenholt brings the idea of crossing a point of no return to our visual space, and provides room for the viewer to consider several points that are often true with such dividing lines in our lives:
A) The red line is rather small; perhaps insignificant?
B) The physical space beyond the red line does not seem appreciably different from the space before the red line.
C) Surely, the person who crosses the red line will, on the far side, be the same person as the one who approached it: is this really true?
Consider these questions as you read . . .
1) Defining Death:
- Journal Article — The 50-Year Legacy of the Harvard Report on Brain Death (subscription required for full text)
- Related Journal Article — Defining Death—Making Sense of the Case of Jahi McMath (subscription required for full text)
2) Human Genetic Modification:
- News Article — Designer babies on horizon as ethics council gives green light to genetically edited embryos
- Comment — Designer babies are ‘morally permissible’ says British bioethics group
3) In Vitro Fertilization (IVF):
- News Article about first IVF baby — 40 years later: First ‘test-tube’ baby optimistic for future of IVF
- News Article with a different view — IVF ‘gravy train’ giving couples false hope says senior medic Prof Robert Winston
4) Marijuana Use:
- Journal Article (subscription required) — Association of Cannabis Use With Adolescent Psychotic Symptoms
- News and Comment — All Young Cannabis Users Face Psychosis Risk — “Cannabis use, in any given year, predicted an increase in psychosis symptoms a year later”