A review of Plato: Political Philosophy by Malcolm Schofield. The first chapter form Søren Kierkegaard: A Biography by Joakim Garff. Iran on jails Iranian-American Haleh Esfandiari, director of Middle East studies at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. The fight for understanding: Charles Taylor's theory of secular and cross-faith engagement is what our society needs in order to build respect and end violence. It is bracing to see a major Straussian in action. Harvey Mansfield's delivery was so genial, so good-natured, that it required close attention to his prepared text to realize how radical he is. A review of The History Wars by Stuart Macintyre and Anna Clark.
Wellesley taps Yale biologist Kim Bottomly to be its next president. Nine prominent professors are leading an effort to rethink the culture of undergraduate teaching and learning at Harvard. Some colleges have longer wait lists than in previous years, offering a chance of openings if enough accepted applicants don't enroll. New graduation skills: As business schools start to teach more ethics and practical skills, enrolments are climbing again. Sex-Crazed Co-Eds! If Annsley Chapman reads one more article about college girls gone wild, she really will go wild. Carol Lloyd on college girls gone wild (and proud of it).
Fifty-three years after Brown v. Board of Education, the Supreme Court will rule on two cases that will decide the future of school integration. L.A. students are hooking up with tutors in South Asia for help with their homework. Is this global economy cool, or what? New computer software that detects plagiarism in student essays could have long-lasting consequences for tutor-pupil relations.
From Smithsonian, species explosion: What happens when you mix evolution with climate change? In a whale-sized project, the world's scientists plan to compile everything they know about all of Earth's 1.8 million known species and put it all on one website (and more on the Encyclopedia of Life and a video with E. O. Wilson). From American Scientist, an interview with Desmond Morris, author of The Naked Woman: A Study of the Female Body. Two Millennia of Impotence Cures: An excerpt from Impotence: A Cultural History. Research finds oral sex can cause throat cancer.
From New Scientist, a quirky look at our quirky species: Humans are strange creatures that must be studied in strange ways, says psychologist Richard Wiseman. This Is Your Brain. This Is Your Brain on Neurotechnology: New brain research is leading to second thoughts on our morality. From The Scientist, hot paper in epigenetics: Twins diverge by Charles Q. Choi. Not Surprised You Speak Our Language: On the one hand, it's dos svidania, on the other sallam — globalization and jihad have language studies in an upheaval. Scientists examining documents dating back 3,500 years say they have found proof that the origins of modern medicine lie in ancient Egypt and not with Hippocrates and the Greeks. King Herod's secret is out: Archaeologists discover tomb of ancient King of Judea.
From Technology Review, Objects of Desire: Famous industrial designers talk about iconic pieces of technology. And 10 uses for audio cassettes: Sales of audio cassettes are dwindling, but what use is there for the estimated 500 million tapes gathering dust?
