Jack Balkin (Yale): Original Meaning and Constitutional Redemption. Seth Barrett Tillman on Noncontemporaneous Lawmaking: Can the 110th Senate Enact a Bill Passed By the 109th House?; Aaron-Andrew P.Bruhl on Against Mix-and-Match Lawmaking; and a reply. An interview with Brian Leiter on Legal Philosophy: 5 Questions.
From Global Law Books, a review of Towards World Constitutionalism: Issues in the Legal Ordering of the World Community, a review of The Limits of International Law, and a review of War, Aggression and Self-Defence. A review of The Philosophy of War and Peace by Jenny Teichman. A review of Why Not Kill Them All? The Logic and Prevention of Mass Political Murder by Daniel Chirot and Clark McCauley. A review of Idealist Political Philosophy: Pluralism and Conflict in the Absolute Idealist Tradition. A review of Pierre Gassendi and the Birth of Early Modern Philosophy. An interview with Harvard's Elizabeth Warren on law, politics and the coming collapse of the middle class.
From Econ Journal Watch, Daron Acemoglu says the economic analysis of constitutions and political structure has been revolutionized by Torsten Persson and Guido Tabellini. But Charles Blankart and Gerrit Koester argue that the new political economics is not that new, and might be a step backwards; development economics has discovered important truths about trade, aid, property, and planning. Ian Vasquez recounts how the truths were pioneered in the work of Peter Bauer, and how the late-comers often neglect that learning; Dan D’Amico and Dan Klein examine the websites of Harvard and George Mason economists, and ask whether the differences speak of differences in character type; and where would Adam Smith publish today? Daniel Sutter and Rex Pjesky show that almost no math-free research appears in top economics journals pdf.
From LRB, Jerry Fodor reviews Consciousness and Its Place in Nature: Does Physicalism Entail Panpsychism? by Galen Strawson and et al. A review of Hours with the Mystics by Robert Alfred Vaughan. A review of Flock of Dodos: Behind Modern Creationism, Intelligent Design, and the Easter Bunny. A database of his letters reveal Darwin's caring, comic side - - in between agonising about his theory. Scientists are reaching a new consensus on the origins and mechanisms of morality, and evolutionary, neurological and social psychological insights are being synthesized in support of three principles. Security check: Why conservatives had happy childhoods but liberals have more sex. Whether it be a hand on the shoulder or a warm embrace, physical contact matters to us all.
Silicon Brains: Computer chips designed to mimic how the brain works could shed light on our cognitive abilities. A look at how fruit flies have displayed rudimentary free will. Fathoming out evolution: A survey of the Weddell Sea uncovers extraordinary biological diversity. Hail Linnaeus: Conservationists—and polar bears—should heed the lessons of economics. From Edge, an interview with Neil Turok on the cyclic universe. A set of results from the Hubble space telescope suggest that dark matter may finally have been “seen”. An interview with Marc Abrahams of the Annals of Improbable Research.
From Slate, You U: How do you start your own university? Man creates online Virginia Tech game, lets the player become the killer. And what's wrong with Arabic-language public schools? Amity Shlaes wants to know
