Archive | October, 2009

The epistemology of legal evidence

A reminder that the bumper issue of EPISTEME is available for free download. See the first paragraph below which discusses the lacuna this issue fills.

WALTER SINNOTT-ARMSTRONG AND FREDERICK SCHAUER

INTRODUCTION

Epistemology and the philosophy of law are both thriving, but it is unfortunate that there is so little interaction between the two. Few books on epistemology deal with legal evidence, and few books on the legal system’s approach to evidence even recognize the sphere of philosophical epistemology. Law is not listed in the index to the admirable Blackwell Companion to Epistemology, and its entry on evidence moves on quickly after distinguishing what epistemologists and lawyers mean by evidence. The Oxford Handbook on Epistemology also has no index entry on law and only one short discussion of how psychology has affected evidence law. Perhaps more surprisingly, the Oxford Handbook of Jurisprudence and Philosophy of Law has 1,050 pages with no article or even entry in its index on evidence and only two pages that refer to epistemology. The Blackwell Companion to Philosophy of Law and Legal Theory does have one short article on evidence, but only one mention of epistemology or evidence outside of that article.

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Beauty and the brain

Here is a New York Review of Books blog report on a workshop conference held at IULM University Milan bringing together a mix of neurobiologists, philosophers and art historians.

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Signed Hume Cheque

This would make a lovely if somewhat expensive item for the Hume fan (thanks Gene via Mario for the link). See full details here.

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Memory Game

Test your memory skills with National Geographic.

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Constructivism and Relativism in Oakeshott

Here is a MS of my paper that was published here.

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Hayek Interview

Here is a transcript of a 15.25-hour interview completed under the auspices of the UCLA Oral History Program and the Pacific Academy of Advanced Studies. I haven’t read the piece so I can’t vouch for its quality (I don’t recognise the interviewers). Anyway, one would hope that there will be some interest within the 1,046 pages. Download here (pdf: 19.73 MB).

hayek_groovy

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Limits on the Communication of Knowledge in Human Organisations

I want to bring your attention to this superb paper by Jacky Mallett (one of the sharpest minds around) published in Studies in Emergent Order, Spring 2009, Vol. 2.

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Oakeshott, Buddhist?

See Andrew Sullivan’s blog. Elizabeth Corey’s book that Andrew so highly praises features heavily in the Oakeshott symposium for Zygon.

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Neuroscience and Politics

Over the last few years there has been a rash of articles concerning the relationship of neuroscience to politics – WiredBoingBoing - Crooked Timber. On this topic, here’s a recent posting from the ever-thoughtful Corey Abel. Update: assimilating this paper.

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Friedrich A. Hayek: His Life and Work

Here is a lecture on Hayek by disciple Kurt Leube, someone I have had a brief correspondence with. Not deep stuff but I suppose a decent introduction. Interestingly enough he touches upon The Sensory Order though Leube’s enthusiasm for/assessment of this work is way over the top: “TSO is one of the most celebrated books ever penned in the last century . . . ” While certainly a fascinating and deep work, it is hardly the case that it corresponds to the superlatives Leube confers upon it. My take on TSO is forthcoming.

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