Politics
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“A Better Originalism” – Arkes and Snedeker in The American Mind
A new statement of purpose published in The American Mind, written by Prof. Hadley Arkes, Garrett Snedeker, Joshua Hammer, and Matthew Peterson calls upon conservatives to adopt an originalism of moral substance. The authors write: “We are faced with a moment of political crisis. The Biden administration seeks to fundamentally transform the United States by […] -
The Test of Heartbeats for Judges–and Other Former Fetuses: Prof. Hadley Arkes in The Catholic Thing
In his weekly column for The Catholic Thing, JWI Founder and Director Prof. Hadley Arkes details some of the history of the Right’s strategy on pro-life legislation in Congress and the Courts. Republicans, Arkes contends, have not tried to overturn Roe in one fell swoop, but rather have taken smaller steps that gradually restrict abortion […] -
PODCAST: Professor Scott Yenor on “The Recovery of Family Life”
The James Wilson Podcast features Professor Scott Yenor of Boise State University on his book examining the challenges facing the modern family. Author and Professor Scott Yenor joins JWI Deputy Director Garrett Snedeker and intern Peter Spence to discuss his new book, “The Recovery of Family Life”. Professor Yenor’s book explores the problems that the […] -
Professor Gerard V. Bradley: “The Constitution’s ‘Value Judgements'” – James Wilson Symposium
JWI has launched a collaborative partnership for 2021 with the Liberty Fund’s online journal, Law & Liberty. Led by its Director, Richard Reinsch, Law & Liberty has become one of the premier journals on the right for writing on jurisprudence, politics, and culture. Prof. Hadley Arkes opened our first symposium in February 2021 with “Letter to a […] -
“On the Moral Alchemy of the Political Party”: Hadley Arkes in The Catholic Thing
In his column for The Catholic Thing, JWI Founder and Director Hadley Arkes reflects on the historical role of political parties in the U.S. and the state that they are in today. The parties of the present have lost their sense of morality and no longer know their place in our society, Arkes contends, noting […] -
“Toward a New Jurisprudential Consensus: Common Good Originalism” – Josh Hammer in Public Discourse
In an essay for Public Discourse, JWI Affiliated Scholar Josh Hammer implores conservatives to embrace a new approach to originalism that emphasizes the common good. He argues that originalism has become entirely unmoored from conservatism rightly understood, particularly in light of Justice Gorsuch’s decision in Bostock v. Clayton County. It must be replaced by a […] -
“The Misadventures of a Pro-Life Senator”: Hadley Arkes in The Catholic Thing
In his column for The Catholic Thing, Professor Hadley Arkes details Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse’s recent efforts as lead sponsor to pass a bill that would protect babies who survive botched abortions. This is an updated version of the Born-Alive bill Arkes has shaped for nearly twenty years. While Sasse should be praised for his […] -
“It Was The Supreme Court’s Liberals Who Established Protests Are Not ‘Sedition’” – Professor Hadley Arkes in The Federalist
In an essay for the Federalist, JWI founder and director Professor Hadley Arkes explores the Court’s approach to demonstrations under the First and Fourteenth Amendments. He examines how Supreme Court justices have regarded with concern the right of protestors to demonstrate in particular locations, such as outside the Supreme Court while trials are underway. Justices […] -
“The Limits of ‘Free Speech'” – Josh Hammer in Newsweek
In a piece for Newsweek, Josh Hammer explores how conservatives should approach the issue of free speech from both a practical and philosophical perspective, in light of past comments made by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s (R-GA) that have recently surfaced. Although Hammer acknowledges the Left’s hostility to free speech, he cautions conservatives against appealing to […] -
“Civic Virtue as Moral Facts: Recovering the Other Half of Our Founding” – Professor Daniel Mahoney in RealClearPublicAffairs
In an essay for Real Clear Public Affairs, Professor Daniel Mahoney of Assumption University argues that the American Founding presupposed a belief in moral facts and the immutability of human nature. The Founding Fathers, and the American people more broadly, understood that society required a strong moral foundation. They knew that self-government required a virtuous […]