The James Wilson Foundation on Natural Rights and the American Founding

Writing in The Federalist with a piece titled, “Yes, Americans Could Live Without Government-Defined Health Insurance,” Prof. Arkes notes the simple truth that Americans are indeed intelligent enough to make provisions for their medical needs without the government mandating health insurance. Some excerpts: “Why do we assume that the American people will be thrown into […]

In the aftermath of the 2016 election, Prof. Arkes recalls an earlier era in which a robust congressional agenda with Republican leadership shaped the direction of the country. The piece, published in NRO, is titled, “Bring Back That ‘Do-Nothing Republican Congress.’” Some excerpts: “Writers have been trying to compare the political situation now to that of […]

On November 26, 2016, C-SPAN aired a recording of Prof. Hadley Arkes delivering one of his iconic lectures, putting in place the premises that were central to the American regime: “The American Founding and the Crisis of the House Divided.” C-SPAN filmed Prof. Arkes in September 2016 delivering an early session in the course that became known to […]

We are pleased to share a piece composed by one of our 2016 James Wilson Fellows, Kevin LeRoy, “To Fight Assisted Suicide in the Courts, Stop Arguing Federalism.”  In this article published at The Federalist, Mr. LeRoy makes the case that lawyers arguing against physician assisted suicide ought to step back from making a procedural […]

In a personal account of growing up in 1940-50′s Chicago, Prof. Arkes reflects on the changes that the city has undergone–aesthetically, structurally, and morally–in his piece, “The Lost Structures of Civility,” published in City Journal. Some excerpts: “An older colleague in fine arts at Amherst College, Frank Trapp, would drop by the house unannounced in […]

In the weeks leading up to the 2016 election, Prof. Arkes writes “An Appeal to Paul Ryan,” a column in the Claremont Review Digital Edition which recapitulates the Professor’s stance on why conservative Republicans can and should support Donald Trump on November 8th.  In this piece, he notes the particular value there is to having […]

Writing in The Catholic Thing on the occasion of an exchange during the 2016 Vice Presidential Debate between Gov. Mike Pence and Sen. Tim Kaine, Prof. Hadley Arkes critiques the popular political opinion that being pro-life is a matter of “belief” or “faith,” rather than a precept accessible to all humans, in his piece, “Pro-Lifers Settle […]

We invite you to read a piece entitled “Autonomy or Worthiness?  How to Find Dignity in Death,” by our Deputy Assistant Director, Margaux Killackey.  Miss Killackey wrote this piece in response to an earlier Public Discourse article by Dr. Aaron Rothstein, “All Death is Death Without Dignity.” “Dr. Rothstein’s own thesis seems to be built upon […]

We invite you to read Prof. Arkes writing for First Things, in which he addresses the grave matters at stake if Hillary Clinton is elected president. “At a recent gathering in Washington, D.C., a conservative lawyer, active in the bar of the Supreme Court, turned furious when he heard the declarations of a Never Trumper: […]

We invite you to read an interview of Prof. Arkes in The World Magazine with Marvin Olasky.  In this interview, Prof. Arkes reflects on being a professor, the 2016 election, the pro-life movement, his Faith, and his marriage. Some excerpts: Olasky: “Would both major presidential candidates get an F on one of your exams?” Arkes: “I […]