Book Review: Realizing Reason: A Narrative of Truth and Knowing by Danielle Macbeth

This review examines Danielle Macbeth’s novel and compelling account of the formal languages of mathematics, from Euclid’s geometrical diagrams to the algebraic equations of Descartes and the differential equations of Newton and Leibniz, to the much more abstract language of Galois, Bolzano and Riemann. She argues that the practice of those 19th century mathematicians, reasoning deductively from abstract concepts like ‘group’ and ‘manifold’, inspired the philosophical logician Gottlob Frege, whose Begriffsschrift captures the procedures of those who reasoned in concepts. However, his way of formalizing mathematical reasoning was obscured by the success of Bertrand Russell and Alfred North Whitehead’s Principia Mathematica, which gave rise to modern predicate logic. Macbeth argues that the Begriffsschrift should be re-examined and revived

If She Were a Man: the Role of Gender in Perceptions of Candidate Qualifications

My thesis is interested in voter behavior and the role gender plays in their choice of candidates. Specifically, I seek to understand the significance of gender in voters\u27 perceptions of candidates for higher office. First, I analyzed previous academic literature about voter considerations, political ambition, and the reasons for the representation gap in American politics. Then, I completed a qualitative study asking respondents about characteristics of preferred candidates to look for gender cues, and a quantitative study asking respondents to evaluate potential candidates for higher office. Because of the increasing importance of partisanship, I found that contrary to public perception, gender was not a significant consideration for voters. Otherwise identical potential male and female candidates were evaluated equally by voters. These results suggest that while gender stereotypes may have previously impacted voter perception of female candidates, it is not a major barrier to women running for office. It shows us that public perception has not caught up with political reality, and that the only way to address the underrepresentation of women in politics is for social perceptions about voter behavior to realign with how views of female candidates have progressed

Teaching the Complex Numbers: What History and Philosophy of Mathematics Suggest

The narrative about the nineteenth century favored by many philosophers of mathematics strongly influenced by either logic or algebra, is that geometric intuition led real and complex analysis astray until Cauchy and Kronecker in one sense and Dedekind in another guided mathematicians out of the labyrinth through the arithmetization of analysis. Yet the use of geometry in most cases in nineteenth century mathematics was not misleading and was often key to important developments. Thus the geometrization of complex numbers was essential to their acceptance and to the development of complex analysis; geometry provided the canonical examples that led to the formulation of group theory; and geometry, transformed by Riemann, lay at the heart of topology, which in turn transformed much of modern mathematics. Using complex numbers as my case study, I argue that the best way to teach students mathematics is through a repertoire of modes of representation, which is also the best way to make mathematical discoveries

Book Review: Love and Math: The Heart of Hidden Reality by Edward Frenkel

This review traces Edward Frenkel’s attempt to convey the excitement of mathematical research to a popular audience. In his expositions and explanations of his own research program, he shows how processes of mathematical discovery depend on the juxtaposition of various iconic and symbolic modes of representation as disparate fields of research are brought together in the service of problem solving. And he shows how crucial the encouragement of various older mathematicians was to his own development, as they guided his choice of problems, and served as inspiration

The Shadow of Kiobel and Jesner: An Examination of the Alien Tort Statute and Bringing It Back into the Light

The Alien Tort Statute ( ATS ) was enacted in 1789 and for roughly two centuries seemed fated to go down as a curious historical footnote. Invoked only a handful of times over the ensuing two hundred years, the ATS had new life breathed into it in 1980 with the Second Circuit case of Filartiga v. Pena-Irala. The ATS subsequently became a vehicle for victims of human rights violations seeking redress in U.S. courts. But while Filartiga represented a small window of opportunity opening for human rights activists, this utility would prove short-lived as the Supreme Court quickly began to curtail the applicability of the ATS: first putting its hand on the window sill with the case of Sosa v. Alvarez-Machain, then slamming it closed in Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum Co., and finally bolting the lock and throwing away the key recently in Jesner v. Arab Bank, PLC. This constant chipping away at the ATS has sharply limited the circumstances in which it can be invoked, rendering it virtually toothless. This Note argues that the Court\u27s interpretations of the ATSpost-Sosa is both flawed and at odds with its underlying intent. It will contrast the workable standard laid out by the Sosa Court with the subsequent brittle constructions of the Kiobel and Jesner Courts. This Note posits that the standard imposed by the Court in Sosa is best interpreted using Justice Breyer\u27s concurrence from Kiobel and Justice Sotomayor\u27s dissent in Jesner and calls for the adoption of a synthesis of these as the best interpretation of the ATS going forward. Specifically, this hybrid test interprets the first prong of Sosa through Justice Sotomayor\u27s Jesner dissent and relies on customary international law to inform courts as to what recognized norms are. It interprets the second prong of Sosa through Justice Breyer\u27s Kiobel concurrence and allows courts to use their discretion in determining whether enforcement of these norms is appropriate, viz, does it concern distinct American interests. This Note will show that this hybrid test is an appropriatelyc onstrainedi nterpretationo f the ATS based on its text, history, and intent, and will also apply this hybrid test to two recent cases to demonstrate its viability and applicability in practice

In the Shadows: Third-Party Litigation Funding Agreements and the Effect Their Nondisclosure Has on Civil Trials

Third-party litigation funding ( TPLF ) has become an increasingly common practice in the United States in recent years, especially in the field of civil litigation. In civil practice, TPLF entails a third party funding the litigation costs of an actual party to a case and in turn the third party receives a share of any damages if the suit is successful. Often, the court and jury are not aware of any TPLF agreement, as there are currently few rules requiring disclosure of the existence of such agreements or the identity of TPLF financiers. And while generally entities engaged in TPLF have no connection to the parties, in at least one high-profile case the third party financing the litigation had a personal animus against the defendants. Further, there is evidence suggesting the plaintiff\u27s litigation strategy in that case was driven by this animus between the third party and the defendants and had an effect on the overall outcome of the lawsuit. This trend raises numerous concerns, namely whether TPLF arrangements should be allowed to take place in the shadows while courts and juries are none the wiser. Opponents of the practice as it currently stands argue TPLF agreements should be disclosed in the name of fairness to the parties and in the spirit of transparency. Proponents of the status quo, on the other hand, argue TPLF allows individuals who would otherwise not be able to afford the high cost of litigation to vindicate their rights and that disclosure of these agreements will have improper effects on jury verdicts. As of early 2020, Wisconsin and West Virginia are the only states with laws requiring disclosure of TPLF agreements; however, there are currently proposals in the United States Senate and in many states that would enshrine rules requiring TPLF disclosure. Similar proposals have also been made before the Federal Advisory Committee on Civil Rules of Practice and Procedure. This Note argues for the adoption of these proposed rules requiring disclosure of TPLF agreements. It will approach this from the perspective of third parties funding the litigation costs of plaintiffs (as opposed to funding defense cases). This Note will also show that mandatory TPLF disclosure aligns more closely with the notions of fairness that underline the main tenets of the American civil system. And because disclosure should have no effect on the substantive facts and laws at issue in a dispute, it should thus not impact verdicts. It could, however, play a role in calculating potential punitive damages, namely in cases where the TPLF is motivated by personal animus against one of the parties. Finally, this Note will rebut arguments against mandatory disclosure by showing that any concerns regarding the adoption of such rules are outweighed by fundamental concerns for fairness and transparency

Using Digital Scholarship Tools to Spark Entrepreneurial Spirit in Incarcerated Individuals

Prisons and jails often lack the technology found in our current digital world. Society continues to prioritize technological innovations, yet those in confinement are exposed to few of these. Meanwhile, studies show that digital literacy improves one\u27s chances of finding employment post-incarceration and reduces the likelihood of returning to confinement. Since 2016, we have taught a nearly technology-free Entrepreneurship program at a maximum-security Florida prison. The course is expanding to a local jail with a more progressive stance towards technology. We propose to enhance the course by integrating digital scholarship tools, allowing us to improve the efficiency of course delivery while preparing our students to be successful as they navigate employment opportunities post-release

Baker Street Wonderpass: evaluation of improvement works

Summary: Baker Street Quarter Partnership identified the pedestrian subway under the Marylebone Road as an area that many of its members would like to see improved. Researchers from the Policy Studies Institute were commissioned to provide an impartial evaluation of improvement works that were carried out to transform the subway into the ‘Baker Street Wonderpass’. The views of users were assessed through an online survey of Baker Street Quarter members (June 2015), pedestrian counting and face-to-face surveys both before the improvement works (July 2015) and after the Wonderpass had opened (February 2016). The pre-works surveys took place in July 2015, with 206 subway users’ answering a total of 12 questions. The post-works surveys took place in February 2016 with 163 subway users answering a total of 15 questions. The survey was supplemented by ‘vox-pop’ interviews. Pedestrian counts before and after the improvement works show a very large increase in pedestrian traffic after the improvement works were completed. After the improvement works, morning usage increased by 153.8%, afternoon usage increasing by 27.8%, and evening usage increasing by 70.8%. Survey results showed a substantial improvement in user’s satisfaction with the lighting, cleanliness, overall appearance, safety, signage and visibility of the subway. The redevelopment of the subway and the opening of the Wonderpass have been a clear success. 83.9% of users said that the subway was ‘much better’, and 98.4% of users said that they thought the subway was ‘better’ or ‘much better’ after the improvement works. Overall, the investment in the Marylebone Road underpass has greatly improved usage levels and user perceptions of the subway and some users stated that they used the subway solely to see the renovations and new displays. While users previously complained about the cleanliness, lighting and appearance of the subway, by February 2016 it has been successfully transformed into a much safer, cleaner, and more desirable ‘Wonderpass’ to cross Marylebon

THE INTRODUCED SABELLID POLYCHAETE TEREBRASABELLA HETEROUNCINATA IN CALIFORNIA: TRANSMISSION, METHODS OF CONTROL AND SURVEY FOR PRESENCE IN NATIVE GASTROPOD POPULATIONS

The sabellid polychaete Terebrasabella heterouncinata (Fitzhugh & Rouse 1999) has a unique life history in which larvae settle on the edge of gastropod shells and rely on shell deposition to create a tube with an opening to the exterior. This worm was accidentally imported to California, USA on abalone from South Africa in the 1980s and spread with abalone shipments to most culture facilities and some public aquaria throughout the state. Its ability to infest California's native gastropods has sparked concern regarding potential establishment in intertidal habitats adjacent to facilities that held sabellid-positive abalone. We examined the ability of T. heterouncinata to transmit between individual turban snails, Tegula funebralis. We found that transmission between T.funebralis did occur, but at a significantly slower rate than that between red abalone Haliotis rufescens. During 2002 to 2006 native gastropods (turban snails and limpets) were collected at most sabellid-exposed sites and no T. heterouncinata were detected; it thus appears that this species has not become established in California. Freshwater exposure was examined as a method to kill T. heterouncinala in shell fragments that may remain after abalone are removed from production or display units. Freshwater immersion for up to 8 hours but not 16 or 32 h resulted in survival of adults and/or larvae resident in brood chambers. In a similar study, motile T. heterouncinata larvae were found to survive up to 32 see of freshwater exposure, whereas none survived a 64-sec exposure. These data can be used by abalone culture and display facilities to establish reliable sanitization procedures to prevent T. heterouncinata transmission or reinfestation