From Newton's Sleep
Vining, Joseph
Sold by Valley Books, AMHERST, MA, U.S.A.
Association Member:
AbeBooks Seller since January 13, 1997
Used - Hardcover
Condition: Used - Fine
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketSold by Valley Books, AMHERST, MA, U.S.A.
Association Member:
AbeBooks Seller since January 13, 1997
Condition: Used - Fine
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basket398pp. Owner's signature on endpaper. No remainder mark. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.
Seller Inventory # 063693
What the presence of law tells us about our beliefs, our language, and the world around us
In a strikingly original work intended not only for practicing lawyers but for anyone interested in the modern dilemma of the loss of meaning, Joseph Vining invites us to reconsider law as a unique form of thought, inseparably connected to everything in the world that makes up human identity. Oliver Wendell Holmes asserted at the end of the nineteenth century that human law is ultimately a phenomenon in quantitative relations to its causes and effects, and many have been left with an impression of law as a set of processes and rules. Vining takes issue with this and with various reductionist attempts in scientific thought today to express the universe in a single mathematical description of forces, as well as with post-structuralist speculation that there are no valid truth claims, and that human inter-action can be reduced to analysis of power relationships. Law, he argues, is an independent discourse, not reducible to any other, that exists only in human interaction and reflects continuing human worth. Vining's search to reinstate the spiritual dimension in public discourse brings him head-on with a wide array of powerful academic forces: linguistics theory, political science, the new historicism, and the traditional teaching of law.
This book consists of a collection of what Vining calls "amplifications" of the implied text of the law—impressions, commentaries, vignettes, poems, and dialogues—which illustrate aspects of conventional legal language and logic, and the subjects legal practice regularly deals with, such as promises, death, and crime. Throughout we see that law reaches deeply into the way we know ourselves and other persons, all of whom speak through law as law connects language to person and person to action. The texts generated by legal method constitute the living record of social acquaintance and contest, speaking across cultures and across centuries. It is the close reading of legal texts and contexts, Vining argues, that provides the present source of the transcendental in modern secular life. But unlike the other academic arts of interpretation, law alone is directly connected with the most real, the most particular and, at the same time, the most universal facts of social life.
From Newton's Sleep casts doubt on the certainties past and present and creates new grounds for skepticism and conviction. The fragmentary form of the book mirrors its subject. It is intended to be picked up and read as occasion allows by lawyers and anyone interested in law.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Please designate shipping preference. Media mail is 4.25 for average size hardbacks and paperbacks in the U.S. Delivery confirmation is included in the price. $1.00 ea. addit. book. Oversized books are charged at exact cost. Flat-rate Priority rate is $6.95, including delivery confirmation. Oversized books shipped priority depend on weight and zone and will be charged at exact cost. Foreign postage, to most countries, is 32.95 for average size hardbacks, sent First Class International rate.. Can...
Preset shipping cost is based on average hardcover size and weight. Over-sized or unusually heavy books may require additional postage. Delivery confirmation free with every order. We describe accurately and pack carefully. We ship USPS unless another service is requested. We ship within 48 hours of receipt of order, often within 24 hours. We ship worldwide. Books are returnable within 7 days of receipt. ALL BOOKS ARE SHIPPED WITH TRACKING NUMBERS, TRACEABLE AT THE USPS WEBSITE. PLEASE REQUEST TRACKING NUMBERS. ANY CLAIMS OF NON-DELIVERY WILL BE CHALLENGED AGAINST THE TRACKING INFORMAITON PROVIDED BY THE USPS.
| Order quantity | 5 to 14 business days | 3 to 6 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | US$ 6.00 | US$ 10.50 |
Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.