On "Coherence" and "Law": An Analysis of Different Models

The aim of this paper is to compare different conceptions of the role of (normative) coherence in the legal field. More precisely, it aims to deepen Neil MacCormick's theory of legal reasoning, in which coherence is essentially considered an interpretative tool, and Ronald Dworkin's legal theory, in which coherence occupies a more crucial place. The main results of this paper can be summarized in two points. A) For Dworkin, coherence is not just an interpretative standard but constitutes the hard core of his theory of law. B) As a consequence of A, Dworkin's reflections on coherence (as an interpretative standard) cannot be separated from his theory of law grounded on the concept of integrity.     

醉驾:“一律入刑”还是“区别对待”

如何合理划定"醉驾"犯罪圈的大小,"一律入刑"与"区别对待"两种见解存在实质性分歧。罪刑法定原则作为刑事司法不可逾越的屏障,司法机关应该通过"一律入刑"呼应其明确性要求,同时限制司法机关的权力扩张;主观主义与客观主义作为两种不同的解释方式,在实践选择的位阶上应该以文本映射的主观主义优先适用;刑法总分体系需要刑事立法与司法进行一体化贯彻,在刑事立法已然兼顾总则要求的前提下不能通过"区别对待"再次限缩分则罪名的适用范围;"一律入刑"的主张不违背宽严相济刑事政策的内在精神,刑事政策的刑法化要求刑事司法必须坚守这一法治立场。     

“我与你”的心理学心理学的三种话语形态

在心理学的研究中存在着三种话语形态,即"我的"心理学,"你的"心理学,"我与你的"心理学.不同的话语形态蕴含了不同的研究模式,研究者与研究对象的关系是"我"、"你"的关系."我"、"你"长期各自为阵,成为两极.话语上的割裂最终导致了心理学的科学性与现实性的割裂.只有在"我与你"的话语形态中,通过对话,才能将心理学研究的科学性与现实性有机地统一起来.     

“南北矛盾视角”应当“摒弃”吗?——聚焦“中-加2012BIT”

中国经济的迅猛发展不但提高了其在国际社会中的经济排名次序,而且加快了其对外投资的脚步,然而,随之而来的各种言论却将中国以及数十个其他发展中国家推向了不利的地位,诸如"中国已不再属于发展中国家的范畴"、"南北矛盾视角在构建国际经济规则和缔结BITs的谈判中已经过时,应当摒弃",等等。但这些说法的科学性、准确性及其背后隐藏的含义却着实有待推敲和商榷。本文拟从南北矛盾与BITs的本源出发,以新近缔结的"中-加2012 BIT"中的两大核心条款为例,试图证明在构建国际经济规则过程中和缔结BITs的谈判中,不能够、也不应当摒弃"南北矛盾视角"。     

美国州长卖官始末

在2008年12月9日世界反腐日当天，美国伊利诺伊州州长和他的办公室主任一齐被捕。此案让人们惊奇：号称政治清廉的美国也有卖官事件？其实，此案让我们看到了美国政治运作中的制衡力量和严密的监督体系。     

Symmetrical "mirror-image" injuries and the "chessboard" pattern: useful markers of self-mutilation

The evaluation of injuries due to self-mutilation may be complicated by atypical lesions and fabricated histories of the causative events. Four cases are described where one of the most striking findings was the presence of "mirror-image" injuries and/or a "chessboard" pattern of intersecting parallel lines from self-inflicted incised wounds. Case 1: A 32-year-old man was dead in his burnt-out car, with symmetrical, "mirror-image", circular burns from the car cigarette lighter over his forehead, cheeks, ears, upper and lower arms, the dorsal and palmar aspects of the hands, the anterior chest wall including the nipples, the anterior abdomen, thighs, lower legs, and the back of his neck. The deceased had a history of psychotic depression and had died of burns and inhalation of products of combustion. Case 2: A 19-year-old woman who fabricated a history of assault demonstrated multiple, superficial, "mirror-image" injuries of her thighs and forearms. Case 3: A 32-year-old man who exsanguinated from cut wrists showed multiple, superficial, and "mirror-image" incised wounds of the wrists, with a "chessboard" pattern. Case 4: A 26-year-old man died after jumping from a building. He had multiple superficial, "mirror-image" incised wounds of his anterior chest and thighs, with a typical "chessboard" pattern. Given the difficulties that sometimes arise in determining whether injuries have been self-inflicted or not, the finding of symmetrical "mirror-image" injuries, and/or a "chessboard" pattern formed by 2 groups of regular, parallel, superficial incised wounds running at right angles to each other provides compelling evidence of self-mutilation, unless a plausible alternative explanation is available.     

反行政垄断没必要区分“地区垄断与部门垄断”

如何对行政垄断进行科学分类,是反行政垄断必须解决的问题.目前我国理认界和法律实务界对行政垄断两种形态即地区垄断和部门垄断虽然有较为一致辞的认识,但因两存在较多的交叉重叠,也由于两者在然害性质和然害手段上基本相同,所以无论在实践上还是在理论上,两者的区分意义不大.     

混合法的制度设计:"法律"与"法官"的折中

以今人的分析方式对中国古代法律进行研究,可以看出中国古代法律兼有大陆法系的"制定法"与英美法系的"判例法"特征,在中国古代社会的法律体系中,律的稳定性与权威性不容置疑,但律文的简明扼要又为法官在司法实践中的"造法"留有充分的空间.这种"制定"与"判例"并重的混合特征,使中国古代法律样式呈多元化的发展趋势,而法官在法律体系中的作用也举足轻重.法律与法官的折中正是独具特色的中国古代社会混合法体系所具有的特色.     

HIPAA privacy: "individual rights" and the "minimum necessary" requirements

This Article focuses on two key aspects of the proposed regulations related to health information privacy published by the Department of Health and Human Services ("DHHS") pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 ("HIPAA"). These two aspects, the provisions regarding individual rights and the provisions requiring use of the minimum amount of information necessary to accomplish a given purpose, will be particularly burdensome for the healthcare industry. Furthermore, they are likely to generate a significant number of complaints to the DHHS Secretary relating to alleged violations of the regulations. This Article analyzes the proposed regulations governing these two issues and offers practical advice regarding steps that entities should take in anticipation of the final regulations.     

Hair analysis: self-reported use of "speed" and "ecstasy" compared with laboratory findings

Drug use histories were collected from 100 subjects recruited from the "dance scene" in and around Glasgow, Scotland. In addition, each subject donated a hair sample which was analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) for amphetamine (AP), methamphetamine (MA), 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MD MA) and 3,4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDEA). The hair samples were analyzed in two 6 cm segments or in full, ranging from 1.5 to 12 cm depending on the length of the hair. Approximately 10 mg of hair was ground to a fine powder before treatment with beta-glucuronidase/aryl sulfatase. A solid-phase extraction procedure was carried out followed by derivatization with pentafluoropropionic anhydride (PFPA). All extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Of the 139 segments analyzed, 77 (52.5%) were positive for at least one of the five amphetamines. The drug concentrations found in the hair were compared with the self-reported drug histories. A concordance of greater than 50% was found between the self-report data and levels detected in hair. However, no correlation was found between the reported number of "ecstasy" tablets consumed and the drug levels detected in hair. An increase in the average drug levels measured was observed from low to high use (number of "ecstasy" tablets/month). A large number of false negatives and a low number of false positives were observed.     

"法律"字词的使用是怎样实践的?——在"康熙世界"与"孟德斯鸠世界"之间

关于"法律"一词是如何使用的,在中国的康熙时期和孟德斯鸠时期进行比较具有重要意义.因为,它们之间存在间接而又重要的联系.经过比较,我们可以发现并且深入理解"法律"一词的"世界流通"问题,进而从新的角度理解中西法学关系.而知识社会学的方法对近代这段历史研究有着重要启发.     

“皮筋”变“钢尺”：对规范行政处罚自由裁量权的思考

在行政执法中如何克服随意性,正确行使自由裁量权,增强行政处罚透明度,提高行政执法效能,是所有行政机关一直深入研讨的课题。现实的自由裁量权是＂皮筋＂,期望中的自由裁量权是＂钢尺＂,＂皮筋＂变为＂钢尺＂的过程,是漫长的,需要立法监督、司法监督、行政自身监督、舆论监督等的共同努力,从而最大限度地制约、压缩执法人员手中的＂弹性空间＂来实现的。     

Politics and bioethical commissions: "muddling through" and the "slippery slope"

When they have addressed highly controversial subjects, the bioethical commissions of the last decade have tended to avoid explaining the ethical justifications for their recommendations. This omission is consistent with the typical preference of policymakers for "muddling through," because it is often possible to reach agreement on specific decisions even when disagreeing sharply on principles. In bioethical policy, this omission of reasons has some special consequences. It allows commission members to ignore "slippery slope" arguments, which are based on the claim that the logic of justification adopted to address the current problem will ultimately lead us to great harms. Case-by-case decision-making--along with the omission of reasons for decisions--will tend to highlight the benefits of innovation, and downplay possible long-term effects that might be ethically upsetting.     

“现代化”指标体系研究的再认识——兼论“提前”、“率先”应当慎提

由可操作化的现代化概念到现代化指标体系的出现,是认识的深化,反映了社会的进步.所谓"英格尔斯现代化指标体系"本不存在,却对我国的现代化研究和现代化实践产生了误导.十六大以后国内关于全面小康和现代化的指标体系研究有了新进展,但从一定意义上讲仍然不够科学、不够完善.联合国千年发展目标则代表了目前指标体系研究领域的国际先进水平,引入这一目标体系,将对我国的现代化指标体系研究和全面小康与现代化建设的实践产生积极影响.