马克思与现代自然法思想的内在难题——基于《论犹太人问题》的分析

在人类法律思想的发展史上,现代自然法思想奠定了现代法律思想的基础,成为了资产阶级革命最为有力的武器。然而,自其诞生开始,现代自然法思想就蕴含着内在矛盾,该矛盾在资产阶级革命胜利之后进一步凸显出来。马克思走向成熟时期的论著——《论犹太人问题》——揭示了这一矛盾的深层次原因。而且,马克思进一步指出,人要获得最后的解放必须批判随资产阶级革命而建立起来的现实世界,并最终消除导致人之异化的资本。如此,现代自然法思想中的难题也才有了彻底解决的可能。     

论知识产权的道德基础

知识产权的道德或正当性一直是知识产权学术界和社会实践中争论最多和分歧最大的问题,也是构建知识产权理论和处理实务工作必须面对的最重要和最基本的问题.在前期对知识产权客体的哲学基础①和知识产权之财产权的经济学基础②深入研究的基础上,比较深入地分析了知识产权的道德基础问题,指出:对于知识产权问题,可适用天理道德和契约道德两类道德规范,其中天理道德主要体现为“谁创造谁所有”;契约道德包括“先占先得”和诚信.知识产权之精神权完全符合这两类道德,但知识产权之财产权却难以完全符合这两类道德.更重要的是,知识产权之财产权的对象(财产)是关于知识或特定有用信息的特许用益权,是各国立法主体根据本国整体利益最大化原则创设的,仅由立法主体代表本国人民整体利益的根本属性决定,与人类普遍遵从的道德无关.从本性和逻辑上看,知识或有用信息是公共产品,不存在盗窃问题;关于知识或有用信息的法定特许用益权只能被侵犯,不能被盗窃.因而知识产权只存在侵权与否或违法与否的问题.所谓“盗窃他人智力成果”的说法其实是一个伪命题.     

自然法抑或实证法——理性与意志视野下的美国宪法

在看待美国宪法观念中,一种观念将美国宪法视为自然法或高级法的摹本,认为美国宪法的特征在于人类凭借理性发现和宣布了自然法或高级法;另一种观念则将美国宪法视为纯粹的人民主权的意志表达。这两种观念都存在一定的曲解:美国宪法其实和古典自然法之间存在着巨大的断裂,是一种现代自然权利体系之下的人为宪法,但这种宪法并不是未经筛选的人民意志的表达,而是理性引导之下的意志表达。美国宪法的这种特征要求当代的法律人政治家既不能神话宪法,也不能轻视宪法,而是要求将宪法视为政治科学的教材,通过理解与对话来提升理性,从而思考宪法在当代的挑战。     

个体主义方法论和我国法人制度

私法自治是民法的理念,决定了民法理论体系的构建和制度生成。民法的理念决定了民法理论体系的立场是个人主义。私法中所坚持的是个人主义立场,因此决定了个体主义方法论是民法的基本研究方法。自然人与法人是最重要的民事主体类型,是民事主体制度的重要内容。法人是一个组织,但其行为需要由法人机关实施,因此如何合理设计法人法律制度,促使法人内部团体意志有效形成并通过法人机关实现,与第三人实施法律行为参与法律交往,实现法人的利益,同时能够有效约束法人机关,防止其利用代表权谋取私利损害法人的利益,对促进民法体系的完善与成熟,意义重大。本文从个体主义方法论的视角对我国《民法通则》中有关法人人格、法人分类、法人机关等法律制度进行评析并提出完善建议。     

被追诉人合法权益保障的考察——从人权的角度

人权问题一直是国际社会关注的焦点,正慢慢渗透到社会的方方面面,保障人权已是大势所趋。我国也在为保护和发展人权做出各种努力:刑事诉讼法把人权保障作为直接目的之一,加强了对被追诉人的人权保障,我国的刑事诉讼制度得到一定程度的完善。然而,同其他国家的做法及联合国刑事司法准则的规定相比,我国对被追诉人的合法权益的保障仍存在一些明显的缺陷,需要进一步完善。     

The suitability of using domestic pigs (Sus spp.) as human proxies in the geophysical detection of clandestine graves

Research in many forensic science fields commonly uses domestic pigs (Sus spp.) as proxies for human remains, due to their physiological and anatomical similarities, as well as being more readily available. Unfortunately, previous research, especially that which compares the decompositional process, has shown that pigs are not appropriate proxies for humans. To date, there has not been any published research that specifically addresses whether domestic pigs are adequate human proxies for the geophysical detection of clandestine graves. As such, the aim of this paper was to compare the geophysical responses of pig cadavers and human donor graves, in order to determine if pigs can indeed be used as adequate human proxies. To accomplish this, ground penetrating radar (GPR) and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) responses on single and multiple pig cadaver graves were compared to single and multiple human donor graves, all of which are in known locations within the same geological environment. The results showed that under field conditions, both GPR and ERT were successful at observing human and pig burials, with no obvious differences between the detected geophysical responses. The results also showed that there were no differences in the geophysical responses of those who were clothed and unclothed. The similarity of the responses may reflect that the geophysical techniques can detect graves despite what their contents are. The study implications suggest that experimental studies in other soil and climate conditions can be easily replicated, benefiting law enforcement with missing persons cases.     

A note on household approach to credit rationing in agrarian economies

Using clues from transaction cost economics this note develops an intertemporal agricultural household model to explain the demand-side credit rationing from formal financial institutions in agrarian economies. The model employs ex-ante transaction costs, namely search cost and negotiation cost to explain this phenomenon. The model shows that with market failure an agricultural household's production decision is not separate from its consumption decision. This is when the policy analysis household approach, which includes simultaneous decision making in production and consumption side, becomes essential.     

Supporting local climate adaptation planning and implementation through local governance and decentralised finance provision

Policies developed at national levels can be unresponsive to local needs. Often they do not provide the rural poor with access to the assets and services they need to allow them to innovate and adapt to the ways that increased climate variability and change exacerbate challenges to basic securities – food, water, energy, and well-being. In development deficit circumstances, common pool resources are important for climate adaptation purposes. In order for climate adaptation actions to deliver resilience, local perspectives and knowledge need to be recognised and given due priority in formal planning systems. Basing formal adaptive development planning on local strategies can support and strengthen measures that people have been tested and know to work. Local climate adaptation through collective action can address current increases in climate variability, future incremental changes, and the need to transform existing systems to deal with qualitative shifts in climate. These types of adaptation can work in cumulative ways. The results of local adaptation collective action that have benefits of low rivalry between users while being highly inclusive can be considered “local public goods”. Evidence is beginning to emerge that when local governance systems facilitate high levels of participation in planning collective action for climate adaptation, and direct access to resources for implementing local plans, “local public goods” can be created and common pool resources better managed.     

Climate resilience in fragile and conflict-affected societies: concepts and approaches

To understand resilience to climate and environmental changes in fragile and conflict-affected societies is particularly important but equally challenging. In this paper, we first develop a conceptual framework to explore the climate-fragility-conflict and climate-resilience-peace nexus. Second, we discuss approaches to promote pathways from climatic changes to peace. We draw on the relevant literature and International Alert's experience in fragile and conflict-affected societies to stress the key role of resilience. To build resilience, climate, development, peacebuilding, and government actors would have to overcome bureaucratic and institutional barriers and cooperate across thematic and regional silos.     

The role of caste in the implementation of herbal gardens in Bangalore

Over the past few decades home garden research has emphasised the promotion of home gardening for nutritional and other welfare benefits for the poor in urban areas. Still, the urban communities who cultivate plants in their home gardens are in general represented as rather uniform groups, and no distinction is made in terms of caste, ethnic groups, or social class. This article asserts that social stratification represents an important aspect that needs to be taken into account while devising educational programmes and community projects for the promotion of home herbal gardens in urban areas.