In an interesting experimental study, Bonini et al. (1999) present partial support for truth-gap theories of vagueness. We say this despite their claim to find theoretical and empirical reasons to dismiss gap theories and despite the fact that they favor an alternative, epistemic account, which they call ‘vagueness as ignorance’. We present yet more experimental evidence that supports gap theor...

This Essay explores the largely overlooked relationship between claim construction and patent assertion entities (patent “trolls”) finding that claim construction problems and trends benefit patent assertion entities. First, the Federal Circuit is deeply divided as to the proper approach to claim construction. This split is a significant contributor to uncertain patent scope, which is widely-re...

Abstract The autonomy thesis is the claim that one cannot get a normative statement from purely descriptive statements. But despite its intuitive appeal precise formulation of has remained elusive. In recent paper, Maguire (2015) makes promising suggestion should be understood in terms ground. Maguire’s formulation, I argue, based on controversial taxonomic assumptions make into non-substantive...

making a negotiable instrument on behalf is one of the most important issues in negotiable instruments law. under general rules, the principle has the obligations arising from making negotiable instrument on behalf and agent is not in charge. if the maker wasn’t an agent or he violated the representation area, his act wouldn’t be valid. now the question is if the agent doesn’t manifest his posi...

The claim that some individuals see colored halos or auras around faces has long been part of popular folklore. Here we report on a 23-year-old man (subject TK) diagnosed with Asperger's disorder, who began to consistently experience colors around individuals at the age of 10. TK's colors are based on the individual's identity and emotional connotation. We interpret these experiences as a form ...

The claim that we have epistemic responsibilities, and that we can be blameworthy for failing to meet those responsibilities, has recently been challenged by a number of theorists on the grounds of nonvolunteerism: the claim that we do not have control over our beliefs. I argue that previous responses to this challenge fail to adequately address the problem and, furthermore, provide ancillary r...

The paper argues that, as far as logic and abstract metaphysics go, the claim that composition is identity could be true, despite wellmotivated arguments against the coherence of the claim. The key to answering the arguments is to reject a principle of universal substitutivity of “identical” plural expressions while retaining Leibniz’ Law, that identicals have the same properties, relations, an...