Jammer (1957, 1999), Max, Concepts of Force: A Study in the Foundations of Dynamics, Dover 2011 'Both historical treatment and critical analysis, this work by a noted physicist takes a fascinating look at a fundamental of physics, tracing its development from ancient to modern times. Kepler's initiation of scientific conceptualization, Newton's definition, post-Newtonian reinterpretation — contrasting concepts of Leibniz, Boscovich, Kant with those of Mach, Kirchhoff, Hertz. In-depth analysis of contemporary trend toward eliminating force from conceptual scheme of physics. "An excellent presentation." — Science. 1962 edition.' 
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Lonergan (1997), Bernard J F, and Robert M. Doran, Frederick E. Crowe (eds), Verbum: Word and Idea in Aquinas (Collected Works of Bernard Lonergan volume 2), University of Toronto Press 1997 Jacket: 'Verbum is a product of Lonergan's eleven years of study of the thought of Thomas Aquinas. The work is considered by many to be a breakthrough in the history of Lonergan's theology . . .. Here he interprets aspects in the writing of Aquinas relevant to trinitarian theory and, as in most of Lonergan's work, one of the principal aims is to assist the reader in the search to understand the workings of the human mind.' 
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Lonergan (2007), Bernard J F, and Michael G Shields (translator), Robert M Doran & H Daniel Monsour (editors), The Triune God: Systematics (Collected Works, volume 12), University of Toronto press 2007 De Deo trino, or The Triune God, is the third great instalment on one particular strand in trinitarian theology, namely, the tradition that appeals to a psychological analogy for understanding trinitarian processions and relations. The analogy dates back to St Augustine but was significantly developed by St Thomas Aquinas. Lonergan advances it to a new level of sophistication by rooting it in his own highly nuanced cognitional theory and in his early position on decision and love. . . . This is truly one of the great masterpieces in the history of systematic theology, perhaps even the greatest of all time.' 
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Lonergan (2009), Bernard J F, and Robert M Doran and H Daniel Monsour (eds), The Triune God: Doctrines (Volume 11 of Collected Works), University of Toronto Press 2009 Bernard Lonergan (1904-1984), a professor of theology, taught at Regis College, Harvard University, and Boston College. An established author known for his Insight and Method in Theology, Lonergan received numerous honorary doctorates, was a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1971 and was named as an original members of the International Theological Commission by Pope Paul VI. 
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Angela Giuffrida, Vatican calls gender fluidity and surrogacy threats to human dignity, ' Vatican calls gender fluidity and surrogacy threats to human dignity Infinite Dignity declaration reaffirms church’s position on gender reassignment, abortion and euthanasia Angela Giuffrida in Rome ' The Vatican has described the belief in gender fluidity as “a concession to the age-old temptation to make oneself God”, as it released an updated declaration of what the Catholic church regards as threats to human dignity. The new Dignitas infinita (Infinite Dignity) declaration released by the Vatican’s doctrinal office on Monday after five years in the making reiterates Pope Francis’s previous criticism of what he has called an “ugly ideology of our time”. “Desiring a personal self-determination, as gender theory prescribes, apart from this fundamental truth that human life is a gift, amounts to a concession to the age-old temptation to make oneself God, entering into competition with the true God of love revealed to us in the gospel,” the 20-page document says.' back

Harald Fox (2024), Peter Higgs was one of the greats of particle physics. He transformed what we know about the building blocks of the universe , 'Peter Higgs, who gave his name to the subatomic particle known as the Higgs boson, has died aged 94. He was always a modest man, especially when considering that he was one of the greats of particle physics – the area of science concerned with the building blocks of matter. In 1964, a few years after arriving from London to take up a position at the University of Edinburgh, Higgs read a paper by the American theoretical physicist Philip Anderson. At the time, physicists did not have a theory for how subatomic particles got their mass. (Mass can be described as the total amount of matter in an object, while weight is the force of gravity acting on an object.) Anderson’s paper showed that particles can have mass. When a system in physics – such as two different subatomic particles – becomes changed, physicists sometimes describe it as having “broken symmetry”. This can lead to the emergence of new properties. During a walk in the Scottish Highlands, Higgs had the idea of a lifetime. He figured out exactly how to apply the symmetry breaking he had read about in Anderson’s paper to an important group of particles called gauge bosons. It would lead to an explanation for how the building blocks of matter acquire their mass.' back

Javaid Rehman (Centre for Crime and Justice Studies), Freedom of expression, apostasy, and blasphemy within Islam: Sharia, criminal justice systems, and modern Islamic state practices, ' The dictatorial regime of General Zia (1977–1988) introduced draconian and arbitrary anti-blasphemy legislation in Pakistan. While ostensibly aimed at the Islamisation of Pakistan, the primary purpose of these laws was to strength Zia’s theocratic and religiously fundamentalist regime. Chapter XV of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) 1860 (as amended) lists in Section 295–297 a series of offences ‘relating to Religion’. The most controversial, however, has been the interpretation and application of Section 295–C of the PPC, which has made it an offence (subsequently held to be punishable by death) to make derogatory remarks about the Holy Prophet. The interpretation and application of the so-called anti-blasphemy laws, in particular Section 295–C, has been extremely unfortunate. Muslims as well as non-Muslims have been charged with the offence of blasphemy, with spurious charges such as support for Rushdie, or for the Ahmaddiyas displaying the Kalma Tayyaba in their shops or for offering Azan (Islamic call for prayers) (Rehman, 2001). It must be emphasised that the overall impact of these laws has been regrettable; not only have they produced a culture of religious intolerance, bigotry, and fanaticism but they also deter any form of rational and tolerant expression on matters pertaining to religion. This has created an environment which inculcates a sense of fear; religious extremists consider any criticism of existing political and socioeconomic evils within the ‘Islamic State’ to contravene the blasphemy laws. Cases have been registered against non-Muslim minorities and Muslims alike, under the blasphemy laws. The situation is such that even a recommendation to reconsider the existence of these laws potentially evokes serious recriminations and, therefore, any official proposal of repeal appears unlikely.' back

Julienne van Loon (2024), Bruce Pascoe’s Black Duck is a ‘healing and necessary’ account of a year on his farm, following a difficult decade after Dark Emu, ' Bruce Pascoe is best known for his natural history, Dark Emu, which argues that systems of pre-colonial food production and land management in Australia have been dramatically understated. At last count, the book had sold at least 360,000 copies of the original edition – and many more in the form of adaptations, translations, children’s and overseas editions. Since the publication of Dark Emu in 2014, Pascoe has had to endure extraordinary public scrutiny, as well as vehement attacks on his personal and professional reputation. Those who envy Pascoe’s runaway sales figures would surely not covet the scale of the personal attacks launched against him, primarily (but not wholly) led by right-wing critics who read the arguments laid out in Dark Emu as an opportunity to reignite Australia’s History Wars. . . . The work has echoes of Tove Jansson’s beautiful masterwork, The Summer Book, for its foregrounding of the land and its seasons, and for the emphasis on care and responsibility towards the natural environment. Pascoe’s skill with the poetics of nature writing, imbued with Indigenous knowledge, does much to create the book’s gentle pattern and its purpose. It is a quiet, funny, warm and insistent call to return to and care for Country. In this way, Black Duck: A Year at Yumburra makes a welcome contribution to Australian nonfiction.' back

Micaela Sahhar & Stephen Pascoe, The politics of recognition: Australia and the question of Palestinian statehood, ' Zionist claims to self-determination were endorsed by the British government’s Balfour Declaration of 1917. But under the terms of the mandate of Palestine administered by Britain under the new League of Nations charter, indigenous Palestinian Arabs were catalogued among the “peoples not yet able to stand by themselves under the strenuous conditions of the modern world”. Two decades later, Australia played a key role in the recognition of Israeli statehood at the United Nations. It is now well known that Australian Herbert Vere “Doc” Evatt, who presided over the UN Special Committee on Palestine, was instrumental in garnering international support for the proposed partition of Palestine. Australia was one of the first countries to recognise Israel in 1948. Herbert Vere Evatt In contrast, Britain initially maintained a policy of non-recognition of Israel, a position still held by some 30 countries. The creation of Israel was also inextricably linked to the Palestinian Nakba, when an estimated 750,000 people were expelled during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. As former Knesset member Haneen Zoabi has observed, the Nakba is therefore indivisibly a part of the Jewish history of the land, as much as it is Palestinian history. . . .. It is important to recall that UN Resolution 194, recognising Israeli statehood, did so on the condition that Palestinians ethnically cleansed from their ancestral lands would be given the right of return, or be appropriately compensated. This resolution has been reaffirmed annually since 1949 and is fundamental to the question of a just peace.' back

Paula Gerber (2024), Tickle vs Giggle: in a world where transgender people are under attack, this is a test case for Australia, ' Around the world, the human rights of transgender people are under attack. Media reports of trans women being vilified, excluded and discriminated against are frequent, and the consequences of this rise in hatred towards trans people can be deadly. In the United States, animosity towards trans people is reaching fever pitch with 42 of the 50 states introducing laws that seek to limit trans people’s access to healthcare, participation in sport, use of bathrooms and serving in the military, as well as censoring education about gender identity. There is increasing concern that a US-style anti-trans campaign is underway in Australia. This week, a spotlight was shone on these issues in the Federal Court, where a trans woman, Roxanne Tickle, has taken a women-only social media platform to court for discrimination. This case is providing the court with a rare opportunity to determine the extent to which the Sex Discrimination Act protects a trans woman from discrimination on the basis of their gender identity. Although the act was amended more than a decade ago to prohibit discrimination on such a basis, this is the first time these laws are being tested in court. . . . Although some people don’t agree, a person’s sex is not fixed and can be changed, as reflected in the language of section 32I of the NSW Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act. It states: a person the record of whose sex is altered under this Part is, for the purposes of, but subject to, any law of New South Wales, a person of the sex as so altered.' ' back