Victor Nuovo: A great legal philosopher

28th in a seriesIn 1859 Charles Darwin published “The Origin of Species” and in 1860 the American Civil War began. These two events had a profound effect on the life and mind of Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. (1841–1935). An ardent Abolitionist deeply committed to the Union, he immediately enlisted, securing a commission in the Union Army, and was in combat almost constantly for the next four years, except for the times he spent recovering from his wounds, for he was gravely wounded three times. The experience o … (read more)

27th essay in a seriesI suspect that almost everyone who reads this essay will be unfamiliar with Margaret Fuller (1810–50). Her name does not ring a bell in our minds as do the names of Ralph Waldo Emerson or Henry David Thoreau, her contemporaries, or F … (read more)

25th in a series “The Universe is alive. All things are moral. The soul, which within us is a sentiment, outside us is a law. We feel its inspiration. Out there in history we see its fatal strength.” This was Ralph Waldo Emerson’s firm belief, his creed, … (read more)

23rd in a series During the middle of the third decade of the 19th century, there occurred in New England a third great awakening. It did not pertain only to religious sentiment; rather it involved a renewal of the human mind, a renaissance, even a revolu … (read more)

22nd in a series “Everything is what it is, and not another thing,” or, to put it briefly, “a thing is itself and not another.” This is a statement attributed to the British philosopher Joseph Butler (1692–1752), who was also an Anglican bishop. But it is … (read more)

21st in a series The Second Great Awakening denotes a period of religious revival that lasted over 40 years, roughly from 1795 until 1835. It left an indelible mark on the American mind. Its effects are manifold, sometimes contradictory, or at least appar … (read more)

20th in a series “Democracy in America” is the title of a book that has become an American Classic. Its author was not an American, but a French aristocrat, Alexis Charles Henri Clérel, comte de Tocqueville (1805–59), Tocqueville for short (pronounced tok … (read more)

19th in a series To begin with, Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) was a hypocrite. Although he could speak and write eloquently in favor of human liberty and equality from what were evidently well considered principles, nevertheless he enslaved 600 African-Ame … (read more)

18th in a series John Locke (1632–1704) was not an American, nor did he ever set foot on the American continent — although for a short time he owned property here and perhaps slaves. Yet there is wide agreement among historians that he was America’s philo … (read more)

17th in a series The Constitution of the United States is not engraved in stone. It can be changed by adding, deleting and revising. Article VI of the Constitution describes the process. The 27 amendments appended to the main text along with internal addi … (read more)

16th in a series The United States of America is not a Democracy, it is a Democratic Republic, or simply, “a Republic.” On this point, all the founders of this nation were agreed: Washington, Adams, Hamilton, Jefferson, Madison, notwithstanding their part … (read more)

15th in a series Alexander Hamilton (1755 or 1757–1804) has not enjoyed the celebrity of other founders of this nation, neither of Washington nor Adams nor Jefferson. His tragic early death, from a gunshot wound received in a duel with Aaron Burr, may hav … (read more)

14th in a series The Constitutional Convention completed its work on Sept. 17, 1787, by adopting the Constitution that it had drafted and sending the document to the states for ratification. Article VII of the draft Constitution provided that it should be … (read more)

13th in a series The Constitutional Convention convened in Philadelphia on May 14, 1787. It consisted of delegates from 12 of the 13 states. Its first action was to elect George Washington President of the Convention. Its chief business was to draft a con … (read more)

12th in a series American Constitutionalism is a system of government founded on a fundamental law, which is not biased to the wishes and whims of a monarch, or the fancies of a demagogue, or the privilege of a particular social class; rather, one that ha … (read more)