Open Journal Systems at the Victoria University of Wellington Library
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Starting the Dismantling of Classical Mathematics
Get PDFThis paper uses the relevant logic, MCQ, of meaning containment to explore mathematics without various classical theses, in particular, without the law of excluded middle
Evolution Now
Get PDFThere is no mistaking the engaging and unconventional conversational writing style used by David Penny in his book Evolution Now that traces the development of current evolutionary theories, and provokes thought on unresolved questions. Through undergraduate studies at the University of Canterbury where he was exposed to the teachings of Karl Popper, Penny embraces the Popperian school of science philosophy, in which the words ‘believe’ and ‘prove’ are anathema to the scientific method and progress occurs through falsification involving exhaustive testing of hypotheses. Too often today, scientists seek to prove their ideas right rather than testing strong hypotheses, and multiple weak hypotheses are frequently formulated around highly specific objectives, sometimes bordering on anti-science. To a large extent, this is due to our failure to understand the basis of scientific methodology, fuelled by a science funding system where preliminary results, often near publication, are rewarded, and novel game-changing hypotheses are relegated to the bottom of the pile. This is perhaps a lesser problem with Mardsen funding, and with Health Research Council Explorer grants where qualifying transformative applications are subjected to a lottery process.
Protecting Consumer Protection
Get PDFRecent consumer law cases are shaping consumer law in an unwarranted way. The courts have acknowledged the importance of advancing consumer law and protecting consumers, however, upon closer examination it is questionable whether courts are employing the right framework, tools and considerations. By analysing recent country of origin cases this article identifies some potentially worrying ways in which the courts have eroded consumer law rather than strengthening it. In particular, such cases allow the proprietary interest of goodwill to creep into the Fair Trading Act 1986 (FTA). Doing so, even if only at the stage of determining the penalty to be imposed, may shift the dial further towards the Fair Trading Act (FTA) being a means for protecting traders' interests. This, in turn, may lead to negative unintended consequences. 
The Decline of International Law as a Normative Ideal
Get PDFInternational law was integral to the rise in power of the United States and has been central to the operation of world politics during the period in which the United States has been the dominant state. This article draws on the theory of International Law as Ideology to explain the manner in which the ideal of international law as politically neutral has served as a rhetorical fulcrum. The theory also offers a framework within which to perceive and assess the significance of an apparent sidelining of the ideal in global politics, including, notably, by the United States. While reduced use of the ideology of international law and introduction of the term "rules-based international order" or "rules-based order" might be the best strategic option at a time of declining power, the theory of International Law as Ideology illuminates the manner in which these developments may at the same time be unwittingly contributing to that decline
Call for Papers
Get PDFWe are pleased to open submissions for Issue 2, to be published December 2019. We accept standard research articles (6,000-8,000 words), as well as a range of other collaborative, creative and exploratory works (see out website for details: https://ojs.victoria.ac.nz/ce/about). Deadline for Open Submissions is April 1, 2019. We also welcome submissions for a Special Section on The Labours of Collaboration for Issue 2. The deadline for this Special Section Submissions is March 1, 2019
Commoning Ethnography 1(1) Full Issue
No full textThis is a compiled PDF of the first issue of Commoning Ethnography. 
Peter Constantine interviews Lawrence Venuti
No full textLawrence Venuti is a leading translator of modern Italian and Catalan literature and internationally one of the most influential theorists in the field of literary translation. In their recent interview, Peter Constantine asked him about his craft and theory of translation
More experiments may help explore what works in conservation
Get PDFAll over the world, countless conservation projects are taking place, attempting to achieve aims from reducing habitat loss, to restoring populations of threatened species. However there is growing awareness that conservationists have not always done a good enough job at evaluating whether the things they do really work. Efforts that fail to make things better for species and ecosystems waste the limited resources available for conservation, and result in missed opportunities to stem the loss of biodiversity. Given that monitored populations of wildlife species have declined by 60% in the last 50 years, and large-scale loss of forest continues, this is bad news. So, research to show whether conservation efforts work really matters. And those doing conservation need easy access to the results of this vital evidence. In many fields, when researchers want to know whether something works they conduct an experiment. For example, patients are often randomly assigned to receive a new drug (or not) and the results are compared to determine if the new treatment has the potential to help people. Despite calls for more use of experiments in conservation, they remain extremely rare.
The following article is republished from The Conversation, dated 6 November 2018. The article has not been edited, but we have attributed the author and her institute, given the internet citations, and used a non-copyrighted illustration
Licensing Trusts in New Zealand
Get PDFLicensing trusts in New Zealand are a statutory form of community enterprise now existing for over 70 years. Thirty were established between 1944 and 1975. Over the years since they have generated wealth of $250 million through their business units, benefited their areas in many ways, and through their community support donations programmes distributed significant profit back to enhance their community’s quality of life. Today, 18 continue to operate (mainly hospitality) businesses, and provide support to their communities
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