this article explores the concept of civil religion from the perspective of jean-jacques rousseau. it starts with a discussion of the essence of sovereignty as the implementation of general will, which, the author explains, is manifested in the obedience of the laws. the article then discusses the way in which, in rousseau’s view, institutional mechanisms work and thereupon explores how he envi...

In 1535, when Jacques Cartier landed in Canada for the second time, he sailed up the Saint-Lawrence, and spent the winter at Stadaconé. His ships were frozen in the ice for five months. A strange disease attacked the indigenous population, and then the French sailors. In a two month period, almost all Cartier's men became sick. Facing such a tragic situation, the explorer carried out an examina...

Article history: Received 11 April 2011 Revised 13 September 2011 Accepted 14 September 2011 Available online 28 September 2011 Communicated by Jacques Wolfmann

Jacques Monod, born 100 years ago, was one of the main founders of molecular biology. A quotation of Roger Stanier seems to me of immediate relevance to the topic of this meeting on ‘‘Chance and necessity in evolution,’’ dedicated to the works of Jacques Monod: ‘‘Jacques Monod, one of the great scientists of the twentieth century, will always have an honored place among the leaders of the secon...