Links of interest

Has mathematics misled modern science?  Bryan Appleyard, channeling physicist Lee Smolin and philosopher Roberto Mangabeira Unger, makes the case.
But maybe mathematical elegance should trump empirical evidence?  Some physicists seem to think so.  In Nature, physicists George Ellis and Joe Silk will have none of it.  Further commentary, and a roundup of other responses, from physicist Peter Woit. 
At the OUP Blog, John Searle on the intentionality of perceptual experience.  At the same blog: Federica Russo and Phyllis Illari on causation in science and Tad Schmaltz on causation in Aristotle and Hume.
Philosopher John Lamont on Thomism, “manualism,” and the nouvelle théologie, at Rorate Caeli. 
At The Catholic Thing: Frank Beckwith on misguided arguments for God’s existence; Fr. James Schall on natural resources; and Gerald Russello on the debate over Catholic social teaching.

What should we think about the recent terrorist attacks in France?  At Mercantornet, Fr. Schall draws some lessons from Paris.
Catholic philosopher Joseph Shaw on why modesty in dress is not the same thing as prudery or frumpery.
Books about Leo Strauss just keep appearing. Robert Howse’s new one is reviewed at The National Interest, Michael and Catherine Zuckert’s at Public Discourse, and Arthur Melzer’s at The Week.
Dissent reports on the gospel according to Terry Eagleton.
“Like rabbits”?  Commentary from Matthew Schmitz and Joseph Shaw.
Terence Parsons’ new book Articulating Medieval Logic is reviewedat Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews; Anna Marmodoro’s Aristotle on Perceiving Objects is also reviewed.
Want a 24 volume Neo-Scholastic theology and philosophy collection?  Bid now.