Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Humanities/2018 May 9

= May 9 =

Repealing a repeal
DuncanHill's question led me to our article on the Ecclesiastical Courts Jurisdiction Act 1860. I see that one of its sections repealed the Brawling Act 1551, but that section was itself repealed by the Statute Law Revision Act 1875. Does this mean that the original law went back in force, as it had been before the 1860 act? Or does this mean that the 1875 act put in place a new set of provisions similar to the 1551 act? It seems a bit odd that an early modern law would be un-repealed, rather than having a new law written with similar provisions (if desired), especially since the early modern law had partly been repealed already by the Offences Against the Person Act 1828. Nyttend (talk) 03:35, 9 May 2018 (UTC)
 * No, as our article Repeal says "Under the common law of England and Wales, the effect of repealing a statute was "to obliterate it completely from the records of Parliament as though it had never been passed." This, however, is now subject to savings provisions within the Interpretation Act 1978." DuncanHill (talk) 10:50, 9 May 2018 (UTC)


 * Although a repeal of a repealer normally would result in the reinstatement of the statute originally repealed, section 1 of the Statute Law Revision Act 1875 stated that "where any enactment not [repealed by this Act] has been repealed, confirmed, revived, or perpetuated by any enactment hereby repealed, such repeal, confirmation, revivor, or perpetuation shall not be affected by the repeal effected by this Act." Thus, the 1875 enactment did not result in the full reinstatement of the Brawling Act 1551, even though the partial repeal of that statute, by section 5 of the Ecclesiastical Courts Jurisdiction Act 1860, was itself repealed by the 1875 enactment.  John M Baker (talk) 17:30, 9 May 2018 (UTC)

Quantum Mechanics for Beginners
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen

I am a student and was wondering, if there are some good books for beginners about the subject of quantum mechanics. I am looking for a book which uses graphics and charts to illustrate the subject, but I would also be okay with a book which consists only of text.--2A02:1205:502E:4030:9CEB:7D6A:9F70:35DF (talk) 11:26, 9 May 2018 (UTC)
 * Wikipedia has an article titled Introduction to quantum mechanics which is designed for the non-expert. It may give you a start.  -- Jayron 32 12:46, 9 May 2018 (UTC)

Hi Jayron32! I require a book that is recognized among scientists. Although I really like Wikipedia, it is not a source any scientist (to the best of my knowledge) would consider reliable.--2A02:1205:502E:4030:C9F8:C092:B846:6344 (talk) 13:44, 9 May 2018 (UTC)
 * Does this help? -- Jayron 32 13:53, 9 May 2018 (UTC)

Perfect! Thank you very much!--2A02:1205:502E:4030:DC87:C87C:59CE:E44D (talk) 01:47, 10 May 2018 (UTC)

Karl Popper and Evolution
Dear all. I have heard of a controversial book by Sir Karl Popper about the subject of evolution and falsification. I was wondering in what book he made these statements and whether this book is physically available. I have seen a strange German copy of a book that deals with this subject years ago, but it was in a very bad condition.--2A02:1205:502E:4030:9CEB:7D6A:9F70:35DF (talk) 11:29, 9 May 2018 (UTC)
 * The section of our article on Popper dealing with his views on evolution Karl Popper is quite good, and you should follow and look up the references in it. The National Center for Science Education has an article here which also looks at this area. DuncanHill (talk) 11:42, 9 May 2018 (UTC)

I speak German, so I would be happy with a German version of the book as well.--2A02:1205:502E:4030:C9F8:C092:B846:6344 (talk) 13:43, 9 May 2018 (UTC)
 * German Wikipedia has its own Reference Desk. Perhaps they're best placed to help you. --Antiquary (talk) 14:07, 9 May 2018 (UTC)

Well, my German is not perfect. Anyway, Karl Popper is much more famous in the Anglo-Saxon world. I just want to know the name of the book.--2A02:1205:502E:4030:DC87:C87C:59CE:E44D (talk) 01:49, 10 May 2018 (UTC)


 * DuncanHill has referred you to the references at Karl Popper: so see footnotes 54 to 71 (as numbered today) at the bottom of that page. Moonraker (talk) 02:00, 10 May 2018 (UTC)
 * Note that, as discussed in his article and some of the provided links, Popper's remarks on evolution are frequently quote mined by creationists, who just want to appeal to authority by tossing out the out-of-context bit, "…natural selection is not a testable scientific theory…". Reading in context, it is clear he is making a more nuanced argument than what creationists imply, not to mention that he later stated his views had changed somewhat. And of course, in any case, a quote from someone does not disprove a scientific theory. --47.146.63.87 (talk) 23:47, 10 May 2018 (UTC)

So... nobody is able to name the name of the book, apparently?--2A02:1205:502E:4030:250A:D83B:64EB:B280 (talk) 10:58, 13 May 2018 (UTC)
 * Surely if you saw the book some years ago you know it's name? —SerialNumber54129  paranoia / cheap shit room 11:18, 13 May 2018 (UTC)
 * Does DuncanHill's comment not help you? If not, can you explain why? --47.146.63.87 (talk) 00:05, 14 May 2018 (UTC)

Ancient sex guides other than the Kama Sutra
I have heard that there were quite a few ancient sex guides from the Hellenistic World (back then, this would include North Africa and the Middle East) as well. Is it possible to take a look at these books or are they only obtained in fragments? Were there ancient Egyptian or Chinese books on the subject?--2A02:1205:502E:4030:9CEB:7D6A:9F70:35DF (talk) 11:41, 9 May 2018 (UTC)
 * The ancient Greek books of Elephantis are, unhappily, lost. The website Sacred Texts (!) has a page called Erotic Classical Writers which mentions several others, and we have a Category:Ancient Greek erotic literature and a Category:Ancient Roman erotic literature if you want to research further. --Antiquary (talk) 12:45, 9 May 2018 (UTC)

The sex manual of Philaenis is lost, but a few fragments have been found and translated.
 * "Philaenis the Samian, daughter of Ocymenes, composed this book for those who wish to live their life with knowledge gained scientifically, not unprofessionally. She toiled...
 * " On Seductions: Now, the seducer must come to the woman untidy and uncombed, so that he does not seem to the woman to be a man who takes much trouble...
 * "On Flattery]: ...with the intention..., while he says that she... is equal to a goddess, that she who is ugly is as lovely as Aphrodite and that she who is older is as Rhea."

On the plus-side Ars Amatoria by Ovid, inspired by Philaenis's work, has survived. Though Ovid in part writes about his own preferences in sex, not those of his contemporaries. "The end of the second book deals with the pleasures of simultaneous orgasm. Somewhat atypically for a Roman, the poet confesses, Odi concubitus, qui non utrumque resolvunt. Hoc est, cur pueri tangar amore minus ('I don't like intercourse that doesn't make both lovers come. That's why I'm less into the love of boys.'). ... "At the end of the third part, as in the Kama Sutra, the sexual positions are 'declined', and from them women are exhorted to choose the most suitable, taking the proportions of their own bodies into careful consideration." Dimadick (talk) 16:17, 9 May 2018 (UTC)

what can I do to find out their birthdate?
I am interested in the birthdate of 2 share holders (of Watchtower, Jah Jireh and Kingdom Support Services) and prophets in one person, they are called Anthony Morris III (the third generation?) and David Splane (born in 1944). Both persons have US-Citizenship. And I couldn't find out when Geoffrey Jackson is born, I found out that his place of birth is the Island of Tasmania, Australia. As you guess, his citizenship is Australian and he is also share holder and prophet in one person. Thanks for any help! --Saegen zeugen des sofas jehovas (talk) 19:35, 9 May 2018 (UTC)


 * I found: "Brother Anthony Morris III - Born: 1950 - Appointed August 24, 2005" and "David H. Splane - Born: May 18, 1944 - Appointed: October 2, 1999", also "Brother Geoffrey Jackson - Born: 1955 - Appointed August 24, 2005". See The Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses: Past and Present. Alansplodge (talk) 20:02, 9 May 2018 (UTC)