Anyone who wants to read the most exquisite, razor-sharp example of irony could do not better than this evisceration of Brian Leiter by Paul Campos. It is… amazing. One particularly good quote:
Nor can anyone blame Professor Leiter for refusing to bring his expertise and experience to bear on such matters as the extent to which law schools actually train students to engage in some aspect of the practice of law, given that he has never held any professional position for which a law degree (let alone bar admission) is a requirement. On this subject, his silence reflects a becoming and characteristic modesty.
Wow.
Update: I should probably make it clear that I don’t really have a nickel in this dime, as far as the dispute between Campos and Leiter goes. I’m only vaguely familiar with the former, and haven’t actually agreed with some of what he’s written about obesity. I know next to nothing about the latter. My only reason for linking at all is that this is really, really effective use of irony.
The only problem is the quote is inaccurate, as was discussed on the Volokh blog. Leiter is a member of the New York Bar, and practiced with a New York law firm.
I’m curious (although this is perhaps a question for another post), what are your disagreements with Campos on obesity? I’m intrigued by what Campos says on the matter, but I haven’t read him as extensively as I ought and I lack the expertise to evaluate it critically.
If my question is too out of bounds, you don’t have to answer, of course. (Actually, you wouldn’t have to answer anyway; it’s your (sub)blog, after all.)
Honestly, Pierre, I don’t remember. I recall a piece he wrote for (I’m pretty sure) The New Republic, and I remember objecting to bits of it and commenting to that end. But I have no clear recollection of what, exactly, I hadn’t agreed with.
I know he’s written a book about the subject, but I’ve not read it.