The Balkinization of Originalism

This Article suggests that, with the publication of Jack Balkin\u27s Living Originalism, we are witnessing the Balkanization of originalism (when originalism splits into warring camps) along with the Balkinization of originalism (when even Balkin, hitherto a pragmatic living constitutionalist, becomes an originalist). It goes on to argue that Balkin\u27s living originalism is what Ronald Dworkin has called a moral reading of the Constitution, for it conceives the Constitution as embodying abstract moral and political principles, not codifying concrete historical rules or practices. Furthermore, despite important differences, there are unmistakable affinities between Balkin\u27s commitment to interpret the Constitution so as to redeem our faith in its promises and aspirations, and Dworkin\u27s commitment to interpret the Constitution so as to make it the best it can be