May 2019
Visualization of Gender Distribution in Philosophy Research Topics
Maximilian Noichl, whose visualizations we’ve discussed previously (here and here) has produced one depicting the gender distribution in philosophy research topics. (more…)
The Logic of Mueller’s Statement
“If we had had confidence that the president clearly did not commit a crime, we would have said so. We did not, however, make a determination as to whether the president did commit a crime.” (more…)
Mini-Heap
Time for a new Mini-Heap. (more…)
Jenkins from Nottingham to Glasgow
Katharine Jenkins, currently an assistant professor of philosophy at the University of Nottingham, has accepted an appointment as a lecturer in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Glasgow.
Philosophers: Consider Signing Amicus Brief on Insanity Defense
“Does a state’s abolition of the insanity defense comport with fundamental principles of justice and pluralist toleration?” That is the question taken up in an amicus curiae brief by Gideon Yaffe, professor of philosophy and law at Yale University, in regards to Kahler v. Kansas, a case the Supreme Court will be hearing. (more…)
Mind Chunks
Reading Philosophy: Observations & Advice
“I didn’t know that there is a field of study that counted as sensible the questions that were always in my head. Even more amazing is that the type of thoughts I offered as answers, while ramshackle, were the same type of answers philosophers provide. I changed my major before the end of the semester. But I had a problem. I did not know how to read philosophy.” (mo..
Concordia Philosophy Issues Statement on Controversial “Bill 21”
The Department of Philosophy at Concordia University has issued a statement opposing “Bill 21: an act respecting the laicity of the State,” also known as Québec’s “secularism bill,” currently under consideration by the National Assembly of Québec, which would prevent various government officials from wearing religious symbols in the exercise of their official functi..
Online Philosophy Resources Weekly Update
Here’s the weekly report on new entries in online philosophical resources and new reviews of philosophy books. (more…)
“The problem is not that humanities jobs are disappearing”
In an interview at Inside Higher Education, Jason Brennan (Georgetown) and Phillip Magness (American Institute for Economic Research), answer a question from interviewer Scott Jaschik about their view that universities are admitting too many PhD students. (more…)
Mini-Heap
Lots of interesting stuff this week, so here’s another Mini-Heap: (more…)
San Francisco State U. to Launch Grad Certificate in AI Ethics
San Francisco State University has developed a graduate program in artificial intelligence (AI) ethics. (more…)
President of Ireland Speaks at Youth Philosophy Awards Ceremony
“Too many policy lobbyists have, often unknowingly, unthinkingly perhaps, accepted a narrow and utilitarian view of… education—one that suggests we exist to be made useful—which leads to a great loss of the capacity to critically evaluate, question and challenge.” (more…)
Mini-Heap
A new Mini-Heap. (more…)
Chaospet
The Philosophy and Politics of Early Abortion in the U.S.
The past months have seen successful legislative efforts in several states to criminalize early abortion. Emboldened by Brett Kavanaugh’s appointment to the Supreme Court, abortion opponents are hoping that the new legislation, once challenged in court, will force a reconsideration of Roe v. Wade, in which the Court ruled that “during the first trimester, government..
100 Greatest Philosophical Spoilers (guest post by Richard Greene)
The less a work has to offer us besides information about happens in the end, the more reason we have to avoid spoilers for it. When it comes to philosophy, knowing what happens in the end usually doesn’t spoil much at all: the real entertainment is in seeing how the author got there. (more…)
Mini-Heap
A new week, a new Mini-Heap… (more…)
New Institute for Philosophy in Tunisia
The Tunis College for Philosophy, a new institute in Tunisia dedicated to philosophical research, academic events, and the promotion of philosophy, opened in Le Bardo, Tunisia last month. (more…)
Online Philosophy Resources Weekly Update
Here’s the weekly report on new entries in online philosophical resources and new reviews of philosophy books. (more…)
Philosophers Among Those Newly Elected to the American Philosophical Society
The American Philosophical Society (APS), the oldest learned society in the United States (“founded in 1743 by Benjamin Franklin for the purpose of ‘promoting useful knowledge'”) has announced its newest class of members. (more…)
Game of Thrones Quotes for Academic Contexts
Game of Thrones, a well-acted and beautifully filmed sprawling television fantasy of political ambition, royal lineage, revenge, zombies, surprising deaths, random magic, and dragons—entertaining and big but also silly and superficial—is ending tonight. People can’t stop talking about it.
Did a Story about a Computer Made of Humans Scoop Searle’s “Chinese Room” by 20 Years?
A story called “The Game” by Anatoly Petrovich Mickevich (writing under the pseudonym A. Dneprov), published in 1961, tells the story of a fictional event in which people who don’t individually understand Portuguese are successfully arranged into a “computer” that translates a sentence from Portuguese. (more…)
Mini-Heap
New Mini-Heap here. (more…)
Ad Hoc
Online Philosophy Resources Weekly Update
Here’s the weekly report on new entries in online philosophical resources and new reviews of philosophy books. (more…)
Farewell, Feminist Philosophers
The Feminist Philosophers blog has shut down. (more…)
The Varied Careers of Philosophy Majors
A philosophy professor has put together a book featuring brief essays by thirty people who majored in philosophy at his school and who went on to pursue a wide range of careers. (more…)