New links…

1. “For any hypothetical future apply the ‘Shakespeare Test,’ which asks: Are there still aspects of Shakespeare’s work reflected in the future civilization?… For do any of us want to live in a world where Shakespeare is obsolete?” — Erik Hoel on why it’s important that the future be human
2. “It really is unfair to a great number of people, past, present, and future, that current student debt holders would benefit from loan forgiveness while others cannot” — but that by itself doesn’t settle the matter, says Barry Lam (Vassar), because “almost every policy is unfair”
3. “There is a kind of covert moralism that people build into the causal structure of the universe that justifies overly focusing on being the right kind of person, objecting to the right kinds of things, centering the right sorts of people. This amounts to a refusal to look forward” — Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò (Georgetown) is interviewed about his two recent books
4. “What you need is to have the classroom as a space where we’re not talking left wing and right wing but offering the learning that students need to be able to come to their own positions and judgments” — Wendy Brown (Princeton) interviewed about politicization, academic freedom, free speech, and today’s students
5. “I contrast the essential-bum-origin view with a phenomenological view, and I argue in favour of the latter” — Bill Capra on the metaphysics of farts
6. Three key tips for philosophy students seeking to work outside of academia — from Ryan Stelzer, who finished an MA in philosophy, worked in the White House, and now has his own consulting firm
7. The “famous” Michael Huemer – Richard Yetter-Chappell debate about utilitarianism — hosted by Matthew Adelstein (video)

Mini-Heap posts usually appear when 7 or so new items accumulate in the Heap of Links, a collection of items from around the web that may be of interest to philosophers. Discussion welcome.

The Heap of Links consists partly of suggestions from readers; if you find something online that you think would be of interest to the philosophical community, please send it in for consideration for the Heap. Thanks!