politics
TagExternalist Explanations of Philosophy
Why did a particular philosophical view emerge or flourish at a particular time? Why did another fall into disfavor? Why are philosophers today thinking and writing about the particular questions, problems, ideas, and figures they are? (more…)
Israel & Hamas: Another Letter, Another Critical Response (updated)
As mentioned in an update to this post, a group of philosophers posted an open letter, dated November 1, 2023, under the heading “Philosophy for Palestine.” (more…)
House May Vote To Eliminate All NEH and NEA Funding
Representative Scott Perry, a Republican from Pennsylvania, has proposed two amendments to the House Interior Appropriations bill (H.R. 4821) that would eliminate all funding for the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). (more…)
Israel, Hamas, and the Narratives of Atrocity (guest post)
“The need to stop the narratives that rationalize what is indefensible is clear. How to stop such narratives is not.” (more…)
Proportionality and Responsibility in the Israel-Hamas Conflict (guest post)
What do the “moral constraints that apply to defensive force” imply in a situation as complicated as the conflict between Israel and Hamas? (more…)
A Philosopher’s Role in the Texas A&M Debacle (updated)
Texas A&M University will be paying Kathleen McElroy $1 million as part of legal settlement over the university’s botched efforts at trying to hire her, and then trying to not hire her. (more…)
Philosophy News Summary
Recent philosophy-related news…* (more…)
Philosopher To Be Appointed UK’s First “Free Speech Tsar”
Arif Ahmed, professor of philosophy at the University of Cambridge, has reportedly been selected as UK’s first “free speech tsar” by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. (more…)
David Enoch Arrested While Protesting Judicial “Reforms” in Israel
David Enoch, professor of philosophy at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, was among those protesting the Israeli government’s controversial plans to scale back the independence and power of its judiciary yesterday near Tel Aviv when he was arrested by police. (more…)
APA Issues Statement on Academic Freedom in Florida
Academic freedom and shared governance in institutions of higher learning must remain free from political intrusion. Political restrictions on teaching and scholarship undermine the ability of philosophers and other university researchers to search for and disseminate knowledge. This compromises the fundamental mission of the university. (more…)
Is Any of Analytic Philosophy’s Dominance Owed to McCarthyism?
“It is clear enough that McCarthyism and its legacy were sufficient to make life hard for a particular strand of opposition to the analytic mainstream, characterized by its general adherence to empiricism and liberalism: those who were broadly Marxists.” (more…)
Rawls on the Limits—and Limited Exposure—of Philosophy
In an interview in 1991, John Rawls is asked, “When you look at current events, in general, do you think of them with the A Theory of Justice framework in mind?” (more…)
Intergroup Dialogue in the Philosophy Classroom (guest post)
“Over 70% of our students… reported being more likely than before to listen to someone who held an opposing viewpoint…” (more…)
Philosophy & Activism (guest post)
While some people have argued that political activism is in tension with academic inquiry (here, for example), there have been plenty of well-regarded scholars who have engaged in such activism, including in philosophy. (more…)
A Philosophy Journal That Won’t Accept Submissions from Iranian Citizens? (updated)
In a recent interview about Russia and Ukraine at Truthout, Noam Chomsky (MIT), discussing sanctions and the toleration dissident voices in public in the United States and elsewhere, notes an example of intolerance: (more…)
Philosophy Professor Suspended for Criticizing “Wokeness”
Gregory Schulz, a tenured professor of philosophy at Concordia University in Wisconsin, a private Lutheran university, was “suspended and barred from campus” following his publication of an essay critical of the school on the blog Christian News, according to Inside Higher Ed. (more…)
Immanuel Kant’s Critical Race Theory
Immanuel Kant is in the news today following the discovery that he basically invented critical race theory. (more…)
The Value of Stepping Back from Current Events
It’s not unusual for philosophy professors to think it’s important to demonstrate to their students the relevance of course material to current events, both because of the importance of those events and also to maintain student interest. But there may be value in keeping a distance from today’s news and issues. (more…)
Arizona’s Legislative Attempt to Recruit Philosophers to Alter State’s K-12 Curriculum
While considering the state budget bill for 2021-22, the Arizona House of Representatives last month approved an amendment to it that would have required the state’s Board of Education to work with the University of Arizona’s Center for the Philosophy of Freedom and others to develop a civic education standards for high schools emphasizing “the blessings of liberty”..
Biden Nominates Amy Gutmann as Ambassador to Germany
Political theorist Amy Gutmann, currently President of the University of Pennsylvania, has been nominated by President Joseph Biden to be the next U.S. ambassador to Germany.
Complementing Defenses of Academic Freedom with Understanding & Advice
As reported earlier this week, there’s a new organization, the Academic Freedom Alliance (AFA), that aims to defend faculty whose academic freedom is being threatened. (more…)
Aristotle’s Sexism & Simplifying Historical Ideas “to Fit a Modern Agenda”
“It is often not a good idea to simplify the history of ideas in order to fit a modern agenda.” (more…)
Danielle Allen Considering Running for Governor of Massachusetts
Danielle Allen, James Bryant Conant University Professor at Harvard University and Director of Harvard’s Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics, has announced that she is exploring a run for governor of Massachusetts. (more…)
Philosophers On the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election
Joseph Biden has defeated Donald Trump in the 2020 U.S. Presidential election. Trump’s 2016 victory was shocking to many, and his administration has been a remarkably continuous assault on normal expectations for presidential leadership, competence, responsibility, and humanity. (more…)
We Still Have Work To Do
Joseph Biden has defeated Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election. (more…)
Legal Philosopher Successful in Defense Against Attack by Poland’s Ruling Party
Wojciech Sadurski, a legal scholar and philosopher of law with appointments at the University of Sydney and the University of Warsaw, has successfully withstood a defamation lawsuit by Poland’s ruling right-wing “Law and Justice” (PiS) party. (more…)
Election Open Thread / Ad Hoc
(Moving this up on the page because, well, what else are we going to talk about?)
Rachel Katler’s Ad Hoc comic this week (below) is perfect for today, election day, and so I thought it would be good to combine it with an open thread about the election.
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The Professional Status of “Pro-Life” Positions on Abortion
Should junior job seekers try to avoid outing themselves as “pro-life”? (more…)