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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…)

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.

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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…)

Notre Dame President and Philosopher Contracts COVID-19 after White House Visit

John Jenkins, president of the University of Notre Dame and member of the univerity’s Department of Philosophy, has contracted COVID-19 after visiting the White House at the end of last month for the ceremony announcing the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. (more…)

What Academics Can Do Now to Prevent a Coup Later

The U.S. presidential election is five weeks away and there are worries that Donald Trump will not leave office should he lose, or that he will interfere with or stop the counting of votes if he believes continuing counting would reveal he lost. (more…)

What’s Utopian When The Status Quo is Unrealistic? (guest post by David Estlund)

“In these moments, we should appreciate that unrealistic political thought, including political philosophy, is of profound practical importance, and that it is overly discouraged—both in the culture, and even in the halls of academia…. We, at least some of us, must always be thinking beyond what seems realistic or feasible, about what would be better. That’s how..

“Liberal Bias” in Academia: Media Narrative vs. Social Science

“Available data do not support the claim that university professors are excessively and disproportionately liberal, much less that a majority of students are being educated by left-wing professors. So why do so many people have the impression that they are?” (more…)

Trump Administration Abandons Plan to Revoke Visas of International Students with Online-Only Schedules

The Trump administration has withdrawn a plan proposed earlier this month to withhold or revoke visas of international students at U.S. schools whose courses have all been moved entirely online. (more…)

Illusion and Agreement in the Debate over Intolerance

A good number of very smart, interesting, and creative people signed onto an open letter, published in Harper’s this week, applauding “wider calls for greater equality and inclusion across our society” while lamenting “the intolerant climate that has set in on all sides.” (more…)

Homeland Security To Ban International Students From U.S. If Their Colleges Adopt Online-Only Instruction

The U.S. Department of State will not issue visas to students enrolled in schools and/or programs that are fully online for the fall semester nor will U.S. Customs and Border Protection permit these students to enter the United States. Active students currently in the United States enrolled in such programs must depart the country or take other measures, such as tra..