December 2013
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“Why Tolerate Religion?” at Philosophy Talk radio
Here this week (middle column, click on the free live stream). John Perry and Ken Taylor (philosophers at Stanford who host the show) and I had fun!
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UNC’s Paul to take up part-time post at St. Andrews
L.A. (Laurie) Paul (metaphysics) will join the Arche Center at the University of St. Andrews as a Professorial Fellow, where she will spend five weeks (beginning in May) each year for the next five years; she will continue full-time as a professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
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Nietzsche, Naturalism and Normativity
My review essay of a very good collection of new essays, for anyone who might be interested–it will be in Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews early in the new year.
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In Memoriam: Peter Geach (1916-2013)
MOVING TO FRONT FROM DEC. 22–UPDATED Professor Geach was well-known for many books and articles on topics in philosophy of language and mind (including what is now known as the Frege-Geach probject for ethical non-cognitivism), as well as for work in the genre now known as "analytical Thomism." He spent most of his teaching career…
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The American gun lottery
Apt, unfortunately: Remember, back in junior high school, when you read that classic of American literature, “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson? In the story, a small town ritualistically draws straws each summer to see who among them will be stoned to death, to ensure a good harvest later that fall. (Goes the local proverb, “lottery…
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Where are the WASPs when you need them?
WSJ writer bemoans the end of white rule.
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Capitalism is the issue
No kidding: How long will it take us to understand that the entire neoliberal project – the puritanical mania for cutting taxes, cutting social services and cutting budget deficits that has dominated the Western world’s economy for more than 30 years – has been a disaster? And guess what, liberals: You don’t get to point…
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Share in the Xmas spirit: vote for the “poseur of the year”
Here. One philosopher is included (I won't give it away), as is one silly philosophical tourist, Ian Bogost (who is winning). Poseur of the century? Maybe we'll run that poll after the holidays (though I guess we know the likely winners). (Thanks to Peter Ludlow for the pointer.)
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Royal pardon (at last) for Alan Turing
Story here. (Thanks to Matt Lavine for the pointer.)
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Editors of philosophy journals discuss the issues they confront…
…at a new blog. They welcome additional contributors–see the "About" page for information (editors of journals may "self-nominate" to participate in the blog).
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Poetry at 3AM
Congratulations to long-time reader Aaron E. Baker, who has had several poems published at 3AM.
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Recent reviews of “Why Tolerate Religion?”
The good, the bad, and the ugly. (This is a comment on the quality of the reviews, not the verdicts they reach!) You would think a very clear, 185-page book would generate more consistently competent reviews, but the topic of religion, alas, seems to be an obstacle.
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“Why Tolerate Religion?” redux
Since we recently commented on a not very edifying review, here's a new one that is both informative and (almost entirely) accurate about the arguments in the book (see it's not that hard!) and makes some fair criticisms. ADDENDUM: Given the time of year, I should note that Why Tolerate Religion? will fit nicely in most…
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A happy development: the Tea Party crazies are attacking the Republican Party
Hurray! It gives me hope that perhaps my grandchildren will grow up in a world without a meaningful Republican Party (apart, of course, from that portion of the Democratic Party that would have been Republicans in 1975).
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$2.2 Million for project on “Nature and Value of Faith”…
…with philosopher Jonathan Kvanvig (Baylor) as the Principal Investigator. There is more information about the award and the project here and here.
I respond to this report here https://jasonstanleyantifascist.substack.com/p/on-the-philosophical-muddle-that