February 2022
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Richard Marshall interviews Alexus McLeod (Connecticut)…
…about Chinese philosophy at 3:16 AM.
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In Memoriam: Yale Kamisar (1929-2022)
MOVING TO FRONT FROM JANUARY 31-UPDATED Professor Kamisar, a leading figure in criminal procedure who spent most of his career at the University of Michigan Law School, was known as "the father of Miranda," as Justice Ginsburg noted in her tribute to Kamisar upon his retirement. I will add links to memorial notices when they…
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Philosopher in Belarus on hunger strike after being imprisoned for his views
Belarus, ruled by an authoritarian gangster, has imprisoned philosopher Uladzimir Matsekavich. PEN international has issued a strong statement in support, and there is also a petition in his support. We are dealing here with gangsters, of course, so only worldwide condemnation might embarrass the Belarusian authorities. (Thanks to Peter Singer for the pointer.)
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Here we go again: St. Olaf students protest Peter Singer’s virtual talk at their college
At least they only want the talk "boycotted" rather than cancelled, although they also want a commitment that the college will not invite speakers with incorrect views again. (The misuse of the category "hate speech" is particularly remarkable: nothing they quote from Singer would qualify as "hate speech" in any democracy with actual "hate speech"…
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“The metaphysics of accounting”
Who knew? (Thanks to Ruchira Paul for the pointer.)
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“Schopenhauer on boredom”
A brilliant new account by Joshua Isaac Fox, a recent PhD graduate from here.
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Posing as a “virtuous victim” associated with the “dark triad” of personality traits
According to three psychologists at (ironically enough) the University of British Columbia. From the abstract: We show that individuals with Dark Triad traits—Machiavellianism, Narcissism, Psychopathy—more frequently signal virtuous victimhood, controlling for demographic and socioeconomic variables that are commonly associated with victimization in Western societies….[W]e show that a specific dimension of Machiavellianism—amoral manipulation—and a form of…
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SSRN removes article after receiving “cease and desist” letter claiming the article defamed one of the people mentioned in it
Professor Ann Lipton (Tulane) explains: Previously, I announced that my paper, Capital Discrimination, would be forthcoming in the Houston Law Review, and had just been posted publicly to SSRN. As I explained in that post, the paper explores the problem of gender discrimination against women as business owners and capital providers, and proposes changes to both…
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Blast from the past: Against “secret waitlists” in admissions
Back in 2017, but will soon be timely again. Do see the comments as well.
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“Asset Manager Capitalism”
Via Alan Thomas, I come across this short talk by political economist Mark Blyth (Brown), which also discusses the "Wall Street Green New Deal" and mentions this striking Rand Corporation report on the effect of the "Reagan Revolution" from the right on wealth inequality. Curious to hear from those knowledgeable about the economic literatures he…
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70% of Americans currently living “paycheck to paycheck”
That means, of course, that they are not free (see my remarks here). Indeed, most of those with money to spare aren't free either. The epidemic of unfreedom in America will no doubt get worse in the years ahead. (More signs of unfreedom and economic distress.)
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“The Logic Gallery”
Featuring portraits of all your favorite logicians throughout history, courtesy of philosopher David Marans (St. Thomas U, Florida). Many new editions since we last featured it in 2014.
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Great moments in obscure rock ‘n’ roll: The Gods, “You’re My Life,” 1968
Another tune from the debut album of the British band The Gods (featuring a pre-Uriah Heep Ken Hensley), one that borrows, perhaps a bit too much, from a 1966 Cream song:
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Blast from the past: On an irony in the evolution of “standpoint epistemology”
Back in 2016. And see also.
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The PhD field with the fewest first-generation students?
Economics, of course. I guess this is what happens when a discipline is defined by a class-specific ideology!
Georgy Maksimovich pointed me to this article in Russian: https://novayagazeta.ru/articles/2026/05/25/antisovetskie-filosofskie-kontratseptsii