November 2023
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Letter to law school deans in support of student free speech rights
The letter is here, and is still accepting signatures. I quite agree that it is outrageous the extent to which private employers (and even some universities) are willing to sanction lawful political speech by students, and am sympathetic to the ultimate recommendations (but less sympathetic to other parts of the letter). But law professor readers…
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Great moments in obscure rock ‘n’ roll covers: Popa Chubby, “What Is and What Should Never Be,” 2010
"Popa Chubby" is the stage name of Ted Horowitz, a nice Jewish boy from the Bronx, who has been active since the late 1980s as a rock blues guitarist. This is his very fine cover of the Led Zeppelin number: Feel free to add other Popa Chubby favorites in the comments.
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Russell from Dianoia/ACU to the ANU
Gillian Russell (logic, philosophy of language & logic), Professor of Philosophy at the soon-to-be disbanded Dianoia Institute of Philosophy at the Australian Catholic University, has accepted appointment as Professor of Philosophy in the School of Philosophy at the Australian National University, effective July 2024. Despite the best efforts of the benighted ACU Vice-Chancellor, Australian philosophy…
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“The Politics of Language”
Philosopher Jason Stanley talks about his new book (co-authored with David Beaver) on PBS.
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America is not a civilized country, part 492: how is it possible that private individuals can purchase an AR-15?
The Washington Post has shared photos of the aftermath of an AR-15 attack (the weapon of choice in most of the mass shootings in the US); they are not for the faint-hearted. But they do drive home the indefensible insanity of a country that permits these kinds of weapons to circulate. No other civilized country…
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Israel/Gaza links for November 16
"If Gaza was in your city, how much would be destroyed?" Some gripping visuals, to drive home the scale of the destruction. "Does Israel have the [legal] right to defend itself [under international law]?" An international law scholar brings out the surprising difficulties of the question. There's more to "massive state violence" than the question…
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The latest move in the right-wing war on higher education: the “General Education Act”
The proposed text of this ideologically motivated legislation is here, and some of its, shall we say, "peculiarities" are discussed here. It probably is constitutional for state legislatures to impose this on public universities in their states, but it would, of course, involve a massive infringement on the academic freedom of faculties to determine course…
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11 philosophers you [general reader, not professional philosopher] probably don’t know, but should
For "World Philosophy Day" (whatever that is?), IAITV asked Martha Nussbaum, Cheryl Misak, Peter Adamson, Andrew Bowie and others to "nominate philosophers you probably haven't heard of, but you should know about." The resulting list is eclectic and idiosyncratic, but includes some fine nominees including Porphyry (early animal rights advocate), Frank Ramsey, Cora Diamond, and Friedrich…
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AFA statement of principles regarding campus protests and faculty and student speech
Here; obviously prompted by Israel/Gaza but the principles are not specific to that case, although they are being abridged because of the current events.
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Universities slash spending on education, science, healthcare, and physical facilities; increase spending on bureaucracy, social services and entertainment (Michael Simkovic)
Real pay has declined steeply for law professors over the last 10 years, down by around 24 percent, while employment of law professors has stagnated.* This cannot be not explained away by changes in professor age or seniority or by a shift toward clinical or other support staff. Pay cuts vary by school, and appear…
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Harvard faculty call on President to actually support free speech and academic freedom…
…even when critical of Israel, and even when it irritates rich alumni. (Thanks to Aaron Garrett for the pointer.)
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“Loved, yet lonely”
Philosopher Kaitlyn Creasy comments.
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F.I.R.E. asks U.S. Supreme Court to clarify status of “academic freedom” after Garcetti
Their brief is here. Garcetti, and its danger for academic freedom, is explained here. The facts of the current Porter case (in which F.I.R.E. is intervening) are ones that will likely appeal to the conservativeso n the Court, so perhaps academic freedom will emerge on a firmer constitutional footing (especially if the Court agrees with Professor Whittington's view). …
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Students sue NYU alleging administrators and professors tolerated or encouraged anti-Semitic harassment (Michael Simkovic)
The Reuters story is here. The Bloomberg story is here. The lawsuit appears to be directed at the college and the university, not at individuals affiliated with the law school. More universities will likely face similar lawsuits and negative press coverage in the coming weeks and months. Attorneys for plaintiffs at the law firm of…
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Williamson on logic in everyday life and beyond
This short essay by Timothy Williamson is actually pleasingly clear and introductory, and could be profitably shared with someone who wanted to know "what is logic about and why does it matter"?
David J. Gunkel «Person, Thing, Robot: A Moral and Legal Ontology for the 21st Century and Beyond» (MIT, 2023) Link:…