July 2026
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This is encouraging: majority of Americans want to redistribute wealth from AI companies to society
Let’s hope it happens, but this will require the prudent wing of the ruling class, i.e., the Democrats, to ‘betray’ the (short-term) interests of their class, much as FDR did. (As some readers will know, FDR was regularly accused of being a traitor to his class, whereas in reality he saved them from extinction.)
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In Memoriam: George Graham (1945-2026)
Professor Graham was well-known for his work in philosophy of mind, psychology and psychiatry. Philosopher Eddy Nahamias at Georgia State kindly shared this obituary: After a long illness, George Graham died at his home in Birmingham, Alabama on July 2, 2026. After earning his BA in philosophy from Fordham in 1967, George went on to…
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“From a Realist Point of View” at NDPR
My thanks to Adrian Kreutz (Amsterdam) for this friendly review of my latest book, about which he writes: Leiter’s new volume…is both a fantastic foray into, and recapitulation of, the many forms realism has taken in philosophy and jurisprudence. It builds on the American tradition, but goes beyond that—or, in any case, presents perhaps the…
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A very strange interview in CHE with the President of the American Anthropological Association
The CHE reporter Stephanie Lee does a really good job trying to get Professor Rouse to actually answer questions, but Professor Rouse’s responses mostly serve to confirm the doubts expressed about her field in the Boghossian Report. It’s a shame, because I am a huge fan of a lot of work done in anthropology. One…
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Anthony Appiah’s report on “literary studies,” as part of the background research for the “Boghossian Report”
Here. I haven’t had time to compare this to Professor Kramnick’s rejoinder to the official Report, but if any readers have taken the time to examine both Appiah’s report on literary studies, and Kramnick’s essay, please feel free to post your assessment. Signed comments will be preferred (i.e., full name and valid email address [the…
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Philosophy debate tournament for high school students and undergraduates
Details here. Applications close July 29.
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San Jose State professor fired after engaging in pro-Palestinian protests reinstated by arbitrator’s decision
An interesting case. It seems like the right decision: firing a tenured professor was wildly disproportionate to the offense, given the professor’s strong record. It was no doubt crucial that the San Jose State faculty is unionized.
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Great moments in (what will soon not be) obscure “rock ‘n’ roll”: Niamh Kierans, “Lazarus,” 2025
Ms. Kierans is the daughter of an old friend; she is now a student at the University of Virginia. The friend did not ask me to post this, but I told the old friend I would because I was so impressed with her “indie-style” music and her stunning voice. Her songs are available on Spotify,…
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The “federal election assistance” commission that Trump gutted
His firing of the last three commissioners is not as ominous as it seems. Of course, Trump has only malign purposes, so who knows what further mischief he will try to work there.
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Yale AAUP Chapter lawyers up as it threatens to take legal action if Yale Admin cuts a deal with Trump
CHE story here. It’s obviously true that “deals” with a criminal like Trump are almost never reliable, but, contrary to what the article suggests, there is no “academic freedom” right to engage in unlawful discrimination in admissions. The only question here is factual: does Yale continue to discriminate against white and Asian applicants? If so,…
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Texas AAUP sues Texas Tech over its clearly unlawful attemps to control course content and faculty speech
I trust the federal courts will put a stop to this mischief. I hope they get to depose Gauleiter Creighton! (Earlier coverage.)
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Not only a malevolent buffoon, and an incompetent ignoramus…
…but also increasingly disabled, mentally and physically. This would make for an amusing read, except for the the terrible reality that he has real power and can continue to do real damage.
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Warwick “mentoring” scheme for “early career researchers” from the Global South, with a focus this year on scholars from India
An interesting initiative from moral, political and legal philosophers at the University of Warwick: “The Centre for Ethics, Law and Public Affairs (CELPA) at the University of Warwick is pleased to announce the CELPA Mentoring Scheme. The Scheme aims to support academics from groups underrepresented in moral, legal, and political philosophy, particularly researchers without established…
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More on the difficult choices facing faculty at Exeter
A propos this, philosopher John Dupre writes with an update: The redundancy project is continuing at Exeter, with at least a heartening level of resistance from staff and the staff union. There is some hope that they will succeed: a lot about the process seems entirely unjustified and of debatable legality. Please everyone consider signing…
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More on philosophers working for AI companies…
…in the NYT. It’s pretty thin on facts, and pretty thick on stereotypes about philosophers and philosophy students. And some of its “facts” aren’t even accurate: Nietzsche did not survive on the generosity of friends and family, as the article says, he worked for 11 years as a classics professor and then received a disability…
On reviewing this thread I realize there is a deeper point that is usually missed. Consider the behavior of a…