August 2026
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The latest transparent scam (from a gmail address, of course, using a real journalist’s name)
In today’s inbox (at least this scammer puts the $$$ request up front): From: Stig Abell <stigabell.timesradio@gmail.com>Date: August 31, 2026 at 10:08:54 AM CDTTo: Brian Leiter <bleiter@uchicago.edu>Subject: Invitation to discuss From a Realist Point of View on Times Radio Dear Professor Leiter, I hope you’re well. I’m Stig Abell, a host and broadcaster with Times Radio.…
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Trump Administration targets ABA’s role as an “accreditor” of law schools
CHE reports: A report from the Education Department is recommending that the accrediting arm of the American Bar Association lose its federal recognition. If approved, the accrediting agency, called the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar, would no longer be eligible to serve as a gatekeeper of federal financial…
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How is post-tenure review working at your (public) university?
Post-tenure review started proliferating more than a quarter-century ago, but has picked up speed in recent years. It might be useful to hear about people’s experiences. You can post anonymously, but you must use a valid email address, and it must be your university email address if you are going to name the university or…
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Philosopher’s Annual: from the literature of 2025
Via Patrick Grim (who remains as “executive editor ” of PA, but has turned over editor duties for this volume to Daniel Singer): The Philosopher’s Annual volume 45 from the literature of 2025 Evan Behrle, “Desert and Economic Interdependence,” from the Journal of Philosophy Sam Berstler, “The Structure of Open Secrets,” from the Philosophical Review…
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Universities get a (partial) reprieve on the 100k H-1B visas, but international students will still face potential obsctacles
IHE reports: After a federal court struck down the Trump administration’s effort to levy a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications, the Department of Homeland Security is trying a different approach to impose a similar fee. Under a proposal released Monday, new H-1B visa petitions will have to pay $103,265 in addition to the…
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Why I did not sign the most recent open letter in support of Nathan Cofnas’s “academic freedom” [sic]
CHE reports on the letter here; I’ve sent CHE the following letter to the editor: I signed two earlier letters defending the academic freedom rights of Nathan Cofnas, since the principles of academic freedom encompass racist scholarship, as long as it meets the standards of the applicable discipline, and even if it is of dubious…
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Some skepticism about AI enthusiasm among philosophers
MOVING TO FRONT FROM AUG. 24–A LIVELY AND INTERESTING DISCUSSION IN THE COMMENT THREAD (ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS WELCOME) Philosopher Dan Kaufman writes: Over the last year, philosophy social media has discussed a number of academic philosophers who are actively embracing AI in their research. Perusing these posts — and the comments that follow — reveals a…
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Anonymous person falsely accuses junior scholar of using generative AI in writing an article in the online, open access journal “Political Philosophy”
The journal responds, appropriately, here. Folks should be a lot more cautious before throwing these accusations around!
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Searle on P.F. Strawson
Galen Strawson kindly shared this address John Searle gave at a memorial for Peter Strawson, which includes, among other things, a charming description of tutorials with Strawson: Early on, Searle writes that while studying at Oxford in 1954-55, I attended lectures and seminars not only by Peter, but by J L Austin,Paul Grice, Isaiah Berlin,…
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Israel is now bad for the Jews
A more nuanced assessment (than my title) from UCLA professor Dov Waxman: 1. We must unequivocally condemn antisemitic acts against Jews and not make excuses for those who commit them. 2. We also need to acknowledge that Israel’s actions fuel much (but not all) of the anger and hatred directed against Jews nowadays. 3. Conflating…
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Here’s how the Republican steal the midterm elections in the House
Law professor Michael Dorf discusses.
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Advertising update
There is at least one first or second spot available each month this fall at present. Email me at bleiter-at-uchicago-dot-edu for more information.
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Life in authoritarian America, a case in point
To be clear, American has done this kind of authoritarian shit before, but far less of it since the 1970s.
I would like to draw attention to two recent articles in the Financial Times. The first, “What we learnt from…