99% of the time, saying that feature F explains why humans are unique or special is just rhetorical window dressing for something like "F is a thing humans do and I think that's neat."

Does language have, for lack of a better phrase, a carrying capacity? An upper limit of how many words it can support in its vocabulary given various factors?

If no, why aren't languages larger?

If yes, why does English have a bajillion words compared to similar languages?

Very interesting topic, thanks for sharing! :)

Giving thickness to the minimal self: coenesthetic depth and the materiality of consciousness - Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences Contemporary phenomenological psychopathology has raised questions concerning selfhood and its possible alterations in schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Although the notion of the self is central to…

🔓 Fazakas, I., Bois, M., & Gozé, T. (2026). Giving thickness to the minimal self: Coenesthetic depth and the materiality of consciousness. Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences, 25, 409–429. doi.org/10.1007/s110...

On the Ethics of the New Conspiracism - Croatian Journal of Philosophy Juha Räikkä, University of Turku, Turku, FinlandBarbora Baďurová, Matej Bel University, Banská Bystrica, Slovakia Abstract: Conspiracy theories and conspiracy theorizing have raised various ethical qu...

In 'On the Ethics of the New Conspiracism', Juha Räikkä and Barbora Baďurová explain that a new conspiracism, known for either doubt-sowing or agitation, raises various new ethical problems and its practitioners face new kinds of blames. All CJP papers are open access. #philsky

Words Without Intentions - Croatian Journal of Philosophy J. T. M. Miller, University of Durham, Durham, UK Abstract: A commonly held position in the literature on the metaphysics of words holds that intentions are either jointly or independently necessary o...

In 'Words Without Intentions', J.T.M. Miller analyses a standard assumption in metaphysics of language that for a tokening of a word, intentions are jointly or independently necessary or sufficient. Miller offers a counterexample. All CJP papers are open access. #philsky

I never expected that I would begin a paragraph in an academic paper with 'In a thread on Steam', but here we are… 😅 #philsky

That too! Though I do remember coming across‘metaphysicist’ too, perhaps only in Croatian. We say ‘metafizičar’, and physicist is ‘fizičar’ 🤔

They should’ve called it ‘metaphysico-theologo-cosmolonigology’ instead of just ‘metaphysics’ 😔 #philsky

Kant on Educating for Disgust: An Aesthetic and Ethical Tool for Humanity - Croatian Journal of Philosophy Serena Feloj, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy Abstract: This paper explores the role of disgust education in Kant, considering its aesthetic and moral implications. Kant distinguishes between physical education, shared with animals, and moral education, which is essential for living according to freedom. Disgust, according to Kant, functions as a defense mechanism against one’s animality […]

In 'Kant on Educating for Disgust...', Serena Feloj discusses the role of digust in Kant's conception of moral education. She argues that digust is valuable pedagogical and cultural tool in the process of human civilization and refinement. All CJP papers are open access. #philsky

As a student when on the job market I was all style no substance. Obvs I got a job. I see a lot of candidates out there try the opposite approach, all substance no style. Obvs it's a disaster. When will people learn: reality doesn't matter, appearances do? Just sad that philosophers don't know this.

Thank you! :))

Does panpsychism collapse into idealism? On the difference between grounding and identity

Do you think that panpsychism manages to escape the idealism charge or not? Can physical structure truly be mind-independent if it is grounded in consciousness? Would admitting that panpsychism is a form of idealism strengthen or undermine the view? #philsky

Response to My Critics - Croatian Journal of Philosophy Lara Ostaric, Temple University, Philadelphia, USA Abstract: In this article, I give a short précis of my recently published book, The Critique of Judgment and the Unity of Kant’s Critical System, and...

To the critics of her book 'The Critique of Judgment and the Unity of Kant’s Critical System' - Andrija Šoć, Monika Jovanović, Ted Kinnaman, and Luigi Filieri (all contained in this CJP special issue) - Lara Ostaric offers an exhaustive response. All CJP papers are open access. #philsky

El existir | To be (1990) Subtitulado al Español | John Weldon | National Film Board of Canada YouTube video by Glass109

A truly excellent video on personal identity and the teleporter scenario! Thanks to XxYwise from Substack for the recommendation! 🙂 #philsky

🚨 Our Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy entry on Computer Simulations in Science is now live. It was a lot of work but I’m proud of this substantial update. I hope it helps those in #philsci interested in the philosophical implications of computational methods.

plato.stanford.edu/entries/simu...

Heard a new term yesterday. Apatheist. Someone who can’t be bothered to form any views pro or anti religion.

Could you survive teleportation? Examining theories of personal identity

Would you personally dare step into the teleporter to Titan? Do you think that you would survive the process? Which theory of personal identity do you find most convincing? #philsky

Hope everyone has a lovely Valentine’s Day! 🙂❤️

Consciousness is an echo of an always-already present dasein, meta-narratively representing itself as differánce that haunts being as a spectre of the reified past. I thought this was obvious. #philsky

Gratifying to see that the academic #philosophy community is an identifiable blob! #PhilSky

What is Russellian physicalism? A deeply metaphysical attempt at defining the physical

Physicalism says everything is ultimately physical, yet physics only tells us how things relate, not what they are in themselves. Can Russellian physicalism fill that gap with intrinsic physical properties without smuggling in consciousness? #philsky

Want to read some books? We have free book reviews for you! Follow this thread... #newbooks #philosophy #vol39issue1 #vol39issue2
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A reminder for recent arrivals to Bluesky… #PhilSky #philosophy

Unity, Freedom, and History: The Primacy of the Practical and Lara Ostaric’s “Moral Image Realism” Thesis within Kant’s Critical System - Croatian Journal of Philosophy Andrija Šoć, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia Abstract: In this paper, I explore the concept of unity in Kant’s system, as laid out by Lara Ostaric. One of the key claims Ostaric makes is that...

In ‘Unity, Freedom, and History…’, Andrija Šoć, building on Lara Ostaric’s thesis, argues Kant’s primacy of the practical makes freedom a transcendental condition even for theoretical cognition, so the moral ‘image’ has real historical-political significance. All CJP papers are open access. #philsky

The State of the Debate on Panpsychism Between Physicalism and Holism

If panpsychism starts off as a ‘sober’ theory of consciousness (meant to avoid reductive physicalism and substance dualism), does it lose its appeal when it starts expanding into a systematic worldview about purpose, spirituality, morality, or is that exactly where it was always heading? #philsky

I interviewed Anil about AI consciousness for my Sub Stack prior to the talk. Subscribe now so you don't miss it!
philipgoff.substack.com

Thank you Meg, really appreciate it! :))

I had a great time at the ‘Panpsychism, Non-Physicalism, and the Causal Powers of Consciousness’ workshop with @heddamorch.bsky.social at Ruhr Uni Bochum. So many compelling new views that push the debate forward. I’m very grateful to have had this opportunity!

Photo by @finnthwaite.bsky.social! 📸

Why Kant’s 250-Year-Old Ideas Are Exactly What We Need Right Now — Harvard University Press In his new book Kant: A Revolution in Thinking, Marcus Willaschek—Professor of Philosophy at Goethe University—shows how the great philosopher’s ethical insights remain more relevant than ever. Here, ...

Why Kant’s 250-Year-Old Ideas Are Exactly What We Need Right Now

In his new book Kant: A Revolution in Thinking, Prof. Marcus Willaschek shows how the great philosopher’s ethical insights are more relevant than ever. www.hup.harvard.edu/features/ide... #Kant #today #PhilosophySky #philsky