C.M. Black
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foucaultu.bsky.social
C.M. Black
@foucaultu.bsky.social
Writer of things great and small.

B.A., Philosophy; M.A., Technical Writing
Blog writer for The Philosopher's Shirt
Sometime Goth Auntie
I am terribly chuffed to announce that my little romantic short story for the anti-Hallmark crowd will be published in a winter anthology soon! "Love at the Winter Funeral" is a sweet little story about a stressed goth who meets her true love through a horror fan site. #booksky #writer
November 25, 2025 at 11:59 PM
A good to know. I use Workspace a lot for the work I do as it is very convenient and the UX is decent. However, this is a big yikes and I will be saying nope, nope, nope.
Listen up #Philsky #Philsci #Science #education #Academia
GOOGLE automatically OPTd users IN to get access to all your private messages & attachments to train #AI models.
TO manually turn off Smart Features in the Setting menu in 2 locations👇. They've also tied spell checking to "Smart Features"
November 23, 2025 at 1:12 PM
And here comes new stuff. In my newest blog post for The Philosopher's Shirt, I talk about the study of ethics and why we need it. Please feel free to read here and/or discuss. #philsky

the-philosophers-shirt.com/blogs/philos...
We Are the Meme: How Ethics Take Us Beyond Naughty and Nice
Let's discuss the philosophical study of ethics, how it pertains to living a good life, and why we should sometimes question what we are told is right and wrong.
the-philosophers-shirt.com
November 23, 2025 at 1:01 AM
I know that Bluesky is a shorter length social option, but I really want to know WHY people recommend the books they do. I see a lot of people just posting covers, but what speaks to you? What bares its soul to you to make you post it? Tell me about your favorite book, please! And why! #booksky
November 22, 2025 at 3:44 AM
Precisely this. If you teach young people how to think, rather than what to think, you equip them with the critical tools for calling out injustice, questioning authority, and judging ethical mores. People in power don't like that. They want to keep that to themselves.
Do you have to run a survey to conclude that philosophy makes students better thinkers? This is what philosophy does: teach people to think... which is why many don't want it in education at any level.
#AcademicSky #PhilosophySky
November 22, 2025 at 3:40 AM
To sort of piggyback off the last post I made, I struggle a lot connecting with people in general. This hasn't always been the case, but I didn't always have PTSD. Being older and having very high anxiety has made it difficult to make any new friends. This is compounded by my move to Atlanta.
November 21, 2025 at 7:55 PM
I sincerely like Bluesky as a platform of shared interests, but I often feel I don't connect with people here very easily. I'd love to connect with people here in a meaningful way, especially since I am finally leaving Facebook by the end of the year. The harassment and ethical issues are too much.
November 21, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Those of you who write, I am also curious. What is your worst writing habit? Mine is...procrastination.
Writers!

What's your worst writing habit? 🤔

Mine is that when I'm outlining, I'll be so laser focused on the plot and main character and their arc that I'll completely forget about the supporting characters and I'm left scrambling to remember where they are/what the hell they're doing 🥴😂

#Writing
a close up of a man in a suit and tie with the name david worren on the bottom
ALT: a close up of a man in a suit and tie with the name david worren on the bottom
media.tenor.com
November 20, 2025 at 11:21 PM
I often think about who "counts" as a philosopher. I frequently see people denigrating women who were engaged in philosophy. Also, I heard that Hildegard of Bingen doesn't count because she's a nun. And feminists don't count. It honestly feels arbitrary to say who is or who isn't. #philsky
November 19, 2025 at 1:40 PM
My latest for The Philosopher's Shirt. We discuss the concept "means of production."

~5 years ago, I bought this shirt from TPS because I thought it was hilarious (and wanted to see who would notice). Never thought I'd get to write for them!

#philsky

the-philosophers-shirt.com/blogs/philos...
We Are the Meme: Seize the Holidays and Means of Production!
We discuss the topic of one of our bestselling Christmas shirts: Karl Marx and one of his most revolutionary economic terms, the means of production.
the-philosophers-shirt.com
November 16, 2025 at 2:04 AM
Been thinking of gender neutral wrapped books as gift options for my online store. These tend to be aimed toward women, but everyone should have a chance to have something nice.

If you got a wrapped book experience, what would be nice little additions for you?

#booksky
November 16, 2025 at 1:14 AM
This is relatable. I often feel as though I need to match the wallpaper, so I repaper myself in an attempt to become invisible.
Ain’t that the truth. #currentlyreading 💙📚🌶️📚
November 13, 2025 at 4:58 AM
I frankly worry about AI from an ethical perspective. The robots eating us, Terminator style, is one thing. But the real questions we should be asking involve the types of people common use of generative AI could turn us into. How will it affect human nature and personhood? And how should we use it?
"Ethical due diligence should become as routine as financial due diligence. Before asking how large a technology might become, we should ask what kind of behaviour it incentivises, what dependencies it creates, and who it leaves behind." #AIEthics

time.com/7332888/we-n...
AI Regulation is Not Enough. We Need AI Morals
"The challenge of our time is to keep moral intelligence in step with machine intelligence."
time.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:51 PM
I spent yesterday visiting Biltmore Estate. While it was one heck of a house, I felt a little haunted afterward. The Gilded Age excess of this largest house in the United States struck me as incredibly tasteless, as well as its pretensions to turning the Vanderbilt family into American aristocracy.
November 12, 2025 at 12:59 AM
This curmudgeon hasn't posted in a while because I am on vacation. Sooooon.
November 11, 2025 at 2:46 PM
The early manuscripts are some of the best work, some of the most hopeful ideas on the nature of humanity.
Your Sunday read:
"Marx's Ethical Vision"

Vanessa Wills explores the moral heart of Marxism to reveal a deep ethical vision gounded in freedom, creativity and collective self-determination. Revolution is an effort to shape a just society.
#Philosophy #Marx
www.thephilosopher1923.org/post/marx-s-...
Marx’s Ethical Vision
In this conversation, Vanessa Wills explores the moral heart of Marxism. Challenging the view of Marx as a cold materialist, Wills reveals his deep ethical vision, one that is grounded in freedom, cre...
www.thephilosopher1923.org
November 9, 2025 at 1:34 PM
My employer, The Philosopher's Shirt, is gearing up for the holidays. One of my favorite of their designs is the topic in the newest post. Let's look at the nature of love in this holiday whammy. #philsky

the-philosophers-shirt.com/blogs/philos...
We Are the Meme: A Christmas Whammy on the Nature of Love
We discuss classical philosophy's definitions of love in our homage to a holiday classic about love, loss, and "Last Christmas."
the-philosophers-shirt.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:01 AM
I am absurdly proud to receive the hard copy of the horror anthology in which I have a story. The Haunted Quill is out now and I am beaming. Spooky books must be shared. #booksky #writer #horror
November 4, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Half of the writing process is trying to avoid the writing process. #writing #writer #philsky
November 4, 2025 at 6:49 PM
An interesting update.
Prayer's effects on health have been studied many times.

Small studies initially reported some benefit, but more rigorous studies found null or even harmful effects.

In sum, prayer seemed ineffective, recommending focus on more promising interventions: doi.org/10.1002/1465...
November 4, 2025 at 4:53 AM
If you feel called, answer the call. I don't remotely do anything related to philsci, but if you do, here's a chance!
Call for Papers!

We invite submissions for the upcoming workshop, Social Ontology and Empirical Inquiry: Conflicts and Connections (April 11-12, 2026).

Deadline: January 15th

Details: https://ow.ly/zOr550X9T2n

#PhilosophyOfScience #CallForPapers
November 4, 2025 at 4:46 AM
Definitely worth a repost. Women philosophers exist and are worthy of study equal to their male counterparts.
ICYMI: "On the Marginalisation of Women in #Philosophy and #Science"

Athene Donald, Francesca Peacock, & Jennifer Park on the importance of recovering women's work, stereotypes, myth of gendered ways of thinking, and who else was overlooked.

#Feminism
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTK8...
On the Marginalisation of Women in Philosophy and Science: A. Donald, F. Peacock, J. Park & P. West
YouTube video by The Philosopher
www.youtube.com
November 4, 2025 at 4:43 AM
Reposted by C.M. Black
ICYMI: "On the Marginalisation of Women in #Philosophy and #Science"

Athene Donald, Francesca Peacock, & Jennifer Park on the importance of recovering women's work, stereotypes, myth of gendered ways of thinking, and who else was overlooked.

#Feminism
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTK8...
On the Marginalisation of Women in Philosophy and Science: A. Donald, F. Peacock, J. Park & P. West
YouTube video by The Philosopher
www.youtube.com
November 4, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Please consider all food pantry donations near you this year. If you have more, give some for others.
Got an email sent to all faculty and staff telling us our campus food pantry was nearly empty. The number of students using it has doubled this year. Take that in. They asked us to donate, and I did. Easily the saddest email I've received at work. How is your campus food pantry doing? #AcademicSky
November 1, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Proud to share my Halloween post for The Philosopher's Shirt, discussing Nagel's famous "Bat" article. One of the more interesting analytic works, IMO. #philsky

the-philosophers-shirt.com/blogs/philos...
Release the Bats!: Thomas Nagel's Subjectivity of Experience
We discuss Thomas Nagel's article "What Is It Like to Be a Bat?" and how far we can extend our human knowledge when it comes to our subjective experience.
the-philosophers-shirt.com
October 31, 2025 at 12:35 AM