Josh Habgood-Coote
@impractknow.bsky.social
Philosopher | practical knowledge, collective inquiry, philosophy of technology | spends too much time running
Ok second, more cynical thoughts: what’s the evidence that the ‘grok take her bikini off’ requests were real people?
I got a media request to talk about deepfakes on X the nightmare app and spent half an hour scrolling thinking about it before it fell through. Some things:
January 15, 2026 at 7:40 PM
Ok second, more cynical thoughts: what’s the evidence that the ‘grok take her bikini off’ requests were real people?
Reposted by Josh Habgood-Coote
I wrote an article for @theconversation.com on how philosophy can help us understand the deep harms of AI-generated sexual images, e.g by Grok on X, as well as other digital misogyny like assault in virtual reality. #philsky #philtech
theconversation.com/how-ai-gener...
theconversation.com/how-ai-gener...
How AI-generated sexual images cause real harm, even though we know they are ‘fake’
Publicly bombarding women with these images exerts control over how they present themselves online.
theconversation.com
January 15, 2026 at 2:03 PM
I wrote an article for @theconversation.com on how philosophy can help us understand the deep harms of AI-generated sexual images, e.g by Grok on X, as well as other digital misogyny like assault in virtual reality. #philsky #philtech
theconversation.com/how-ai-gener...
theconversation.com/how-ai-gener...
I got a media request to talk about deepfakes on X the nightmare app and spent half an hour scrolling thinking about it before it fell through. Some things:
January 15, 2026 at 4:42 PM
I got a media request to talk about deepfakes on X the nightmare app and spent half an hour scrolling thinking about it before it fell through. Some things:
Has anyone (probably a logician or linguist) taken really seriously the idea that we need the semantics of logical connectives to make sense of the fact that they can join clauses with different moods? (This feel like a inquisitive semantics thing, and I should probably just go and read some papers)
January 15, 2026 at 12:15 PM
Has anyone (probably a logician or linguist) taken really seriously the idea that we need the semantics of logical connectives to make sense of the fact that they can join clauses with different moods? (This feel like a inquisitive semantics thing, and I should probably just go and read some papers)
Reposted by Josh Habgood-Coote
are you displeased with today’s AI safety evaluation landscape and curious about what greater conceptual clarity, methodological soundness, and rigour in AI evaluation could look like? if so, consider coming to Dublin to pursue a PhD with me
apply here: aial.ie/hiring/phd-a...
pls repost
apply here: aial.ie/hiring/phd-a...
pls repost
January 15, 2026 at 11:55 AM
are you displeased with today’s AI safety evaluation landscape and curious about what greater conceptual clarity, methodological soundness, and rigour in AI evaluation could look like? if so, consider coming to Dublin to pursue a PhD with me
apply here: aial.ie/hiring/phd-a...
pls repost
apply here: aial.ie/hiring/phd-a...
pls repost
Reposted by Josh Habgood-Coote
There should be grave national concern about one of Britain’s leading economic sectors and chief export earners shedding tens of thousands of often skilled relatively well paid jobs. Universities are also key to local and regional economies across the country.
Pay-off spend up by two-thirds as universities shed 13,000 jobs
Analysis of UK sector accounts shows number of job losses well above predictions, with experts warning cuts are not over yet
www.timeshighereducation.com
January 15, 2026 at 8:11 AM
There should be grave national concern about one of Britain’s leading economic sectors and chief export earners shedding tens of thousands of often skilled relatively well paid jobs. Universities are also key to local and regional economies across the country.
Ding ding ding
Grok is an Epistemic Weapon www.techpolicy.press/grok-is-an-e... by @mkirschenbaum.bsky.social
"...conditions for the collapse of consensus reality..."
@eliothiggins.bsky.social: “Reality has splintered. In its place, engagement-driven ecosystems amplify whatever resonates, truth optional.”
"...conditions for the collapse of consensus reality..."
@eliothiggins.bsky.social: “Reality has splintered. In its place, engagement-driven ecosystems amplify whatever resonates, truth optional.”
Grok is an Epistemic Weapon | TechPolicy.Press
Elon Musk's Grok claims to be truth-seeking while shaping discourse and amplifying ideology, argues Matthew Kirschenbaum.
www.techpolicy.press
January 14, 2026 at 4:52 PM
Ding ding ding
Reposted by Josh Habgood-Coote
I think about this quote from the Luddite movement all the time
January 11, 2026 at 12:12 AM
I think about this quote from the Luddite movement all the time
Scots Gaelic question: do verbs have imperative markings for the first and third person (either singular or plural)? I had thought that they didn't (because someone said to me that a first-person imperative made you sound Gaelige not Scots Gaelic), but some verb tables have them #gaelic
January 13, 2026 at 1:32 PM
Scots Gaelic question: do verbs have imperative markings for the first and third person (either singular or plural)? I had thought that they didn't (because someone said to me that a first-person imperative made you sound Gaelige not Scots Gaelic), but some verb tables have them #gaelic
This is the world predicativists about names want to live in
Joined a meeting and there was another David on. Tied everyone up in a discussion of how to distinguish us during the meeting and by the time we settled on who was Dave and who was David we ran out of time to discuss anything else. Rescheduling meeting for next week.
Be ungovernable.
Be ungovernable.
January 13, 2026 at 1:03 PM
This is the world predicativists about names want to live in
Looking at you, British Philosophical association dailynous.com/2026/01/09/t...
The APA Board’s Open Letter to Trans Philosophers - Daily Nous
At its November 2025 meeting, the Board of the American Philosophical Association (APA) approved a statement addressed "first and foremost, to trans members of our profession," and to "those who teach...
dailynous.com
January 12, 2026 at 4:24 PM
Looking at you, British Philosophical association dailynous.com/2026/01/09/t...
Reposted by Josh Habgood-Coote
Naive question from an outsider:
If (for example) Claude Code is so good, why aren't we seeing more open source developments? Like, why isn't OpenTTD or whatever accelerated? Why isn't there an open source alternative to Duolingo?
Or is it good only for personalized tasks?
If (for example) Claude Code is so good, why aren't we seeing more open source developments? Like, why isn't OpenTTD or whatever accelerated? Why isn't there an open source alternative to Duolingo?
Or is it good only for personalized tasks?
January 12, 2026 at 4:10 PM
Naive question from an outsider:
If (for example) Claude Code is so good, why aren't we seeing more open source developments? Like, why isn't OpenTTD or whatever accelerated? Why isn't there an open source alternative to Duolingo?
Or is it good only for personalized tasks?
If (for example) Claude Code is so good, why aren't we seeing more open source developments? Like, why isn't OpenTTD or whatever accelerated? Why isn't there an open source alternative to Duolingo?
Or is it good only for personalized tasks?
Technology has riven us from the natural world exhibit xxxx
Funny animal videos no longer being trustworthy just fucking sucks all around. I love the wonder of animal behavior and what it says about the experience of being alive. It's because it happened in reality that it's so fun. It's not fun if it was just made up. There's no wonder there.
January 12, 2026 at 4:09 PM
Technology has riven us from the natural world exhibit xxxx
Is there still not a teachable version of a 'logical positivism was anti-metaphysics because anti-fascist' paper?
January 12, 2026 at 3:03 PM
Is there still not a teachable version of a 'logical positivism was anti-metaphysics because anti-fascist' paper?
Reposted by Josh Habgood-Coote
The London Spinoza Circle has been reborn as the UK Spinoza Circle, thanks to the hard work of Tony Salgado Borge. Please see the website here to sign up and for info on the first event, happening this Friday!
www.spinozacircle.co.uk
www.spinozacircle.co.uk
UK Spinoza Circle | A Monthly Online Workshop
Formerly known as the London Spinoza Circle, the UK Spinoza Circle is an ongoing monthly workshop open to academics, postgraduates and graduate students.
www.spinozacircle.co.uk
January 12, 2026 at 9:49 AM
The London Spinoza Circle has been reborn as the UK Spinoza Circle, thanks to the hard work of Tony Salgado Borge. Please see the website here to sign up and for info on the first event, happening this Friday!
www.spinozacircle.co.uk
www.spinozacircle.co.uk
Reposted by Josh Habgood-Coote
The UK government is letting these people die. They know it. They're pretending it's not happening.
#palestine-action #hunger-strikers #palestine #genocide #UK-government #starmer #prisoner
Heba Muraisi, 31, is struggling to breathe and suffering from headaches and lightheadedness after turning down food while being held at HMP New Hall in Yorkshire over alleged break-ins on behalf of the group.
Heba Muraisi, 31, is struggling to breathe and suffering from headaches and lightheadedness after turning down food while being held at HMP New Hall in Yorkshire over alleged break-ins on behalf of the group.
Palestinian Action hunger striker ‘deteriorating’ after losing 10kg in 69-day protest
Heba Muraisi is among three Palestine Action activists still on hunger strike while awaiting trial in the UK
www.independent.co.uk
January 11, 2026 at 10:53 AM
The UK government is letting these people die. They know it. They're pretending it's not happening.
Reposted by Josh Habgood-Coote
It's taken a few years, but I've finally framed and hung the painting I did of Mary Midgley shortly after her death. Now, she can stare over my shoulder when I'm in an online meeting or seminar, judging people who start on any bullshit.
January 10, 2026 at 12:25 PM
It's taken a few years, but I've finally framed and hung the painting I did of Mary Midgley shortly after her death. Now, she can stare over my shoulder when I'm in an online meeting or seminar, judging people who start on any bullshit.
HIVEMIND: I'm stealing an idea from Megan Hyska and pairing readings for philosophy of language with short stories or bits of fiction. I need help (I have a cold)
Topics and suggestions below
Topics and suggestions below
January 9, 2026 at 5:22 PM
HIVEMIND: I'm stealing an idea from Megan Hyska and pairing readings for philosophy of language with short stories or bits of fiction. I need help (I have a cold)
Topics and suggestions below
Topics and suggestions below
So Douglas Adams was just riffing on Asimov with Deep Thought then? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Las...
The Last Question - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
January 9, 2026 at 5:14 PM
So Douglas Adams was just riffing on Asimov with Deep Thought then? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Las...
So I genuinely set this as an exam question, and the picture I have now is that *throwing* a sandwich is a locutionary act, which through creating a spectacle creates an audience (vocative speech act) for the expression of disgust, a directive for ICE to get out, and the withdrawal of support
is a sandwich a speech act
January 9, 2026 at 3:10 PM
So I genuinely set this as an exam question, and the picture I have now is that *throwing* a sandwich is a locutionary act, which through creating a spectacle creates an audience (vocative speech act) for the expression of disgust, a directive for ICE to get out, and the withdrawal of support
Reposted by Josh Habgood-Coote
CFP for a special issue of Argumenta, guest edited by @lisabortolotti.com & @lalumera.bsky.social:
THE EPISTEMIC INJUSTICE RESEARCH PROGRAMME: DEGENERATIVE OR PROGRESSIVE?
Deadline 30th of September.
THE EPISTEMIC INJUSTICE RESEARCH PROGRAMME: DEGENERATIVE OR PROGRESSIVE?
Deadline 30th of September.
THE EPISTEMIC INJUSTICE RESEARCH PROGRAMME: DEGENERATIVE OR PROGRESSIVE? - Argumenta - Journal of Analytic Philosophy
The notion of epistemic injustice introduced by Miranda Fricker in 2007 raised interest in the harmful effects of prejudice within analytic philosophy and beyond. It inspired various projects linking ...
www.argumenta.org
January 8, 2026 at 8:47 PM
CFP for a special issue of Argumenta, guest edited by @lisabortolotti.com & @lalumera.bsky.social:
THE EPISTEMIC INJUSTICE RESEARCH PROGRAMME: DEGENERATIVE OR PROGRESSIVE?
Deadline 30th of September.
THE EPISTEMIC INJUSTICE RESEARCH PROGRAMME: DEGENERATIVE OR PROGRESSIVE?
Deadline 30th of September.
Reposted by Josh Habgood-Coote
Martin Peterson's creative response to being banned from teaching Plato (shared with his permission).
January 8, 2026 at 5:38 PM
Martin Peterson's creative response to being banned from teaching Plato (shared with his permission).
Reposted by Josh Habgood-Coote
Woah the US withdrawing from this feels like it could be a big deal, and very bad news indeed. This has been one of the primary means of coordinating the scientific community's advice giving to governments and international organisations.
January 8, 2026 at 9:40 AM
Woah the US withdrawing from this feels like it could be a big deal, and very bad news indeed. This has been one of the primary means of coordinating the scientific community's advice giving to governments and international organisations.
My partner and I have different views about the ethics of accents (in England). I think that you should *actively* adjust your accent to where you currently live, she thinks that you should keep your accent about where it was when you left school.
January 8, 2026 at 10:17 AM
My partner and I have different views about the ethics of accents (in England). I think that you should *actively* adjust your accent to where you currently live, she thinks that you should keep your accent about where it was when you left school.