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Reposted by Kai Spiekermann

LSE Political Theory @lsepoltheory.bsky.social · 1d

Our next research seminar is with Daniel James (TU Dresden). The title of his paper is “Racism and Racialised Oppression”. Thursday 16 Oct 4pm.
PLEASE NOTE ROOM CHANGE: For this week only, we meet in CKK.1.14. Registration for externals: forms.office.com/e/WBSQABK5yj
danieljamesphilosophy.com

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Kai Spiekermann @kspiekermann.bsky.social · 2d

Cool -- I will look at @edmundhandby.bsky.social and @nahshonp.bsky.social 's work. Send papers and ideas, please!

nahshonp.bsky.social

Kai Spiekermann @kspiekermann.bsky.social · 2d

Thanks! Yes, it's like crtl-F, except it also tells you what words are frequent in the first place. Still. it's very crude. I don't think we learn much here -- but I wonder whether things get more interesting when one thinks about word connections.

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Kai Spiekermann @kspiekermann.bsky.social · 2d

(3) This is really just using AI for vibe coding for a quick-and-dirty analysis. It does not draw on other LLM capabilities. Everything here could be achieved with conventional coding or using specialist software (4) This benefits from others providing data. Thanks, Project Gutenberg! (5) Leviathan!

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Kai Spiekermann @kspiekermann.bsky.social · 2d

(1) This is not at all validated. It's really just playing around. Pinch of salt, etc. (2) It stems from me thinking about the uses of AI for political theory. To my mind, this is not a serious use -- but can LLMs be used for something serious in our discipline? Any thoughts welcome.

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Kai Spiekermann @kspiekermann.bsky.social · 2d

So which famous work in political theory is represented by this figure? (Frequency of select key terms by chapter). This was made with the help of Claude and the repository of Project Gutenberg. Some thoughts below.

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Reposted by Kai Spiekermann

LSE Political Theory @lsepoltheory.bsky.social · 8d

From political philosophy to political proposals via the social sciences. A lively debate, launching Tom Parr's new book. With Becky Clark (LSE), David Axelsen (Essex) and @brunoleipold.com .

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Kai Spiekermann @kspiekermann.bsky.social · 9d

Two of my doctoral students submitted their thesis in the last two days. Many congratulations! So much hard work, thinking, debating, presenting. All culminating in one short email.

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Reposted by Kai Spiekermann

LSE Political Theory @lsepoltheory.bsky.social · 25d

On Thursday 2 October, we'll be kicking off our 2025-26 LSE poltiical theory seminar with a book launch of Tom Parr's "Empowering Workers in an Age of Automation". The event will be followed by a reception at the George IV pub. Register here: www.eventbrite.com/e/empowering...

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Reposted by Kai Spiekermann

LSE Political Theory @lsepoltheory.bsky.social · Sep 3

New seminar schedule for Autumn Term. All welcome!

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Kai Spiekermann @kspiekermann.bsky.social · Jul 23

Great essay by Meghan O'Rourke in the NYT about LLMs in academia and beyond. An extract on paper (!).

Kai Spiekermann @kspiekermann.bsky.social · Jul 21

LLMs are such a tricky challenge for Higher Ed. But sometimes they are genuinely useful for admin. I just managed to get Claude to write a timetable analysis tool to eliminate clashes in our MSc degree. It extracts data from a huge spreadsheet and turns it into a readable table. YES!

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Kai Spiekermann @kspiekermann.bsky.social · Jul 18

The good news is: if they do (despite their efforts), the cognitive gap between the groups shrinks. But what is going on? In-group solidarity, cognitive dissonance avoidance, self - deception? Sobering but fascinating work.

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Kai Spiekermann @kspiekermann.bsky.social · Jul 18

In this remarkable study, Shayo and co-authors show that subjects from israel pay to avoid reading about Palestinian victims while subjects from Jordan pay to avoid reading about Israeli victims. This is bad news.

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Kai Spiekermann @kspiekermann.bsky.social · Jul 17

Inspiring PPE Conference at KCL, and first, poignant keynote with Moses Shayo on 'News avoidance in times of war.'

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Kai Spiekermann @kspiekermann.bsky.social · Jul 3

Amazing workshop at the @csh.ac.at, thinking about collective learning, democracy, social media regulation, and LLMs. Thanks to Mirta Galesic and Henrik Olsson -- and the great interdisciplinary set of colleagues gathered in Vienna. No doubt some great work will emerge from this.

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Reposted by Kai Spiekermann

Chad Van Schoelandt @chadvanschoelandt.bsky.social · Jul 1

Important insights from Chandran Kukathas:
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/01/o...

Opinion | Trump’s Deportation Program Is About Control. Even if You Are a U.S. Citizen.

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Kai Spiekermann

LSE Political Theory @lsepoltheory.bsky.social · May 13

This week, Eric MacGilvray will give a paper called "What Is It to be a Realist about Democracy?" from his book in progress.
Thursday May 15 16:00 - 18:00. All welcome!
Please note NEW VENUE: OLD.4.10 (OId Building)!
Registration for non-LSE participants: forms.office.com/e/WBSQABK5yj

Microsoft Forms

forms.office.com

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Kai Spiekermann @kspiekermann.bsky.social · Apr 25

I am an associate of the NSF collaboration grant "Augmenting Intelligence Through Collective Learning". The PIs were informed last week that the grant is now cancelled because it is "not in alignment with current NSF priorities". The outline mentions climate change and diversity. And intelligence.

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Reposted by Kai Spiekermann

LSE Political Theory @lsepoltheory.bsky.social · Apr 9

Our PhD student @janwasserziehr.bsky.social is organising an exciting conference on 10th June about AI, consiousness, and morality. Register here: www.eventbrite.de/e/lse-worksh...

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Kai Spiekermann @kspiekermann.bsky.social · Apr 9

@jackwilkinson.bsky.social told me about this saying today. It will stay with me for a while.

Maxine Eichner @maxineeichner.bsky.social · Mar 7

Russian expression: “It’s a lot easier to turn an aquarium into fish soup than it is to turn fish soup into an aquarium.”

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Kai Spiekermann @kspiekermann.bsky.social · Mar 29

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Kai Spiekermann @kspiekermann.bsky.social · Mar 29

Breathtaking Händel operas in Shoreditch Town Hall. 'Tales of Apollo and Hercules'. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/m...

Tales of Apollo and Hercules review – Handel double bill channels Don Draper and Hollywood musicals

An imaginative melding of a 1710 Handel cantata and a 1751 oratorio results in a nifty two-act opera-ballet – and a dazzling cornucopia of images

www.theguardian.com

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Kai Spiekermann @kspiekermann.bsky.social · Mar 28

What a great seminar this was! See you all soon again for more political theory @lsepoltheory.bsky.social @lsegovernment.bsky.social

LSE Political Theory @lsepoltheory.bsky.social · Mar 27

Daniel Weinstock defending a mandate view of representation and being questioned by Anne Phillips and @leaypi.bsky.social

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Reposted by Kai Spiekermann

LSE Political Theory @lsepoltheory.bsky.social · Mar 26

This will now be in LAK.2.06 due to electrical problems with the CKK building.

LSE Political Theory @lsepoltheory.bsky.social · Mar 25

Our research seminar on Thursday is with Daniel Weinstock: "Compromise and the Ethics of Political Representation". 4pm. We're in CKK.2.06 -- but you need to register if you don't have an LSE ID: forms.office.com/e/WBSQABK5yj

PS: Our email distribution is down -- sorry, no email announcements.

Microsoft Forms

forms.office.com

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