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David Lay Williams

@laywilliams.bsky.social

7.4K followers 830 following 1.3K posts

Political theorist at DePaul and author of The Greatest of All Plagues: How Economic Inequality Shaped Political Thought from Plato to Marx (Princeton, 2024). Essays in NY Times, Washington Post, Time, Bloomberg, etc. Jazz Guitar, New York Mets. .. more

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David Lay Williams @laywilliams.bsky.social · Sep 3

After a decade's labor, it is finally book-release day for "The Greatest of All Plagues: How Economic Inequality Shaped Political Thought from Plato to Marx." I'm both relieved and excited to see this day arrive. press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...

The Greatest of All Plagues

How the great political thinkers have persistently warned against the dangers of economic inequality

press.princeton.edu

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David Lay Williams @laywilliams.bsky.social · 20h

The Rowan op-ed reminds me of how Socrates in the Apology describes consulting the businessmen: "each of them, because of his success at his craft, thought himself very wise in other most important pursuits, and this error overshadowed" their accomplishments.

Opinion | Academia Is Broken. Trump’s University ‘Compact’ Can Help Fix It.

www.nytimes.com

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David Lay Williams @laywilliams.bsky.social · 20h

MIT leading the way . . .

MIT Rejects Trump’s Sweeping ‘Compact’ Offering Colleges Funding Advantages

The school became the first university to reject the terms, saying they would undermine independence.

www.wsj.com

David Lay Williams @laywilliams.bsky.social · 21h

Yesterday I posted The NY Times article on Pope Leo's Exhortation on the poor. Looking through the exhortation itself now. Here's a particularly nice passage.

11. A concrete commitment to the poor must also be accompanied by a change in mentality that can have an impact at the cultural level. In fact, the illusion of happiness derived from a comfortable life pushes many people towards a vision of life centered on the accumulation of wealth and social success at all costs, even at the expense of others and by taking advantage of unjust social ideals and political-economic systems that favor the strongest. Thus, in a world where the poor are increasingly numerous, we paradoxically see the growth of a wealthy elite, living in a bubble of comfort and luxury, almost in another world compared to ordinary people. This means that a culture still persists — sometimes well disguised — that discards others without even realizing it and tolerates with indifference that millions of people die of hunger or survive in conditions unfit for human beings. A few years ago, the photo of a lifeless child lying on a Mediterranean beach caused an uproar; unfortunately, apart from some momentary outcry, similar events are becoming increasingly irrelevant and seen as marginal news items.

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David Lay Williams @laywilliams.bsky.social · 21h

Sorry, here's the gift link:

Pope Leo Calls on Christians to Care for the Poor in His First Teaching

www.nytimes.com

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David Lay Williams @laywilliams.bsky.social · 1d

It took me like 30 years to discover Radiohead. I'm not known for being on top of popular culture.

David Lay Williams @laywilliams.bsky.social · 1d

I've never watched the Wire, but will do so now with this interview.

Juno Rylee Schultz @junoryleejournalism.com · 2d

David Simon, creator of ‘The Wire’, being interviewed by Ari Shapiro (NPR)

SHAPIRO: OK, so you've spent your career creating television without Al, and I could imagine today you thinking, boy, I wish I had had that tool to solve those thorny problems...
SIMON: What?
SHAPIRO: ...Or saying...
SIMON: You imagine that?
SHAPIRO: ...Boy, if that had existed, it would have screwed me over.
SIMON: I don't think Al can remotely challenge what writers do at a fundamentally creative level.
SHAPIRO: But if you're trying to transition from scene five to scene six, and you're stuck with that transition, you could imagine plugging that portion of the script into an Al and say, give me 10 ideas for how to transition this.
SIMON: I'd rather put a gun in my mouth.

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David Lay Williams @laywilliams.bsky.social · 1d

Delighted my book has been reviewed by Estrella Trincado in Spanish at Investigaciones de Historia Económica.

Vista de The greatest of all plagues. How economic inequality shaped political thought from Plato to Marx

recyt.fecyt.es

David Lay Williams @laywilliams.bsky.social · 1d

"The document, known as an apostolic exhortation, said that care for the poor also meant “fighting against the structural causes of poverty.” Leo blamed “ideologies that defend the absolute autonomy of the marketplace and financial speculation” for deepening inequality in today's world."

Pope Leo Calls on Christians to Care for the Poor in His First Teaching

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Ben H. Ansell, Suresh Venkatasubramanian, Will Jennings , and 22 more Ben H. Ansell, Suresh Venkatasubramanian, Will Jennings, Mary Feeney, Peter Campbell, Gernot Wagner, Jussi T. Eronen, Melanie C. Green, Janet Murray, David R. Miller, Michael J. Taylor, Jacob T. Levy, Rebecca M. Bratspies, David J. Berri, Evgeny Kuzmin, Mark Rice, Woodrow Hartzog, Richard M. Carpiano, Simon Lester, Isabelle Poutrin, Brandon Whitcher, Sean Latham, Constance Bantman, Giulio Mattioli, David Lay Williams

Juno Rylee Schultz @junoryleejournalism.com · 2d

David Simon, creator of ‘The Wire’, being interviewed by Ari Shapiro (NPR)

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David Lay Williams @laywilliams.bsky.social · 2d

Still longer than he coached the Jets!

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David Lay Williams @laywilliams.bsky.social · 2d

All the more reason to demand permission.

The Verge @theverge.com · May 26

Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry

Paul McCartne, Elton John and others signed an open letter.

buff.ly

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David Lay Williams @laywilliams.bsky.social · 2d

"One of the negative consequences AI is having on students is that it is hurting their ability to develop meaningful relationships with teachers, the report finds. Half of the students agree that using AI in class makes them feel less connected to their teachers."

Rising Use of AI in Schools Comes With Big Downsides for Students

A report by the Center for Democracy and Technology looks at teachers' and students' experiences with the technology.

www.edweek.org

David Lay Williams @laywilliams.bsky.social · 2d

To the alumni of the "Compact 9" universities: please reach out to your alma mater's alumni relations/donations offices. Let them know that all future donations are contingent on making the right choice on the compact. They are listening to us. In large numbers, it can make a difference.

David Lay Williams @laywilliams.bsky.social · 2d

He was a lovely man. So sorry for you loss.

David Lay Williams @laywilliams.bsky.social · 2d

I love that this piece cites Russell Hardin. I got to hang out with him for an hour once when he returned to give a talk at his alma mater (UT--Austin). He discussed when he was an undergrad students fought against UT's foot-dragging on integration. It made a big difference. Let's learn from this.

Opinion | You Beat Trumpism by Banding Together. It’s as Hard and as Simple as That.

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Jacob Montgomery, David Lay Williams

Jason "Red5" Lyall @jaylyall.bsky.social · 2d

Attention university presidents and boards of trustees:

"Those who oppose authoritarianism have to play a different game, creating solidarity among an unwieldy coalition, which knows that if everyone holds together, they will surely succeed."

Opinion | You Beat Trumpism by Banding Together. It’s as Hard and as Simple as That.

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by John Kenneth White, David Lay Williams

𝚂𝚝𝚎𝚟𝚎 𝙼𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚜 @stevenpmillies.com · 3d

Greetings from the "insurrection."

Families are out in Chicago's Park Manor and Englewood neighborhoods. Crossing guards are helping children get home. It is a gorgeous fall afternoon.

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David Lay Williams @laywilliams.bsky.social · 3d

" . . . like the sorcerer who is no longer able to control the powers of the nether world whom he has called up by his spells."

Panicked Curtis Yarvin—JD Vance's guru—plans to flee USA

‘I feel that I personally have to start thinking realistically about how to flee the country.’

www.thenerdreich.com

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David Lay Williams @laywilliams.bsky.social · 3d

Check out @durlauf.bsky.social's fantastic new interview with @fishkin.bsky.social on the Inequality Podcast, hosted by the @ucstonecenter.bsky.social at the University of Chicago.

Joseph Fishkin on ‘Bottlenecks’ and Democracy

Podcast Episode · The Inequality Podcast · 10/06/2025 · 49m

podcasts.apple.com

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David Lay Williams @laywilliams.bsky.social · 3d

It's always a good time to listen to @ingridrobeyns.bsky.social. Check out the podcast.

Sam Pizzigati @sgp.bsky.social · 3d

Can a society thrive when a few own everything? More to the point: Can a society survive when a few own everything? A new interview with the Belgian-Dutch philosopher Ingrid Robeyns. @equalshope.bsky.social @ingridrobeyns.bsky.social www.equals.ink/p/how-much-w...

How Much Wealth Is Too Much? Ingrid Robeyns on the Case for Limitarianism

Listen now (31 mins) | Inequality, Democracy, and the Case for Limiting Extreme Wealth.

www.equals.ink

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Reposted by Ingrid Robeyns, David Lay Williams

Sam Pizzigati @sgp.bsky.social · 3d

How Much Wealth Is Too Much? Ingrid Robeyns on the Case for Limitarianism

Listen now (31 mins) | Inequality, Democracy, and the Case for Limiting Extreme Wealth.

www.equals.ink

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Reposted by David Lay Williams

David Lay Williams @laywilliams.bsky.social · 5d

@fishkin.bsky.social on the “compact” with American universities. Important insights here.

Balkinization: The Art of Replacing the Law with the Deal

A group blog on constitutional law, theory, and politics

balkin.blogspot.com

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David Lay Williams @laywilliams.bsky.social · 5d

Portuguese transcript of my recent interview with the good folks at @synesisideas.bsky.social.

Synesis: History of Ideas! Podcast @synesisideas.bsky.social · 6d

A entrevista com @laywilliams.bsky.social agora está disponível em Português para Brasileiros e Portugueses que prefiram!

open.substack.com/pub/synesish...

David Lay Williams @laywilliams.bsky.social · 6d

Don't even get me started on their metaphysics!

Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 6d

This morning, the Trump Administration’s Department of War gave me an ultimatum: call up your troops, or we will. It is absolutely outrageous and un-American to demand a Governor send military troops within our own borders and against our will.

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Reposted by David Lay Williams

Synesis: History of Ideas! Podcast @synesisideas.bsky.social · 6d

A entrevista com @laywilliams.bsky.social agora está disponível em Português para Brasileiros e Portugueses que prefiram!

open.substack.com/pub/synesish...

David Lay Williams @laywilliams.bsky.social · 6d

No respectable philosopher past or present, to my knowledge, has ever thought it a good thing for a single person to be so rich as to mandate the policies of nine universities simultaneously.

The Billionaire Behind Trump’s Deal for Universities

www.nytimes.com

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David Lay Williams @laywilliams.bsky.social · 7d

Fellow @utaustin.bsky.social alumni: please consider calling the president's office and sharing your thoughts about the "compact." Phone: 512-471-1232. Share broadly. There are a lot of us.

UT official "honored" to receive Trump's university demands

The Trump administration seeks to cap international student enrollment, among other things.

www.axios.com

David Lay Williams @laywilliams.bsky.social · 7d

I would only add here, I think there are two kinds of religious people -- those whose religion is a source of humility and kindness, and those who seek religion to authorize their cruelty. Not for me to say who is who, but I think we can learn a lot about people in how their religion functions.