Jonathan Floyd
@jonathanfloyd.bsky.social
Professor of Political Theory working on nature/methods/purposes of political philosophy. Chair of 'Methods of Normative Political Theory' (ECPR). Co-Chair of 'Political Philosophy' (IPSA). Personal website: https://www.drjonathanfloyd.com
If the Tories want an Oz-style social media ban, with Lab likely 2 agree, u might be interested 2 know that my 1st-yr pol-phi students here in Bristol are also on board. @rebeccabuxton.bsky.social @jowolff.bsky.social @chrisbrooke.bsky.social @crookedfootball.bsky.social @danieljamesbutt.bsky.social
January 20, 2026 at 6:23 PM
If the Tories want an Oz-style social media ban, with Lab likely 2 agree, u might be interested 2 know that my 1st-yr pol-phi students here in Bristol are also on board. @rebeccabuxton.bsky.social @jowolff.bsky.social @chrisbrooke.bsky.social @crookedfootball.bsky.social @danieljamesbutt.bsky.social
Here in Lisbon it's a public holiday in honour of the immaculate conception. Makes me wonder if any philosopher ever managed such a thing, let alone an immaculate concept? Rawls tried with JAF, but as his writing went from religion>philosophy>IR, even he had to admit it was more political in the end
December 8, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Here in Lisbon it's a public holiday in honour of the immaculate conception. Makes me wonder if any philosopher ever managed such a thing, let alone an immaculate concept? Rawls tried with JAF, but as his writing went from religion>philosophy>IR, even he had to admit it was more political in the end
Perhaps the best museum in Lisbon is TheMoneyMuseum, which happens 2 be free. Excellent account of the politics/history of coins/currencies, so maybe the only thing that would improve it would b a guided tour from dear old friend @stefeich.bsky.social + signing of press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
December 6, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Perhaps the best museum in Lisbon is TheMoneyMuseum, which happens 2 be free. Excellent account of the politics/history of coins/currencies, so maybe the only thing that would improve it would b a guided tour from dear old friend @stefeich.bsky.social + signing of press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
Final gathering this term of our Bristol pol theory/philosophy group & have now entirely lost my noticeboard 2 handouts on e.g. statelessness, marginalisation, love, universalism, childhood, & even supreme court judgements. @rebeccabuxton.bsky.social @wiglet1981.bsky.social @alixdietzel.bsky.social
December 1, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Final gathering this term of our Bristol pol theory/philosophy group & have now entirely lost my noticeboard 2 handouts on e.g. statelessness, marginalisation, love, universalism, childhood, & even supreme court judgements. @rebeccabuxton.bsky.social @wiglet1981.bsky.social @alixdietzel.bsky.social
Sunday baking 4 my Monday theorists. Christmas special. Am calling it Glitterball Tiffin 🪩 @rebeccabuxton.bsky.social @wiglet1981.bsky.social @alixdietzel.bsky.social Maybe also of interest 2 @liamshields.bsky.social. Challenge=always 2 do something that can survive 3h train trip w/out break/melting
November 30, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Sunday baking 4 my Monday theorists. Christmas special. Am calling it Glitterball Tiffin 🪩 @rebeccabuxton.bsky.social @wiglet1981.bsky.social @alixdietzel.bsky.social Maybe also of interest 2 @liamshields.bsky.social. Challenge=always 2 do something that can survive 3h train trip w/out break/melting
I think it's worth noting that u get more time/people/questions & certainly home baking when giving a talk at our Monday morning pol-phi sessions than u do at most conferences. Good to know if contemplating a PhD with e.g. @wiglet1981.bsky.social @rebeccabuxton.bsky.social @alixdietzel.bsky.social
November 5, 2025 at 11:38 AM
I think it's worth noting that u get more time/people/questions & certainly home baking when giving a talk at our Monday morning pol-phi sessions than u do at most conferences. Good to know if contemplating a PhD with e.g. @wiglet1981.bsky.social @rebeccabuxton.bsky.social @alixdietzel.bsky.social
When I was an undergraduate, everybody 'knew' that the big problem in the world was that states only acted in their own 'rational' self-interest. Now it seems the problem is that they don't. I guess it's harder to switch to altruism than it is to go from selfish to self-destructive?
November 3, 2025 at 7:39 AM
When I was an undergraduate, everybody 'knew' that the big problem in the world was that states only acted in their own 'rational' self-interest. Now it seems the problem is that they don't. I guess it's harder to switch to altruism than it is to go from selfish to self-destructive?
Unlike Margaret Thatcher, who was born 100 years ago today, these leaves are very much for turning.
October 13, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Unlike Margaret Thatcher, who was born 100 years ago today, these leaves are very much for turning.
It is abundantly clear to me 2day that my cats, unlike some of us, have no writing deadlines, teaching prep, inbox pile-up, housework, or childcare. They feel like sleeping and so they sleep. Later they will feel like eating/exploring and so will eat/explore. Just one fulfilled wish after another...
October 8, 2025 at 12:32 PM
It is abundantly clear to me 2day that my cats, unlike some of us, have no writing deadlines, teaching prep, inbox pile-up, housework, or childcare. They feel like sleeping and so they sleep. Later they will feel like eating/exploring and so will eat/explore. Just one fulfilled wish after another...
Many thanks to the 50+ staff/students who came from across Dublin/Ireland 2 hear me talk about methods/methodology in political theory/philosophy last Friday (for over 4hrs!). Only possible thanks 2 support from @psaireland.bsky.social + my excellent hosts Peter Stone (TCD) & Alexa Zellentin (UCD)
October 7, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Many thanks to the 50+ staff/students who came from across Dublin/Ireland 2 hear me talk about methods/methodology in political theory/philosophy last Friday (for over 4hrs!). Only possible thanks 2 support from @psaireland.bsky.social + my excellent hosts Peter Stone (TCD) & Alexa Zellentin (UCD)
Only 20/200 seats taken on my Ryanair flight to Dublin, so carbon footprint now 10fold!? No doubt there's a good 'business case' 4 running those empty planes - perhaps because they charged most of us (on an empty plane!) 4 seat selection, priority boarding, & cabin bags. Took solace in the clouds...
October 2, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Only 20/200 seats taken on my Ryanair flight to Dublin, so carbon footprint now 10fold!? No doubt there's a good 'business case' 4 running those empty planes - perhaps because they charged most of us (on an empty plane!) 4 seat selection, priority boarding, & cabin bags. Took solace in the clouds...
Sunrise over Bredon Hill from the train window. Means I'm nicely on time this morning, with no detour into Gloucester on this morning's route due to a station upgrade going on there. Small victories go a long way on a Monday morning.
September 29, 2025 at 6:39 AM
Sunrise over Bredon Hill from the train window. Means I'm nicely on time this morning, with no detour into Gloucester on this morning's route due to a station upgrade going on there. Small victories go a long way on a Monday morning.
Just had a great start to our fortnightly pol-philosophy talk-and-bake sessions, with excellent @alixdietzel.bsky.social kicking us off talking about the right (& wrong) kinds of love in teaching. Packed room, lots of questions, and lots of love. @rebeccabuxton.bsky.social @wiglet1981.bsky.social
September 22, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Just had a great start to our fortnightly pol-philosophy talk-and-bake sessions, with excellent @alixdietzel.bsky.social kicking us off talking about the right (& wrong) kinds of love in teaching. Packed room, lots of questions, and lots of love. @rebeccabuxton.bsky.social @wiglet1981.bsky.social
Teaching has decided to start again today. The weather has decided to get much colder. My train has decided to be very late. I was not consulted on any of these decisions.
September 22, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Teaching has decided to start again today. The weather has decided to get much colder. My train has decided to be very late. I was not consulted on any of these decisions.
What's your favourite trinity? Causes of conflict in Hobbes? Forms of rule in Aristotle? Parts of the mind in Plato? Methods of ethics in Sidgwick? Forms of trust in Wollstonecraft? In Manchester they have a different answer, though maybe not 2 taste of @duncanbell.bsky.social @jowolff.bsky.social
September 5, 2025 at 8:55 AM
What's your favourite trinity? Causes of conflict in Hobbes? Forms of rule in Aristotle? Parts of the mind in Plato? Methods of ethics in Sidgwick? Forms of trust in Wollstonecraft? In Manchester they have a different answer, though maybe not 2 taste of @duncanbell.bsky.social @jowolff.bsky.social
Lots of talk yesterday at MANCEPT about how important it is to be able to become a citizen. Fair enough, but having visited the Etihad 'campus' this morning, my feeling is that just because you can support them doesn't mean you have to.
September 4, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Lots of talk yesterday at MANCEPT about how important it is to be able to become a citizen. Fair enough, but having visited the Etihad 'campus' this morning, my feeling is that just because you can support them doesn't mean you have to.
Good morning MANCEPT. Perhaps the cladding on the building in the middle is designed to keep all those dangerous ideas produced by political theorists safely inside. Either way the Pennines loom nicely through the drizzle. Just what one wants for a day of serious thinking...
September 3, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Good morning MANCEPT. Perhaps the cladding on the building in the middle is designed to keep all those dangerous ideas produced by political theorists safely inside. Either way the Pennines loom nicely through the drizzle. Just what one wants for a day of serious thinking...
Would you also consider cats? It seems to me there are lots of people who like dogs in this world and lots of people who like cats but not enough who like both (I do!). FWIW, cats are also suspicious creatures in both senses. They are often suspicious of us; we should often be suspicious of them...
September 2, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Would you also consider cats? It seems to me there are lots of people who like dogs in this world and lots of people who like cats but not enough who like both (I do!). FWIW, cats are also suspicious creatures in both senses. They are often suspicious of us; we should often be suspicious of them...
Although @rebeccabuxton.bsky.social & others are excited to attend MANCEPT this week, I'm a little wary. Last time I was there I took several German realists to Nandos and the queen died halfway through the meal. What happens this time if I take an international group of methodologists to Greggs!? 😬
September 2, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Although @rebeccabuxton.bsky.social & others are excited to attend MANCEPT this week, I'm a little wary. Last time I was there I took several German realists to Nandos and the queen died halfway through the meal. What happens this time if I take an international group of methodologists to Greggs!? 😬
Just maybe the finest view of a rainbow I've ever had, coming back on the train for the last leg of my journey from @ecpr.bsky.social #ecpr2026 with @ecpr-nptmethods.bsky.social @edmundhandby.bsky.social @svenjaahlhaus.bsky.social @felixbender.bsky.social @uguraytac.bsky.social @apoama.bsky.social
August 30, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Just maybe the finest view of a rainbow I've ever had, coming back on the train for the last leg of my journey from @ecpr.bsky.social #ecpr2026 with @ecpr-nptmethods.bsky.social @edmundhandby.bsky.social @svenjaahlhaus.bsky.social @felixbender.bsky.social @uguraytac.bsky.social @apoama.bsky.social
Sometimes you wonder if that 'perfect' present you found was actually more for yourself than your children
August 30, 2025 at 4:40 AM
Sometimes you wonder if that 'perfect' present you found was actually more for yourself than your children
Can AI be a useful/novel 'method' or tool of political philosophy? Interesting and divergent answers from @edmundhandby.bsky.social and Nahshon Perez @ecpr.bsky.social w. @ecpr-nptmethods.bsky.social today.
August 28, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Can AI be a useful/novel 'method' or tool of political philosophy? Interesting and divergent answers from @edmundhandby.bsky.social and Nahshon Perez @ecpr.bsky.social w. @ecpr-nptmethods.bsky.social today.
Packed out panel on emotional/empirical methods this morning at @ecpr.bsky.social w. @ecpr-nptmethods.bsky.social following earlier discussion of 'old methods, new problems' @sunelaegaard.bsky.social @edmundhandby.bsky.social @lisamherzog.bsky.social @svenjaahlhaus.bsky.social @uguraytac.bsky.social
August 27, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Packed out panel on emotional/empirical methods this morning at @ecpr.bsky.social w. @ecpr-nptmethods.bsky.social following earlier discussion of 'old methods, new problems' @sunelaegaard.bsky.social @edmundhandby.bsky.social @lisamherzog.bsky.social @svenjaahlhaus.bsky.social @uguraytac.bsky.social
Packed panels, cool drinks, and sunset strolls on the promenade. It's a good life being a political theorist here at @ecpr.bsky.social in Thessaloniki with @ecpr-nptmethods.bsky.social
August 27, 2025 at 5:22 AM
Packed panels, cool drinks, and sunset strolls on the promenade. It's a good life being a political theorist here at @ecpr.bsky.social in Thessaloniki with @ecpr-nptmethods.bsky.social