William Gildea
@williamgildea.bsky.social
Human equality, justice, animal ethics. Researcher in philosophy at McGill and the Centre for Research in Ethics in Montreal.
Not at all suss: "Dear William Gildea, Greetings from the office of International Journal of Philosophy
Your crucial role in the progression of knowledge is evident
By joining the editorial team, you will access: Gratitude [list cont]
Not interested in the daily reports? Unsubscribe"
Your crucial role in the progression of knowledge is evident
By joining the editorial team, you will access: Gratitude [list cont]
Not interested in the daily reports? Unsubscribe"
December 23, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Not at all suss: "Dear William Gildea, Greetings from the office of International Journal of Philosophy
Your crucial role in the progression of knowledge is evident
By joining the editorial team, you will access: Gratitude [list cont]
Not interested in the daily reports? Unsubscribe"
Your crucial role in the progression of knowledge is evident
By joining the editorial team, you will access: Gratitude [list cont]
Not interested in the daily reports? Unsubscribe"
Trump: #Greenland is essential to our national security. I'd imagine Greenland finds Greenland pretty much essential for their national security too.
December 22, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Trump: #Greenland is essential to our national security. I'd imagine Greenland finds Greenland pretty much essential for their national security too.
The Pamphlet has just published this feature of my podcast! www.the-pamphlet.com/articles/sur...
“Surprising Ethics”: Interview with William Gildea — THE PAMPHLET
“Surprising Ethics” aims to be an accessible philosophy podcast. Can you tell us more about your mission and why you think philosophy should be made more understandable? Do you think podcasts are part...
www.the-pamphlet.com
December 19, 2025 at 3:48 PM
The Pamphlet has just published this feature of my podcast! www.the-pamphlet.com/articles/sur...
Back to pens and paper in the exam hall? (For most students). Universities must grip cheating and defend education: their founding purpose.
Surely we cannot allow university degrees to be undermined by corporate interests, whether AI-based or otherwise www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Surely we cannot allow university degrees to be undermined by corporate interests, whether AI-based or otherwise www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Essay cheating at universities an 'open secret' despite new law
An essay mill owner says he's made millions, while an ex-lecturer says he quit due to rife cheating.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 18, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Back to pens and paper in the exam hall? (For most students). Universities must grip cheating and defend education: their founding purpose.
Surely we cannot allow university degrees to be undermined by corporate interests, whether AI-based or otherwise www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Surely we cannot allow university degrees to be undermined by corporate interests, whether AI-based or otherwise www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The land of the free www.theguardian.com/football/202...
Trump plan for World Cup tourists to reveal social media activity described as ‘chilling’
A plan to require fans travelling to the US for the World Cup to disclose information about their social media accounts has been described as ‘chilling’
www.theguardian.com
December 11, 2025 at 2:40 PM
The land of the free www.theguardian.com/football/202...
I stopped using Times New Roman *precisely* because it doesn't look professional - not in this century...
www.cnn.com/2025/12/10/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/12/10/p...
Rubio directs diplomats to return to using Times New Roman, undoing Biden-era switch to Calibri | CNN Politics
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has directed the State Department to go back to using Times New Roman typeface as the standard for official papers, a spokesperson told CNN, in a reversal of the prev...
www.cnn.com
December 11, 2025 at 12:25 AM
I stopped using Times New Roman *precisely* because it doesn't look professional - not in this century...
www.cnn.com/2025/12/10/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/12/10/p...
The EU's public consultation on animal welfare closes on Friday. Non-EU citizens can submit too. Here's a pre filled but editable form which makes it super quick. #animalrights act.animainternational.org?fbclid=IwY2x...
Show up for animals – Public consultation on animal welfare
Have your say in the public consultation on animal welfare. Your voice matters.
act.animainternational.org
December 11, 2025 at 12:00 AM
The EU's public consultation on animal welfare closes on Friday. Non-EU citizens can submit too. Here's a pre filled but editable form which makes it super quick. #animalrights act.animainternational.org?fbclid=IwY2x...
This is heartwarming, but underlines the core truth: virtually no animal ever escapes slaughter. We decide their fate. We force them into the slaughterhouse doors. We decide the reasons, the timing, the method, the conditions. They have no power, and then no life
www.theguardian.com/fashion/2025...
www.theguardian.com/fashion/2025...
Just not that into ewes: ‘gay sheep’ escape slaughter and take over a New York catwalk
Designer Michael Schmidt’s 36-piece collection was made from the wool of rams who have shown same-sex attraction
www.theguardian.com
December 5, 2025 at 8:11 PM
This is heartwarming, but underlines the core truth: virtually no animal ever escapes slaughter. We decide their fate. We force them into the slaughterhouse doors. We decide the reasons, the timing, the method, the conditions. They have no power, and then no life
www.theguardian.com/fashion/2025...
www.theguardian.com/fashion/2025...
NEW episode: why envy can be *good*, according to @saraprotasi.bsky.social. Our conversation covers envy's role in self-improvement, self-esteem, self-acceptance, love, friendship, inequality and racism. Listen here:
linktr.ee/surprisinget...
linktr.ee/surprisinget...
Surprising Ethics | Instagram | Linktree
View surprisingethics’s Linktree to discover and stream music from top platforms like Spotify here. Your next favorite track is just a click away!
linktr.ee
December 1, 2025 at 2:34 PM
NEW episode: why envy can be *good*, according to @saraprotasi.bsky.social. Our conversation covers envy's role in self-improvement, self-esteem, self-acceptance, love, friendship, inequality and racism. Listen here:
linktr.ee/surprisinget...
linktr.ee/surprisinget...
If #vegan milk/meat is 'fake', something fakes are better than the real thing.
Fake, computer-game murders are better than the real deal. Being hit by fake bullets tends to be better, etc
Fake, computer-game murders are better than the real deal. Being hit by fake bullets tends to be better, etc
November 21, 2025 at 8:56 PM
If #vegan milk/meat is 'fake', something fakes are better than the real thing.
Fake, computer-game murders are better than the real deal. Being hit by fake bullets tends to be better, etc
Fake, computer-game murders are better than the real deal. Being hit by fake bullets tends to be better, etc
Will AIs have rights and become conscious? My podcast has a new episode!
Hear from both sides of the debate on digital consciousness, as we ask whether we should stop AI development right now to prevent vulnerable AIs coming to be. linktr.ee/surprisinget...
Hear from both sides of the debate on digital consciousness, as we ask whether we should stop AI development right now to prevent vulnerable AIs coming to be. linktr.ee/surprisinget...
Surprising Ethics | Instagram | Linktree
View surprisingethics’s Linktree to discover and stream music from top platforms like Spotify here. Your next favorite track is just a click away!
linktr.ee
November 3, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Will AIs have rights and become conscious? My podcast has a new episode!
Hear from both sides of the debate on digital consciousness, as we ask whether we should stop AI development right now to prevent vulnerable AIs coming to be. linktr.ee/surprisinget...
Hear from both sides of the debate on digital consciousness, as we ask whether we should stop AI development right now to prevent vulnerable AIs coming to be. linktr.ee/surprisinget...
Wow, semi-silent fireworks, great for dogs, cats, birds and all animals (and many humans...).
November 2, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Wow, semi-silent fireworks, great for dogs, cats, birds and all animals (and many humans...).
Reposted by William Gildea
Excerpt:
"In the wild, pigs live in small family units. Typically, two to four sows who bear a family relation live together with their piglets. These groups, known as ‘sounders’, generally avoid one another to reduce conflict. "
"In the wild, pigs live in small family units. Typically, two to four sows who bear a family relation live together with their piglets. These groups, known as ‘sounders’, generally avoid one another to reduce conflict. "
I wrote this, asking: is this big UK supermarket producing the 'happy, natural, ethically raised' pigs it now claims it is? theecologist.org/2025/oct/31/...
October 31, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Excerpt:
"In the wild, pigs live in small family units. Typically, two to four sows who bear a family relation live together with their piglets. These groups, known as ‘sounders’, generally avoid one another to reduce conflict. "
"In the wild, pigs live in small family units. Typically, two to four sows who bear a family relation live together with their piglets. These groups, known as ‘sounders’, generally avoid one another to reduce conflict. "
I wrote this, asking: is this big UK supermarket producing the 'happy, natural, ethically raised' pigs it now claims it is? theecologist.org/2025/oct/31/...
October 31, 2025 at 12:39 PM
I wrote this, asking: is this big UK supermarket producing the 'happy, natural, ethically raised' pigs it now claims it is? theecologist.org/2025/oct/31/...
New episode today: Would less liberty be better for us? My guest Sarah Conly says absolutely yes: we need the state to make harmful choices illegal.
She's a formidable proponent of paternalism and we have a cracking conversation for you: linktr.ee/surprisinget...
She's a formidable proponent of paternalism and we have a cracking conversation for you: linktr.ee/surprisinget...
Surprising Ethics | Instagram | Linktree
View surprisingethics’s Linktree to discover and stream music from top platforms like Spotify here. Your next favorite track is just a click away!
linktr.ee
October 1, 2025 at 6:32 PM
New episode today: Would less liberty be better for us? My guest Sarah Conly says absolutely yes: we need the state to make harmful choices illegal.
She's a formidable proponent of paternalism and we have a cracking conversation for you: linktr.ee/surprisinget...
She's a formidable proponent of paternalism and we have a cracking conversation for you: linktr.ee/surprisinget...
Jesus, now even Outlook has introduced an AI function to summarise emails.
Can't we just be left to read the actual goddam email in peace -- rather than communicate through robots?
Can't we just be left to read the actual goddam email in peace -- rather than communicate through robots?
September 24, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Jesus, now even Outlook has introduced an AI function to summarise emails.
Can't we just be left to read the actual goddam email in peace -- rather than communicate through robots?
Can't we just be left to read the actual goddam email in peace -- rather than communicate through robots?
The one thing that's not saving me time is Adobe reader incessantly popping up with the view that "this document seems long: save time with a summary". Can we just not have tech companies continually trying to get people not to actually... read, and engage properly with ideas?
September 4, 2025 at 5:37 PM
The one thing that's not saving me time is Adobe reader incessantly popping up with the view that "this document seems long: save time with a summary". Can we just not have tech companies continually trying to get people not to actually... read, and engage properly with ideas?
Reposted by William Gildea
Launch day is finally here!
New podcast all about surprising ideas on #ethics and political values. Tune in for philosophers' hottest takes! 3 launch eps to choose from here: surprisingethics.buzzsprout.com
New podcast all about surprising ideas on #ethics and political values. Tune in for philosophers' hottest takes! 3 launch eps to choose from here: surprisingethics.buzzsprout.com
Surprising Ethics
The most interesting ideas from ethics and political theory. Where every episode contains a surprise.Surprising Ethics is an accessible philosophy podcast exploring the striking ways in which philosop...
surprisingethics.buzzsprout.com
September 1, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Launch day is finally here!
New podcast all about surprising ideas on #ethics and political values. Tune in for philosophers' hottest takes! 3 launch eps to choose from here: surprisingethics.buzzsprout.com
New podcast all about surprising ideas on #ethics and political values. Tune in for philosophers' hottest takes! 3 launch eps to choose from here: surprisingethics.buzzsprout.com
Reposted by William Gildea
The trailer has now launched!! Check out this 1 minute into to Surprising Ethics, a new podcast about philosophers' most surprising ethical ideas: surprisingethics.buzzsprout.com
Surprising Ethics
The most interesting ideas from ethics and political theory. Where every episode contains a surprise.Surprising Ethics is an accessible philosophy podcast exploring the striking ways in which philosop...
surprisingethics.buzzsprout.com
August 26, 2025 at 1:07 PM
The trailer has now launched!! Check out this 1 minute into to Surprising Ethics, a new podcast about philosophers' most surprising ethical ideas: surprisingethics.buzzsprout.com
Reposted by William Gildea
Brand new podcast launching soon! Bringing you the most surprising ideas in ethics and political philosophy. With short episodes by me, Dr William Gildea, and long-form interviews with philosophers on their contributions.
August 19, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Brand new podcast launching soon! Bringing you the most surprising ideas in ethics and political philosophy. With short episodes by me, Dr William Gildea, and long-form interviews with philosophers on their contributions.
Reposted by William Gildea
Let’s try another method. Phase out zoos.
There is no ‘gentle’ death for a healthy animal that doesn’t want to die.
There is no ‘gentle’ death for a healthy animal that doesn’t want to die.
Pets to be fed whole to zoo animals. For "animal welfare" reasons. The predators "need" this, apparently. What about the needs/welfare of the pets slaughtered? It's shocking zookeepers could be so inconsistent. There's no ethics without consistency.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...
Danish zoo asks pet owners to donate rabbits and horses to feed its predators
Zoological institution offers to euthanise animals that need to be put down so ‘nothing goes to waste’
www.theguardian.com
August 4, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Let’s try another method. Phase out zoos.
There is no ‘gentle’ death for a healthy animal that doesn’t want to die.
There is no ‘gentle’ death for a healthy animal that doesn’t want to die.
Pets to be fed whole to zoo animals. For "animal welfare" reasons. The predators "need" this, apparently. What about the needs/welfare of the pets slaughtered? It's shocking zookeepers could be so inconsistent. There's no ethics without consistency.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...
Danish zoo asks pet owners to donate rabbits and horses to feed its predators
Zoological institution offers to euthanise animals that need to be put down so ‘nothing goes to waste’
www.theguardian.com
August 4, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Pets to be fed whole to zoo animals. For "animal welfare" reasons. The predators "need" this, apparently. What about the needs/welfare of the pets slaughtered? It's shocking zookeepers could be so inconsistent. There's no ethics without consistency.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...
This kind of action is just so *absurdly* piecemeal. Why should anyone be able to shoot a bear in the face for fun? Maybe the bill is better than nothing but come on.
U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar, D-Michigan's 13th Congressional District, is sponsoring a bill that would ban hunters from intentionally placing food on federal public lands to attract bears. 👏
Federal bill banning hunters from bear baiting on public lands introduced by Michigan representative
The Don't Feed the Bears Act was introduced to the U.S. House by Rep. Thanedar on Wednesday.
www.cbsnews.com
July 21, 2025 at 6:56 PM
This kind of action is just so *absurdly* piecemeal. Why should anyone be able to shoot a bear in the face for fun? Maybe the bill is better than nothing but come on.