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Jonathan Wolff

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Jonathan Wolff is a British philosopher. He is a Senior Research Fellow in Philosophy and Public Policy and Governing Body… more

Jonathan Wolff
H-index: 33
Political science 51%
Philosophy 14%
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by Jonathan Wolff

jowolff.bsky.social
Ludwig Börne offering to spy on himself for half the price the police spy is being paid. (From Heinrich Heine’s book on Börne.)
And yet he knew that he was surrounded by spies, and he once said to me, "there's a fellow walking constantly behind me, following me through all the streets, standing in front of all the buildings I go into, and certainly is well paid by some government for it. If I only knew which government, I would write to it to say that I should like to earn the money myself, that I myself would submit a reliable daily report about how I had spent the whole day, with whom I had spoken, where I had gone; yes, I am ready to deliver this report at a much cheaper price,
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by Jonathan Wolff

jowolff.bsky.social
Was at a recruitment event with a colleague from the English department once. She said ‘are you the sort of person who can sit in your room reading for 12 hours a day, day after day? If not please don’t apply to read English.’ Few have the calling.
bearlypolitics.co.uk
The Bear @bearlypolitics.co.uk · 4h
So, the plan is to cut English, the arts, and sociology - the degrees that actually study culture - while on another part of your platform claiming to “defend” British culture.

It’s performance nationalism with a reading age of seven.
Badenoch: Curb students taking 'rip-off' degrees such as English The performing arts, sociology and anthropology are among the subjects the Conservatives would like to cut
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by Jonathan Wolff

jowolff.bsky.social
Work and Reform in the same sentence?
planningtransport.co.uk
Steve Chambers @planningtransport.co.uk · 3h
One foot out the door. www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...
Tories should work with Reform, says shadow minister
Andrew Rosindell admitted his Romford seat would ‘almost certainly’ fall to Reform UK at an election
www.standard.co.uk
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by Jonathan Wolff

jowolff.bsky.social
Define a horse, Bari Weiss.
idgordon.bsky.social
Ian Gordon @idgordon.bsky.social · 1d
The NYT's Michael Grynbaum reported that this is the note that Bari Weiss sent to CBS News staffers this morning (1/2)
3 6

Reposted by: Jonathan Wolff

planningtransport.co.uk
One foot out the door. www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...
Tories should work with Reform, says shadow minister
Andrew Rosindell admitted his Romford seat would ‘almost certainly’ fall to Reform UK at an election
www.standard.co.uk
2 1 8

by Jonathan Wolff

jowolff.bsky.social
“If I can’t dance to it I don’t want to be part of your revolution.” Emma Goldman
courtneyvaughn.bsky.social
Courtney Vaughn @courtneyvaughn.bsky.social · 5h
Streets are still closed off in front of the Portland ICE facility at 8:30pm. Protesters have gathered on a side street. Dance party in progress.
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Reposted by: Jonathan Wolff, John L. Provis, Jane Callaghan , and 1 more

bearlypolitics.co.uk
So, the plan is to cut English, the arts, and sociology - the degrees that actually study culture - while on another part of your platform claiming to “defend” British culture.

It’s performance nationalism with a reading age of seven.
Badenoch: Curb students taking 'rip-off' degrees such as English The performing arts, sociology and anthropology are among the subjects the Conservatives would like to cut
54 180 500

Reposted by: Jonathan Wolff, Richard S.J. Tol, Steve Peers , and 1 more

courtneyvaughn.bsky.social
Streets are still closed off in front of the Portland ICE facility at 8:30pm. Protesters have gathered on a side street. Dance party in progress.
380 2.6K 9.2K

by Jonathan Wolff

jowolff.bsky.social
No I am not a student of evolutionary theory. In fact, evolutionary theory studies me.

(Wondering now if this quip works for every academic discipline.)
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Reposted by: Jonathan Wolff

ohdearz.bsky.social
Valuable info about the Physics Nobel Prize today from Prof. Joseph Barranco at SFSU on Martinis and Devoret being a grad student and postdoc in Clarke's lab at UC Berkeley & Clark and Devoret being immigrants. "California *public* education made this happen. Immigration made this happen." ⚛️
Joseph Barranco posted on social media: Go Bears! Nobel Prize in Physics goes to 3 physicists studying mesoscopic quantum phenomena... Work was done in the 1980s in UC Berkeley Professor John Clarke's lab with his graduate student John Martinis and postdoctoral fellow Michel Devoret... all 3 share the Nobel Prize. Must also point out that both Clarke and Devoret are immigrants from the UK and France, respectively. All 3 are pioneers in the race to build the most powerful quantum supercomputers. California *public* education made this happen. Immigration made this happen.
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by Jonathan Wolff

jowolff.bsky.social
Seen in Weiner Library, London. Prototype for a children’s game in Nazi Germany 1938. Jews Out.
3 9 23

by Jonathan Wolff

jowolff.bsky.social
Sequel in preparation.
Cover of book: When Medicine Went Bad Bioethics and the Holocaust Edited Arthur L Caplan
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by Jonathan Wolff — Reposted by: Jonathan Wolff, Mirya R. Holman

jowolff.bsky.social
My reaction to reading papers outside my own area. Three categories:

1. Brilliant
2. Obvious
3. Impenetrable
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by Jonathan Wolff — Reposted by: Jonathan Wolff

jowolff.bsky.social
Weird flashback to about 1987 and asking whether the department would put a mirror in the gents’ toilet so I could check how I looked before I went to lecture, and being met with incredulous stares.
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by Jonathan Wolff

jowolff.bsky.social
Of course am aware of those figures, though infant mortality, maternal mortality and death in war and manual work accounts for a significant part of the difference.
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by Jonathan Wolff — Reposted by: Jonathan Wolff

jowolff.bsky.social
I recommend St Helena.
gilduran.com
Gil Durán @gilduran.com · 1d
Panicked Curtis Yarvin—JD Vance's neo-fascist guru—plans to Flee USA.

“I feel that I personally have to start thinking realistically about how to flee the country.”

www.thenerdreich.com/panicked-cur...
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
15 5 44

by Jonathan Wolff

jowolff.bsky.social
Thomas Hobbes is my model. He lived to 91.
1 6

by Jonathan Wolff — Reposted by: Jonathan Wolff, Seán Hanley

jowolff.bsky.social
Really I should have been born in the seventeenth century, when random speling was normal.
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by Jonathan Wolff

jowolff.bsky.social
But where do I tick if I am a robot?
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by Jonathan Wolff — Reposted by: Jonathan Wolff

jowolff.bsky.social
Extraordinary to look at Trump and take him as a role model.
mancunianmedic.bsky.social
David Oliver @mancunianmedic.bsky.social · 1d
So Jenrick saying he wants to

1. Sack any judges who make decisions he doesn't agree with

2. Interfere with operational policing decisions in a threatening way

Just as well he will never be a cabinet minister again then
6 5 39

Reposted by: Jonathan Wolff

mancunianmedic.bsky.social
So Jenrick saying he wants to

1. Sack any judges who make decisions he doesn't agree with

2. Interfere with operational policing decisions in a threatening way

Just as well he will never be a cabinet minister again then
8 20 120

by Jonathan Wolff — Reposted by: Jonathan Wolff

jowolff.bsky.social
2026 When American democracy officially comes to an end?
lauranelson1005.bsky.social
Laura Nelson @lauranelson1005.bsky.social · 1d
I thought this was a joke when I first saw it.

It isn't

The US Treasury plans to release it in 2026.

Remember: when this regime falls--and it will--those complicit will be held to account.
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Reposted by: Jonathan Wolff

lauranelson1005.bsky.social
I thought this was a joke when I first saw it.

It isn't

The US Treasury plans to release it in 2026.

Remember: when this regime falls--and it will--those complicit will be held to account.
2 5

Reposted by: Jonathan Wolff, Kim L. Scheppele, Scott L. Greer , and 1 more

idgordon.bsky.social
The NYT's Michael Grynbaum reported that this is the note that Bari Weiss sent to CBS News staffers this morning (1/2)
100 160 630

Reposted by: Jonathan Wolff, Jack Stilgoe, David Darmofal

gilduran.com
Panicked Curtis Yarvin—JD Vance's neo-fascist guru—plans to Flee USA.

“I feel that I personally have to start thinking realistically about how to flee the country.”

www.thenerdreich.com/panicked-cur...
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
160 200 570

by Jonathan Wolff — Reposted by: Jonathan Wolff

jowolff.bsky.social
You can lie about things that people don’t experience in their day to day live and get away with it. Dangerous to lie about food prices, at least to people who go shopping.
ronfilipkowski.bsky.social
Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 1d
A new poll shows 75% of Americans believe Trump has not focused enough on lowering prices. Trump responds to that by just lying about prices. Don’t believe your lying eyes or empty wallets - believe a serial liar making billions in the Middle East!
4 9 46

Reposted by: Jonathan Wolff

ronfilipkowski.bsky.social
A new poll shows 75% of Americans believe Trump has not focused enough on lowering prices. Trump responds to that by just lying about prices. Don’t believe your lying eyes or empty wallets - believe a serial liar making billions in the Middle East!
300 710 2.5K

by Jonathan Wolff — Reposted by: Jonathan Wolff

jowolff.bsky.social
Enjoying retirement dividend of not having to log in to Moodle.
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by Jonathan Wolff

jowolff.bsky.social
Seems quite a nice day out. What are they trying to hide?
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by Jonathan Wolff — Reposted by: Jonathan Wolff

jowolff.bsky.social
Nostalgic for the days when being open-minded was a good thing.
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References

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