Counting Cancels

Based on the testimony of a relevant expert (FIRE's Greg Lukianoff) who documented a noticeable uptick in campus-related incidents related to free speech starting roughly 5 years ago, arguments that "cancel culture doesn't exist" are probably less plausible than I thought.

Contingent Racial Capitalism

 One way Marxists and critical race scholars may talk past each other is in conflating whether capitalism and racism are necessarily linked and whether they are merely actually, historically linked.

Deference and Meritocracy

I may need to figure out the tension in my thoughts on deference to experts and criticisms of meritocracy.

Discrimination & Discretion

Discrimination should be strongest within aspects of the criminal justice system in which cops, lawyers, & judges have the most leeway to push hard or let it slide.

"Not Violence" vs. Nonviolence

A history of "not violence" (as opposed to nonviolence) within the civil rights movement emphasizes the right to self defense against state violence.

My Language of Politics

I'm pretty dedicated to the progressive narrative of oppression. (Arnold Kling's Three Languages of Politics, via Russ Roberts on Amit Varma's podcast)

Cancel Culture Obsession

 I don't like how much I'm interested in cancel culture.

How Is My Curriculum Philosophy?

 I haven't done nearly enough to diversify my curricula ("How Is This Paper Philosophy?").

Meritocracy & the "Great Man" Myth

A commitment to meritocracy stems from the "great man" myth that science only progresses from genius to genius.

Are Prisons Obselete?

Angela Davis's case for abolishing prisons is worth taking seriously.

Abolition Over Reform

I align more closely with #8toabolition than #8cantwait.

'Neutral' Laws Favor Cops

The critical race theorist's claim that neutral laws are biased in favor of the powerful applies especially to cops.

Radical Reform

Police reform should be far more radical than my uncritical alief about the subject. (I learned this watching the mass protests surrounding Black Lives Matter throughout the weekend.)

Excellence & Equality

Excellence and equality--virtue and deontology--are hard to square.

Recalling Old Thoughts on Trust

My paper and letter-to-the-editor on safe spaces for the West Chester Writing Center class had some crucial insights on establishing trust before productive disagreements that I had somewhat forgotten.

The Assistant & Patrick Wilson

There's a tremendous power imbalance between a famous man (Patrick Wilson) nonchalantly ignoring an unknown woman in an elevator (I learned this when watching The Assistant.)

Discrimination in Contact & Contract

Glenn Loury's focus on discrimination in contact (social discrimination), which is distinct from discrimination in contract (economic discrimination), encourages practically conservative policy suggestions but stems from liberal ideals of helping the disenfranchised. He understood this position as neoconservativism in the 80's.