Author: Russell, Cal

Samuel Wheeler: Nonsite & American Philosophical Quarterly

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Please check out Professor Emeritus Samuel C. Wheeler III’s two recent publications!

 

His first article comes from nonsite, entitled “A Davidsonian version of Dissemination and Abandonment.” This piece covers a naturalistic Davidsonian account of language; that language is inherently unstable, with meaning constantly shifting due to the process of uttering and interpreting. This instability is reflected in how utterances can be iterated or copied, yet still carry different meanings depending on context.

 

You can read the full essay “A Davidsonian version of Dissemination and Abandonment” here.

 

Additionally, the second article will be published in American Philosophical Quarterly, entitled “Rescher (1964) and the semantics of `Most’.” This essay is still forthcoming.

Ting-an Lin: Human-Centered AI Seed Grant

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In a collaborative effort with Communication and Women’s, gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGGS) Professor Jiyoun Suk, the UConn Humanities Institute (UCHI) has awarded a “Human-Centered AI Seed Grant” to Assistant Professor Ting-an Lin! Professor Lin’s project, titled “Reimagining AI: Global AI Narratives on Social Media across the Global North and South”, examines “the global public narratives about artificial intelligence (AI) on social media by analyzing their roots, impacts, and variations across different geolinguistic regions.”

This study combines philosophical ideas with computational social science methods to explore the conversations between the Global North and South, aiming to highlight the power dynamics that influence public views on AI and, ultimately, help create more inclusive and fair AI design and governance.

 

Congratulations, Professor Ting-an Lin!

Tracy Llanera: Beyond the Ghetto

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Congratulations to Associate Professor Tracy Llanera, who has a new public piece published in Beyond the Ghetto. “Well-Played: A Commentary on Professional Philosophy,” originates from the short talk Llanera gave at World Philosophy Day Event: Metaphilosophy Workshop organized by the Philosophy Graduate Student Association (PGSA) and the UConn Department of Philosophy.

The essay is a part of a special issue in metaphilosophy, including contributions by members of Women Doing Philosophy, a global feminist organization of Filipino philosophers that also operates Beyond the Ghetto. A short excerpt from Llanera’s article can be found below:

There are two prominent ways of practicing professional philosophy in the twenty-first century. … The way I see it, philosophy is either played like a game or staged as a drama.

You can read the full series, including Dr. Llanera’s piece, here. 

Congratulations, Tracy!

Philosophy and Global Affairs Vol. 4, no. 2

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Please check out the newest issue of Volume 4 of the Philosophy and Global Affairs journal edited by Professors Jane Gordon and Lewis Gordon of the political science and philosophy departments respectively.

You can read a statement from Lewis about the contents of the journal below:

“[This issue] includes essays on feminist conceptions of anger in philosophy and religious thought from renowned feminist philosopher Noelle Leslie dela Cruz and renowned feminist scholar of religious thought Judith Plaskow, an essay on postcolonial archives by Benjamin P. Davis, a tribute by Jane Anna Gordon to sociologist and philosopher Paget Henry, an article by Larry Alan Busk on Amílcar Cabral on the distinction between the people and the population, an article by Benjamin Stumpf on the underground newsletter The Red Dragon, an article by Derefe Kimarley Chevannes on decolonizing Caribbean modernity, followed by a symposium on Alena Wolflink’s Claiming Value: The Politics of Priority from Aristotle to Black Lives Matter, and three book reviews.”

A big thank you to UConn’s Global Affairs for their continued generous support.

 

You can read the newest issue here.

 

Tracy Llanera: Institute of Art and Ideas – London

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Check out Associate Professor Tracy Llanera’s newest piece, “Everything doesn’t happen for a reason: The myth of modern stoicism.” You can check out the piece on IAI’s website for free.

Below is an excerpt of the article:

When I was younger, hearing “everything happens for a reason” while lying face-down in the muck made me uncomfortable. Now, it sets me off. The reason is simple: the idea that every little thing is set in stone is a morally misguided philosophy. It suggests that all kinds of pain and suffering are unavoidable, that the injustices and cruelties plaguing our short lives are not only inescapable but in some ludicrous way even deserved, and that there’s nothing we can do differently as human beings to change our fate. These are the loaded claims behind “it’s meant to be” and “it is what it is,” colloquialisms of fatalist, unreflective stoicism tendered by well-meaning souls.

Congratulations, Tracy!

Michael Lynch: Psychology Today

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In preparation for the launch of his new book On Truth in Politics: Why Democracy Demands It, Professor Michael Patrick Lynch has written two articles on Psychology Today addressing the state of political truth in modern democracy.

 

His first article, “Why Does Everything Seem Political?” defines and discusses political meaning:

Political meaning, in particular, emerges from the associations communities attach to things. Politics is an activity aimed at resolving collective problems among communities. It reflects the perceived contributions of actions, objects, or ideas to political debates. In this sense, political meaning is all about perception.

 

While his second article, “Has Meta’s Fact-Checking Exit Put Truth at Risk?” directly confronts media company Meta (owner of Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp) newest decision that will end anti-disinformation programs across their sites:

In its recent announcement, Meta declared that it is ending its anti-disinformation program, stating a commitment to “more speech and fewer mistakes” (Meta, 2025). Given the size and global reach of their platforms, this is not just a blow against systematic and professional fact-checking online; it is a blow against the very idea of fact-checking—and that’s a problem for democracy.

 

You can pre-order his new book, On Truth in Politics: Why Democracy Demands It on Bookshop or Amazon.

Congratulations, Michael!

On Truth in Politics: Why Democracy Demands It

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Michael Patrick Lynch, Author

Princeton University Press, 2025

Do any of us really care about truth when it comes to politics? Should we? In a world of big lies, denialism, and conspiracy theories, democracies are experiencing two interlocked crises: a loss of confidence in democracy itself and the growing sense among many that politics is only about power—not truth. In this book, Michael Patrick Lynch argues that truth not only can—but must—matter in politics. He shows why truth is an essential democratic value—a value we need to sustain our democratic way of life—and how it can be strengthened.

Despite evidence that people are rarely motivated by truth when it comes to politics, On Truth in Politics argues that this isn’t inevitable. Accessibly written and rigorously argued, it draws on the American pragmatist tradition to develop an original theory of the nature and value of truth in the messy world of politics. Contrary to the belief of many, political beliefs can be true or false. But if democracy is to continue to be a space of reason and not just an arena of power, we must build a better infrastructure of knowledge, including stronger schools and media, and renew our commitment to science and history.

A vital and timely book, On Truth in Politics makes an original case for why democracy cannot survive without truth.

Book cover of Michael Lynch's book On Truth In Politics: Why Democracy demands it

Ting-an Lin: Common Curriculum Grant

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Congratulations to Assistant Professor of Philosophy Ting-an Lin, whose two new course proposals, “Markets, Ethics, and Society” and “Ethics of Technology and Engineering,” were recently awarded the new Common Curriculum Grant. This grant supplies funding to faculty members who are creating courses that will be implemented into the new Common Curriculum for Leadership and Global Citizenship.

 

The Common Curriculum program, slated for a Fall 2025 introduction, provides students with a foundation for future learning. Ensuring that all students at the University of Connecticut are literate in many different types of knowledge, the Common Curriculum allows for students to enter society with a strong sense of moral and social responsibility.