David Lay Williams
LightNews LightNews
banner
laywilliams.bsky.social
David Lay Williams
@laywilliams.bsky.social
7.7K followers 870 following 1.6K posts

Political theorist at DePaul and author of The Greatest of All Plagues: How Economic Inequality Shaped Political Thought from Plato to Marx (Princeton, 2024). Essays in NY Times, Washington Post, Time, Bloomberg, etc. Jazz Guitar, New York Mets. .. more

Videos
Political science 46%
Philosophy 36%
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
laywilliams.bsky.social
David Lay Williams @laywilliams.bsky.social · Sep 3
After a decade's labor, it is finally book-release day for "The Greatest of All Plagues: How Economic Inequality Shaped Political Thought from Plato to Marx." I'm both relieved and excited to see this day arrive. press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
The Greatest of All Plagues
How the great political thinkers have persistently warned against the dangers of economic inequality
press.princeton.edu

laywilliams.bsky.social
David Lay Williams @laywilliams.bsky.social · 7h
I neglected to mention how much she enjoys eating shoes.

laywilliams.bsky.social
David Lay Williams @laywilliams.bsky.social · 7h
Truer words never spoken.

laywilliams.bsky.social
David Lay Williams @laywilliams.bsky.social · 7h
Given that my dog occasionally enjoys eating paper and rocks, saying "even a dog would love" this recipe is not really much of an endorsement. (Am I wrong, @unlawfulentries.bsky.social?)
nytimes.com The New York Times @nytimes.com · 7h
"Boy kibble," an easy-to-prepare bowl of slop that even a dog would love, is the latest TikTok diet fad that some health-conscious men and fitness enthusiasts are turning to.
Move Over, Girl Dinner. Boy Kibble Has Arrived.
www.nytimes.com

Reposted by David Lay Williams

nytimes.com
The New York Times @nytimes.com · 7h
"Boy kibble," an easy-to-prepare bowl of slop that even a dog would love, is the latest TikTok diet fad that some health-conscious men and fitness enthusiasts are turning to.
Move Over, Girl Dinner. Boy Kibble Has Arrived.
www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Anna O. Law

laywilliams.bsky.social
David Lay Williams @laywilliams.bsky.social · 11h
Check out Anna’s new book!
unlawfulentries.bsky.social Anna O. Law @unlawfulentries.bsky.social · 11h
I don't have a publicist, therefore I am the publicist. New website for my forthcoming book. Please especially check out the Author Q&A at the end of the page (Why did i write the book? Who's it for?. Journos, pod-casters, museums can find my contact info & how to obtain a bound review copy. 1/
Book - Migration and the Origins of American Citizenship — Anna O. Law
www.annaolaw.com

Reposted by Reece Jones, David Fitzgerald, Richard Price , and 5 more

unlawfulentries.bsky.social
Anna O. Law @unlawfulentries.bsky.social · 11h
I don't have a publicist, therefore I am the publicist. New website for my forthcoming book. Please especially check out the Author Q&A at the end of the page (Why did i write the book? Who's it for?. Journos, pod-casters, museums can find my contact info & how to obtain a bound review copy. 1/
Book - Migration and the Origins of American Citizenship — Anna O. Law
www.annaolaw.com

laywilliams.bsky.social
David Lay Williams @laywilliams.bsky.social · 12h
Of all the classes I took as an undergraduate, the three semesters I took of Music History were among those that have contributed as much to my everyday happiness as any. Hardly a single day passes without me benefitting from them.
bencarp.bsky.social Benjamin L. Carp 🎏 @bencarp.bsky.social · 13h
I always always say that the two undergrad courses I regret not taking are statistics and a basic art history sequence. (Maybe I’d throw in a basic music appreciation class too) —I did do philosophy, lit, Econ, poli sci, architectural history, and plenty of history
nomiclairelazar.bsky.social Nomi Claire Lazar @nomiclairelazar.bsky.social · 13h
Random thought over coffee: *So* glad Yale poli.sci made me study statistics as a grad student, even though I was a philosopher.

An *essential* competence to navigate & critically engage the world, never mind the profession.

Reposted by David Lay Williams

bencarp.bsky.social
Benjamin L. Carp 🎏 @bencarp.bsky.social · 13h
I always always say that the two undergrad courses I regret not taking are statistics and a basic art history sequence. (Maybe I’d throw in a basic music appreciation class too) —I did do philosophy, lit, Econ, poli sci, architectural history, and plenty of history
nomiclairelazar.bsky.social Nomi Claire Lazar @nomiclairelazar.bsky.social · 13h
Random thought over coffee: *So* glad Yale poli.sci made me study statistics as a grad student, even though I was a philosopher.

An *essential* competence to navigate & critically engage the world, never mind the profession.

laywilliams.bsky.social
David Lay Williams @laywilliams.bsky.social · 1d
First time since Super Bowl III!

Reposted by David Lay Williams

ingridrobeyns.bsky.social
Ingrid Robeyns @ingridrobeyns.bsky.social · 2d
He's getting really close...

2026 may well be the year the world sees its first trillionaire. A trillionaire is someone who owes 1.000.000.000.000 dollar. Or, the equivalent of one million very nice flats/houses, each worth one million dollars.

Reposted by David Lay Williams

liberalcurrents.com
Liberal Currents @liberalcurrents.com · 2d
Then @laywilliams.bsky.social put to rest the idea that intellectual and moral arguments against wealth inequality are rooted in envy, a common conservative talking point www.liberalcurrents.com/is-it-all-ju...
Is It All Just Envy?
The sides of the inequality debate continue to talk past one another, as Don Boudreaux's recent criticisms demonstrate.
www.liberalcurrents.com

laywilliams.bsky.social
David Lay Williams @laywilliams.bsky.social · 4d
Meanwhile, I will continue to proudly play the brilliant work of immigrants and their children with the @chicagojazzdads.com.

laywilliams.bsky.social
David Lay Williams @laywilliams.bsky.social · 4d
I really love this piece, as I firmly believe in the power of the arts to speak truth to power. The ruling class demand that artists now "shut up and sing" for them is revealing -- we are their servants, nothing more or less.
liberalcurrents.com Liberal Currents @liberalcurrents.com · 4d
“You can sense, particularly from characters like Knowles, a cloying desperation to be seen as important, shiny media figures in their own right. They want the glow of stardom, and they hate the people who have it.” www.liberalcurrents.com/none-more-wo...
None More Wonderful Than Man: Art, Artists, and MAGA’s Hollow View of Humanity
MAGA sees art as nothing more than a tool of self-aggrandizement, and artists as less than human.
www.liberalcurrents.com

laywilliams.bsky.social
David Lay Williams @laywilliams.bsky.social · 4d
Here's a prayer straight from Scripture: "woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry” (Luke 6: 24-25).
atrupar.com Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 4d
Paula White-Cain at the National Prayer Breakfast: "President Trump has brought religion back to this nation and beyond. It is my great honor to introduce the GOAT -- the greatest of all time. The greatest champion of faith that we have ever had in the executive branch."

Reposted by Anne Norton

laywilliams.bsky.social
David Lay Williams @laywilliams.bsky.social · 4d
Definitely not just envy! It's been an absurd rhetorical strategy employed by defenders of the oligarchy, as they continue to dismantle this democracy.

Reposted by David Lay Williams

atrupar.com
Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 4d
Paula White-Cain at the National Prayer Breakfast: "President Trump has brought religion back to this nation and beyond. It is my great honor to introduce the GOAT -- the greatest of all time. The greatest champion of faith that we have ever had in the executive branch."

Reposted by David Lay Williams

liberalcurrents.com
Liberal Currents @liberalcurrents.com · 4d
“You can sense, particularly from characters like Knowles, a cloying desperation to be seen as important, shiny media figures in their own right. They want the glow of stardom, and they hate the people who have it.” www.liberalcurrents.com/none-more-wo...
None More Wonderful Than Man: Art, Artists, and MAGA’s Hollow View of Humanity
MAGA sees art as nothing more than a tool of self-aggrandizement, and artists as less than human.
www.liberalcurrents.com

Reposted by Anne Norton, David Lay Williams

danny.mastodon.spesh.com.ap.brid.gy
Danny O'B @danny.mastodon.spesh.com.ap.brid.gy · 4d
This is a really nice piece, in the middle of i hope a productive discussion about inequality: https://www.liberalcurrents.com/is-it-all-just-envy/

I like liberal currents!
Is It All Just Envy?
The sides of the inequality debate continue to talk past one another, as Don Boudreaux's recent criticisms demonstrate.
www.liberalcurrents.com

laywilliams.bsky.social
David Lay Williams @laywilliams.bsky.social · 4d
Great to see this piece getting into circulation!

laywilliams.bsky.social
David Lay Williams @laywilliams.bsky.social · 5d
Pleased to have this new piece today in @liberalcurrents.com.
liberalcurrents.com Liberal Currents @liberalcurrents.com · 5d
“One of the most persistent misconceptions about inequality among contemporary economists and public intellectuals is the accusation that people oppose inequality insofar as they envy the lifestyles of the rich and famous, as it were.” www.liberalcurrents.com/is-it-all-ju...
Is It All Just Envy?
The sides of the inequality debate continue to talk past one another, as Don Boudreaux's recent criticisms demonstrate.
www.liberalcurrents.com

Reposted by Anne Norton, David Lay Williams

sjshancoxli.liberalcurrents.com
Dr. Samantha Hancox-Li @sjshancoxli.liberalcurrents.com · 5d
"is it all just envy"

no. it's these dumb bastards trying to use their ill-gotten gains to wreck our fucking country

www.liberalcurrents.com/is-it-all-ju...
Is It All Just Envy?
The sides of the inequality debate continue to talk past one another, as Don Boudreaux's recent criticisms demonstrate.
www.liberalcurrents.com

laywilliams.bsky.social
David Lay Williams @laywilliams.bsky.social · 5d
Thanks, Jim, and thanks for introducing me to Betteridges's Law. That's new to me!

laywilliams.bsky.social
David Lay Williams @laywilliams.bsky.social · 5d
Ugh, so sorry -- this is not conducive to sustainable journalism.

laywilliams.bsky.social
David Lay Williams @laywilliams.bsky.social · 5d
Excited for this!
carolatack.bsky.social Carol Atack @carolatack.bsky.social · Jan 6
The paperback of my 'Plato: a civic life' will be published on March 1st. I'll be doing some more talks and podcasts in support, and will add details to this thread as they're confirmed. More info and a pre-order link here: reaktionbooks.co.uk/work/plato
A book sits on a wooden shelf with a vase behind it. On the red cover three Doric columns are topped by the texts Plato: A civic life: Carol Atack

Reposted by David Lay Williams

laywilliams.bsky.social
David Lay Williams @laywilliams.bsky.social · 5d
Wow, the Post’s review of my book made all the difference for me in gaining broad credibility. It’s stunning to me that a billionaire would just kill it. But I guess it also proves my book’s thesis?

laywilliams.bsky.social
David Lay Williams @laywilliams.bsky.social · 5d
Thanks so much, Bonnie. Glad you enjoyed it!

laywilliams.bsky.social
David Lay Williams @laywilliams.bsky.social · 5d
We have much to learn still from the great books of the past, if we only read them attentively. It would be a mistake to dismiss them simply because we think econometrics has supplanted them.

Reposted by Anna O. Law, Frank C. Thames

laywilliams.bsky.social
David Lay Williams @laywilliams.bsky.social · 5d
I’ve written a new piece for @liberalcurrents.com in response to an open letter from the economist Donald Boudreaux. I address ways in which criticisms of egalitarianism err. It’s not enough to accuse them of envy or economic illiteracy. There are serious moral, social, and political concerns.
Is It All Just Envy?
The sides of the inequality debate continue to talk past one another, as Don Boudreaux's recent criticisms demonstrate.
www.liberalcurrents.com

Reposted by Anna O. Law, David Lay Williams

bonniehonig.bsky.social
Bonnie Honig @bonniehonig.bsky.social · 5d
This, by David Lay Williams, is excellent on many fronts! Here is one: “when we struggle with problems today that resemble those of the past…it strikes me as foolish simply to discount the treasure of long-cherished wisdom.”
Yes! And new wisdom surely comes of struggling with theirs.
Is It All Just Envy?
The sides of the inequality debate continue to talk past one another, as Don Boudreaux's recent criticisms demonstrate.
www.liberalcurrents.com