Jonathan Wolff | Lightnews

Jo Wolff

@jowolff.bsky.social

25K followers 3.5K following 17K posts

Jonathan Wolff,
Political Philosopher.
Fellow British Academy
Emeritus Professor Blavatnik School of Government, Oxford
Wolfson College
President The Royal Institute of Philosophy
THFC supporter in 'early season false hope’ mode.

#academic .. more

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Jonathan Wolff is a British philosopher. He is a Senior Research Fellow in Philosophy and Public Policy and Governing Body Fellow at Wolfson College, Oxford. He was formerly the Alfred Landecker Professor of Values and Public Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford. Prior to his joining the Blavatnik School in 2016, Wolff's academic career had been spent at University College London (UCL), where he was, latterly, Professor of Philosophy and Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. .. more

Political science 51%

Philosophy 14%

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Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · Nov 21

I’ve changed my header photo to this one. It shows my father Herbert and his sister Lotte with their parents Fritz and Marta in their Frankfurt apartment before Herbert and Lotte were sent to England on the Kindertransport, and later Fritz and Marta transported to Lodz Ghetto, final fate unknown.

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 1h

This threatened law suit is ridiculous. But very irritating that the BBC put itself in such a vulnerable position and will now have to spend so much energy and attention defending itself,

www.bbc.com/news/live/cd...

Outgoing BBC director general to address staff after Trump threatens to sue for $1bn

Trump says he will file legal action by Friday if the BBC does not apologise and

www.bbc.com

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 1h

Supreme Court ruling in full:

“Sure Donny! Anything else we can do for you?”

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Trump asks supreme court to throw out jury’s finding in E Jean Carroll lawsuit

Writer and author had testified, and won, at trial that the president had sexually assaulted her in the mid-1990s

www.theguardian.com

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 2h

A few years late with this but the thing that I don’t understand about Jan 6 is that if Sleepy Joe Biden was somehow able to rig the polls while Trump was President, isn’t that an immense admission of weakness by Trump?

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 12h

Don't know much about history
Don't know much biology
Don't know much about a science book
Don't know much about the French I took

But I do know that I love you
And I know that if you love me too
What a wonderful world this would be

Have you heard the new Trump RFK duet?

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 19h

Just looking from the sidelines. I don’t know if people are starving but clearly they are struggling to afford to eat right now. But if affordable health care goes there are much bigger problems ahead. No?

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 22h

Has this actually happened? I’ve not heard about it though I know of people from African countries not being able to get visas.

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 23h

The Old Jewish Cemetery, Prague.

Tilting headstones, orange leaves, small trees.

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 23h

Thesis committee. Charles Bridge Prague.

Photo of three imposing religious figures.

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 1d

genius.com/Edwin-starr-...

Edwin Starr – War

“War” is a counterculture era soul song written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong for the Motown label in 1969. Whitfield first produced the song – a blatant anti-Vietnam War

genius.com

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 1d

Democratic Party.
Huh Yeah
What is it good for?

You know the next line.

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 1d

If the ACA implodes it means that the last decade might be remembered as the golden age of American healthcare, God help us all.

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 1d

Carrier pigeon also available.

Yell In a War @jelenawoehr.bsky.social · 1d

If your senator’s voicemail is full, fax that ass

starch mogul @posts-cards.bsky.social · 1d

i successfully faxed durbin's office this way

faxzero.com/fax_senate.php

Reposted by Jonathan Wolff

Yell In a War @jelenawoehr.bsky.social · 1d

If your senator’s voicemail is full, fax that ass

starch mogul @posts-cards.bsky.social · 1d

i successfully faxed durbin's office this way

faxzero.com/fax_senate.php

Fax Senators

FaxZero lets you send free faxes to your senators with no subscription or sign-up.

faxzero.com

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 1d

Heard a report of a leader who said ‘I compromise and compromise and compromise until I get what I want.’

Roughly the opposite of what I expect to wake up tomorrow to hear what the Democratic Party has done. Hope doom laden predictions are completely wrong.

Reposted by Jonathan Wolff

John Appleby @jappleby123.bsky.social · 1d

In line at US passport contril:

Agent: Your profession?

Healthy communist

What?

(Louder) Health Economist

Hmmmm

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 1d

"Think for yourself." Enlightenment for beginners.

"Think with others." Enlightenment for the enlightened.

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 1d

Was reminded of what we use to say in the UCL BA Philosophy handbook. A more eloquent version of:

The Philosophy Department does not regard philosophy as something the teaching staff have exclusive access to but rather regards tutorials as a mutual search for the truth.

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 1d

New regulations here in Prague but not bad.

Reposted by David McInnis

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 1d

In passport line in Prague remembering my best experience in US:

Agent: why are you here?

I’m a Professor, giving a talk.

What’s you subject?

Political Philosophy.

My favourite!!

Really??

No. I say that to all the Professors.

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 1d

Trickle down economics working at last.

The Associated Press @apnews.com · 1d

Air traffic in the U.S. could “slow to a trickle” if the federal government shutdown lingers into the busy Thanksgiving travel holiday season, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned Sunday.

Thanksgiving air traffic could 'slow to a trickle' if shutdown persists, transport secretary says

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warns that U.S. air traffic could slow significantly if the federal government shutdown continues into the Thanksgiving travel season.

bit.ly

Reposted by Jonathan Wolff

The Associated Press @apnews.com · 1d

Air traffic in the U.S. could “slow to a trickle” if the federal government shutdown lingers into the busy Thanksgiving travel holiday season, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned Sunday.

Thanksgiving air traffic could 'slow to a trickle' if shutdown persists, transport secretary says

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warns that U.S. air traffic could slow significantly if the federal government shutdown continues into the Thanksgiving travel season.

bit.ly

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 1d

If this carries on soon ordinary Americans won’t even be able to afford Cybertrucks any more.

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 1d

Gandhi’s Talisman. Unfortunately for too many world leaders their doubts are dissolving in a way Gandhi did not anticipate.

"I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test.
Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man [woman] whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him [her]. Will he [she] gain anything by it?
Will it restore him [her to a control over his [her own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to Swaraj [freedom] for the hungry and spiritually starving millions?
Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away."

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 1d

Thanks Tim!

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 1d

I don’t have a copy of the book unfortunately so I don’t know what they say.

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 1d

Just posting a link to the recent French translation of my An Introduction to Political Philosophy, first because I'm very pleased to have a French edition, and second, because I like the cover so much.

eliotteditions.fr/44-introduct...

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 2d

“Some constraints from an affordability point of view.”

Father Ted levels of circumlocution.

alexvonwitzleben.bsky.social @alexvonwitzleben.bsky.social · 2d

Gulf between rich and poor risks US downturn, Fed official warns. “There is quite a bit of evidence . . . that lower and moderate-income households are facing some constraints from an affordability point of view from the cost of living to the housing costs” on.ft.com/43Otjwc via @FT #DonaldTrump