Adam Kadlac
@ajkadlac.bsky.social
I teach philosophy at Wake Forest. Author of The Ethics of Sports Fandom (Routledge, 2022) and The Magic Kingdom and the Meaning of Life (Polity, 2025). www.adamkadlac.com
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Adam Kadlac
@ajkadlac.bsky.social
· Dec 13
My book is officially out in the US! (Some links and additional comments below.) The back cover blurb says that it "will challenge Disney lovers and sceptics alike to think more deeply about the things that matter to them." If that describes you or anyone you know, consider giving it a look!
Reposted by Adam Kadlac
Shame is the only thing that can save America and also maybe Tottenham Hotspur
every day ask yourself what you can do to Bring Back Shame
Trump nominated a legit white nationalist to a top post at the State Department. I asked him some basic questions about his belief in the “erasure of white culture”. Watch this embarrassing, fumbling answer. Like he has never before been asked to explain his views.
February 12, 2026 at 9:55 PM
Shame is the only thing that can save America and also maybe Tottenham Hotspur
Reposted by Adam Kadlac
Like 75% of the US Olympic curlers are from Minnesota. A lot of them curl out of two clubs in Saint Paul, one club is in Frogtown, a neighborhood that has been very heavily targeted by ICE. These curlers are good neighbors.
US Olympic Curling Team member speaks out against ICE:
"I'm proud to represent Team USA. But we'd be remiss if we didn't mention what's going on in Minnesota and what a tough time it's been. What's happening is wrong. There's no shades of gray."
"I'm proud to represent Team USA. But we'd be remiss if we didn't mention what's going on in Minnesota and what a tough time it's been. What's happening is wrong. There's no shades of gray."
February 10, 2026 at 10:03 PM
Like 75% of the US Olympic curlers are from Minnesota. A lot of them curl out of two clubs in Saint Paul, one club is in Frogtown, a neighborhood that has been very heavily targeted by ICE. These curlers are good neighbors.
Being a relatively new runner as I get close to 50 creates some strange dynamics. I know I'm getting better/faster. (Training works!) But I also know that I'm fast approaching some age-imposed limits. Can make it hard to know where my ceiling really is (which is also what makes it kind of fun).
Turns out the same is true when training for my first full marathon. The local greenway is still icy, so I had to split up my 20 miles today between our (really hilly) neighborhood and our basement treadmill. Definitely ready for the taper. Hope I'm ready for the race in three weeks. 😂😂😂
A fun thing about training for my first half marathon is that for the last month, my weekly "long run" has been the longest I've ever run. It was a chilly 18 degrees this AM when I started, but I otherwise felt pretty good!
February 8, 2026 at 7:35 PM
Being a relatively new runner as I get close to 50 creates some strange dynamics. I know I'm getting better/faster. (Training works!) But I also know that I'm fast approaching some age-imposed limits. Can make it hard to know where my ceiling really is (which is also what makes it kind of fun).
Turns out the same is true when training for my first full marathon. The local greenway is still icy, so I had to split up my 20 miles today between our (really hilly) neighborhood and our basement treadmill. Definitely ready for the taper. Hope I'm ready for the race in three weeks. 😂😂😂
A fun thing about training for my first half marathon is that for the last month, my weekly "long run" has been the longest I've ever run. It was a chilly 18 degrees this AM when I started, but I otherwise felt pretty good!
February 8, 2026 at 7:31 PM
Turns out the same is true when training for my first full marathon. The local greenway is still icy, so I had to split up my 20 miles today between our (really hilly) neighborhood and our basement treadmill. Definitely ready for the taper. Hope I'm ready for the race in three weeks. 😂😂😂
Reposted by Adam Kadlac
gotta agree with this. at some point we all have to contend with what good faith is actually for and extend it accordingly
A lot of our political discourse would be easier if we didn't extend good faith to people who would never extend it back.
February 7, 2026 at 3:51 PM
gotta agree with this. at some point we all have to contend with what good faith is actually for and extend it accordingly
Reposted by Adam Kadlac
No joke: I got angry hate mail today for writing an obituary of a Black woman scientist—because the person felt she did didn’t deserve the recognition.
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Gladys Mae West obituary: mathematician who pioneered GPS technology
She made key contributions to US cold-war science despite facing huge barriers as a Black woman.
www.nature.com
February 6, 2026 at 9:09 AM
No joke: I got angry hate mail today for writing an obituary of a Black woman scientist—because the person felt she did didn’t deserve the recognition.
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
100% Also, I think there is a weird way that what is happening isn't very interesting. Important? Yes. High stakes? Yes. Morally weighty? Yes. But interesting? I'm not so sure.
I keep saying to people in my life that the problem with writing in these days is that you sound absolutely off your nut for simply saying what is happening.
February 4, 2026 at 2:34 AM
100% Also, I think there is a weird way that what is happening isn't very interesting. Important? Yes. High stakes? Yes. Morally weighty? Yes. But interesting? I'm not so sure.
Reposted by Adam Kadlac
I keep saying to people in my life that the problem with writing in these days is that you sound absolutely off your nut for simply saying what is happening.
February 4, 2026 at 2:29 AM
I keep saying to people in my life that the problem with writing in these days is that you sound absolutely off your nut for simply saying what is happening.
It really was great. Viewers should pair it with the 30 for 30 "Of Miracles and Men." Altogether, 3.5 hours of superb documentary filmmaking that pulls on a ton of interesting threads involving sports and politics.
What really got me about the Miracle on Ice documentary is what the hell do you mean they had all this never-before-seen in-arena footage? Where the hell has it been for the last 45 years? It's one of the most famous sporting events ever and people were sitting on this?!?
It's very cool.
It's very cool.
February 4, 2026 at 12:46 AM
It really was great. Viewers should pair it with the 30 for 30 "Of Miracles and Men." Altogether, 3.5 hours of superb documentary filmmaking that pulls on a ton of interesting threads involving sports and politics.
Reposted by Adam Kadlac
The secret fear of the morally depraved is that virtue is actually common, and that they're the ones who are alone.
Last week in Minnesota, I watched ordinary people risk their lives to protect their neighbors. In the process, they not only won a significant—though not final—victory against authoritarianism, they proved virtually every MAGA social theory wrong. (gift link) www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
January 27, 2026 at 1:07 PM
The secret fear of the morally depraved is that virtue is actually common, and that they're the ones who are alone.
Reposted by Adam Kadlac
Important position announcement: the chair of the dept of "Engineering & Society" in UVA's Engineering school, can be focused on Engineering & Ethics. This is a position that many us who teach ethics at UVa care @; we'd all welcome a new colleague. Please share widely. apply.interfolio.com/172901
Apply - Interfolio
{{$ctrl.$state.data.pageTitle}} - Apply - Interfolio
apply.interfolio.com
January 22, 2026 at 12:00 PM
Important position announcement: the chair of the dept of "Engineering & Society" in UVA's Engineering school, can be focused on Engineering & Ethics. This is a position that many us who teach ethics at UVa care @; we'd all welcome a new colleague. Please share widely. apply.interfolio.com/172901
As I've said before, anyone hoping for cosmic justice really shouldn't look to the results of sporting contests.
People who see Indiana beating Miami at some kind of cosmic justice clearly have not been paying attention to what’s happening at Indiana.
January 20, 2026 at 12:52 PM
As I've said before, anyone hoping for cosmic justice really shouldn't look to the results of sporting contests.
Reposted by Adam Kadlac
Good piece on the value sleep by @saraprotasi.bsky.social It made me think about Severance and an aspect of "innie" experience that I haven't seen discussed anywhere. For the most part, innies have uninterrupted consciousness, because they hardly ever *as innies.* Torturous!!
Sleep is not just a physical need but a delicious pleasure | Aeon Essays
The idea that we should reduce sleep to an efficient minimum in our lives gets something fundamentally wrong
aeon.co
January 13, 2026 at 11:07 PM
Good piece on the value sleep by @saraprotasi.bsky.social It made me think about Severance and an aspect of "innie" experience that I haven't seen discussed anywhere. For the most part, innies have uninterrupted consciousness, because they hardly ever *as innies.* Torturous!!
Canvas minimalism FTW.
I want exactly 2 things from Canvas:
(1) a bulletin board on which I can post the syllabus and readings; and
(2) a way to communicate with my students en masse.
Every additional "feature" that Canvas adds just makes it more useless.
(1) a bulletin board on which I can post the syllabus and readings; and
(2) a way to communicate with my students en masse.
Every additional "feature" that Canvas adds just makes it more useless.
if you use canvas for school, might want to be aware there's an "ignite AI" option now which as far as I can tell, is actively bad at understanding course materials
classes also default to making it available to students, at least at my school.
classes also default to making it available to students, at least at my school.
January 9, 2026 at 6:44 PM
Canvas minimalism FTW.
Reposted by Adam Kadlac
"I’m going to pause here just to review: an institution that purports to be a university has told a philosophy professor he is forbidden from teaching Plato."
surreal times
dailynous.com/2026/01/06/t...
surreal times
dailynous.com/2026/01/06/t...
Texas A&M Bans Plato - Daily Nous
Drop the race and gender material from your course and the Plato readings, or teach a different course. You have a day to decide. That's a paraphrase of what Martin Peterson, professor of philosophy a...
dailynous.com
January 7, 2026 at 10:36 AM
"I’m going to pause here just to review: an institution that purports to be a university has told a philosophy professor he is forbidden from teaching Plato."
surreal times
dailynous.com/2026/01/06/t...
surreal times
dailynous.com/2026/01/06/t...
This view *always* struck me as bonkers. (I wish I had a sign to tap.)
January 3, 2026 at 5:51 PM
This view *always* struck me as bonkers. (I wish I had a sign to tap.)
Loved this episode on my morning run today. @mattdinan.bsky.social giving some inspiration for the coming semester!
Great Books and the AI Apocalypse (w/ Matt Dinan) | Know Your Enemy
Get more from Know Your Enemy on Patreon
www.patreon.com
January 2, 2026 at 6:41 PM
Loved this episode on my morning run today. @mattdinan.bsky.social giving some inspiration for the coming semester!
The re-branding of chickenpox as a quaint right of passage really irritates me. The one thing I remember about having chickenpox is that it suuuucked, and I'm really glad my kids didn't have to go through it (especially my intellectually disabled daughter)!
Yes.
They are proposing deliberately infecting kids with chickenpox to have them *theoretically* serve as human shields and natural “vaccines” to prevent shingles in adults, even though vaccines exist for both.
It’s an ethical monstrosity.
They are proposing deliberately infecting kids with chickenpox to have them *theoretically* serve as human shields and natural “vaccines” to prevent shingles in adults, even though vaccines exist for both.
It’s an ethical monstrosity.
Wait...I must be misunderstanding this. Are they saying let kids get chicken pox then they won't get shingles later
in life?? BTW when I had little kids pediatrician said to expose the siblings. He said better now than as adults - much worse then.
in life?? BTW when I had little kids pediatrician said to expose the siblings. He said better now than as adults - much worse then.
January 2, 2026 at 6:18 PM
The re-branding of chickenpox as a quaint right of passage really irritates me. The one thing I remember about having chickenpox is that it suuuucked, and I'm really glad my kids didn't have to go through it (especially my intellectually disabled daughter)!
Can we all agree that one of the funniest things in sports history would be for Ole Miss to win it all this year and for Lane Kiffin to never win a national title? I somehow need this to happen now.
January 2, 2026 at 6:08 PM
Can we all agree that one of the funniest things in sports history would be for Ole Miss to win it all this year and for Lane Kiffin to never win a national title? I somehow need this to happen now.
😯😯🖤💛🖤💛
Official:
The Columbus Crew announced today that Henrik Rydström has been named the ninth full-time head coach in Club history. Rydström ... comes to the Black & Gold with 10 years of coaching experience, including seven as head coach of Swedish sides, after playing professionally for 24 years....
The Columbus Crew announced today that Henrik Rydström has been named the ninth full-time head coach in Club history. Rydström ... comes to the Black & Gold with 10 years of coaching experience, including seven as head coach of Swedish sides, after playing professionally for 24 years....
December 31, 2025 at 11:55 PM
😯😯🖤💛🖤💛
Reposted by Adam Kadlac
As this year comes to an end, we're looking back at some of our 2025 highlights. Featured in Best Books round-ups in The Spectator and Financial Times, and reviewed in The Guardian, The Sunday Times, and New Scientist, these books are not to be missed!
See more: www.politybooks.com/blog-detail/...
See more: www.politybooks.com/blog-detail/...
December 31, 2025 at 6:50 PM
As this year comes to an end, we're looking back at some of our 2025 highlights. Featured in Best Books round-ups in The Spectator and Financial Times, and reviewed in The Guardian, The Sunday Times, and New Scientist, these books are not to be missed!
See more: www.politybooks.com/blog-detail/...
See more: www.politybooks.com/blog-detail/...
A provocative essay on the ethics of cutting in line. (I talk about some of these issues in Chapter 3 of my Disney book. Standing in line is actually philosophically interesting!)
My lil op ed about why I hate CLEAR went live today, which I only know because I got a very angry email from a reader who *vehemently* disagreed lol
Lmk what y’all think!
www.fodors.com/news/news/us...
Lmk what y’all think!
www.fodors.com/news/news/us...
I’m a Moral Philosopher. Using CLEAR Makes You Complicit in an Unethical System
Fodor's provides expert travel content worth exploring so you can dream up your next trip. The world is a weird and wonderful place—we want to show you around.
www.fodors.com
December 31, 2025 at 3:59 PM
A provocative essay on the ethics of cutting in line. (I talk about some of these issues in Chapter 3 of my Disney book. Standing in line is actually philosophically interesting!)
And yet, sometimes good things happen. #COYS 💙🤍💙🤍
I am not optimistic that Tottenham will be able to ease some of this pain, but we shall see! #COYS 💙🤍💙🤍
I honestly feel like this Packers season was designed to break me. 😳😳💚💛💚💛
December 28, 2025 at 7:21 PM
And yet, sometimes good things happen. #COYS 💙🤍💙🤍