Barry C Smith
@barrycsmith.bsky.social
Prof of Philosophy. Director of the Institute of Philosophy and Centre for the Study of the Senses, School of Advanced Study, University of London. Interested in Neuroscience, Sensory Science, Taste, Smell, Flavour, Multisensory Perception, Wine, Scotch
“We are not being encouraged to create but encouraged to consume”, Elif Shefak giving the National Lecture in the Humanities last night @sas-news.bsky.social
February 4, 2026 at 10:54 PM
“We are not being encouraged to create but encouraged to consume”, Elif Shefak giving the National Lecture in the Humanities last night @sas-news.bsky.social
Honours to be asked to speak at Basque Culinary Centre event, Open Road, on food innovation hosted by UCL School of Management at Canary Wharf. Thanks to Raquel Martin Rodriguez and PJ Hanard for the invitation
February 4, 2026 at 10:51 PM
Honours to be asked to speak at Basque Culinary Centre event, Open Road, on food innovation hosted by UCL School of Management at Canary Wharf. Thanks to Raquel Martin Rodriguez and PJ Hanard for the invitation
Annual National Humanities Lecture at the School of Advanced Study @sas-news.bsky.social by novelist Elif Shefak, introduced by Prof @sarahchurchwell.bsky.social Professor of the Public Understanding of the Humanities
February 3, 2026 at 6:13 PM
Annual National Humanities Lecture at the School of Advanced Study @sas-news.bsky.social by novelist Elif Shefak, introduced by Prof @sarahchurchwell.bsky.social Professor of the Public Understanding of the Humanities
Today’s Lab Meeting @ip-sas.bsky.social features Kevin O’Neill from UCL talking about causality and counterfactual sensitivity in psychological explanation
February 3, 2026 at 12:58 PM
Today’s Lab Meeting @ip-sas.bsky.social features Kevin O’Neill from UCL talking about causality and counterfactual sensitivity in psychological explanation
Fascinating talk @ip-sas.bsky.social by Joel Leibo from DeepMind on modelling personhood in AI in a Rortian pragmatist way
January 27, 2026 at 3:38 PM
Fascinating talk @ip-sas.bsky.social by Joel Leibo from DeepMind on modelling personhood in AI in a Rortian pragmatist way
One of our own, Nick Shea, presenting @ip-sas.bsky.social Lab Meeting on How Biological Systems Exhibit Free Causation
January 27, 2026 at 12:48 PM
One of our own, Nick Shea, presenting @ip-sas.bsky.social Lab Meeting on How Biological Systems Exhibit Free Causation
When is Kemi Badenoch joining Reform? Wouldn’t it make it easier for everyone?
January 26, 2026 at 6:13 PM
When is Kemi Badenoch joining Reform? Wouldn’t it make it easier for everyone?
Over-excited, self-preservation-occupied, self-serving chancer. She’ll fit in just fine in Reform
2026: Former Conservative Home Secretary Suella Braverman defects to Reform UK, "I feel like I've come home"
2024: Suella Braverman, "I'm not going to defect to Reform UK"
2024: Suella Braverman, "I'm not going to defect to Reform UK"
January 26, 2026 at 6:08 PM
Over-excited, self-preservation-occupied, self-serving chancer. She’ll fit in just fine in Reform
Wouldn’t it just be easier if Farage became the leader of the Tory Party?
January 26, 2026 at 5:25 PM
Wouldn’t it just be easier if Farage became the leader of the Tory Party?
I’m old enough to remember when Elon Musk said it was the UK that was heading for civil war
January 26, 2026 at 1:17 PM
I’m old enough to remember when Elon Musk said it was the UK that was heading for civil war
Reposted by Barry C Smith
It's the Ship of Theseus but all the original parts are being used to build a second, crappier ship.
Ex-Tory Home Secretary Suella Braverman defects to Reform UK
The MP was unveiled as the party's latest recruit by leader Nigel Farage at a rally.
www.bbc.com
January 26, 2026 at 12:47 PM
It's the Ship of Theseus but all the original parts are being used to build a second, crappier ship.
Nails it!
Reform is basically a suburban petrol station's DVD bin of Tory politicians.
January 26, 2026 at 1:10 PM
Nails it!
Burns Night in Hackney. But done right. The Somm’s recommendation at @bargeeast for cocktails, the Buckfast Negroni with Haggis Bonbon accompaniment. For non-alcoholic, Irn Bru, Cumbernauld, Scotland is the drink of choice. Got to love the Scots!
January 25, 2026 at 11:27 PM
Burns Night in Hackney. But done right. The Somm’s recommendation at @bargeeast for cocktails, the Buckfast Negroni with Haggis Bonbon accompaniment. For non-alcoholic, Irn Bru, Cumbernauld, Scotland is the drink of choice. Got to love the Scots!
Reposted by Barry C Smith
My brother fought in the infantry and lost soldiers in Afghanistan. The press used to report deaths before families had been told and I would check my phone over and over, scared it would ring.
I went to the inquest of one of his killed men. I saw his red-eyed parents, girlfriend and baby daughter.
I went to the inquest of one of his killed men. I saw his red-eyed parents, girlfriend and baby daughter.
Trump on NATO: "I've always said, will they be there if we ever needed them? That's really the ultimate test. I'm not sure of that. We've never needed them. They'll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan and this or that. And they did. They stayed a little back, off the front lines."
January 22, 2026 at 1:29 PM
My brother fought in the infantry and lost soldiers in Afghanistan. The press used to report deaths before families had been told and I would check my phone over and over, scared it would ring.
I went to the inquest of one of his killed men. I saw his red-eyed parents, girlfriend and baby daughter.
I went to the inquest of one of his killed men. I saw his red-eyed parents, girlfriend and baby daughter.
Reposted by Barry C Smith
A few photos from this great event yesterday @ip-sas.bsky.social @barrycsmith.bsky.social
January 24, 2026 at 10:20 AM
A few photos from this great event yesterday @ip-sas.bsky.social @barrycsmith.bsky.social
Rounding off yesterday’s 20th Anniversary celebrations @ip-sas.bsky.social with an AI vs Human Cocktail Turing Taste Test designed by @opheliaderoy.bsky.social and delivered by Isabel Graham-Yool
January 24, 2026 at 12:48 PM
Rounding off yesterday’s 20th Anniversary celebrations @ip-sas.bsky.social with an AI vs Human Cocktail Turing Taste Test designed by @opheliaderoy.bsky.social and delivered by Isabel Graham-Yool
Partners helping us celebrate the Institute of Philosophy’s 20th Anniversary yesterday. Good to commemorate Profs Colin Blakemore and Vincent Hayward who contributed so much to @ip-sas.bsky.social and to welcome our recent collaborators from Tate and Getty, the Crick Institute and Google Research
January 24, 2026 at 12:45 PM
Partners helping us celebrate the Institute of Philosophy’s 20th Anniversary yesterday. Good to commemorate Profs Colin Blakemore and Vincent Hayward who contributed so much to @ip-sas.bsky.social and to welcome our recent collaborators from Tate and Getty, the Crick Institute and Google Research
We start the Institute of Philosophy’s20th Anniversary Celebrations by hearing from the first Director Prof Tim Crane @ip-sas.bsky.social
January 23, 2026 at 10:12 AM
We start the Institute of Philosophy’s20th Anniversary Celebrations by hearing from the first Director Prof Tim Crane @ip-sas.bsky.social
Trump’s bored of peace?
Trump to the Board of Peace: "We have peace in the Middle East. Nobody thought that was possible. We've settled 8 wars, and I believe another one is coming pretty soon. And you know what that is. The one that I thought was gonna be a easy one."
January 22, 2026 at 1:29 PM
Trump’s bored of peace?
Well, well
January 22, 2026 at 1:14 PM
Well, well
Trip to Club Curling at Coal Drops Yard, King’s Cross by @ip-sas.bsky.social Lab to see our Senses Unwrapped exhibition and to do some curling
January 20, 2026 at 3:16 PM
Trip to Club Curling at Coal Drops Yard, King’s Cross by @ip-sas.bsky.social Lab to see our Senses Unwrapped exhibition and to do some curling
Why do people think the current US administration’s stance is inconsistent with its isolationism and its America First attitude? It’s aim is no longer to support its allies or promote democracy globally. Its military incursions are conducted in its own interests as it pursues a flawed protectionism
January 18, 2026 at 12:05 PM
Why do people think the current US administration’s stance is inconsistent with its isolationism and its America First attitude? It’s aim is no longer to support its allies or promote democracy globally. Its military incursions are conducted in its own interests as it pursues a flawed protectionism
Tories regrouping under Reform banner to revive the nasty party
January 16, 2026 at 7:02 AM
Tories regrouping under Reform banner to revive the nasty party
Demeaning. Makes her look like a grifter with a stunt that will do nothing for her presidential ambitions. He has no intention of helping her lead her country
President Trump is keeping the Nobel Peace Prize medal presented to him by its recipient, Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado. abcnews.go.com/US/trump-mee...
Trump accepts Nobel Peace Prize medal from Venezuelan opposition leader Machado
President Donald Trump met with Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado at the White House Thursday, where she said she presented him with her Nobel medal.
abcnews.go.com
January 16, 2026 at 7:00 AM
Demeaning. Makes her look like a grifter with a stunt that will do nothing for her presidential ambitions. He has no intention of helping her lead her country