Ben Stemper
@benst.bsky.social
PhD candidate in History of Ideas and Science at Uppsala University, looking at 19th century socialist eco-utopias/dystopias. Interested in history of anarchism and u/dystopianism more broadly, and specifically Joseph Déjacque.
(He/Him)
(He/Him)
I wrote on the Parisian lawyer and dystopian theorist Eugène Huzar (1820-1890) as a degrowth theorist at the dawn of the Capitalocene for @nichecanada.bsky.social, grappling with whether adaptation to ecocide can ever meaningfully happen within a system geared towards infinite growth at every level.
Check out this excellent post by @benst.bsky.social that explores a compelling 19th century example of degrowth thinking -- another contribution to the @nichecanada.bsky.social blog series on historicizing adaptation.
A Degrowth Theorist in the Nineteenth Century? Eugène Huzar and the Dangers of Scientific and Industrial Growth
Eugène Huzar warned that industrial science-driven growth threatened Earth's balance, advocating global oversight but recognizing its limits, foreseeing degrowth's necessity.
niche-canada.org
March 20, 2025 at 4:31 PM
I wrote on the Parisian lawyer and dystopian theorist Eugène Huzar (1820-1890) as a degrowth theorist at the dawn of the Capitalocene for @nichecanada.bsky.social, grappling with whether adaptation to ecocide can ever meaningfully happen within a system geared towards infinite growth at every level.
Very grateful for the opportunity to present a paper on Eugène Huzar's environmental dystopianism at the 15th London Graduate Conference in HPT
June 22, 2024 at 1:24 PM
Very grateful for the opportunity to present a paper on Eugène Huzar's environmental dystopianism at the 15th London Graduate Conference in HPT
Reposted by Ben Stemper
Today's newsletter: I believe we're reaching peak AI, and that the industry is going to crash to Earth as enterprises and consumers realize the limits and lack of utility of ChatGPT and co.
And it's all thanks to Sam Altman's empty hype cycle.
tinyurl.com/wyea31824
And it's all thanks to Sam Altman's empty hype cycle.
tinyurl.com/wyea31824
Have We Reached Peak AI?
Last week, the Wall Street Journal published a 10-minute-long interview with OpenAI CTO Mira Murati, with journalist Joanna Stern asking a series of thoughtful yet straightforward questions that Murat...
tinyurl.com
March 18, 2024 at 6:59 PM
Today's newsletter: I believe we're reaching peak AI, and that the industry is going to crash to Earth as enterprises and consumers realize the limits and lack of utility of ChatGPT and co.
And it's all thanks to Sam Altman's empty hype cycle.
tinyurl.com/wyea31824
And it's all thanks to Sam Altman's empty hype cycle.
tinyurl.com/wyea31824
The worst thing about reading Les Misérables cover to cover is that it still only counts as one book in my Goodreads challenge
March 21, 2024 at 12:12 PM
The worst thing about reading Les Misérables cover to cover is that it still only counts as one book in my Goodreads challenge
Reposted by Ben Stemper
TIL James Lovelock and Lynn Margulis's research on the "Gaia hypothesis" was funded in part by Big Oil.
@n.b. @ccmmody.bsky.social
@n.b. @ccmmody.bsky.social
March 12, 2024 at 5:39 PM
TIL James Lovelock and Lynn Margulis's research on the "Gaia hypothesis" was funded in part by Big Oil.
@n.b. @ccmmody.bsky.social
@n.b. @ccmmody.bsky.social
Reposted by Ben Stemper
Literature recommendations on thinking about linear vs. exponential growth in the nineteenth century?
February 21, 2024 at 3:07 PM
Literature recommendations on thinking about linear vs. exponential growth in the nineteenth century?
Reposted by Ben Stemper
The University of Kent, self-styled Britain's 'European University ' is phasing out language teaching. Mais tu blagues!
February 5, 2024 at 6:42 PM
The University of Kent, self-styled Britain's 'European University ' is phasing out language teaching. Mais tu blagues!
Reposted by Ben Stemper
We are going to publish a special issue of History of the Present on "The Future of History in the Ruins of the University" - here is the CFP - get in touch with interest/questions
February 5, 2024 at 12:36 AM
We are going to publish a special issue of History of the Present on "The Future of History in the Ruins of the University" - here is the CFP - get in touch with interest/questions
Reposted by Ben Stemper
I am horrified that the University of Kent is planning the closure of many excellent programmes, including Anthropology, and is proposing up to 58 redundancies among academic staff! This further destruction of UK centres of academic excellence is heartbreaking.
February 2, 2024 at 7:57 PM
I am horrified that the University of Kent is planning the closure of many excellent programmes, including Anthropology, and is proposing up to 58 redundancies among academic staff! This further destruction of UK centres of academic excellence is heartbreaking.
Reposted by Ben Stemper
I would really very much like you to click on this then click subscribe. It will always have a free option.
University budgets, by design, suck the lifeblood out of the humanities. There's a history to this too, but it doesn't have to be this way. A new newsletter from @profgabriele.com and me.
PLEASE READ. SUBSCRIBE. SHARE!
PLEASE READ. SUBSCRIBE. SHARE!
University budgets are moral documents
Universities are creating a(n intentional) recursive doom loop for the Humanities
buttondown.email
January 23, 2024 at 6:49 PM
I would really very much like you to click on this then click subscribe. It will always have a free option.
Eugène Huzar walked so Graham Hancock could run
![He should haved added "and these four ages repeat themselves forever." The ancient Egyptians understood this so well they worshipped the Phoenix, of the old Phoenix's ashes, who burned himself, arose the new one. Further, who can prove that these four ages have not already been repeating themselves since time immemorial, who can prove to us that before the world's last embrace [by the serpent destroyer] humanity did not already [...]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:onw3zolyx6nofwysxrod7kh3/bafkreicsrtoghyu66wdarzthqpbfsdzlijhno2aagte3ltnqdizt33brn4@jpeg)
January 28, 2024 at 6:00 PM
Eugène Huzar walked so Graham Hancock could run
PhD application season (ouch) means I'm going down an Eugène Huzar rabbit hole, and did he know how to end a book.
![You closed this book without understanding it. Did I not tell you from the outset? [...] Civilization is not yet advanced enough, we are merely at the dawn of things, I say it again, this book is not written for this century, nor for you. Other times will come when humans, terrorized by the prodigies happening under its eyes, will understand it, and become terrified.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:onw3zolyx6nofwysxrod7kh3/bafkreidrxg3hlqdvsw74n7sg3rwhqavztuokzs2cmyw2j7l4pm4rzphnqy@jpeg)
December 21, 2023 at 11:59 AM
PhD application season (ouch) means I'm going down an Eugène Huzar rabbit hole, and did he know how to end a book.
Reposted by Ben Stemper
Vivement la COP 29 ! (Par Gros)
December 9, 2023 at 2:02 PM
Vivement la COP 29 ! (Par Gros)
Reposted by Ben Stemper
To clarify for those not in UK academia: this means no foreigners qualify to even apply for museum jobs, anything in heritage or libraries, junior fac jobs, UK postdocs, all are entirely out of the question.
And do that math outside academia- no foreign nurses, teachers, and on and on.
And do that math outside academia- no foreign nurses, teachers, and on and on.
Rishi Sunak has stated he'll increase the salary threshold for migrants to the UK from £26k to £38k.
If that threshold had been in place in 2021, when I started in the UK as a university lecturer, I wouldn't have met it. The average migrant has no chance, and that's the point.
If that threshold had been in place in 2021, when I started in the UK as a university lecturer, I wouldn't have met it. The average migrant has no chance, and that's the point.
December 4, 2023 at 1:13 PM
To clarify for those not in UK academia: this means no foreigners qualify to even apply for museum jobs, anything in heritage or libraries, junior fac jobs, UK postdocs, all are entirely out of the question.
And do that math outside academia- no foreign nurses, teachers, and on and on.
And do that math outside academia- no foreign nurses, teachers, and on and on.
Reposted by Ben Stemper
“The minimum salary needed to get a skilled worker visa will rise from £26,200 to £38,700 next year.”
Some current salaries for open museum positions:
Curator: Hoards (BM): £33,803
Senior Art Handling Technician (Tate): £30,848
National Programmes Manager (National History Museum): £37,230
Some current salaries for open museum positions:
Curator: Hoards (BM): £33,803
Senior Art Handling Technician (Tate): £30,848
National Programmes Manager (National History Museum): £37,230
Salary threshold for migrant worker visa set to rise under legal migration curbs
The hike is expected as part of plans to curb legal migration, which has hit record levels.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 4, 2023 at 6:37 PM
“The minimum salary needed to get a skilled worker visa will rise from £26,200 to £38,700 next year.”
Some current salaries for open museum positions:
Curator: Hoards (BM): £33,803
Senior Art Handling Technician (Tate): £30,848
National Programmes Manager (National History Museum): £37,230
Some current salaries for open museum positions:
Curator: Hoards (BM): £33,803
Senior Art Handling Technician (Tate): £30,848
National Programmes Manager (National History Museum): £37,230
Considering the news from COP28, I sometimes wish I had the optimism of a c19 catastrophist writer....
December 4, 2023 at 12:56 PM
Considering the news from COP28, I sometimes wish I had the optimism of a c19 catastrophist writer....
Reposted by Ben Stemper
Aberdeen plans to remove all degrees and research in modern languages. Utterly disgraceful. Please consider signing this petition
www.change.org/p/save-langu...
www.change.org/p/save-langu...
Sign the Petition
On 30 November of this year, all staff in the Modern Languages, Translation and Interpreting section of the University of Aberdeen were told that they are at risk of redundancy, opening a false choice...
www.change.org
December 4, 2023 at 11:12 AM
Aberdeen plans to remove all degrees and research in modern languages. Utterly disgraceful. Please consider signing this petition
www.change.org/p/save-langu...
www.change.org/p/save-langu...
Reposted by Ben Stemper
I'm with @wolvendamien.bsky.social as I believe that we need to understand the religious and occult ideologies that are embedded in technologies, and which motivate their development and application. Moreover, I also believe that we need to recognize the influence of mythoi upon tech as well.
December 2, 2023 at 9:06 AM
I'm with @wolvendamien.bsky.social as I believe that we need to understand the religious and occult ideologies that are embedded in technologies, and which motivate their development and application. Moreover, I also believe that we need to recognize the influence of mythoi upon tech as well.
Reposted by Ben Stemper
The Royal Historical Society, of which I am a Fellow, has today issued a strongly-worded statement about the huge cuts to History at Oxford Brookes. While I cannot of course comment on the specifics, I would ask you to consider the implications and spread the word. royalhistsoc.org/history-at-o...
History at Oxford Brookes University – a statement from the Royal Historical Society | RHS
royalhistsoc.org
November 30, 2023 at 10:06 AM
The Royal Historical Society, of which I am a Fellow, has today issued a strongly-worded statement about the huge cuts to History at Oxford Brookes. While I cannot of course comment on the specifics, I would ask you to consider the implications and spread the word. royalhistsoc.org/history-at-o...
Reposted by Ben Stemper
Please consider signing this petition to prevent catastrophic job cuts at Oxford Brookes.
Arts & humanities are besieged as a consequence of policy changes, among other things. Brookes won't be the last to go through this. Solidarity is essential.
https://t.co/mNbElDKP5k
Arts & humanities are besieged as a consequence of policy changes, among other things. Brookes won't be the last to go through this. Solidarity is essential.
https://t.co/mNbElDKP5k
Defend jobs and education at Oxford Brookes University
Oxford Brookes University has announced plans to reduce academic staff numbers in Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences and Maths, leaving 48 jobs at risk of compulsory redundancy.
Please read and share ...
t.co
November 25, 2023 at 9:36 PM
Please consider signing this petition to prevent catastrophic job cuts at Oxford Brookes.
Arts & humanities are besieged as a consequence of policy changes, among other things. Brookes won't be the last to go through this. Solidarity is essential.
https://t.co/mNbElDKP5k
Arts & humanities are besieged as a consequence of policy changes, among other things. Brookes won't be the last to go through this. Solidarity is essential.
https://t.co/mNbElDKP5k
In 1903, the gendarmerie in Esch reported on a speech by anarchist poet and playwright Pietro Gori, held in the People's House in the same city, and attended by 50-60 Italian workers. The visit is fascinating for a whole number of reasons beyond the person of Gori himself. /thread
November 25, 2023 at 5:30 PM
In 1903, the gendarmerie in Esch reported on a speech by anarchist poet and playwright Pietro Gori, held in the People's House in the same city, and attended by 50-60 Italian workers. The visit is fascinating for a whole number of reasons beyond the person of Gori himself. /thread
Reposted by Ben Stemper
Please read and circulate this editorial by editors of the journal History and Technology, Amy Slaton and and Tiago Saraiva, which fully vindicates my STS (UCL) colleague Jenny Bulstrode and her paper 'Black metallurgists and the making of the industrial revolution'
doi.org/10.1080/0734...
doi.org/10.1080/0734...
doi.org
November 16, 2023 at 1:42 PM
Please read and circulate this editorial by editors of the journal History and Technology, Amy Slaton and and Tiago Saraiva, which fully vindicates my STS (UCL) colleague Jenny Bulstrode and her paper 'Black metallurgists and the making of the industrial revolution'
doi.org/10.1080/0734...
doi.org/10.1080/0734...
Reposted by Ben Stemper
I cannot imagine this will shock anyone who has been paying attention
If the mainstream media, like the Guardian, hadn't lapped up the moral panic about free speech, it would have been obvious to them too that this was always a bad faith argument
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
If the mainstream media, like the Guardian, hadn't lapped up the moral panic about free speech, it would have been obvious to them too that this was always a bad faith argument
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
November 18, 2023 at 8:35 PM
I cannot imagine this will shock anyone who has been paying attention
If the mainstream media, like the Guardian, hadn't lapped up the moral panic about free speech, it would have been obvious to them too that this was always a bad faith argument
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
If the mainstream media, like the Guardian, hadn't lapped up the moral panic about free speech, it would have been obvious to them too that this was always a bad faith argument
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Ben Stemper
The greatest story ever told
November 5, 2023 at 8:16 AM
The greatest story ever told
Reposted by Ben Stemper
Rather sadly - my first post on here is to let anyone who will listen know that English/Creative Writing at Oxford Brookes is facing massive redundancies - 40% of staff to be culled by January including my own role. Please share and support, we are trying to save our livelihoods #SaveBrookesEnglish
November 15, 2023 at 7:10 AM
Rather sadly - my first post on here is to let anyone who will listen know that English/Creative Writing at Oxford Brookes is facing massive redundancies - 40% of staff to be culled by January including my own role. Please share and support, we are trying to save our livelihoods #SaveBrookesEnglish