David Livingstone Smith
davidlsmith.bsky.social
David Livingstone Smith
@davidlsmith.bsky.social
Philosopher working on dehumanization, race, Freud, and other stuff.

MY SUBSTACK: https://davidlivingstonesmith.substack.com/

MY WEBPAGE: www.davidlivingstonesmith.com

Illinois friends
January 14, 2026 at 12:41 PM
Of course teachers can use AI to detect cheating | Opinion www.pressherald.com/2026/01/07/u...
Of course teachers can use AI to detect cheating | Opinion
Being caught cheating should be looked upon as a student’s opportunity to become a better learner.
www.pressherald.com
January 10, 2026 at 4:40 PM
Reposted by David Livingstone Smith
A discussion of the evolution of dehumanisation, monsters and race. | https://bit.ly/3XcIv2B

Philosopher David Livingstone Smith presents us with a candid but unique outlook on this topic, exploring symbols of hate to having hope without optimism.

#philsky
The philosophy of dehumanisation with David Livingstone Smith
In this exclusive interview, philosopher David Livingstone Smith explores the history, nature, and evolution of dehumanisation. As what is 'acceptable' in society changes, so do the tactics of underco...
bit.ly
December 10, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Reposted by David Livingstone Smith
David Livingstone Smith maintains that people are initially attracted to fascist-style movements for more economic reasons, and the leader’s rhetoric aims at converting them from mere followers into true believers doi.org/10.1080/0951... #vol39issue1 #devotion #philsky #philpsy
11/11
December 22, 2025 at 2:11 PM
How dehumanizing people transforms them into monsters. www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQ2n...
Demonizing Dehumanization and Monstrosity
YouTube video by Multi-faith Matters
www.youtube.com
January 5, 2026 at 1:36 AM
At bottom, pseudo-philosophers are bullshitters, in Harry Frankfurt’s sense of the term. Frankfurt distinguishes bullshitters from liars. Liars have got to keep an eye on the truth, because they’ve got to avoid it. But truth is irrelevant to bullshitters.
December 26, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Subrena, my spouse, and I will be spending next academic year in Sweden. That means we will have to rent our (lovely) home out for a year. I'm writing on the off chance that anyone knows of anyone that needs a place to rent in southern NH.
December 18, 2025 at 7:12 PM
December 17, 2025 at 8:00 PM
December 14, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Eighty-four years ago yesterday, The Wolfman was released in the United States. Just days earlier, Germany declared war on Germany, and consequently the Wansee conference, where senior Nazis worked out some of the logistics of the Holocaust, was cancelled and deferred to January, 1942.
December 13, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Reposted by David Livingstone Smith
Seeing as Rutger Bregman is having a moment with his Reith Lectures, I think it's a good time to share @davidlsmith.bsky.social 's excellent review of Bregman's book, Humankind.

Take note and don't be duped by Bregman's feelgood.

www.thephilosopher1923.org/post/are-we-...
"Are We Decent Deep Down?": David Livingstone Smith reviews "Humankind" by Rutger Bregman
"A large part of human nature is our capacity to use culture to engineer human nature itself, for good or for ill."
www.thephilosopher1923.org
December 12, 2025 at 6:56 PM
I often hear it said that Trump does not does not have an ideology. The truth-value of that statement depends on what one means by "ideology"--a notoriously ambiguous term.
December 6, 2025 at 5:48 PM
HELP! Does anyone know how to ship items with lithium-ion batteries from the US to Jamaica? It's estimated that electricity won't be restored to our family members till spring. We purchased two solar-powered generators to send, but have met obstruction because they are considered hazardous.
December 4, 2025 at 11:16 PM
December 2, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Reposted by David Livingstone Smith
Just published!

"Real Dehumanization" by @davidlsmith.bsky.social .

Open access: doi.org/10.1017/apa....
Real Dehumanization | Journal of the American Philosophical Association | Cambridge Core
Real Dehumanization
doi.org
November 29, 2025 at 7:28 PM
When I trained psychotherapists, I tried to inculcate two basic principles: 1) create a secure frame, with neutrality, total privacy and total confidentiality, 2) shut the fuck up and let the patient speak. Everything else is icing on the cake.
November 26, 2025 at 12:43 AM
My Lebowitz Prize paper "Real dehumanization" is now out in the Journal of the American Philosophical Association (open access). www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org
November 24, 2025 at 4:18 PM
November 19, 2025 at 2:38 PM
The Most Dangerous Animal. A powerful short film by the late Al Sutton. www.imdb.com/video/wab/vi...
▶️ The Most Dangerous Animal
Watch Full Movie | 3:22
www.imdb.com
November 12, 2025 at 2:54 PM
November 12, 2025 at 12:34 AM
Reposted by David Livingstone Smith
Some of you may know #philsci #philbio Subrena Smith, Prof of #philosophy at UNH. Her family in Jamaica lives in one of parishes hardest hit by Hurricane Melissa: Westmoreland. She & David are raising funds to support them w/ generators, supplies, truck water in to them, etc. Please donate if can!
November 8, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Reposted by David Livingstone Smith
Thanks to your generosity, my GoFundMe has raised $2672 to help my family in Jamaica in just a little over a day. Thank you, thank you, thank you! This will go towards their most urgent needs, but it's a fraction of what's needed. T gofund.me/2a40e23c6
Donate to Help our family recover from Hurricane Melissa, organized by David Livingstone Smith
I am David Livingstone Smith, a professor of philosophy. My sp… David Livingstone Smith needs your support for Help our family recover from Hurricane Melissa
gofund.me
November 8, 2025 at 1:44 AM