Ivan Bock
@ivanbock.bsky.social
PhD (Phil) student at Stellenbosch Uni.
I blog infrequently. Interested in virtue ethics, moral psychology, pragmatism, existentialism, agnosticism, moral anti-realism, and skepticism.
Life is luck! Be kind to all!
Blog: ivanbock.wordpress.com
I blog infrequently. Interested in virtue ethics, moral psychology, pragmatism, existentialism, agnosticism, moral anti-realism, and skepticism.
Life is luck! Be kind to all!
Blog: ivanbock.wordpress.com
Pinned
Ivan Bock
@ivanbock.bsky.social
· Aug 1
I say this somewhat tongue in cheek, but it is funny how many people dismiss philosophy only for us to keep finding out people like Socrates really were wise:
youtu.be/9M_QK4stCJU?...
#philsky
youtu.be/9M_QK4stCJU?...
#philsky
Why You Shouldn’t Trust Confident People
YouTube video by Veritasium
youtu.be
November 13, 2025 at 6:29 AM
I say this somewhat tongue in cheek, but it is funny how many people dismiss philosophy only for us to keep finding out people like Socrates really were wise:
youtu.be/9M_QK4stCJU?...
#philsky
youtu.be/9M_QK4stCJU?...
#philsky
Reposted by Ivan Bock
happy bday French writer Albert Camus, b.1913.
“In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.
And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger – something better, pushing right back.”
“In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.
And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger – something better, pushing right back.”
November 7, 2025 at 1:53 PM
happy bday French writer Albert Camus, b.1913.
“In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.
And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger – something better, pushing right back.”
“In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.
And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger – something better, pushing right back.”
Pretty decent summary of Epictetus' views and teachings. It has that classic stoic sentiment and psychological theory, while also stressing Epictetus' 'role ethics'. That combination, I think, is a particularly useful and socially just perspective to take.
#stoicism #ethics
#stoicism #ethics
November 7, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Fun day at the #RedBullFlugTag !
We came without a plan and ended up getting some nice seats.
We came without a plan and ended up getting some nice seats.
November 2, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Fun day at the #RedBullFlugTag !
We came without a plan and ended up getting some nice seats.
We came without a plan and ended up getting some nice seats.
Reposted by Ivan Bock
“Think for yourself, and let others enjoy the privilege to do so, too.”
— Voltaire, Treatise on Tolerance
— Voltaire, Treatise on Tolerance
November 2, 2025 at 1:32 AM
“Think for yourself, and let others enjoy the privilege to do so, too.”
— Voltaire, Treatise on Tolerance
— Voltaire, Treatise on Tolerance
Reposted by Ivan Bock
#EmotionalSupportSpood #Arachtober
Little Brown Creeper boy missing a palp and looking very small (they always do) 🥹
Little Brown Creeper boy missing a palp and looking very small (they always do) 🥹
October 19, 2025 at 4:20 AM
#EmotionalSupportSpood #Arachtober
Little Brown Creeper boy missing a palp and looking very small (they always do) 🥹
Little Brown Creeper boy missing a palp and looking very small (they always do) 🥹
"Whoever knows that he is profound strives for clarity; whoever would like the crowd to think he is profound strives for obscurity. The reason for this is that the crowd thinks something is profound whenever it cannot see to the bottom of it" - Nietzsche
#philsky
#philsky
October 14, 2025 at 3:33 PM
"Whoever knows that he is profound strives for clarity; whoever would like the crowd to think he is profound strives for obscurity. The reason for this is that the crowd thinks something is profound whenever it cannot see to the bottom of it" - Nietzsche
#philsky
#philsky
Reposted by Ivan Bock
“There is only one thing a philosopher can be relied upon to do, and that is to contradict other philosophers.”
— William James, Memories and Studies
#philosophy #philsky
— William James, Memories and Studies
#philosophy #philsky
October 12, 2025 at 1:05 AM
“There is only one thing a philosopher can be relied upon to do, and that is to contradict other philosophers.”
— William James, Memories and Studies
#philosophy #philsky
— William James, Memories and Studies
#philosophy #philsky
Reposted by Ivan Bock
"Given their disciplinary expertise, we believe that evolutionary scholars are uniquely equipped to critique these speculations, which borrow from EP’s credibility to advance a depreciatory view of women, while harming the public reputation of the field at large and in academia."
A Hundred and Two Just-So Stories: Exploring the Lay Evolutionary Hypotheses of the Manosphere | Evolutionary Human Sciences | Cambridge Core
A Hundred and Two Just-So Stories: Exploring the Lay Evolutionary Hypotheses of the Manosphere
www.cambridge.org
October 10, 2025 at 2:02 AM
"Given their disciplinary expertise, we believe that evolutionary scholars are uniquely equipped to critique these speculations, which borrow from EP’s credibility to advance a depreciatory view of women, while harming the public reputation of the field at large and in academia."
Reposted by Ivan Bock
"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger" is the laziest moral philosophy ever invented and I'm tired of pretending it's wisdom.
youtu.be/A1z2xW6Zyto
youtu.be/A1z2xW6Zyto
The Existential Danger of Stoic Sadism
When Marcus Aurelius started popping up everywhere, I thought maybe we were getting somewhere. But stoicism has twisted into something darker: stoic sadism, ...
www.youtube.com
October 7, 2025 at 10:18 AM
"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger" is the laziest moral philosophy ever invented and I'm tired of pretending it's wisdom.
youtu.be/A1z2xW6Zyto
youtu.be/A1z2xW6Zyto
Currently busy dealing with our insurance regarding a leak and water damage to our home. This is so frustrating, as the service providers clearly missed a leak when they came the first time and are now claiming we need to submit a second claim for the 'new' leak.
We have now gotten to the point ...
We have now gotten to the point ...
October 8, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Currently busy dealing with our insurance regarding a leak and water damage to our home. This is so frustrating, as the service providers clearly missed a leak when they came the first time and are now claiming we need to submit a second claim for the 'new' leak.
We have now gotten to the point ...
We have now gotten to the point ...
Reposted by Ivan Bock
"He who indulges empty fears earns himself real fears." Seneca
October 6, 2025 at 9:00 PM
"He who indulges empty fears earns himself real fears." Seneca
Uninformed manosphere influencer: "No, no, I voted for a 'good strong man', not a bad one. A good strong man would have been awesome."
“I voted for none of this."
Prominent influencers, including Theo Von, Joe Rogan, and Andrew Schulz, are starting to distance themselves from the president they helped propel to the White House.
Story: www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
Prominent influencers, including Theo Von, Joe Rogan, and Andrew Schulz, are starting to distance themselves from the president they helped propel to the White House.
Story: www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
October 7, 2025 at 4:24 AM
Uninformed manosphere influencer: "No, no, I voted for a 'good strong man', not a bad one. A good strong man would have been awesome."
This is such an amazing passage from The Brothers Karamazov! It is easy to see why some considered Dostoyevsky to be a prophet.
Now more than ever, we must remeber this message. Don't foster solitude, foster brotherly love.
#booksky
Now more than ever, we must remeber this message. Don't foster solitude, foster brotherly love.
#booksky
October 5, 2025 at 8:51 AM
This is such an amazing passage from The Brothers Karamazov! It is easy to see why some considered Dostoyevsky to be a prophet.
Now more than ever, we must remeber this message. Don't foster solitude, foster brotherly love.
#booksky
Now more than ever, we must remeber this message. Don't foster solitude, foster brotherly love.
#booksky
As usual, Shaun hits it out of the park. This is a fantastic breakdown of the completely bullshit book, The War on Science. Have a look if you have the time.
youtu.be/tyU5Xkk6TuE?...
youtu.be/tyU5Xkk6TuE?...
The War on Science
YouTube video by Shaun
youtu.be
October 2, 2025 at 9:37 AM
As usual, Shaun hits it out of the park. This is a fantastic breakdown of the completely bullshit book, The War on Science. Have a look if you have the time.
youtu.be/tyU5Xkk6TuE?...
youtu.be/tyU5Xkk6TuE?...
Reposted by Ivan Bock
This is my regular reminder to everyone that jstor is open to the general public now; a free account there will give you access to 100 papers a year.
regrettably if you try to point this out online you'll get yelled out by 79208 journalists going OH SO YOU WANT JOURNALISTS TO STARVE??? even if you're, say, a journalist yourself, and point out that while there are clearly no easy answers, the status quo isn't exactly working for society
September 29, 2025 at 1:19 PM
This is my regular reminder to everyone that jstor is open to the general public now; a free account there will give you access to 100 papers a year.
Reposted by Ivan Bock
New paper accepted!🎉
Is Taylor Swift responsible for how she makes her fans feel?
Yes; the notion of affective power (the ability to influence how others feel) can help identify the responsibilities celebrities have towards their fans.
w/ G.Mills & @alfredarcher.bsky.social
Preprint ⬇️
Is Taylor Swift responsible for how she makes her fans feel?
Yes; the notion of affective power (the ability to influence how others feel) can help identify the responsibilities celebrities have towards their fans.
w/ G.Mills & @alfredarcher.bsky.social
Preprint ⬇️
September 26, 2025 at 1:42 PM
New paper accepted!🎉
Is Taylor Swift responsible for how she makes her fans feel?
Yes; the notion of affective power (the ability to influence how others feel) can help identify the responsibilities celebrities have towards their fans.
w/ G.Mills & @alfredarcher.bsky.social
Preprint ⬇️
Is Taylor Swift responsible for how she makes her fans feel?
Yes; the notion of affective power (the ability to influence how others feel) can help identify the responsibilities celebrities have towards their fans.
w/ G.Mills & @alfredarcher.bsky.social
Preprint ⬇️
Reposted by Ivan Bock
“Each day acquire something that will fortify you against poverty, against death, indeed against other misfortunes as well; and after you have run over many thoughts, select one to be thoroughly digested that day.”
— Seneca, Moral Letters to Lucilius
— Seneca, Moral Letters to Lucilius
September 25, 2025 at 8:28 PM
“Each day acquire something that will fortify you against poverty, against death, indeed against other misfortunes as well; and after you have run over many thoughts, select one to be thoroughly digested that day.”
— Seneca, Moral Letters to Lucilius
— Seneca, Moral Letters to Lucilius
Reposted by Ivan Bock
this exists it is called thinking
September 20, 2025 at 12:15 PM
this exists it is called thinking
I just wanted to share the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy article on Miracles.
I enjoyed it much more than the SEP article on the same topic. I found it slightly more fair-handed and balanced. The discussion on miracles as gestures is also interesting.
#philsky
iep.utm.edu/miracles/
I enjoyed it much more than the SEP article on the same topic. I found it slightly more fair-handed and balanced. The discussion on miracles as gestures is also interesting.
#philsky
iep.utm.edu/miracles/
Miracles | Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
iep.utm.edu
September 18, 2025 at 2:39 PM
I just wanted to share the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy article on Miracles.
I enjoyed it much more than the SEP article on the same topic. I found it slightly more fair-handed and balanced. The discussion on miracles as gestures is also interesting.
#philsky
iep.utm.edu/miracles/
I enjoyed it much more than the SEP article on the same topic. I found it slightly more fair-handed and balanced. The discussion on miracles as gestures is also interesting.
#philsky
iep.utm.edu/miracles/
Reposted by Ivan Bock
Reposted by Ivan Bock
As I used to say on Twitter, you either die a hero, or you live long enough to see your work become an 'Oxford Studies Online' pdf
September 14, 2025 at 8:36 PM
As I used to say on Twitter, you either die a hero, or you live long enough to see your work become an 'Oxford Studies Online' pdf
Reposted by Ivan Bock
Theories of analyticity cannot handle this
‘Booty’ and ‘butt’ are synonyms.
‘Call’ and ‘dial’ are synonyms.
But, a ‘booty call’ and a ‘butt dial’ are VERY different things.
‘Call’ and ‘dial’ are synonyms.
But, a ‘booty call’ and a ‘butt dial’ are VERY different things.
September 13, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Theories of analyticity cannot handle this