Kenny Pearce
@kennypearce.bsky.social
I read old books & am confused about God.
Philosophy prof (currently James Madison University, formerly Trinity College Dublin).
Latest book: http://bit.ly/2QrnJxl
Latest paper: https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.3366/jj.30051403.20
Philosophy prof (currently James Madison University, formerly Trinity College Dublin).
Latest book: http://bit.ly/2QrnJxl
Latest paper: https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.3366/jj.30051403.20
Pinned
The Edinburgh Critical History of Early Modern and Enlightenment Philosophy on JSTOR
Written by a team of leading international scholars, this book examines a crucial period of philosophy from the perspective of themes and lines of thought that ...
www.jstor.org
The Edinburgh Critical History of Early Modern and Enlightenment Philosophy is available from JSTOR, including my chapter, "The Epistemology of Testimony: Locke and His Critics". (The critics are Leibniz, Mary Astell, and Peter Browne.)
www.jstor.org/stable/10.33...
#c17 #philosophy
www.jstor.org/stable/10.33...
#c17 #philosophy
I draw two morals from this story. First, we've got a great group of students. Second, if you teach metaphysics you should definitely use this case! 3/3
February 10, 2026 at 8:54 PM
I draw two morals from this story. First, we've got a great group of students. Second, if you teach metaphysics you should definitely use this case! 3/3
The question is, if you order a gun kit online & follow the instructions, when, where, and by whom was the gun made? Did the gun cross state lines?
I had great difficulty getting the students to stop debating the metaphysics of artifacts long enough to finish the meeting. 2/3
I had great difficulty getting the students to stop debating the metaphysics of artifacts long enough to finish the meeting. 2/3
February 10, 2026 at 8:54 PM
The question is, if you order a gun kit online & follow the instructions, when, where, and by whom was the gun made? Did the gun cross state lines?
I had great difficulty getting the students to stop debating the metaphysics of artifacts long enough to finish the meeting. 2/3
I had great difficulty getting the students to stop debating the metaphysics of artifacts long enough to finish the meeting. 2/3
In a meeting w/ sophomore philosophy majors abut our department's course offerings, a student asked what metaphysics was & I gave a few example questions. I mentioned last year's Supreme Court ruling in Bondi v. Vanderstok.
www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24p... 1/3
www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24p... 1/3
www.supremecourt.gov
February 10, 2026 at 8:54 PM
In a meeting w/ sophomore philosophy majors abut our department's course offerings, a student asked what metaphysics was & I gave a few example questions. I mentioned last year's Supreme Court ruling in Bondi v. Vanderstok.
www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24p... 1/3
www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24p... 1/3
Reposted by Kenny Pearce
Calling out fascism is not threatening to anyone but fascists.
Goldman to Lyons: "You said in your opening statement that references to ICE as 'the Gestapo' or 'secret police' encourages threats against ICE agents. The problem is you have it backwards. People are simply making valid observations about your tactics, which are un-American and outright fascist."
February 10, 2026 at 5:11 PM
Calling out fascism is not threatening to anyone but fascists.
Reposted by Kenny Pearce
1/ ProPublica collected handwritten letters in mid-January from children held at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center, the same facility where 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos was taken.
Hundreds of kids are still detained.
We’ll let the children’s words speak for themselves. 🧵
Hundreds of kids are still detained.
We’ll let the children’s words speak for themselves. 🧵
February 9, 2026 at 12:25 PM
1/ ProPublica collected handwritten letters in mid-January from children held at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center, the same facility where 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos was taken.
Hundreds of kids are still detained.
We’ll let the children’s words speak for themselves. 🧵
Hundreds of kids are still detained.
We’ll let the children’s words speak for themselves. 🧵
There's a book on Arnauld's theory of ideas by Steve Nadler, one on the Port-Royal Logic (which he co-authored) by John N. Martin, and a book in French by Aloyse Ndiaye.
February 2, 2026 at 5:20 PM
There's a book on Arnauld's theory of ideas by Steve Nadler, one on the Port-Royal Logic (which he co-authored) by John N. Martin, and a book in French by Aloyse Ndiaye.
Received this today to review for JHP. Looking forward to it!
Given Arnauld's importance in early modern philosophy, it's wild that this is (AFAIK) the first book-length general study of his philosophy every published in English.
Given Arnauld's importance in early modern philosophy, it's wild that this is (AFAIK) the first book-length general study of his philosophy every published in English.
February 2, 2026 at 5:20 PM
Received this today to review for JHP. Looking forward to it!
Given Arnauld's importance in early modern philosophy, it's wild that this is (AFAIK) the first book-length general study of his philosophy every published in English.
Given Arnauld's importance in early modern philosophy, it's wild that this is (AFAIK) the first book-length general study of his philosophy every published in English.
I used to attend a church that liked to use goldfish crackers for communion. One time someone bought pizza flavor by mistake.
www.smbc-comics.com/comic/flavor
@smbccomics.bsky.social
www.smbc-comics.com/comic/flavor
@smbccomics.bsky.social
Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal - Flavor
Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal - Flavor
www.smbc-comics.com
January 31, 2026 at 9:38 PM
I used to attend a church that liked to use goldfish crackers for communion. One time someone bought pizza flavor by mistake.
www.smbc-comics.com/comic/flavor
@smbccomics.bsky.social
www.smbc-comics.com/comic/flavor
@smbccomics.bsky.social
For those not 'in the know', here's the paper: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1...
A Demonstration of the Causal Power of Absences
Click on the article title to read more.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
January 30, 2026 at 9:46 PM
For those not 'in the know', here's the paper: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1...
Corollary to a well-known paper by Tyron Goldschmidt.
xkcd.com/3201/
xkcd.com/3201/
Proof Without Content
xkcd.com
January 30, 2026 at 9:46 PM
Corollary to a well-known paper by Tyron Goldschmidt.
xkcd.com/3201/
xkcd.com/3201/
Christ and Horrors offers a new surprise: somehow the opening paragraph manages to look, at the same time, like an opening paragraph of a philosophy book and like a doxology.
January 28, 2026 at 6:09 PM
Christ and Horrors offers a new surprise: somehow the opening paragraph manages to look, at the same time, like an opening paragraph of a philosophy book and like a doxology.
I’m reading Marilyn Adams' "Christ and Horrors" for the first time. While re-reading her "Horrendous Evils & the Goodness of God" I was thinking how rare it is that reading a work of philosophy (esp analytic philosophy) would lead one to admire the author’s moral character...
January 28, 2026 at 6:09 PM
I’m reading Marilyn Adams' "Christ and Horrors" for the first time. While re-reading her "Horrendous Evils & the Goodness of God" I was thinking how rare it is that reading a work of philosophy (esp analytic philosophy) would lead one to admire the author’s moral character...
Reposted by Kenny Pearce
kyle rittenhouse showed up to a protest with an ak-47 and trump lauded him as a hero.
January 25, 2026 at 1:56 AM
kyle rittenhouse showed up to a protest with an ak-47 and trump lauded him as a hero.
Reposted by Kenny Pearce
WOW on Pretti's denial of medical treatment
"I informed the ICE agents that I am a physician, and I asked to
assess the victim.
At first, the ICE agents wouldn't let me through. ... But none of the ICE agents who were near the victim were performing CPR, ... None of the agents were helping him."
"I informed the ICE agents that I am a physician, and I asked to
assess the victim.
At first, the ICE agents wouldn't let me through. ... But none of the ICE agents who were near the victim were performing CPR, ... None of the agents were helping him."
January 25, 2026 at 1:58 AM
WOW on Pretti's denial of medical treatment
"I informed the ICE agents that I am a physician, and I asked to
assess the victim.
At first, the ICE agents wouldn't let me through. ... But none of the ICE agents who were near the victim were performing CPR, ... None of the agents were helping him."
"I informed the ICE agents that I am a physician, and I asked to
assess the victim.
At first, the ICE agents wouldn't let me through. ... But none of the ICE agents who were near the victim were performing CPR, ... None of the agents were helping him."
Reposted by Kenny Pearce
🚨 SCHUMER just now: “Senate Democrats will not provide the votes to proceed to the appropriations bill if the DHS funding bill is included.”
January 24, 2026 at 11:57 PM
🚨 SCHUMER just now: “Senate Democrats will not provide the votes to proceed to the appropriations bill if the DHS funding bill is included.”
Reposted by Kenny Pearce
Federal law enforcement agents shot and killed a man in Minneapolis on Jan. 24 according to local police officials. DHS told Fox News that the man was “armed with a gun”. A video of the shooting appears to show that a gun was taken from the man before the first shot was fired. x.com/BillMelugin_...
January 24, 2026 at 7:01 PM
Federal law enforcement agents shot and killed a man in Minneapolis on Jan. 24 according to local police officials. DHS told Fox News that the man was “armed with a gun”. A video of the shooting appears to show that a gun was taken from the man before the first shot was fired. x.com/BillMelugin_...
"Marilyn Adams...has a Christlike quality that is far too rare among Christians: deep-seated love and compassion toward evildoers."
blog.kennypearce.net/archives/phi...
blog.kennypearce.net/archives/phi...
Marilyn Adams and Love for Evildoers (blog.kennypearce.net)
I’m re-reading Marilyn Adams’ Horrendous Evils and the Goodness of God for the first time in several years right now. I wasn’t fortunate enough to know Marilyn personally (I shook her hand once), but ...
blog.kennypearce.net
January 24, 2026 at 7:24 PM
"Marilyn Adams...has a Christlike quality that is far too rare among Christians: deep-seated love and compassion toward evildoers."
blog.kennypearce.net/archives/phi...
blog.kennypearce.net/archives/phi...
It's part of a series called Law and Religion. The other two volumes listed in the front matter are The Legal Legacy of the Reformation and The Legal System of the Vatican City State.
January 22, 2026 at 6:35 PM
It's part of a series called Law and Religion. The other two volumes listed in the front matter are The Legal Legacy of the Reformation and The Legal System of the Vatican City State.
It was a pleasure to contribute to this fascinating new volume: canopyforum.org/2026/01/21/c...
"Christianity and the Making of Irish Law: Violence, Virtue and Reason" by David H. McIlroy - Canopy Forum
Christianity and the Making of Irish Law: Violence, Virtue and ReasonDavid H. McIlroy (ed.) The following essay introduces the new book, Christianity and the Making of Irish Law, Violence, Virtue, and...
canopyforum.org
January 22, 2026 at 5:22 PM
It was a pleasure to contribute to this fascinating new volume: canopyforum.org/2026/01/21/c...
Reposted by Kenny Pearce
Can someone tell me what is the non-torture reason to pepper spray someone at close range directly in the face after they have already been subdued?
An observer arrested in Suth Minneapolis. Photo by Richard Tsong-Taatarii/The Minnesota Star Tribune
January 21, 2026 at 10:05 PM
Can someone tell me what is the non-torture reason to pepper spray someone at close range directly in the face after they have already been subdued?
Reposted by Kenny Pearce
"The Court finds it inconceivable that the Department of Justice, which holds a duty to faithfully execute the
laws of the United States—even those with which it may have disagreement—would repeatedly ignore court orders, while simultaneously prosecuting citizens for breaking the law."
laws of the United States—even those with which it may have disagreement—would repeatedly ignore court orders, while simultaneously prosecuting citizens for breaking the law."
![Rather stunningly, Ms. Halligan fails to even mention Chief Judge Diaz’s Order, let alone
discuss its impact here. In short, Ms. Halligan has not only ignored Judge Currie’s rulings, she
has also turned a blind eye to an Order from the Chief Judge of the Fourth Circuit. The Court
finds it inconceivable that the Department of Justice, which holds a duty to faithfully execute the
laws of the United States even those with which it may have disagreement would
repeatedly ignore court orders, while simultaneously prosecuting citizens for breaking the law.
In the wise words of Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III of the Court of Appeals for the Fourth
Circuit, “[w]e yet cling to the hope that it is not naive to believe our good brethren in the
Executive Branch perceive the rule of law as vital to the American ethos.” Abrego Garcia v.
Noem,'^o. 25-1404, 2025 WL 1135112, at *3 (4th Cir. Apr. 17, 2025).](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:6h7b2i6ttw3l4t7pvbvxdith/bafkreifosp5rvubdinbaeqyixrxrmlsrldbblecdd7xyvq7wbyzypplobi@jpeg)
January 20, 2026 at 6:38 PM
"The Court finds it inconceivable that the Department of Justice, which holds a duty to faithfully execute the
laws of the United States—even those with which it may have disagreement—would repeatedly ignore court orders, while simultaneously prosecuting citizens for breaking the law."
laws of the United States—even those with which it may have disagreement—would repeatedly ignore court orders, while simultaneously prosecuting citizens for breaking the law."
Reposted by Kenny Pearce
BREAKING
A federal judge STRIKES the words "United States Attorney" from Lindsey Halligan's signature and warns that he will refer her to disciplinary proceedings if she persists in calling herself one.
Doc buff.ly/JvTKLlD
Background buff.ly/Ay2iB6u
A federal judge STRIKES the words "United States Attorney" from Lindsey Halligan's signature and warns that he will refer her to disciplinary proceedings if she persists in calling herself one.
Doc buff.ly/JvTKLlD
Background buff.ly/Ay2iB6u
January 20, 2026 at 6:30 PM
BREAKING
A federal judge STRIKES the words "United States Attorney" from Lindsey Halligan's signature and warns that he will refer her to disciplinary proceedings if she persists in calling herself one.
Doc buff.ly/JvTKLlD
Background buff.ly/Ay2iB6u
A federal judge STRIKES the words "United States Attorney" from Lindsey Halligan's signature and warns that he will refer her to disciplinary proceedings if she persists in calling herself one.
Doc buff.ly/JvTKLlD
Background buff.ly/Ay2iB6u
If, like me, you don't have access to the full text on JSTOR through a university library, you can still get the free pre-print here: writings.kennypearce.net/testimony-lo...
writings.kennypearce.net
January 20, 2026 at 5:41 PM
If, like me, you don't have access to the full text on JSTOR through a university library, you can still get the free pre-print here: writings.kennypearce.net/testimony-lo...
The Edinburgh Critical History of Early Modern and Enlightenment Philosophy is available from JSTOR, including my chapter, "The Epistemology of Testimony: Locke and His Critics". (The critics are Leibniz, Mary Astell, and Peter Browne.)
www.jstor.org/stable/10.33...
#c17 #philosophy
www.jstor.org/stable/10.33...
#c17 #philosophy
The Edinburgh Critical History of Early Modern and Enlightenment Philosophy on JSTOR
Written by a team of leading international scholars, this book examines a crucial period of philosophy from the perspective of themes and lines of thought that ...
www.jstor.org
January 20, 2026 at 5:41 PM
The Edinburgh Critical History of Early Modern and Enlightenment Philosophy is available from JSTOR, including my chapter, "The Epistemology of Testimony: Locke and His Critics". (The critics are Leibniz, Mary Astell, and Peter Browne.)
www.jstor.org/stable/10.33...
#c17 #philosophy
www.jstor.org/stable/10.33...
#c17 #philosophy
Reposted by Kenny Pearce
The APA Blog has released the audio of the 2022 APA Eastern Division presidential address given by Miranda Fricker. blog.apaonline.org/2026/01/13/2...
2022 Eastern Division Presidential Address: How Is Forgiveness Always a Gift? | Blog of the APA
Below is the audio recording of Miranda Fricker’s presidential address, “How Is Forgiveness Always a Gift?” given at the 2022 Eastern Division Meeting. The full text is available on the APA website…
blog.apaonline.org
January 14, 2026 at 7:05 PM
The APA Blog has released the audio of the 2022 APA Eastern Division presidential address given by Miranda Fricker. blog.apaonline.org/2026/01/13/2...