kristopher g phillips, Ph.D.
@kristophergphillips.com
Asst. Prof (Philosophy), Eastern Michigan University
Editor: @P4Journal.bsky.social
2023 APA/AAPT Prize for Excellence in Philosophy Teaching co-winner
OG #BskyCartesians
Co-founder of the Iowa Lyceum and Utah Lyceum programs
he/him
Editor: @P4Journal.bsky.social
2023 APA/AAPT Prize for Excellence in Philosophy Teaching co-winner
OG #BskyCartesians
Co-founder of the Iowa Lyceum and Utah Lyceum programs
he/him
Pinned
Metaphilosophical Teaching - The Philosophers' Magazine
Kristopher Phillips argues that teaching philosophy is a way of doing philosophy.
philosophersmag.com
I’m really proud of this little piece. I’ve been working on it in various ways for a few years now and it’s nice to see a popular version in (digital) print!
#philsky
philosophersmag.com/metaphilosop...
#philsky
philosophersmag.com/metaphilosop...
Reposted by kristopher g phillips, Ph.D.
Descartes gave us all the tools we need to survive in an era of misinformation. Simply begin with the understanding that you are real but everything else is fairly likely to be the cruel games of a demon sent to torment you specifically.
June 30, 2025 at 2:53 AM
Descartes gave us all the tools we need to survive in an era of misinformation. Simply begin with the understanding that you are real but everything else is fairly likely to be the cruel games of a demon sent to torment you specifically.
Since January, I’ve written 38,811 words.
They’re pretty good words in what I take to be an interesting order.
Gotta keep going. October 1 is fast approaching.
They’re pretty good words in what I take to be an interesting order.
Gotta keep going. October 1 is fast approaching.
June 27, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Since January, I’ve written 38,811 words.
They’re pretty good words in what I take to be an interesting order.
Gotta keep going. October 1 is fast approaching.
They’re pretty good words in what I take to be an interesting order.
Gotta keep going. October 1 is fast approaching.
Not to be too much of a hipster, but the Taxi theme song popped up on my Spotify and honestly, it slaps.
Great writing music!
youtu.be/5DL8SGEyhZE?...
Great writing music!
youtu.be/5DL8SGEyhZE?...
Angela (Theme From 'Taxi') - Bob James (1978)
YouTube video by djbuddylovecooljazz
youtu.be
June 13, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Not to be too much of a hipster, but the Taxi theme song popped up on my Spotify and honestly, it slaps.
Great writing music!
youtu.be/5DL8SGEyhZE?...
Great writing music!
youtu.be/5DL8SGEyhZE?...
I have a productivity app that I use to track my writing time. While I’m not always great about making sure I use it, it’s tracked 77+ hours of writing since Jan.
I have somewhere around 40k words, which puts me at ~519.5 words/hour.
Can I finish this book by September? We will see!
I have somewhere around 40k words, which puts me at ~519.5 words/hour.
Can I finish this book by September? We will see!
May 30, 2025 at 2:08 PM
I have a productivity app that I use to track my writing time. While I’m not always great about making sure I use it, it’s tracked 77+ hours of writing since Jan.
I have somewhere around 40k words, which puts me at ~519.5 words/hour.
Can I finish this book by September? We will see!
I have somewhere around 40k words, which puts me at ~519.5 words/hour.
Can I finish this book by September? We will see!
I thought this would streamline my feedback process because I assumed few students would pick 5.
All but one of my students picked 5 this term.
Side note: I just spent 90 minutes on one paper.
All but one of my students picked 5 this term.
Side note: I just spent 90 minutes on one paper.
I also developed a feedback meter. With each assignment, I asked students to tell me on a 1-5 scale how much feedback they want.
1. Rubric only
2. Rubric + summary paragraph
3. Rubric, paragraph, 3 in-text comments
4. Rubric, paragraph, up to 10 in-text comments
5. Rubric, paragraph, line-by-line
1. Rubric only
2. Rubric + summary paragraph
3. Rubric, paragraph, 3 in-text comments
4. Rubric, paragraph, up to 10 in-text comments
5. Rubric, paragraph, line-by-line
April 20, 2025 at 5:49 PM
I thought this would streamline my feedback process because I assumed few students would pick 5.
All but one of my students picked 5 this term.
Side note: I just spent 90 minutes on one paper.
All but one of my students picked 5 this term.
Side note: I just spent 90 minutes on one paper.
Reposted by kristopher g phillips, Ph.D.
CFP: Special Issue: AI and Public Philosophy
The Public Philosophy Journal invites contributions for a special issue focused on AI and public philosophy.
philevents.org/event/show/1...
The Public Philosophy Journal invites contributions for a special issue focused on AI and public philosophy.
philevents.org/event/show/1...
Special Issue: AI and Public Philosophy
CFP: Special Issue: AI and Public Philosophy
The Public Philosophy Journal invites contributions for a special issue focused on AI and public philosophy.
The rapid evolution of artifi...
philevents.org
April 14, 2025 at 6:20 PM
CFP: Special Issue: AI and Public Philosophy
The Public Philosophy Journal invites contributions for a special issue focused on AI and public philosophy.
philevents.org/event/show/1...
The Public Philosophy Journal invites contributions for a special issue focused on AI and public philosophy.
philevents.org/event/show/1...
Reposted by kristopher g phillips, Ph.D.
Happening soon! Going to be a great discussion! Register here to receive the Zoom link: philosophyteachers.org/talking-teac...
April 9, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Happening soon! Going to be a great discussion! Register here to receive the Zoom link: philosophyteachers.org/talking-teac...
My partner is so damn amazing!! She’s cooler than you (and me).
Some incredibly exciting life updates:
This fall I will be joining Harvard University's Ethics Center as a Postdoctoral Fellow in Civil Discourse, & I have also accepted a position in the Philosophy Department at the University of Cincinnati as an Assistant Professor-Educator beginning fall 2026!
This fall I will be joining Harvard University's Ethics Center as a Postdoctoral Fellow in Civil Discourse, & I have also accepted a position in the Philosophy Department at the University of Cincinnati as an Assistant Professor-Educator beginning fall 2026!
March 7, 2025 at 4:04 AM
My partner is so damn amazing!! She’s cooler than you (and me).
I’ve seen a handful of articles about how humanities programs need to focus on “practicality”.
In 2017 I published a chapter arguing that a focus on practicality in higher ed is a mistake. It seems especially relevant right now
philarchive.org/rec/KRIIPI-2
In 2017 I published a chapter arguing that a focus on practicality in higher ed is a mistake. It seems especially relevant right now
philarchive.org/rec/KRIIPI-2
Phillips Kristopher, Is Philosophy Impractical? Yes and No, but That's Precisely Why we Need It - PhilArchive
This chapter makes the argument for both the practicality and impracticality of philosophy as it relates to liberal education. An exploration of the history of science in the seventeenth and eighteent...
philarchive.org
March 6, 2025 at 3:01 PM
I’ve seen a handful of articles about how humanities programs need to focus on “practicality”.
In 2017 I published a chapter arguing that a focus on practicality in higher ed is a mistake. It seems especially relevant right now
philarchive.org/rec/KRIIPI-2
In 2017 I published a chapter arguing that a focus on practicality in higher ed is a mistake. It seems especially relevant right now
philarchive.org/rec/KRIIPI-2
Reposted by kristopher g phillips, Ph.D.
This is a great thread and I agree with all of it. Reviewing takes a ton of time but it's important work, even when I hate the paper I reviewed. Editors can confirm I send lengthy details about every decision and I'd be wracked with guilt not doing that. It's the entire point of the process!
Let's talk about this Nature piece in more detail.
I've rarely read something so anti-scientific anywhere short of the National Review.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
I've rarely read something so anti-scientific anywhere short of the National Review.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Three AI-powered steps to faster, smarter peer review
Tired of spending countless hours on peer reviews? An AI-assisted workflow could help.
www.nature.com
March 6, 2025 at 12:35 PM
This is a great thread and I agree with all of it. Reviewing takes a ton of time but it's important work, even when I hate the paper I reviewed. Editors can confirm I send lengthy details about every decision and I'd be wracked with guilt not doing that. It's the entire point of the process!
I’m a recent meta study, we scoured 2550 lists of things with which one fucks.
We found a number of things appearing on multiple lists & most things appeared at least once.
Conspicuously absent from *all* lists was the Wu Tang Clan.
We conclude that Wu Tang Clan is, in fact, nothing to fuck with.
We found a number of things appearing on multiple lists & most things appeared at least once.
Conspicuously absent from *all* lists was the Wu Tang Clan.
We conclude that Wu Tang Clan is, in fact, nothing to fuck with.
February 26, 2025 at 4:28 PM
I’m a recent meta study, we scoured 2550 lists of things with which one fucks.
We found a number of things appearing on multiple lists & most things appeared at least once.
Conspicuously absent from *all* lists was the Wu Tang Clan.
We conclude that Wu Tang Clan is, in fact, nothing to fuck with.
We found a number of things appearing on multiple lists & most things appeared at least once.
Conspicuously absent from *all* lists was the Wu Tang Clan.
We conclude that Wu Tang Clan is, in fact, nothing to fuck with.
I started reading The Big Sleep last night.
I'm one of those people who hear the words in their head as they read, but what really stands out to me is that I cannot help but hear all dialogue/narration in a Mid-Atlantic accent.
I think that makes it even more enjoyable, to be honest.
I'm one of those people who hear the words in their head as they read, but what really stands out to me is that I cannot help but hear all dialogue/narration in a Mid-Atlantic accent.
I think that makes it even more enjoyable, to be honest.
February 18, 2025 at 3:49 PM
I started reading The Big Sleep last night.
I'm one of those people who hear the words in their head as they read, but what really stands out to me is that I cannot help but hear all dialogue/narration in a Mid-Atlantic accent.
I think that makes it even more enjoyable, to be honest.
I'm one of those people who hear the words in their head as they read, but what really stands out to me is that I cannot help but hear all dialogue/narration in a Mid-Atlantic accent.
I think that makes it even more enjoyable, to be honest.
Check out this great lineup for the @theaapt.bsky.social Talking/Teaching series!
Not sure how I snuck in there, but if you’re free April 9, I’d be happy to talk with you about how to teach students about the importance of citations and epistemic communities!
Not sure how I snuck in there, but if you’re free April 9, I’d be happy to talk with you about how to teach students about the importance of citations and epistemic communities!
February 14, 2025 at 12:49 AM
Check out this great lineup for the @theaapt.bsky.social Talking/Teaching series!
Not sure how I snuck in there, but if you’re free April 9, I’d be happy to talk with you about how to teach students about the importance of citations and epistemic communities!
Not sure how I snuck in there, but if you’re free April 9, I’d be happy to talk with you about how to teach students about the importance of citations and epistemic communities!
I’m teaching early modern philo this semester and I have these weekly close-reading assignments. One of my students noticed a shift in pronouns between the Latin and French editions of Descartes’ Third Meditation (from 1st person singular to 1st person plural)!
February 6, 2025 at 1:04 AM
I’m teaching early modern philo this semester and I have these weekly close-reading assignments. One of my students noticed a shift in pronouns between the Latin and French editions of Descartes’ Third Meditation (from 1st person singular to 1st person plural)!
I wonder how much of my anxiety, and perfectionism, and rule following tendencies stem from the notion of a “permanent record,” a thing I genuinely believed both existed and would play a large role in my future.
As if a childhood mistake would fundamentally alter the future that was open to me.
As if a childhood mistake would fundamentally alter the future that was open to me.
February 5, 2025 at 2:17 PM
I wonder how much of my anxiety, and perfectionism, and rule following tendencies stem from the notion of a “permanent record,” a thing I genuinely believed both existed and would play a large role in my future.
As if a childhood mistake would fundamentally alter the future that was open to me.
As if a childhood mistake would fundamentally alter the future that was open to me.
This is such an awesome opportunity. I rarely wish I was still a grad student, but here’s one time where I do.
For grad students in the history of #philosophy: I'm organizing a virtual reading group on #slavery in early modern philosophy. We'll meet once a week on Zoom for an hour to discuss about 20 pages of primary source material. Grad students only. Email jjorati@umass.edu for info. #philsky #academicsky
February 3, 2025 at 9:46 PM
This is such an awesome opportunity. I rarely wish I was still a grad student, but here’s one time where I do.
Reposted by kristopher g phillips, Ph.D.
For grad students in the history of #philosophy: I'm organizing a virtual reading group on #slavery in early modern philosophy. We'll meet once a week on Zoom for an hour to discuss about 20 pages of primary source material. Grad students only. Email jjorati@umass.edu for info. #philsky #academicsky
February 3, 2025 at 8:26 PM
For grad students in the history of #philosophy: I'm organizing a virtual reading group on #slavery in early modern philosophy. We'll meet once a week on Zoom for an hour to discuss about 20 pages of primary source material. Grad students only. Email jjorati@umass.edu for info. #philsky #academicsky
My extraordinarily long-con has finally paid off!
In 2005 I made the decision to pursue grad studies in philosophy because I knew, even then, that I’d eventually have a shot at being cast in a reality show that blends Big Brother and Survivor.
So long Academia! Imma be famous!
In 2005 I made the decision to pursue grad studies in philosophy because I knew, even then, that I’d eventually have a shot at being cast in a reality show that blends Big Brother and Survivor.
So long Academia! Imma be famous!
January 30, 2025 at 4:04 PM
My extraordinarily long-con has finally paid off!
In 2005 I made the decision to pursue grad studies in philosophy because I knew, even then, that I’d eventually have a shot at being cast in a reality show that blends Big Brother and Survivor.
So long Academia! Imma be famous!
In 2005 I made the decision to pursue grad studies in philosophy because I knew, even then, that I’d eventually have a shot at being cast in a reality show that blends Big Brother and Survivor.
So long Academia! Imma be famous!
Reposted by kristopher g phillips, Ph.D.
People not understanding the importance of the Humanities is precisely why we need the Humanities.
January 25, 2025 at 8:41 PM
People not understanding the importance of the Humanities is precisely why we need the Humanities.
What’s something you learned really late in life that should’ve been obvious?
I’ll start: the reason Boys II Men called the song “Motown Philly” is because they were signed to Motown Records.
I had always assumed Philly and Detroit had a sort of gritty, resilient city bond.
I’ll start: the reason Boys II Men called the song “Motown Philly” is because they were signed to Motown Records.
I had always assumed Philly and Detroit had a sort of gritty, resilient city bond.
January 25, 2025 at 3:07 PM
What’s something you learned really late in life that should’ve been obvious?
I’ll start: the reason Boys II Men called the song “Motown Philly” is because they were signed to Motown Records.
I had always assumed Philly and Detroit had a sort of gritty, resilient city bond.
I’ll start: the reason Boys II Men called the song “Motown Philly” is because they were signed to Motown Records.
I had always assumed Philly and Detroit had a sort of gritty, resilient city bond.
Reposted by kristopher g phillips, Ph.D.
It would be awful nice if scientists would accept that humanities folks have actual expertise and rely on actual evidence.
January 24, 2025 at 8:03 PM
It would be awful nice if scientists would accept that humanities folks have actual expertise and rely on actual evidence.
THIS.
But seriously, the ambiguous use of “this,” “that,” or versions pronouns is one of my all-time pet peeves in writing.
If there’s one comment I write on student papers more than any other, it’s “what is ‘it’?” (Or ‘this,’ etc.).
But seriously, the ambiguous use of “this,” “that,” or versions pronouns is one of my all-time pet peeves in writing.
If there’s one comment I write on student papers more than any other, it’s “what is ‘it’?” (Or ‘this,’ etc.).
Wanna bit of writing advice?
I try to avoid using ‘this’ in the sense of, for example, “one of the features of this case” unless it’s very close to the referent. It puts cognitive load on the reader to dredge up what it refers to. Better to say “one of the features of the case of the red dog”.
I try to avoid using ‘this’ in the sense of, for example, “one of the features of this case” unless it’s very close to the referent. It puts cognitive load on the reader to dredge up what it refers to. Better to say “one of the features of the case of the red dog”.
January 24, 2025 at 5:39 PM
THIS.
But seriously, the ambiguous use of “this,” “that,” or versions pronouns is one of my all-time pet peeves in writing.
If there’s one comment I write on student papers more than any other, it’s “what is ‘it’?” (Or ‘this,’ etc.).
But seriously, the ambiguous use of “this,” “that,” or versions pronouns is one of my all-time pet peeves in writing.
If there’s one comment I write on student papers more than any other, it’s “what is ‘it’?” (Or ‘this,’ etc.).
Reposted by kristopher g phillips, Ph.D.
Love that the article slips in this banger of an observation: "...alongside other complaints from people who said they were in the middle of coding or writing essays and now had to do the work themselves."
January 23, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Love that the article slips in this banger of an observation: "...alongside other complaints from people who said they were in the middle of coding or writing essays and now had to do the work themselves."
Apropos of nothing in particular, I’m reminded of an Indiana bill from 1897 where they tried to establish, by legislative fiat, that pi = 3.2.
January 22, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Apropos of nothing in particular, I’m reminded of an Indiana bill from 1897 where they tried to establish, by legislative fiat, that pi = 3.2.
Reposted by kristopher g phillips, Ph.D.
grad school grade school
🤝
learning how to read
🤝
learning how to read
January 22, 2025 at 12:53 AM
grad school grade school
🤝
learning how to read
🤝
learning how to read