Peter Godfrey-Smith
@petergs.bsky.social
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A favorite encounter of 2025 – bobcat, Point Reyes (California).
Bobcat not lioness, but the image brings to mind the Iranian protestors right now.
Bobcat not lioness, but the image brings to mind the Iranian protestors right now.
Each year round this time, Rainbow Lorikeets come in and make a huge fuss round some high tree hollows (where some Galahs raised a family in 'Living On Earth'). They make a stack of noise, rip things up, check it all out... and then leave again.
January 16, 2026 at 4:44 AM
Each year round this time, Rainbow Lorikeets come in and make a huge fuss round some high tree hollows (where some Galahs raised a family in 'Living On Earth'). They make a stack of noise, rip things up, check it all out... and then leave again.
A favorite encounter of 2025 – bobcat, Point Reyes (California).
Bobcat not lioness, but the image brings to mind the Iranian protestors right now.
Bobcat not lioness, but the image brings to mind the Iranian protestors right now.
January 11, 2026 at 12:44 PM
A favorite encounter of 2025 – bobcat, Point Reyes (California).
Bobcat not lioness, but the image brings to mind the Iranian protestors right now.
Bobcat not lioness, but the image brings to mind the Iranian protestors right now.
Reposted by Peter Godfrey-Smith
Martin Peterson's creative response to being banned from teaching Plato (shared with his permission).
January 8, 2026 at 5:38 PM
Martin Peterson's creative response to being banned from teaching Plato (shared with his permission).
The London lecture is available as a video and podcast as well as text - see my website at the top. For the video: youtube.com/watch?v=1TWy... 6/
https://youtube.com/watch?v=1TWy0xaCymI…
January 5, 2026 at 3:14 AM
The London lecture is available as a video and podcast as well as text - see my website at the top. For the video: youtube.com/watch?v=1TWy... 6/
Here I used an old (abandoned) paper by Tim Scanlon (1972). This part is just me; Ben shouldn't be assumed to agree (or disagree). Freedom of expression can be justified through its link to autonomy in belief formation. This is a basis for broad 1st-order tolerance & some 2nd-order intolerance. 5/
January 5, 2026 at 3:14 AM
Here I used an old (abandoned) paper by Tim Scanlon (1972). This part is just me; Ben shouldn't be assumed to agree (or disagree). Freedom of expression can be justified through its link to autonomy in belief formation. This is a basis for broad 1st-order tolerance & some 2nd-order intolerance. 5/
"Toleration of the intolerant" is not paradoxical when it's 2nd-order intolerance of those who are 1st-order intolerant. A complicated framework, but it helps. In the lecture I also defended broad 1st-order tolerance in the case of speech. 5/
January 5, 2026 at 3:14 AM
"Toleration of the intolerant" is not paradoxical when it's 2nd-order intolerance of those who are 1st-order intolerant. A complicated framework, but it helps. In the lecture I also defended broad 1st-order tolerance in the case of speech. 5/
This was the Karl Popper Memorial Lecture at LSE.
I'm applying to speech a framework developed with Ben Kerr for understanding tolerance in general, especially in relation to "toleration of the intolerant."
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1...
Preprint: petergodfreysmith.com/wp-content/u... 4/
I'm applying to speech a framework developed with Ben Kerr for understanding tolerance in general, especially in relation to "toleration of the intolerant."
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1...
Preprint: petergodfreysmith.com/wp-content/u... 4/
January 5, 2026 at 3:14 AM
This was the Karl Popper Memorial Lecture at LSE.
I'm applying to speech a framework developed with Ben Kerr for understanding tolerance in general, especially in relation to "toleration of the intolerant."
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1...
Preprint: petergodfreysmith.com/wp-content/u... 4/
I'm applying to speech a framework developed with Ben Kerr for understanding tolerance in general, especially in relation to "toleration of the intolerant."
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1...
Preprint: petergodfreysmith.com/wp-content/u... 4/
In the case of speech and elsewhere, we should understand tolerance using different levels: 1st-order tolerance (or intolerance) is directed at 'ordinary' behaviors; 2nd-order tolerance is tolerance of 1st-order policies, and so on. Different questions arise at each level. 3/
January 5, 2026 at 3:14 AM
In the case of speech and elsewhere, we should understand tolerance using different levels: 1st-order tolerance (or intolerance) is directed at 'ordinary' behaviors; 2nd-order tolerance is tolerance of 1st-order policies, and so on. Different questions arise at each level. 3/
Free speech thread: In the aftermath of the Bondi murders, the state govt here is moving, unfortunately, in the direction of suppressing protest and proscribing specific phrases.
I gave talks in 2025 about tolerance & free speech. Wrote up the main one:
petergodfreysmith.com/wp-content/u...
I gave talks in 2025 about tolerance & free speech. Wrote up the main one:
petergodfreysmith.com/wp-content/u...
January 5, 2026 at 3:14 AM
Free speech thread: In the aftermath of the Bondi murders, the state govt here is moving, unfortunately, in the direction of suppressing protest and proscribing specific phrases.
I gave talks in 2025 about tolerance & free speech. Wrote up the main one:
petergodfreysmith.com/wp-content/u...
I gave talks in 2025 about tolerance & free speech. Wrote up the main one:
petergodfreysmith.com/wp-content/u...
What a dishevelled beauty. Does look nudi-esque. Or maybe a sea hare. (There is a 'shaggy sea hare,' but does not look too similar.)
January 1, 2026 at 4:48 AM
What a dishevelled beauty. Does look nudi-esque. Or maybe a sea hare. (There is a 'shaggy sea hare,' but does not look too similar.)
In relation to the blog post about lights and camera gear: this is from a recent dive trip. Mine is the diminutive rig at the end (red arrow). (Blog post: Metazoan.net)
December 30, 2025 at 10:36 AM
In relation to the blog post about lights and camera gear: this is from a recent dive trip. Mine is the diminutive rig at the end (red arrow). (Blog post: Metazoan.net)
Thank you. Glad to hear it.
December 29, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Thank you. Glad to hear it.
A natural light photo from the post:
December 26, 2025 at 11:06 AM
A natural light photo from the post:
A blog post obsessing about Phyllodesmium poindimiei, the nudibranch in the previous post.
Obsessing also about some photographic ethics – suddenly adding light to the world of these tiny creatures. Is it aversive? How could we tell? A scrap of data is included..
metazoan.net/126-spun-of-...
Obsessing also about some photographic ethics – suddenly adding light to the world of these tiny creatures. Is it aversive? How could we tell? A scrap of data is included..
metazoan.net/126-spun-of-...
126. Spun of Light » Metazoan
metazoan.net
December 26, 2025 at 11:05 AM
A blog post obsessing about Phyllodesmium poindimiei, the nudibranch in the previous post.
Obsessing also about some photographic ethics – suddenly adding light to the world of these tiny creatures. Is it aversive? How could we tell? A scrap of data is included..
metazoan.net/126-spun-of-...
Obsessing also about some photographic ethics – suddenly adding light to the world of these tiny creatures. Is it aversive? How could we tell? A scrap of data is included..
metazoan.net/126-spun-of-...
Thank you, from Beth's family (including Felix).
December 22, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Thank you, from Beth's family (including Felix).
Neruda is wonderful.
Thank you for this.
Thank you for this.
December 17, 2025 at 1:39 AM
Neruda is wonderful.
Thank you for this.
Thank you for this.
Back in the water with Phyllodesmium poindimiei.
A gastropodic marvel. (Fly Point, Australia)
A gastropodic marvel. (Fly Point, Australia)
December 11, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Back in the water with Phyllodesmium poindimiei.
A gastropodic marvel. (Fly Point, Australia)
A gastropodic marvel. (Fly Point, Australia)
A Great Horned Owl, seen in Point Reyes during my recent California trip. Spotted (while quite a bit better hidden than he is here) by Daniel Dietrich. A young one, apparently. Flew off and then sat watching as I scrambled up the hill to get a photo.
November 27, 2025 at 3:14 AM
A Great Horned Owl, seen in Point Reyes during my recent California trip. Spotted (while quite a bit better hidden than he is here) by Daniel Dietrich. A young one, apparently. Flew off and then sat watching as I scrambled up the hill to get a photo.
.. and he agrees with a version of the 'dark room' challenge to predictive processing.
I don't read Italian (a retirement project, I say to myself..) and used Google translate, which seemed remarkably good, especially with the sophisticated language of the review. 3/
I don't read Italian (a retirement project, I say to myself..) and used Google translate, which seemed remarkably good, especially with the sophisticated language of the review. 3/
November 20, 2025 at 1:47 AM
.. and he agrees with a version of the 'dark room' challenge to predictive processing.
I don't read Italian (a retirement project, I say to myself..) and used Google translate, which seemed remarkably good, especially with the sophisticated language of the review. 3/
I don't read Italian (a retirement project, I say to myself..) and used Google translate, which seemed remarkably good, especially with the sophisticated language of the review. 3/
Some comments about the review by @gvallortigara.bsky.social. He discusses my treatment of the 'Umwelt' concept and also predictive processing (Friston, Clark etc). I am critical of both. Giorgio sees more value in the Umwelt concept (as many good scientists do, I must admit).. 2/
November 20, 2025 at 1:45 AM
Some comments about the review by @gvallortigara.bsky.social. He discusses my treatment of the 'Umwelt' concept and also predictive processing (Friston, Clark etc). I am critical of both. Giorgio sees more value in the Umwelt concept (as many good scientists do, I must admit).. 2/
A review of 'Living On Earth' by @gvallortigara.bsky.social.
Recensione della versione italiana del libro di Peter Godfrey Smith su Domenica del Sole 24 Ore
@petergs.bsky.social
@adelphiedizioni.bsky.social
@petergs.bsky.social
@adelphiedizioni.bsky.social
November 20, 2025 at 1:43 AM
A review of 'Living On Earth' by @gvallortigara.bsky.social.
Reposted by Peter Godfrey-Smith
Just read this old-school sci-fi gem I found in a vintage bookstore in Bologna, where a Practical Philosopher Corps is deployed across the galaxy to assess sentience and cognition in alien species.
I guess the dream job for @birchlse.bsky.social @petergs.bsky.social
I guess the dream job for @birchlse.bsky.social @petergs.bsky.social
October 26, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Just read this old-school sci-fi gem I found in a vintage bookstore in Bologna, where a Practical Philosopher Corps is deployed across the galaxy to assess sentience and cognition in alien species.
I guess the dream job for @birchlse.bsky.social @petergs.bsky.social
I guess the dream job for @birchlse.bsky.social @petergs.bsky.social
Driving down the east side of the Sierra Nevadas a few weeks ago. I keep coming back here.
October 19, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Driving down the east side of the Sierra Nevadas a few weeks ago. I keep coming back here.
Thank you.
I watched 'Jaws' again recently. Such a superlative film.
I'd not processed the fact that it really is 50 years old..
I watched 'Jaws' again recently. Such a superlative film.
I'd not processed the fact that it really is 50 years old..
October 17, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Thank you.
I watched 'Jaws' again recently. Such a superlative film.
I'd not processed the fact that it really is 50 years old..
I watched 'Jaws' again recently. Such a superlative film.
I'd not processed the fact that it really is 50 years old..
The title is from a William James letter - "such flexible intensity of life in a form so inaccessible to our sympathy."
Classic James. But perhaps not so inaccessible. 2/
Classic James. But perhaps not so inaccessible. 2/
October 17, 2025 at 6:54 AM
The title is from a William James letter - "such flexible intensity of life in a form so inaccessible to our sympathy."
Classic James. But perhaps not so inaccessible. 2/
Classic James. But perhaps not so inaccessible. 2/