Dan Williams
@danwphilosophy.bsky.social
Philosopher. Interested in: Philosophy, Psychology, Evolution, Artificial Intelligence, Social Science, Politics.
Here's my syllabus and reading list for an introductory, up-to-date course covering the philosophy, ethics, and politics of artificial intelligence: www.conspicuouscognition.com/p/philosophy....
September 8, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Here's my syllabus and reading list for an introductory, up-to-date course covering the philosophy, ethics, and politics of artificial intelligence: www.conspicuouscognition.com/p/philosophy....
Three reasons I think rational persuasion is underrated:
May 27, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Three reasons I think rational persuasion is underrated:
Interesting: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
May 8, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Interesting: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
I see your point and sympathise with much of it but in fairness the article explicitly acknowledges this point about most profs 👇
May 3, 2025 at 6:05 PM
I see your point and sympathise with much of it but in fairness the article explicitly acknowledges this point about most profs 👇
This Friday at Sussex for anyone in the area interested in political epistemology! @elisewoodard.bsky.social @michaelhannon.bsky.social
February 3, 2025 at 12:24 PM
This Friday at Sussex for anyone in the area interested in political epistemology! @elisewoodard.bsky.social @michaelhannon.bsky.social
'Misinformation' and 'disinformation' are - again - ranked as the top global risk over the next two years in the World Economic Forum's 'Global Risks Report'. Last year, I explained why I think this ranking is either wrong or not even wrong: www.conspicuouscognition.com/p/misinforma...
January 26, 2025 at 2:07 PM
'Misinformation' and 'disinformation' are - again - ranked as the top global risk over the next two years in the World Economic Forum's 'Global Risks Report'. Last year, I explained why I think this ranking is either wrong or not even wrong: www.conspicuouscognition.com/p/misinforma...
David Brooks gave my essay 'Why do people believe true things?' a 'Sidney Award' in his column at the NYT: www.nytimes.com/2024/12/26/o...
December 27, 2024 at 2:07 PM
David Brooks gave my essay 'Why do people believe true things?' a 'Sidney Award' in his column at the NYT: www.nytimes.com/2024/12/26/o...
I also unpack one of the most insightful paragraphs ever written about political epistemology:
December 9, 2024 at 8:37 AM
I also unpack one of the most insightful paragraphs ever written about political epistemology:
Final lecture of the term for my 'Science and Reason' module, an introductory first-year undergraduate course that explores the nature, implications, and potential limitations of science as a source of knowledge and guide to reality.
November 26, 2024 at 9:52 AM
Final lecture of the term for my 'Science and Reason' module, an introductory first-year undergraduate course that explores the nature, implications, and potential limitations of science as a source of knowledge and guide to reality.
Discussing Darwinian cynicism in my lecture today. Great topic, very fun - part of my 'Science and Reason' module exploring the scope and possible limits of science and potential conflicts between a modern scientific worldview and our "commonsense" understanding of reality.
November 19, 2024 at 10:59 AM
Discussing Darwinian cynicism in my lecture today. Great topic, very fun - part of my 'Science and Reason' module exploring the scope and possible limits of science and potential conflicts between a modern scientific worldview and our "commonsense" understanding of reality.
Here's what Claude says:
November 15, 2024 at 10:15 AM
Here's what Claude says:
In a new article, I document how claims about a sinister "censorship industrial complex" involve preposterous exaggerations reliant on misrepresentations, omissions, low-quality reporting, smear campaigns, and conspiracy theorising: www.conspicuouscognition.com/p/there-is-n...
November 4, 2024 at 11:43 AM
In a new article, I document how claims about a sinister "censorship industrial complex" involve preposterous exaggerations reliant on misrepresentations, omissions, low-quality reporting, smear campaigns, and conspiracy theorising: www.conspicuouscognition.com/p/there-is-n...
Shout out by John Naughton in The Guardian: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
September 16, 2024 at 6:53 PM
Shout out by John Naughton in The Guardian: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Last week, a group of prominent misinformation researchers published a commentary in Nature on misinformation and misinformation research. I strongly disagree with their analysis and explain why here: www.conspicuouscognition.com/p/misinforma...
June 14, 2024 at 2:16 PM
Last week, a group of prominent misinformation researchers published a commentary in Nature on misinformation and misinformation research. I strongly disagree with their analysis and explain why here: www.conspicuouscognition.com/p/misinforma...
New essay 👇 exploring the evolutionary roots of human kindness and why the subtle incentives of reputation management explain why human altruism is both sincere and strategic. Our moral psychology is more Machiavellian than we like to admit. www.conspicuouscognition.com/p/strategic-...
May 20, 2024 at 7:02 AM
New essay 👇 exploring the evolutionary roots of human kindness and why the subtle incentives of reputation management explain why human altruism is both sincere and strategic. Our moral psychology is more Machiavellian than we like to admit. www.conspicuouscognition.com/p/strategic-...
People are often motivated to attack, dominate, and eliminate others. To get away with this, they must recruit social support and maintain a reputation as moral and decent. Demonizing narratives often emerge to solve these problems. New essay: www.conspicuouscognition.com/p/demonizing...
April 19, 2024 at 1:07 PM
People are often motivated to attack, dominate, and eliminate others. To get away with this, they must recruit social support and maintain a reputation as moral and decent. Demonizing narratives often emerge to solve these problems. New essay: www.conspicuouscognition.com/p/demonizing...
New post. I argue: (1) The media rarely makes things up. (2) Media bias is nevertheless widespread. (3) Media bias is identified by biased individuals with beliefs acquired via biased media. (4) Misinformation is therefore hard to study objectively. www.conspicuouscognition.com/p/the-media-...
April 14, 2024 at 5:06 PM
New post. I argue: (1) The media rarely makes things up. (2) Media bias is nevertheless widespread. (3) Media bias is identified by biased individuals with beliefs acquired via biased media. (4) Misinformation is therefore hard to study objectively. www.conspicuouscognition.com/p/the-media-...
People are generally persuaded by rational arguments. This is often a good thing. But when there is massive variation in arguing abilities and power, or decisions are not best settled via rational argument, it might not be. Some thoughts: www.conspicuouscognition.com/p/people-are...
April 6, 2024 at 8:37 AM
People are generally persuaded by rational arguments. This is often a good thing. But when there is massive variation in arguing abilities and power, or decisions are not best settled via rational argument, it might not be. Some thoughts: www.conspicuouscognition.com/p/people-are...
In a new essay, I give some thoughts on:
- When the "marketplace of ideas" works.
- When it merely generates appealing falsehoods and rationalisations
- What these failures mean for questions about censorship, expertise, and public debate.
www.conspicuouscognition.com/p/the-market...
- When the "marketplace of ideas" works.
- When it merely generates appealing falsehoods and rationalisations
- What these failures mean for questions about censorship, expertise, and public debate.
www.conspicuouscognition.com/p/the-market...
March 29, 2024 at 8:58 AM
In a new essay, I give some thoughts on:
- When the "marketplace of ideas" works.
- When it merely generates appealing falsehoods and rationalisations
- What these failures mean for questions about censorship, expertise, and public debate.
www.conspicuouscognition.com/p/the-market...
- When the "marketplace of ideas" works.
- When it merely generates appealing falsehoods and rationalisations
- What these failures mean for questions about censorship, expertise, and public debate.
www.conspicuouscognition.com/p/the-market...
Many people are "naive realists" in politics. They treat their political beliefs - even about complex issues - as self-evidently true and view those who disagree with them as either deceptive, stupid, or insane. I explore what gives rise to this attitude: www.conspicuouscognition.com/p/in-politic...
March 20, 2024 at 7:16 AM
Many people are "naive realists" in politics. They treat their political beliefs - even about complex issues - as self-evidently true and view those who disagree with them as either deceptive, stupid, or insane. I explore what gives rise to this attitude: www.conspicuouscognition.com/p/in-politic...
Spreading the woke mind virus to students today. (Lecturing on the important contributions of feminist philosophy of science).
March 14, 2024 at 7:50 AM
Spreading the woke mind virus to students today. (Lecturing on the important contributions of feminist philosophy of science).
This is the core argument of the essay:
March 1, 2024 at 11:42 AM
This is the core argument of the essay:
Thanks to all those who subscribe and support this 🙏. Lots more essays forthcoming on evolution, human nature, science, politics, philosophy, ideology, misinformation, and more. www.conspicuouscognition.com
February 19, 2024 at 9:57 AM
Thanks to all those who subscribe and support this 🙏. Lots more essays forthcoming on evolution, human nature, science, politics, philosophy, ideology, misinformation, and more. www.conspicuouscognition.com