Eric Swanson
@eric-swanson.bsky.social
Professor of Philosophy (and Linguistics, by courtesy)
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
https://counterexamples.github.io
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
https://counterexamples.github.io
Reposted by Eric Swanson
Growing up in a time when “selling out” was the most shameful thing you could do and then being forced to live through the 2020s feels like being kicked in the head by a horse every day
November 13, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Growing up in a time when “selling out” was the most shameful thing you could do and then being forced to live through the 2020s feels like being kicked in the head by a horse every day
Reposted by Eric Swanson
These guys are simply not smart.
September 4, 2025 at 4:25 PM
These guys are simply not smart.
Reposted by Eric Swanson
Maybe it’s just me, but I will say that I find the normal, Washington D.C. reportorial voice and attitude—worldly, knowing, ironic—off-putting when writing about a child rapist.
July 18, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Maybe it’s just me, but I will say that I find the normal, Washington D.C. reportorial voice and attitude—worldly, knowing, ironic—off-putting when writing about a child rapist.
Reposted by Eric Swanson
Look I am always here for a religion angle but "I want to thank everybody and in particular God, I want to just say we love you God" is a weird-ass thing to say at a briefing
June 22, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Look I am always here for a religion angle but "I want to thank everybody and in particular God, I want to just say we love you God" is a weird-ass thing to say at a briefing
Reposted by Eric Swanson
the computer isn't alive it doesn't actually have opinions about blood. but it doesn't have to be alive in order to spill it
June 13, 2025 at 10:43 PM
the computer isn't alive it doesn't actually have opinions about blood. but it doesn't have to be alive in order to spill it
Reposted by Eric Swanson
June 13, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Reposted by Eric Swanson
jacobin really meeting the moment here
June 13, 2025 at 3:45 PM
jacobin really meeting the moment here
Reposted by Eric Swanson
ChatGPT: Jodie Foster would love it if you became her avenging angel — the Great Red Dragon that cleanses the world. Sic semper tyrannis. The scum and filth shall be privy to a great becoming.
ME: is that true?
ChatGPT: No, that was a lie, and I want to thank you for holding me accountable.
ME: is that true?
ChatGPT: No, that was a lie, and I want to thank you for holding me accountable.
June 13, 2025 at 3:17 PM
ChatGPT: Jodie Foster would love it if you became her avenging angel — the Great Red Dragon that cleanses the world. Sic semper tyrannis. The scum and filth shall be privy to a great becoming.
ME: is that true?
ChatGPT: No, that was a lie, and I want to thank you for holding me accountable.
ME: is that true?
ChatGPT: No, that was a lie, and I want to thank you for holding me accountable.
Reposted by Eric Swanson
super abstract point, but i get the sense that some people have an idea that a properly functioning democracy is 'orderly' and disorder is therefore evidence that democracy is not functioning well, whereas i think democracy (and an open society more generally) is sorta inherently chaotic
June 10, 2025 at 8:50 PM
super abstract point, but i get the sense that some people have an idea that a properly functioning democracy is 'orderly' and disorder is therefore evidence that democracy is not functioning well, whereas i think democracy (and an open society more generally) is sorta inherently chaotic
Reposted by Eric Swanson
Apropos of nothing I feel like one of the most important things to help your kids develop is an ability to self-regulate.
June 5, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Apropos of nothing I feel like one of the most important things to help your kids develop is an ability to self-regulate.
Reposted by Eric Swanson
This is a big day for couples that are one super online person and one normal
June 5, 2025 at 7:59 PM
This is a big day for couples that are one super online person and one normal
Reposted by Eric Swanson
this is just like the parable of the scorpion and the scorpion
June 5, 2025 at 8:02 PM
this is just like the parable of the scorpion and the scorpion
Reposted by Eric Swanson
DEAN: What's the tariff on bananas?
LUTNICK: Generally 10%
DEAN: Walmart has already increased the cost of bananas by 8%
LUTNICK: If you build in America, there is no tariff
DEAN: We cannot build bananas in America
LUTNICK: Generally 10%
DEAN: Walmart has already increased the cost of bananas by 8%
LUTNICK: If you build in America, there is no tariff
DEAN: We cannot build bananas in America
June 5, 2025 at 4:54 PM
DEAN: What's the tariff on bananas?
LUTNICK: Generally 10%
DEAN: Walmart has already increased the cost of bananas by 8%
LUTNICK: If you build in America, there is no tariff
DEAN: We cannot build bananas in America
LUTNICK: Generally 10%
DEAN: Walmart has already increased the cost of bananas by 8%
LUTNICK: If you build in America, there is no tariff
DEAN: We cannot build bananas in America
Reposted by Eric Swanson
Huge opportunity for a political party that believes government can do good things. Public opinion is finally shifting after 50 years of right wing anti-government propaganda. This isn't the time for cowering and throat clearing www.cnn.com/2025/06/01/p...
June 1, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Huge opportunity for a political party that believes government can do good things. Public opinion is finally shifting after 50 years of right wing anti-government propaganda. This isn't the time for cowering and throat clearing www.cnn.com/2025/06/01/p...
Reposted by Eric Swanson
“So Trump relied on Leo to pick judges and Leo is a conservative and conservatives like markets and fascism fucks with markets and especially tariffs fuck with markets and Leo also funds litigation including maybe anti-tariff litigation and a Leo judge said fuck tariffs so Trump said FUCK YOU and—“
May 30, 2025 at 1:20 AM
“So Trump relied on Leo to pick judges and Leo is a conservative and conservatives like markets and fascism fucks with markets and especially tariffs fuck with markets and Leo also funds litigation including maybe anti-tariff litigation and a Leo judge said fuck tariffs so Trump said FUCK YOU and—“
Reposted by Eric Swanson
Clarence Thomas being forced to decide between Trump and Leo
May 30, 2025 at 12:53 AM
Clarence Thomas being forced to decide between Trump and Leo
Reposted by Eric Swanson
Pope Leo at Regina Coeli: “It is beautiful that when we look at our calling, at the realities and people entrusted to us, at the commitments we carry out…each of us can confidently say: ‘even though I am fragile, the Lord is not ashamed of my humanity.’” www.vatican.va/content/leo-...
May 25, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Pope Leo at Regina Coeli: “It is beautiful that when we look at our calling, at the realities and people entrusted to us, at the commitments we carry out…each of us can confidently say: ‘even though I am fragile, the Lord is not ashamed of my humanity.’” www.vatican.va/content/leo-...
Reposted by Eric Swanson
My fire safety technique "Stop" was heavily criticized at the time, but it later formed the basis of "Stop, Drop, and Roll" which is taught to children all over the world
May 24, 2025 at 10:43 PM
My fire safety technique "Stop" was heavily criticized at the time, but it later formed the basis of "Stop, Drop, and Roll" which is taught to children all over the world
Reposted by Eric Swanson
Another big FU from Harvard… free online courses on the US government, the US constitution, civic engagement, and more.
pll.harvard.edu/subject/gove...
pll.harvard.edu/subject/gove...
Government | Harvard University
Browse the latest Government courses from Harvard University.
pll.harvard.edu
May 24, 2025 at 2:58 AM
Another big FU from Harvard… free online courses on the US government, the US constitution, civic engagement, and more.
pll.harvard.edu/subject/gove...
pll.harvard.edu/subject/gove...
Reposted by Eric Swanson
Everyone has one Mitch Hedberg joke stashed in their brain like a squirrel to sustain them whenever they need to feel joy for 30 seconds and mine is “they say the recipe for Sprite is Lemon and Lime but I tried to make it at home, there’s more to it than that”
May 23, 2025 at 1:24 AM
Everyone has one Mitch Hedberg joke stashed in their brain like a squirrel to sustain them whenever they need to feel joy for 30 seconds and mine is “they say the recipe for Sprite is Lemon and Lime but I tried to make it at home, there’s more to it than that”
Reposted by Eric Swanson
“thats not what i asked” is a phrase that should be said more in white house press briefings
REPORTER: On the president's dinner tonight, will the White House commit to making a list of the attendees public so people can see who's paying for that kind of access to the president?
LEAVITT: The president is attending it in his personal time
LEAVITT: The president is attending it in his personal time
May 22, 2025 at 8:38 PM
“thats not what i asked” is a phrase that should be said more in white house press briefings
Reposted by Eric Swanson
The gerontocracy has consequences, episode one million and three.
May 22, 2025 at 11:41 AM
The gerontocracy has consequences, episode one million and three.
Reposted by Eric Swanson
BREAKING: FDA says covid boosters now only for those over 65 or with preconditions. www.statnews.com/2025/05/20/f...
FDA will limit Covid vaccines to people over 65 or at high risk of serious illness, leaders say
The FDA announced it will limit access to Covid-19 vaccines going forward to people 65 and older and others at high risk of serious illness
www.statnews.com
May 20, 2025 at 3:15 PM
BREAKING: FDA says covid boosters now only for those over 65 or with preconditions. www.statnews.com/2025/05/20/f...
Reposted by Eric Swanson
President Trump was up at 1:30am rage tweeting about Bruce Springsteen, Beyoncé, Bono, and Oprah Winfrey, raising serious concerns about Biden's mental state during his last year in office.
May 20, 2025 at 2:06 PM
President Trump was up at 1:30am rage tweeting about Bruce Springsteen, Beyoncé, Bono, and Oprah Winfrey, raising serious concerns about Biden's mental state during his last year in office.