Michael E. Markunas
@michael-markunas.bsky.social
philosopher at Trinity College Dublin, working on perception, mind, language and epistemology
Excited to take part in the New England Metaphysics Workshop on Acquaintance this weekend, where I’ll be commenting on Ali Hasan’s paper “Awareness of Abstracta.” Many thanks to the organizers for the invitation.
#metaphysics #epistemology #academia #philmind #philperception
#metaphysics #epistemology #academia #philmind #philperception
October 22, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Excited to take part in the New England Metaphysics Workshop on Acquaintance this weekend, where I’ll be commenting on Ali Hasan’s paper “Awareness of Abstracta.” Many thanks to the organizers for the invitation.
#metaphysics #epistemology #academia #philmind #philperception
#metaphysics #epistemology #academia #philmind #philperception
Reposted by Michael E. Markunas
I have N projects that need writing up.
I have T time available.
Each project takes t(n) time to write up.
The total time to write up all projects is greater than T:
Σt(n)(1...N) > T
I divide my time proportionally.
∴ I will wrote no papers ever again.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buridan...
I have T time available.
Each project takes t(n) time to write up.
The total time to write up all projects is greater than T:
Σt(n)(1...N) > T
I divide my time proportionally.
∴ I will wrote no papers ever again.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buridan...
Buridan's ass - Wikipedia
en.m.wikipedia.org
September 8, 2025 at 10:14 PM
I have N projects that need writing up.
I have T time available.
Each project takes t(n) time to write up.
The total time to write up all projects is greater than T:
Σt(n)(1...N) > T
I divide my time proportionally.
∴ I will wrote no papers ever again.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buridan...
I have T time available.
Each project takes t(n) time to write up.
The total time to write up all projects is greater than T:
Σt(n)(1...N) > T
I divide my time proportionally.
∴ I will wrote no papers ever again.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buridan...
Reposted by Michael E. Markunas
Remember when, for Republicans, the Feds were the enemy?
Trump Takes Control of D.C. Police, Citing ‘Bloodthirsty Criminals.’
But Crime Is Down. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/11/u...
But Crime Is Down. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/11/u...
Trump Takes Control of D.C. Police, Citing ‘Bloodthirsty Criminals.’ But Crime Is Down.
www.nytimes.com
August 12, 2025 at 4:47 AM
Remember when, for Republicans, the Feds were the enemy?
Reposted by Michael E. Markunas
What is the origin of the term “phenomenology”? It famously occurs in Husserl and Hegel but their projects are clearly different. Where did the word come from? Were they both drawing on a common source? A thread...
July 28, 2025 at 3:20 PM
What is the origin of the term “phenomenology”? It famously occurs in Husserl and Hegel but their projects are clearly different. Where did the word come from? Were they both drawing on a common source? A thread...
Reposted by Michael E. Markunas
People always ask me : “Cristi, how do you manage parenting a baby while going up for tenure?”
It’s easy. The secret is *flow-based-scheduling*. Here are its three core strategies for new academic parents:
Sleep when the baby sleeps
Cry when the baby cries
Publish when the baby publishes
It’s easy. The secret is *flow-based-scheduling*. Here are its three core strategies for new academic parents:
Sleep when the baby sleeps
Cry when the baby cries
Publish when the baby publishes
July 6, 2025 at 4:43 PM
It was nice to find out my metaethics module was the second highest ranked in the department by students. Especially since it was my first time teaching it and I designed it from scratch…Now back to the marking marathon that is the end of term.
www.tcd.ie/ssp/current-...
www.tcd.ie/ssp/current-...
Undergraduate Survey Results - School of Social Sciences and Philosophy - Trinity College Dublin
www.tcd.ie
May 7, 2025 at 8:41 AM
It was nice to find out my metaethics module was the second highest ranked in the department by students. Especially since it was my first time teaching it and I designed it from scratch…Now back to the marking marathon that is the end of term.
www.tcd.ie/ssp/current-...
www.tcd.ie/ssp/current-...
Reposted by Michael E. Markunas
Reposted by Michael E. Markunas
They need him to be a genius because they cannot handle what it means for them to be tricked by a fool.
February 22, 2025 at 7:56 PM
They need him to be a genius because they cannot handle what it means for them to be tricked by a fool.
Reposted by Michael E. Markunas
DOGE recommended firing workers at:
-FDA, which oversees Neuralink
-FAA, which oversees SpaceX
-USAID, which probed Starlink
-CFPB, which oversees Tesla's financing arm and a potential payment platform on X.
"Conflict of interest" is a severe understatement.
-FDA, which oversees Neuralink
-FAA, which oversees SpaceX
-USAID, which probed Starlink
-CFPB, which oversees Tesla's financing arm and a potential payment platform on X.
"Conflict of interest" is a severe understatement.
February 19, 2025 at 8:15 PM
DOGE recommended firing workers at:
-FDA, which oversees Neuralink
-FAA, which oversees SpaceX
-USAID, which probed Starlink
-CFPB, which oversees Tesla's financing arm and a potential payment platform on X.
"Conflict of interest" is a severe understatement.
-FDA, which oversees Neuralink
-FAA, which oversees SpaceX
-USAID, which probed Starlink
-CFPB, which oversees Tesla's financing arm and a potential payment platform on X.
"Conflict of interest" is a severe understatement.
Reposted by Michael E. Markunas
‘How do historians deal with rapid change, with what is left when it starts to be called heritage? What do we do when even the victors didn’t bother writing history, let alone the dispossessed?’
Colm Tóibín on the transformation of rural life in Ireland: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Colm Tóibín on the transformation of rural life in Ireland: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Colm Tóibín · Seagulls as Playmates: Where the Islanders Went
The remote west of Ireland, so used to being left alone, seems to come alive for outsiders in search of something...
www.lrb.co.uk
February 18, 2025 at 10:05 AM
‘How do historians deal with rapid change, with what is left when it starts to be called heritage? What do we do when even the victors didn’t bother writing history, let alone the dispossessed?’
Colm Tóibín on the transformation of rural life in Ireland: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Colm Tóibín on the transformation of rural life in Ireland: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
I find it a bit funny I unintentionally scheduled my module such that I am lecturing on Mackies Error Theory on valentine’s day. I found this colorised clip of Mackie at a wedding I think i’ll open the lecture with. Enjoy
#happyvalentinesday #philosophy #metaethics #ethics #academia #philperception
#happyvalentinesday #philosophy #metaethics #ethics #academia #philperception
February 14, 2025 at 9:49 AM
I find it a bit funny I unintentionally scheduled my module such that I am lecturing on Mackies Error Theory on valentine’s day. I found this colorised clip of Mackie at a wedding I think i’ll open the lecture with. Enjoy
#happyvalentinesday #philosophy #metaethics #ethics #academia #philperception
#happyvalentinesday #philosophy #metaethics #ethics #academia #philperception
Great set of Agnes Cuming Lectures by Tim Crane at UCD Philosophy the last couple nights. I particularly loved the shout out to my daughter’s favourite movie Zombies. Perhaps more philosophers of mind would benefit from also watching such complex cinematic masterpieces @ucdphilosophy.bsky.social
January 31, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Great set of Agnes Cuming Lectures by Tim Crane at UCD Philosophy the last couple nights. I particularly loved the shout out to my daughter’s favourite movie Zombies. Perhaps more philosophers of mind would benefit from also watching such complex cinematic masterpieces @ucdphilosophy.bsky.social
I’m about to teach a course on #philosophyofperception in a few weeks to first years. Any recommendations on readings for predictive processing theories? I have some ideas but would warmly welcome suggestions that people have found particularly engaging to newcomers to the subject. #philsenses
January 12, 2025 at 9:08 AM
I’m about to teach a course on #philosophyofperception in a few weeks to first years. Any recommendations on readings for predictive processing theories? I have some ideas but would warmly welcome suggestions that people have found particularly engaging to newcomers to the subject. #philsenses
Reposted by Michael E. Markunas
5 Women in Philosophy of Mind You Should Know | Most of the philosophers on this list are members of the APA, including Pacific Division past president Patricia Churchland. www.thecollector.com/women-philos...
5 Women in Philosophy of Mind You Should Know
Who and what is the mind? Let’s take a look at some of the women who are tackling this perennial question.
www.thecollector.com
January 10, 2025 at 5:02 PM
5 Women in Philosophy of Mind You Should Know | Most of the philosophers on this list are members of the APA, including Pacific Division past president Patricia Churchland. www.thecollector.com/women-philos...
Reposted by Michael E. Markunas
So, I'm embracing eternal recurrence this year by sticking to last year's resolutions, which are actually resolutions from the year before, in an effort to be authentic and take responsibility for past and future shortcomings.
December 28, 2024 at 6:46 PM
So, I'm embracing eternal recurrence this year by sticking to last year's resolutions, which are actually resolutions from the year before, in an effort to be authentic and take responsibility for past and future shortcomings.
Michel Foucault: Even when the Elf is not on the Shelf, you are never free of it. You carry the Elf within you, monitoring your own conduct for Naughtiness. You hold yourself prisoner within a self-surveilled snow globe of Santa’s making.
John Locke: If you have been very Nice and your parents do not buy you a Nintendo Switch, you have license to replace them with parents who will.
Great Philosophers on Santa’s Naughty and Nice Lists
(With thanks to Dr. Henry Gorman) - - -Aristotle: Be good for goodness’ sake. Plato: To be “good” or “nice” is to cultivate one’s knowledge of Sant...
buff.ly
December 21, 2024 at 11:04 PM
Michel Foucault: Even when the Elf is not on the Shelf, you are never free of it. You carry the Elf within you, monitoring your own conduct for Naughtiness. You hold yourself prisoner within a self-surveilled snow globe of Santa’s making.
Enjoyable highlights. I particularly liked the idea of turning my skin translucent and seeing what’s going on without surgery.
Time for our favorite annual tradition!
As 2024 comes to a close, we asked our writers to share one thing that got them excited about neuroscience this year. Read what they had to say: pennneuroknow.com/2024/12/20/2...
We'll be back in 2025, happy new year!
#neuroskyence #PsychSciSky #SciComm 🧪
As 2024 comes to a close, we asked our writers to share one thing that got them excited about neuroscience this year. Read what they had to say: pennneuroknow.com/2024/12/20/2...
We'll be back in 2025, happy new year!
#neuroskyence #PsychSciSky #SciComm 🧪
2024 Neuroscience Year in Review
Our writers share what got them excited about neuroscience in 2024.
pennneuroknow.com
December 20, 2024 at 4:14 PM
Enjoyable highlights. I particularly liked the idea of turning my skin translucent and seeing what’s going on without surgery.
Reposted by Michael E. Markunas
✨ New research from the Department.
"Acquaintance, knowledge, and luck" by Dr @michael-markunas.bsky.social, published in Synthese, December 2024.
Read it here 🔽
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
#philsky #philosophy #Aristotle #academicsky
"Acquaintance, knowledge, and luck" by Dr @michael-markunas.bsky.social, published in Synthese, December 2024.
Read it here 🔽
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
#philsky #philosophy #Aristotle #academicsky
December 10, 2024 at 10:12 AM
✨ New research from the Department.
"Acquaintance, knowledge, and luck" by Dr @michael-markunas.bsky.social, published in Synthese, December 2024.
Read it here 🔽
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
#philsky #philosophy #Aristotle #academicsky
"Acquaintance, knowledge, and luck" by Dr @michael-markunas.bsky.social, published in Synthese, December 2024.
Read it here 🔽
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
#philsky #philosophy #Aristotle #academicsky
Great way to start to the week with my latest article on knowledge, perception, and acquaintance out in Synthese today!
#philsky #philperception
#philmind #epistemology
#knowledge #aristotle #academicsky
#tcdphilosophy
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
#philsky #philperception
#philmind #epistemology
#knowledge #aristotle #academicsky
#tcdphilosophy
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Acquaintance, knowledge, and luck - Synthese
Is knowledge a uniform kind? If not, what relation do the different kinds of knowledge bear to one another? Is there a central notion of knowledge which other kinds of knowledge must be understood in ...
link.springer.com
December 9, 2024 at 4:27 PM
Great way to start to the week with my latest article on knowledge, perception, and acquaintance out in Synthese today!
#philsky #philperception
#philmind #epistemology
#knowledge #aristotle #academicsky
#tcdphilosophy
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
#philsky #philperception
#philmind #epistemology
#knowledge #aristotle #academicsky
#tcdphilosophy
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
check out one my phd supervisors excellent new book on personal identity and the self
Here's the latest addition to Cambridge Elements in Philosophy of Mind series: Rory Madden on Personal Identity and the Self. I think it's by far the best short introduction to the topic. And for two weeks, it's free to download! www.cambridge.org/core/element...?
#cambridgeelements
#cambridgeelements
Personal Identity and the Self
Cambridge Core - Philosophy: General Interest - Personal Identity and the Self
www.cambridge.org
December 9, 2024 at 4:15 PM
check out one my phd supervisors excellent new book on personal identity and the self
Now that we’re entering the holiday season, really enjoyed this important article by my colleague about inhibitions and consent @quiteclare.bsky.social
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2024...
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2024...
Clare Moriarty: Nikita Hand started a long overdue conversation on the myth of the perfect victim
The judge warned: ‘The fact that a woman engages in drinking or taking drugs does not mean they are up for sex’
www.irishtimes.com
December 8, 2024 at 10:57 AM
Now that we’re entering the holiday season, really enjoyed this important article by my colleague about inhibitions and consent @quiteclare.bsky.social
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2024...
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2024...
Reposted by Michael E. Markunas
Does truth still matter in a world of competing narratives? 🤔🌍 Join Prof John Divers, Head of @tcddublin.bsky.social Dept of Philosophy as he examines how truth shapes beliefs & actions in modern life. Thursday 6 March 2025.
Tickets available now! ⬇️
tinyurl.com/3ruj7h8d #PhilSky #Philosophy
Tickets available now! ⬇️
tinyurl.com/3ruj7h8d #PhilSky #Philosophy
November 25, 2024 at 10:28 AM
Does truth still matter in a world of competing narratives? 🤔🌍 Join Prof John Divers, Head of @tcddublin.bsky.social Dept of Philosophy as he examines how truth shapes beliefs & actions in modern life. Thursday 6 March 2025.
Tickets available now! ⬇️
tinyurl.com/3ruj7h8d #PhilSky #Philosophy
Tickets available now! ⬇️
tinyurl.com/3ruj7h8d #PhilSky #Philosophy
Reposted by Michael E. Markunas
Word of the day is ‘librocubicularist’: one who loves nothing better than reading in bed.
(Not easy to say, but I’m glad to know it exists).
(Not easy to say, but I’m glad to know it exists).
November 24, 2024 at 10:47 AM
Word of the day is ‘librocubicularist’: one who loves nothing better than reading in bed.
(Not easy to say, but I’m glad to know it exists).
(Not easy to say, but I’m glad to know it exists).
Reposted by Michael E. Markunas
