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David Bather Woods

@davidbatherwoods.bsky.social
4.1K followers 2.2K following 619 posts

friendly neighbourhood Schopenhauerian • part time Proustian • associate professor @philoswarwick.bsky.social

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Reposted by David Bather Woods
The New Yorker @newyorker.com · 25/08/2026
Today’s Daily Cartoon, by Paul Noth.
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David Bather Woods @davidbatherwoods.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Just received my print copy of Colin Marshall’s excellent new book on ethical persuasion @uchicagopress.bsky.social
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Toby Buckle @polphilpod.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
my—just updated—political philosophy starter pack bsky.app/starter-pack...
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Past Present Future Podcast @ppfideas.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
NEW EPISODE OUT NOW! The 2nd life in our series about 20th-century philosophers could not be more different from the 1st. David talks to philosopher Alex Carter about Simone Weil, who died at 34 and lived through much political & personal hardship, some self-inflicted. Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com
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UK Kant Society @ukkantsociety.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Andrew Cooper Essay Prize Winner! Congratulations to Álvaro Rodríguez-González (University of Sheffield) for his winning essay "Why did Kant care about animals?" Álvaro will receive £500, and his essay will be published in Kantian Review (subject to editorial review).
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Museum of Twitter @museum-of-twitter.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Me, having spent my entire life chained in a cave: nice

@777jorgeivan
I asked this chick for a sexy pic and she sent this shit

(picture of a woman's shadow cast on a wall, with anatomically positioned bra and panties)
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Kath Coyle @mrscoyle.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
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Aidan McGlynn @aidanmcglynn.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
One regret I have is not sitting in on @bryanpickel.bsky.social's course on Stebbing before he moved to Glasgow - this is a nice review of Chapman's recent collection of her papers, making the case that it's a good introduction to her work but also that specialists will learn things too:
ndpr.nd.edu
Susan Stebbing: Philosophical Papers
Susan Stebbing (1885-1943) was a prominent analytic philosopher in the generation after Russell and Moore. Stebbing was highly influential on the post-war gene…
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The Philosopher @philosopher1923.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
ICYMI "Schopenhauer: Philosophy's Greatest Pessimist" (UPDATED) David Bather Woods & Patrick Hassan explore Schopenhauer's pessimism in the context of his life experiences, revealing his fascination with the world and contemporary relevance. #Philosophy www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMnG...
youtube.com
Schopenhauer: Philosophy’s Greatest Pessimist
YouTube video by The Philosopher
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David Bather Woods @davidbatherwoods.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
This week I got promoted to Reader, possibly the world’s best job title.
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Lupposofi @lupposofi.mementomori.social.ap.brid.gy · 30/07/2026
Matthew Soteriou has revised his SEP-entry on The Disjunctive Theory of Perception, plato.stanford.edu/entries/percepti… #perception #havainto #consciousness #tietoisuus #externalism #internalism #TechnoPhenomenology #mind #philosophy #filosofia #mieli #qualia […]
mementomori.social
Original post on mementomori.social
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David Bather Woods @davidbatherwoods.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
“Two experiences have dominated me: philosophy, and the tragic disorder of our whole terrestrial hive.” From the author’s statement in Olaf Stapledon’s book Philosophy and Living (1939).
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JohnDavidBooks @johndavidbooks.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Some thoughts on @davidbatherwoods.bsky.social's absolutely FANTASTIC new intellectual biography of philosophy's favorite curmudgeon, Arthur Schopenhauer (@uchicagopress.bsky.social, 2025). #Historathon #BookSky #Books #BookTube #Humanities #Nonfiction 💙📚 youtu.be/62Aymh9nzv8
youtu.be
"Arthur Schopenhauer: The Life and Thought of Philosophy's Greatest Pessimist" by David Bather Woods
YouTube video by John David (NicholasOfAutrecourt)
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Kenneth Novis @saditious.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
My free copy of the brand new Routledge Companion to Simone Weil just arrived in the mail this morning - it's a strange feeling seeing my words in print like this! (Full article available for free here: www.academia.edu/169551205/Si...).
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David Bather Woods @davidbatherwoods.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
from ‘Ways of Curating’ by Hans Ulrich Obrist
I suggested that we invite artists to Ernst Pöppel's research centre near Cologne, in Jülich, where there were hundreds of scientists and laboratories.
The idea was to create a contact zone where something could happen but nothing had to happen. And so the 'conference' we organized at the research centre, 'Art and Brain', had all the constituents of a colloquium except the colloquium. There were coffee breaks, a bus trip, meals, tours of the facilities, but no colloquium. The artists made their contacts, and having made them, they could go into town to produce works and collaborate with the scientists. At the end we made a little film, where everybody spoke about their impressions, and published a set of postcards. Now other activities are developing at the research centre without any need for more centralized organization.
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David Bather Woods @davidbatherwoods.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
I was interviewed about my book for the blog of the APA. I really enjoyed these questions! @apaphilosophy.bsky.social @uchicagopress.bsky.social @philoswarwick.bsky.social
blog.apaonline.org
Recently Published Book Spotlight: Arthur Schopenhauer: The Life and Thought of Philosophy’s Greatest Pessimist | Blog of the APA
David Bather Woods is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Warwick. His research focuses on the philosophy of Arthur Schopenhauer, particularly philosophical pessimism, ethics, polit...
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David Bather Woods @davidbatherwoods.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Starting in 30 mins!
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David Bather Woods @davidbatherwoods.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
Tomorrow! 👇
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David Bather Woods @davidbatherwoods.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
Shelfie for Marcel’s birthday
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The Philosopher @philosopher1923.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Coming up: Mon. July 13 ~ 2pm ET / 7pm UK "Schopenhauer: Philosophy's Greatest Pessimist" David Bather Woods with Patrick Hassan Schopenhauer questioned the purpose of life with inescapable pain and suffering, so searched for HOW to live! #Philosophy www.thephilosopher1923.org/events/schop...
thephilosopher1923.org
Schopenhauer: Philosophy’s Greatest Pessimist
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The Philosopher @philosopher1923.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
#Schopenhauer #pessimism #Purpose #Suffering @davidbatherwoods.bsky.social @philoswarwick.bsky.social Have a look at David Bather Woods' book, "Arthur Schopenhauer: The Life and Thought of Philosophy's Greatest Pessimist," and we'll see you Monday! press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
press.uchicago.edu
Arthur Schopenhauer
An engaging biography of one of the most influential Western philosophers and a thought-provoking exploration of how to live with Arthur Schopenhauer’s pessimism. Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) almos...
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David Bather Woods @davidbatherwoods.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
I'll be talking Schop' in a webinar event for @philosopher1923.bsky.social with fellow Schopenhauerian, Dr. Patrick Hassan (@cardiffphilosophy.bsky.social) on Monday 13th July (7pm UK). Book your tickets now! @philoswarwick.bsky.social @uchicagopress.bsky.social
thephilosopher1923.org
Schopenhauer: Philosophy’s Greatest Pessimist
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David Bather Woods @davidbatherwoods.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
I was interviewed about my book for the blog of the APA. I really enjoyed these questions! @apaphilosophy.bsky.social @uchicagopress.bsky.social @philoswarwick.bsky.social
blog.apaonline.org
Recently Published Book Spotlight: Arthur Schopenhauer: The Life and Thought of Philosophy’s Greatest Pessimist | Blog of the APA
David Bather Woods is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Warwick. His research focuses on the philosophy of Arthur Schopenhauer, particularly philosophical pessimism, ethics, polit...
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David Bather Woods @davidbatherwoods.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
I'll be talking Schop' in a webinar event for @philosopher1923.bsky.social with fellow Schopenhauerian, Dr. Patrick Hassan (@cardiffphilosophy.bsky.social) on Monday 13th July (7pm UK). Book your tickets now! @philoswarwick.bsky.social @uchicagopress.bsky.social
thephilosopher1923.org
Schopenhauer: Philosophy’s Greatest Pessimist
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UK Kant Society @ukkantsociety.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
Hello fellow Kantians! Our BlueSky is up and dancing. The social art to keep us connected. Let us know if you would like anything posted.
Immanuel-Kant-stop-the-party
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Joe Saunders @joe-saunders.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
Look out world, the UK Kant Society is now on Bluesky! Pretty sure that will resolve whatever issues we're currently facing. Anyway, if you're interested in Kant, give us a follow here: @ukkantsociety.bsky.social
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David Bather Woods @davidbatherwoods.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
A positive review of my book in The Review of Metaphysics: "The author successfully brings together a wide range of sources and presents them in a unified, readable form. In my view, this hybrid character is precisely what makes the book a distinctive contribution to Schopenhauer scholarship."
muse.jhu.edu
Project MUSE -- Verification required!
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Tom Gauld @tomgauld.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
My latest @newscientist.com cartoon.
Title: Bertrand Russell, 1933 

Panel 1
Bertrand sits at his desk, puffing on his pipe. He says 'The problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people are so full of doubts.'

Panel 2
He gets up and walks over to a mirror.

Panel 3
Pondering his reflection, he muses 'But if I'm certain about this...' 

Panel 4
'Does that make ME a fool or fanatic?' 

Panel 5
He walks back to his desk.
His reflection in the mirror says 'Talking to yourself in a mirror seems pretty doubtful to me.'
'Good point.' says Bertrand.
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The Philosopher @philosopher1923.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
Announcing: On Philosophy: Spring/Summer 2026 Events are free via Zoom, Mondays at 2pm ET / 7pm UK featuring Nelson Maldonado-Torres, Jonathan Williams, Emily Bender, Alex Hanna, Colin Koopman, Radha D'Souza, Cecile Malaspina, Nandita Sharma, and so many more! #Philosophy #PhilEvents
On philosophy: spring/summer 2026. 
Events are free via zoom, Mondays at 2pm ET / 7pm UK
April 13- On Melancholy - Jonathan Williams 
April 20- AI and the Digital: the AI Con - Emily Bender & Alex Hanna 
April 27- Data Equals - Colin Koopman 
May 4, June 1, and July 6- The Philosopher and the News - Alexis Papazoglou
May 1 - Philosophies of the South: Decolonizing Knowledge - Radha D'Souza 
May 18- Gilbert Simondon's Philosophy - Cecile Malaspina 
May 25- Philosophies of the South: (De)bordering the human - Nandita Shamra Twahirwa
June 8- Philosophies of the South: On Indigenous Inhumanities - Mark Minch-de Leon 
June 15- Towards a Critical Theory of Finance - Paul North
June 22- AI and the Digital: Data Equals - Audrey Borowski 
June 29- Philosophies of the South: Decolonizing the Self: Learning Land, Unlearning Empire - Leny Mendoza Strobel & S. Lily Mendoza
July 13- Schopenhauer: Philosophy's Greatest Pessimist - David Bather Woods
Information and registration at thephilosopher1923.org/events
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Morten Høi Jensen @mortenhoijensen.bsky.social · 06/06/2025
Wrote a little something for Mann’s 150th birthday, which is today. Alles Gute, Tommy!
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Commonweal @commonwealmagazine.org · 24/03/2026
"The basis of Schopenhauer’s ethics was a kind of solidarity of the suffering." @mortenhoijensen.bsky.social reviews a new consideration of the oft-misunderstood German philosopher: www.commonwealmagazine.org/Schopenhauer...
commonwealmagazine.org
Curb Your Enthusiasm
A new biography of Arthur Schopenhauer reveals a more compassionate philosopher, whose ethics of solidarity is one we urgently need now.
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Commonweal @commonwealmagazine.org · 10/04/2026
A new biography of Arthur Schopenhauer reveals a more compassionate philosopher, whose ethics of solidarity is one we urgently need now. Morten Høi Jensen reviews:
commonwealmagazine.org
Curb Your Enthusiasm
A new biography of Arthur Schopenhauer reveals a more compassionate philosopher, whose ethics of solidarity is one we urgently need now.
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Willem van der Scheun 🏳️‍🌈🇳🇱 @wscheun.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
“What better way to begin rebuilding our moral community than by greeting strangers as fellow sufferers? For this reason alone, the great pessimist’s ethics of compassion and solidarity is one we urgently need now.”
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David Bather Woods @davidbatherwoods.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
Thoughtful review of my book by Morten Høi Jensen for @commonwealmagazine.org “One of the virtues of Bather Woods’s biography is that it encourages us to follow Schopenhauer’s pessimism through to the kernel of compassion at its center.”
commonwealmagazine.org
Curb Your Enthusiasm
A new biography of Arthur Schopenhauer reveals a more compassionate philosopher, whose ethics of solidarity is one we urgently need now.
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David Hering @davidhering.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Liverpool people! I’ll be in conversation with Saul Leslie next Tuesday 21st April about his fantastic debut novel at Waterstones Liverpool. Tickets on sale now at the link. All welcome! www.waterstones.com/events/saul-...
waterstones.com
Saul Leslie discusses A Working Title I Want To Change | Events at Waterstones Bookshops | Waterstones
Events at Waterstones get you closer to the books and authors you admire most. Find information and tickets about Saul Leslie discusses A Working Title I Want To Change today.
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London Review of Books @lrb.co.uk · 14/04/2026
‘A recent survey reported that 20 per cent of Americans with diabetes had rationed insulin in the last year, compared to none in Britain, Sweden or Germany. The US is an outlier, but insulin’s robust oligopoly has persisted worldwide.’ Liam Shaw on insulin’s discovery. www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
lrb.co.uk
Liam Shaw · Bring me bimagrumab: Insulin Wars
As biochemical methods became more precise, the eventual identification of the magical substance, insulin, was...
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Sandrine Berges @sandrineankara.bsky.social · 12/04/2026
OUP tells me I should share this. And publicise my book. So here it goes. Please read my book. It has a pretty cover. It's cheap (for an academic book) and you can have this discount! Also please review it, somewhere fancy if possible!
Picture of the cover of my book No Place Like Home with a voucher for 30% off. The Voucher number is AUFLY30 to use at global.oup.com/academic
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Jan Eijking @janeijking.com · 11/04/2026
Job: Assistant Prof in the History of Capitalism at the University of Warwick 👇 warwick-careers.tal.net/vx/mobile-0/...
warwick-careers.tal.net
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Los Angeles Review of Books @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
Bruce Krajewski reviews David Bather Woods’ "Arthur Schopenhauer": "While Schopenhauer may have struggled with empathy, Woods does not. He has a talent for biographical narrative." lareviewofbooks.org/article/arthur-…
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Los Angeles Review of Books @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
"What are the stakes in all this vitriol? For Adorno, it captures his most basic assumption about modern art" Todd Cronan on Theodor W. Adorno’s “Orpheus in the Underworld": lareviewofbooks.org/article/theodor…
The cover of Orpheus in the Underworld
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David Bather Woods @davidbatherwoods.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
Second impression (1953) of the first edition (1953) of the first English translation of Le Deuxième Sexe (1949) by Simone de Beauvoir #FoundInOxfam @oxfamgb.bsky.social
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weird medieval guys @weirdmedieval.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
COVER REVEAL!! LOOK AT THE AMERICAN COVER FOR MY BOOK!!! she’s soooo beautiful!! don’t you want her? pre-order her now so you can have her asap! out november 10! sites.prh.com/wordspotters...
a graphic with the cover of the wordspotter’s guide by Olivia swarthout
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krajewskib.bsky.social @krajewskib.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
It's a good day when the author doesn't want to string up the reviewer. 💙📚
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David Bather Woods @davidbatherwoods.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
New review of my book in @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social “[Bather Woods] has a talent for biographical narrative, and, as advertised, the book provides the life of Schopenhauer in a vivid and moving way, treating thoughtfully the tensions within the Schopenhauer family.”
lareviewofbooks.org
The Doyen of Distress | Los Angeles Review of Books
Making excuses for Schopenhauer.
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David Bather Woods @davidbatherwoods.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
“Compassion Curmudgeon”, “The Doyen of Distress” - where were these guys when I coming up with book titles?
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Los Angeles Review of Books @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
"Woods, however, cannot always prevent Schopenhauer from shooting himself in the foot." Bruce Krajewski on the nasty aftertaste of a philosopher's life in "Arthur Schopenhauer": lareviewofbooks.org/article/arthur-…
The cover of Arthur Shcopenhauer
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krajewskib.bsky.social @krajewskib.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
My thanks to the workers at the 𝐿𝑜𝑠 𝐴𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑅𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤 𝑜𝑓 𝐵𝑜𝑜𝑘𝑠 for publishing my review of David Bather Woods's biography of Arthur Schopenhauer. @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social lareviewofbooks.org/article/arth...
lareviewofbooks.org
The Doyen of Distress | Los Angeles Review of Books
Making excuses for Schopenhauer.
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David Bather Woods @davidbatherwoods.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
New review of my book in @lareviewofbooks.bsky.social “[Bather Woods] has a talent for biographical narrative, and, as advertised, the book provides the life of Schopenhauer in a vivid and moving way, treating thoughtfully the tensions within the Schopenhauer family.”
lareviewofbooks.org
The Doyen of Distress | Los Angeles Review of Books
Making excuses for Schopenhauer.
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David Bather Woods @davidbatherwoods.bsky.social · 06/04/2026
Well, spring is here
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David Bather Woods @davidbatherwoods.bsky.social · 06/04/2026
👀 @philosopher1923.bsky.social
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