Sign in

Jesse Spafford

@jessespafford.bsky.social
400 followers 437 following 493 posts

Philosophy lecturer at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington. Interested in rights, egalitarianism, and anarchism.

PostsRepliesMedia
Jesse Spafford @jessespafford.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
I have a new post up discussing (in very general terms) two broad philosophical personality types, their virtues, and their vices. You can read it here: jessespafford.substack.com/p/gadflies-a...
jessespafford.substack.com
Gadflies and Guide Dogs
What is the point of philosophy?
000
Jesse Spafford @jessespafford.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
I have a new post up from the archives, discussing some of the dangers of communicating with aliens! Read it here: jessespafford.substack.com/p/aliens-and...
jessespafford.substack.com
Aliens and Animals
Are we the bad guys?
000
Jesse Spafford @jessespafford.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
I have a new post up replying to @benburgis.bsky.social's defense of the democratic conception of socialism. It gets a bit more in the (philosophical) weeds than I initially intended, but hopefully people find that interesting: open.substack.com/pub/jessespa...
open.substack.com
What Socialism Is Not: A Reply to Burgis
The democratic conception still can’t be right.
110
Jesse Spafford @jessespafford.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
I have a new post up on substack today wherein I try to explain what I think everybody is getting wrong about socialism. Read it here: jessespafford.substack.com/p/what-socia...
jessespafford.substack.com
What Socialism Is (and Is Not)
Why socialism can’t be the democratic control of the means of production.
031
Jesse Spafford @jessespafford.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
I have a new post up on my substack defending the politicization of academia. Specifically, I draw upon the logic of effective altruism to argue that it would be unreasonable to *not* let moral and political aims direct academic research: jessespafford.substack.com/p/effective-...
041
Jesse Spafford @jessespafford.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
As a sociological matter I've always been intrigued by the fact that so many left-leaning people seem to love this paper when many parts of it could have been written by someone at the Heritage Foundation: bsky.app/profile/gilm...
130
Jesse Spafford @jessespafford.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
I finally got through enough of my other work to wrap up my series on cancel culture with this short post. In it I ask: what do critics of cancel culture really want, and is that a reasonable demand? open.substack.com/pub/jessespa...
open.substack.com
On Cancel Culture, Part 4
Why it doesn't make sense to oppose cancel culture as such.
000
Reposted by Jesse Spafford
Jesse Spafford @jessespafford.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
Continuing my extended reflections on/defense of cancel culture, I've now posted Part 3 of the series on Substack! Check it out here: open.substack.com/pub/jessespa...
open.substack.com
On Cancel Culture, Part 3
Why it's actually the *anti-cancellers* who are motivated by insecurity.
061
Jesse Spafford @jessespafford.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
Continuing my extended reflections on/defense of cancel culture, I've now posted Part 3 of the series on Substack! Check it out here: open.substack.com/pub/jessespa...
open.substack.com
On Cancel Culture, Part 3
Why it's actually the *anti-cancellers* who are motivated by insecurity.
061
Reposted by Jesse Spafford
Jesse Spafford @jessespafford.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
I have a new post up in my series on cancel culture! This one raises some worries about the popular theory that the cancellers are primarily just virtue signaling—and seeks to cast doubt on the virtue signaling theory more broadly. open.substack.com/pub/jessespa...
open.substack.com
On Cancel Culture, Part 2
Is it all virtue signaling?
021
Jesse Spafford @jessespafford.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
I have a new post up in my series on cancel culture! This one raises some worries about the popular theory that the cancellers are primarily just virtue signaling—and seeks to cast doubt on the virtue signaling theory more broadly. open.substack.com/pub/jessespa...
open.substack.com
On Cancel Culture, Part 2
Is it all virtue signaling?
021
Jesse Spafford @jessespafford.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
I was recently interviewed about my book by Luke Jensen! If you're interested in getting a sense of (some of) what I argue there, this is a nice overview: www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_94...
youtube.com
Thinking About Social Anarchism (and the Rejection of Moral Tyranny) with Jesse Spafford
YouTube video by Luke Jensen
073
Jesse Spafford @jessespafford.bsky.social · 15/02/2026
I have a new post on why the media shouldn't profile Very Weird Guys. Read it here: open.substack.com/pub/jessespa...
open.substack.com
Cultural Transmission and Moral Deviance
Don't tell me about the latest very weird guy!
100
Jesse Spafford @jessespafford.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
I recently debated Michael Huemer on whether people have property rights! You can watch it here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Yl0...
youtube.com
DEBATE: What Rights do We Have Over Resources? | Michael Huemer vs. Jesse Spafford
YouTube video by Discourse
030
Reposted by Jesse Spafford
Jake Grumbach @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
Not exaggerating when I say that the collective action in Minnesota will be studied for generations if not centuries to come
584130402242
Reposted by Jesse Spafford
Jesse Spafford @jessespafford.bsky.social · 22/01/2026
There's been a small break in the stream of bad news, so I took the opportunity to write up the second post of my two-part argument against academic titles. You can read it here: open.substack.com/pub/jessespa...
open.substack.com
Against Academic Titles, Part 2
Do academic titles really help address student prejudice?
032
Jesse Spafford @jessespafford.bsky.social · 22/01/2026
There's been a small break in the stream of bad news, so I took the opportunity to write up the second post of my two-part argument against academic titles. You can read it here: open.substack.com/pub/jessespa...
open.substack.com
Against Academic Titles, Part 2
Do academic titles really help address student prejudice?
032
Jesse Spafford @jessespafford.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
I have a new post up on Substack about some troubling intellectual trends on the Right—and how modernity is to blame! open.substack.com/pub/jessespa...
open.substack.com
Right-Wing Epistemic Isolationism
Why do conservatives believe such weird stuff?
000
Jesse Spafford @jessespafford.bsky.social · 26/11/2025
I know I've already largely missed the "should academics insist on being called 'doctor'" debate—my thinking/writing can't keep up with the discourse cycle—but here's my quick case against the use of academic titles. open.substack.com/pub/jessespa...
open.substack.com
Against Academic Titles
A quick sketch of why I don't like using the term "Doctor."
110
Jesse Spafford @jessespafford.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
Here's my contribution to the "is continental philosophy meaningless" debate. I've tried to say something new here that might move the debate forward a bit: open.substack.com/pub/jessespa...
open.substack.com
Continental Philosophy, Obscurity, and Thinking Like an LLM
If some philosophers aren't actually saying anything meaningful, then how are they still able to write coherently and engage with each other's work?
021
Jesse Spafford @jessespafford.bsky.social · 10/11/2025
My first substantive post on Substack is me raising some worries about Joseph Heath's theory of populism: substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com
Some Worries about Joseph Heath's Theory of Populism
Heath thinks populism exploits our aversion to using analytical reason. But does the data really support his theory?
000
Jesse Spafford @jessespafford.bsky.social · 03/11/2025
I haven’t been posting here much, but I’m now posting longer-form ideas on Substack! Here’s my brief introductory post: jessespafford.substack.com/p/about-this...
jessespafford.substack.com
About this Substack
A short disclaimer.
020
Jesse Spafford @jessespafford.bsky.social · 15/07/2025
Not sure what the best way to counter the far right is, but this thread on the rise of Sanseito in Japan suggests to me that the accommodationist approach—i.e., the approach endorsed in the thread—is a dead end.
152
Jesse Spafford @jessespafford.bsky.social · 07/07/2025
With all the details coming out on Cremieux/Jordan Lasker, I’m reminded of an email I wrote to a friend explaining why I’m not interested in the rationalist social movement (wherein Jordan has become an influential figure): x.com/rivertamydn/...
140
Jesse Spafford @jessespafford.bsky.social · 05/07/2025
Nice piece discussing the merits, politics, and practical implementation of Zohran's policies: www.dissentmagazine.org/online_artic...
dissentmagazine.org
What Can Zohran Accomplish? - Dissent Magazine
What distinguishes Zohran Mamdani's socialism is not its aims. It’s his willingness to take seriously the problem of how to get there.
064
Reposted by Jesse Spafford
Nathan Kalman-Lamb @nkalamb.bsky.social · 03/07/2025
Abrego Garcia describes conditions at CECOT: “He and 20 other Salvadorans were forced to kneel from approximately 9pm to 6am with guards striking anyone who fell from exhaustion. During this time, he was denied bathroom access and soiled himself.” storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
521994
Jesse Spafford @jessespafford.bsky.social · 22/06/2025
Ironically, this post is breaking my brain a little. bsky.app/profile/kend...
120
Reposted by Jesse Spafford
Sharon 🪳🌹 @sharonk.bsky.social · 21/06/2025
Stancilism partly undefeated
222013
Reposted by Jesse Spafford
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 21/06/2025
These are the kind of arrests that you know are just driving while brown arrests.
10477121
Jesse Spafford @jessespafford.bsky.social · 21/06/2025
Pretty grim the extent to which the UK is descending into fascism. The willingness to label non-violent protests “terrorism” is particularly troubling (though this is also just one of many troubling shifts in the country): www.bbc.com/news/article...
bbc.com
Palestine Action to be banned after RAF base break in
The home secretary will move to proscribe the Palestine Action group in the coming weeks, the BBC understands.
031
Reposted by Jesse Spafford
Chad Loder @chadloder.dev · 18/06/2025
Noticed that ICE in Los Angeles has started carrying spare tires in the bed of their pickups
Border Patrol truck with a spare tire in the bed
839868
Reposted by Jesse Spafford
Friendly Neighborhood Mouse @missmouse.bsky.social · 14/06/2025
From a dear comrade who was kind enough to let me share their video. Veterans stage a sit-in on the US Capitol steps and say, “Military off our streets!” Hell yeah!
536385459830
Reposted by Jesse Spafford
Matt @tiredgenerally.bsky.social · 14/06/2025
it’s cool how the whole trump coalition is a circular firing squad of grievances. this guy thought trump was homophobic/transphobic but mostly joking about the immigration stuff lol
18883118
Jesse Spafford @jessespafford.bsky.social · 14/06/2025
This administration is marked by not just its cruelty but its complete inability to craft coherent policies or consider the obvious consequences of those policies. bsky.app/profile/phil...
1826966
Jesse Spafford @jessespafford.bsky.social · 13/06/2025
It seems like the only option left is to show that it implies something significant and surprising! www.cambridge.org/core/books/s... bsky.app/profile/last...
cambridge.org
Property and Legitimacy (Chapter 4) - Social Anarchism and the Rejection of Moral Tyranny
Social Anarchism and the Rejection of Moral Tyranny - November 2023
040
Jesse Spafford @jessespafford.bsky.social · 13/06/2025
Striking how so many of the pundits from this cohort have become simultaneously more conservative and less thoughtful: t.co/6vS6KhptpH
t.co
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/06/new-york-mayoral-race-cuomo-mamdani/683146/?gift=ft-5aF5Qrmu-IVk0QYsLuELOCJ5EXPE3dS3OBwbAcPE
100
Jesse Spafford @jessespafford.bsky.social · 12/06/2025
It’s been almost eight years since Alex Pareene wrote this piece, and it looks like he was 100% correct: www.splinter.com/charlottesvi... bsky.app/profile/whst...
splinter.com
Charlottesville Was a Preview of the Future of the Republican Party
Splinter is your home for news and opinions that challenge power in our political and economic system that's becoming more unhinged each and every day.
031
Reposted by Jesse Spafford
Will Stancil @whstancil.bsky.social · 12/06/2025
It’s the biggest story in the country that the media is ignoring - how this explicitly white supremacist and antisemitic ideology has consumed the minds of virtually the entire organized right, from Elon Musk on down
12745144
Reposted by Jesse Spafford
Will Stancil @whstancil.bsky.social · 10/06/2025
To give you a sense about the ideological drift being caused by Twitter, here's Noah Smith talking in 2021 about the account that would become "i/o" and "avidseries." And then here's a screenshot from today, where Noah Smith has constant friendly interactions with him.
321659241
Reposted by Jesse Spafford
Brendan Nyhan @brendannyhan.bsky.social · 10/06/2025
Every day the authoritarianism grows worse - Christopher Rufo calling for the Trump administration to "dispatch unmarked vans to follow key agitators and snatch them from the streets while the media are not looking" christopherrufo.com/p/trump-shou...
17227221103
Reposted by Jesse Spafford
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 10/06/2025
This is not a good sign.
One day before the Trump administration deployed U.S. Marines to confront protesters in Los Angeles, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem asked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to direct the military to detain or arrest "lawbreakers," a move one expert called "a grave escalation."
A letter sent Sunday from Noem to Hegseth, obtained by the Chronicle, requested that the Pentagon give "Direction to DoD forces to either detain, just as they would at any federal facility guarded by military, lawbreakers under Title 18 until they can be arrested and processed by federal law enforcement, or arrest them."
The military is generally barred under federal laws from taking part in domestic law enforcement. Noem's request may be a step toward the administration sidestepping those laws by invoking the Insurrection Act, two legal experts said in interviews.In the letter, Noem referred to an "emergent Request for Assistance (RFA) to aid in resolving the situation in Los Angeles," and used strong language to describe what she said was the threat posed by people protesting a series of raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
"We need ... support to our law enforcement officers and agents across Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and Federal Protective Services (FPS),"
Noem wrote, "as they defend against invasive, violent, insurrectionist mobs that seek to protect invaders and military aged males belonging to identified foreign terrorist organizations, and who seek to prevent the deportation of criminal aliens."
741856640
Jesse Spafford @jessespafford.bsky.social · 10/06/2025
Elected Dems need to start grappling with the fact that the official GOP position is that elections should be stolen when the opportunity presents itself: bsky.app/profile/eili...
110
Reposted by Jesse Spafford
Weed Detective @wolfmanzack.bsky.social · 10/06/2025
My friend just got arrested blocking the highway in Joshua Tree to try and prevent the Marines from making it to LA
1131973
Reposted by Jesse Spafford
Rikibeth @rikibeth.bsky.social · 08/06/2025
"It's really hard to fathom that the guy making my pizza for 25 years is a gangster and a terrorist, and the person who shows up in an unmarked car wearing a mask and body armor comes to take him away is somehow the good guy".
~ Connor Simon,
Restaurant owner in PA
840701203
Reposted by Jesse Spafford
Schnorkles O'Bork @schnorkles.bsky.social · 08/06/2025
Yeah. There is no universe where DHS can support this happening every time.
330372
Reposted by Jesse Spafford
ryan cooper @ryanlcooper.com · 05/06/2025
just superbly done. first round KO www.gelliottmorris.com/p/kilmar-abr...
gelliottmorris.com
Media coverage of Kilmar Abrego Garcia hurt Trump, not Democrats
Public opinion on immigration has shifted — and pundits need to catch up
9584129
Jesse Spafford @jessespafford.bsky.social · 04/06/2025
One thing I find interesting is the extent to which people treat LLMs like conscious agents. I've seen a bunch of exchanges where the user berates the LLM for "lying"—a complaint (and associated reactive attitude) that seems inapt: amandaguinzburg.substack.com/p/diabolus-e...
amandaguinzburg.substack.com
Diabolus Ex Machina
This Is Not An Essay
110
Jesse Spafford @jessespafford.bsky.social · 03/06/2025
With Yarvin back in the news, I think it's worth asking why obscurantists (of all political stripes) frequently become so influential despite saying nothing of substance.
192
Reposted by Jesse Spafford
William Gillis 🏴 @rechelon.bsky.social · 03/06/2025
It's often bemoaned that our side draws purist lines, progressively expelling more and more people, who are then taken in by the fash, inevitably leading to their total triumph. But it's important to note that is often a process of *infection* and the systematic undermining of the right.
1251
Reposted by Jesse Spafford
Fred, His Enemy Getting a Vote @thefred.bsky.social · 03/06/2025
A good nonprofit effort over the next 43 months would be to keep a running draft indictment of every Trump administration official, published and updated regularly, so it is ready to go in January 2029.
728287