Category: Autobiographical
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On Mixing Politics with Philosophy
I have been asked why I intersperse political entries with narrowly philosophical ones. But in every case the question was put to me by someone who tilts leftward. If my politics were leftist, would anyone complain? Probably not. Academe and academic philosophy are dominated by leftists, and to these types it seems entirely natural that…
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ChatGPT on Me
William F. Vallicella is a contemporary philosopher known for his work in metaphysics, philosophy of religion, and philosophy of language. He has written extensively on topics such as existence, identity, time, free will, and the nature of truth. Vallicella is particularly noted for his clear and rigorous analytical style, and he often engages with both…
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A Use for Bullet Chess
Bullet is faster than Blitz. I've been playing over at Lichess: two-minutes with a one second increment, sudden death. I die a lot, but like Phoenix rise from my ashes to play again. The fastest bullet games are one minute per side, no increment. What's the use of it? I count six uses. 1) It…
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Twenty Years Into It
Today is my 20th 'blogiversary.' Can you say cacoethes scribendi? I've missed only a few days in these twenty years so it's a good bet I'll be blogging 'for the duration.' Blogging for me is like reading and thinking and meditating and running and hiking and playing chess and breathing and eating and playing the guitar and…
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On Taking Abuse
A re-post from 1 August 2013. Slightly redacted. …………….. Everyone gets abused verbally in this world and one had better learn how to take it. There are bigots everywhere — leftists and wokesters the most vile, their tendency to project psychologically rendering their bigotry invisible to them — and sooner or later you will encounter…
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Why Do We Front Our Ideas?
"Preaching to the choir is unnecessary, and if you were to attain the age of a Methuselah you would still not be near converting your opponents. So what's the use of your arguing and asserting?" This is a text-book example of a False Alternative. For there is a third reason to argue and assert, namely,…
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Theistic Belief and What Inclines Me to It
Substack post du jour.
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Rise and Shine
I quit the bed of sloth at two this morning. I slept in a bit. But I understand that not everyone prefers the monkish life. Kant arose at five. It's now 5:30 or so. Rise and shine with Manny! Or at least with Boston. If this '70s tune doesn't get you bangin' on all eight,…
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Bill Keezer Passes On
Word came last night from Bill's wife Jennifer: Sadly Bill passed away November 29th. His heart just finally wore out. He spoke of you often and considered you a valued friend. Bill Keezer was a biologist with lively philosophical, theological, and political interests. We met in the early days of the blogosphere circa 2003 and…
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Saturday Night at the Oldies: Varia
Lonnie Mack and Co. Mack has been around a long time. I first picked up a guitar around the time this tune climbed the charts. "If I could only play like that!" Never got close. But I played in bands that got paid. If you get paid for doing something, then someone must think it's worth paying…
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Halloween: 15th Typepad Anniversary
The Typepad incarnation of MavPhil is now 15 years old. It has racked up 6,637,776 page views, which averages out to 1211 page views per day. It boasts 11,838 posts and 14,342 comments. And this despite shadow banning. I thank you for your patronage. Double your money back if not completely satisfied. "If you like…
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Why Mix Politics with Philosophy?
I have been asked why I intersperse political entries with narrowly philosophical ones. But in every case the question was put to me by someone who tilts leftward. If my politics were leftist, would anyone complain? Probably not. Academe and academic philosophy are dominated by leftists, and to these types it seems entirely natural that…
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William E. Mann, God, Modality, and Morality
Vallicella, William F. (2016) "William E. Mann, GOD, MODALITY, AND MORALITY," Faith and Philosophy: Journal of the Society of Christian Philosophers: Vol. 33 : Iss. 3 , Article 8. DOI: 10.5840/faithphil201633368 Available here. A long and meaty review article including a discussion of divine simplicity and Mann's approach thereto.
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Sweet Nineteen
Today is my 19th 'blogiversary.' Can you say cacoethes scribendi? I've missed only a few days in these nineteen years so it's a good bet I'll be blogging 'for the duration.' Blogging for me is like reading and thinking and meditating and running and hiking and playing chess and breathing and eating and playing the guitar…
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Why Am I So Happy?
Top o' the Stack.