Shawn Standefer
@standefer.bsky.social
Philosophical logician at North Carolina State University
Pinned
1. Introduction to Syntactic Theory (HPSG)
2. Sociolinguistics
3. Computability Theory
4. Japanese history
5. Linguistic Semantics
2. Sociolinguistics
3. Computability Theory
4. Japanese history
5. Linguistic Semantics
1. Comparative political systems
2. Cosmology
3. Sociolinguistics
4. a seminar on the philosophy of mathematics
5. Complex Analysis (graduate level) taught by a logician
2. Cosmology
3. Sociolinguistics
4. a seminar on the philosophy of mathematics
5. Complex Analysis (graduate level) taught by a logician
Never mind the jobs you had, tell me five classes you took in college:
1. Marine Biology (we got to go out on a boat!)
2. The History of the Holocaust
3. Logic and Critical Thinking
4. Eastern Religions
5. The French Revolution
1. Marine Biology (we got to go out on a boat!)
2. The History of the Holocaust
3. Logic and Critical Thinking
4. Eastern Religions
5. The French Revolution
February 1, 2026 at 3:40 AM
1. Introduction to Syntactic Theory (HPSG)
2. Sociolinguistics
3. Computability Theory
4. Japanese history
5. Linguistic Semantics
2. Sociolinguistics
3. Computability Theory
4. Japanese history
5. Linguistic Semantics
My book on relevant logics will be available mid-2026
January 24, 2026 at 11:40 PM
My book on relevant logics will be available mid-2026
My book’s page now has the cover image
January 24, 2026 at 11:37 PM
My book’s page now has the cover image
Reposted by Shawn Standefer
Thanks for the helpful auto-complete, Gmail.
January 24, 2026 at 1:38 AM
Thanks for the helpful auto-complete, Gmail.
Reposted by Shawn Standefer
I often hear, in my line of work, that large language models have surpassed the capabilities of “mere stochastic parrots.” Yet few are willing to attribute to them anything like “understanding.” What, in your view, is the best recent appraisal of the limitations of LLMs?
January 22, 2026 at 7:04 PM
I often hear, in my line of work, that large language models have surpassed the capabilities of “mere stochastic parrots.” Yet few are willing to attribute to them anything like “understanding.” What, in your view, is the best recent appraisal of the limitations of LLMs?
Reposted by Shawn Standefer
#PhilSky: Looking for recs of good recent work on epistemology and technology: the risks of AI, deepfakes, epistemic problems with recommender algorithms, etc.
This is for an upper division course, so ideally stuff that is big picture and teachable. Self-recommendations welcome :)
This is for an upper division course, so ideally stuff that is big picture and teachable. Self-recommendations welcome :)
January 20, 2026 at 4:55 PM
#PhilSky: Looking for recs of good recent work on epistemology and technology: the risks of AI, deepfakes, epistemic problems with recommender algorithms, etc.
This is for an upper division course, so ideally stuff that is big picture and teachable. Self-recommendations welcome :)
This is for an upper division course, so ideally stuff that is big picture and teachable. Self-recommendations welcome :)
Reposted by Shawn Standefer
philosopher of language going down an undetached rabbit parts hole
January 20, 2026 at 2:15 PM
philosopher of language going down an undetached rabbit parts hole
Relevant Logics | Cambridge University Press & Assessment
www.cambridge.org
January 19, 2026 at 2:54 PM
Reposted by Shawn Standefer
Does anyone have a good intuition for why Q (Robinson Arithmetic) doesn't prove Lob's Theorem?
January 17, 2026 at 10:38 PM
Does anyone have a good intuition for why Q (Robinson Arithmetic) doesn't prove Lob's Theorem?
Reposted by Shawn Standefer
The updated SEP entry on #Hyperintensionality is online!
As the topic has exploded in recent years, might be Daniel and I haven't managed to mention YOUR stuff. Don't be upset: rest assured we've mentioned something intensionally equivalent to that. 😎
plato.stanford.edu/entries/hype...
As the topic has exploded in recent years, might be Daniel and I haven't managed to mention YOUR stuff. Don't be upset: rest assured we've mentioned something intensionally equivalent to that. 😎
plato.stanford.edu/entries/hype...
Hyperintensionality (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)
plato.stanford.edu
January 16, 2026 at 8:00 PM
The updated SEP entry on #Hyperintensionality is online!
As the topic has exploded in recent years, might be Daniel and I haven't managed to mention YOUR stuff. Don't be upset: rest assured we've mentioned something intensionally equivalent to that. 😎
plato.stanford.edu/entries/hype...
As the topic has exploded in recent years, might be Daniel and I haven't managed to mention YOUR stuff. Don't be upset: rest assured we've mentioned something intensionally equivalent to that. 😎
plato.stanford.edu/entries/hype...
Reposted by Shawn Standefer
It's World #Logic Day and this year, too, I plan to make valid inferences all day, while ignoring what I'm talking about and whether what I say is true. 🙂
www.unesco.org/en/days/worl...
www.unesco.org/en/days/worl...
World Logic Day
14 January
www.unesco.org
January 14, 2026 at 11:31 AM
It's World #Logic Day and this year, too, I plan to make valid inferences all day, while ignoring what I'm talking about and whether what I say is true. 🙂
www.unesco.org/en/days/worl...
www.unesco.org/en/days/worl...
Reposted by Shawn Standefer
Today is officially my first day starting my new job as assistant professor at the Graduate School of Information Sciences at Tohoku University in Sendai, Japan. I'm super excited to be here - the city is lovely, everyone at university so welcoming and friendly and the logic group is amazing! 😍
January 10, 2026 at 6:25 AM
Today is officially my first day starting my new job as assistant professor at the Graduate School of Information Sciences at Tohoku University in Sendai, Japan. I'm super excited to be here - the city is lovely, everyone at university so welcoming and friendly and the logic group is amazing! 😍
Reposted by Shawn Standefer
still one of my favorite jokes from the series
January 8, 2026 at 10:13 PM
still one of my favorite jokes from the series
Reposted by Shawn Standefer
New paper in Synthese: 'Robustness and trustworthiness in AI: a no-go result from formal epistemology'
❓When does AI model M, on input x, show behavior φ robustly?
💡In modal logic: M,x⊧□φ
➡️Exposes limit on robustness & trustworthiness
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
philpapers.org/rec/HORRAT-13
❓When does AI model M, on input x, show behavior φ robustly?
💡In modal logic: M,x⊧□φ
➡️Exposes limit on robustness & trustworthiness
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
philpapers.org/rec/HORRAT-13
Robustness and trustworthiness in AI: a no-go result from formal epistemology - Synthese
Synthese - A major issue for the trustworthiness of modern AI-models is their lack of robustness. A notorious example is that putting a small sticker on a stop sign can cause AI-models to classify...
link.springer.com
January 7, 2026 at 2:21 PM
New paper in Synthese: 'Robustness and trustworthiness in AI: a no-go result from formal epistemology'
❓When does AI model M, on input x, show behavior φ robustly?
💡In modal logic: M,x⊧□φ
➡️Exposes limit on robustness & trustworthiness
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
philpapers.org/rec/HORRAT-13
❓When does AI model M, on input x, show behavior φ robustly?
💡In modal logic: M,x⊧□φ
➡️Exposes limit on robustness & trustworthiness
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
philpapers.org/rec/HORRAT-13
Reposted by Shawn Standefer
Let's normalize refereeing invitations where reading the submitted paper and writing a report is less work than logging into the journal management website.
January 6, 2026 at 9:42 PM
Let's normalize refereeing invitations where reading the submitted paper and writing a report is less work than logging into the journal management website.
Reposted by Shawn Standefer
Okay @erinbiba.bsky.social it’s time for my second-most anticipated annual thread: Cats in Christmas Trees (and Battling Menorahs). Starting off strong with Donut.
December 3, 2025 at 4:52 AM
Okay @erinbiba.bsky.social it’s time for my second-most anticipated annual thread: Cats in Christmas Trees (and Battling Menorahs). Starting off strong with Donut.
Reposted by Shawn Standefer
January 5, 2026 at 2:07 PM
Reposted by Shawn Standefer
May your year be blessed with accepts subject to minor corrections.
January 1, 2026 at 7:30 AM
May your year be blessed with accepts subject to minor corrections.
Reposted by Shawn Standefer
my wish for the new year is for stuff to stop happening so much
December 31, 2025 at 10:03 PM
my wish for the new year is for stuff to stop happening so much
Reposted by Shawn Standefer
Intersective modification in the scope of maximization stays undefeated
I've been thinking about this sign for 6 months. a phrase I'll treasure forever. a metaphor with boundless potential
December 30, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Intersective modification in the scope of maximization stays undefeated
Reposted by Shawn Standefer
Semiotic paradox alert!
December 29, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Semiotic paradox alert!
Reposted by Shawn Standefer
Another argument against Hamblin's idea of questions as sets of their possible answers. Consider (i) the question asked by 'were dogs domesticated once or more than once times?', and (ii) the set {<dogs were domesticated once>, <dogs were domesticated more than once>}.
December 27, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Another argument against Hamblin's idea of questions as sets of their possible answers. Consider (i) the question asked by 'were dogs domesticated once or more than once times?', and (ii) the set {<dogs were domesticated once>, <dogs were domesticated more than once>}.
Reposted by Shawn Standefer
Loving the aesthetic of this jar of chilli oil, which is not a thing I ever saw myself saying.
December 26, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Loving the aesthetic of this jar of chilli oil, which is not a thing I ever saw myself saying.
Reposted by Shawn Standefer
Japanese cat accounts have also largely coalesced around the hashtag #Blueskyねこ部 (which roughly translates to "Bluesky Cat Club")
bsky.app/profile/pac2...
bsky.app/profile/pac2...
December 25, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Japanese cat accounts have also largely coalesced around the hashtag #Blueskyねこ部 (which roughly translates to "Bluesky Cat Club")
bsky.app/profile/pac2...
bsky.app/profile/pac2...
Reposted by Shawn Standefer
Merry Taiwanese Constitution Day to all who celebrate
December 25, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Merry Taiwanese Constitution Day to all who celebrate