Grumpy Philosopher
@stevecooke.org
Grumpy. Associate Professor of Political Philosophy. Animal rights, ethics of activism, political philosophy.
Homepage: https://stevecooke.org/
Homepage: https://stevecooke.org/
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Grumpy Philosopher
@stevecooke.org
· Dec 5
Steve Cooke – Adventures in Philosophy
stevecooke.org
I've built myself a website, which includes a list of journals for animal rights philosophers to submit to (organised by publisher), a couple of syllabi, my essay writing guide for political philosophy students, & articles that philosophers say have changed their minds: stevecooke.org
Trying very hard to find a way to make "I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of peace" a section title in one of may papers.
January 19, 2026 at 8:46 PM
Trying very hard to find a way to make "I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of peace" a section title in one of may papers.
Cows normally have preferred grooming partners (friends) to do what Veronica has learned to do. I assume she has learned to innovate because she doesn’t have heard-mates to groom her. It’s fascinating & exciting if a little sad (albeit much better than being exploited for food).
Cow Tools!
We have lived alongside cows for nearly 10,000 years.
We breed them and exploit them
It is now, only now, that we have discovered THEY CAN USE TOOLS
Here I describe our study
(paper) www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... in @currentbiology.bsky.social
with @auersperga.bsky.social
We have lived alongside cows for nearly 10,000 years.
We breed them and exploit them
It is now, only now, that we have discovered THEY CAN USE TOOLS
Here I describe our study
(paper) www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... in @currentbiology.bsky.social
with @auersperga.bsky.social
January 19, 2026 at 8:03 PM
Cows normally have preferred grooming partners (friends) to do what Veronica has learned to do. I assume she has learned to innovate because she doesn’t have heard-mates to groom her. It’s fascinating & exciting if a little sad (albeit much better than being exploited for food).
Reposted by Grumpy Philosopher
OMG, he actually did the ‘I can’t be sexist, my wife is a woman’ line.
January 19, 2026 at 5:45 PM
OMG, he actually did the ‘I can’t be sexist, my wife is a woman’ line.
Oh will you just shut up for a single solitary minute James. You aren’t being silenced because you’re a man (while repeatedly publishing in national newspapers!), your opinions are just shit. Tiresome man wants to force women to listen to his horrible & boring opinions, a tale as old as time.
January 19, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Oh will you just shut up for a single solitary minute James. You aren’t being silenced because you’re a man (while repeatedly publishing in national newspapers!), your opinions are just shit. Tiresome man wants to force women to listen to his horrible & boring opinions, a tale as old as time.
An email invites me tp have my book discussed at an 'inspirational self-development book club'. I checked their Youtube page: 'This account has been terminated because we received multiple third-party claims of copyright infringement regarding material that the user posted.' A great sign.
January 19, 2026 at 5:36 PM
An email invites me tp have my book discussed at an 'inspirational self-development book club'. I checked their Youtube page: 'This account has been terminated because we received multiple third-party claims of copyright infringement regarding material that the user posted.' A great sign.
The so-called Board of Peace would be run by Trump; feature five US toadies/relatives, Tony Blair, the president of the World Bank & whichever countries give Trump $1bn. It's intended to be an axis of authoritarianism and corruption.
The charter of the ‘Board of Peace’
does not mention Gaza at all but stresses the need for a “more nimble and effective international peace-building body”, suggests its scope would be far broader, and that the body could be used as a rival to the UN…
www.ft.com/content/0ee7...
does not mention Gaza at all but stresses the need for a “more nimble and effective international peace-building body”, suggests its scope would be far broader, and that the body could be used as a rival to the UN…
www.ft.com/content/0ee7...
Broad mandate of Trump’s Board of Peace sets it up for rivalry with UN
Body was originally planned to oversee Gaza but charter’s expansive wording suggests it could mediate in other conflicts
www.ft.com
January 19, 2026 at 4:18 PM
The so-called Board of Peace would be run by Trump; feature five US toadies/relatives, Tony Blair, the president of the World Bank & whichever countries give Trump $1bn. It's intended to be an axis of authoritarianism and corruption.
Reposted by Grumpy Philosopher
I can only describe this as an obscenity, since Putin is an indicted war criminal. If it's true that Lukashenka has also been invited to join, the whole thing becomes an evil joke, and no serious government should have anything to do with it.
Russian President Putin has received an invitation to join Trump’s proposed “Board of Peace” for Gaza, according to the Kremlin.
Trump Invited Putin to Join Gaza ‘Board of Peace,’ Kremlin Says
Russian President Vladimir Putin has received an invitation to join Donald Trump’s proposed Board of Peace for Gaza, the Kremlin said.
www.bloomberg.com
January 19, 2026 at 3:39 PM
I can only describe this as an obscenity, since Putin is an indicted war criminal. If it's true that Lukashenka has also been invited to join, the whole thing becomes an evil joke, and no serious government should have anything to do with it.
Reposted by Grumpy Philosopher
rediscovering the easiest way to cut 10,000 words from a book draft:
1. divide it into sections
2. craft careful to do list for each
3. clean the whole house
4. go for a walk
5. return home with a satisfied sigh, march through the door, throw the book in the bin and run away to live in the woods
1. divide it into sections
2. craft careful to do list for each
3. clean the whole house
4. go for a walk
5. return home with a satisfied sigh, march through the door, throw the book in the bin and run away to live in the woods
January 19, 2026 at 2:25 PM
rediscovering the easiest way to cut 10,000 words from a book draft:
1. divide it into sections
2. craft careful to do list for each
3. clean the whole house
4. go for a walk
5. return home with a satisfied sigh, march through the door, throw the book in the bin and run away to live in the woods
1. divide it into sections
2. craft careful to do list for each
3. clean the whole house
4. go for a walk
5. return home with a satisfied sigh, march through the door, throw the book in the bin and run away to live in the woods
So far, my entire day has been taken up with reviewing a grant application and responding to a request for advice from an NGO. Neither of which are the marking I need to complete. None of those three things part of the research leave I am supposed to be on! Argh.
January 19, 2026 at 2:27 PM
So far, my entire day has been taken up with reviewing a grant application and responding to a request for advice from an NGO. Neither of which are the marking I need to complete. None of those three things part of the research leave I am supposed to be on! Argh.
Reposted by Grumpy Philosopher
It was inevitable.
Amazon's Ring to partner with Flock, a network of AI cameras used by ICE, feds, and police | TechCrunch
Agencies that use Flock can request that Ring doorbell users share footage to help with "evidence collection and investigative work."
techcrunch.com
January 19, 2026 at 8:02 AM
It was inevitable.
They do this because it works. Right-wing overseas oil barons have bought our newspaper output. Our information architecture is screwed, and it's pushing us steadily towards destructive authoritarianism. We all loose, already rich people profit. It's beyond time regulation was improved.
The Ed Miliband hate-fest in the UK press continued last year.
Predominantly right-wing newspapers published an incredible 112 editorials attacking the energy secretary.
That's two editorials a week, and more than twice as many as 2024, calling him a "crazed" "zealot" suffering with “eco insanity”
Predominantly right-wing newspapers published an incredible 112 editorials attacking the energy secretary.
That's two editorials a week, and more than twice as many as 2024, calling him a "crazed" "zealot" suffering with “eco insanity”
January 19, 2026 at 1:35 PM
They do this because it works. Right-wing overseas oil barons have bought our newspaper output. Our information architecture is screwed, and it's pushing us steadily towards destructive authoritarianism. We all loose, already rich people profit. It's beyond time regulation was improved.
Reposted by Grumpy Philosopher
I'm perfectly aware this is by far not the worst thing he's done, but Trump's constant presence - day after day after day - in the lives and headspaces of hundreds of millions of people (billions?), in the US and outside, is so taxing. Every morning, we wake up and have to think about this asshole.
January 19, 2026 at 8:10 AM
I'm perfectly aware this is by far not the worst thing he's done, but Trump's constant presence - day after day after day - in the lives and headspaces of hundreds of millions of people (billions?), in the US and outside, is so taxing. Every morning, we wake up and have to think about this asshole.
Reposted by Grumpy Philosopher
Broken record, but it makes no sense to give the US unfettered access to European military installations and technology while Trump's actively threatening the safety and integrity of Europe. Can we get on this please?
What if the EU imposed export controls on icebreakers and whatever else they need to operate in the Arctic? www.bbc.com/news/article...
Why the US is buying icebreakers from Finland
The Nordic nation leads the way when it comes to both the design and construction of the vessels.
www.bbc.com
January 19, 2026 at 8:50 AM
Broken record, but it makes no sense to give the US unfettered access to European military installations and technology while Trump's actively threatening the safety and integrity of Europe. Can we get on this please?
Just putting aside the fact that Liz Truss is a very strange conspiracy theorist, this tweet suggests she’s rooting for Reform. Someone should enquire as to her Conservative Party membership status.
Former Prime Minister Liz Truss tweets that Robert Jenrick is a "trojan horse" who is "getting his orders" from some unidentified shadowy force of global conspirators
January 19, 2026 at 8:43 AM
Just putting aside the fact that Liz Truss is a very strange conspiracy theorist, this tweet suggests she’s rooting for Reform. Someone should enquire as to her Conservative Party membership status.
The content of this is mad, but so is the style. Begins with a 53 word sentence! Commas all over the place, random capitalisation, stream of consciousness. It’s like the emails I periodically receive from obviously unwell conspiracy theorists.
Letter from Trump to the Norwegian PM says since he didn’t get the Nobel Peace Prize he’s decided he wants Greenland.
Even for Donald Trump, this is astonishing behaviour.
“Considering your country decided not to give me the Nobel Prize… I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of peace”.
Even for Donald Trump, this is astonishing behaviour.
“Considering your country decided not to give me the Nobel Prize… I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of peace”.
January 19, 2026 at 8:10 AM
The content of this is mad, but so is the style. Begins with a 53 word sentence! Commas all over the place, random capitalisation, stream of consciousness. It’s like the emails I periodically receive from obviously unwell conspiracy theorists.
Tim Stanley is at it again. It’s amazing what never suffering any bad consequences for writing stupid stuff, when you are paid ostensibly to write clever stuff, does to a person’s brain. Writing this is his job!!!
January 19, 2026 at 7:47 AM
Tim Stanley is at it again. It’s amazing what never suffering any bad consequences for writing stupid stuff, when you are paid ostensibly to write clever stuff, does to a person’s brain. Writing this is his job!!!
Reposted by Grumpy Philosopher
Reposted by Grumpy Philosopher
Reform's vetting procedures:
January 18, 2026 at 8:33 PM
Reform's vetting procedures:
Reposted by Grumpy Philosopher
Yes, 30% of Republicans would approve illegally attacking a peaceful NATO ally to annex territory.
Source: www.cbsnews.com/news/ice-tru...
Source: www.cbsnews.com/news/ice-tru...
January 18, 2026 at 5:28 PM
Yes, 30% of Republicans would approve illegally attacking a peaceful NATO ally to annex territory.
Source: www.cbsnews.com/news/ice-tru...
Source: www.cbsnews.com/news/ice-tru...
Reform attracting a lot of people who are best described with one or two words that sound very like ‘racist’.
January 18, 2026 at 10:04 PM
Reform attracting a lot of people who are best described with one or two words that sound very like ‘racist’.
Kemi doing what Kemi always does: speak without thinking, say something incredibly foolish.
Kemi Badenoch two days ago: "I'm 100% confident" there will be no more defections to Reform
January 18, 2026 at 9:59 PM
Kemi doing what Kemi always does: speak without thinking, say something incredibly foolish.
Well, AFCON was a fantastic tournament, and there’s been plenty of drama, but this final is an absolute joke. I don’t really why the game wasn’t forfeit when Senegal walked off, and those refs should be banished from tournament football. Best team won, but that was shameful.
January 18, 2026 at 9:58 PM
Well, AFCON was a fantastic tournament, and there’s been plenty of drama, but this final is an absolute joke. I don’t really why the game wasn’t forfeit when Senegal walked off, and those refs should be banished from tournament football. Best team won, but that was shameful.
Andrew Rosindell and Robert Jenrick in a single week! Reform really is attracting the worst people in Parliament. I await the news that Chris Pincher, Owen Paterson, Ahmad Khan, & Chris Davies are following them. Assume Nick Griffin some time later.
January 18, 2026 at 9:27 PM
Andrew Rosindell and Robert Jenrick in a single week! Reform really is attracting the worst people in Parliament. I await the news that Chris Pincher, Owen Paterson, Ahmad Khan, & Chris Davies are following them. Assume Nick Griffin some time later.
It feels like only minutes since we last had a Bluesky fight about food between British and American people. I think we all know there are no good processed American foods though.
I am making the supreme sacrifice in the name of solidarity. For as long as Trump is threatening Greenland I will boycott American bread and chocolate.
January 18, 2026 at 7:51 PM
It feels like only minutes since we last had a Bluesky fight about food between British and American people. I think we all know there are no good processed American foods though.
I am very bored, & my children refuse to entertain me, so I have ranked all of the Spurs managers since my wife introduced me to the misery that is being a football fan & we first got a TV. Marks out of 30 combining likability, win rate, football enjoyment. In conclusion: Frank out, come back Poch!
January 18, 2026 at 7:23 PM
I am very bored, & my children refuse to entertain me, so I have ranked all of the Spurs managers since my wife introduced me to the misery that is being a football fan & we first got a TV. Marks out of 30 combining likability, win rate, football enjoyment. In conclusion: Frank out, come back Poch!