Vafa Ghazavi
@vafaghazavi.bsky.social
Political theorist and philosopher, public policy strategist, former diplomat. Teaching at the University of Sydney.
Reposted by Vafa Ghazavi
When I was reflecting on my career for my retirement conference I realised it was built on three things I was advised no respectable philosophy academic should do
1 Write texts for students
2 Write collaborative public policy reports
3 Co-author philosophical research
My advice. Do your thing.
1 Write texts for students
2 Write collaborative public policy reports
3 Co-author philosophical research
My advice. Do your thing.
November 17, 2025 at 8:42 PM
When I was reflecting on my career for my retirement conference I realised it was built on three things I was advised no respectable philosophy academic should do
1 Write texts for students
2 Write collaborative public policy reports
3 Co-author philosophical research
My advice. Do your thing.
1 Write texts for students
2 Write collaborative public policy reports
3 Co-author philosophical research
My advice. Do your thing.
Reposted by Vafa Ghazavi
A tree absorbing a headstone into itself at the Old Jewish Cemetery in Frankfurt. Very evocative image of transcendence (in Hegel’s sense of preservation but superseedence) of memory by new life.
November 18, 2025 at 5:21 PM
A tree absorbing a headstone into itself at the Old Jewish Cemetery in Frankfurt. Very evocative image of transcendence (in Hegel’s sense of preservation but superseedence) of memory by new life.
Reposted by Vafa Ghazavi
I talked to @newyorker.com about four books that inspired my writing about dignity.
www.newyorker.com/books/book-c...
www.newyorker.com/books/book-c...
What We Talk About When We Talk About Dignity
The political philosopher Lea Ypi discusses four books about the inviolable quality of dignity.
www.newyorker.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:31 PM
I talked to @newyorker.com about four books that inspired my writing about dignity.
www.newyorker.com/books/book-c...
www.newyorker.com/books/book-c...
Reposted by Vafa Ghazavi
Have they finally worked out how to shame the shameless?
November 13, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Have they finally worked out how to shame the shameless?
Reposted by Vafa Ghazavi
Some US events open to the public next week!
November 12, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Some US events open to the public next week!
Sad to hear of Jonathan Lear's passing. A wonderful philosopher, his work inspired me greatly. Early on in the COVID pandemic, I wrote a piece for @publicseminar.bsky.social drawing on Radical Hope to contemplate how we ought to live when a way of life collapses: publicseminar.org/2020/05/radi...
Radical Hope Amid Catastrophe - Public Seminar
Christian Dior exhibit at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, 2017. Photo credit: Joe deSousa. At a Christian Dior...Read More
publicseminar.org
September 23, 2025 at 5:08 AM
Sad to hear of Jonathan Lear's passing. A wonderful philosopher, his work inspired me greatly. Early on in the COVID pandemic, I wrote a piece for @publicseminar.bsky.social drawing on Radical Hope to contemplate how we ought to live when a way of life collapses: publicseminar.org/2020/05/radi...
Reposted by Vafa Ghazavi
Reposted by Vafa Ghazavi
NEW EPISODE OUT NOW!
Today’s episode is the first in a 3-part conversation with philosopher & writer @leaypi.bsky.social about the idea of dignity and its role in the history of ideas and in the story of our lives. What is the difference between dignity and dignitas?
Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com
Today’s episode is the first in a 3-part conversation with philosopher & writer @leaypi.bsky.social about the idea of dignity and its role in the history of ideas and in the story of our lives. What is the difference between dignity and dignitas?
Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com
September 7, 2025 at 7:47 AM
NEW EPISODE OUT NOW!
Today’s episode is the first in a 3-part conversation with philosopher & writer @leaypi.bsky.social about the idea of dignity and its role in the history of ideas and in the story of our lives. What is the difference between dignity and dignitas?
Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com
Today’s episode is the first in a 3-part conversation with philosopher & writer @leaypi.bsky.social about the idea of dignity and its role in the history of ideas and in the story of our lives. What is the difference between dignity and dignitas?
Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com
Reposted by Vafa Ghazavi
It was such a pleasure to discuss with the brilliant @shafakelif literature and politics, minorities in the Ottoman Empire, how the past conditions us, the role of writers in society, and much more... The joint interview is out in today's @theguardian.com link👇
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/a...
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/a...
August 30, 2025 at 12:58 PM
It was such a pleasure to discuss with the brilliant @shafakelif literature and politics, minorities in the Ottoman Empire, how the past conditions us, the role of writers in society, and much more... The joint interview is out in today's @theguardian.com link👇
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/a...
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/a...
Reposted by Vafa Ghazavi
The Baha’i faith has deep, humanistic teachings we can all benefit from, Arthur C. Brooks writes. He shares five lessons from the religion for a happier life:
Five Baha’i Lessons for a Happier Life
This 19th-century Persian offshoot from Islam has deep, humanistic teachings we can all benefit from.
bit.ly
August 21, 2025 at 10:15 PM
The Baha’i faith has deep, humanistic teachings we can all benefit from, Arthur C. Brooks writes. He shares five lessons from the religion for a happier life:
Reposted by Vafa Ghazavi
The content of my thoughts is now an object in the world!!! Thank you, thank you to everyone who supported the research or supported the writing or supported me & the research & the writing - I am so grateful and happy and can’t wait to celebrate with you all when it’s released on 4th September 😍😍🐥!
July 24, 2025 at 1:46 PM
The content of my thoughts is now an object in the world!!! Thank you, thank you to everyone who supported the research or supported the writing or supported me & the research & the writing - I am so grateful and happy and can’t wait to celebrate with you all when it’s released on 4th September 😍😍🐥!
Reposted by Vafa Ghazavi
Yesterday we celebrated @jowolff.bsky.social remarkable career. Hard to put into words, so here’s a glimpse of the standing ovation that closed the day. Love, admiration, philosophy at its best. Days like this remind me why we do what we do.
July 17, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Yesterday we celebrated @jowolff.bsky.social remarkable career. Hard to put into words, so here’s a glimpse of the standing ovation that closed the day. Love, admiration, philosophy at its best. Days like this remind me why we do what we do.
Reposted by Vafa Ghazavi
It was a very special day, on which we celebrated the career of @jowolff.bsky.social. Lots of interesting presentations and discussions, moving memories, and speeches filled with affection and admiration.
July 16, 2025 at 10:01 PM
It was a very special day, on which we celebrated the career of @jowolff.bsky.social. Lots of interesting presentations and discussions, moving memories, and speeches filled with affection and admiration.
Reposted by Vafa Ghazavi
July 16, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Spotted in Oxford today! Disappointed I won’t be able to go to this event but am very excited about Lea Ypi’s new book 💫 @leaypi.bsky.social perhaps we can organise a Sydney launch down the track?!
July 14, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Spotted in Oxford today! Disappointed I won’t be able to go to this event but am very excited about Lea Ypi’s new book 💫 @leaypi.bsky.social perhaps we can organise a Sydney launch down the track?!
Reposted by Vafa Ghazavi
I wrote something about my friend Melissa Hortman, civility without illusions, and the meaning of public service for The Sydney Morning Herald.
www.smh.com.au/world/north-...
www.smh.com.au/world/north-...
My friend was assassinated. In a world of shrinking political ideals, she was a beacon
Melissa Hortman, a great American reformer, accepted my invitation to come to Australia. Now, that will never happen.
www.smh.com.au
June 18, 2025 at 7:11 AM
I wrote something about my friend Melissa Hortman, civility without illusions, and the meaning of public service for The Sydney Morning Herald.
www.smh.com.au/world/north-...
www.smh.com.au/world/north-...
I wrote something about my friend Melissa Hortman, civility without illusions, and the meaning of public service for The Sydney Morning Herald.
www.smh.com.au/world/north-...
www.smh.com.au/world/north-...
My friend was assassinated. In a world of shrinking political ideals, she was a beacon
Melissa Hortman, a great American reformer, accepted my invitation to come to Australia. Now, that will never happen.
www.smh.com.au
June 18, 2025 at 7:11 AM
I wrote something about my friend Melissa Hortman, civility without illusions, and the meaning of public service for The Sydney Morning Herald.
www.smh.com.au/world/north-...
www.smh.com.au/world/north-...
Reposted by Vafa Ghazavi
I reviewed Quentin Skinner’s new one www.thenation.com/article/arch...
What Is Freedom For?
Books & the Arts / June 9, 2025 Free From What? Quentin Skinner and the contested â¨history of liberty What Is Freedom For? Quentin Skinner and the contested
history of liberty. Samuel Moyn Share Co...
www.thenation.com
June 9, 2025 at 11:09 AM
I reviewed Quentin Skinner’s new one www.thenation.com/article/arch...
Reposted by Vafa Ghazavi
Thank you to @theobserveruk.bsky.social for featuring #TheWorkWeNeed this weekend
May 26, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Thank you to @theobserveruk.bsky.social for featuring #TheWorkWeNeed this weekend
Reposted by Vafa Ghazavi
What would an anti-oligarchic, republican economy look like? UBI? Wealth tax? Workplace democracy? Strong trade unions? Investment democracy? I explore a radical republican economics in my new book, 'The Wealth of Freedom', which is now out online. academic.oup.com/book/60075
The Wealth of Freedom: Radical Republican Political Economy
Abstract. What is an economy for? The republican tradition in political thought offers a compelling way of exploring this question. The economy is for the
academic.oup.com
May 29, 2025 at 12:41 PM
What would an anti-oligarchic, republican economy look like? UBI? Wealth tax? Workplace democracy? Strong trade unions? Investment democracy? I explore a radical republican economics in my new book, 'The Wealth of Freedom', which is now out online. academic.oup.com/book/60075
Enjoyed discussing the idea and potential of ‘progressive patriotism’ with Waleed Aly and Scott Stephens on this episode of The Minefield.
www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
“Progressive patriotism” — is it an idea who time has come? - ABC listen
Fresh from a commanding victory at the federal election, Anthony Albanese began to bundle his campaign policy offerings together in a new package — not just to give these political commitments a kind ...
www.abc.net.au
May 29, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Enjoyed discussing the idea and potential of ‘progressive patriotism’ with Waleed Aly and Scott Stephens on this episode of The Minefield.
www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
The world has lost one of its great thinkers. Thankfully, his powerful ideas and writings remain with us.
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/m...
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/m...
Alasdair MacIntyre obituary
Provocative philosopher who argued that current morality has been cut off from its roots ‘largely thanks to the Enlightenment’
www.theguardian.com
May 26, 2025 at 1:27 AM
The world has lost one of its great thinkers. Thankfully, his powerful ideas and writings remain with us.
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/m...
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/m...
Reposted by Vafa Ghazavi
RIP Alasdair Macintyre
"an education of this kind would ... would produce in our students habits of mind which would unfit them for the contemporary world. But to unfit our students for the
contemporary world ought in any case to be
one of our educational aims." Alasdair Macintyre
contemporary world ought in any case to be
one of our educational aims." Alasdair Macintyre
macintyrestudies.files.wordpress.com
May 22, 2025 at 8:38 PM
RIP Alasdair Macintyre
Reposted by Vafa Ghazavi
The APA is saddened to note the passing of Professor Alasdair Chalmers MacIntyre (1929–2025). MacIntyre was 1984–1985 Eastern Division president. He was Rev. John A. O'Brien Senior Research Professor Emeritus at Notre Dame.
www.apaonline.org/news/701948/...
Photo: Sean O'Connor (CC-BY)
www.apaonline.org/news/701948/...
Photo: Sean O'Connor (CC-BY)
May 23, 2025 at 12:01 AM
The APA is saddened to note the passing of Professor Alasdair Chalmers MacIntyre (1929–2025). MacIntyre was 1984–1985 Eastern Division president. He was Rev. John A. O'Brien Senior Research Professor Emeritus at Notre Dame.
www.apaonline.org/news/701948/...
Photo: Sean O'Connor (CC-BY)
www.apaonline.org/news/701948/...
Photo: Sean O'Connor (CC-BY)