Jonathan Wolff | Lightnews

Jo Wolff

@jowolff.bsky.social

27K followers 3.6K following 18K posts

Jonathan Wolff,
Political Philosopher.
Fellow British Academy
Emeritus Professor Blavatnik School of Government, Oxford
Wolfson College
President The Royal Institute of Philosophy
THFC supporter in 'early season false hope’ mode.

#academic .. more

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Jonathan Wolff is a British philosopher. He is a Senior Research Fellow in Philosophy and Public Policy and Governing Body Fellow at Wolfson College, Oxford. He was formerly the Alfred Landecker Professor of Values and Public Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford. Prior to his joining the Blavatnik School in 2016, Wolff's academic career had been spent at University College London (UCL), where he was, latterly, Professor of Philosophy and Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. .. more

Political science 51%

Philosophy 14%

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Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · Nov 21

I’ve changed my header photo to this one. It shows my father Herbert and his sister Lotte with their parents Fritz and Marta in their Frankfurt apartment before Herbert and Lotte were sent to England on the Kindertransport, and later Fritz and Marta transported to Lodz Ghetto, final fate unknown.

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 39m

Yet again regretting my failure to give proper attention to the distinction between ‘water resistant’ and ‘waterproof’.

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 3h

Sign outside Philosophy Department:

“No ideas left here overnight.”

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 3h

An apology. A few years ago some people suggested that Nigel Farage could be the next Prime Minister. I thought this ridiculous and that the Conservative Party would never have him as leader. What I had not anticipated was that the Conservative Party would abolish itself and move over to Farage.

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 3h

Just saw the news that Badenoch has sacked Jenrick. Really surprised me. I’d forgotten the Conservative Party still existed.

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 6h

Early on in this Presidency I said that a major indicator that a society has moved from democracy to authoritarianism is to treat all opposition as treason.

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 7h

That’s why billionaires are arguing for UBI so there’s still money to buy the junk they get rich on. But they forget it’s them who will have to pay the taxes to fund it. Feels like they have everything backwards.

Reposted by Andrew Livingstone

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 7h

A few years ago analysts were writing that AI would devastate the workplace by replacing drivers with self driving cars.

Today the drivers still have their jobs, but the analysts have been replaced.

Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 7h

My FT splash today:

Sadiq Khan, the London mayor, will warn that AI risks destroying huge numbers of jobs in the capital and “usher in a new era of mass unemployment” unless ministers take proactive measures.

www.ft.com/content/6f92...

Sadiq Khan to warn AI could cause ‘mass unemployment’ in London

Mayor concerned that capital will be at ‘sharpest edge of change’ given dependence on white-collar jobs

www.ft.com

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 7h

Luckily Chagall called this ‘Clown with Lion’ as I was struggling to work out what the animal was.

Reposted by Jonathan Wolff, Jack Stilgoe

Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 7h

Sadiq Khan to warn AI could cause ‘mass unemployment’ in London

Mayor concerned that capital will be at ‘sharpest edge of change’ given dependence on white-collar jobs

www.ft.com

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 8h

Trump objecting to Iran attacking peaceful protesters seems to be based on the thought that only he should be able to do that.

Minnesota Star Tribune @startribune.com · 12h

Some protesters have reported being hit with rubber bullets close to the scene of a reported shooting in north Minneapolis involving federal agents in the area of W. 25th Street and Lyndale Avenue N.

Federal agents have deployed chemical irritants. Updates here: bit.ly/4sI4z3q

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 8h

Not sure. Is everyone who claims to be woke prepared to say they were once asleep?

Reposted by Jonathan Wolff, Melanie O’Brien

Minnesota Star Tribune @startribune.com · 12h

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 15h

There are 50 in the thread. Ran out of steam.

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 16h

I think there was a publication date cut off. Can’t remember now exactly.

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 19h

Waiting for the reminder ‘People with similar interests to you gave up years ago.’

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 21h

It’s there!

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 22h

Errrr. Fighting antisemitism.

1. Do NOT ask for a list of Jews.

2. Try to understand the reasons that might have led to a rise in antisemitism such as a leadership disinhibiting prejudice.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

UPenn faculty condemn Trump administration’s demand for ‘lists of Jews’

Groups say EEOC demand for names and personal details echoes dark history and threatens safety and civil rights

www.theguardian.com

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 1d

The word 'wakeful' appeared in an (old) book I'm reading. Maybe we should start using this as a cleansed version of 'woke'. At the very least it would give the reactionary right more work to do.

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 1d

It is there! The thread can be hard to follow though. I got to 50 and gave up.

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 1d

Crikey I’d forgotten about this thread, but it’s just come up in my mentions.

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · May 11

Once upon a time I had the idea of writing a book called ‘The Ageing Intellectual’s Book Shelf’ with 100 titles (non fiction) bookish people maybe a little older than me would have had. Might slowly do it here, though without the discussion. Here’s the obvious first. Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring.

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 1d

Come on Trump! Announce an even larger trade deficit to show you have the biggest numbers.

“China Announces Record Trade Surplus as Its Exports Flood World Markets” www.nytimes.com/2026/01/13/b...

China Announces Record Trade Surplus as Its Exports Flood World Markets

www.nytimes.com

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 1d

Tropical Islington

Three green parakeets in a tree against bright blue sky.

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 1d

I have visited Bielefeld and had the most unGerman experience of my life. The woman who had been sitting next to me on the plane saw me trying to get directions to my hotel at the information desk in the airport, said she lived in the neighbourhood and offered me a lift.

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 1d

Just seen the claim that 'to this day [The University of Bonn] is the handsomest university campus in Germany'. Is this generally accepted?

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 1d

Very proud of this paper. I gave a talk at a conference on African perspectives on the human right to health in Geneva in 2020.
Zahara Nampewo and Jennifer Heaven Mike gave two excellent replies so we decided to write it up as a joint paper. Now has 100+ citations

link.springer.com/content/pdf/...

link.springer.com

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 1d

“The letter -- dated January 1, 2026 -- reveals he's still of sound mind ... and that he's converting to Christianity because of the "risk-reward" calculation.”

I hear God is really impressed with people who convert on the basis of the cost/benefit analysis.

Micah @rincewind.run · 1d

the nicest possible thing I can say about scott adams is “well… bye”

Lindsay Beyerstein @beyerstein.bsky.social · 1d

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 1d

So Americans will now have to wear AI too?

Reuters @reuters.com · 1d

Biggest US retail collapses in recent years as Saks Global files for bankruptcy reut.rs/3NsQZAS

Biggest US retail collapses in recent years as Saks Global files for bankruptcy

Saks Global filed for bankruptcy late on Tuesday, adding to a long list of high-profile retail collapses in the United States in the past decade as they struggled to stay alive amid cut-throat competition from big-box and online retailers.

reut.rs

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 1d

The Trump Administration have done their homework and preparation all the way up to the point where they can grab and hoard power but after that it’s pure chaos, damage and death.

Reposted by Jonathan Wolff

Reuters @reuters.com · 1d

Biggest US retail collapses in recent years as Saks Global files for bankruptcy reut.rs/3NsQZAS

Biggest US retail collapses in recent years as Saks Global files for bankruptcy

reut.rs

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 1d

Desperately trying to reassure myself that politics comes in cycles and we’re due for a global upturn before very long.

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