Alexander Douglas
@axdouglas.bsky.social
Senior Lecturer in Philosophy, University of St Andrews
https://axdouglas.com/
https://axdouglas.substack.com/
Latest book: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/456203/against-identity-by-douglas-alexander/9780241648216
Photo by Lauren Douglas
https://axdouglas.com/
https://axdouglas.substack.com/
Latest book: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/456203/against-identity-by-douglas-alexander/9780241648216
Photo by Lauren Douglas
To thank me for my module on Zhuangzi, my students presented me with various useless objects: a pen that leaks, a watch that has stopped, a jar too small to contain anything, a useless tree (from chapters 1 and 4). I am moved beyond words, which is appropriate.
November 27, 2025 at 3:38 PM
To thank me for my module on Zhuangzi, my students presented me with various useless objects: a pen that leaks, a watch that has stopped, a jar too small to contain anything, a useless tree (from chapters 1 and 4). I am moved beyond words, which is appropriate.
Beautiful, driech Amsterdam!
November 23, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Beautiful, driech Amsterdam!
I’m really looking forward to doing two events at this festival:
one on my book, Against Identity
one on a panel with @philipgoff.bsky.social and Fleur Jongepier to discuss the “charms and dangers” of AI
www.g10vandeeconomie.nl#D1
one on my book, Against Identity
one on a panel with @philipgoff.bsky.social and Fleur Jongepier to discuss the “charms and dangers” of AI
www.g10vandeeconomie.nl#D1
November 1, 2025 at 12:08 PM
I’m really looking forward to doing two events at this festival:
one on my book, Against Identity
one on a panel with @philipgoff.bsky.social and Fleur Jongepier to discuss the “charms and dangers” of AI
www.g10vandeeconomie.nl#D1
one on my book, Against Identity
one on a panel with @philipgoff.bsky.social and Fleur Jongepier to discuss the “charms and dangers” of AI
www.g10vandeeconomie.nl#D1
Whenever I think of the "Analytic-Continental" divide in philosophy, I remember this Economist headline from decades ago.
October 17, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Whenever I think of the "Analytic-Continental" divide in philosophy, I remember this Economist headline from decades ago.
I’m a strong advocate of ancient languages, but it seems dangerous to overpromise…
October 6, 2025 at 6:51 AM
I’m a strong advocate of ancient languages, but it seems dangerous to overpromise…
You are choosing easy examples to get to your conclusion. What about these:
September 18, 2025 at 11:30 AM
You are choosing easy examples to get to your conclusion. What about these:
But what is "quality"? Zhuangzi speaks to us; it might not speak to others. Others can write philosophy to speak to them. Do we need to rank things on an objective scale? The point I was trying to make here:
September 18, 2025 at 11:24 AM
But what is "quality"? Zhuangzi speaks to us; it might not speak to others. Others can write philosophy to speak to them. Do we need to rank things on an objective scale? The point I was trying to make here:
I do really think that the Buru Quartet is one of the great works of literature, on the level of Dostoevsky. I’m going to write about it at some point. For now I just think it’s my civic duty to point out that the whole thing is beautifully translated into English by Max Lane.
August 22, 2025 at 8:41 AM
I do really think that the Buru Quartet is one of the great works of literature, on the level of Dostoevsky. I’m going to write about it at some point. For now I just think it’s my civic duty to point out that the whole thing is beautifully translated into English by Max Lane.
I have long argued that literature contains more truth than philosophy.
August 4, 2025 at 2:46 PM
I have long argued that literature contains more truth than philosophy.
There is, I think, an exquisite wisdom in these three paragraphs from Moshin Hamid’s essay, “In the 21st century, we are all migrants”.
August 3, 2025 at 10:37 AM
There is, I think, an exquisite wisdom in these three paragraphs from Moshin Hamid’s essay, “In the 21st century, we are all migrants”.
Hahaha the ONE water dispenser someone thought to install in Kings Cross Station is out of order.
Londoners love to say “London’s not built for the heat”. The directors of the Greater London Authority say it. My friends! Thine is the power.
Londoners love to say “London’s not built for the heat”. The directors of the Greater London Authority say it. My friends! Thine is the power.
July 12, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Hahaha the ONE water dispenser someone thought to install in Kings Cross Station is out of order.
Londoners love to say “London’s not built for the heat”. The directors of the Greater London Authority say it. My friends! Thine is the power.
Londoners love to say “London’s not built for the heat”. The directors of the Greater London Authority say it. My friends! Thine is the power.
I realised that I went for a personal answer when I should have gone for a scientific one. My problem with London is, basically, this:
June 30, 2025 at 6:51 AM
I realised that I went for a personal answer when I should have gone for a scientific one. My problem with London is, basically, this:
It’s out today! www.penguin.co.uk/books/456203...
June 19, 2025 at 7:47 AM
It’s out today! www.penguin.co.uk/books/456203...
I appreciate the honesty of this defence of anal phil’s ahistoricity. I don’t fully understand it, but at least it’s openly asserted.
June 14, 2025 at 10:14 AM
I appreciate the honesty of this defence of anal phil’s ahistoricity. I don’t fully understand it, but at least it’s openly asserted.
Not quite. There is this thesis on p.4 of the book, but the more general purpose is to examine the various social influences on the development of analytic philosophy.
I’m convinced that most of the social influences recorded were in fact influences. I’m less convinced by the thesis in the picture.
I’m convinced that most of the social influences recorded were in fact influences. I’m less convinced by the thesis in the picture.
June 12, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Not quite. There is this thesis on p.4 of the book, but the more general purpose is to examine the various social influences on the development of analytic philosophy.
I’m convinced that most of the social influences recorded were in fact influences. I’m less convinced by the thesis in the picture.
I’m convinced that most of the social influences recorded were in fact influences. I’m less convinced by the thesis in the picture.
It's also just full of straightforward mischaracterisations. E.g., Christoph in no way tries to "emphasise" class privilege and private schooling. He goes out of his way to mention figures with unusual backgrounds, such as Margaret MacDonald and Hugh MacColl. It's not his fault there aren't many.
June 12, 2025 at 10:52 AM
It's also just full of straightforward mischaracterisations. E.g., Christoph in no way tries to "emphasise" class privilege and private schooling. He goes out of his way to mention figures with unusual backgrounds, such as Margaret MacDonald and Hugh MacColl. It's not his fault there aren't many.
When he tries to make a point by replacing "intuition" with "premise" in this paragraph, he leaves "intuitive" in place! That seems to say it all.
June 11, 2025 at 10:34 AM
When he tries to make a point by replacing "intuition" with "premise" in this paragraph, he leaves "intuitive" in place! That seems to say it all.
Is this the book that will slay the beast??
June 5, 2025 at 6:56 AM
Is this the book that will slay the beast??
Advance copies arrived 😃😬
May 19, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Advance copies arrived 😃😬
I was a good baby
April 18, 2025 at 12:26 PM
I was a good baby
Gear up for the gauntloop
April 16, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Gear up for the gauntloop