Fırat Akova
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firatakova.bsky.social
Fırat Akova
@firatakova.bsky.social
290 followers 96 following 53 posts
PhD in Philosophy. Senior Research Fellow at PowerForDemocracies.org. Founder of Poedat.

Former Lecturer at Koç. Former Oxford Global Priorities Fellow. Alumnus of Warwick, Bilgi, McGill.

Ethics, politics, effective altruism, AI. Vegan.

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firatakova.bsky.social
"Tongue Fu!" is one of the best non-academic books I have read recently. It is a fantastic resource that can be revisited repeatedly in everyday life, professional settings, and challenging conversations.
The image is the cover of the book "Tongue Fu!" by Sam Horn.
January 31, 2025 at 6:17 PM
firatakova.bsky.social
If I were to describe this book in a single word, it would be "charitable". It is written with an extraordinary level of epistemic humility. It covers opposing views without doing them any injustice.

For those interested in reducing animal suffering and vegan activism.
The image is a book cover titled "How to Create a Vegan World: A Pragmatic Approach" by Tobias Leenaert, with a foreword by Peter Singer. The cover features an illustration of Earth made up of fruits and vegetables on a green background.
December 19, 2024 at 11:32 AM
firatakova.bsky.social
Contextualism: the gender properties are determined by how we are treated.

Pluralism: multiple features define our genders.
The image represents a framework that demonstrates contextualism. It illustrates how "Gendered Social Position" is influenced by varying contexts (context A and context B) and interacts with the broader notion of "Gender Identity." The model highlights that gender identity is not static but shaped by its relationship to specific social contexts and positions. The diagram represents a pluralistic concept of gender by illustrating its relationship with two interconnected aspects: "Gendered Social Position" and "Gender Identity." At the top, a circle labeled "Gender" serves as the overarching concept. Two arrows extend downward from this circle, signifying that gender is influenced by and encompasses both "Gendered Social Position," represented by a square, and "Gender Identity," represented by a triangle. This structure highlights the multidimensional nature of gender, showing how it integrates both societal roles and personal identity to form a comprehensive understanding of the concept.
November 25, 2024 at 7:12 AM
firatakova.bsky.social
Gender identity first: an individual’s gender is determined solely by their self-identified gender identity.

The no connection view: there is no link between one’s gender identity and their gender; instead, gender is defined by other factors such as social positioning or biological characteristics.
The diagram represents the gender identity first view. It illustrates the relationships between Gender Identity, Gender, and Gendered Social Position. At the foundation is Gender Identity, represented by a triangle, which symbolizes an individual’s internal understanding or experience of their own gender. This identity informs or is connected to Gender, depicted as a circle above, suggesting a broader, socially recognized categorization or understanding of gender. An upward arrow from Gender Identity to Gender indicates a progression or influence. Separately, Gendered Social Position, represented by a square, stands apart, highlighting how society assigns roles, expectations, and statuses based on perceived gender. The positioning of these elements reflects the interplay between personal identity, societal constructs of gender, and the external roles or positions shaped by social structures. The image illustrates the no connection view of gender and gender identity. It depicts three distinct elements: a circle labeled "Gender," a triangle labeled "Gender Identity," and a square labeled "Sex/Socialization/Gendered Social Position." The square is connected to the circle with an arrow, indicating a relationship between sex, socialization, and gender, but there is no connection between the circle representing "Gender" and the triangle representing "Gender Identity." This layout highlights the idea that gender and gender identity are separate concepts, with no direct relationship between them.
November 25, 2024 at 7:12 AM
firatakova.bsky.social
"Recent Work on Gender Identity and Gender" by Rach Cosker-Rowland has become one of the most-read articles in Analysis, a journal published by Oxford University Press.

It explores the relationship between gender identity and gender through four different views.

academic.oup.com/analysis/art...
The diagram illustrates a conceptual framework for understanding how gender is determined, based on whether the features influencing gender vary across contexts and the number of features involved. At the top level, it asks whether gender-determining features are context-dependent. If "Yes," the framework supports Contextualism, which posits that gender is determined differently depending on the situational or cultural context. If "No," it leads to Invariantism, which holds that the features determining gender are consistent across contexts. From Invariantism, the model asks whether multiple features directly determine gender. A "Yes" response aligns with Pluralism, which acknowledges multiple features working together to define gender, exemplified by the Two Properties View. A "No" response leads to Monism, where a single feature dictates gender. Within Monism, there are two approaches: the Gender Identity First view, which centers gender on internal identity, and the No Connection View, which denies any direct relationship between gender and specific features. This framework provides a structured way to analyze diverse philosophical positions on gender determination.
November 25, 2024 at 7:12 AM
firatakova.bsky.social
Name a game with a 10/10 soundtrack.

(Mine is Stardew Valley!)
A pixel art scene from the game Stardew Valley showing a farmhouse with a wooden exterior, a mailbox, planted crops with sprinklers, and farming equipment like barrels and chests. A character wearing a straw hat stands in front of the house.
November 24, 2024 at 2:39 PM
firatakova.bsky.social
More writings on limitarianism are being published recently. In the article below, Ingrid Robeyns argues for setting a limit on the accessions individuals can receive through gifts and inheritance over their lifetime.

doi.org/10.1177/1470...
The abstract reads: "This paper provides a defence of a lifetime limit on how much a person can receive in the form of gifts and inheritances, that is, a person's accessions. I argue that any accessions above that limit should be taxed at a rate of 100%. The analysis shows how this proposal can bring into equilibrium the core values and other goals at stake in the design of taxation on inheritances and gifts. To counter the low level of support for inheritance taxation in general, the analysis must include a proposal concerning what will be done with the tax revenues. I propose turning the accession tax revenues into an unconditional citizen's stake that is granted to young adults. Such an institutional design would create additional value by reducing unfair inequalities between age groups."
November 24, 2024 at 8:11 AM
firatakova.bsky.social
As a delightful coincidence, I came across one of Auguste Rodin's "The Thinker" sculptures at the Strasbourg Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art.
A sculpture of "The Thinker" by Auguste Rodin, prominently displayed on a white pedestal in a well-lit museum gallery. The room has light wood flooring, and there is a modern abstract painting with blue and black tones in the background. Through an open doorway, individuals can be seen seated and engaged in activities, suggesting a study or exhibit space beyond the gallery.
November 22, 2024 at 2:43 PM
firatakova.bsky.social
From November 6-8, I attended the World Democracy Forum organized by the Council of Europe. Together with a group of 10 individuals from various organizations, led by Boğaziçi Avrupa Siyaset Okulu, we traveled from Istanbul to Strasbourg.
A large, modern parliamentary assembly with a wooden, dome-like ceiling featuring prominent arches. The seating is arranged in a semi-circular format, with attendees seated at desks. There are large screens on either side of the room showing a speaker, who is addressing the audience.
November 22, 2024 at 2:43 PM