Michael DeMoor
@michaeldemoor.bsky.social
Political theorist and Dean at the King's University in Edmonton. Pluralism, democracy, history of political thought, but don’t expect much.
Pinned
Michael DeMoor
@michaeldemoor.bsky.social
· Nov 10
Hi new followers.
I’m a political philosopher posing as a political theorist, teaching in a Politics, History, and Economics program (think PPE, but with an added H) at a small but lovely Christian liberal arts university in Edmonton, Alberta.
A bit about my interests and research in replies.
I’m a political philosopher posing as a political theorist, teaching in a Politics, History, and Economics program (think PPE, but with an added H) at a small but lovely Christian liberal arts university in Edmonton, Alberta.
A bit about my interests and research in replies.
Even that Gettier paper could have been shorter. I got the point 2/3 of the way in.
Come at me!
Come at me!
I've never read a paper that couldn't be shorter. I've never written a paper that shouldn't be longer.
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Even that Gettier paper could have been shorter. I got the point 2/3 of the way in.
Come at me!
Come at me!
I've never read a paper that couldn't be shorter. I've never written a paper that shouldn't be longer.
November 25, 2025 at 8:52 PM
I've never read a paper that couldn't be shorter. I've never written a paper that shouldn't be longer.
The Owl of Minerva took flight and has seen some shit.
November 24, 2025 at 10:40 PM
The Owl of Minerva took flight and has seen some shit.
There are folks who are genuine fully-paid up Christian Nationalists. There are folks who are influenced by those folks directly and who include some of their commitments and cliches in their repertoire of beliefs. There are folks who do not get their ideas from those people but who “resonate” …
Quite often, "Christian nationalism" plays similar role on the left to "CRT" on the right: a vague and ominous force that can be invoked to scare people instead of making specific and clear critiques. Both actually exist, but the popular shorthand usage frightens more than clarifies.
I'd still argue that they're right to use other terms, not because there aren't people who want the US to be a "Christian nation," but because that isn't the most interesting or important view that such people have. A more adequate description could be MAGA Christians.
November 24, 2025 at 1:56 AM
There are folks who are genuine fully-paid up Christian Nationalists. There are folks who are influenced by those folks directly and who include some of their commitments and cliches in their repertoire of beliefs. There are folks who do not get their ideas from those people but who “resonate” …
The difference between a paleocon in the guise of a socialist and a Red Tory is subtle but important: Red Tories did not despise actual socialists.
what i find utterly fascinating is that basically Lord Glasman is a paleoconservative in the guise of a socialist
What is this word salad?
Tag yourself
Tag yourself
November 23, 2025 at 10:06 PM
The difference between a paleocon in the guise of a socialist and a Red Tory is subtle but important: Red Tories did not despise actual socialists.
One of the only protest signs I ever carried said “raise my taxes”. Here in Alberta, I think we need to build a movement around it. Who’s paying for donuts for the organizing meeting?
And yes 100% we need to be yelling loud and proud- tax people (including me!) and use the money to do the good things that govt is often actually even better and cheaper at delivering!
November 23, 2025 at 9:25 PM
One of the only protest signs I ever carried said “raise my taxes”. Here in Alberta, I think we need to build a movement around it. Who’s paying for donuts for the organizing meeting?
One day this guy is going to say something ill-informed, regressive, or just banal and we’re all going to experience a kind of post-modern crisis because we have lost the guiding light of our fixed star.
Not today, though. This is good stuff.
Not today, though. This is good stuff.
A friend who teaches theology shared with me a post about CS Lewis's Mere Christianity, which discusses foundational Christian logic across denominations. It reminded me of Dale's tweet below, and I wanted to share some thoughts here regarding modesty and respectability, which are often hot topics.
November 23, 2025 at 9:22 PM
One day this guy is going to say something ill-informed, regressive, or just banal and we’re all going to experience a kind of post-modern crisis because we have lost the guiding light of our fixed star.
Not today, though. This is good stuff.
Not today, though. This is good stuff.
Why has Jo Wolff been in my house? Not that he wouldn’t be welcome, but I would like to have been asked.
Surprised he didn’t notice all the cats, though.
Surprised he didn’t notice all the cats, though.
Twitter accounts are based in Russia. BlueSky accounts are based in homes with, frankly, too many books, plants, obsolete cables, and pieces of rustic pottery, that could do with a bit of a tidying up, to be honest.
November 23, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Why has Jo Wolff been in my house? Not that he wouldn’t be welcome, but I would like to have been asked.
Surprised he didn’t notice all the cats, though.
Surprised he didn’t notice all the cats, though.
Reposted by Michael DeMoor
If only there was some way for the state to get money from the “wealthy older Canadians”
Like some kind of percentage you take each year that was in proportion to their ability to pay based on the amount of money their investments make? Or when they pass on inheritance?
Wonder what we could call it
Like some kind of percentage you take each year that was in proportion to their ability to pay based on the amount of money their investments make? Or when they pass on inheritance?
Wonder what we could call it
November 23, 2025 at 7:19 PM
If only there was some way for the state to get money from the “wealthy older Canadians”
Like some kind of percentage you take each year that was in proportion to their ability to pay based on the amount of money their investments make? Or when they pass on inheritance?
Wonder what we could call it
Like some kind of percentage you take each year that was in proportion to their ability to pay based on the amount of money their investments make? Or when they pass on inheritance?
Wonder what we could call it
Will we take a goal off a clumsy goalie pull?
Absolutely
Absolutely
November 23, 2025 at 2:36 AM
Will we take a goal off a clumsy goalie pull?
Absolutely
Absolutely
Saw our firsts in a while with @nyhofs.bsky.social . Hopefully she’ll post better pictures.
November 23, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Saw our firsts in a while with @nyhofs.bsky.social . Hopefully she’ll post better pictures.
Reposted by Michael DeMoor
The kind of centrist whose self-image is largely predicated on being the fair-minded one in a world of broken-brained partisans — the kind of centrist I have been and still am in my darkest heart — desperately needs a symmetry of insanity on both sides to maintain their sense of themselves.
I don't think this is a correct description of America's party system.
November 22, 2025 at 7:49 PM
The kind of centrist whose self-image is largely predicated on being the fair-minded one in a world of broken-brained partisans — the kind of centrist I have been and still am in my darkest heart — desperately needs a symmetry of insanity on both sides to maintain their sense of themselves.
Path dependence
November 23, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Path dependence
If, for some reason, you want an insight into my character, a key exhibit is the fact that I am slavishly obedient to a passive aggressive cartoon owl.
I am also still nowhere near fluent.
I am also still nowhere near fluent.
November 22, 2025 at 11:32 PM
If, for some reason, you want an insight into my character, a key exhibit is the fact that I am slavishly obedient to a passive aggressive cartoon owl.
I am also still nowhere near fluent.
I am also still nowhere near fluent.
The kind of centrist whose self-image is largely predicated on being the fair-minded one in a world of broken-brained partisans — the kind of centrist I have been and still am in my darkest heart — desperately needs a symmetry of insanity on both sides to maintain their sense of themselves.
I don't think this is a correct description of America's party system.
November 22, 2025 at 7:49 PM
The kind of centrist whose self-image is largely predicated on being the fair-minded one in a world of broken-brained partisans — the kind of centrist I have been and still am in my darkest heart — desperately needs a symmetry of insanity on both sides to maintain their sense of themselves.
Reposted by Michael DeMoor
Pro tip for all of you who have students coming home for the holidays. They will get 25% off #VIA rail through the Canada strong pass.
And for those of you travelling with children up to age 18, they will ride for free.
Details here
www.viarail.ca/en/offers/ca...
And for those of you travelling with children up to age 18, they will ride for free.
Details here
www.viarail.ca/en/offers/ca...
Canada Strong Pass | VIA Rail
Celebrate Canada this summer with the Canada Strong Pass: enjoy free or discounted train travel for children and young adults, from coast to coast.
www.viarail.ca
November 22, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Pro tip for all of you who have students coming home for the holidays. They will get 25% off #VIA rail through the Canada strong pass.
And for those of you travelling with children up to age 18, they will ride for free.
Details here
www.viarail.ca/en/offers/ca...
And for those of you travelling with children up to age 18, they will ride for free.
Details here
www.viarail.ca/en/offers/ca...
High butter to potato ratio, whip by hand (so there are a few little lumps left), try to sneak a little garlic powder past the kids. Top with chives but not until after you’ve served it b/c 2 of the kids won’t touch it if there’s green things in there).
Not fancy. But everybody eats.
Not fancy. But everybody eats.
I want to do an old-school Twitter thing and start a food fight. What is the best kind of mashed potatoes?
(I am doing Thanksgiving for twelvish next week and I have made many kinds of mashed potatoes over the years and am still willing to pick this fight)
(I am doing Thanksgiving for twelvish next week and I have made many kinds of mashed potatoes over the years and am still willing to pick this fight)
November 22, 2025 at 5:20 AM
High butter to potato ratio, whip by hand (so there are a few little lumps left), try to sneak a little garlic powder past the kids. Top with chives but not until after you’ve served it b/c 2 of the kids won’t touch it if there’s green things in there).
Not fancy. But everybody eats.
Not fancy. But everybody eats.
Reposted by Michael DeMoor
Postdoc 1: Transmission
Working with Sarah Johnston and Blake Shaffer
A mix of independent research and also being part of an exciting multiyear multi-province and multidisciplinary interprovincial transmission initiative!
Details and apply here: careers.ucalgary.ca/jobs/1706289...
Working with Sarah Johnston and Blake Shaffer
A mix of independent research and also being part of an exciting multiyear multi-province and multidisciplinary interprovincial transmission initiative!
Details and apply here: careers.ucalgary.ca/jobs/1706289...
Postdoctoral Scholar in Electricity Economics, Transmission, Faculty of Arts in
Calgary,
A...
Postdoctoral Scholar in Electricity Economics, Transmission, Faculty of Arts in
Calgary,
A...
careers.ucalgary.ca
November 21, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Postdoc 1: Transmission
Working with Sarah Johnston and Blake Shaffer
A mix of independent research and also being part of an exciting multiyear multi-province and multidisciplinary interprovincial transmission initiative!
Details and apply here: careers.ucalgary.ca/jobs/1706289...
Working with Sarah Johnston and Blake Shaffer
A mix of independent research and also being part of an exciting multiyear multi-province and multidisciplinary interprovincial transmission initiative!
Details and apply here: careers.ucalgary.ca/jobs/1706289...
He’s right, you know. Not infallible, but right on this one at least. (Let’s get an ex cathedra statement on AI!)
November 22, 2025 at 2:16 AM
He’s right, you know. Not infallible, but right on this one at least. (Let’s get an ex cathedra statement on AI!)
Reposted by Michael DeMoor
Because it seems like most of you listen to this, too (one of my favorite podcasts), I'm going to admit that I found this episode a bit frustrating. Not because I carry any water for the book - i'm sure it sucks just as bad as they say.
But the teacher in me feels like I'm sitting in a rowdy...
But the teacher in me feels like I'm sitting in a rowdy...
Episode 46: Sapiens
It's an ambitious goal to write the entire history of humanity in just 400 pages. It's even more ambitious to do it without reading any research.
It's an ambitious goal to write the entire history of humanity in just 400 pages. It's even more ambitious to do it without reading any research.
Sapiens
Podcast Episode · If Books Could Kill · 11/20/2025 · 1h 38m
podcasts.apple.com
November 21, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Because it seems like most of you listen to this, too (one of my favorite podcasts), I'm going to admit that I found this episode a bit frustrating. Not because I carry any water for the book - i'm sure it sucks just as bad as they say.
But the teacher in me feels like I'm sitting in a rowdy...
But the teacher in me feels like I'm sitting in a rowdy...
I know that this is probably true because this is new evidence and I am an optimal Bayesian updater.
Studying philosophy does make people better thinkers, according to new research on more than 600,000 college grads
Philosophy majors rank higher than all other majors on verbal and logical reasoning. theconversation.com/studying-phi... #philosophy #skills #thinking #PhilosophySky #philsky
Philosophy majors rank higher than all other majors on verbal and logical reasoning. theconversation.com/studying-phi... #philosophy #skills #thinking #PhilosophySky #philsky
Studying philosophy does make people better thinkers, according to new research on more than 600,000 college grads
Philosophers are fond of saying that their field boosts critical thinking. Two of them decided to put that claim to the test.
theconversation.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:47 PM
I know that this is probably true because this is new evidence and I am an optimal Bayesian updater.
Reposted by Michael DeMoor
Studying philosophy does make people better thinkers, according to new research on more than 600,000 college grads
Philosophy majors rank higher than all other majors on verbal and logical reasoning. theconversation.com/studying-phi... #philosophy #skills #thinking #PhilosophySky #philsky
Philosophy majors rank higher than all other majors on verbal and logical reasoning. theconversation.com/studying-phi... #philosophy #skills #thinking #PhilosophySky #philsky
Studying philosophy does make people better thinkers, according to new research on more than 600,000 college grads
Philosophers are fond of saying that their field boosts critical thinking. Two of them decided to put that claim to the test.
theconversation.com
November 21, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Studying philosophy does make people better thinkers, according to new research on more than 600,000 college grads
Philosophy majors rank higher than all other majors on verbal and logical reasoning. theconversation.com/studying-phi... #philosophy #skills #thinking #PhilosophySky #philsky
Philosophy majors rank higher than all other majors on verbal and logical reasoning. theconversation.com/studying-phi... #philosophy #skills #thinking #PhilosophySky #philsky
Going to talk to a high school group about Canadian national mythologies, using (as I do) Lightfoot's "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" as the conversation-starter.
Then I'll have them look at this. There is nothing new under the sun.
www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news...
Then I'll have them look at this. There is nothing new under the sun.
www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news...
Prime Minister Carney announces second tranche of nation-building projects referred to the Major Projects Office
In September, Canada’s new government announced the first tranche of major projects – representing $60 billion in investments in nuclear power, LNG, critical minerals, and new trade corridors.
www.pm.gc.ca
November 21, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Going to talk to a high school group about Canadian national mythologies, using (as I do) Lightfoot's "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" as the conversation-starter.
Then I'll have them look at this. There is nothing new under the sun.
www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news...
Then I'll have them look at this. There is nothing new under the sun.
www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news...
Because it seems like most of you listen to this, too (one of my favorite podcasts), I'm going to admit that I found this episode a bit frustrating. Not because I carry any water for the book - i'm sure it sucks just as bad as they say.
But the teacher in me feels like I'm sitting in a rowdy...
But the teacher in me feels like I'm sitting in a rowdy...
Episode 46: Sapiens
It's an ambitious goal to write the entire history of humanity in just 400 pages. It's even more ambitious to do it without reading any research.
It's an ambitious goal to write the entire history of humanity in just 400 pages. It's even more ambitious to do it without reading any research.
Sapiens
Podcast Episode · If Books Could Kill · 11/20/2025 · 1h 38m
podcasts.apple.com
November 21, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Because it seems like most of you listen to this, too (one of my favorite podcasts), I'm going to admit that I found this episode a bit frustrating. Not because I carry any water for the book - i'm sure it sucks just as bad as they say.
But the teacher in me feels like I'm sitting in a rowdy...
But the teacher in me feels like I'm sitting in a rowdy...