Kenneth Novis
@saditious.bsky.social
3rd year Philosophy DPhil @ox.ac.uk | Researching Spinoza, Bayle and the French Enlightenment | also French and Italian Marxism (Weil, Althusser, Deleuze and Operaismo) | Ultraleftist Metalhead | 26 | he/him
https://linktr.ee/saditious
https://linktr.ee/saditious
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Kenneth Novis
@saditious.bsky.social
· Aug 4
Boycott Watkins
www.boycottwatkins.com
There's a new website for the Boycott Watkins campaign: www.boycottwatkins.com (Watkins is the company that owns Zer0 and Repeater books, as well as several other imprints).
If you support BDS, please also add your name to the list at the bottom of the page!
If you support BDS, please also add your name to the list at the bottom of the page!
Reposted by Kenneth Novis
#OtD 29 Nov 1803 the first declaration of independence for Haiti was read in Fort-Dauphin. It was signed by leading Haitian revolutionaries Dessalines, Christophe, and Clerveaux, and began with the words "Liberty, or death". More on global Black struggle: shop.workingclasshistory.com/products/a-h...
November 29, 2025 at 10:26 PM
#OtD 29 Nov 1803 the first declaration of independence for Haiti was read in Fort-Dauphin. It was signed by leading Haitian revolutionaries Dessalines, Christophe, and Clerveaux, and began with the words "Liberty, or death". More on global Black struggle: shop.workingclasshistory.com/products/a-h...
Reposted by Kenneth Novis
Rule of thumb. If someone says:
"Look, that's just the way things are"
Chances are they are benefitting from an injustice they don't want to talk about.
"Look, that's just the way things are"
Chances are they are benefitting from an injustice they don't want to talk about.
November 29, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Rule of thumb. If someone says:
"Look, that's just the way things are"
Chances are they are benefitting from an injustice they don't want to talk about.
"Look, that's just the way things are"
Chances are they are benefitting from an injustice they don't want to talk about.
Some people interpret Simone Weil as someone who thinks we have moral responsibilities towards ecosystems and non-human animals. But she says explicitly that any obligation “is coextensive with the eternal destiny of human beings. Only human beings have an eternal destiny."
November 29, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Some people interpret Simone Weil as someone who thinks we have moral responsibilities towards ecosystems and non-human animals. But she says explicitly that any obligation “is coextensive with the eternal destiny of human beings. Only human beings have an eternal destiny."
Reposted by Kenneth Novis
My article on Schopenhauer‘s alleged misanthropy is now available in early view - and it’s open access!
How Not to Hate Humanity: Schopenhauer's Response to Misanthropy
Abstract. Schopenhauer has a longstanding reputation for misanthropy. The reputation is warranted, but it is also potentially misleading. Privately, Schope
academic.oup.com
November 27, 2025 at 3:51 PM
My article on Schopenhauer‘s alleged misanthropy is now available in early view - and it’s open access!
Reposted by Kenneth Novis
Whatever your approach with your family, there can be no pretense that the genocide in Gaza is over... Families like mine, divided over Israel, are not the important ones here. theintercept.com/2025/11/27/g...
Keep Talking About Gaza at Your Thanksgiving Table
Why we need to keep pushing for the end of Israel’s genocide in Gaza, even if that means an uncomfortable Thanksgiving dinner.
theintercept.com
November 27, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Whatever your approach with your family, there can be no pretense that the genocide in Gaza is over... Families like mine, divided over Israel, are not the important ones here. theintercept.com/2025/11/27/g...
I found out today that my abstract for the British Postgraduate Philosophy Association's festive seminar series has been accepted, and is due to be delivered on December 12th. I really like the idea of having a seminar series for more informal (wacky) papers, and this should be fun to present at it.
November 26, 2025 at 10:11 PM
I found out today that my abstract for the British Postgraduate Philosophy Association's festive seminar series has been accepted, and is due to be delivered on December 12th. I really like the idea of having a seminar series for more informal (wacky) papers, and this should be fun to present at it.
Some American tourists in Oxford told me it's common for them when they're travelling to lie and tell people they're Canadian. So now whenever I tell people I'm Canadian, I might not be believed just because Americans are embarrassed to be associated with their own country?
November 25, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Some American tourists in Oxford told me it's common for them when they're travelling to lie and tell people they're Canadian. So now whenever I tell people I'm Canadian, I might not be believed just because Americans are embarrassed to be associated with their own country?
Reposted by Kenneth Novis
If someone identifiable as a "trans-activist" had damaged Rowling's or Bindel's phone, it would have entered the catalogue of endlessly recycled incidents that supposedly demonstrate the vice of one side and the virtue of the other
Graham Linehan cleared of harassing trans activist but guilty of damaging phone
Comedy writer Graham Linehan
www.bbc.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 12:35 PM
If someone identifiable as a "trans-activist" had damaged Rowling's or Bindel's phone, it would have entered the catalogue of endlessly recycled incidents that supposedly demonstrate the vice of one side and the virtue of the other
Love that whenever French people hear my terrible pronunciation of their language, if they know I'm Canadian, they just assume I sound weird because I'm Québécois (I'm not).
November 24, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Love that whenever French people hear my terrible pronunciation of their language, if they know I'm Canadian, they just assume I sound weird because I'm Québécois (I'm not).
My parents are both trained priests, so I grew up around my family regularly discussing philosophy. In high school I got to read some Charles Taylor for a philosophy class, and decided to pursue the subject at undergrad level. Then I got caught in Deleuze's snare, and now am doing a PhD on Spinoza.
Left school and went to work in an office for three years. Decided to go to university and through a series of happy accidents ended on a (fully funded) Philosophy degree at UCL. Decided to carry on in Philosophy for as long as they paid me. Still going though pay stopped on retirement this summer.
What’s the lore behind choosing your career path ?
November 23, 2025 at 2:33 PM
My parents are both trained priests, so I grew up around my family regularly discussing philosophy. In high school I got to read some Charles Taylor for a philosophy class, and decided to pursue the subject at undergrad level. Then I got caught in Deleuze's snare, and now am doing a PhD on Spinoza.
What do people make of Sangiacomo’s book on Spinoza? Some people swear by it, but I’ve recently started the book and so far it’s pretty poorly argued. One of these texts that suffers from sacrificing depth for breadth, and philosophical analysis for historical exposition.
November 22, 2025 at 3:51 PM
What do people make of Sangiacomo’s book on Spinoza? Some people swear by it, but I’ve recently started the book and so far it’s pretty poorly argued. One of these texts that suffers from sacrificing depth for breadth, and philosophical analysis for historical exposition.
Reposted by Kenneth Novis
for days we got the "Showdown with Socialism" buildup only to get the payoff of Trump essentially saying "wow this socialist guy fuckin rules. I, on the other hand, am a fascist". what a country. what an era
bsky.app/profile/self...
bsky.app/profile/self...
donald trump endorsed zohran mamdani before chuck schumer lmao
November 21, 2025 at 9:38 PM
for days we got the "Showdown with Socialism" buildup only to get the payoff of Trump essentially saying "wow this socialist guy fuckin rules. I, on the other hand, am a fascist". what a country. what an era
bsky.app/profile/self...
bsky.app/profile/self...
In the Taylorian (the modern foreign languages building in Oxford)
November 21, 2025 at 9:46 PM
In the Taylorian (the modern foreign languages building in Oxford)
Reposted by Kenneth Novis
In Belfast this Saturday for the Radical Bookfair? Join Clark McAllister from @notesfrombelow.bsky.social and Kevin Van Meter at @americanwork47.bsky.social about the history and practice of workers' inquiry from 11:30-12:30. #bookfair #belfast #workersinquiry
Workers are on the move—refusing work, fighting bosses and organizing unions, demanding control over housing, speaking about their working lives and struggles. Join Clark McAllister (@notesfrombelow.bsky.social) & Kevin Van Meter (@americanwork47.bsky.social) in Belfast for a talk on #workersinquiry
November 21, 2025 at 12:27 PM
In Belfast this Saturday for the Radical Bookfair? Join Clark McAllister from @notesfrombelow.bsky.social and Kevin Van Meter at @americanwork47.bsky.social about the history and practice of workers' inquiry from 11:30-12:30. #bookfair #belfast #workersinquiry
Team Flapjack and Biscuit represent ✊
If you like cute cats with stupidly brilliant names, photographed amongst very pretty Oxford architecture, this article from @oxfordclarion.bsky.social is for you: oxfordclarion.uk/college-cats...
College cats of Oxford
Once upon a time, we featured an image of Magdalen's kitten, Ozymandias, in our newsletter. We figured it might be a gentle contrast to our regular diet of planning and local politics.
The grey ball ...
oxfordclarion.uk
November 21, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Team Flapjack and Biscuit represent ✊
Reposted by Kenneth Novis
Sorry to post an Unherd article but surely emboldened by how trans rights have been sucessfully undermined - and her support from many UK philosophy colleagues - Kathleen Stock is now starting to question abortion rights. It is important to recognise the trajectory here.
unherd.com/2025/11/what...
unherd.com/2025/11/what...
What progressives won’t say about abortion
unherd.com
November 21, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Sorry to post an Unherd article but surely emboldened by how trans rights have been sucessfully undermined - and her support from many UK philosophy colleagues - Kathleen Stock is now starting to question abortion rights. It is important to recognise the trajectory here.
unherd.com/2025/11/what...
unherd.com/2025/11/what...
Reposted by Kenneth Novis
Absolutely outrageous what is happening to modern language departments in the UK. Nottingham is known for the quality of its French department. Please sign the petition:
From AULC, we stand in solidarity with colleagues at University of Nottingham. We want to share this petition by a student highlighting how suspending all Modern Languages undergraduate programmes affects the whole academic community: www.change.org/p/stop-the-r...
Sign the Petition
Stop the removal of Modern Languages courses at the University of Nottingham!
www.change.org
November 20, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Absolutely outrageous what is happening to modern language departments in the UK. Nottingham is known for the quality of its French department. Please sign the petition:
It sounds like The Routledge Companion to Simone Weil will be coming out sometime in 2026. I've given the editors the final abstract for my chapter, titled 'Simone Weil and Italian Theory: The Impersonal Community'
November 20, 2025 at 4:34 PM
It sounds like The Routledge Companion to Simone Weil will be coming out sometime in 2026. I've given the editors the final abstract for my chapter, titled 'Simone Weil and Italian Theory: The Impersonal Community'
Michael W. Hickson: "Leibniz feared Bayle and delayed writing the Theodicy against him until Bayle was dead and buried, because he knew Bayle’s abilities all too well: Leibniz would not have won that battle and he knew it."
November 19, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Michael W. Hickson: "Leibniz feared Bayle and delayed writing the Theodicy against him until Bayle was dead and buried, because he knew Bayle’s abilities all too well: Leibniz would not have won that battle and he knew it."
Reposted by Kenneth Novis
Discourse surrounding “AI” these days often feels like a guy showing you his shovel and you say, “that’s a nice shovel” and he says “I am going to perform surgery on my mother with this shovel” and you say “Oh God please don’t that is not what a shovel is for.”
November 19, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Discourse surrounding “AI” these days often feels like a guy showing you his shovel and you say, “that’s a nice shovel” and he says “I am going to perform surgery on my mother with this shovel” and you say “Oh God please don’t that is not what a shovel is for.”
Reposted by Kenneth Novis
Patriarchy harms men, sure, but being killed by a man is still one of the leading causes of death for women under 45. Celebrate International Men’s Day by teaching the ones you love that women are people and not everything is or should be about them!
November 19, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Patriarchy harms men, sure, but being killed by a man is still one of the leading causes of death for women under 45. Celebrate International Men’s Day by teaching the ones you love that women are people and not everything is or should be about them!
Reposted by Kenneth Novis
Happy International Men’s day. Men are only 90% of CEOs, 90% of Heads of States, 61% of tenured faculty, and 62% of doctors.
Despite this, men commit 90% of murders and 98% of sexual assault.
Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Despite this, men commit 90% of murders and 98% of sexual assault.
Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Happy International Mens Day. Men still do the most dangerous jobs. Are more likely to take their own lives. Experience perceived social penalties for being paternal, caring, sensitive etc. So, with consent, hug a man today. Fixing the patriarchy is in the best interests of men too!
November 19, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Happy International Men’s day. Men are only 90% of CEOs, 90% of Heads of States, 61% of tenured faculty, and 62% of doctors.
Despite this, men commit 90% of murders and 98% of sexual assault.
Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Despite this, men commit 90% of murders and 98% of sexual assault.
Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Get out there and grab yourself a copy! For any folks in Oxford, David's going to be here in early December for a book release in Blackwells: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/philosophy...
November 18, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Get out there and grab yourself a copy! For any folks in Oxford, David's going to be here in early December for a book release in Blackwells: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/philosophy...
Reposted by Kenneth Novis
It’s publication day! Spread the word. The perfect Christmas gift for the pessimist in your life.
November 18, 2025 at 9:24 AM
It’s publication day! Spread the word. The perfect Christmas gift for the pessimist in your life.
Reposted by Kenneth Novis
This piece was greenlit and then killed by a British newspaper, so I’ve decided to publish myself instead.
Trans People Deserve Better.
"Gender critical" feminism doesn't help women but it does help the far right
open.substack.com/pub/wellread...
Trans People Deserve Better.
"Gender critical" feminism doesn't help women but it does help the far right
open.substack.com/pub/wellread...
Trans People Deserve Better
"Gender critical" feminism doesn't help women but it does help the far right
open.substack.com
November 17, 2025 at 8:36 AM
This piece was greenlit and then killed by a British newspaper, so I’ve decided to publish myself instead.
Trans People Deserve Better.
"Gender critical" feminism doesn't help women but it does help the far right
open.substack.com/pub/wellread...
Trans People Deserve Better.
"Gender critical" feminism doesn't help women but it does help the far right
open.substack.com/pub/wellread...