Author Archives: Steven Yates

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About Steven Yates

I have a Ph.D. in Philosophy, taught the subject at a number of universities around the American Southeast, then became disillusioned in the profession, moved to Chile in 2012. I am the author of Civil Wrongs: What Went Wrong With Affirmative Action (1994), Four Cardinal Errors: Reasons for the Decline of the American Republic (2011), What Should Philosophy Do? A Theory (2021), and most recently, So You Want to Get a PhD in Philosophy? (2025). I've also published around two dozen articles & reviews in academic journals, and hundreds online on numerous topics ranging from pure philosophy to political economy. My Substack publication is Navigating the New Normal. I currently live near Concepcion, Chile, with my wife Gisela and our two spoiled cats.

Is Higher Education Undergoing a Long-Term Structural Collapse?

Posted on June 12, 2018 by Steven Yates

Is higher education in the U.S., and almost surely in the West generally, undergoing a long-term structural collapse? The question sounds histrionic, perhaps even hysterical and would be treated as such in many (most?) mainstream academic circles. But if we … Continue reading →

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#MeToo Feminism Claims Its Latest Male Victim(s) in Academia

Posted on June 5, 2018 by Steven Yates

I don’t plan to spend as much time on this as on previous recent blog entries, if only because these kinds of situations are becoming a dime a dozen. What will be surprising is if they do not discourage more … Continue reading →

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Why Marx Now? Part 2

Posted on May 24, 2018 by Steven Yates

[Author’s Note: I received complaints that Part 1 was too long. “TLDR,” said one person: Too Long Didn’t Read. Part of me is saddened by this. I wonder if essayists such as Albert Jay Nock, or James T. Farrell, or … Continue reading →

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Why Marx Now? Part 1

Posted on May 17, 2018 by Steven Yates

Recent years have seen a surge of renewed interest in Karl Marx’s political-economic thought. For those not living in a cave somewhere, this has been hard to miss. This interest is not coming primarily from the “cultural Marxists” of academic … Continue reading →

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Brian Eno’s “Music For Installations”: New Collection Released This Week (A Music Post)

Posted on May 4, 2018 by Steven Yates

Brian Eno’s new 6-CD (or 9-LP) collection is released this week and contains the best material from the visual art installations for which he is internationally famous. Continue reading →

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The Latest in Academic Malfeasance (at Least She’s Not in Academic Philosophy)

Posted on April 26, 2018 by Steven Yates

Most people would claim, commonsensically I think, that a wrong has been done by insulting someone recently deceased, unless that person did something truly heinous during her life. In that case, what are we to make of the Twitter attacks … Continue reading →

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Truth Teller’s Dilemma, Part 1

Posted on April 24, 2018 by Steven Yates

[Author’s note: this was previously posted elsewhere, but it strikes me that all three parts of this extended essay should be available on the same site. This will render them out of order, but I think my readers are smart … Continue reading →

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Truth-Teller’s Dilemma, Part 3

Posted on April 19, 2018 by Steven Yates

“Truth-Teller’s Dilemma” concluded: if you care about the truth or those trying to tell it, support them (us)! Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Election 2016 and Aftermath, Libertarianism, Media, Political Economy, Where is Civilization Going? | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Truth-Teller’s Dilemma, Part 2

Posted on April 17, 2018 by Steven Yates

Truth-Teller’s Dilemma, Part 2, continued from Part 1: what reason is there for believing mainstream (corporate) institutions care about the truth? Continue reading →

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Consciousness Denialism: Galen Strawson vs. Daniel Dennett

Posted on April 9, 2018 by Steven Yates

Denialism? The term suggests something irrational at best, maybe even malicious. After all, that’s the word used by climate scientists for those who don’t believe climate change is happening. Is it a good idea to invoke such a concept when … Continue reading →

Posted in analytic philosophy, Philosophy, philosophy of mind, Philosophy of Science | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments