I had a great time at UCLA for the New Directions in Philosophy of Social Science workshop! Thanks Kareem Khalifa for putting it on, and I look forward to seeing folks at the next Philosophy of the Social Sciences Roundtable at Virginia Tech!

Comparative economics for model choice Brosnan and Wilson recently defended a new kind of ‘comparative economics,’ which rests on studies of economic decision-making in non-human animals. What is not yet clear, though, is exactly what r...

Also, this thing just came out:
www.tandfonline.com/eprint/HU4AP...
It's my attempt to think through the implications for human economics from work on non-human animals. Thanks to Nadia Ruiz and her collaborators for putting together the conference at Stanford University that this paper grew out of!

So apparently my book on social functionalism is now also out in hard copy! I thought this was going to be online only open access - but apparently, if that floats your boat, you can also read the old fashioned way. (Old Fashioned optional.)

This looks amazing... get your copy!

Somebody* Should Do Something**
*You
**Pre-order @dryan149.bsky.social's new book!

Here is an old econ chestnut for you: are interpersonal utility comparisons possible? I say: a gene-culture-technology co-evolutionary perspective suggests the answer is yes—in some contexts, and if you understand the question correctly.

More here (open access):

www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

My book Evolution and the Machinery of Chance came out two years ago; I haven't posted a summary here 'til now. It's for philosophers of science and biologists interested in questions about the nature and role of #probability in evolutionary processes, esp. #naturalselection. 🐋🌱 #philsci #evobio 1/9

Presentist Social Functionalism: Bringing Contemporary Evolutionary Biology to the Social Sciences This open access book presents and defends a new approach towards social functionalism: Presentist Social Functionalism.

My book “Presentist Social Functionalism”—now out OPEN ACCESS: nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...

Check it out if you are into (social) functionalism, functions, or interdisciplinary inquiry! Many thanks to Alan Love (and the JTF) support during the publishing process!

On a (more) personal note, lest somebody gets confused: this is is the second book I have coming out this year - the other being “It’s Only Human” (global.oup.com/academic/pro...). If you are interested in how to link evolutionary biology to the cognitive and social sciences, both may be relevant!

“Presentist Social Functionalism” is an outgrowth of my participation in the Templeton grant on Agency, Directionality, and Function. I want to thank Alan Love for his frequent, kind, and supremely helpful advice and support during the publishing process. So: thanks Alan! (2/3)

So, I just got the proofs and cover for my book “Presentist Social Functionalism: Bringing Contemporary Evolutionary Biology to the Social Sciences.” The book will be open access; it should be out near the end of the summer. (1/3)

Public Engagement with Science: Defining the Project by Melissa Jacquart @mjacquart.bsky.social and me is now physically in the world (as well as freely available online)! Keep an eye out for a video introduction to the Element released on the official publication date, Thursday May 8.

Episodic Memory in Animals Do animals have episodic memory—the kind of memory which gives us rich details about particular past events—or is this uniquely human? This might look like an empirical question, but is attracting in...

great open access paper by Ali Boyle and Simon Brown in the naturalistic section of Philosophy Compass, which I edit.

Also, apparently OUP has a deal on my recent book: AUFLY30 gets you 30% off. So there.

My student Clint Hurshman officially defended his PhD on artifact functions today... with honors! It's a fantastic project, and he is off to a great postdoc at the National University of Singapore with @briandavidearp.bsky.social! Congrats Clint!

Here is what is clear: humans do some strange things.

What is less clear: why & how they do it.

My new book is trying to help answer these questions, so if you're interested in this, check it out. I just got my copies, and (minus a typo on the 1st page—soon to be corrected) OUP did a great job!

Applications for our 1-year visiting assistant professor position close in a week! Make sure to get your application in if you are interested in the role, and let me know if you have any further questions!

philjobs.org/job/show/28874

Steve Stich, John Doris, and I updated the SEP entry on Empirical Approaches to Altruism: plato.stanford.edu/entries/altr...

Check it out if you are interested in that sort of thing!

Evolution of distinctively human cognition explored in new book A new book reveals what makes human cognition unique, suggesting its evolution is built on a feedback loop of innate representations, forms of cultural learning and technology.

If you are interested in the evolution of human cognition...

... here is a news blurb about my new book:

news.ku.edu/news/article...

The brilliant @silviamil.bsky.social is joining us in Munich 🥳 - and this means there’s a faculty post open in #egenis at the University of Exeter, which includes collaboration with our TUM group.. if you do philosophy of data and AI, consider apply! #philsci #UKEUbridges

We are looking for a one-year visiting assistant professor to join our faculty: philjobs.org/job/show/28874. The AOS is Social / Political Philosophy and its history, PPE, or Rational Choice Theory. It’s a very nice department, and Lawrence is a very charming college town. Ping me with questions!

Thanks so much!

Thanks so much!

Yes, it tries to do justice to that literature—and still find room to say something specific about distinctively human cognition! Would love to hear your thoughts on how this turned out if you get a chance to take a look!

Ah thanks!!! Hope you are well!

Thanks!

Thanks!

So...my new book is now apparently out (
global.oup.com/academic/pro...)! I haven't seen a physical copy, but others apparently have... so that's cool. The book provides an account of why humans think in the distinctive ways we do—with nods towards AI, etc.

Philosophy Job! Fully funded PhD position in theoretical philosophy, including philosophy of science, in beautiful Gothenburg – what the locals quaintly call the front end of Sweden 🇸🇪 web103.reachmee.com/ext/I005/103... #philsky #philsci #philjobs

The philosophy of dehumanisation with David Livingstone Smith In this exclusive interview, philosopher David Livingstone Smith explores the history, nature, and evolution of dehumanisation. As what is 'acceptable' in society changes, so do the tactics of…

A discussion of the evolution of dehumanisation, monsters and race. | buff.ly/fKSrZWS

Join philosopher David Livingstone Smith as he presents us with a candid but unique outlook on this topic, exploring symbols of hate to having hope without optimism.

#socsky #philsky