‘Nominalism is the doctrine that there are no universals’…

… and yet there is a statement that is true of all the authors of a new volume, Nominalism about Properties: New Essays (Routledge). Guess!

Gender neutral pronouns in Vancouver schools

Students and teachers in Vancouver, British Columbia, can now use the gender-neutral pronouns “xe,” “xem,” and “xyr.” The move is designed to accommodate students for whom “he” and “she” does not fit or is deemed inappropriate.

For more, go here.

Thanks Justin!

On A “Standard Narrative” About The PGR

A commentary by Bharath Vallabha on the function of the Philosophical Gourmet Report has been posted at Richard Heck’s blog. In the piece Vallabha invites reflection on a “standard narrative” about the PGR, namely that it provides a service to students. (Commenting is available at Richard’s blog, for those who wish to comment.)

Charlotte Witt blogs about Livestrong

On the occasion of Pinktober over at Fit is a Feminist Issue.

Before being diagnosed with breast cancer in April 2013, I was a physically active person, who enjoyed yoga, dance, biking, kayaking and also went to the gym regularly. Although I was no athlete in my pre-cancer life, it was shocking to find myself in a wheelchair unable to breathe or to walk as a consequence of chemotherapy induced pulmonary embolisms and atypical pneumonia. Once I pulled through the crisis I decided that regaining my range of physical activities would be the central focus of my life after treatment. Accordingly, a week before the end of my daily radiation treatments, I went back to work and I joined a Livestrong program at my local YMCA. (http://www.livestrong.org/) The Livestrong program provides free exercise coaching and YMCA membership to cancer “survivors”…

Read the rest at  http://fitisafeministissue.com/2014/10/17/feminist-philosopher-charlotte-witt-blogs-about-livestrong/

Sexist chants and the climate for female lecturers

“Universities have set in place a system which allows female lecturers’ careers to be influenced by their ability to “satisfy”, among others, young men who view women in the terms expressed in this and similar chants. This should give pause for thought about the implications of this marketised system for equal opportunities.”

See Sexist student chant raises wider concern about appraisals of female lecturers in The Conversation.

Missed the chanting story? See here for background.

Reader Query: Academic work on affirmative consent

A reader has asked for recommendations of work on affirmative consent policies (either at the university level or in law) for an upcoming course. Suggestions?