Ivan Bock
PhD (Phil) student at Stellenbosch Uni.
I blog infrequently. Interested in virtue ethics, moral psychology, pragmatism, existentialism, agnosticism, moral anti-realism, and skepticism.
Life is luck! Be kind to all!
Blog: ivanbock.substack.com
- Reposted by Ivan BockI know a lot of Williamson's work is good. Great even. But I'll never be able to take seriously any philosopher who starts a book review with "if there are no deep metaphysical truths out there, that itself looks suspiciously like a deep metaphysical truth😏😏😏" ndpr.nd.edu/reviews/reth...
- Found these plants at the place we are staying in Paternoster. They almost looked fake, having a slight plastic look. But I really think they are beautiful and rather unique. Some sort of succulent.
- On our way to a lovely seaside town for Christmas and the dogs are coming with. So far it's been a good trip, but the dogs are anxious. Good times!
- Just another reminder to check out my latest post! Make sure to subscribe if you want to read more like this. open.substack.com/pub/ivanbock...
- Reposted by Ivan Bockscrew it it's a holiday week here's the new video on youtube www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pdji...
- Reposted by Ivan BockYahweh shortly before the Flood:
- I'm sharing my first post on my new Substack blog: open.substack.com/pub/ivanbock... Make sure to check it out! Please consider liking, sharing, and subscribing! There is a lot more to come! #philsky #blog
- Interested in skepticism and pragmatism? Wonder about different approaches to philosophy? Then check out my blog and my latest essay where I discuss moderate skepticism. #philsky #blog
- My first Substack post is officially live. Please check it out! open.substack.com/pub/ivanbock... #philsky #blog #skepticism
- My first Substack post is officially live. Please check it out! open.substack.com/pub/ivanbock... #philsky #blog #skepticism
- Happy to report the first post is scheduled to release soon. Keep an eye out, or subscribe to the blog, to be able to read my short intro to moderate skepticism - the philosophical approach I endorse. #philsky #blog
- I'll be going live with my first substack post soon. I'm moving my blog over there. If interested in meta-ethics, pragmatism, skepticism, existentialism, and virtue ethics, then please consider checking it out and subscribing for future posts: open.substack.com/pub/ivanbock... #philsky #blog
- I'll be going live with my first substack post soon. I'm moving my blog over there. If interested in meta-ethics, pragmatism, skepticism, existentialism, and virtue ethics, then please consider checking it out and subscribing for future posts: open.substack.com/pub/ivanbock... #philsky #blog
- I say this somewhat tongue in cheek, but it is funny how many people dismiss philosophy only for us to keep finding out people like Socrates really were wise: youtu.be/9M_QK4stCJU?... #philsky
- Reposted by Ivan Bockhappy bday French writer Albert Camus, b.1913. “In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger – something better, pushing right back.”
- Pretty decent summary of Epictetus' views and teachings. It has that classic stoic sentiment and psychological theory, while also stressing Epictetus' 'role ethics'. That combination, I think, is a particularly useful and socially just perspective to take. #stoicism #ethics
- Fun day at the #RedBullFlugTag ! We came without a plan and ended up getting some nice seats.
- Reposted by Ivan Bock“Think for yourself, and let others enjoy the privilege to do so, too.” — Voltaire, Treatise on Tolerance
- Truly a beautiful time in Cape Town as the flowers start to bloom. Our bird-of-paradise plants are looking great! #flowers #capetown
- Reposted by Ivan Bock#EmotionalSupportSpood #Arachtober Little Brown Creeper boy missing a palp and looking very small (they always do) 🥹
- "Whoever knows that he is profound strives for clarity; whoever would like the crowd to think he is profound strives for obscurity. The reason for this is that the crowd thinks something is profound whenever it cannot see to the bottom of it" - Nietzsche #philsky
- Reposted by Ivan Bock“There is only one thing a philosopher can be relied upon to do, and that is to contradict other philosophers.” — William James, Memories and Studies #philosophy #philsky
- Reposted by Ivan Bock"Given their disciplinary expertise, we believe that evolutionary scholars are uniquely equipped to critique these speculations, which borrow from EP’s credibility to advance a depreciatory view of women, while harming the public reputation of the field at large and in academia."
- Reposted by Ivan Bock"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger" is the laziest moral philosophy ever invented and I'm tired of pretending it's wisdom. youtu.be/A1z2xW6Zyto
- Currently busy dealing with our insurance regarding a leak and water damage to our home. This is so frustrating, as the service providers clearly missed a leak when they came the first time and are now claiming we need to submit a second claim for the 'new' leak. We have now gotten to the point ...
- ... where they are asking for proof that the second leak was there from the start. I have already provided ample evidence that this is the case. But now they are claiming they will always side with the service provider without 'proof'. To which I had to reply and ask for the proof from the ...
- ... service provider that there were no other leaks when they finished the first day. All the evidence points to the second leak being there from the start and them just missing it. So this is clearly going to be a long struggle to get treated fairly. It seems clear to me that their decisions ...
- ... are being driven by profit rather than truth/evidence (duh, no suprise here) - just so frustrating having to deal with this and being treated with suspicion without reason. Rant over!
- Reposted by Ivan Bock"He who indulges empty fears earns himself real fears." Seneca
- Uninformed manosphere influencer: "No, no, I voted for a 'good strong man', not a bad one. A good strong man would have been awesome."
- “I voted for none of this." Prominent influencers, including Theo Von, Joe Rogan, and Andrew Schulz, are starting to distance themselves from the president they helped propel to the White House. Story: www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
- This is such an amazing passage from The Brothers Karamazov! It is easy to see why some considered Dostoyevsky to be a prophet. Now more than ever, we must remeber this message. Don't foster solitude, foster brotherly love. #booksky
- As usual, Shaun hits it out of the park. This is a fantastic breakdown of the completely bullshit book, The War on Science. Have a look if you have the time. youtu.be/tyU5Xkk6TuE?...
- Reposted by Ivan BockThis is my regular reminder to everyone that jstor is open to the general public now; a free account there will give you access to 100 papers a year.
- Reposted by Ivan BockNew paper accepted!🎉 Is Taylor Swift responsible for how she makes her fans feel? Yes; the notion of affective power (the ability to influence how others feel) can help identify the responsibilities celebrities have towards their fans. w/ G.Mills & @alfredarcher.bsky.social Preprint ⬇️
- Reposted by Ivan Bock“Each day acquire something that will fortify you against poverty, against death, indeed against other misfortunes as well; and after you have run over many thoughts, select one to be thoroughly digested that day.” — Seneca, Moral Letters to Lucilius
- Reposted by Ivan Bockthis exists it is called thinking
- I just wanted to share the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy article on Miracles. I enjoyed it much more than the SEP article on the same topic. I found it slightly more fair-handed and balanced. The discussion on miracles as gestures is also interesting. #philsky iep.utm.edu/miracles/
- Reposted by Ivan Bock
- Reposted by Ivan BockAs I used to say on Twitter, you either die a hero, or you live long enough to see your work become an 'Oxford Studies Online' pdf
- Reposted by Ivan BockTheories of analyticity cannot handle this
- Reposted by Ivan Bock“Three passions have governed my life: the longing for love, the search for knowledge, and unbearable pity for the suffering of mankind.” — Bertrand Russell, The Autobiography of Bertrand Russell
- Reposted by Ivan BockJust showing up in lefty spaces doesn’t mean you are engaging with them. He always pivoted to whatever he wanted to talk about. That’s why his visit to Oxford recently went viral. Tilly knew his game and was ready for his pivot. So no, he doesn’t get credit for politicking. youtu.be/Zn0_2iACV-A?...
- Reposted by Ivan BockI hadn’t given it much thought, but I guess I really thought we were gonna get ‘Charlie Kirk’s complicated legacy’ rather than ‘America mourns her sweet perfect boy’ and, uh, serves me right for overestimating legacy media I guess!
- Reposted by Ivan BockHaving a real-time debate over here whether “practicing politics the right way” is essentially about form (Klein) or about content (everyone left of him). Klein’s problem is that his valuing of current open debate welcomes demagoguery that destroys the possibility of future open debate.
- Hi @ezrakleinbot.bsky.social, we're friendly, we've been on each other's shows. We both agree Kirk's murder is horrific. Q: was Kirk "practicing politics in exactly the right way" when he called for me to be deported because he didn't like my Covid views on MSNBC? www.nytimes.com/2025/09/11/o...
- Something I have to say: Someone who puts on the act of being a 'cordial debater' but only does this in contexts where such a thing cannot be productive, is not a model example of the modern politically engaged person. All this praise being put on someone who actually only stirred the pot is awful.
- This is all the more obvious when we see this person being exposed for the uninformed and fallacious interlocutor they are when they try their little act is a situation where their opponent is actually prepared and on equal footing. Kirk was a bullshitter - don't be fooled.
- Reposted by Ivan BockThe assassination of Charlie Kirk makes we worry we can no longer have peaceful discussions of whether gays should be stoned to death or civil and collegial debates about whether black people are inherently inferior. Our culture will suffer. New York Times tomorrow
- Reposted by Ivan Bock“If you wish to be loved, love.” ― Seneca
- Reposted by Ivan BockLatest post. Don’t know how many I have still in me helendecruz.substack.com/p/cant-take-...
- Reposted by Ivan BockThis paper by Hannah Winckler-Olick looks cool. We need more Beauvoirean existentialism in contemporary moral philosophy. (DM me your email address if you need a copy) onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
- Reposted by Ivan Bock[This post could not be retrieved]
- Far more people should read Hume's Dialogues! Not only is it a great and engaging read, but Hume's arguments and observations are still relevant and hugely convincing. Anyone who wants to be reasonable regarding religious belief should contend with the ideas in the Dialogues. #philsky
- Reposted by Ivan Bock
- At this point I'll settle for a bigger bookshelf. The rather small one I have is getting a little cluttered.
- Reposted by Ivan BockPhilosophy is structurally unable to acknowledge that "I dunno, man, maybe?" is objectively speaking the correct answer to most of our questions.
- This was a really interesting episode and I feel like I learned some new interesting concepts and history. Check it out: music.youtube.com/watch?v=bttF... #philsky #economics
- Reposted by Ivan BockThis is super awesome! And a great challenge to the four season model that makes it so difficult to understand the complexity of the world's seasonalities. theconversation.com/see-earths-s... #phenology #envhum
- Reposted by Ivan BockWhen we talk about dominant groups wilfully refusing to understand or use the conceptual and expressive resources that marginalised groups have come up with to talk about their lives and experiences, it's usually a bit more subtle than just having a big 'avoid' list on a powerpoint presentation
- Reposted by Ivan BockMan Experiences Joy For the First Time in Decades After Brain Stimulation Treatment gizmodo.com/man-experien...
- Reposted by Ivan BockI think it's wonderful that these large institutions primarily dedicated to fielding football teams allow us to teach our silly classes and do our silly research on the side. Quite kind of them, really
- "But how am I to say what I want so much to tell you? Paper, they say, does not blush, but I assure you it's not true and that it's blushing just as I am now, all over. Dear Alyosha, I love you..." - The Brothers Karamazov #Dostoyevsky #booksky I really like this passage. It made me smile.
