Jonathan Floyd

The introduction for the forthcoming Special issue on Ideal Principles, Real Behaviour, and Possible Experiments, which I have edited together with Jonathan Floyd, has now been published:

@mattlindauer.bsky.social @enzoreds.bsky.social @jowolff.bsky.social @mattlongo.bsky.social @duncanbell.bsky.social @ecpr-nptmethods.bsky.social @edmundhandby.bsky.social @svenjaahlhaus.bsky.social @lawrencehamilton.bsky.social @jleadermaynard.bsky.social @ipsa-rc31.bsky.social

From Empirical to Experimental Political Theory - Res Publica Res Publica -

Delighted that this is now out (w. @sunelaegaard.bsky.social), along with all the articles it introduces. link.springer.com/article/10.1... Hopefully of interest to anyone thinking (methodologically) about how 'empirical' leaning pol-theory might become more 'experimental', e.g....

Looking forward to this, and many thanks to @psapolthought.bsky.social for organising it all. Will be nice for once to attend a conference that is only a short train ride away!

The world as it is Why should universities need “viewpoint diversity”? Teresa Bejan on the role of the humanities and social sciences in democratic life.

...bearing in mind here that Mill, as the classic liberal free speech defender, doesn't just want protected free speech, but also healthy diversity of opinion, which then I guess leads into the 'viewpoint diversity' space, which @tmbejan.bsky.social is great on, e.g. www.thesgnl.com/2021/04/view...

...It also opened up for me a connection between the interest we might have in more pluralistic universities & the vision of more lifelong/open/accessible universities recently aired by @wiglet1981.bsky.social, on the basis that the more social groups have access to this 'ivory' space the better...

To give a 2nd suggestion from the excellent @enzoreds.bsky.social, I found his recent piece on universities being 'pluralist' rather than 'neutral' very interesting, if not quite so firmly on the requested topic: scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/emancipation....

I worry about who is Saruman in this analogy.

What does 'mid-career' look like 4 you? Personally I find myself doing ever more 'capacity building' work 4 junior folk (groups/prizes/jobs/events/etc). Seems like I spend 1/2 my time defending things I said as an overly-keen post-doc & the other 1/2 trying 2 make new opportunities 4 such post-docs

Maybe just another reason for us 2 keep up with mandatory fire training @wiglet1981.bsky.social? I made sure 2 do mine earlier this week & amongst other things learnt that I must NEVER use a fire extinguisher unless I have the proper training. Apologies then 2 anyone who ever combusts in my presence

2day is WorldBookDay in the UK+Ireland. We have an earlier day than elsewhere to ensure it always happens during school time. Officially it involves kids dressing up as their favourite book character. Unofficially it means me raging all day about kids coming in as their favourite Marvel Action hero.

An excellent opportunity in more ways than one.

FULLY FUNDED PHDs IN POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY

I'm looking for *two* PhD students to join my ERC project on refugee-led approaches to displacement justice. The positions are funded for four years, and you get to join our lovely community in Bristol. Please share widely!

philjobs.org/job/show/30997

Very happy to be one of two keynote speakers at this (always) excellent event. @ipsa-rc31.bsky.social @ecpr-nptmethods.bsky.social

Gaudi - Casa Battlo

On recent Barca trip was thinking about lenses through which we see cities. For many there it's Messi. For others it's Gaudi (below). Personally I went via Orwell's Homage2Catalonia. The book brings the city 2 life & vice versa. Leftist infighting & churches burnt down by anarchists at every turn.

Stella was very excited to learn that the March newsletter from @ecpr-nptmethods.bsky.social is now available here: ecpr.eu/news/news/de... She did though almost fall off her perch when I told her that anyone can sign up to join the group for free! Even cats, she asked? Especially cats, I replied.

Methods of Normative Political Theory Newsletter March 2026 #14 European Consortium for Political Research

Upcoming workshops, new articles, books, job adverts, special editions, and more besides - read all about it in the latest quarterly newsletter from the world's largest pol-phi methods group! ecpr.eu/news/news/de... @ecpr-nptmethods.bsky.social @ecprtheloop.bsky.social @ecpr.bsky.social

Wonderful to see! A great achievement by an excellent theorist. Was happy to supervise & even happier to see the journey since. Also looking forward 2 your telling lots of people here in Bristol about it soon, inc. @rebeccabuxton.bsky.social @wiglet1981.bsky.social @crookedfootball.bsky.social

I think it's right on the moment given the recent UK craze for Skeleton.

Thanks for sharing this @martinoneill.bsky.social . Not only very interesting, but also just in time to add to something I was writing about different examples of 'public political philosophy'.

Also very much looking forward to a book launch of this on 23/04 in Oxford, with comments from Adam Swift and @lisamherzog.bsky.social. More details on that coming soon I hope.

It's out! Delighted to have a chapter in this, along with, inter alia
@jowolff.bsky.social @alfredmoore.bsky.social @sarahafisher.bsky.social @mgerver.bsky.social @hlandemore.bsky.social @humeiraiqtidar.bsky.social @ingridrobeyns.bsky.social @mirandasimon.bsky.social global.oup.com/academic/pro...

Sometimes I just crave a pure desk. No cables, no screens, just a pad or notebook and a few pens and pencils. Books are welcome, along with cups of tea or coffee, but no calendars or phones. If possible, a view of the sea, and if not, of the mountains. Just blank paper, warm light, and big ideas.

All looks interesting, as you'd expect from @globaltheoryldn.bsky.social, but admit to being especially interested in (1) on this list, chaired by the excellent Alice Baderin.

Perhaps of particular interest to Bristol educational pioneers @rebeccabuxton.bsky.social @georgeboss.bsky.social @wiglet1981.bsky.social and @alixdietzel.bsky.social but also those I know elsewhere who are always trying out new things that catch my interest like @drelizabethmac1.bsky.social

Perhaps your lecturer should sit down and let someone else teach for a change Julia Mullins and Tillia Laing discuss why guest speakers should be considered essential, not the exception, and hear from lecturer Dr Jonathan Floyd about his approach to teaching.

It's nice to be able to able to to set up a different kind of unit, once (you think) you know what you're doing as a lecturer, and even nicer to be able to invite back previous students as 'expert' speakers. We are blessed with very good students here in Bristol! epigram.org.uk/perhaps-your...

5 new chapters! 🎉

For various reasons you could also refer to this as 'Rousseauian liberty'. See e.g. his child-raising habits vs. Emile (as exposed once upon a time by Voltaire). Really then in the SC there should be 4 not 3 liberty-types. Kant I believe had only one picture in his home - a portrait of Rousseau...

TPTN Workshop: Designing Political Theory Curricula An important part of teaching political theory and philosophy involves the designing of curricula, programmes and modules. However, in doing so, political theorists may face any number of challenges a...

A great idea for a workshop, organised by a great group of people in York, on the challenges of designing political theory curricula: philevents.org/event/show/1.... Of interest I would guess across @psapolthought.bsky.social @biapt.bsky.social @ecpr-nptmethods.bsky.social

Happy to help @deeesharp.bsky.social :)