Tom Cochrane
@doctorcochrane.bsky.social
Philosopher @Flinders University. Books: The Emotional Mind (2018), The Aesthetic Value of the World (2021), Identity in Science Fiction (2025), Happiness for Mortals (2027)
https://sites.google.com/view/tomcochranephilosophy/
https://sites.google.com/view/tomcochranephilosophy/
Barry Lam on administrative bloat- both the personal and digital kinds: globecollegetown.substack.com/p/higher-ed-... Eliminating it is another matter. It would take real courage to accept that things go wrong sometimes, and that's ok.
College campuses need to be liberated from their administrators
Higher ed is being strangled by absurd and costly rules. What message is that sending to students?
globecollegetown.substack.com
September 10, 2026 at 12:56 AM
Barry Lam on administrative bloat- both the personal and digital kinds: globecollegetown.substack.com/p/higher-ed-... Eliminating it is another matter. It would take real courage to accept that things go wrong sometimes, and that's ok.
I can now officially confirm that my book ‘Happiness for Mortals’ is coming out with Cambridge University Press next year. Just the index to complete! 🥲
September 3, 2026 at 9:18 AM
I can now officially confirm that my book ‘Happiness for Mortals’ is coming out with Cambridge University Press next year. Just the index to complete! 🥲
The first review of my 'Identity in Science Fiction' collection has appeared (link goes to pdf). Hopefully more will come www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/...
www.um.edu.mt
September 1, 2026 at 4:40 AM
The first review of my 'Identity in Science Fiction' collection has appeared (link goes to pdf). Hopefully more will come www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/...
Cain was one of the most charming and gracious men I ever knew. It's a real tragedy. dailynous.com/2026/08/11/c...
Cain Todd (1976-2026) - Daily Nous
Cain Samuel Todd, senior lecturer in philosophy at Lancaster University, has died. Dr. Todd was known for his work in aesthetics and the philosophy of mind, with a keen interest in issues surrounding ...
dailynous.com
August 11, 2026 at 11:03 AM
Cain was one of the most charming and gracious men I ever knew. It's a real tragedy. dailynous.com/2026/08/11/c...
My old friend Ben Smart gave his inaugural lecture on 'health as a property of complex systems'. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qv1i... It's based on his recent book on the philosophy of public health. Well worth checking out! link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
The Philosophy of Public Health
This book, inspired by health policymaking during the Covid-19 pandemic, proposes an innovative capacities-based approach to understanding public health
link.springer.com
August 8, 2026 at 12:08 PM
My old friend Ben Smart gave his inaugural lecture on 'health as a property of complex systems'. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qv1i... It's based on his recent book on the philosophy of public health. Well worth checking out! link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
I sometimes feel like a philosophy missionary. I am out in the hinterlands, preaching to the heathens sceptical of the value of philosophy, fighting for every soul. While those back at the citadel have the luxury of their refined debates, I am forced to adapt to local customs.
August 6, 2026 at 12:58 AM
I sometimes feel like a philosophy missionary. I am out in the hinterlands, preaching to the heathens sceptical of the value of philosophy, fighting for every soul. While those back at the citadel have the luxury of their refined debates, I am forced to adapt to local customs.
After watching the Odyssey my son pointed out that Agamemnon spends most of the time aura farming. Both true and a warning from gen Z.
July 21, 2026 at 1:32 AM
After watching the Odyssey my son pointed out that Agamemnon spends most of the time aura farming. Both true and a warning from gen Z.
Joshua Knobe and others are running a philosophical intuitions survey. They are particularly looking for philosopher participants. If you've got a spare 5 minutes check it out. moralsciencelab.com/intuitions/
intuitions-study | moral science lab
A study of philosophical intuitions
moralsciencelab.com
July 19, 2026 at 12:51 AM
Joshua Knobe and others are running a philosophical intuitions survey. They are particularly looking for philosopher participants. If you've got a spare 5 minutes check it out. moralsciencelab.com/intuitions/
Just a reminder that I'm running the thought experiment competition again, open to any high school student in Australia. If you have any relevant contacts, I'd really appreciate it if you could forward them the link to the competition website. Deadline is July 15th. sites.google.com/view/thought...
Flinders Thought Experiment Competition
Students are invited to submit their ideas to the Flinders Thought Experiment Competition!
Competition Deadline: 15th July, 2026 at 6pm.
Eligibility: Open to all students attending a high school i...
sites.google.com
June 9, 2026 at 2:41 AM
Just a reminder that I'm running the thought experiment competition again, open to any high school student in Australia. If you have any relevant contacts, I'd really appreciate it if you could forward them the link to the competition website. Deadline is July 15th. sites.google.com/view/thought...
A very nice interview with Ursula Le Guin about The Lathe of Heaven- I think from the year 2000 www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1bZ...
Bill Moyers interview with Ursula K. LeGuin about "Lathe of Heaven"
YouTube video by kliljedahl
www.youtube.com
April 30, 2026 at 9:18 AM
A very nice interview with Ursula Le Guin about The Lathe of Heaven- I think from the year 2000 www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1bZ...
Reposted by Tom Cochrane
Please join us for this fantastic double-book symposium on @hohwy.bsky.social's and @kathrynnave.eurosky.social's books.
Register here for the link: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Register here for the link: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
April 7, 2026 at 10:42 AM
Please join us for this fantastic double-book symposium on @hohwy.bsky.social's and @kathrynnave.eurosky.social's books.
Register here for the link: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Register here for the link: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Today I learned the word 'eleutheromania'. It's a passionate desire for freedom and for casting off constraints.
April 27, 2026 at 1:52 AM
Today I learned the word 'eleutheromania'. It's a passionate desire for freedom and for casting off constraints.
Reposted by Tom Cochrane
As part of the class I'm currently teaching at Flinders on happiness, I recorded a lecture on my view that happiness is a pattern of successful love. If you're interested, please do check it out. youtu.be/YLHCQOx6BvI @flindersuniversity.bsky.social #happiness #well-being #philosophy
On the connection between love and happiness.
YouTube video by tom cochrane
youtu.be
April 16, 2026 at 2:16 AM
As part of the class I'm currently teaching at Flinders on happiness, I recorded a lecture on my view that happiness is a pattern of successful love. If you're interested, please do check it out. youtu.be/YLHCQOx6BvI @flindersuniversity.bsky.social #happiness #well-being #philosophy
As part of the class I'm currently teaching at Flinders on happiness, I recorded a lecture on my view that happiness is a pattern of successful love. If you're interested, please do check it out. youtu.be/YLHCQOx6BvI @flindersuniversity.bsky.social #happiness #well-being #philosophy
On the connection between love and happiness.
YouTube video by tom cochrane
youtu.be
April 16, 2026 at 2:16 AM
As part of the class I'm currently teaching at Flinders on happiness, I recorded a lecture on my view that happiness is a pattern of successful love. If you're interested, please do check it out. youtu.be/YLHCQOx6BvI @flindersuniversity.bsky.social #happiness #well-being #philosophy
If I could travel back in time I'd most like to meet David Hume. Not to talk about philosophy. Just to beat him at billiards.
April 13, 2026 at 7:27 AM
If I could travel back in time I'd most like to meet David Hume. Not to talk about philosophy. Just to beat him at billiards.
Pogona vitticeps is not impressed with your suggestion
March 30, 2026 at 6:56 AM
Pogona vitticeps is not impressed with your suggestion
Here's the winner of the Flinders thought experiment competition 2025: 'Substitutia syndrome' by Ran Zhou www.youtube.com/watch?v=acp7...
Flinders Thought Experiment Competition 2025
YouTube video by tom cochrane
www.youtube.com
March 19, 2026 at 12:32 PM
Here's the winner of the Flinders thought experiment competition 2025: 'Substitutia syndrome' by Ran Zhou www.youtube.com/watch?v=acp7...
We have a statue of Aristotle in the middle of our campus at Flinders, so today I gave a lecture on Aristotle in front of it- taping up a helpful motivational quote for the students.
March 3, 2026 at 7:53 AM
We have a statue of Aristotle in the middle of our campus at Flinders, so today I gave a lecture on Aristotle in front of it- taping up a helpful motivational quote for the students.
Reposted by Tom Cochrane
Just heard the very sad news that my former teacher and colleague Malcolm Budd has died. One of the leading philosophers of art, music and natural beauty of our time.
February 22, 2026 at 1:36 AM
Just heard the very sad news that my former teacher and colleague Malcolm Budd has died. One of the leading philosophers of art, music and natural beauty of our time.
I think the second quarter of the 21st century will be much better than the first.
I think this post will age well. 👍😀👍
I think this post will age well. 👍😀👍
December 31, 2025 at 8:13 AM
I think the second quarter of the 21st century will be much better than the first.
I think this post will age well. 👍😀👍
I think this post will age well. 👍😀👍
John Varley has sadly died. He was one of the great science fiction authors of the last 50 years. I strongly recommend his collection 'The John Varley Reader: Thirty Years of Short fiction' which intersperses the stories with nice autobiographical reflections www.amazon.com/John-Varley-...
The John Varley Reader: Thirty Years of Short Fiction
Ace hardback with dust jacket, Exclusively published by and for the Science Fiction Book Club, Oct. 2004, SFBC #1173161, 528 pages. 8vo (8.5" x 5.75") First hardcover edition, reprint of trade paper o...
www.amazon.com
December 11, 2025 at 10:55 PM
John Varley has sadly died. He was one of the great science fiction authors of the last 50 years. I strongly recommend his collection 'The John Varley Reader: Thirty Years of Short fiction' which intersperses the stories with nice autobiographical reflections www.amazon.com/John-Varley-...
Watching Pluribus? Want to talk about it? Try this 👇
My fourth installment on philosophy in the Apple TV show “Pluribus.” My take seems to be quite different than the other commentary about the show I’ve seen.
#philsky #philosophychat #scifi
open.substack.com/pub/billvand...
#philsky #philosophychat #scifi
open.substack.com/pub/billvand...
"Pluribus" and Philosophy Part Four
A Philosopher Watches Sci Fi: Why not eat the dead?
open.substack.com
December 7, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Watching Pluribus? Want to talk about it? Try this 👇
Preaching to the choir here, but it’s worth getting all the arguments lined up.
Long and absolutely brutal article on AI and the university. Hard to decide what to emphasize...
www.currentaffairs.org/news/ai-is-d...
www.currentaffairs.org/news/ai-is-d...
AI is Destroying the University and Learning Itself
Students use AI to write papers, professors use AI to grade them, degrees become meaningless, and tech companies make fortunes. Welcome to the death of higher education.
www.currentaffairs.org
December 3, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Preaching to the choir here, but it’s worth getting all the arguments lined up.
I uploaded the introduction onto philpapers. If anyone plans to teach a class in this area- please get in touch. philpapers.org/rec/COCIIS-3
Tom Cochrane, Identity in Science Fiction: Brain transplants and other misadventures - PhilPapers
This is a textbook/popular introduction to the metaphysics of identity. It is centred around 12 science fiction stories, each of which explores some facet of the personal identity debate; cases like ....
philpapers.org
December 1, 2025 at 3:43 AM
I uploaded the introduction onto philpapers. If anyone plans to teach a class in this area- please get in touch. philpapers.org/rec/COCIIS-3