João Ohara
@oharajrm.com
Theory and Philosophy of History @ University of São Paulo - USP (Brazil)
Interested in narrative, trust, and epistemic dependence.
Interested in narrative, trust, and epistemic dependence.
Pinned
João Ohara
@oharajrm.com
· Jan 22
My paper on historical (anti-)realism is now available in EarlyView on @histandtheojrnl.bsky.social's website. It's my attempt at mapping the conceptual space in what I see as a deeply confused landscape, rife for unproductive polemics.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Reposted by João Ohara
Today in two weeks (24.09), the autumn edition of our joint research seminar PHO2 will begin with Luke O'Sullivan (National University of Singapore) speaking about "Naturalism, History, and the Philosophy of the Science". Save the date! There will be more info also on the whole seminar soon.
September 10, 2026 at 11:10 AM
Today in two weeks (24.09), the autumn edition of our joint research seminar PHO2 will begin with Luke O'Sullivan (National University of Singapore) speaking about "Naturalism, History, and the Philosophy of the Science". Save the date! There will be more info also on the whole seminar soon.
Just a friendly reminder - a few more days to submit your paper for this virtual workshop!
In October, I will host a virtual workshop on current approaches to the theory and philosophy of history. The idea is to discuss various approaches to the field and its methodological and metaphilosophical commitments. CFP linked.
#philsky #philsci #philhist
philevents.org/event/show/1...
#philsky #philsci #philhist
philevents.org/event/show/1...
Understanding Current Approaches to the Theory and Philosophy of History
“Theory and philosophy of history” is a contested label for a loosely connected set of research agendas about history (in the sense of our more or less systematic ways of studying the huma...
philevents.org
September 4, 2026 at 6:03 PM
Just a friendly reminder - a few more days to submit your paper for this virtual workshop!
Reposted by João Ohara
If your report claiming that the quality of scholarship is declining over time is itself based on exceptionally poor scholarship, have you proved your point?
Worth reading this comment; really is quite eye-opening how shaky are the empirical foundations of this report
Worth reading this comment; really is quite eye-opening how shaky are the empirical foundations of this report
Boghossian et al.'s "Vanderbilt report" claimed "a deterioration in scholarly standards” in the humanities. What was their evidence? The companion reports have begun to trickle out. I argue that they show no evidence to support this claim. The report should be corrected or retracted:
osf.io/ta6kg
osf.io/ta6kg
![Boghossian et al.’s (2026) critique of humanistic scholarship is itself bad scholarship and should be corrected or retracted
Patrick E. Savage1,2
1School of Psychology, Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland, Aotearoa | New Zealand
2Faculty of Environment and Information Studies, Keio University, Fujisawa, Japan
[This version dated August 28, 2026]
Abstract: Boghossian et al.’s (2026) “Report on the State of Scholarship in the Humanities and the Humanistic Social Sciences” argues that humanistic scholarship has experienced “a deterioration in scholarly standards fueled by the substitution of political criteria for properly scholarly criteria”. I argue that their report itself represents low scholarly standards. Specifically: 1) it is primarily based on unpublished, unverifiable data; 2) the limited data that have been published (largely from unvalidated LLM categorisations) do not support the main claims of a “deterioriation in scholary standards”; and 3) the report unjustifiably generalises from a narrow set of examples (e.g., the cancelation of a panel on sex and gender by the American Anthropological Association) to make sweeping conclusions about global humanities scholarship. I describe counter-examples from past and present research in the humanities and the sciences by myself and others to show that biased and low-quality scholarship is not a new or unique problem for progressive humanistic research. While I agree with the authors that critical evaluation of the quality of academic scholarship (both humanistic and scientific) is urgently needed in today’s global political climate, the report’s strongest conclusions are not justified by their data and thus are not of sufficient quality to achieve their intended goal of helping university leaders to make policy decisions. I recommend it be corrected or retracted to resolve these issues.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:mm4ujzh5bqccjs7g2oerjemp/bafkreiduoolgtplrn2xadbszoticx6en5ojq4mmdyrhjvef74pw2lmzsku)
August 28, 2026 at 6:19 AM
If your report claiming that the quality of scholarship is declining over time is itself based on exceptionally poor scholarship, have you proved your point?
Worth reading this comment; really is quite eye-opening how shaky are the empirical foundations of this report
Worth reading this comment; really is quite eye-opening how shaky are the empirical foundations of this report
This post is a gem. *chef's kiss* I would never be able to state the point so clearly.
calling this batch of caliper guys "race realists" is in a very loose sense accurate, in the way that supporting a genocidal war could be described as a permissive attitude towards defense spending, but the level of obsfuscation involved there is difficult to distinguish from outright lying
August 26, 2026 at 2:51 PM
This post is a gem. *chef's kiss* I would never be able to state the point so clearly.
It's baffling to me that anyone would assume that this letter is a good faith effort to defend "academic freedom" and thus sign it as an endorsement of such defense. But then I remember that some people also assumed History Reclaimed really cared about objectivity. 🤷
Wow. There are more names in support of Cofnas here! More than 300 academics defending the conduct of a gutter racist. johnarmstrongmaths.com/openletters/...
As academics, we are concerned that Ghent University's disciplinary proceedings against Dr Cofnas appear to constitute retaliation, at least in part, for publicizing academic misconduct that occurred in British universities.
johnarmstrongmaths.com
August 23, 2026 at 12:05 AM
It's baffling to me that anyone would assume that this letter is a good faith effort to defend "academic freedom" and thus sign it as an endorsement of such defense. But then I remember that some people also assumed History Reclaimed really cared about objectivity. 🤷
Reposted by João Ohara
Plagiarism is only one part of a much broader scope of academic misconduct, and ‘race realism’ is itself a form of academic misconduct: using academia to launder long-discredited and empirically refuted white supremacist propaganda. It is disseminating pernicious lies into broader society
Racist Zero under investigation by his current employer
www.thenational.scot/news/2648073...
www.thenational.scot/news/2648073...
Academic who sparked Jason Arday pile on under investigation by university
The academic who sparked the pile on which preceded a black British professor’s suicide has said he is under investigation by his university
www.thenational.scot
August 20, 2026 at 12:20 PM
Plagiarism is only one part of a much broader scope of academic misconduct, and ‘race realism’ is itself a form of academic misconduct: using academia to launder long-discredited and empirically refuted white supremacist propaganda. It is disseminating pernicious lies into broader society
I've just had the best experience with peer review in my career. Sure, the reports are probably fatal to the paper, but they are so detailed, respectful, and done with such care that I am thankful I received them. With all the horror stories that we see every day, this is refreshing.
August 20, 2026 at 1:30 PM
I've just had the best experience with peer review in my career. Sure, the reports are probably fatal to the paper, but they are so detailed, respectful, and done with such care that I am thankful I received them. With all the horror stories that we see every day, this is refreshing.
Reposted by João Ohara
There are innumerable issues with Pinker (e.g. his association with Epstein), but I want to highlight how all the experts on history of violence wrote a special issue in Historical Reflections specifically because Pinker was perpetuating numerous falsehoods www.berghahnjournals.com/view/journal...
August 17, 2026 at 10:23 AM
There are innumerable issues with Pinker (e.g. his association with Epstein), but I want to highlight how all the experts on history of violence wrote a special issue in Historical Reflections specifically because Pinker was perpetuating numerous falsehoods www.berghahnjournals.com/view/journal...
Reposted by João Ohara
Plenty to reflect about re: the Arday affair, but I'm going to repeat this one thing. The playbook the right used here is effective even though it's not especially sophisticated, as it relies on the audience to do the dirty work. I've been calling it "Trojan horse propaganda", let's go with that. 1/
August 16, 2026 at 1:30 AM
Plenty to reflect about re: the Arday affair, but I'm going to repeat this one thing. The playbook the right used here is effective even though it's not especially sophisticated, as it relies on the audience to do the dirty work. I've been calling it "Trojan horse propaganda", let's go with that. 1/
That's basically anything I ever wrote for work.
Finally finished a full draft of 'Delineating Epistemic Injustice' - or rather, caffeine finished it, with me playing the role of a heavy-handed supervisor
August 15, 2026 at 5:08 PM
That's basically anything I ever wrote for work.
I hereby publicly apologize for mocking the common practice of objection-anticipation in analytic philosophy, even when the objection is already dealt with in the main text. You were right - sometimes you really have to make this sort of thing. I'm listening and learning.
August 5, 2026 at 3:32 PM
I hereby publicly apologize for mocking the common practice of objection-anticipation in analytic philosophy, even when the objection is already dealt with in the main text. You were right - sometimes you really have to make this sort of thing. I'm listening and learning.
Reposted by João Ohara
I'm pleased to announce that @universitypress.cambridge.org has just published Antoon De Baets' Element "Censorship of History", no. 38 in the Elements in Historical Theory and Practice series. Downloadable free till Aug. 19. www.cambridge.org/core/element...
Censorship of History
Cambridge Core - Global History - Censorship of History
www.cambridge.org
August 5, 2026 at 12:00 PM
I'm pleased to announce that @universitypress.cambridge.org has just published Antoon De Baets' Element "Censorship of History", no. 38 in the Elements in Historical Theory and Practice series. Downloadable free till Aug. 19. www.cambridge.org/core/element...
I hate so much that this needs saying, alas...
Screenshot going in the syllabus.
Screenshot going in the syllabus.
your apartment, the sport of basketball, and the Republic of Korea are all social constructs. mere recognition of this fact does not actually make the question of whether you are standing in your own apartment, playing basketball, or a Korean national up in the air until settled by op ed editors
July 31, 2026 at 12:12 PM
I hate so much that this needs saying, alas...
Screenshot going in the syllabus.
Screenshot going in the syllabus.
We are so back
If you're a real academic in 2026, I assume you either look like an aging punk or hipster, or you post the dumbest memes imaginable on the internet in your spare time
July 21, 2026 at 7:05 PM
We are so back
I think about this a lot.
every time you write overly defensively you should remember that you are pursuing a strategy of writing careful sentences specifically for people who demonstrably either won't or can't read them
there is literally no amount of caveats or careful wording that will protect you from stupidity or bad faith, so you might as well say things straightforwardly and strongly to begin with.
July 21, 2026 at 2:05 PM
I think about this a lot.
The results are in: Basically Pleasant Burraucrats have won against Sexy Murder Poets. (cc @lastpositivist.bsky.social)
July 19, 2026 at 10:11 PM
The results are in: Basically Pleasant Burraucrats have won against Sexy Murder Poets. (cc @lastpositivist.bsky.social)
And they are so damn right for it.
I applaud the French player’s work life balance. If they make you come in on a weekend you half-ass it, that’s right
July 18, 2026 at 11:31 PM
And they are so damn right for it.
Tuchel: "Surely now, after 4 goals, we can just defend passively."
July 18, 2026 at 10:40 PM
Tuchel: "Surely now, after 4 goals, we can just defend passively."
France players are protesting against having to work on a Saturday.
okay now that Declan Rice has scored one now they need to convert to a back 5 and park the bus
July 18, 2026 at 9:56 PM
France players are protesting against having to work on a Saturday.
Hello, sir, please let me tell you about Disco Elysium (for cool reasons).
Explaining to people that I'm into video games for cool reasons (art, aesthetics) and not for weird reasons (being a right wing weirdo with no other hobbies) is always fun and always goes super well
July 18, 2026 at 11:34 AM
Hello, sir, please let me tell you about Disco Elysium (for cool reasons).
Surely the regularity with which these "Objectivity Defenders"™️ align with the worst of the far-right is just a fluke. A mere coincidence.
Real shame since I used to make the occasional joke with philosopher Paul Boghossian over the years whenever he was confused with reactionary philosopher Peter Boghossian, and we’d have a good laugh, since they’re both now pretty awful.
Also, Paul’s Fear of Knowledge was, in retrospect, for babies
Also, Paul’s Fear of Knowledge was, in retrospect, for babies
July 17, 2026 at 6:56 PM
Surely the regularity with which these "Objectivity Defenders"™️ align with the worst of the far-right is just a fluke. A mere coincidence.
My journey from a History undergrad to doing epistemology of history.
The spider bite leading one to become a methodologist:
"[substantive topic] is a interesting, I want to study it!"
[Learns about how topic is typically studied]
"Oh my god"
[Becomes a methodologist]
"[substantive topic] is a interesting, I want to study it!"
[Learns about how topic is typically studied]
"Oh my god"
[Becomes a methodologist]
I cannot believe how many of these RCTs used a change/percent change outcomes.
Because the literature is so clear on the topic I honestly thought this issue was resolved!
@f2harrell.bsky.social @stephensenn.bsky.social
Because the literature is so clear on the topic I honestly thought this issue was resolved!
@f2harrell.bsky.social @stephensenn.bsky.social
July 15, 2026 at 5:36 PM
My journey from a History undergrad to doing epistemology of history.
Reposted by João Ohara
@celsoneto.bsky.social and I have a new paper out in @philscijournal.bsky.social 🥳 We discuss the role of values in scientific recommendations and expert committees. It was such a pleasure working on this together! #PhilSci #PhilBio
doi.org/10.1017/psa....
doi.org/10.1017/psa....
Navigating Values in Scientific Recommendations | Philosophy of Science | Cambridge Core
Navigating Values in Scientific Recommendations
doi.org
July 14, 2026 at 10:18 AM
@celsoneto.bsky.social and I have a new paper out in @philscijournal.bsky.social 🥳 We discuss the role of values in scientific recommendations and expert committees. It was such a pleasure working on this together! #PhilSci #PhilBio
doi.org/10.1017/psa....
doi.org/10.1017/psa....
Reposted by João Ohara
Congratulations to Herman Paul (Leiden) on the publication of his Cambridge Element, "History of the Humanities", no. 36 in the series Historical Theory and Practice! Free to download till July 27. www.cambridge.org/core/element...
History of the Humanities
Cambridge Core - Global History - History of the Humanities
www.cambridge.org
July 13, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Congratulations to Herman Paul (Leiden) on the publication of his Cambridge Element, "History of the Humanities", no. 36 in the series Historical Theory and Practice! Free to download till July 27. www.cambridge.org/core/element...
Historians 🤝 analytic philosophers
It's so amusing that this very specific kind of onnoxiousness is one of the few shared traits between them.
It's so amusing that this very specific kind of onnoxiousness is one of the few shared traits between them.
A Norway fan has gone viral for not taking part in their Row celebration after matches and won't do it if they win the World Cup
"It’s factually wrong; they didn’t row, they sailed over the Atlantic”
"It’s factually wrong; they didn’t row, they sailed over the Atlantic”
July 10, 2026 at 12:43 PM
Historians 🤝 analytic philosophers
It's so amusing that this very specific kind of onnoxiousness is one of the few shared traits between them.
It's so amusing that this very specific kind of onnoxiousness is one of the few shared traits between them.