My view on Trump's visit to Ireland this weekend.
Vittorio Bufacchi
@vittorio66.bsky.social
Professor, Department of Philosophy, University College Cork, Ireland. Latest book: 'Why Cicero Matters' (Bloomsbury 2023). v.bufacchi@ucc.ie
Calling all lovers of Hobbes... and haters too, why not. 2nd international conference of Thomas Hobbes in Malmesbury, 2-4 April 2027.
My modest letter in the Irish Times this morning on Jonathan Swift's 'Gulliver's Travels'. This is terribly serious: Swift should play No.10 in a fantasy Irish philosophers football team.
1594, the mind boggles, but my private library is looking stunning with the addition of this tome.
Why? For the sake of giving Irish Times readers the option of sending me hate mail by old fashion post, which occasionally happens.
My letter in the @irishtimes.com today on the fuel protests. Civil disobedience is the lifeblood of democracy. But democracy also demands that representation is properly authorized. Claiming to represent 'the people of Ireland' after self-claiming oneself as their representative isn't good enough.
Some photos from the 1st international conference on Thomas Hobbes held in Malmesbury, Hobbes's hometown. We are already working on the 2nd conference, to be held in Malmesbury in April 2027. Photos by Bingshu Zhao.
My letter published in The Irish Times today on Albert Camus and the inescapable hypocrisy of being. www.irishtimes.com/opinion/lett...
Abominable atrocities and our moral culpability
Philosopher and writer Albert Camus knew the darkness of the human soul
irishtimes.com
My letter in the Irish Examiner last Saturday about a nasty political incident regarding fake news. Also a bit on Hannah Arendt.
I have a very personal piece published in the Irish Examiner today, where I look back on my 25 years of living in Ireland, and Cork City in particular. Along the way I met some amazing artists, who get a shout-out. www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
Reflections of a blow-in after 25 years living in Cork
Ahead of St Patrick's Day, Vittorio Buffacchi reflects on his two and half decades living in Cork and the connection between identity and place
irishexaminer.com
I'm interviewed in the Irish Times today, pontificating on the virtues of a BA Arts Degree. We need the humanities more than ever. www.irishtimes.com/ireland/educ...
Is a general arts degree still fit for purpose?
Leaked University of Galway report said there was a ‘sustained decline’ in undergraduate enrolment for degree but what is the value of one?
irishtimes.com
Ypiists of the world, unite! Some pics of my lecture yesterday on 'The Political Philosophy of Lea Ypi' at the Clonmel Philosophy Society.
Tomorrow in Clonmel, a small town in Ireland, County Tipperary, the focus will be on The Political Philosophy of Lea Ypi.
Mercantilism is back. This is not the time to embrace neutrality. Yes, I'm looking at you, Ireland.
University College Cork@ucc.ie · 8mo agoVenezuela, Greenland...could Ireland be next? What we are witnessing today is very similar to what European nations were doing for centuries before the 19th century, Professor Vittorio Buffachi @vittorio66.bsky.social writes.
My piece on Trump, mercantilism, and what the EU needs to do about it. Including a shout out to Federico Varese. www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
Venezuela, Greenland... could Ireland be next?
Trump is bringing us back to the future with his unbridled mercantilist and colonial expansion plans. Ireland is vulnerable, writes Vittorio Bufacchi
irishexaminer.com
Happy birthday, Antonio Gramsci. Born on this day in 1891, died in a Fascist prison in 1937. One of his most famous quotes was true in the 1930s, and it's still true today in the 2020s: "The old world is dying, and the new world struggles to be born: now is the time of monsters".
My analysis in @irishexaminer.bsky.social on patience, from Heraticlus to Montaigne to Hegel, all in less than 1000 words because no one has the patience to read anything longer these days. Patience is good for democracy, just as tyranny feeds off impatience. www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
Bringing back patience would be a good thing for democracy
By seeking shortcuts, we are issuing an open invitation to totalitarians
irishexaminer.com
January 3rd, Cicero's birthday. Also today, Trump's kidnapping of Venezuelan president Maduro, in Venezuela. How are Cicero and Trump related? Read here: theconversation.com/a-short-hist...
A short history of the separation of powers: from Cicero’s Rome to Trump’s America
The checks and balances that hold a functioning democracy together may be coming under threat in the US.
theconversation.com
A symposium on my book 'Why Cicero Matters' has just been published online, with analysis by some of the most eminent classics scholars in the world: Victoria Rimell, Gesine Manuwald, Scott F. Aikin, Massimo Pigliucci, Lynn Fotheringham. syndicate.network/symposia/phi...
Why Cicero Matters | Syndicate
syndicate.network
A golden sky on Blue-sky. No filters. This is Anzio, near Rome, taken from a spot in close proximity to where Cicero had his villa. Smart guy this Cicero fella.
On Dec. 7th, 43 B.C., Roman philosopher and statesman was assassinated. The Roman Republic died with Cicero. He was killed by his enemies: populist, capricious authoritarians. Fast forward 2068 years...the rest is history repeating itself.
Writing about immigration in @irishexaminer.bsky.social Govt taking a risk with tougher talk & policies. May look like it's following public opinion but Irish econ is hugely dependent on intrnl labour. Few parties have out flanked the right on migration & won www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
Immigration rhetoric is a tightrope for Government
The Government is walking an economic tightrope and voters will not thank it if Ireland cannot find the people to deliver the services and infrastructure being loudly demanded, writes Professor Theres...
irishexaminer.com
It's World Philosophy Day! www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
Vittorio Bufacchi: Philosophy is an antidote to toxic certainty
The world desperately needs philosophy today, to stand up to totalitarianism, and halt the process of democratic backsliding, writes Vittorio Bufacchi on World Philosophy Day
irishexaminer.com
Are you in Cork City today? Why not pop along to Horgan's Quay 1 / T23 PPT8 near the Dean Hotel and visit the Mapping Climate Change exhibition. Open today until 4pm. Open until 6th Dec: Tue, Wed, Fri 12 – 4pm Thur 4 – 7pm Sat 10am – 4pm Closed Sun / Mon
There is only one take from the presidential election in Ireland: Catherine Connolly won by a HUGE margin. It was a POSITIVE campaign, and the LEFT candidate won fair and square. The rest is minor details: spoiled votes, Jim Garvin, etc. is just background noise.
Yup, caught in the act, yet again, far-right bashing, this time on the far-right threat to public health.
