Readers: Who Are You, Part II?

MOVING TO THE FRONT from Nov. 8.  Many, many thanks to the roughly 275 readers who have posted so far.  I appreciate your sharing a bit about yourselves.  I invite still others to add a few words (there have been more than 6,000 visits to the site since I opened the first thread, so I suspect there's still a few out there who haven't posted!).

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Fascinating responses to my first thread on this subject; my sincere thanks to all those who have posted so far.  It's gratifying, and a bit daunting, to have such an interesting, diversely and highly educated, and far-flung (geographically and otherwise) set of readers.  Since the last thread was getting a bit long, I thought I'd open a new one and encourage others to post a few words.  (I'm posting this at 10:15 am London time, 4:15 am Austin time.)  Every comment submitted has been posted, with the exception of one non-responsive and juvenile insult (not even directed at me).  Those who've been watching silently, I hope you'll post a few words (anonymously is fine). 

REMINDER:  Comments may take awhile to appear; please post your comment ONLY once (this is esp. important since Typepad has been moving very slowly this afternoon).

Comments

[Brandon Johns]

I'm a philosophy grad student at the University of Southern California. I come for the philosophy news and the Bush-bashing.

[Björn Sjöberg]

Who: Swedish lawyer with an LL.M degree from NYU law. Now a senior associate with a major law firm in Stockholm

Why: I have a persistent interest in American law and American academia (I'm a regular visitor to an unhealthy number of American legal blogs). Further, I have a long-standing interest in philosophy (I dropped out of law school for a while to study philosophy). This place, then, fits me perfectly (plus I enjoy the political stuff as well).

[Rob]

Who: 2nd year law student at Downing College, Cambridge (UK).

Why: It started from my interest in legal realism, and now its because I am interested in law, philosophy and politics.

[Robert Jubb]

A currently unemployed ex-student of political philosophy. The rants are cool, basically.

[Jeroen Delvoie]

Who: Associate law professor at the University of Brussels, Belgium. LL.M. (2000) at U of Chicago.

Why:
1. Politically, I have classical-liberal / libertarian leanings, but I really enjoy well-crafted arguments from a different perspective, especially Marxist ones (having been a sort of Marxist myself earlier).
2. The law school stuff is great. I like to stay in touch with what happens in legal academia in the U.S.
3. In fact I first wanted to study philosophy. I settled for law school as a pragmatic second-best. I still enjoy reading what goes on in philosophy today.

[Lee Walters]

I'm a graduate student in philosophy at University college London. I read for philosophy news and for updates on right-wing excess, intelligent design etc

[Arthur Ward]

First year Grad student in philosophy at Bowling Green State University. I come for the philosophy news and stay for the lefticity

[Lewis Schwartz]

Retired professor of philosophy (City University of New York) now teaching as adjunct at Austin Community College while my wife completes Ph. D. in English Literature at UT. Share most of your interests, from Nietzsche to law to the Texas Taliban.

[Andrew Tettenborn]

Who /what?

An English law professor (ex-Cambridge, now University of Exeter Law School) with an interest in Anglo-American law (and a liking for visiting American law schools).

Why: Slightly rightward-leaning, but I much enjoy the finely-crafted posts on American politics & law.

[Rob Colter]

Asst. Professor of philosophy at Centre College, Danville KY. I started coming for philosophy news, and now I'm hooked. It helps with putting off grading!

[Simon Prosser]

Currently a Teaching Fellow in philosophy (much the same thing as a UK temporary lecturer) at the University of St Andrews, Scotland.

There's quite a big St Andrews contingent reading this blog! I read it for philosophy news, for the ID stuff (particularly since I was taken aback to find a couple of students regurgitating some standard ID arguments in a first-year philosophy of mind class when I mentioned evolution, and I became worried that this kind of thing might start spreading to the UK albeit on a much smaller scale), and I often find the views on US politics interesting particularly insofar as they concern issues likely to affect the rest of the world (which is pretty often, of course). There's also a chance I might apply for jobs in the US one day so it's useful to get insights into the nature of US academia from time to time.

[JDJ]

Who: I am a graduate student in philosophy (metaphysics) at a top 30 department. I am moderately conservative (though in comparison I suppose I'm 'rabid' or some such).

Why: Originally I came to read news related to the philosophy profession. (I still come for that.) But now I also come to avoid acquisition bias--to see what someone who disagrees with me so profoundly about politics thinks.

[A S]

Who: Business school professor in the American Midwest. Libertarian and mildly left-of-center: is that possible or am I contradicting myself?

Why: Commentary on academia and politics (mostly agree, sometimes disagree).

[dan]

Tax associate at a NY law firm. I considered trying to get a graduate degree in philosophy, which exposed me to the philosophical gourmet; I come back for the academic news and the occasional rant can be entertaining. I also miss philosophy and from time to time like to be exposed to some of the work being done at the moment, even though I seldom understand it.

[DGWitmer]

Who: Philosophy prof at the University of Florida.

Why: I don't remember now how I came to be aware of your blog, but once I was, I was hooked. While of course I am interested in the philosophy news & so on, I actually find this blog mostly valuable for the political commentary. While I am very much on the left on many things, and read many left-wing sites on a regular basis, I am often frustrated by what amounts to a certain sloppiness and lack of critical rigor on the other sites. This site provides me with the perfect antidote: clear, incisive analysis with a good intellectual conscience.

[Elliot de Vries]

Recent philosophy grad who works for United Airlines in Chicago.

I like the postings about philosophy of law; I've also had a soft spot for Nietzsche since I was in high school.

[Errol Lord]

Who: Philosophy and Political Science undergrad senior at Arizona State University.

Why: Grad school and faculty updates. General political goodness.

[B Swartzle]

Law clerk/attorney for US Circuit Court. I enjoy the thoughtful commentary, even if I don't agree with much of it.

[Kalbir]

Final year Maths and Philosophy undergraduate at Oxford

Came originally for the philosophy news, ended up staying for the posts on law more than anything else- I have a interest in the US constitution which is fulfilled by the site!

[ck]

Graduate philosophy student at UMSL. I come for the politics, the links to sources I might not have found on my own, and the academic news.

[Paul Gowder]

Civil rights lawyer, professional troublemaker, probable future academic, etc.

[John]

I'm a former litigation lawyer in Toronto, now working in a non-legal capacity in financial services, with an academic background in politics and economics. I read Leiter Reports for the commentary on US politics and on the influence of religion in US public life.

[Jean Bae]

Born and raised in Korea, but was lucky to have a chance to encounter many different parts of the world thanx to my parents who tagged me along to everywhere they traveled when I was little. Now I am studying law at harvard to eventually get involved in the international human rights field. This website provides intellectual stimulation i need but don't get from the classes here.

[Jonathan Eddison]

Undergraduate: Wesleyan University (East Asian History and Philosphy of Religion) Prof. Stephen Crites (Hegel, Kierkegaard) was and is a major influence on me.
Masters: MA Chinese Studies University of Michigan. Studied with Don Munro (The Chinese Concept of Man)
JD Georgetown University Law Center
After twenty-five years of the practice of law I just joined a start-up as an executive.

I very much enjoy your work and your blog. It seems to me that you would enjoy and profit from the work of William McNeil at Chicago. I heard a professor of Philosophy at Princeton in a lecture (the name escapes me) describe McNeil's work as a philosophy of history. See especially Plagues and Peoples.

[shosh]

In Israel, future law student. I come mainly for the law school reports. I find the posts in Leiter Reports interesting, but I think the name-calling that is often used is un-necessary.

[Annie]

Who: Philosophy undergrad (Boston U. 1988), returning to philosophy after working in corporate and small business. Currently a non-matriculated student while applying to grad schools for a fall, 2006 start. Interested in metaphysics, epistemology and philosophy of religion.

Why: Originally arrived here for the Gourmet Report. Interested in the Report; philosophy faculty moves; open threads re: grad school, publishing, tenure, etc.; coverage of ID creationism, the U.S. Taliban, Dubya's administration; right-wing activity; links to other interesting folks/sites (especially scientists who can explain and debunk for me what the IDers are saying); guest bloggers.

[Benjamin Miller]

I am a former Northeastern U. undergrad in philosophy and shipping off soon to the University of Auckland, again for philosophy. My reasons for coming to the blog are somewhat broad in places. I do hone in on the faculty changes, but I really like seeing what types of things philosophers believe are worth posting. (For what it's worth I was also a psychology major at Northeastern as well). I also really like the poems. Both in that they are tight and in their language use.

[Brian Leiter]

"Names" can have both descriptive content and emotive force, and sometimes they are necessary to express one or the other.

[David]

Who: I'm an assistant attorney general for the state of Texas.

Why: former student in Jurisprudence and Evidence. I enjoy political philosophy and was desperate for articulate dissenting voices in the last few years of violent know-nothingness and logical pretzels. Kind of wish that I'd heard these rants in class, even though it would have been inappropriate/irrelevant.

[Jamin Asay]

I am a first-year graduate student in philosophy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and I started reading the blog when I was an MA student at Northern Illinois. I appreciate the blog because it keeps me informed about what's going on in the world of philosophy, and provides a lot of insight into what it's like to be a professional philosopher. As students, I don't think we always get an adequate idea of the realities of the profession, so I enjoy reading what established philosophers have to say about their jobs. I'm not much of a political animal, so I mostly read the posts related to academia. My thanks go out to Brian for providing what I believe to be a valuable service to the profession (and also for his running the Gourmet, which was essential in my search for graduate programs, both at the MA and PhD levels).

[anon]

Grad student in Philosophy at FSU.

Obviously, I found the site while purusing the philosophical gourmet, and stayed for political news and views.

[Benj Hellie]

Philosophy professor at University of Toronto; blogger

[Arpan]

I particularly enjoy the occasional forays in legal philosophy. The great stuff concerning ID doesn't hurt either.

[Steve]

Science dean at a large research university, and astronomer.

I scan the rss feed regularly, and read less frequently. I'm interested in the social and political comment, but even more interested in the academic "gossip." (Yes, some of my best friends are philosophers.)

[anonymous]

Who: a philosophy grad student at a top 2 phd program.
Why: philosophy news.

[Robby G]

Philosophy graduate student at U of Michigan; here for the stylistic excellencies and philosophy gossip.

[Corey]

I'm a Lecturer at a school in the Midwest; I just completed my Ph.D. in Philosophy at a non-ranked school. Disagree with the ranking system of the Leiter report. I disagree with both its methodology and its conclusions.

Grudgingly, I do enjoy reading some of the gossip concerning the insular world of academic philosophy, but I find myself reading and agreeing with the political content of the Blog more than anything else, and this is the reason I continue to visit the site.

[E. Cantu]

Who: Third-year law student at the University of Texas.

Why: I took a course in which, every week, a legal theorist from somewhere would present their ideas in front of UT Law professors and students, who would often give them no mercy (making it interesting). Professor Leiter was one of those professors who had some of the most intelligent comments/critiques. For some inexplicable reason, when I first saw Professor Leiter I got the impression that he was a staunch conservative. The jury is still out but I'm gradually getting the impression that he might not be.

Primarily, I visit the site because it's nice to know there are law professors who are true intellectuals but have not abandoned their common sense and their ability to see the state of the world and our country as it really is, rather than through only a theoretical/academic prism. Let's face it, so many main stream conservatives these days are truly "fascists."

[Andy]

Once and (perhaps) future philosophy grad student. Came from the Gourmet, like everyone else it seems, and I keep coming back because there's always something new and thoughtful (or at least cutting) to read.

[Bob Knaier]

Who: Litigation associate at a large law firm in San Diego; currently on leave from Cornell Philosophy.

Why: To read what I can't get from the NYT; to get updates on ID and similar inroads on reason; and for occasional advice on the academic job market.

[Anthony Iannitelli]

Former UT Law student -- practicing as general counsel in Baton Rouge, LA for a growing tech company.

[Roy]

Senior undergrad philosophy major at Johns Hopkins University.
Linked through the gourmet report, been reading ever since.

[anon]

Another philosophy major (UC Santa Cruz undergrad) and future law student (next fall). Love the mix of philosophy/politics, the "less they know, the less they know it", Nietzsche, Chomsky, and legal realism links all on the same page! Brian Leiter, you are the man.

[Richard]

I'm a PhD student in the philosophy department at Warwick, UK.

I came for the faculty moves and the Leiter Report. Now the transfer season is over, the gossip has gone a bit quiet. And I've grown sceptical of the report (although it doesn't pretend to be anything but one-sided).

But I stick around for the news... and just because it gives me something to read when I'm feeling the need to "do some philosophy" without wanting to work.

[Greg Frost-Arnold]

I'm a philosophy grad student in my final year at Pittsburgh. I started reading this blog (and other philosophy blogs) in order to get a sense of (i) what's going on in philosophical sub-fields outside my own specialized areas of research, and (ii) what philosophers outside of Pittsburgh think is interesting and important.

And -- for reasons opaque to my conscious self -- I'm also excessively interested in faculty moves, hires, etc.

[gr]

3rd year law student at GW.

Come here for the politics. Good source of links to people who give me a refreshing view of the academy.

[Marc Fellman]

How: Referred to the blog by fellow UT law student in 2004.

Who: Recent UT graduate (Law, 2005) and before that Georgetown Univeristy (SFS 98). In between, I spent 6 years working in the world of quasi-governmenal foreign policy thinktanks and contractors in Washington, DC. Now living in Manhattan.

Why: (1) Refreshing to read Professor Leiter's appropriately dismissive remarks and commentary on the nascent fascist movement in the United States and its apologists after mistakenly thinking for most of my adult life that a detached inside the beltway mentality was the greatest mark of wisdom.

(2) No background in philosphy, but this blog's application of philosophy to contemporary events and a controversies is opening my eyes to how much of a mistake that decision was.

(3) I've appreciated Brian's willingness to write openly about the Texas Taliban and its allies' agenda for gay Americans (which to a Jewish descendant of holocaust survivors reminds me that now, as in the past, only a few will speak up to evil in their midst when it can so easily be dismissed as banal or inconsequential -to those not yet in its crosshairs)

[Elgin]

Who: 1st year seminary student at Erskine Theological Seminary.
Why: I am a "right-wing crank who likes to be aggravated". Actually I come for the philosophy news/gossip

[a. nonymous]

Who: Nth year social psychology/neuroscience graduate student at a large public university near Denver.

Why: I have a strong avocation for liberal politics, legal theory, the supreme court, evolution and well written blogs. Stumbled onto this blog during the "Juan non-Volokh" controversy.

[jason]

Who: Appellate lawyer working in a sleepy federal agency (i.e., one that, thankfully, has yet to purge its left-of-center employees).

Why: The merciless rhetorical spankings of fanatics, villains, and ignoramuses.