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Olivia Guest · Ολίβια Γκεστ
@olivia.science

Also see... 2/n

Olivia Guest · Ολίβια Γκεστ@olivia.science

anw sign here: www.change.org/p/stop-the-h... > In these venues he has repeatedly advanced claims about the supposed cognitive inferiority of Black people , along with broader arguments about the “feminization” of academia and suggestions that eugenic ideas deserve renewed scientific consideration.

change.orgSign the PetitionStop the hiring of Nathan Cofnas at Ghent University

42 reposts190 likes

Olivia Guest · Ολίβια Γκεστ
@olivia.science

He's not in some marginal place or unemployed or anything. > UGent has defended its decision, stating that Cofnas was selected through a "procedurally correct" process that evaluated candidates based on qualifications like publications and expertise. www.brusselstimes.com/2007046/ghen... 3/n

brusselstimes.comGhent University under fire for appointing US philosopher with ties to 'scientific racism'Concerns have been raised about Nathan Cofnas due to his association with controversial "race science."
Olivia Guest · Ολίβια Γκεστ
@olivia.science

And just to really hammer home the point that everyone has to have known very clearly what he thinks about Black people, the quote from him here in a mainstream media piece: “Zwarte mensen zijn minder slim” — literally means: “Black people are less intelligent” www.hln.be/gent/zwarte-... 4/n

hln.be“Zwarte mensen zijn minder slim”: wie is ‘rassenrealist’ Nathan Cofnas, de omstreden filosoof die UGent opnieuw in een mediastorm stort?Na haar <a href="https://www.hln.be/gent/het-vertrouwen-blijft-behouden-hoe-drie-citaten-ugent-rector-petra-de-sutter-in-korte-maar-heftige-mediastorm-deden-belanden~a2642fa2/" target="_blank">AI-blun...
Olivia Guest · Ολίβια Γκεστ
@olivia.science

5/n

JAM RADIO NEWS@jamradiouk.bsky.social

Professor Kehinde Andrews speaks to BBC Newsnight following the tragic death of Professor Jason Arday. For days, Andrews had warned that Arday was being subjected to what he described as a “dedicated, coordinated smear campaign”. Tonight, his words carry a devastating weight.

Mike Holderness
@holdernesseu.bsky.social

From the department statement: Cofnas' writings are ‘the academic version of “flood the zone with shit” (Steve Bannon’s famous statement about the Trump campaign in 2016): spread controversial, unsubstantiated claims that others must respond to.’

Calum Brough
@calumbroughingham.bsky.social

Morality and decency aside, the main reason why eugenics hasn't been "reconsidered" by science is because it doesn't even work. Selective breeding of humans for the traits eugenicists desire is just not possible, and no amount of "re-evaluation" will change that, its just *not* a science

Olivia Guest · Ολίβια Γκεστ
@olivia.science

yes, and it's quite nuanced sadly as it started from science, and sadly science is a fluid concept that we must protect from this slippage 1/2

Olivia Guest · Ολίβια Γκεστ@olivia.science

Made a table to make the categories of theoretical criteria, virtues and vices, accessible in: What makes a good theory, and how do we make a theory good? doi.org/10.31234/osf... I make the case for us to think explicitly about theories and place desired characteristics into virtues and vices. 1/