Steelmanning the Opposition

Peter Boghossian "steel mans" gender ideology

Mar 05, 2025

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Peter Boghossian steel mans gender ideology because its leading advocates including WPATH refuse to debate it openly. Rather than attacking straw man versions of these arguments he presents them in their strongest possible form to see if they can withstand critical scrutiny. In this talk he steps into the mindset of a gender ideologue defending key claims such as self identification childhood medical transition and the rejection of biological sex only to expose their contradictions through logical analysis. By stress testing these beliefs Boghossian demonstrates why they remain untouchable in mainstream discourse and why those who promote them avoid public debate.

Peter Boghossian is a philosopher and public intellectual known for challenging ideological conformity and promoting rational discourse. A former professor at Portland State University, he gained prominence through the Grievance Studies Hoax, exposing flaws in academia by getting absurd papers published in peer-reviewed journals. He specializes in Socratic dialogue and epistemology, questioning how people form beliefs—particularly around gender ideology, critical race theory, and free speech. Boghossian uses steel-manning to test ideological claims, forcing them to stand on their strongest arguments. Since leaving academia, he has focused on public debates, media appearances, and advocating for open inquiry

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Steelmanning the Opposition

Peter Boghossian "steel mans" gender ideology

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