In the latest of a series of actions that appear to be an attempt prove itself an employer of last resort, Australian Catholic University (ACU) has fired philosopher Stephen Finlay, the former director of its Dianoia Institute, which it abruptly shut down last year, despite the fact that it announced at the time that Finlay would have a position in its Institute for Religion and Critical Inquiry.

Details about the closure of the Dianoia Institute last year are here (and here). Readers may recall that ACU lured Finlay and about a dozen other philosophers to Australia with the creation of a philosophy research institute, beginning in 2019, and continuing to hire new people as late as 2023. Later in 2023 the university abandoned the project, selling its destruction of the institute with the promise that a few philosophers associated with it, including Finlay, would still have jobs at ACU.

It now has abandoned that commitment.

In a Facebook post that has been circulating among philosophers, Finlay writes:

I’m sorry to have to share that as of June 14th, 2024 I find myself unexpectedly unemployed. I was informed by management on May 30th that my employment at the Australian Catholic University was being terminated, as my continuing position as Professor of Philosophy is “no longer required”. While I am dying to be able to share more about events at ACU, I cannot say more at present.

My family and I are now in a dire situation, as the timing of this could hardly be worse. I had expected to have a continuing position at ACU for 2024 onwards at the conclusion of my 5-year administrative term as Director of the (former) Dianoia Institute of Philosophy. International vacancies for the 2024-25 academic year were filled months ago, and jobs for the 2025-26 academic year have not even been advertised yet and will mostly not commence for another 12-15 months. I’m therefore putting out an urgent SOS for any kind of temporary or part-time university affiliation(s)–such as visiting fellowships or adjunct roles–that would help us pay the bills over the next year until I am able to secure new permanent employment. I’m open to travelling to and spending time in residence in any part of the world, although would prefer to minimize time separated from my family in Melbourne to any extent possible—recognizing of course that beggars can’t be choosers.

It would be nice to be able to report on some good news about ACU in regard to its employees. Until then, let this be a warning to academics everywhere: don’t accept an offer from Australian Catholic University.