Recent News
"Real Knowledge from Made-up Things: Kierkegaard on Thought Experiments"
Nov 11, 2018
Eleanor Helms presented a paper titled "Real Knowledge from Made-up Things: Kierkegaard on Thought Experiments” at a meeting of the Fordham Philosophical Society, held at the annual meeting of the American Catholic Philosophical Association in San Diego on November 11, 2018.
The paper was published in Kierkegaard Studies Yearbook (2018).
Click here to read her paper.
Cal Poly Advocacy Project
Nov 9, 2018
Representatives from the Debate Team and Ethics Bowl teams will discuss laws and policies restricting hate speech advance the cause of racial intolerance.
Friday, November 9th, 2018, @ 6pm
Dark Nectar Coffee Roasters
5915 Entrada Ave., Atascadero, CA
Support the nationally ranked Cal Poly Debate Team and Philosophy Department's Ethics Bowl team.
Professor Patrick Lin on AI, Society and Technology Ethics
Nov 8, 2018
Professor Patrick Lin participated in two recent expert meetings in the SF Bay Area: one on AI and society, organized by The Royal Society UK and held at Stanford on Nov. 8; and the other on technology ethics at the World Economic Forum's Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution at the Presidio on Nov. 9.
Professor Jenkins on Responsible Artificial Intelligence
Nov 7, 2018
Professor Ryan Jenkins spoke on the ethics of responsible AI development at the University of Waterloo in Canada, covering topics like algorithmic bias, transparency, and intellectual property. The talk can be found here.
Professor Patrick Lin on the Nature of Discrimination
Nov 1, 2018
Professor Patrick Lin gave an invited talk on the nature of discrimination at an AI & society workshop at Stanford, organized by The Royal Society UK. The next day, he participated in a technology ethics workshop at the World Economic Forum's Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, at the Presidio.
"When Should Silicon Valley Work with the Pentagon?"
Oct 23, 2018
Professor Ryan Jenkins toured the Bay Area delivering his talk, “When Should Silicon Valley Work with the Pentagon?” at several venues — including Google headquarters in Palo Alto, Sonoma State University’s Forum in Ethics, Law, and Society, and San Jose State University. A recording of the Sonoma State presentation can be found here.
Patrick Lin's Forbes Article
Oct 15, 2018
Would 'Deviant' Sex Robots Violate Asimov's Law of Robotics?
To read his article, click here.
Research Workshop on “Grappling Hooks and Anchors: The Function of Singular Thought”
Oct 12, 2018
Kyle Dickey (UCSB Grad Student)
Friday, October 12th from 12:10–2:00 PM in 22-210 (English bldg)
College of Liberal Arts and the Disability Resource Center Colloquium
Oct 5, 2018
Dr. Stephanie Jenkins: "Unlivable Life: Good and Bad Days with Suicide Pain"
Friday October 5th, 2018 at 1:10pm in Building 38, Room 204 (Math and Science)
The presentation centers on the able-bodied bias of suicide support services and the unique experiences of those living with disability, chronic or terminal illness.
Student Research and Travel
Aug 9, 2018
Jacob Watson, an undergraduate PHIL major, attended the Rocky Mountain Ethics (RoME) Congress from August 9-13 along with Ryan Jenkins, Assistant Professor. The RoME Congress is a North American philosophy conference that has been held at University of Colorado Boulder for the past 11 summers.