Philosophical Disquisitions
131 episodes - English - Latest episode: 5 months ago - ★★★★★ - 20 ratingsThings hid and barr'd from common sense
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Episodes
Episode #40: Nyholm on Accident Algorithms and the Ethics of Self-Driving Cars
June 29, 2018 17:10 - 100 MBIn this episode I talk to Sven Nyholm about self-driving cars. Sven is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at TU Eindhoven with an interest in moral philosophy and the ethics of technology. Recently, Sven has been working on the ethics of self-driving cars, focusing in particular on the ethical rules such cars should follow and who should be held responsible for them if something goes wrong. We chat about these issues and more. You can download the podcast here or listen below. You can al...
Episode #39 - Re-engineering Humanity with Frischmann and Selinger
June 04, 2018 16:58 - 118 MBIn this episode I talk to Brett Frischmann and Evan Selinger about their book Re-engineering Humanity (Cambridge University Press, 2018). Brett and Evan are both former guests on the podcast. Brett is a Professor of Law, Business and Economics at Villanova University and Evan is Professor of Philosophy at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Their book looks at how modern techno-social engineering is affecting humanity. We have a long-ranging conversation about the main arguments and ide...
Episode #38 - Schwartz on the Ethics of Space Exploration
March 27, 2018 17:09 - 87.7 MBIn this episode I talk to Dr James Schwartz. James teaches philosophy at Wichita State University. His primary area of research is philosophy and ethics of space exploration, where he defends a position according to which space exploration derives its value primarily from the importance of the scientific study of the Solar System. He is editor (with Tony Milligan) of The Ethics of Space Exploration (Springer 2016) and his publications have appeared in Advances in Space Research, Space ...
Episode #37 - Yorke on the Philosophy of Utopianism
March 03, 2018 22:01 - 112 MBIn this episode I talk to Christopher Yorke. Christopher is a PhD candidate at The Open University. He specialises in the philosophical study of utopianism and is currently completing a dissertation titled ‘Bernard Suits’ Utopia of Gameplay: A Critical Analysis’. We talk about all things utopian, including what a 'utopia' is, why space exploration is associated with utopian thinking, and whether Bernard Suits' is correct to say that games are the highest ideal of human existence. You ca...
Episode #36 - Wachter on Algorithms, Explanations, and the GDPR
January 27, 2018 12:52 - 80.9 MBIn this episode I talk to Sandra Wachter about the right to explanation for algorithmic decision-making under the GDPR. Sandra is a lawyer and Research Fellow in Data Ethics and Algorithms at the Oxford Internet Institute. She is also a Research Fellow at the Alan Turing Institute in London. Sandra’s research focuses on the legal and ethical implications of Big Data, AI, and robotics as well as governmental surveillance, predictive policing, and human rights online. Her current work deals w...
Episode #35 - Brundage on the Case for Conditional Optimism about AI
January 15, 2018 14:45 - 80 MBIn this episode I talk to Miles Brundage. Miles is a Research Fellow at the University of Oxford's Future of Humanity Institute and a PhD candidate in Human and Social Dimensions of Science and Technology at Arizona State University. He is also affiliated with the Consortium for Science, Policy, and Outcomes (CSPO), the Virtual Institute of Responsible Innovation (VIRI), and the Journal of Responsible Innovation (JRI). His research focuses on the societal implications of artificial intellig...
Episode #34 - Lin on the Rise of Cyborg Finance
January 04, 2018 22:37 - 64.7 MBIn this episode I talk to Tom Lin. Tom is a Professor of Law at Temple University’s Beasley School of Law. His research and teaching expertise are in the areas of corporations, securities regulation, financial technology, financial regulation, and compliance. Professor Lin and his research has been published and cited by numerous leading law journals, and featured in The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg News, and The Financial Times, among other media outlets. We talk about the rise of 'cybo...
Episode #33: McArthur and Danaher on Robot Sex
December 11, 2017 23:24 - 93.8 MBIn this episode I talk to Neil McArthur about a book that he and I recently co-edited entitled Robot Sex: Social and Ethical Implications (MIT Press, 2017). Neil is a Professor of Philosophy at the University of Manitoba where he also directs the Center for Professional and Applied Ethics. This a free-ranging conversation. We talk about what got us interested in the topic of robot sex, our own arguments and ideas, some of the feedback we've received on the book, some of our favourite sexbot...
Episode #32 - Carter and Palermos on Extended Cognition and Extended Assault
November 23, 2017 14:21 - 90.8 MBIn this episode I talk to Adam Carter and Orestis Palermos. Adam is a Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Glasgow. His primary research interests lie in the area of epistemology, but he has increasingly explored connections between epistemology and other disciplines, including bioethics (especially human enhancement); the philosophy of mind and cognitive science. Orestis is a lecturer in philosophy at Cardiff University. His research focuses on how ‘philosophy can impact the enginee...
Episode #31 - Hartzog on Robocops and Automated Law Enforcement
October 28, 2017 14:03 - 88.4 MBIn this episode I am joined by Woodrow Hartzog. Woodrow is currently a Professor of Law and Computer Science at Northeastern University (he was the Starnes Professor at Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law when this episode was recorded). His research focuses on privacy, human-computer interaction, online communication, and electronic agreements. He holds a Ph.D. in mass communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an LL.M. in intellectual property from the G...
Episode #30 - Bartholomew on Adcreep and the Case Against Modern Marketing
October 01, 2017 16:45 - 93.6 MBIn this episode I am joined by Mark Bartholomew. Mark is a Professor at the University of Buffalo School of Law. He writes and teaches in the areas of intellectual property and law and technology, with an emphasis on copyright, trademarks, advertising regulation, and online privacy. His book Adcreep: The Case Against Modern Marketing was recently published by Stanford University Press. We talk about the main ideas and arguments from this book. You can download the episode here or listen be...
Episode #29 - Moore on the Quantified Worker
September 22, 2017 09:23 - 79.7 MBIn this episode, I talk to Phoebe Moore. Phoebe is a researcher and a Senior Lecturer in International Relations at Middlesex University. She teaches International Relations and International Political Economy and has published several books, articles and reports about labour struggle, industrial relations and the impact of technology on workers' everyday lives. Her current research, funded by a BA/Leverhulme award, focuses on the use of self-tracking devices in companies. She is the author...
Episode #28 - Walch on the Misunderstandings of Blockchain Technology
August 30, 2017 06:45 - 93.4 MBIn this episode I am joined by Angela Walch. Angela is an Associate Professor at St. Mary’s University School of Law. Her research focuses on money and the law, blockchain technologies, governance of emerging technologies and financial stability. She is a Research Fellow of the Centre for Blockchain Technologies of University College London. Angela was nominated for “Blockchain Person of the Year” for 2016 by Crypto Coins News for her work on the governance of blockchain technologies. She j...
Episode #27 - Gilbert on the Ethics of Predictive Brain Implants
July 26, 2017 07:29In this episode I am joined by Frédéric Gilbert. Frédéric is a philosopher and bioethicist who is affiliated with quite a number of universities and research institutes around the world. He is currently a Scientist Fellow at the University of Washington (UW), in Seattle, US but has a concomitant appointment with the Department of Medicine, at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. On top of that he is an ARC DECRA Research Fellow, at the University of Tasmania, Australia. We...
Episode #26 - Behan on Technopolitics and the Automation of the State
July 17, 2017 22:29In this episode I talk to Anthony Behan. Anthony is a technologist with an interest in the political and legal aspects of technology. We have a wide-ranging discussion about the automation of the law and the politics of technology. The conversation is based on Anthony's thesis ‘The Politics of Technology: An Assessment of the Barriers to Law Enforcement Automation in Ireland’, (a link to which is available in the links section below). You can download the episode here or listen below. You...
Episode #25 - McNamara on Fairness, Utility and High Frequency Trading
June 26, 2017 14:33In this episode I am joined by Steven McNamara. Steven is a Professor of Law at the American University of Beirut, and is currently a visiting professor at the University of Florida School of Law. Once upon a time, Steven was a corporate lawyer. He is now an academic lawyer with interests in moral theory, business ethics and technological change in financial markets. He also has a PhD in philosophy and wrote a dissertation on Kant’s use of Newtonian scientific method. We talk about the inte...
Episode #24 - Bryson on Why Robots Should Be Slaves
June 07, 2017 16:01In this episode I interview Joanna Bryson. Joanna is Reader in Computer Science at the University of Bath. Joanna’s primary research interest lies in using AI to understand natural intelligence, but she is also interested in the ethics of AI and robotics, the social uses of robots, and the political and legal implications of advances in robotics. In the latter field, she is probably best known for her article, published in 2010 entitled ‘Robots Should be Slaves’. We talk about the ideas and...
Episode #23 - Liu on Responsibility and Discrimination in Autonomous Weapons and Self-Driving Cars
May 22, 2017 16:52In this episode I talk to Hin-Yan Liu. Hin-Yan is an Associate Professor of Law at the University of Copenhagen. His research interests lie at the frontiers of emerging technology governance, and in the law and policy of existential risks. His core agenda focuses upon the myriad challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics regulation. We talk about responsibility gaps in the deployment of autonomous weapons and crash optimisation algorithms for self-driving cars. You can d...
Episode #22 - Wellman and Rajan on the Ethics of Automated Trading
May 12, 2017 22:57In this episode, I am joined by Michael Wellman and Uday Rajan. Michael is a Professor of Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Michigan; and Uday is a Professor of Business Administration and Chair and Professor of Finance and Real Estate at the same institution. Our conversation focuses on the ethics of autonomous trading agents on financial markets. We discuss algorithmic trading, high frequency trading, market manipulation, the AI control problem and more. You can downloa...
Episode #21 - Mark Coeckelbergh on Robots and the Tragedy of Automation
May 02, 2017 14:36In this episode, I talk to Mark Coeckelbergh. Mark is a Professor of Philosophy of Media and Technology at the Department of Philosophy of the University of Vienna and President of the Society for Philosophy and Technology. He also has an affiliation as Professor of Technology and Social Responsibility at the Centre for Computing and Social Responsibility, De Montfort University, UK. We talk about robots and philosophy (robophilosophy), focusing on two topics in particular. First, the rise ...
BONUS EPISODE - Pip Thornton on linguistic capitalism, Google's ad empire, fake news and poetry
April 23, 2017 14:20[Note: This was previously posted on my Algocracy project blog; I'm cross-posting it here now. The audio quality isn't perfect but the content is very interesting. It is a talk by Pip Thornton, the (former) Research Assistant on the project]. My post as research assistant on the Algocracy & Transhumanism project at NUIG has come to an end. I have really enjoyed the five months I have spent here in Galway - I have learned a great deal from the workshops I have been involved in, the podcast...
Episode #20 - Karen Yeung on Hypernudging and Big Data
March 06, 2017 18:21[If you like this blog, consider signing up for the newsletter...] In this episode I talk to Karen Yeung. Karen is a Chair in Law at the Dickson Poon School of Law, Kings College London. She joined the School to help establish the Centre for Technology, Ethics and Law & Society (‘TELOS’), of which she is now Director. Professor Yeung is an academic pioneer in the field of regulation studies (or ‘regulatory governance’ studies) and is a leading scholar concerned with critically examining g...
Episode #19 - Andrew Ferguson on Predictive Policing
February 25, 2017 11:06[If you like this blog, consider signing up for the newsletter...] In this episode I talk to Andrew Guthrie Ferguson about the past, present and future of predictive policing. Andrew is a Professor at the David A Clarke School of Law at the University of the District of Columbia. He was formerly a supervising attorney at the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia. He now teaches and writes in the area of criminal law, criminal procedure, and evidence. We discuss the ideas and...
Episode #18: Jonathan Pugh on Bio-Conservatism and Human Enhancement
January 30, 2017 12:37In this episode I talk to Jonathan Pugh about bio-conservatism and human enhancement. Jonny is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Applied Moral Philosophy at The University of Oxford, on the Wellcome Trust funded project "Neurointerventions in Crime Prevention: An Ethical Analysis". His new paper, written with Guy Kahane and Julian Savulescu, 'Bio-Conservatism, Partiality, and The Human Nature Objection to Enhancement' is due out soon in The Monist. You can download the episode here or lis...
Episode #17- Steve Fuller on Transhumanism and the Proactionary Imperative
January 17, 2017 22:15[If you like this blog, consider signing up for the newsletter...] In this episode I talk to Professor Steve Fuller about his sometimes controversial views on transhumanism, religion, science and technology, enhancement and evolution. Steve is Auguste Comte Professor of Social Epistemology at the University of Warwick. He is the author of a trilogy relating to the idea of a ‘post-’ or ‘trans-‘ human future, all published with Palgrave Macmillan: Humanity 2.0: What It Means to Be Human Past...
Episode #16 - Anders Sandberg on the Ethics of Time Compression in Computing
December 20, 2016 10:26In this episode I talk to Anders Sandberg about the ethical implications of time compression - or the speeding up of computational tasks to quantum levels. Anders is research associate to the Oxford Martin Programme on the Impacts of Future Technology, the Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics, and the Oxford Centre for Neuroethics. His research at the Future of Humanity Institute centres on management of low-probability high-impact risks, societal and ethical issues surrounding human e...
A Critique of Linguistic Capitalism: a short podcast from Pip Thornton
December 18, 2016 18:31[This is a cross-post from the Algocracy and Transhumanism blog. It's a short podcast by the Research Assistant on the Project - Pip Thornton. Check out her blog here] I started work as the research assistant on the Algocracy and Transhumanism project in September, and John has invited me to record a short podcast about some of my own PhD research on Language in the Age of Algorithmic Reproduction. You download the podcast here or listen above. The podcast relates to a project called ...
Episode #15 - Nicole Vincent on Neurointerventions and Human Happiness
November 21, 2016 15:58In this episode I talk to Nicole Vincent. Nicole is an international philosopher extraordinaire. She has appointments at Georgia State University, TU Delft (Netherlands) and Macquarie University (Sydney). Nicole's work focuses on the philosophy of responsibility, cognitive enhancement and neuroethics. We talk about two main topics: (i) can neuroscience make us happier? and (ii) how should we think about radically changing ourselves through technology? You can download the episode here. ...
Episode #14 - Aaron Wright on Blockchains and the Law
November 06, 2016 13:04In this episode I interview programmer and lawyer Aaron Wright. Aaron is an expert in corporate and intellectual property law, with extensive experience in Internet and new technology issues. He is a professor at Cardozo Law School and the Director of the School's Tech Startup Clinic. I speak to Aaron about the issues arising from his forthcoming book about blockchain technology and the law (co-authored with Primavera De Filippi) that will be published by Harvard University Press. You can ...
Episode #13: Laura Cabrera on Human Enhancement, Communication and Values
October 22, 2016 17:09In this episode I interview Dr Laura Cabrera. Laura is an Assistant Professor at the Center for Ethics and Humanities in the Life Sciences at Michigan State University where she conducts research into the ethical and societal implications of neurotechnology. I ask Laura how human enhancement can affect inter-personal communication and values and talk about the issues in her recent book Rethinking Human Enhancement : Social Enhancement and Emergent Technologies. You download the show here o...
Episode #12 - Rick Searle on the Dark Side of Transhumanism
October 09, 2016 15:36In this episode I interview Rick Searle. Rick is an author living in Amish country in Pennsylvania. He is a prolific writer and commentator on all things technological. I get Rick to educate me about the darker aspects of the transhumanist philosophy. In particular, what Rick finds disturbing in the writings of Zoltan Istvan, Steve Fuller and the Neoreactionaries. You can download the episode here. You can listen below. You can also subscribe on Stitcher or iTunes (click add to 'iTunes'). ...