A celestial map from the 17th century, by the Dutch cartographer Frederik de Wit In addressing threatening problems of climate change, population growth, nuclear warfare, and other issues of today's era, we need a type of rationality that embraces ideas from both science and philosophy. Towards this goal, philosopher Nicholas Maxwell has argued for education … Continue reading Aim-oriented thinking for a wiser tomorrow→
I take a sip from my coffee mug and lean back as I stare at my writing. Through libraries, coffee shops, hospitals, and other venues, I write and hack away on my laptop. On the intersection of neuroscience and philosophy, I present An introduction to ethics, An introduction to philosophy, and Contextual emergence. I hope … Continue reading Describing our world through philosophy, science, and coffee→
"Only passions, great passions can elevate the soul to great things." - Denis Diderot, Pensées PhilosophiquesI believe the ways we become better researchers only come through self-reflection and meditating upon the arguments and principles behind what we do - not the simple acts of doing those things themselves. What makes good work that we find satisfying, … Continue reading On becoming a better researcher→
Voltaire When I attended the 2019 meeting of the American Association of Advancement of Science, I couldn’t help but feel déjà vu. At my second AAAS conference, I found familiar faces among scientists and journalists. I also felt the conference’s theme “Science Transcending Boundaries” resonating with centuries-old writing that has remained relevant to this day. … Continue reading History transcending science’s boundaries→
With my new site A History of Artificial Intelligence, I share a story with over sixty events from the present day dating back to ancient civilizations. The way humans have created artificial intelligence such as self-driving cars and algorithms that recommend books to read has a lot of history behind it. Spanning literature, art, poetry, philosophy, … Continue reading Creating a greater story of artificial intelligence→
With SeqAcademy.org, anyone can be a scientist.I seek to instill the virtues of a scientist in everyone. Through my writing and research, I think about what values scientists use in their work and how I can share those with non-scientists. Sharing stories about what research is like while valuing transparency and trust, I hope to achieve … Continue reading Anyone, even you, can be a scientist→
Daedalus constructs wings for his son, Icarus, Rome (Meyers Konversationslexikon, 1888)Greek myths of Hephaestus and Daedalus incorporated the idea of intelligent robots and artificial beings like Pandora. These “automaton” beings such as Talos would protect Crete from invaders.Read this article on "A history of artificial intelligence"...
AI should be subject to scrutiny as it respects privacy and fosters thought. These were among the new norms and values brought upon by artificial intelligence, emphasized Christine Tappolet, a professor of philosophy at the Université de Montréal. They would form part of the Montreal Declaration for responsible AI. Read this article on "A history … Continue reading A brief update on the Montreal Declaration for Responsible AI→
