Jacob Browning is a substitute assistant professor at Baruch College. His work focuses on topics in the philosophy of mind and AI, from both historical and contemporary points of view. For contact information and publications, see www.jacob-browning.com
What is your favorite thing that you’ve written?
The articles I think fondly of are my co-written ones. I’ve been really fortunate to work with folks with diverse experience, such as Yann LeCun (AI), Mark Theunissen (social sciences), and Joe Lemelin (continental). But the stuff that has been the most enjoyable is with my dissertation advisor and friend, Zed Adams (philosophy of mind and technology). He’s got a great sense for focusing on what matters most in an argument.
The clearest example is in our “Twitter isn’t gamified” paper. Thi Nguyen’s article, we criticized, seems super plausible, but Zed picked up on how disanalogous games are from gamification in Nguyen’s account. The article also forced us to get clear on the literature around social media, separating out evidence-based claims from vibes. While I don’t love social media, I’m unconvinced it is dangerous in the ways Jonathan Haidt suggests. The real danger, to my mind, is the obscene wealth of big tech industries and how they’ve enabled a small group of men to massively distort our markets and politics.
What’s your personal philosophy?
“Be kind.” My mom used to say this all the time whenever I’d say something mean, no matter who I was angry with. She really lived it, too, treating compassion and benevolence as duties towards others that held regardless of the other person’s behavior. The result was an extraordinarily generous spirit, someone who always showed up to care, comfort, and be there for people even when it was hard or unappreciated. I’ve really tried—not always successfully—to emulate that.
What do you like to do outside of work?
Spend time with my wife, Cat. She’s awesome, beautiful, and fun. My wife’s office is a 45-minute walk, so we walk halfway there together most every morning. We also hang out in the evenings when I don’t work, usually spending time talking, sharing a meal, and eating popcorn. On weekends, we go for hikes with our dog, Mishka, and run errands together. It makes for a great life.
What is your favorite book of all time? Why?
I’m probably supposed to say my favorite is a fancy classic, like Moby Dick. But I’m going to use the prompt to recommend A.J. Liebling’s boxing writings, like The Sweet Science and A Neutral Corner. There’s a reason so many people have collected works of Liebling on their bookshelves. His pieces for the New Yorker are clever, insightful, and about a lot more than boxing. A lot of boxing writing is like that: Richard Wright on Harlem’s excitement when Joe Louis beat a Nazi boxer; James Baldwin on the much-maligned Sonny Liston; Joyce Carol Oates bonding with her dad. Liebling’s skill is humanizing the boxers, highlighting their humor, wit, and perfectionism. For folks looking for a short, smart read while relaxing during bouts of grading, I’d highly recommend “Ahab and Nemesis.” Even if you hate the sport, you’ll come away with a soft spot for Archie Moore and Rocky Marciano—and, of course, a love for Liebling.
What is your favorite film of all time? Why?
The Big Lebowski. It isn’t really my favorite—not even my favorite Coen brother’s movie, which is O Brother Where Art Thou? But Big Lebowski is my brother’s favorite, so we’ve watched it a bunch and really bonded over it.
What’s your most treasured memory?
My wedding day was so fun. The memories are a bit fragmented because so much happened, but it genuinely was the happiest day of my life. I’m extremely lucky that I was able to marry Cat, and it was so great to have family and friends share the event with me.
Who do you think is the most overrated/underrated philosopher?
I’m going to use this prompt to complain about the current surge in philosophy of AI. There is a lot of great stuff, but people need to spend time with critiques from prior decades. So, for underrated, I’m going to list Margaret Boden, John Haugeland, Aaron Sloman, and Brian Cantwell Smith. These folks really spend time working through the mechanics of computation, often by working within research teams on concrete projects. It wasn’t armchair stuff. They had enough engineering background to recognize where the relevant philosophical problems are, and where people just have bad intuitions (like Searle’s Chinese Room). I regularly read new work and think it would be a lot clearer if someone had read Sloman’s ‘What Kinds of Machines Understand,’ or wrestled more with Cantwell Smith’s The Origin of Objects.
What’s your poison? (Favorite drink.)
Gibson: gin, vermouth, and a cocktail onion or two. But never dirty; the brine for cocktail onions is filthy.
What advice do you wish someone had given you?
Well, I didn’t listen when folks told me when I was a kid. But, over time, two pieces of advice given to me have felt more and more sage. First, my dad liked to say, “Life is more fun with roommates.” It was his way of encouraging me to hurry up and get married, but the point stands: it’s nice to have someone to come home to. It took me a while to appreciate that.
The other piece was from some preacher I heard as a kid: “It’s none of your business what other people think of you.” Academia is a tough field, especially for shy folks with a lot of self-doubt and social anxiety (like me, but also like a lot of colleagues). The preacher’s Stoic point is broadly right: don’t obsess over getting people to like you. That’s not in your control. Just do your best and let the chips fall where they may.
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Jessica Castellani
Jessica Castellani had a unique high school experience attending Toledo School for the Arts, where she played in a percussion ensemble and steel drum band for six years. She earned her dual Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Religious Studies from the University of Toledo. Her primary focus was ‘the Self’ and the mystical experience of losing it. She earned her Master of Art in Philosophy from the University of Toledo as well, with a specialization in Comparative Philosophy, Eastern Studies, and Continental Philosophy. She has taught World Religions and Introduction to Philosophy at The University of Toledo both in person and virtually. She is a member of the Buddhist Temple of Toledo, tutors students, and has worked in the service industry for over a decade. In her free time likes to spend time outside and with her pets, friends, and family.
