Lucas DeClavasio is an MA student at the University of Guelph. He is in the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence program and his research focuses on ethical AI adoption. Before grad school, he owned a creative studio and worked in research and marketing operations.
What excites you about philosophy?
The growing prevalence of AI in everyday life led me to philosophy. In my experience as an entrepreneur, research analyst, and in marketing and research ops, I inevitably experimented with AI and ended up facing ethical dilemmas. I quickly realized these were new experiences, not just for me, but for others too. When I went looking for answers, I found conflicting information. As one may expect, my deep dive into philosophical perspectives and how they might apply to AI ethics has left me with more questions than answers, but I have at least given myself some time to contemplate where I stand on the topic.
What are you working on right now?
I’m working on my final coursework, and then I’ll be wrapping up my final research paper. After exploring several philosophers and applying their theories in the context of AI adoption, I found the most potential and interest in Camus. For my paper, I’m arguing that Camusian absurdism offers inspiration to form an ethical AI adoption framework, primarily for individuals in personal and business contexts. For a while, I thought I was insane for going down this path, but The Rebel felt too relevant to ignore. Fortunately, I stumbled upon an absurdist approach to disruptive tech by Marlon Valentijn Kruizinga, Hub Zwart, and Valerie Frissen, and this cemented my position. I was relieved that I wasn’t the only one in AI ethics who found some solace in absurdism.
What are you reading right now? Would you recommend it?
Earlier this year, our AI Ethics professor, Gus Skorburg, got his hands on Valerie Tiberius’ latest book, Artificially Yours, which explores the value of real human friendships compared to AI companions. Anyone interested in friendship in the age of AI should give it a read; it’s accessible and engaging for those without experience or if you’re new to philosophy.
What technology do you wish the human race could discover/create/invent right now?
In an armchair sense, I’m interested in the fundamental substrates of existence, and there are people much smarter than me working in this realm. So a technology that could identify what exactly is fundamental to our universe and how it can be manipulated or even just understood would be interesting.
What’s your favorite quote?
I can’t say this is my favorite quote, but it is the first thing that came to mind when I read this question. In season four of Friday Night Lights, there is an episode where Riggins becomes an uncle. Riggins visits his newborn nephew, and upon departing, he whispers to the baby, “Stay angry.” I probably could have picked a more popular philosophical quote, but there aren’t that many quotes in pop culture that are so succinct and say so much. This can be interpreted as actual anger or some form of senseless rebellion, but it felt more to me like a reminder to maintain a lucid awareness of the constant tension of everyday life. Maybe only a philosophy student would think this, or at least one that’s reading too much Camus.
What do you like to do outside work?
People who know me well know that my main activity and form of exercise is bouldering. Actually, you don’t have to know me that well to get me to start talking about it. I like the problem solving, the difficulty, and the camaraderie. I suppose it keeps me healthy too, though my constant string of minor injuries would say otherwise. I’ve climbed in the deserts of California and in the forests of Fontainebleau, but mostly I stick to climbing gyms where I’ve formed my strongest friendships.
What’s your most treasured memory?
I was about four years old and we lived in a small townhome near the mall. We were out for a walk on a sunny day. My mother pushed my sister in a stroller and I walked next to them. I was wearing sunglasses for the first time. I looked up and said to my mother, “Mom, I can look directly into the sun with my sunglasses!” And she said, “Don’t do that.”
What would your childhood self say if someone told you that you would grow up to be a philosopher?
My childhood self would ask, “What do you mean by grow up?”
This section of the APA Blog is designed to get to know our fellow philosophers a little better. We’re including profiles of APA members that spotlight what captures their interest, not only inside the office, but also outside of it. We’d love for you to be a part of it, so please contact us via the interview nomination form.
Smrutipriya Pattnaik
Smrutipriya Pattnaik is the Teaching Beat Editor and Series Editor for the Syllabus Showcase Series at the APA Blog. She is an adjunct assistant professor at Santa Fe College in Gainesville, Florida and holds a PhD in philosophy from the Indian Institute of Technology Indore. Her research focuses on utopian imagination and political thought in the context of modern crises. She is currently working on her first book, Politics, Utopia, and Social Imagination.
