Three Varieties of Scientific Engagement: Exploring the Space of Naturalistic Approaches to Philosophy
Much of contemporary philosophy engages in some way or other with science. But what kind of engagement with science is important, and what is...
Intelligence is Always Artificial
For Hegel, intelligence is always artificial. Indeed, there is nothing "natural" about understanding, consciousness, nor intelligence itself.
We say certain behaviors come naturally to us. Most of...
What is the inner life of an atom?
Panpsychism is the belief that mind is fundamental and ubiquitous in the natural world.
Panpsychism resolves a dilemma within realism: mind is itself elemental or...
The Philosophy of Space: The Value of Private Space Activity
I can’t believe the Neanderthals weren’t intrigued by the stars. I’d go further and assume this about everyone before and since the Neanderthals, too!...
Navigating the Ethics and Ontology of Human Neuron-Microchip Biocomputers
Have you ever played the 1970’s-era arcade game Pong? It’s basically primitive computer tennis: you hit a moving dot back and forth across the...
The Multiverse May Not Remove the Need for a Personal Creator
Scientists agree that the universe was in a hot, dense period approximately 13.8 billion years ago. Everything we have observed, from the Cosmic Microwave...
Falling in Love with Machines – Do AI Systems Deserve Rights?
This essay originally appeared in Time in March of 2024
“Do you think people will ever fall in love with machines?” I asked the 12-year-old...
To Watch or Not to Watch (Artificially): That is the Question
Over the American Thanksgiving holiday, I went to Hong Kong to see my mom. Due to geographical distance, I only get to see her...
The Ethics and Character of Creating Personhood
As artificial intelligence continues to develop, the list of ethical questions regarding its creation and use grows. This is as it should be. We...
Would our lives be more meaningful if the universe had a purpose
History was once commonly understood to be a tale of progress. The idea received its best known, if not most easily understood, expression in...