In recent years, across several different academic disciplines, including biology, computer science, cognitive science, informatics, philosophy and psychology, a shift in the study of complex systems is readily visible. This shift away from a focus on the individual components of a system to the interrelations between them has provided the groundwork for what might broadly be called a "network" perspective, as it has become increasingly clear that simple components can produce astoundingly complex and varied behavior when they work in consort. Evidence for this observation is seen everywhere from biological neural networks, stigmergic systems, and animal behavior to networked computing, social networking, and dynamic systems. This conference will explore the philosophical implications of this network perspective as it applies to the broader scope of topics studied by our association.
Conference highlights include keynote lectures from William Bechtel (University of California, San Diego) and Olaf Sporns (Indiana University), both of whom will speak about new research in biological networks. The conference will additionally feature panel sessions on Logic Pedagogy and Networks and Social Network Effects, and the IACAP Presidential Address by Luciano Floridi (University of Hertfordshire and University of Oxford), who will speak this year on "A Distributed Model of Truth for Semantic Information." The IACAP is also pleased to acknowledge the recipients of this year's Covey Award and Goldberg Graduate Award. The 2009 Covey Award for Excellence in the Area of Research in Computing and Philosophy will be presented to Edward Zalta (Stanford University) for his work on the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, and the Goldberg Graduate Award will be presented to Matteo Turilli (University of Oxford) for his paper, "Translating Ethical Requirements into Software Specifications." Both Zalta and Turilli will speak at the conference. Turilli will be presenting his award-winning paper, and Zalta will be speaking on "computational metaphysics," a promising new branch of philosophy that investigates the implementation and investigation of formal, axiomatic metaphysics in an automated reasoning environment.
Individual conference sessions will be dedicated to:
- Biological and Artificial Networks
- Computation and Representation
- Modeling, Epistemology and Cooperation
- Networks, Networked Computing and Robotics
- Bayesian and Semantic Networks
- Group Cognition, eTrust and Network Neutrality
- Social Networks, Privacy and the Self
Details are available on our Program page.
The International Association for Computing and Philosophy would like to acknowledge the generosity of the Department of Philosophy and the Cognitive Science Program at Indiana University, and the support of the university generally, not only for their financial contributions, but more importantly for their cooperation in helping with the arrangements, their intellectual openness to the study of computing and philosophy, and the willingness of their graduate students and faculty to participate in our conference.
Program
Director: Tony Beavers, University of Evansville
Assistant Program Director: Mara
Harrell, Carnegie Mellon University
Conference
Host: Colin Allen, Indiana University
Logic Pedagogy and Networks Program Chair: Marvin Croy, University of North Carolina, Charlotte
Social Networking Program Chair: Dylan Wittkower, Coastal Carolina University
NA-CAP
Director: Selmer
Bringsjord, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
NA-CAP
Steering Committee:
Don Berkich, Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi
David
Stern, University of Iowa
Mara
Harrell, Carnegie Mellon University
IACAP
President: Luciano
Floridi, University
of Hertfordshire & University of Oxford
This
conference is one of several regional
conferences associated with the International
Association for Computing and Philosophy.
To learn more about the IACAP, including its
other conferences and membership details,
visit the organization's website at http://ia-cap.org.
