Animal minds and robot minds

St Mary’s University College, Philosophy Department
Royal Institute of Philosophy Public Lecture

Animal minds and robot minds

Prof. Murray Shanahan (Imperial College, London), Professor of Cognitive Robotics

Wednesday, 5^th October 2011
5.15pm - 6.45pm, followed by a drinks reception
Senior Common Room, St Mary’s University College, Twickenham

Abstract: 

Do non-human animals think like us? Are they conscious the way we are? Can robots think like we do? Could we ever build a conscious robot? These philosophical questions are important because they influence what we decide to do. To the extent that an animal can experience suffering, we have a duty to treat it well. If we can build a robot that is conscious, would it also be able to experience suffering? And if so, should we build such a thing in the first place?

 About the Speaker:

Murray’s primary interests are in cognitive architecture, both as it is found in Nature and as it might be realised artificially. Because he is committed to the view that cognition and embodiment are intimately related, he also has a strong interest in robotics. On this account, Robots are seen as a vehicle for testing theories of cognition. The claim is that if we have a good theory of cognition - one that passes the test of implementability on a robot - then it will help us build better, more intelligent robots. Murray also has an interest in consciousness, and sees consciousness and cognition as closely related. He is of the belief that to understand these themes properly entails a certain degree of engagement with philosophy, particularly philosophy of mind.

Registration

All lectures are free and open to the public without registration. Lectures start at 5:15 and last for 50 minutes, with 40 minutes for questions. This is then followed by a wine reception.

Venue

For further information, please contact Dr Yasemin J. Erden: erdenyj@smuc.ac.uk

Senior Common Room, St Mary’s University College, Waldegrave Road, Strawberry Hill, Twickenham, TW1 4SX, UK.
Directions to the university: http://www.smuc.ac.uk/contact/directions.htm

Biodiversity Conservation and Animal Rights: Religious and Philosophical Perspectives

Biodiversity Conservation and Animal Rights: Religious and Philosophical Perspectives

Various Speakers

Date: 21 March 2012Time: 10:00 AM
Finishes: 22 March 2012Time: 5:00 PM

Venue: Brunei GalleryRoom: Brunei Gallery Lecture Theatre

Type of Event: Symposium

This symposium addresses the lack of public reflection on the value and the limitations of received religious paradigms and intellectual habits across cultures concerning the welfare of animals and plants by opening up a new dialogue between thinkers and activists from different religious and philosophical backgrounds on the global problem of biodiversity conservation and animal welfare.
The call for action countering the accelerating speed of human destruction of the natural conditions of humanity's own existence has become a common place. Equally familiar is the shrugging of shoulders that nothing can be done about it because destructive habits are rooted not only in industrially magnified greed but in culture if not in human biology and hence are difficult to change.
Yet, human feelings and attitudes towards animals and other forms of non-human life vary greatly across cultures and time and are changeable. The continuing cultural influence of religious and philosophical reflection on human behaviour cannot be underestimated, and is here, at the doctrinal roots of widespread habits and customs, that a fruitful debate on conditions and prospects for attitudinal change may be engendered.
At this time of rapid globalisation, worldwide environmental destruction and palpable existential uncertainty, few universally oriented deliberations on practical ethics across religious and cultural boundaries are on record. To the contrary, the lamented process of universal self-destruction is defended in the name of a combination of pragmatic necessity and entrenched value orientations and habits.
This symposium provides a forum for discussion and dialogue between distinguished scholars, activists, ethical and philosophical thinkers reflecting on the potential of existing cultural, religious and philosophical resources contributing to new trans-cultural orientations towards the preservation of human and non-human forms of life.
The meeting is held at the Brunei Gallery Auditorium at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, during the first days of Spring 2012, and will be open to and accessible by the general public. It is organised by the Centre of Jaina Studies, Department of the Study of Religions, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London WC1H OXG.

Information on the symposium can be found on the following website which will be regularly updated:

http://www.soas.ac.uk/biodiversity/

Programme

Provisional Programme

Organiser: Dr Peter Flügel
Contact email: pf8@soas.ac.uk

NINTH ANNUAL MEETING FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PHILOSOPHY

CALL FOR PAPERS*

NINTH ANNUAL MEETING FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PHILOSOPHY
JUNE 12-15th, 2012, ALLENSPARK, COLORADO

Sponsored by:
International Society for Environmental Ethics
International Association for Environmental Philosophy
Center for Environmental Philosophy


The ninth annual meeting for environmental philosophy will take place
from June 12-15th, 2012, at the Highlands Center in Allenspark, on the
border of Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. The Highlands Center
is a retreat center which includes rooms, meeting space, and a
cafeteria.  Longs Peak (elev. 14259 feet/4346 meters) hovers above the
conference center and is within hiking distance.

CONFERENCE SESSIONS

Sessions will take a variety of forms. This call is for proposals of the
following kinds:

1. Themed Sessions: Proposals for 2-hour themed sessions are encouraged,
including author-meets-critics sessions, sessions emphasizing socially
engaged philosophic activities, etc. Themes might include but are not
limited to: animals; species; agricultural ethics and food ethics;
ecosystem management; sustainability and the arts; ethics and technology.

*Abstracts for themed sessions should include names of participants, an
outline of the theme and how the session will fit together, and a 150
word abstract for each paper.*

2. General session papers: Papers are welcomed from all philosophical
traditions, and from environmental philosophy broadly conceived (not
just environmental ethics). The format for full paper presentations at
the conference will be a 15 minute summary of the paper by the author,
followed by a 10 minute commentary. *Abstracts of 300 words should be
submitted for this category.*

SUBMISSION OF ABSTRACTS

DEADLINE FOR ABSTRACTS: December 9th, 2011.

Abstracts should be prepared so that they may be blind-refereed by the
conference committee. Acceptances will be announced by January 16th,
2012. Full papers must be available to be placed on the conference
website by May 1st, 2012. Send abstracts and proposals (in Word format),
or expressions of your willingness to comment or chair, via email to:

Emily Brady
Chair, 2012 Conference Committee
President, International Society for Environmental Ethics
Emily.Brady@ed.ac.uk


COMMENTATORS AND CHAIRS

We particularly welcome offers to comment (10 minutes) on general or
themed session papers. We will try to match commentators with papers in
their field of interest, so do indicate what these are when offering to
comment.

Offers for chairing sessions are also welcomed. Offers of assistance
with organizing group walks would also be very welcome.

HOUSING

We have reserved 24 rooms, each of which comfortably house between
2 and 4 guests. Rooms are available at the Highlands Center ranging from
$115 (single or double) for the first night, then $75 for subsequent
nights. In addition, camping facilities and other housing options are
available nearby. For further information see
http://www.highlandscamp.org/guestsretreats.html

There will be free time in the course of the conference for hiking and
conversation. Our hope is to attract a broad cross-section of the
environmental philosophy community, including graduate students, who do
not have to pay the conference fee.

Details about registering for the conference will be provided in due course.