Anthony F. Beavers, Ph.D.

Curriculum Vitae

Contact Information                                                                                                                               PDF CV

  • Philosophy and Cognitive Science
  • The University of Evansville
  • 1800 Lincoln Avenue
  • Evansville, Indiana 47722
  • 812-455-0186

Education                                                                                               

  • Ph.D., Philosophy, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1990. Thesis Title: The Metaphysics of Affectivity and Ethical Responsibility.
  • M.A., Philosophy, Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut, 1987. Thesis Title: Sartre and Husserl: The Disclosure of the Subject.
  • B.A., Philosophy, Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut, 1985.


Research Areas

  • Philosophy of Information, Philosophy of Cognitive Science, Computational Philosophy (primarily regarding Artificial Intelligence, Machine Ethics, Cognitive Modeling and Philosophy of Mind), Early Modern Philosophy, Ethical Theory (including especially technological threats to moral realism and Information Ethics)


Academic Posts

  • Professor of Philosophy, University of Evansville, since 2003. Associate Professor, 1996-2003. Assistant Professor, 1991-1996. (Teaching load: 6 to 7 courses per year).
  • Director of Cognitive Science, University of Evansville, since 2004.
  • Director of the Digital Humanities Laboratory, The University of Evansville, since 2009.
  • President, International Association for Computing and Philosophy, 2011-2014. Executive Director, 2001-2004 and 2008-2011.
  • Digital Humanities Fellow, The National Endowment for the Humanities, 2008-2009.
  • Visiting Scholar, Cognitive Science Program, Indiana University, 2007-2013.
  • Fellow, The World Technology Network, since 2012.
  • Board Member, International Consultant Committee and Academic Committee of the International Center for the Philosophy of Information, Xi'an Jiaotang University, Xi'an, China, since 2012. 
  • Visiting Lecturer, Department of Information and Media Studies, Aarhus University, Denmark, July 3rd-6th, 2011. 
  • Visiting Lecturer, University of Texas at Austin, 1990-1991. 
  • Lecturer, Marquette University, 1987-1989.

Awards

  • 2013 Dean's Teaching Award, College of Arts and Sciences, The University of Evansville.
  • 2012-2013 Greek Advisor of the Year Award, Office of Student Life, The University of Evansville.
  • 2012 World Technology Award in Ethics, Sponsored by TIME, Fortune, CNN, Science/AAAS and the MIT Technology Review.

Publications

  • Computational Philosophy. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, in progress, forthcoming subject to final review.
  • In the Wake of Moral Machines: Deference and Defiance Concerning Five Thousand Years of Accepted Ethical Tradition. In The Nature and Practice of Software Controlled Machines, edited by Rainhard Bengez and Raymond Turner, in progress, forthcoming.
  • Exploring Wolfram's Notion of Computational Irreducibility with a Two-Dimensional Cellular Automaton (with Drew Reisinger, Taylor Martin, Mason Blankenship, Chris Harrison and Jesse Squires). In Irreducibility and Computational Equivalence: Wolfram Science 10 Years After the Publication of A New Kind of Science, edited by Hector Zenil, forthcoming.
  • Could and Should the Ought Disappear from Ethics? (Slides). In Digital Ethics: Research and Practice, edited by Don Heider and Adrienne Massinari (Peter Lang, Digital Formations Series, 2012), forthcoming.



In Process


Edited Volumes


Review Articles


In Process

  • Review of Information Ethics, Volume II of Principia Philosophiae Informationis by Luciano Floridi. Minds and Machines, forthcoming.


Speaking Engagements


Courses Taught

  • Philosophy of Information; Philosophy of Information Technology; Information Ethics; Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence; Artificial Intelligence and Human Cognition; Philosophy of Cognitive Science; Philosophy of Complex Systems; Philosophy of Technology; Science Technology and Society; Philosophical Psychology; Philosophical Foundations of Neuroscience; Emergence and Reduction; Introduction to Cognitive Science; Symbolic Logic; Modern European Philosophy; Kant's Critical Philosophy; Ancient Greek Philosophy; Plato's Psychological Dialogues (Symposium, Phaedrus, Republic & Phaedo); Plato's Republic; Plato's Later Dialogues (Parmenides, Theatetus, Sophist & Statesman); Plato and Nietzsche; 19th and 20th Century Continental Philosophy; Phenomenology and Existentialism; Heidegger's Being and Time; Heidegger's Nietzsche; Kierkegaard; Ethical Theory; Applied Ethics; Kantian Ethics; Kant and the Problem of Ethical Metaphysics (Kant and Levinas); Social and Political Philosophy; Philosophy of Religion; Philosophy and the Judeo-Christian Tradition; Early Church History; Patristic Theology; Philosophical Anthropology.
  • For more information on my teaching, see http://faculty.evansville.edu/tb2/teaching.htm.


Grants and Fellowships ($397,900)

  • Support for the International Association for Computing and Philosophy Annual Conference, The Office of Naval Research, Summer 2013, $15,000.
  • Technological Enhancement of Humanistic Education: Modeling Student Interaction in a Classroom Setting (Austin Willis, Co-PI), UExplore Undergraduate Research Program, The University of Evansville, Summer 2013, $7,250.
  • Transforming Standard Databases into Teleodynamic and Predictive Mechanisms (Christopher Harrison, Co-PI), UExplore Undergraduate Research Program, The University of Evansville, Summer 2011, $10,585.
  • Computer Simulations in the Humanities, National Endowment for the Humanities (Co-director with Marvin Croy, Patrick Grim and Mirsad Hadzikadic), 2010-2012, $155,415.
  • InPhO @ Work: Providing Integrated Access to Philosophy, National Endowment for the Humanities (C. Allen, PI), Subcontract to the University of Evansville from Indiana University, 2009-2011, $35,000.
  • Noesis: Philosophical Research Online, Digital Humanities Fellowship, National Endowment for the Humanities, 2008-2009, $75,400.
  • Travel Grant for Noesis: Philosophical Research Online, Alumni Research and Scholarly Activity Fellowship, University of Evansville, 2008, $750.
  • Library Development Grant for Resources in the Cognitive and Neural Sciences, Wheeler Fund, University of Evansville, 2007, $1,250.
  • Travel Grant for Noesis: Philosophical Research Online, Alumni Research and Scholarly Activity Fellowship, University of Evansville, 2007, $750.
  • Library Development Grant for Resources in Cognitive Science, Wheeler Fund, University of Evansville, 2004, $1,400.
  • Internet Technology Research and Development Grant, Office of the President, University of Evansville, 1999-2001, $42,900.
  • Software Development Grant, The Experiential and Collaborative Environment for Learning, University of Evansville, 1998, $7,500.
  • Software Development Grant, The Experiential and Collaborative Environment for Learning, University of Evansville, 1997, $2,500.
  • Internet Technology Research and Development Grant, Office of the President, University of Evansville, 1996-1998, $42,200.


Conferences, Institutes, Symposia and Workshops


Other Related Activities

  • Grant Reviewer, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, 2013.
  • Grant Reviewer and Panelist, The Digital Humanities Start-Up Grant ProgramNational Endowment for the Humanities, Washington, D.C., June 2nd, 2009 and May 24th, 2011.
  • Journal Referee, The Journal of Business Ethics, 2009; Ethics and Information Technology, 2009-2011; The ACM (Association for Computing Machinery) Journal on Computing and Cultural Heritage, 2009; Minds and Machines, 2010-2013; Information Sciences, 2010 & 2011; Philosophy & Technology, 2010-2013; Philosophy of Science, 2011; IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Spectrum, 2011; Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 2012; Synthese, 2012; Techné: Research in Philosophy and Technology, 2012; Information, 2012; The Journal of Science and Engineering Ethics, 2012.
  • Book Manuscript and Proposal Reviewer, Columbia University Press, 2006; Routledge, 2006 & 2008; Cambridge University Press, 2008 & 2009; Polity Press, 2008; MIT Press, 2009; Palgrave Macmillan, 2010.
  • Member, Poster Prize Committee, The Society for Philosophy and Psychology, June, 2009.
  • Area Editor, Philosophy of Computing and InformationPhilPapers, edited by David Chalmers and David Bourget, since 2009.
  • Member, Website Services Committee, Consortium on Cognitive Science Instruction, 2008-2012.
  • Affiliated Researcher, InPhO: The Indiana Philosophy Ontology Project, Cognitive Science Program, Indiana University, since 2007.
  • Member, Steering Committee, North American Division of the International Association for Computing and Philosophy, 2004-2008.
  • Member, The American Philosophical Association Committee on Philosophy and Computers, 2000-2003.
  • Philosophy Editor, Student Advantage Research, 1999-2000.
  • Author, Miscellaneous Encyclopedia Articles (on classical themes and for various projects), 1998-2003.
  • Editor, Noesis: Philosophical Research Online, since 1998.
  • Grant Reviewer, Curriculum Development Grant Program, Seton Hall University, 1997.
  • Grant Reviewer, The National Endowment for the Humanities, 1997.
  • Editor, Argos: Limited Area Search of the Ancient and Medieval Internet, 1996-2000.


Service to the University (Partial Listing)

  • Chair of Meetings for the Philosophy and Cognitive Science Programs, since 2012.
  • Member, Academic Leadership Committee (made up of Deans, Chairs and Program Directors, and reporting directly to the Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs), since 2011.
  • Member, Neuroscience Program Committee, since 2011.
  • Chair, Cognitive Science Curriculum Review and Revision Committee, 2007-2008.
  • Co-chair (with Lora Becker), Cognitive and Neural Science Consortium, since 2007.
  • Member, Ad Hoc Code of Conduct Ethics Committee, 2007.
  • Member, Ad Hoc University Religious Identity Committee, 2006-2007.
  • Robotics Minor Representative, Engineering Minor Curriculum Development Committee, College of Engineering and Computer Science, 2006.
  • Member, Neuroscience Curriculum Review and Revision Committee, Department of Psychology, 2006.
  • Co-chair (with Lora Becker),  Crick Lecture Series in the Cognitive and Neural Sciences, since 2005.
  • Member, Cognitive Psychology Hiring Committee, Department of Psychology, 2004-2005.
  • Director of Cognitive Science, University of Evansville, since 2004.
  • Member, Ad Hoc Committee to Investigate Data Loss in the University Computer Network, 2004.
  • Member, Datatel Investigation Committee, 2004.
  • Member, Academic Technology Assessment Committee, 2003-2004. (Chair, Diagnostics and Assessment Subcommittee, 2003).
  • Chair, Cognitive Science Curriculum Development Committee, 2002-2004.
  • Associate Director and Academic Advisor, The Interdisciplinary Program in Internet Technology, College of Engineering and Computer Science, 2001-2002.
  • Member, Internet Technology Curriculum Development Committee, College of Engineering and Computer Science, 2000-2001.
  • Director, The Internet Applications Laboratory, University of Evansville, 1998-2002.
  • Chair, Discussion 300 Curriculum Development Committee, 1994-1995.
  • Faculty Advisor, Mortar Board National College Senior Honor Society: University of Evansville Chapter, 1993-1994.
  • Mentor, Undeclared Freshmen Program, 1993-1994.
  • Member, World Cultures Revision Committee, 1992-1997.
  • Member, University Curriculum Committee, 1992-1996.


On Campus Lectures and Presentations

  • Complexity and Cognition: Circuits not Software. Crick Lecture in the Cognitive and Neural Sciences, The University of Evansville, April 11th, 2012.
  • Recursion, Memory and Information Entropy in Dynamic Associative Networks. Cognitive Neuroscience Club, The University of Evansville, November 30th, 2011.
  • Deriving Semantic Meaning by Measuring the Quantity of Information Flow. Fall Faculty Conference, The University of Evansville, Evansville, Indiana, August 17th, 2011.
  • Monkeys, Mind Control and Virtual Reality Video Games. University of Evansville Admissions Office Road Trip Open House, February 19th, 2011.
  • When Your Profile Knows More about You than You Do: The Power of Cognitive Computing, or Why I Left FacebookCrick Lecture in the Cognitive and Neural Sciences, The University of Evansville, September 27th, 2010.
  • The Philosophical Implications of Signal Transduction. Cognitive and Neural Science Research Group, University of Evansville, September, 30th, 2009.
  • Is Noesis Noetic and Why Does this Matter? Cognitive and Neural Science Research Group, University of Evansville, 2008. (View Slides)
  • Some Cognitive Functions of Elementary Artificial Networks. Cognitive and Neural Science Research Group, University of Evansville, 2008. (View Slides)
  • Emergence, Interactivity and the Game of Life: An Argument against Intelligent Design. Physics Club Lecture, University of Evansville, 2005.
  • Pedagogy and Situated Cognition: Technique and Technology in the Evolution of Intelligence. Andiron Lecture, University of Evansville, 2005.
  • Edison, Bell and the Future of Educational Technology. Wednesday Mornings at the University of Evansville, 2005.
  • Personal Identity and Community in the Age of Information. Andiron Lecture, University of Evansville, 2002.
  • The University of Evansville's Program in Internet Technology. Board of Trustees, University of Evansville, 2001. Also presented to the Washington D.C. Area Alumni Association of the University of Evansville, Washington D.C., 2001.
  • A Progress Report on Research from the Internet Applications Laboratory. Evansville Chamber of Commerce Meeting at the University of Evansville, 2001.
  • Exploring Ancient World Cultures on the World Wide Web. World Culture Faculty, Fall Faculty Conference, University of Evansville, 1995, 1996, 1997 & 1999.
  • Ancient Near-Eastern Literature and the Deconstruction of Civility. World Cultures Faculty, University of Evansville, 1995.
  • The Internet as a New Instructional Technology. Board of Trustees, University of Evansville, 1995.
  • The Origins of Science in Ancient Greece. World Cultures Faculty, University of Evansville, 1994.
  • Emmanuel Levinas and the Prophetic Voice of Postmodernity. Andiron Lecture, University of Evansville, 1993.


Some Publicity

  • Peter Suber, Noesis: Is It a Library with Built-in Searching or a Search Engine with a Built-in Library? Syllabus Magazine, March 2002.
  • Bill Uzgalis, Searching Phenomenology and Cyberspace: An Interview with Anthony BeaversNewsletter on Philosophy and Computers, American Philosophical Association, Volume 00.1 (2000).
  • James Prichard, In Search Of: University Offers Dedicated Philosophy Search Engine. Associated Press, March 21st, 2000.
  • Thomas Stone, philosophy@the.internet (on the Noesis search engine). The Philosophers' Magazine (Britain), Winter, 1999.
  • Matt Richtel, Where to Check That Plato Quotation. New York Times, March 5th, 1998.
  • Interview on using the Internet to teach Plato for The Best of Our Knowledge, produced at WAMC in Albany, New York, syndicated on National Public Radio, aired May 6th, 1998.
  • Lisa Guernsey, Plato Pages Introduce Students to Dialogues. The Chronicle of Higher Education, January 30th, 1998.
  • Richard Poynder, Modern Tools for Ancient Historians. Information World Review (Britain), January, 1997.
  • The Changing Face of Searching: Context-Sensitive Search Engines Like Argos are Providing a Solutions Focus to the Internet. Dataquest: The Business of Infotech (India), December, 1996.
  • Argos: A Peer-reviewed Limited Area Search Engine for the Web. SDSCwire: Newsletter of the San Diego Supercomputer Center, October 30th, 1996.
  • Jeffrey Young, Professor Develops 'Peer-Reviewed Search Engine'. Chronicle of Higher Education: Academe Today, October 10th, 1996. Also in Campus Review (Australia), October, 1996.


Professional Memberships


Honor Societies


References

  • Colin Allen, Ph.D. (colallen@indiana.edu), Professor, Department of History and Philosophy of Science & Graduate Director, Program in Cognitive Science, Indiana University.
  • Selmer Bringsjord, Ph.D. (selmer@rpi.edu), Professor of Logic, Cognitive Science and Computer Science, Chair of Cognitive Science, and Director of the Rensselaer Artificial Intelligence and Reasoning (RAIR) Lab, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
  • Charles Ess, Ph.D. (cmess@drury.edu), Distinguished Research Professor, Global Studies, Drury University, and Professor, Department of Information and Media Studies, Aarhus University.
  • Luciano Floridi, Ph.D. (luciano.floridi@philosophy.ox.ac.uk), UNESCO Chair in Information and Computer Ethics, School of Humanities, University of Hertfordshire, and Fellow of St. Cross College, University of Oxford.
  • James H. Moor, Ph.D. (James (dot) Moor (at) Dartmouth (dot) edu), Daniel P. Stone Professor of Intellectual and Moral Philosophy, Dartmouth College.
  • Peter Suber, Ph.D., J.D. (peters@earlham.edu), Fellow, The Berkman Center for Internet and Society, Harvard University, and Research Professor of Philosophy, Earlham College.