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CALL FOR PAPERS
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COMPUTERS & PHILOSOPHY, an International Conference
Le Mans University, Laval, France, 3-5 May, 2006
Chair: C.T.A. SCHMIDT Colin.Schmidt@univ-lemans.fr e-mail
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http://www.iut-laval.univ-lemans.fr/i-CaP_2006/
(soon)
IMPORTANT DATES (check conference url for up-to-date information)
Friday November 18 th 2005 Submission deadline for extended abstracts (1000
wds.)
January 27th 2006 Notification of acceptance
March 1st 2006 Early registration deadline
3-5 May 2006, Conference
August 1st 2006 Camera-ready paper
GENERAL INFORMATION
From Wednesday 3rd to Friday 5th May 2006 THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON
COMPUTERS & PHILOSOPHY will be held at Le Mans University in Laval (near
Rennes, France).
Overview: Those interested in the study of philosophical problems and
related technological applications are encouraged to participate; in
addition to the suggested research areas provided in the list of topics
given, society's philosophical, epistemological, theological and
anthropological stances on the use of machines are of relevance to the
conference.
See list of topics.
Within the framework of the programme, we are looking forward to the
contributions of some imminent thinkers:
USA Daniel DENNETT, Philosophy, Tufts
USA Rodney BROOKS, Robotics, MIT
Italy Lorenzo MAGNANI, Logic & Philosophy, Pavia
UK Margaret BODEN, Art. Intelligence, Cognitive Sc. & Philosophy, Sussex
Canada Daniel VANDERVEKEN, Logic & Language, UQTR
Thailand Darryl MACER, UNESCO Reg. Adviser for Soc.& Human Sc. in Asia-Pacific
UK Noel SHARKEY, Computation & Robotics, Sheffield
Prospective or to be confirmed:
France Francis JACQUES, Logic, Philosophy & Theology, Sorbonne
Belgium Luc STEELS, Artificial Intelligence, SONY - VUB Brussels
Japan Hiroshi ISHIGURO, Artificial Beings, Osaka University
SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMME
The increasing interaction between Philosophy and Computing over the past
40 some years has lead to many position-taking stances in theories of mind,
applied machine-embedded Intelligence and cultural adaptations to the
onslaught of robots in society. In the first instance, the Chair is seeking
short manuscripts contributing to the body of knowledge within or about the
intersection of the two fields —i.e. are there established dialogues
between Philosophy and Computing? Is there a proper answer to the question
of whether machines can think? Contemporary thought on computers and
Artificial Intelligence is not the exclusive aim of the conference; the
arise of newer forms of machine intelligence can inform us about potential
human beliefs and permissibility thresholds with regards to technology
—i.e. are all communities equally-footed with respect to machines that
speak, have desires and beliefs, autonomously increase their own learning
capabilities, develop bodily functions, play games with us, help us learn,
help children or the ill to express themselves, care-give the elderly, etc.
To this end, comparative studies and forward-looking accounts are welcome,
as well as reports on innovative uses of knowledge previously gained at the
crossroads of Philosophy and all "Intelligent Machinery sciences". Breaking
news in Computer Science that "pull" the philosopher towards the
computationalist point of view on mind are equally encouraged; and so are
propositions that show the limits of representationalistic theories in
portraying the workings of mind or leading to multi-modal simulations (i.e.
suggesting post-cognitivist approaches or attitudes). The Scientific
Committee have taken note of the very convincing simulations of (not only
human) life that exist and thus remain open to originality, both in
presuppositions and visions, whether scientific or philosophical. The main
goal of the conference is to spur on interdisciplinary dialogue between
50-80 engaging intellectuals. Potential contributors may wish to use the
topics listed below for further inspiration.
Speakers:
Margaret BODEN, Infomatics Department, University of Sussex, UK
"Life and Mind"
It's sometimes said, and even more often assumed, that life is necessary
for mind. If so, and if A-Life promises to throw light on the nature of
life as such, then A-Life is in principle highly relevant to the philosophy
of mind and cognitive science.
However, very few philosophers have attempted to argue for the relation
between life and mind. It's usually taken for granted. Even those (mostly
in the Continental tradition, including some with a following in A-Life)
who have insisted on the linkage have stated it rather than justified it.
If an evolutionary account of intentionality is acceptable, then perhaps
biological life 'makes room' for mind. But that claim is problematic, since
it's not clear that the type of self-organization involved in life-as-such
must necessarily include evolution. Even if it does, it's a further step to
show that life is strictly necessary for mind.
Rodney BROOKS -Robotics Group, Artificial Intelligence Lab, MIT, Cambridge
MA, USA
"Folk Personhood"
What are the future technological milestones that will drive changes in
relationships between people and machines? At different times in history
different technologies have been more or less significant in determining
people's attitudes towards machines as beings. Some technological trends
will soon change the way a non-specialist will relate to certain machines.
Other plausible changes in relationships may depend on scientific
realizations that are as yet uncertain. And perhaps we will surprise ourselves.
Daniel DENNETT -Centre for Cognitive Studies, Tufts University, Medford,
MA, USA
"Computers as prostheses for the imagination"
Many scientists' experiments are aided, or even made possible, by such
perception-magnifiers as microscopes and telescopes; philosophers' thought
experiments can be just as dramatically extended by use of computers to
discipline their imaginations. Artificial Intelligence, Artificial Life,
and evolutionary economics are best seen as new varieties of more rigorous
philosophy. And on a more informal, traditional level of philosophizing,
the concepts of computer science can help banish failures of imagination
that have long been mistaken by philosophers as insights into necessity.
Lorenzo MAGNANI -Computational Philosophy Laboratory, University of Pavia,
Italy
"Beyond Mind. How Brains Make Up Artificial Cognitive Systems"
At the roots of thinking abilities there is a process of disembodiment of
mind that presents a new cognitive perspective on the role of external
models and representations. Taking advantage of Turing’s comparison between
“unorganised” brains and “logical” and “practical”
machines the
presentation will illustrate the centrality to cognition of the
disembodiment of mind from the point of view of the interplay between
internal and external representations, both mimetic and creative.
The last part of the presentation will describe the concept of mimetic mind
I have introduced to shed new cognitive and philosophical light on the role
of computational modelling and on the decline of the so-called Cartesian
computationalism.
Daniel VANDERVEKEN -Department of Philosophy, University of Qu�bec at Trois
Rivi�res, Canada
"Foundations of the Formal Pragmatics of Discourse"
Like Montague, I believe that pragmatics should use the resources of
formalisms (proof, model and game theories) and philosophical logic in
order to construct a theory of meaning and use. I will explain how to
further develop intensional and illocutionary logics, the logic of
attitudes and of action in order to characterize our ability to converse.
One important issue is to analyze the logical form of intentional actions,
to explicate the minimal rationality of speakers and the dynamics of
dialogues. By considering previous utterances and conversational goals, the
theory of meaning becomes more dynamic. It can better determine the force
and propositional content of individual illocutionary acts and the nature
of collective illocutionary acts to which speakers intend to contribute.
Noel SHARKEY -Department of Computer Science, Sheffield University, UK
To be communicated
Darryl MACER, Biotechnology Ethics & Policy, UNESCO Reg. Adviser for Soc.&
Human Sc. in Asia-Pacific, Bangkok
" Asian-Pacific Perspectives (on the Personhood of Non-humans/Machines)"
Prospective or be Confirmed:
Francis JACQUES, Logic, Philosophy, Theology, -Sorbonne University, France
Luc STEELS, Artificial Intelligence, SONY CSL � Paris/VUB AI Laboratory �
Brussels France/Belgium
Hiroshi ISHIGURO, Osaka University, Japan
RELEVANT RESEARCH AREAS cf. "Information" quick link
In addition to main-stream areas of research —Philosophy of Artificial
Intelligence, Intelligent Robotics, Cognitive Science, Computer Ethics— we
are looking for cross-cultural studies on the place of machines in society,
as well as the following:
1. Evolution & Technologies
-- Evolutionary Computation and Evolutionary Language Development
-- Information Systems and the Philosophy of Design
-- Biologically-Incorporated Intelligence; the Use of Organic Components
for Robotics
-- Bio-computation, Bio-Robotics, Artificial Life & Meaning
-- Robotics (Humanoid, Cognitive, Epigenetic, "Autonomous", Service, etc.)
-- Virtual Reality and Performance
2. Pragmatics & Comp. Linguistics
-- Speech Acts and the Limits of Machine-embedded Use of Dialogue
-- Obstacles to Parsing (Accents, Intonations, Emotional States, etc.)
-- Relations, Reference and Communicability
-- Artificial Affectivity in (non-)Dialogical Settings
-- All Language, Meaning and Dialogue Issues
3. Minds and Intentionality
-- Evocative Objects and Presumed Intelligence
-- Personification of Artefacts
-- Other Minds Theories and Simulating Co-intentionality
-- The Mind/Body Problem in Cognitive Science
-- European Versions (and Anti-theses) of the Intentional Stance
4. Culture & Adaptability
-- All Anthropological Views on Computers and Robots
-- Context-embedded Computer Learning
-- In-class Robotic Teachers, Vulgarisation and (non-)Acceptance Issues
-- The Pros and Cons of Computer-Mediated Communication & Learning
-- Virtual Reality & Digitally-supported Personalities
-- Post-modernism and Fiction related to Machines and Individuals
5. History, Ethics & Theology
-- Issues arising from the Automation of Thought
-- Designing Users' Beliefs, Beliefs Designing Machines, Religious Deontology
-- Robo-Ethics, Moral Agents, Spirituality of Machines, Technological Souls
-- The Impacts of Intelligent Computers and Robotics on Society throughout
History
-- Cognitive Epistemology or Science as Applied Technology
Other
-- All transdisciplinary attempts to link Philosophy, Computing and/or Robotics
Although technical demonstrations will be encouraged at the conference,
papers writers should endeavour to display one aspect of their work that is
not technical: philosophical, anthropological, epistemological or
theological aspects constitute a list the Chair provides although this list
of suggestions remains open. Proposals of mainstream philosophy should
include one technical reference or incorporate related works or oeuvres
(i.e. A. Turing, J. Austin, H. Putnam, H. Simon...). If in doubt, e-mail
the Chair of the Scientific Committee. See list of topics.
All potential participants interested in chairing a sessions are asked to
please send a short statement of interest to the Chair at:
Colin.Schmidt@univ-lemans.fr
VENUE cf. quick link
As the conference will be collocated with Laval Virtual (LV2006) (
http://www.laval-virtual.org/fr/index.php ),
attendees may consider
planning extended stays in the area. The two events are not held back to
back in order to allow time for sightseeing and rest. Laval is known to be
a city of character for its history, art and culture. Located on the
Mayenne River in beautiful Western France, it offers all the amenities of a
large city while maintaining a small town feel. There are many interesting
things to see, some for which we can provide more information. Prospective
attendees of the conference may find further information in the links
provided soon on the conference web site.
SUBMISSION OF PAPERS quick link
Authors must circumscribe the general idea of the final paper by writing
concisely. They should submit an electronic version of an extended abstract
(total word count approximately 800-1000 words). The file should also
contain a 150 word abstract that will be used for the conference
website/booklet. Keywords (up to six) should be provided as well as full
information concerning the authors (affiliations, titles, professional
addresses, telephone numbers, etc.).
The final full papers, to be submitted AFTER the conference, will not
exceed a total word count of 4500 words and will be accompanied by a word
count and an abstract of not more than 250 words. These post-conference
submissions for the 1st of August 2006 are to take into account the
comments made by the Scientific Committee during the conference. A selected
number of papers will be published —after peer review of the final
versions— in a special issue of an international journal (title TBA). The
Chair will also negotiate publication in a hard cover book for especially
advanced or brilliant pieces of research.
The submissions should be made electronically, written in a format
appropriate for blind review in Word format. To submit papers visit
http://www.iut-laval.univ-lemans.fr/i-CaP_2006/
and follow the links to
"submit"
The extended abstract submission deadline is Friday the 18 th of November 2005.
For further information about the conference, please consult the i-C&P 2006
website or contact the Chair.
REGISTRATION quick link
Registration fee before/after March 1st 2006:
Standard: EURO 180/300 (1 Conference Reception-Meal plus coffee breaks
included)
No refunds will be granted after April 1st 2006
For registration please visit the conference web site:
http://www.iut-laval.univ-lemans.fr/i-CaP_2006/registration.htm
ACCOMMODATION
To book accommodation, please consult the conference web site soon for some
hotel links.
SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE
General Chair: Colin T. SCHMIDT, Communication, Philosophy & Cognition, Le
Mans University, France
Local Organisations Chair: Xavier DUBOURG, Computer Science & Learning, Le
Mans University & Director of the Laval Technological Institute, France
Honorary Chair: Francis JACQUES, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy, Sorbonne
University, France
Varol AKMAN, Philosophy and Computer Science, Bilkent University, Turkey
Jean CAELEN, Cognition and Interaction, CNRS/Grenoble University, France
Raja CHATILA, Robotics, CNRS/Toulouse University, France
Nathalie COLINEAU, Language & Multi-modality, CSIRO, Australia
Roberto CORDESCHI, Computation & Communication, Salerno University, Italy
Liu GANG, Information & Philosophy, Inst. of Philosophy, Chinese Acad. of
Soc. Sciences, China
Deborah G. JOHNSON, Technology and Ethics, University of Virginia, USA
Fr�d�ric KAPLAN, Artificial Intelligence, SONY CSL � Paris
Nik KASABOV, Computer and Information Sciences, Auckland University, New
Zealand
Oussama KHATIB, Robotics & Artificial Intelligence, Stanford University, USA
Boicho KOKINOV, Cognitive Science, New Bulgarian University, Sofia, Bulgaria
Felicitas KRAEMER, Philosophy & Intentionality, Bielefeld University, Germany
Jean LASS�GUE, Philosophy, CNRS/Ecole Normale Sup�rieur Paris, France
Ping LI, Cognitive Science & Philosophy of Science, Sun Yat-sen University,
China
Daniel LUZZATI, Linguistics, Le Mans University, France
M.C. MANES GALLO, Info. & Communication Sciences, Bordeaux University, France
Anne NICOLLE, Computer Science & Interdisciplinarity, CNRS/University of
Caen, France
Teresa NUMERICO, Communication, Salerno University, Italy
James MOOR, Philosophy, Dartmouth College, USA
Bernard MOULIN, Computer Science, Laval University, Canada
Denis VERNANT, Logic & Philosophy, Grenoble University, France
Ming XIE, Robotics, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Publications Chair: Colin T. SCHMIDT, Le Mans University & APFJ
Local Organisations Chair: Xavier DUBOURG, Assoc. Prof. Computer Science,
Le Mans University & Laval Technological Institute
LOCAL CONTACT POINT
Dr. Colin Schmidt (Chair)
Computers & Philosophy, an International Conference
i-C&P 2006
Computer Science Laboratory LIUM CNRS FRE 2730 Le Mans University
France
Phone: +33 2 43 59 49 25
Fax: +33 2 43 59 49 28
E-mail: Colin.Schmidt@lium.univ-lemans.fr
Conference: quick link
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Received on Tue Sep 13 11:23:19 2005
