About Me
I work at the intersection of philosophy of mind, cognitive science, and artificial intelligence. I'm in the philosophy department at Colby. Previously I was a postdoctoral fellow in computational neuroscience at the University of Pennsylvania, where I also received my PhD in Philosophy, and before that I was at Yale Law School for my JD.
My research primarily concerns the concepts and empirical methods we use to describe and study cognitive processes. I'm interested in the ways deep learning systems contribute to cognitive science, and in the cognitive phenomena they yet fail to shed light on. I also want to better understand how human embodiment shapes the ways we think, as compared to other forms of cognition, which partly motivates me to examine cognition through the lens of dance and expressive movement.
Research
Selected Publications
Computational kinematics of dance: distinguishing Hip Hop genres (with Tony Liu, Jordan Matelsky, Felipe Parodi, Brett Mensh, John Krakauer and Konrad Kording),
-- 2024 Frontiers in Human Robotics and AI
Commentary on Favela and Machery, "Investigating the concept of representation in neural and psychological sciences
-- 2023 The Brains Blog
Three Aspects of Representation in Neuroscience (with Ben Lansdell and Konrad Kording),
-- 2022 Trends in Cognitive Sciences
Creativity in AI Dance Art
-- 2022 International Conference on Computational Creativity
Natural information, factivity and nomicity
-- 2021 Biology and Philosophy
Referee Report of (hypothetical) Philosophy-101 Textbook, by Professor Unspecified
-- 2021 Teaching Philosophy
Spanish Translation by Fredy H.P. Galindo
-- 2023 Cuestiones Filosophia
Teaching
I strive to empower my students to let their curiosity and passion drive their education. My courses challenge students to consider a topic from multiple disciplinary and cultural perspectives, and I incorporate hands-on interaction with emerging technologies, helping to build broadly applicable skills and knowledge.
Courses Taught
Central Philosophical Issues: Mind and Machine
Philosophy of Cognitive Science
Philosophy and Dance
Philosophy of Emotion
Philosophy and Visual Perception
Introduction to Ethics
Dance
Dance is a major part of my life and identity. My primary background is in hip-hop choreography, popping, and house, and I like to explore many movement styles.
Selected Dance Works
2022 Freestyle, shot/edited by Sho Matsuzaki | ♪♪ Soul of a Man -- Moon, ft Sticky Dub
2020 Class choreography with Kirah Koo | ♪♪ Krs. // Toast -- Dumebi edit
2019 Class choreography with Earle G and Bridget Sedden @ IAmPhresh | ♪♪ kay franklin - Getaheadhouse Edit -- Esta.
2018 Ba-Dum | Poetry -- me, Audio -- Madam Data, Video -- Mike Oberlies & Joe Clement
2018 Class choreography -- Chris Martin | ♪♪ I Need Never Get Old -- Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats
2015 Music video choreography | ♪♪ Lean On Rangeela (Major Lazer // Imran Khan) -- Jai Matt ft. Mugdha Hasabnis, Dr. Srimix, proDiJy
2011 choreography, video edit by Tom Maher | ♪♪ Go Out and Love Someopne -- Pogo
CV
You can view and download my full CV by clickinghere
About Now
In my second year in Maine and at Colby, now in more of a rhythm here
Some things I'm up to: revising a draft about AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) for a Routledge coursebook in Philosophy of Mind, developing the next steps of my work using computational methods to analyze movement, and contributing to a grant proposal aimed at simulating the nervous system of the c. elegans worm down to the molecular level.
In the classroom, I'm teaching an intro-level 'Mind & Machine' course and an upper-level 'Philosophy of Emotion'. In the Spring I'm looking forward to teaching a senior majors' seminar called 'AI and Human Values'.
In November I'll be giving a talk at James Madison University, in April I'll be part of the Technology & Cognition symposium at the Southern Society for Philosophy and Psychology, and then giving a talk at Oberlin's Colloquium in Philosophy.