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2332The metaphysics of cognitive artifactsPhilosophical Explorations 19 (1): 78-93. 2016.This article looks at some of the metaphysical properties of cognitive artefacts. It first identifies and demarcates the target domain by conceptualizing this class of artefacts as a functional kind. Building on the work of Beth Preston, a pluralist notion of functional kind is developed, one that includes artefacts with proper functions and system functions. Those with proper functions have a history of cultural selection, whereas those with system functions are improvised uses of initially non…Read more
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79Identifying the ethics of emerging information and communication technologies: An essay on issues, concepts and methodInternational Journal of Technoethics 1 (4): 20-38. 2010.Ethical issues of information and communication technologies (ICTs) are important because they can have significant effects on human liberty, happiness, and people’s ability to lead a good life. They are also of functional interest because they can determine whether technologies are used and whether their positive potential can unfold. For these reasons, policy makers are interested in finding out what these issues are and how they can be addressed. The best way of creating ICT policy that is se…Read more
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545Epistemological and phenomenological issues in the use of brain-computer interfacesIn C. Ess & R. Hagengruber (eds.), Proceedings of the International Association for Computing and Philosophy 2011 (pp. 98-102)., Mv-wissenschaft. 2011.Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are an emerging and converging technology that translates the brain activity of its user into command signals for external devices, ranging from motorized wheelchairs, robotic hands, environmental control systems, and computer applications. In this paper I functionally decompose BCI systems and categorize BCI applications with similar functional properties into three categories, those with (1) motor, (2) virtual, and (3) linguistic applications. I then analyse th…Read more
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2326Extended mind and cognitive enhancement: Moral aspects of cognitive artifactsPhenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences 16 (1): 17-32. 2017.This article connects philosophical debates about cognitive enhancement and situated cognition. It does so by focusing on moral aspects of enhancing our cognitive abilities with the aid of external artifacts. Such artifacts have important moral dimensions that are addressed neither by the cognitive enhancement debate nor situated cognition theory. In order to fill this gap in the literature, three moral aspects of cognitive artifacts are singled out: their consequences for brains, cognition, and…Read more
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6815The Cognitive Ecology of the InternetIn Stephen Cowley & Frederic Vallée-Tourangeau (eds.), Cognition Beyond the Brain: Computation, Interactivity and Human Artifice (2nd ed.), Springer. pp. 251-282. 2017.In this chapter, we analyze the relationships between the Internet and its users in terms of situated cognition theory. We first argue that the Internet is a new kind of cognitive ecology, providing almost constant access to a vast amount of digital information that is increasingly more integrated into our cognitive routines. We then briefly introduce situated cognition theory and its species of embedded, embodied, extended, distributed and collective cognition. Having thus set the stage, we beg…Read more
Macquarie University
PhD, 2014
Tilburg, Netherlands
Areas of Specialization
Philosophy of Cognitive Science |
Philosophy of Technology |
Technology Ethics |
Extended Selves |
Neuroethics |
PhilPapers Editorships
Extended Selves |