Call for Applications: Summer School: The Ethics of Consciousness

Theme 

Rice University’s Paris Center is hosting a week-long summer school for early-career researchers on the ethics of consciousness, covering both theoretical issues surrounding the role of consciousness in grounding wellbeing and morality and applied issues arising from emerging technologies of synthetic consciousness and machine consciousness. 

Structure

The summer school faculty includes Tim Baynes, David Builes, Elizabeth Harman, Uriah Kriegel, Susan Schneider, Eric Schwitzgebel, Joshua Shepherd, and Willem van Der Deijl. Mornings will consist in two faculty presentations on a single theme; afternoons will consist in faculty-led discussion groups on that theme (except for the afternoon of 31 May, which will be free). The last day will feature presentations by the early-career participants. We’ll also have all lunches and most dinners together - they’ll be provided by Rice’s Paris Center. 

Applications

Applications are invited from early-career researchers who wish to participate. Please send (1) a CV and (2) a one-page letter of motivation to Uriah Kriegel at [email protected]. If you would like to present on the last day of the summer school, please include also a 200-500 word abstract. Deadline for applications: 20 January.

Eligibility

For the purposes of this summer school, “early career” is defined as ABD to 5 years from PhD. If you don’t fall in this bracket but would like an exception to be made for you, please email [email protected] to inquire. 

Financial

This summer school is completely free. Unfortunately, however, our budget does not allow us to help defray attendees' travel and accommodation costs.

Tentative Schedule

Monday 29 May: The ethics of synthetic consciousness

Tuesday 30 May: The ethics of machine consciousness

Wednesday 31 May: Consciousness as ground of wellbeing

Thursday 1 June: Consciousness as ground of moral value

Friday 2 June: Early-career participant presentations

Questions?

Email Uriah Kriegel at [email protected].