[Air-L] conference announcement of possible interest

[Charles Ess]

On behalf of friends and colleagues in the Computing and Philosophy world
...
- c.

NA-CAP at IU 2009: Networks and Their Philosophical Implications
(http://ia-cap.org/na-cap09/)

June 14th-16th at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana

Preliminary CFP

Deadline: February 1st 2009 (firm)

In recent years, across several different academic disciplines,
including biology, computer science, cognitive science, informatics,
philosophy and psychology, a shift in the study of complex systems is
readily visible. This shift away from a focus on the individual
components of a system to the interrelations between them has provided
the groundwork for what might broadly be called a "network"
perspective, as it has become increasingly clear that simple
components can produce astoundingly complex and varied behavior when
they work in consort. Evidence for this observation is seen everywhere
from biological neural networks, stigmergic systems, and animal
behavior to networked computing, social networking, and dynamic
systems. This conference will explore the philosophical implications
of this network perspective as it applies to the broader scope of
topics studied by our association.

To this end, we are interested in receiving submissions that explore
themes in the intersection of philosophy and computing insofar as they
involve, for instance:

   * Academic/Scientific Citation Networks
   * Artificial Neural (Connectionist) Networks
   * Biological Neural Networks
   * The Internet / World-Wide Web
   * Multi-Agent Reasoning and Decision-Making
   * Networked Computing
   * Networked Robotics / Swarm Intelligence
   * Semantic Networks
   * Social Networking
   * Stigmergic Systems
   * Ubiquitous Computing

Individual submissions might address a range of subtopics, including
the ethical and political implications of social networking,
theoretical analyses of networked computing, the implications of
artificial or biological neural networks for issues in the philosophy
of mind, how community and technology enable networked thinking,
reasoning and decision-making, etc. We also welcome submissions not
directly on the conference theme, though first preference will go to
those that fit within the broad parameters outlined here.

We welcome submissions for papers, panels and demonstrations of
computing and philosophy applications. Papers and demonstrations will
be allotted 40 minutes, including time for commentary and questions
(25 minutes for presentation, 5 for commentary and 10 for Q&A).
120-minute slots are available for panels and can be divided as the
panelists see fit.

For papers, please limit submission length to 3,000 words, keeping in
mind that the IACAP discourages participants from reading their papers
to the audience. (Many presenters prepare slides using PowerPoint or
some other software package. However, these need not be submitted with
your original paper.) Include also a 250-word abstract.

The IACAP discourages "show-and-tell" demonstrations, but welcomes
submissions that show a new and interesting application of computers
to philosophy. Submissions in this category should consist of a
1,500-word abstract outlining what is innovative about the application
and the questions pertinent to philosophy that your demonstration will
raise.

For panels, please submit a 1,000-word summary of the panel as a
whole, along with 300 to 500-word abstracts for each of its various
components.

The conference will be accepting electronic submissions appropriately
prepared for blind review on or before February 1st, 2009. Additional
details will be posted to the conference website at
http://ia-cap.org/na-cap09/ before early December and mailed to the
IACAP-announce mailing list. (See http://ia-cap.org/mailinglist.php to
join.)

This conference is one of several regional conferences associated with
the International Association for Computing and Philosophy. To learn
more about the IACAP, including its other conferences and membership
details, visit the organization's website at http://ia-cap.org.

Tony Beavers
2009 NACAP Program Chair

--
Anthony F. Beavers, Ph.D.
Professor of Philosophy /
Director of Cognitive Science
The University of Evansville
http://faculty.evansville.edu/tb2/