Will F
- Research Program Mentor
PhD candidate at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)
Expertise
philosophy of language (and linguistics), cognitive science (especially neuroscience and psychology), environmental ethics, ethics of artificial intelligence
Bio
I pursue questions that fall at the intersection of philosophy of language and philosophy of mind, especially those that inform and are informed by the sciences. I’m broadly interested in the topic of representation: how representations function as components of cognitive and social structures, as well as the role of representation as an explanatory tool in philosophy and the cognitive sciences. I’m particularly interested in investigating these topics as they relate to embodiment and social practices. Outside of academic philosophy, I spend my time rock climbing and writing and recording music. I've been climbing for over 15 years and have traveled internationally to pursue the sport. I love immersing myself in new landscapes and cultures. I've been playing music even longer – since I started piano lessons 25 years ago. In 2016, I released an original EP and have played, sung, and written on numerous other projects.Project ideas
On the origins of algorithmic injustice
This project explores how it is that injustice can arise at the algorithmic level. Algorithmic injustice occurs when algorithmic decision-making procedures systematically harm certain individuals in virtue of their social identities. For example, a recidivism algorithm might predict that a Black individual is more likely to re-offend, a prediction which in turn affects their sentencing. This project explores human bias at the level of training data as one possible source of algorithmic injustice.
On the explanatory scope of fMRI
Neuro-imaging provides a stunning window into the movements of the human brain. But what can it really say about the mind? This project considers what bearing the distinction between correlation and causation might have on the conclusions we draw from neuro-imaging studies.