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Events

Social Events and Workshops

Philosophy Reading Room

A weekly opportunity to read for class, research, or just for fun.  

Each Wednesday (except for Spring Break), January 22nd–May 14th 2025, 2:30–4:30pm
SE2 102 (first floor of Science & Engineering 2)

Philosophy Speaker Series

A series of academic talks by guests and local faculty. Information from past talks are in the Events Archive and some recordings are available on our Youtube channel. All talks are on a Friday from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in COB1 267, unless otherwise specified.

"Recommended Selves: Authenticity and Algorithmic Filtering"

Étienne Brown (San José State) February 7th, 2025

 

By allocating their attention to pieces of content, algorithmic filtering shapes the daily behavior of billions of users when they interact with a digital platform. Beyond conditioning what we do, can recommendation algorithms influence who we are? This paper suggests that they do. Specifically, I contend that recommender systems affect users’ capacity to be their authentic selves in both positive and negative ways. I start by offering an account of authenticity that builds on two ideals: volitional alignment and self-understanding. I then explain how algorithmic filtering works and impacts authenticity. While recommender systems frustrate users’ second-order desires by relying on uninformative behavioral signals, they also facilitate self-understanding by inciting users to question their identity. I end by discussing how controllable and explainable recommenders would best enable users to be authentic. Contrary to a recent objection, algorithmic filtering can be an important source of self-knowledge for users.

 

 

Monte Johnson (UC San Diego) February 21st

Colin Allen (UC Santa Barbara) March 14th 

Mailing List

To get updates by email, please visit: https://lists.ucmerced.edu/mailman/listinfo/philosophyevents

Examined Life 

Examined Life is an informal group that comes together on a weekly basis to brainstorm philosoophical questions or topics. We choose a question/topic from participant's suggestions in the following four categories:

  • What I have been thinking about,
  • What everyone is talking about,
  • What no one is talking about,
  • and A bold idea.

Our goal with Examined Life is to create a space where individuals from any major can come together to discuss philosophical topics of their choice.

For Fall 2024, Examined Life will meet Wednesdays from 1:45-2:45 in Science and Engineering 2: 102 - Activity Center

Contact Devyn Williams <dwilliams55@ucmerced.edu> for more information.

Minorities and Philosophy

Minorities and Philosophy at University of California Merced is an undergraduate led chapter of MAP International that is committed to examining and addressing issues of minority participation within academic philosophy. MAP at UC Merced facilitates conversations on issues in philosophy pertaining to gender, race, minorities, sexual orientation, class, and disability. If you would like to be added to the mailing list (this is separate from the philosophy program mailing list), register here. Contact Devyn Williams <dwilliams55@ucmerced.edu> for more information.

For Fall 2024, MAP is tentatively scheduled to meet Tuesdays from 5:45-6:45pm in Glacier (GLCR) 120.

Information for Visitors

All of our department events are open to students, faculty, and members of the public, both here at UC Merced and in our extended community.