Media

Michael Lynch: Psychology Today

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In preparation for the launch of his new book On Truth in Politics: Why Democracy Demands It, Professor Michael Patrick Lynch has written two articles on Psychology Today addressing the state of political truth in modern democracy.

 

His first article, “Why Does Everything Seem Political?” defines and discusses political meaning:

Political meaning, in particular, emerges from the associations communities attach to things. Politics is an activity aimed at resolving collective problems among communities. It reflects the perceived contributions of actions, objects, or ideas to political debates. In this sense, political meaning is all about perception.

 

While his second article, “Has Meta’s Fact-Checking Exit Put Truth at Risk?” directly confronts media company Meta (owner of Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp) newest decision that will end anti-disinformation programs across their sites:

In its recent announcement, Meta declared that it is ending its anti-disinformation program, stating a commitment to “more speech and fewer mistakes” (Meta, 2025). Given the size and global reach of their platforms, this is not just a blow against systematic and professional fact-checking online; it is a blow against the very idea of fact-checking—and that’s a problem for democracy.

 

You can pre-order his new book, On Truth in Politics: Why Democracy Demands It on Bookshop or Amazon.

Congratulations, Michael!

Jane Gordon: “Creolising the State?”

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We are thrilled to share that our affiliated faculty member and Professor in Political Science, Jane Gordon, has recently published an article titled “Creolising the State?” in Theoria: A Journal of Social and Political Theory. This prestigious journal is one of the top publications in the field, both in South Africa and globally.

You can read the article here: Theoria: A Journal of Social and Political Theory.

Please join us in congratulating Professor Gordon on this incredible achievement!

Interdisciplinary Workshop on Human Centered AI: How do we Connect?

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Interdisciplinary Workshop on Human Centered AI: How do we Connect?

 

January 13, 2024

8 am-12:15 pm US Eastern Standard Time/2 pm-6 pm Morocco Time

Register here

 

This half-day virtual workshop between the Université Internationale de Rabat and the University of Connecticut will bring computer scientists into conversation with political scientists, philosophers in dialogue with medical professionals. We believe that human-centered AI will only be possible when humans from a truly diverse array of perspectives, backgrounds, and disciplinary training are involved in designing and deploying these powerful tools.

Our workshop will cluster around three complementary themes:

 

8:15-9:15  am               

Panel 1) Interdisciplinary Work in AI: Challenges, Opportunities and Successes

Panelists will provide case studies of successful projects. What worked well? What are the obstacles to interdisciplinary collaboration, and how might we navigate them?

What do computer scientists need from humanists to better do their work? What are humanists missing/misunderstanding about AI development?

Panelists

Anke Finger, LCL and Digital Media and Design, UConn
Ihsane Hmamouchi, Rheumatology, Université Internationale de Rabat

Arash Zaghi ,Civil Engineering, UConn

 

9:20-10:20 am                              

Panel 2) Language and AI

How is bias introduced through exclusive language model training? How do we include more language diversity in AI training? How do chatbots alter our language?

Panelists

Kyle Booten, English, UConn

Reda Mokhtar El Ftouh, Law,  Université Internationale de Rabat
Adil Bahaj, Biomedicine and AI, Université Internationale de Rabat

 

10:25 am-11:40 pm

Panel 3) AI and the Social

How can we determine the ethics of AI? How can we understand and ameliorate AI’s role in spreading disinformation via social networks? How will AI affect how humans relate to one another?

Panelists

Ting-an Lin, Philosophy, UConn

Hakim Hafidi, Artificial Intelligence and Network Science, Université Internationale de Rabat

John Murphy, Digital Media and Design, UConn
Meriem Regragui, Law, Université Internationale de Rabat

 

11 :40-12 :15

Concluding Remarks

 

This event is the result of a partnership between UConn Global Affairs, UConn Humanities Institute and the Université Internationale de Rabat, Morocco.

 

Alex Stamson: “Kinda Radical” Podcast

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Check out graduate student Alex Stamson on the Kinda Radical podcast!

On this week's episode I am joined by philosopher, professor, social epistemologist, writer/author, traveler, and fantasy's biggest fan: Alex Stamson! Alex joins KR to discuss feminism in pop fiction, specifically in fantasy writing, film, and TV. We explore feminist theories in Game of Thrones such as self erasure, self sacrifice (or not), queerness in fantasy, and the interesting outcomes of assault for women characters. Alex also shares the meaning of world building in fantasy and how, when perpetuating stereotypes, it can cement prejudice. Finally, we talk about teaching gender studies and how that is received in the classroom.

Listen to the episode

Lewis Gordon: Tavis Smiley

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Check out Distinguished Professor Lewis Gordon’s recent media appearance on the Tavis Smiley podcast. Dr. Gordon has worked with Tavis Smiley in the past, discussing topics such as political extremism, black consciousness, and more. In this episode, Smiley and Gordon discuss racial justice and anti-blackness policies, centering the argument around how we can cultivate Black consciousness without fear.

 

Congratulations, Lewis!

Lewis Gordon: Black Consciousness

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Check out Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor Lewis Gordon’s recent interview on the Overthink podcast on Black Consciousness. The episode discusses Professor Gordon’s book, Fear of Black Consciousness, as well as other works by race and philosophy scholars.

See below for a brief overview of the episode written on the Overthink website:

“Do you need black skin to be Black? How might concepts such as white privilege be limiting our understanding of how racism works? In Episode 117 of Overthink, Ellie and David chat with philosopher Lewis Gordon about his book, Fear of Black Consciousness. They talk through the history of anti-Black racism, the existential concept of bad faith, why Rachel Dolezal might have Black consciousness, and Frantz Fanon’s experience of being called a racial slur by a white child on a train. From the American Blues to the Caribbean movement of Negritude, this episode is full of insight into Black liberation and White centeredness.”

Congratulations, Lewis!

Lewis Gordon: The Honorable Shyne

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Congratulations to Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor Lewis Gordon on his appearance in Hulu’s new documentary, The Honorable Shyne. The movie follows Moses “Shyne” Barrow, and his journey from famous hip-hop artist to Belizean politician. Below is an excerpt from the film’s synopsis:

This documentary provides an intimate look at Shyne’s personal evolution as he navigates fame, incarceration and a return home to Belize, where he finds new purpose and strives to lead his country to a brighter future.

 

You can watch the official trailer on Hulu’s YouTube channel.

Lewis Gordon: Final Installment in Spectrum Series

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Check out the final installment on Spectrum‘s series on Distinguished Professor Lewis Gordon’s book, Freedom, Justice, and Decolonization. The final article, written by Maury Jackson, explores chapter seven of Gordon’s book. You can read the article, entitled “Irreplaceability and Bodily Resurrection: Adventist Philosophers Review ‘Freedom, Justice, and Decolonization'” on the Spectrum Magazine website.

Dr. Lewis Gordon will also be the featured lecturer at the November 2024 SAP conference this week.

Congratulations, Lewis!

Michael Lynch: Podcast Interviews

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Congratulations to Dr. Michael Lynch on his two recent podcast appearances!

The first interview is the episode “Communicating Truth,” hosted by the American Associated of Biological Sciences on their Bioscience Talks podcast, where Professor Lynch talks about truth and misinformation.

The second interview is hosted by The Chasing Leviathan Podcast, where Professor Lynch discusses his the metaphysics of truth and his 2001 book, The Nature of Truth.