Theology, Transhumanism, and Artificial Intelligence
The title of the conference is: "Theology, Transhumanism, and Artificial Intelligence," and the location will be Classroom B at Church Divinity School of the Pacific (CDSP), Berkeley, California. All of this info is also on the PCTS website: http://pcts.org/
ScheduleFriday, Nov 3
1:30-2pm - Arrival and Registration
2-5 pm - Paper Session
5-7 pm - Business Meeting, Social Time, Dinner
7-8:30 pm - Public Lecture, Mark Graves (Notre Dame)
"Building Artificial Intelligence Systems in Theology and Science"
Note: The public lecture is held in the Tucson Room.
Saturday, Nov 4
9–9:30 am - Continental Breakfast
9:30 am-noon - Paper Session
TopicThe papers for the Fall 2017 meeting examine the relationship between theology and the emerging technologies of transhumanism and artificial intelligence, especially how these technologies influence human self-understanding in a theological context.
Paper Session - Friday, Nov 3, 2-5 pm
Brian Green (SCU)"Some Ethical and Theological Reflections on Artificial Intelligence" (pdf)
Respondent is Andrew Porter (CTNS)
Levi Checketts (JST)"Zarathustra, Transhumanism, and the Homo Gubernator" (pdf, docx)
Respondent is Peter Hess (GTU)
Public Lecture - Friday, 7-8:30 pm
Public Lecture, Mark Graves (Notre Dame)Held in the Tucson Room.
Mark Graves discusses his experience in building Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems and how he has interweaved AI and science with his theological development.
Paper Session - Saturday, Nov 4, 9:30 am-noon
Arvin Gouw (UC Berkeley)"Knowledge and Purpose in AI: From Thomistic Passions to Chalmers’ Qualia" ( )
Respondent is Lanny Vincent (SCU)
Braden Molhoek (GTU)"Second Class Citizens? Questions of Purpose and Membership for AI and Transhumanism" (pdf)
Respondent is Ted Peters (GTU)
ScheduleFriday, Nov 3
1:30-2pm - Arrival and Registration
2-5 pm - Paper Session
5-7 pm - Business Meeting, Social Time, Dinner
7-8:30 pm - Public Lecture, Mark Graves (Notre Dame)
"Building Artificial Intelligence Systems in Theology and Science"
Note: The public lecture is held in the Tucson Room.
Saturday, Nov 4
9–9:30 am - Continental Breakfast
9:30 am-noon - Paper Session
TopicThe papers for the Fall 2017 meeting examine the relationship between theology and the emerging technologies of transhumanism and artificial intelligence, especially how these technologies influence human self-understanding in a theological context.
Paper Session - Friday, Nov 3, 2-5 pm
Brian Green (SCU)"Some Ethical and Theological Reflections on Artificial Intelligence" (pdf)
Respondent is Andrew Porter (CTNS)
Levi Checketts (JST)"Zarathustra, Transhumanism, and the Homo Gubernator" (pdf, docx)
Respondent is Peter Hess (GTU)
Public Lecture - Friday, 7-8:30 pm
Public Lecture, Mark Graves (Notre Dame)Held in the Tucson Room.
Mark Graves discusses his experience in building Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems and how he has interweaved AI and science with his theological development.
Paper Session - Saturday, Nov 4, 9:30 am-noon
Arvin Gouw (UC Berkeley)"Knowledge and Purpose in AI: From Thomistic Passions to Chalmers’ Qualia" ( )
Respondent is Lanny Vincent (SCU)
Braden Molhoek (GTU)"Second Class Citizens? Questions of Purpose and Membership for AI and Transhumanism" (pdf)
Respondent is Ted Peters (GTU)
Mark Graves
Mark Graves is Visiting Research Assistant Professor at the Center working at the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI), psychology, and moral theology using natural language processing and other AI techniques to build a deeper understanding of human morality and investigating how that understanding may help meet ethical needs in emerging AI technologies.
He has scholarly publications in computer science, biology, psychology, and theology, including the books Mind, Brain, and the Elusive Soul (Ashgate 2008) and Insight to Heal: Co-Creating Beauty Amidst Human Suffering (Cascade Books 2013). He completed postdoctoral fellowships in genomics at Baylor College of Medicine and in psychology and neuroscience of virtue at Fuller Theological Seminary and Caltech and has ten years experience developing scientific and data-intensive software in biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and healthcare industries.
He has scholarly publications in computer science, biology, psychology, and theology, including the books Mind, Brain, and the Elusive Soul (Ashgate 2008) and Insight to Heal: Co-Creating Beauty Amidst Human Suffering (Cascade Books 2013). He completed postdoctoral fellowships in genomics at Baylor College of Medicine and in psychology and neuroscience of virtue at Fuller Theological Seminary and Caltech and has ten years experience developing scientific and data-intensive software in biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and healthcare industries.