Welcome to the Center for Science and Thought
The Center for Science and Thought (CST) is a radically interdisciplinary platform designed to address urgent questions that arise at the intersection of philosophy and various natural sciences.
The CST is located at Konrad-Zuse-Platz 1-3, 53227 Bonn.
Current News of the CST
We are looking to appoint student assistants (9-15h/week; SHK/WHF) with effect from September 1, 2024 as support for the Center for Science and Thought or the research project Desirable Digitalisation.
Job advertisement in German
In her new article "The Absolutism of Data: Thinking Artificial Intelligence with Hans Blumenberg" (Mind and Matter, Volume 21, Number 2, January 2024, p. 167-190.) Dr. Audrey Borowski shows how Hans Blumenberg offers a positive but also more nuanced approach to the question of indeterminacy than current algorithmic systems, whilst offering a corrective to its potential metaphysical drifts and dangers.
Contact: Dr. Audrey Borowski (aborowski@uni-bonn.de)
Here you can find additional news.
Events of the CST
This seminar series sets out to probe the more theoretical ramifications and implications of ‘AI and the Digital'. Together with international experts, participants are invited to discuss the entanglement of thought and technology.
Convened and hosted by Dr Audrey Borowski
A conference on "Humanism and AI" will be held at the CST on May 23–24.
The advent of generative AI has sparked a global interest in human-centered AI, leading to discussions about ethics, privacy, and humanity's role in the AI era. This has resulted in the resurgence of Humanism, with various initiatives worldwide exploring its contemporary form. The conference seeks to delve into the characteristics of this new Humanism, its ties to traditional versions, and its expressions in today's culture, industry, and media.
Here you can find more events.
Research of the CST
The aim of the project is to develop procedures to examine generally accepted standards for AI systems and their verification, as well as to explore business models for an AI certification. Our research investigates the ethical-philosophical significance of these dimensions.
Rethinking AI for Just and Sustainable Futures.
We investigate how to design AI (artificial intelligence) and other digital technologies in a responsible way, placing the questions of social justice and environmental sustainability at the very heart of our work.
Our research program is a collaboration between the Universities of Cambridge and Bonn and numerous international partners, and is funded by the Mercator Foundation in Germany.
The 'Towards New Demarcation Criteria for Borderline Consciousness' Project is an interdisciplinary project involving a collaboration between philosophers of Bonn and Cambridge and neuroscientists from the epilepsy clinic in Bonn. Its main purpose is to create an international research forum to develop new criteria for determining whether and when non-human entities, such as non-linguistic animals, new brain organisms, or advanced AI systems can be considered conscious.
You can find more information about our research projects here.
This summer semester, most of the sessions of the CST AI research group will be convened by Audrey Borowski, as part of her "AI and the Digital" Seminar Series.
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Register here here for our AI-Mailinglist.