Research Profile

Joel Vincent Walmsley

Biography

Joel Walmsley joined the Department of Philosophy in 2006, having completed a BA in Psychology, Philosophy and Physiology at Oxford University, and an MA and PhD in Philosophy at the University of Toronto. His research interests are in philosophy of cognitive science (especially concerning Artificial Intelligence and Dynamical Systems Theory), in philosophy of science (especially concerning the concept of explanation) and in philosophy of mind (especially concerning emergence, reductionism and the "extended mind" hypothesis).

Research Interests

Areas of Specialisation: Philosophy of Mind, Philosophy of Science, Philosophy of Cognitive Science

Areas of Competence: Epistemology, Metaphysics.

Broadly speaking my main research interests lie at the intersection of philosophy of mind and philosophy of science. I'm particularly interested in the way in which cognitive science draws on -- and develops -- debates and concepts in those areas of philosophy, and in applying current empirical research to classical philosophical problems.

More specifically, I have written on: artificial intelligence and the way in which the mathematical formalism of dynamical systems theory has been applied to cognition (both natural and artificial); theories of explanation and how they apply to cognitive and psychological phenomena especially; the "extended mind" hypothesis, and "situated" approaches to cognition that regard aspects of the body and the environment (both physical and social) as essential to psychological processes and their explanation; the concepts of emergence and reduction, both as attempts to address the age-old "mind-body problem" and as ways of explaining complex phenomena in empirical psychology and social science.


Research Grants

 ProjectFunding
Body
Start DateEnd DateAward
Cambridge Study of the Mind ProjectFoundation Funded Research01-FEB-1730-JUN-17€2,150.00

Publications

Books

 YearPublication
(2022)C.D. Broad: Key Unpublished Writings.
Joel Walmsley (Ed.) (2022) C.D. Broad: Key Unpublished Writings. UK: Routledge.   [Details]
(2012)Mind and Machine.
Joel Walmsley (2012) Mind and Machine. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. [Details]
(2006)Mind: A Historical and Philosophical Introduction to the Major Theories.
A. Kukla and J. Walmsley; (2006) Mind: A Historical and Philosophical Introduction to the Major Theories. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishers.   [Details]

Book Chapters

 YearPublication
(2017)'Artificial Intelligence, Recent Work'
Walmsley, J (2017) 'Artificial Intelligence, Recent Work' In: Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy. UK: Taylor & Francis.   [DOI] [Details]
(2016)'Why, Why, Why? Louis C.K. on Explanatory Regress'
Walmsley, J (2016) 'Why, Why, Why? Louis C.K. on Explanatory Regress' In: Mark Ralkowski (eds). Louis C.K. and Philosophy. Chicago: Open Court. [Details]
(2004)'A theory's predictive success does not warrant belief in the unobservable entities it postulates'
Kukla, A and Walmsley, J; (2004) 'A theory's predictive success does not warrant belief in the unobservable entities it postulates' In: Contemporary debates in the philosophy of science. [Details]

Peer Reviewed Journals

 YearPublication
(2021)'Artificial intelligence and the value of transparency'
Walmsley, Joel (2021) 'Artificial intelligence and the value of transparency'. AI & Society, [DOI] [Full Text] [Details]
(2020)'The worst-motive fallacy: A negativity bias in motive attribution'
Walmsley, Joel; O'Madagain Cathal (2020) 'The worst-motive fallacy: A negativity bias in motive attribution'. Psychological Science, [DOI] [Full Text] [Details]
(2015)'Emergence, group judgment and the discursive dilemma'
Walmsley J. (2015) 'Emergence, group judgment and the discursive dilemma'. Mind and Society, 14 (2):185-201 [DOI] [Details]
(2014)'The Emergence of Borders: Moral Questions Mapped Out'
Walmsley, J and Nine, C. (2014) 'The Emergence of Borders: Moral Questions Mapped Out'. Russian Sociological Review, 13 (4):42-59 [DOI] [Full Text] [Details]
(2010)'Emergence and reduction in dynamical cognitive science'
Walmsley, J (2010) 'Emergence and reduction in dynamical cognitive science'. New Ideas In Psychology, 28 :274-282 [DOI] [Details]
(2008)'Methodological situatedness; or, DEEDS worth doing and pursuing'
Walmsley, J (2008) 'Methodological situatedness; or, DEEDS worth doing and pursuing'. Journal of Cognitive Systems Research, 9 :150-159 [DOI] [Details]
(2008)'Explanation in dynamical cognitive science'
Walmsley, J (2008) 'Explanation in dynamical cognitive science'. Minds and Machines, 18 :331-348 [DOI] [Details]
(2005)'Mysticism and Social Epistemology'
Kukla, A and Walmsley, J; (2005) 'Mysticism and Social Epistemology'. Episteme: A Journal of Social Epistemology, 1 (2):139-158 [Details]
(2003)'There's room in the lab for an armchair'
Walmsley, J; (2003) 'There's room in the lab for an armchair'. Journal of Consciousness Studies, 10 (3):89-93 [Details]

Other Journals

 YearPublication
(2011)'Cognitive Science. An Introduction to the Science of Mind'
Walmsley, J (2011) 'Cognitive Science. An Introduction to the Science of Mind' Teorema, 30 (3) :186-191. [Details]
(2009)'Review of Robert Logan: The Extended Mind'
Walmsley, Joel; (2009) 'Review of Robert Logan: The Extended Mind' University of Toronto Quarterly, 78 (1) :146-147. [Details]
(2008)'Where is my mind?'
J. Walmsley; (2008) 'Where is my mind?' UCC CACSSS Research Journal, :16-17. [Details]
(2003)'There's Room in the Lab for an Armchair'
J. Walmsley; (2003) 'There's Room in the Lab for an Armchair' Journal of Consciousness Studies, 10 (3) :89-93. [Details]

Conference Publications

 YearPublication
(2012)2nd International Association of Buddhist Universities
Walmsley, J and Greenberg, I (2012) Mind, Death and Supervenience: Towards a Comparative Dialogue 2nd International Association of Buddhist Universities   [Details]

Book Reviews

 YearPublication
(2011)Cognitive Science. An Introduction to the Science of Mind.
Walmsley, J (2011) Cognitive Science. An Introduction to the Science of Mind. OVIEDO: Book Reviews [Details]

Invited Lectures

 YearPublication
(2017)British Emergentism Reconsidered.
Walmsley, J (2017) British Emergentism Reconsidered. Cambridge University: Invited Lectures [Details]
(2016)In Defence of Brute Facts.
Walmsley, J (2016) In Defence of Brute Facts. UCD Philosophy: Invited Lectures [Details]
(2011)Life, Emergence and the Status of AI.
Walmsley, J (2011) Life, Emergence and the Status of AI. Trinity College Dublin Philosophy Colloquium: Invited Lectures [Details]
(2011)Explaining Explanation.
Walmsley, J (2011) Explaining Explanation. Cork Astronomy Club: Invited Lectures [Details]
(2009)How do we know our theories are true?.
Walmsley, J (2009) How do we know our theories are true?. Cork Astronomy Club: Invited Lectures [Details]
(2007)You do not have an immortal soul.
Walmsley, J (2007) You do not have an immortal soul. Undergraduate Philosophy Society at University College Dublin: Invited Lectures [Details]
(2006)Explaining Situated Cognition.
Walmsley, J (2006) Explaining Situated Cognition. Dept. of Philosophy, Lehigh University: Invited Lectures [Details]
(2006)Rational Animals: The Fall and Rise of Embodied Thinking.
Walmsley, J (2006) Rational Animals: The Fall and Rise of Embodied Thinking. University of Toronto: Invited Lectures [Details]
(2004)What Kind of Explanation is Dynamical Explanation.
Walmsley, J (2004) What Kind of Explanation is Dynamical Explanation. University of Toronto, Metaphysics and Epistemology Forum: Invited Lectures [Details]
(2001)Emergence and Necessity.
Walmsley, J (2001) Emergence and Necessity. University of Toronto, Philosophy Forum: Invited Lectures [Details]
(2000)Machines, Thinking, and Thinking Machines: Towards a Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence.
Walmsley, J (2000) Machines, Thinking, and Thinking Machines: Towards a Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence. Massey College, Junior Fellows' Lecture Series: Invited Lectures [Details]

Professional Activities

Honours and Awards

 YearTitleAwarding Body
2013Nominee for the Fernando Gil International Prize in Philosophy of Science The Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
2011Team Nomination for TAPSS: University Staff Recognition Awards (Enhancing the Student Experience) University College Cork
2008"TAPSS" summer school grant (Team Member) IRCHSS
2005University of Toronto SGS Post-Doctoral Fellowship University of Toronto
2004Ontario Graduate Scholarship Government of Ontario, Canada
2004George Paxton Young Memorial Scholarship University of Toronto, Department of Philosophy
2003Catherall Travelling Scholarship Massey College, University of Toronto
2000Canadian Rhodes Scholars' Foundation Scholarship Canadian Rhodes Scholars' Foundation
1998St. Anne's College, Oxford: Clare Spurgin Scholarship St. Anne's College Oxford

Committees

 CommitteeFunctionFrom / To
School of Sociology and Philosophy Executuve Committee Committee Member, Representative of Philosophy2014 / 2015
Management Board, Theory and Philosophy Summer School Team Member2008 / 2013
CACSSS Student Affairs Committee Committee Member2013 / 2015

Conference Contributions

 YearPublication
(2016)Cork Annual Workshop on Social Agency,
Walmsley, J (2016) On the Causal Powers of Emergent Group Agents. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], Cork Annual Workshop on Social Agency, Cork . [Details]
(2016)UCC-UCD Work-in-Progress Colloquium,
Walmsley, J (2016) The Worst Motive Fallacy. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], UCC-UCD Work-in-Progress Colloquium, UCC . [Details]
(2015)Irish Philosophical Club, Annual Conference 2015,
Walmsley, J (2015) There's no such thing as British Emergentism, and it's a good thing too. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], Irish Philosophical Club, Annual Conference 2015, Drogheda , 06-FEB-15 - 07-FEB-15. [Details]
(2014)Joint Session of the Mind Association and the Aristotelian Society,
Walmsley, J (2014) Emergence, Group Judgment and the Discursive Dilemma. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], Joint Session of the Mind Association and the Aristotelian Society, Cambridge University . [Details]
(2013)Group Agency Workshop,
Walmsley, J (2013) Emergence and Group Cognition. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], Group Agency Workshop, University College Cork . [Details]
(2012)Internation Association of Buddhist Universities,
Walmsley, J and Greenberg, I (2012) Mind, Death and Supervenience: Towards a Comparative Dialogue. [Plenary Lecture], Internation Association of Buddhist Universities, Bangkok, Thailand , 29-MAY-12 - 05-JUN-12. [Details]
(2012)GroupThink Workshop,
Walmsley, J (2012) On the 'proper' treatment of Emergence: Non-reductive Physicalism and Group Agency. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], GroupThink Workshop, University College Dublin . [Details]
(2011)Trinity College Metaphysical Society Symposium,
Walmsley, J (2011) Explanation Extended. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], Trinity College Metaphysical Society Symposium, Trinity College Dublin . [Details]
(2010)Joint Session of the Mind Association and the Aristotelian Society,
Joel Walmsley; (2010) Coupling, Constitution and the Dynamical Approach to Cognition. [Oral Presentation], Joint Session of the Mind Association and the Aristotelian Society, University College Dublin , 11-JUL-10 - 11-JUL-10. [Details]
(2008)Joint Session of the Aristotelian Society and the Mind Association,
J. Walmsley; (2008) Explaining Extended Systems. [Oral Presentation], Joint Session of the Aristotelian Society and the Mind Association, University of Aberdeen , 11-JUL-08 - 13-JUL-08. [Details]
(2007)Interactivist Summer Institute,
J. Walmsley; (2007) Nomological Emergence vs. Functional Reductionism in Dynamical Cognitive Science. [Oral Presentation], Interactivist Summer Institute, Paris , 26-MAY-07 - 29-MAY-07. [Details]
(2005)Conference on The Transmission of Knowledge, Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology,
J. Walmsley; (2005) Interdisciplinarity and the Future of Philosophy. [Oral Presentation], Conference on The Transmission of Knowledge, Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology, Toronto , 12-AUG-05 - 12-AUG-05. [Details]
(2004)PhilMiLCog Conference,
J. Walmsley; (2004) Emergence and `The Dynamical Approach to Cognition. [Oral Presentation], PhilMiLCog Conference, University of Western Ontario , 01-MAY-04 - 02-MAY-04. [Details]
(2003)Interactivist Summer Institute,
J. Walmsley; (2003) Dynamical Systems, Emergence and Explanation. [Oral Presentation], Interactivist Summer Institute, Copenhagen , 01-JUL-03 - 03-JUL-03. [Details]

Employment

 EmployerPositionFrom / To
Dept. of Philosophy, UCC Lecturer01-SEP-06 / 31-DEC-10
University of Toronto Post-doctoral research fellow01-JUN-05 / 01-JUN-06

Education

 YearInstitutionQualificationSubject
2005University of Toronto PHDPhilosophy
2001University of Toronto MAPhilosophy
2000Oxford University BA (Hons)Philosophy & Psychology

Languages

 LanguageReadingWritingSpeaking
French FunctionalFunctionalFunctional

Outreach Activities

 Description

Interview in the Irish Times (15/8/2014) on Minds and Cognitive Technology: http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/why-do-we-use-time-saving-devices-to-work-longer-1.1896930

Interviewed in the 2012 film Wonder House (Directed by Oonagh Kearney): http://www.oonaghkearney.com/index.php?/film/wonder-house/

Journal Activities

 JournalRoleTo / From
Philosophy Of Science Referee-
Perspectives Referee-
Topics In Cognitive Science Referee-
Journal Of Media And Communication Studies Referee-
British Journal For The Philosophy Of Science Referee-

Other Activities

 Description

Book proposal reviewer for Palgrave-Macmillian

NUI Post-doctoral Fellowship Subject Specialist Evaluator

NUI Travelling Studentship Subject Specialist Evaluator

Teaching Activities

Teaching Interests

Current Post-graduate Research Students


Ira Greenberg - "Vajrayana Buddhist Conceptions of Mind, Neuroplasticity and Mental Causation: Towards an Ecology of Mind"

Kevin Power - "Zazen, Philosophy of Mind and the Practicality of Impernanence."

Robert Parker - "Self and World"

Recent Postgraduates

 Graduation YearStudent NameInstitutionDegree TypeThesis Title
2014Billy McCarthy UCCM.A.Anti-Essentialist Counterpart Theory
2013Jessica Dully UCCM.A.The Relationship Between Extended Cogntion and the Dynamical Hypothesis in Cognitive Science
2013Eoin Collins UCCM.A.Both Ends of the Spectrum: Moral Agency, Empathy, Theory of Mind and First Person Accounts of Autism
2013Melissa Allen UCCM.A.Typographic Style as an Autopoietic Vehicle of Communication
2012Robert Parker UCCM.A.Our Worldview of Reality
2011Rob Fehily UCCM.A.The Evolution of Religious Belief
2009Brian Haughton UCCM.A.An Investigation into the Synchronic Problem of Personal Identity
2009Kevin Power UCCM.A.New Perspectives on Mind: Panpsychist and Zen Implications for Western Philosophy
2009Michael Power UCCM.A.Life and its Emergence
2008Tara Horgan UCCM.A.The Mystery of Qualia: Developing a Spectrum
2008Fionn McGrath UCCM.A.The Layered Picture of Reality
2008Michael Connell UCCM.A.A Look at the Evolution of Philosophical and Scientific Conceptions
2007Daniel Deasy UCCM.A.Why is there anything except physics?
2007Jennifer Judge UCCM.A.Evolution, Creativity and Artificial Intelligence

Research Information

Internal Collaborators

 NameInstituteCountry
Cara Nine Department of Philosophy, UCCIRELAND
Pat O'Mahony Dept. of Sociology, UCCIRELAND
Kieran Keohane Dept. of Sociology, UCCIRELAND

External Collaborators

 NameOrganisation / InstituteCountry
Andre Kukla University of TorontoCANADA

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