Don Berkich
EDUCATION
The University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA.; 1994-2002
Ph.D. in Philosophy, 2002.
The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS.; 1989-93
M.A. in Philosophy, 1993.
The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS.; 1985-92
B.A. in Mathematics, 1992.
The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS.; 1985-89
B.A. in Philosophy, 1989.
AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION
Language, Epistemology, Metaphysics, Mind
AREAS OF COMPETENCE
Logic, Ethics, Philosophy of Mathematics, Early Twentieth Century Analytic Philosophy, Applied Ethics (Medical, Business, Engineering, Information Technology)
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Professor, Department of Humanities, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, 2022-present
Associate Professor, Department of Humanities, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, 2008-2022.
Assistant Professor, Department of Humanities, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, 2002-2008.
Adjunct Professor, Department of Philosophy, Ball State University, 1993-94.
Adjunct Professor, Department of Humanities, Indiana University East, 1993-94.
Adjunct Professor, Department of Philosophy, Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis, 1994.
PROFESSIONAL HONORS
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Honors Program Faculty Award, 2017-2018: A student nominated award honoring outstanding teaching and mentoring in the Honors Program.
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi College of Liberal Arts Teaching Award, 2014-2015: A colleague nominated award honoring pedagogical excellence in the College of Liberal Arts.
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Honors Program Faculty Award, 2010-2011: A student nominated award honoring outstanding teaching and mentoring in the Honors Program.
University of Massachusetts-Amherst Distinguished Teacher, 1996-1997: A University-wide, student nominated award honoring outstanding teaching.
PUBLICATIONS
Peer Reviewed:
“The College of Unconventional Applied Arts and Sciences: a Prospectus” in The Danish Yearbook of Philosophy Special Issue: Revisiting the Idea of the University. Søren S. E. Bengtsen and Asger Sørensen, eds., Vol. 52 No. 1 (November 2019) pp. 139-151.
“Introduction” to On the Cognitive, Ethical, and Scientific Dimensions of Artificial Intelligence: Themes from IACAP 2016 in Philosophical Studies Series, Vol. 134, Don Berkich and Matteo D’Alfonso eds. (Springer Nature Switzerland: 2019) pp. 1-23.
On the Cognitive, Ethical, and Scientific Dimensions of Artificial Intelligence: Themes from IACAP 2016 in Philosophical Studies Series, Vol. 134, Don Berkich and Matteo D’Alfonso eds. (Springer Nature Switzerland: 2019).
“Machine Intentions”, featured article in The APA Newsletter on Philosophy and Computers, Vol. 18. No. 1( Fall 2018) pp. 3-10.
“The Problem of Original Agency” in The Southwest Philosophy Review, Vol. 33 No. 1 (January 2017) pp. 75-82.
“The Agora” in The Journal of the Philosophy of Education, Vol. 47 No. 3 (August 2013) pp. 379-390.
“A Heinous Act” in Philosophical Papers, Vol. 38 No. 3 (November 2009) pp. 381-399.
"Autonomous Robots" in The APA Newsletter on Philosophy and Computers, Spring 2009, Vol. 8, No. 2.
“On Two Solutions to Akrasia” in Philosophical Writings no. 33, pp. 34-52, Autumn 2006. (appearing Spring 2008)
“A Puzzle about Akrasia” in Teorema vol. 26, no. 3, pp. 59-71, Autumn 2007.
“A Plea for Open Source” in Humanities and Technology Review vol. 26, pp. 49-64, Fall 2007.
“A Fallacy in Potentiality” in Dialogue: Canadian Philosophical Review vol. 46, no. 1, pp. 137-150, Winter 2007.
By Request:
"NA-CAP@IU-2009: Networks and Their Philosophical Implications, June 14-16" in The Reasoner, vol. 3, no. 7, July 2009.
"NA-CAP@IU-2008: The Limits of Computation, July 10-12" in The Reasoner, vol. 2, no. 8, pp. 7-8, August 2008.
With Keith Coleman, Introduction to Logic, Lawrence, Kansas: The University of Kansas Press, 1991. 135p. A study-guide to accompany Copi and Cohen's Introduction to Logic, written under contract with the University of Kansas Division of Continuing Education and the University of Kansas Press.
WORKS IN PROGRESS
“Robots and Resentment”
“Underdetermination after Computation”
“The Empirical is Computational”
“A Computational Argument for Cognitive Closure”
“Personal Identity and the First Person Indexical”
“Counterfactual Belief”
“The Problem of Mathematical Universals”
“On the Feasibility of Autonomous Artificial Agents”
“Dangerous Philosophy”
“The Honors Code”
“Experiments in Humean Thought”
PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS
“Robots and Resentment”, The Society for the Study of Artificial Intelligence and the Simulation of Behavior/International Association for Computing and Philosophy World Congress, Twente University, NL, July 1-4, 2025.
“Presidential Address: Underdetermination after Computation”, International Association for Computing and Philosophy, Mexico City, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, June 5-7, 2019.
“Underdetermination in the Era of Big Data Science: The Power of Observation”, 21st meeting of the Society for the Philosophy of Technology, May 20-22, 2019.
“Presidential Address: We know what we can compute, but can we compute what we know?”, International Association for Computing and Philosophy, Warsaw, Polish Academy of Sciences, June 21-23, 2018.
“Presidential Address: The Computational Limits of Empiricism”, International Association for Computing and Philosophy, Stanford University, June 26-28, 2017.
"The Problem of Original Agency", The Southwestern Philosophical Society, Corpus Christi, November 11-13, 2016.
“On the Feasibility of Autonomous Artificial Agents”, International Association for Computing and Philosophy, Ferrara, July 14-17, 2016.
“Is Cognitive Closure a Complexity Constraint?”, International Association for Computing and Philosophy, Thessaloniki, July 2-4, 2014.
“Blameworthy Bots”, International Association for Computing and Philosophy, College Park, July 15-17, 2013.
“Machine Intention”, The Society for the Study of Artificial Intelligence and the Simulation of Behavior/International Association for Computing and Philosophy World Congress, Birmingham University, UK, July 2-6, 2012.
“Teaching Honors Ethics”, National Collegiate Honors Council, San Antonio, October 24, 2008.
"The Problem of Original Agency", North American-Computing and Philosophy 2008, Indiana University-Bloomington, July 10-12, 2008.
“On a Presupposition of Autonomous Agency”, North American-Computing and Philosophy 2007, Loyola University, Chicago, July 26-28, 2007.
“The Sense of Personal Identity”, Society for Philosophy in the Contemporary World: New Directions in Personal Identity, American Philosophical Association Pacific Division Meeting, San Francisco, March 23-27, 2005.
“Online Learning Communities: Encouraging Discussion by Preserving Anonymity”, 2004 Symposium on Pedagogy & Learning in Postsecondary Education, San Antonio, June 5-6, 2004.
“Building a Professional Ethics Learning Community Online”, 5th Annual International Conference on Ethics Across The Curriculum, St. Edwards University, Austin, Oct. 23 – 26, 2003.
INVITED TALKS
“Is Human Consciousness Destined to be Mysterious?”, The Philosophy and Professional Ethics Society, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, 2014.
“On Falsification and Its Ambiguity”, Department of Life Sciences, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, 2012.
“Human Flourishing”, Philosophy Club, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, 2011.
“The Hard Problem of Consciousness”, Philosophy Club, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, 2010.
“Majoring in Philosophy”, Philosophy Club, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, 2010.
“The Philosophy of Language?”, Philosophy Club, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, 2009.
“Some Critical Thoughts on Critical Thinking”, Faculty Teaching, Scholarship, and Creative Activity Luncheon, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, 2007.
“Some Critical Thoughts on Critical Thinking”, Honors Faculty Development, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, 2007.
“A Fallacy in Potentiality,” Texas A&M University College of Medicine, 2007.
“Rape: A Philosophical Analysis,” The South Texas Philosophical Society, 2007.
"The Trajectory Argument," The South Texas Philosophical Society, 2005.
"The Trajectory Argument," Society for Professional Ethics, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, 2005.
"The Moral Mirror," Lecture Series, Temple Beth El Study Group, 2005.
"Meat Machines," The South Texas Philosophical Society, 2002.
"Why Codes of Ethics are Useless," Society of Women Engineers, University of Massachusetts, 1997.
"Tractarian Realism," Ball State University Faculty Colloquium Series, 1994.
"Wittgenstein's Response to the Slingshot Argument: Tractatus 3.1432," Kansas State University Department of Philosophy Colloquium Series, 1992.
TEACHING
Courses Taught:
At Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi:
Ancient Philosophy (1 section each Fall 2004, Spring 2010, Fall 2012, Fall 2014, Fall 2016, Fall 2019, Fall 2020, Fall 2022, Fall 2024, Fall 2026).
Bioethics (1 section each Spring 2003, Spring 2015, Summer 2024).
Contemporary Philosophy (1 section each Fall 2011, Fall 2015, Fall 2018).
Elementary Formal Logic (1 section each Spring 2005, Spring 2006, Spring 2008, Spring 2009, Fall 2010, Fall 2011, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2016, Spring 2018, Spring 2025).
Genocide (1 section each, Fall 2010, Spring 2012, co-taught with Sam Hill and Jan Haswell).
Honors Introduction to Logic (1 section each Spring 2013, Spring 2014; 2 sections Spring 2015; 1 section each Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Spring 2018).
Honors Professional Ethics (1 section each Fall 2005, Fall 2009, Fall 2010, Fall 2011, Fall 2012, Fall 2013, Fall 2014; 2 sections Fall 2015; 1 section each Fall 2016, Fall 2017).
Introduction to Logic (1 section each Spring 2010, Fall 2015).
Introduction to Philosophy (1 section each Fall 2002, Fall 2003, Summer I 2016, Summer I 2017, Summer II 2018, Fall 2018, Summer II 2019, Fall 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2022; 2 sections each Spring 2008, Fall 2008, Fall 2020, Fall 2021; 3 sections Fall 2022; 3 sections Fall 2024).
Introduction to Philosophy for Computer Science Majors (1 section each Fall 2016, Fall 2017).
Introduction to Ethics (1 section each Summer II 2017, Summer II 2018, Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Summer II 2019, Fall 2019, Summer II 2020, Spring 2021, Fall 2021, Spring 2023, Summer I 2023; 2 Sections Fall 2023; 2 Sections Fall 2024; 2 Sections Spring 2025; 1 Section Summer II 2025, 1 Section Spring 2026).
Minds and Machines (1 section each Spring 2004, Spring 2005, Spring 2006, Spring 2007, Spring 2008, Spring 2009, Spring 2010, Spring 2011, Spring 2012, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025, Spring 2026).
Professional Ethics (2 sections, Fall 2002; 3 lectures, 1 section, Spring 2003; 3 sections, Fall 2003; 3 lectures, 1 section, Spring 2004; 3 lectures, 2 sections, Fall 2004; 1 section, Spring 2005; 2 sections, Fall 2005; 3 sections, Spring 2006; 2 sections Fall 2006; 3 sections Spring 2007; 1 section Fall 2007; 1 section each Fall 2010, Spring 2011; 2 sections Summer 2011; 1 section each Spring 2012, Spring 2013, 2 sections Summer 2013, 1 section Spring 2014; 2 sections Summer I 2014; 1 section Summer I 2015; 1 section Summer II 2016).
Philosophy and History of Science and Technology (1 section each Fall 2007, Spring 2009, Spring 2011, Spring 2012, Fall 2013, Fall 2014, Fall 2017).
Philosophy of Love and Sex (1 section each Spring 2005, Fall 2005, Fall 2006, Fall 2007, Fall 2008, Fall 2009, Fall 2010, Fall 2011, Summer 2012, Fall 2012, Summer 2013, Fall 2013, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Summer I 2024, Spring 2025, Spring 2026).
Philosophy of Psychology (1 section, Fall 2002).
Special Research Topics: Cognition and Computation (1 section Spring 2017).
At the University of Massachusetts-Amherst:
For the Department of Philosophy,
Introduction to Philosophy (1 section, Spring 2001; 1 section, Fall 2000).
Introduction to Ethics (1 section, Spring 2000; 1 section, Spring 1999).
Medical Ethics (1 section, Fall 2001; 1 section, Fall 1999; 1 section, Fall 1998; 1 section, Fall 1997).
Medical Ethics (1 section of 140 students with graduate teaching assistant, Spring 1998).
Engineering Ethics (1 section, Spring 1997).
Business Ethics (1 section, Spring 1996; 1 section, Spring 1995).
For the Department of Continuing Education,
Medical Ethics Online (Design and implementation of the Department of Philosophy's first fully online course, offered through Continuing Education. 1 section, Fall 2001; 1 section, Summer 2001).
Medical Ethics (1 section, Summer 1998).
Business Ethics (1 section, Fall 1997; 1 section, Summer 1996).
At Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis, for the Department of Philosophy:
Practical Logic (1 section, Summer 1994).
Introduction to Ethics (1 section, Spring 1994).
Personal and Social Ethics (1 section, Spring 1994).
At Indiana University East, for the Department of Humanities:
Personal and Social Ethics (1 section, Summer 1994).
Introduction to Logic (1 section, Summer 1994; 2 sections, Fall 1993).
Introduction to Ethics (1 section, Spring 1994).
At Ball State University, for the Department of Continuing Education:
Introduction to Philosophy (1 section, Fall 1993; 1 section, Spring 1994).
Introduction to Logic (2 sections, Fall 1993).
Philosophy of Science (1 section, Fall 1993).
Ancient Philosophy (1 section, Spring 1994).
Computer Ethics (2 sections, Spring 1994).
At the University of Kansas:
For the Department of Philosophy,
Computer Ethics (1 section, Summer 1992; 2 sections, Fall 1992; 2 sections, Spring 1993).
Symbolic Logic (2 sections, Fall 1989; 2 sections Spring 1990; 2 sections, Fall 1990; 2 sections, Spring 1992).
For the Department of Mathematics,
Precalculus Mathematics (1 section, Fall 1991).
Precalculus Mathematics with Graphing Calculator (1 section, Spring 1992).
For the Department of Continuing Education,
Introduction to Logic (Fall 1991 to 1994).
Courses Assisted in at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst:
For the Commonwealth (Honors) College,
Critical Issues in Current Events (S. Whitbourne: 2 sections, Fall 2000).
For the Department of Philosophy,
Medical Ethics (G. Matthews: 1 section of 140 students, Fall 1996).
SERVICE
College:
Chair, Search Committee for Philosophy Assistant Professional Professor, 2024.
Chair, DHUM Promotion & Tenure, 2023.
Member, DHUM Promotion & Tenure, 2019-2022, 2024-present.
Philosophy Major Advisor, 2011-present.
Philosophy Library Liason, 2011-2018; 2021-present.
Individuals for Free-Thought Club Advisor, 2010-2017.
Anime Club Advisor, 2004-2022.
Philosophy Club Advisor, 2003-present.
Philosophy Minor Advisor, 2002-present.
Chair, Search Committee for College IT Manager, 2008-2009.
Philosophy Library Liason, 2004-2005.
Member, Search Committee for Philosophy Faculty, 2004.
Member, Search Committee for Dean of Arts and Humanities, 2003.
University:
Institutional Review Board, 2013-2022.
Honors Head, 2011-2016.
Web Council, 2010-2014.
Health Professions Advisory Council, 2009-2013.
Honors Associate Director, 2008-2010.
Honors Council, 2007-2010.
Ex Officio Member, University Technology Council, 2005-2007.
Member, Search Committee for Manager of IT Security, 2006.
Steering Committee Chair, Academic Technology Council, 2005-2006.
Member, Technology Taskforce, 2005.
Chair, Educational Technology Committee, 2004.
Member, Educational Technology Committee, 2003-2004.
Member, Distributed Learning Council, 2004.
Member, Academic Website Committee, 2004.
Member, Academic Software Committee, 2004.
Member, Library Printing Committee, 2003.
Professional:
International Association for Computing and Philosophy President, 2016-2022.
International Association for Computing and Philosophy Executive Director, 2015-2016.
International Association for Computing and Philosophy Technical Manager, 2013-present.
International Association for Computing and Philosophy Awards, 2008-2010.
North American Computing and Philosophy Steering Committee, 2008-2010.
Community:
Friends of the Gulf Coast Humane Society Advisor, 2006-2009.
Director, South Texas Philosophical Society, 2003-2005.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
International Association for Computing and Philosophy
Ph.D. DISSERTATION
Autonomous Machine Agency
Is it possible to construct a machine that can act of its own accord? There are a number of skeptical arguments which conclude that autonomous machine agency is impossible. Yet if autonomous machine agency is impossible, then serious doubt is cast on the possibility of autonomous human action, at least on the widely held assumption that some form of materialism is true. The purpose of this dissertation is to show that autonomous machine agency is possible, thereby showing that the autonomy of human action is compatible with materialism.
I proceed as follows. Chapter 1 casts the problem of autonomous machine agency. Chapter 2 sets out the skeptic's case against autonomous machine agency by canvassing arguments against the possibility of machine agency and arguments against the possibility of autonomous machine agency. Chapter 3 begins work on a theory of autonomous machine agency by developing and defending axioms of a theory of agency from thought experiments and examples. Chapter 4 expands the theory of agency to a theory of autonomous agency by adding axioms of autonomy; the axioms of autonomy are largely the result of triangulation between the widely divergent philosophical and computer science conceptions of autonomy.
The axioms of autonomous agency contain the primitive terms 'belief', 'desire', and 'deliberation' which require further explication if the theory is to be of any use in arguing for the possibility of autonomous machine agency. Chapters 5 and 6 take up this challenge by developing mathematically tractable axioms of deliberation, belief, and desire. The axioms of belief and desire are derived in large measure from the philosophical literature. Surprisingly, the axioms of deliberation do not enjoy the same philosophical precedent: despite all the research on Decision Theory, there is very little of use in grounding a theory of autonomous agency. Hence the axioms of deliberation are developed from the analysis of carefully constructed thought experiments.
Chapter 7 completes the theory by developing axioms of mechanism derived from the substantial literature in the foundations of computer science. Chapter 8 employs the resulting theory of autonomous machine agency to show just how the functional prerequisites of autonomous agency can in principle be met by machines, thereby demonstrating the possibility of autonomous machine agency.
Chapter 9 serves as a cautionary postscript. In spite of having shown that autonomous machine agency is possible, the implications are not always happy for current efforts in artificial intelligence or current philosophical theories of autonomous human agency. Nevertheless, the argument for autonomous machine agency suggests several research programs at the nexus of Philosophy of Mind and Artificial Intelligence which I look forward to pursuing.
Vere C. Chappell (Director)
Roderic Grupen (Computer Science)
Bruce A. Aune
Lynne Rudder Baker
Jonathan Schaffer