Research
“Visualizing Social Connections in the Humanities: Beyond Bibliometrics”
Bulletin of the American Society for Information Science & Technology 38(4) (April/May 2012): 31–35
This article addresses the study of social connections among humanists. The first section reviews previous studies of the structure of the humanities, particularly bibliometrics, and notes the limitations of this approach. The second section discusses several studies that support greater consideration of social connections in the humanities as well as data sources from which such connections may be gathered. The final two sections address the prospects for visualizing these connections, most notably in the form of network graphs, and speculate on the larger significance of this social analysis, both for the humanities and for the academy in general.
“Visualizing Social Connections in the Humanities: Beyond Bibliometrics”
Bulletin of the American Society for Information Science & Technology 38(4) (April/May 2012): 31–35
This article addresses the study of social connections among humanists. The first section reviews previous studies of the structure of the humanities, particularly bibliometrics, and notes the limitations of this approach. The second section discusses several studies that support greater consideration of social connections in the humanities as well as data sources from which such connections may be gathered. The final two sections address the prospects for visualizing these connections, most notably in the form of network graphs, and speculate on the larger significance of this social analysis, both for the humanities and for the academy in general.
“Philosophy through the Macroscope: Technologies, Representations, and the History of the Profession”
Journal of Interactive Technology and Pedagogy 1 (2012)
Macroscopes are tools for viewing what is too large, complex, or dynamic to perceive with the naked eye. This paper examines the use and history of macroscopy in philosophy to represent ideas, trends, and other aspects of the field. Particular emphasis is given to the growing Phylo project, which combines data, user collaboration, and visual analytics to advance the study of philosophy.
“Philosophy through the Macroscope: Technologies, Representations, and the History of the Profession”
Journal of Interactive Technology and Pedagogy 1 (2012)
Macroscopes are tools for viewing what is too large, complex, or dynamic to perceive with the naked eye. This paper examines the use and history of macroscopy in philosophy to represent ideas, trends, and other aspects of the field. Particular emphasis is given to the growing Phylo project, which combines data, user collaboration, and visual analytics to advance the study of philosophy.
Quantifying Culture: The Value of Visualization inside (and outside) Libraries, Museums, and the Academy
EVA London 2012
July 10 –12, 2012
British Computer Society, Covent Garden, London
Maps, diagrams, illustrations, and other visual materials have long been part of cultural institutions. As visual materials become increasingly centered on quantitative data, the need for more adequate visual representations grows. This paper explores five ways in which information visualization (infovis) can enrich the visual culture of libraries, museums, and the academy: (1) linked data, (2) macroscopic perspective; (3) extending working memory and amplifying cognition, (4) eliminating biases, and (5) more ethical and inclusive representations.
Quantifying Culture: The Value of Visualization inside (and outside) Libraries, Museums, and the Academy
EVA London 2012
July 10 –12, 2012
British Computer Society, Covent Garden, London
Maps, diagrams, illustrations, and other visual materials have long been part of cultural institutions. As visual materials become increasingly centered on quantitative data, the need for more adequate visual representations grows. This paper explores five ways in which information visualization (infovis) can enrich the visual culture of libraries, museums, and the academy: (1) linked data, (2) macroscopic perspective; (3) extending working memory and amplifying cognition, (4) eliminating biases, and (5) more ethical and inclusive representations.
Adapting to Digital Environments: Evolutionary Ethics and the Challenge of Privacy
Information Ethics Roundtable 2012
April 27–28, 2012
Hunter College, CUNY, New York, NY
Recent work in evolutionary psychology presents the following puzzle: many believe that natural selected favored altruism in the course of human evolution, yet our ancestors’ environment is so different from our own that any altruistic instincts we have inherited may provide a poor foundation for ethical behavior in the present. The case is doubly complicated in digital environments, which are even more remote than the merely physical ones of our ancestors. This paper examines continuities and discontinuities between the early adaptive environment (25,000–75,000 years ago) and current digital environments as they relate to personal information and social interaction.
Adapting to Digital Environments: Evolutionary Ethics and the Challenge of Privacy
Information Ethics Roundtable 2012
April 27–28, 2012
Hunter College, CUNY, New York, NY
Recent work in evolutionary psychology presents the following puzzle: many believe that natural selected favored altruism in the course of human evolution, yet our ancestors’ environment is so different from our own that any altruistic instincts we have inherited may provide a poor foundation for ethical behavior in the present. The case is doubly complicated in digital environments, which are even more remote than the merely physical ones of our ancestors. This paper examines continuities and discontinuities between the early adaptive environment (25,000–75,000 years ago) and current digital environments as they relate to personal information and social interaction.
Authority, Access, and the Archive
This paper surveys three different models for arranging the archive (expert/authoritative curation, crowdsourcing, and computational methods), noting the theoretical and practical implications of each.
Authority, Access, and the Archive
This paper surveys three different models for arranging the archive (expert/authoritative curation, crowdsourcing, and computational methods), noting the theoretical and practical implications of each.
The Demography of Philosophy
Demographers study the structure, interactions, and shifting trends of human populations. To date, artificial and opt-in populations have received little attention. This work applies demographic methods to the field of philosophy to understand its past, current, and future directions.
The Demography of Philosophy
Demographers study the structure, interactions, and shifting trends of human populations. To date, artificial and opt-in populations have received little attention. This work applies demographic methods to the field of philosophy to understand its past, current, and future directions.
“Naturalized Metaphilosophy”
with David Morrow
Synthèse 182.2 (2011)
Traditional representations of philosophy have tended to prize the role of reason in the discipline. These accounts focus exclusively on ideas and arguments as animating forces in the field. But anecdotal evidence and more rigorous sociological studies suggest there is more going on in philosophy. In this article, we present two hypotheses about social factors in the field: that social factors influence the development of philosophy, and that position of status and reputation—and thus social influence—will tend to be awarded to philosophers who offer rationally compelling arguments for their views.
“Naturalized Metaphilosophy”
with David Morrow
Synthèse 182.2 (2011)
Traditional representations of philosophy have tended to prize the role of reason in the discipline. These accounts focus exclusively on ideas and arguments as animating forces in the field. But anecdotal evidence and more rigorous sociological studies suggest there is more going on in philosophy. In this article, we present two hypotheses about social factors in the field: that social factors influence the development of philosophy, and that position of status and reputation—and thus social influence—will tend to be awarded to philosophers who offer rationally compelling arguments for their views.
Review of Ralph Wedgwood, The Nature of Normativity
Ethical Theory and Moral Practice 11.1 (2008)