4th International Conference on Natural Cognition

Conference Theme

The Natural Cognition series is designed as an interdisciplinary forum for exploring cognition as a natural phenomenon, where philosophy serves as a bridge facilitating discussions between various disciplines related to the investigation of the mind. Building on the 2013 inaugural meeting “Logic, Evolution, Organisms,” the 2015 meeting “Rationality and its Rivals,” in 2015, and the 2018 meeting “Experience, Concepts and Agency,” the 4th International Conference on Natural Cognition, “Deception: Self, Others, and the Digital World,” aims to bring together scholars from different areas of philosophy, as well as the cognitive sciences. The purpose is to explore the phenomenon of deception as observed in self-deception, deception of others, and deception in the digital world. While the conference theme is construed broadly, we are particularly interested in papers that approach this theme from epistemic, metaphysical, and philosophical-psychological perspectives. The conference will explore the metaphysics and epistemology of irrational beliefs, particularly those that are traditionally regarded as an instance of other/self-deception, examining their influence on human cognition and behavior. The overarching goal is to engage with traditional epistemological and metaphysical questions about deception, while fostering dialogue with scholars working on cutting-edge issues within the philosophy of technology and AI.

4th International Conference on Natural Cognition

Deception: Self, Others
and the Digital World

Nov 22-23, 2024, @ E1 Gallery Auditorium, University of Macau

Conference Theme

Call for abstract

Call for Abstract

The Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at the University of Macau will host the 4th Conference on Natural Cognition, themed “Deception: Self, Others, and the Digital World,” on November 22-23, 2024. Confirmed speakers include Anna Elisabetta Galeotti, James Edwin Mahon, Keith Raymond Harris, Miriam Schleifer McCormick, Neri Marsili, and Simon Goldstein. In addition, we invite submissions of abstract proposals that contribute to the conference theme. Up to six proposals will be selected for presentation.

To express your interest in presenting your research at the conference, please send the title and abstract of your paper (no more than 500 words) to naturalcognition2024@gmail.com by September 18, 2024. There are no conference fees, and meals will be provided free of charge for contributing speakers. On-campus accommodation, subject to availability, may be booked by sending a reservation request.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

Epistemological similarities and differences between self-deception and other-deception
Deception, self-deception, and (ir)rationality
Deception, self-deception, and pathology
Deception on the Internet: conspiracy theorists, grifters, fake news, deepfakes, bots, and other digital entities
AI and deception (e.g., deceptive algorithmic profiling)
Human-machine selective trust and vulnerability to deception/self-deception.
Epistemic manipulation techniques of all kinds

Key information:

Successful participants will be notified by 25 September
Conference dates: November 22-23, 2024
Venue: E1 Gallery Auditorium, University of Macau
Host organization: University of Macau, Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macao, China