Project Description

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RESEARCH AREAS:

  • Philosophy of Science

  • Artificial Intelligence

  • Epistemology

CONTACT:

CARSON JOHNSTON

Doctoral Student;
Department of Philosophy, Western University

Carson Johnston is a doctoral student in philosophy at Western University. Carson started her PhD directly from her undergraduate degree. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Guelph where she majored in philosophy and minored in marketing and consumer studies. Carson’s primary research concerns the philosophical, social, and practical implications of human-centric explainable artificial intelligence with a particular interest in intentionality, agency, and language.

My research is at the intersection of philosophy of science, artificial intelligence and epistemology. Presently, my research concerns the intuitions and principles that guide the development of human-centric explainable AI (HCXAI) models and the ways in which these model communicate information to lay audiences. I am particularly interested in measuring the faithfulness of HCXAI models and methods with respect to how lay audiences tend to cognize AI behaviour. Specifically, this project concerns questions of how language shapes thoughts, how best to assess the mental models of lay audiences, and what kind of information lay audiences take away from AI generated explanations.

“The Algorithm Decides: Unintentional Agency Laundering and Explanation” (December, 2023) in Acta Cogitata, Eastern Michigan University.

Panelist, 2023 Teaching & Learning Innovations Conference, Successes, Challenges, and New Ideas: Effective Approaches in Teaching and Learning. Plenary Panel on “Artificial Intelligence and Assessments.” May 17th, Peter Clark Hall University Centre, University of Guelph.

University of Guelph Graduate Student Conference, University of Guelph, Guelph ON, In-Person, April 12, 2023. “Altruistic Suicide & Self-Owing Duties.” Presented at the Philosophy Research Presentation course (PHIL*4820) Capstone Conference. Instructor and Examiner: Dr. Karyn Freedman.

Undergraduate Conference Presentations

23rd Annual Pacific University Undergraduate Philosophy Conference (PUUPC), Pacific University, Forest Grove OR, USA, April 17-18, 2020.

24th Annual Pacific University Undergraduate Philosophy Conference (PUUPC), Pacific University, Forest Grove OR, USA, April 17-18, 2021.

Eastern Michigan University Undergraduate Conference in Philosophy (UCiP), Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti MI, USA, March 13-14, 2021.

Great Lakes Philosophy Conference, Sienna Heights University, Adrian MI, USA, April 9-11, 2021.

Eastern Michigan University Undergraduate Conference in Philosophy (UCiP), Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti MI, USA, March 18-19, 2022.

SUNY Oneonta Undergraduate Philosophy Conference. SUNY Oneonta, New York, USA, April 1-2, 2022.

Great Lakes Philosophy Conference, Sienna Heights University, Adrian MI, USA, April 8-10, 2022.

Eastern Michigan University Undergraduate Philosophy Conference. SUNY Oneonta, New York, USA, March 18-19, 2023.

25th Annual Pacific University Undergraduate Philosophy Conference (PUUPC), Pacific University, Forest Grove OR, USA, April 28-29, 2023.

Fall 2023, PHIL2715F, Health Care Ethics (Teaching Assistant)

Winter, 2024, PHIL1230B, Reasoning & Critical Thinking (Teaching Assistant)