Education

University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA (Sept. 2003-Present)
-- PhD, History and Philosophy of Science (to be defended Summer 2010)
-- MA, Philosophy (2008)
-- MA, History and Philosophy of Science (2006)

University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (1996-1999, 2003)
-- BS, Computer Science (2003; with honors, emphasis in AI)
-- Dual Major in Philosophy, Minor in Psychology
-- BS, Neuroscience (1999)

Selected Publications

(forthcoming) "Folk Psychology and Phenomenal Consciousness." Philosophy Compass.

[abstract] [preprint ]

11.

(forthcoming) "A New Perspective Concerning Experiments on Semantic Intuitions." Justin Sytsma and Jonathan Livengood. Australasian Journal of Philosophy.

[abstract] [preprint ]

(forthcoming) "Two Conceptions of Subjective Experience." Justin Sytsma and Edouard Machery. Philosophical Studies.

[abstract] [preprint ]

9.

(forthcoming) "Dennett's Theory of the Folk Theory of Consciousness." Journal of Consciousness Studies, 17(3-4).

[abstract] [preprint ]

7.

(forthcoming) "Philosophical Temperament ." Jonathan Livengood, Justin Sytsma, Adam Feltz, Richard Scheines, and Edouard Machery. Philosophical Psychology.

[abstract] [preprint ]

5.

(2009) "How to study Folk Intuitions about Phenomenal Consciousness." Justin Sytsma and Edouard Machery. Philosophical Psychology, 22(1): 21-35.

Author Posting. (c) Taylor & Francis, 2009. This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here by permission of Taylor & Francis for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Philosophical Psychology, Volume 22 Issue 1, February 2009. (http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09515080802703653)

[abstract] [preprint ] [article ]

a. Reprinted in: (in preparation) La Philosophie Expérimentale. J. Dutant et al. (eds.), Paris: Vuibert. (French translation.)

4.

(2007) "Language Police Running Amok." Journal of Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology, 27(1): 89-103.

3.

(2007) "Neuroscience and Theoretical Psychology: What’s to worry about?" Peter Machamer and Justin Sytsma, Theory & Psychology, 17(2): 199-216.

2.

(2005) "Knowing Causes: Descartes on the World of Matter." Peter Machamer, J. E. McGuire, and Justin Sytsma, Philosophica, 76: 11-44.

1.

(2005) "Neuroscienze e natura della filosofia." Peter Machamer and Justin Sytsma, Iride, 46: 495-514. (In Italian, translated by Alessandro Pagnini.)

a. Reprinted in: (2009) "Philosophy and the Brain Sciences." Peter Machamer and Justin Sytsma, Iris: European Journal of Philosophy and Public Discourse, 1(2): 65-86.

1.

Selected Presentations and Commentaries

10.

"Searching for Evidence of Phenomenal Consciousness in NCC Research"

Toward a Science of Consciousness 2010, April 2010.

9.

"The Proper Province of Philosophy"

a. American Philosophical Association Eastern Division 106th Annual Meeting,
Experimental Philosophy Society Group Session. December 2009.

b. 1st annual Interdisciplinary Approach to Philosophical Issues Conference,
September 2008. Featured Presentation.

8.

"Folk Psychology and Phenomenal Consciousness"

Metro Experimental Research Group, Rutgers University, September 2009.

7.

"A New Perspective Concerning Experiments on Semantic Intuitions"

a. The Society for Philosophy and Psychology, 35th Annual Meeting, June 2009.

b. American Philosophical Association Pacific Division 83rd Annual Meeting,
April 2009 (presented by Jonathan Livengood).

c. Princeton-Rutgers Graduate Conference, March 2009.

d. Western Michigan University Second Annual Graduate Philosophy Conference,
December 2008.

e. 24th Regional Conference on the History and Philosophy of Science,
October 2008.

Winner of the William James Prize at SPP 2009:
This prize is awarded for the best contributed paper by a graduate student.

6.

"Dennett's Theory of the Folk Theory of Consciousness"

a. The Society for Philosophy and Psychology, 35th Annual Meeting,
Poster Presentation, June 2009.

b. Southern Society for Philosophy and Psychology 101st Annual Meeting,
symposium on Experimental Philosophy of Consciousness, April 2009.

c. Consciousness Online: The First Cyber Consciousness Conference,
February 2009.

5.

"Phenomenological Obviousness and the New Science of Consciousness"

Philosophy of Science Association biennial meeting, November 2008.

4.

"Two Conceptions of Subjective Experience"

a. The Society for Philosophy and Psychology, 34th Annual Meeting, June 2008.

b. Toward a Science of Consciousness 2008, Poster Presentation, April 2008.

Winner of the William James Prize at SPP 2008:
This prize is awarded for the best contributed paper by a graduate student.

"How to study Folk Intuitions about Phenomenal Consciousness."

Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness 2007, June 2007.

2.

"Information Supply and Demand"

Cognitio, June 2007.

1.

"Knowing Causes: Descartes on the World of Matter"

a. Descartes Day II, May 2006, Featured Paper.

b. Descartes & Pascal, Tampa/USF, January 2006.

3.

12th Annual CMU/PItt Graduate Student Philosophy Conference, March 2010

Commentary on Derek Leben, "Cognitive Neuroscience and Moral Decision-Making" and Eric Hochstein, "Folk Psychology’s Place in Science."

2.

Consciousness Online II, February 2010

Commentary on Brian Talbot, "The irrelevance of Folk Intuitions to the 'Hard Problem' of Consciousness."

1.

10th Annual CMU/PItt Graduate Student Philosophy Conference, February 2008

Commentary on Errol Lord, "On Maximal Rationality."

Teaching Experience

Summer, 2009: Problem Solving: How Science Works, Pittsburgh

(syllabus )

Spring, 2009: Artificial Intelligence and Philosophy of Science, Pittsburgh

(syllabus )

Fall, 2008: Morality & Medicine, Pittsburgh

(syllabus )

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Spring, 2007: Principles of Scientific Reasoning, Pittsburgh

(syllabus )

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Fall, 2006: Problem Solving: How Science Works, Pittsburgh

(syllabus )

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Fall, 2005: Science & Psuedoscience, Pittsburgh

(syllabus )

2001-2003: Instructor (Web and Multimedia Programming), Electronic Easel Training Center, St. Paul, Minnesota

1999-2003: Instructor (Web and Multimedia Programming), Tempting Ideas , Minneapolis, Minnesota

Spring, 2006: Darwinism & its Critics, TA for Professor Mitchell, Pittsburgh

Fall, 2004: Mind & Medicine, TA for Professor Lennox, Pittsburgh

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1997-1999: TA, General College Writing Center, University of Minnesota

Service

2009 - 2012: Executive Committee, PhilSci Archive (three-year term starting August 2009), University of Pittsburgh

2009 - 2010: Referee, Society for Philosophy and Psychology, 35th and 36th Annual Meetings

2009: Referee, Journal of Moral Philosophy

2009: Web Design/Development, Experimental Philosophy Society

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2006 - present: Web Design/Development, Center for Philosophy of Science, University of Pittsburgh

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2006 - present: Organizer, History and Philosophy of Science Graduate Student Work in Progress Talks, University of Pittsburgh

2004 - present: Referee, Annual CMU/Pitt Graduate Student Philosophy Conference

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2005 - 2009: Archive Manager, PhilSci Archive, University of Pittsburgh

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2008 - 2009: Mentor, Teaching Assistants and Teaching Fellows in the Department of History and Philosophy of Science, University of Pittsburgh

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2008: Member of Local Arrangements Committee and Liaison to History of Science Society office for the Philosophy of Science Association Biennial Meeting and History of Science Society Annual Meeting (Pittsburgh, PA)

2007 - 2008: Mentor, Teaching Assistants and Teaching Fellows in the Department of History and Philosophy of Science, University of Pittsburgh

2005 - 2006: Webmaster, Department of History and Philosophy of Science, University of Pittsburgh

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2005: Assistant to the Director, Center for Philosophy of Science

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2004 - 2005: Web Designer/Developer, 7th & 8th Annual CMU / Pittsburgh Graduate Student Philosophy Conference

Honors & Awards

2009 - 2010: Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowship

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2009: William James Prize, Society for Philosophy and Psychology, 35th Annual Meeting (awarded for the best contributed paper by a graduate student)

2009: Graduate Student Paper Prize, American Philosophical Association Pacific Division 83rd Annual Meeting

2008: Travel Award, 24th Regional Conference on the History and Philosophy of Science

2008: William James Prize, Society for Philosophy and Psychology, 34th Annual Meeting (awarded for the best contributed paper by a graduate student)

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2007 - 2008: Wesley Salmon Fund Grant, University of Pittsburgh For experimental work on "The Case of the Divergent Descriptions: An Experimental Investigation of Semantics, Cross-Cultural Style"

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Fall, 2008: GPSA Travel Grant, University of Pittsburgh

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Spring, 2008: GPSA Travel Grant, University of Pittsburgh

2007 - 2008: Arts and Sciences Fellowship, University of Pittsburgh

Spring, 2007: Letter of Commendation for Teaching Evaluations, Department of History and Philosophy of Science, University of Pittsburgh

Fall, 2007: GPSA Travel Grant, University of Pittsburgh

2006: Faculty of Arts and Sciences Travel Grant, University of Pittsburgh

2003 - 2004: Andrew Mellon Fellowship, University of Pittsburgh

2003: Honors, Cum Laude, Institute of Technology

1997 - 1999: Honors Program, College of Biological Sciences

1998: Snyder Memorial Scholarship, College of Biological Sciences

1998: Lando Scholarship in Computer Science, Institute of Technology

1998: Grant in Biophysical Computation, National Science Foundation and Minnesota Supercomputing Institute

1997: Grant in Scientific Computing & Graphics, National Science Foundation and Minnesota Supercomputing Institute

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1997: Lower-Division Honors, College of Liberal Arts