Arnel Blake B - Research Program Mentor | Polygence
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Arnel Blake B

- Research Program Mentor

PhD at University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB)

Expertise

Epistemology, feminist philosophy, philosophy of language, philosophy of psychology, and philosophy of science

Bio

Hello! I'm a philosopher and research mentor. I earned my PhD at UCSB. I have recently held taught at UCSB and CalPoly SLO. My research passion is about how different communication practices, such as language and pictures, contribute to the production and distribution of knowledge and scientific evidence. I study the ethical and political issues that beset these different communication practices. I also study how the bespoke formats of different communication practices make a difference to their rational significance. Outside of philosophy, I am passionate about basketball and guitar. When it comes to basketball, I enjoy the variety of winning strategies and play styles. As for guitar, that instrument is my preferred vehicle for exploring the wild worlds of rhythm and music theory.

Project ideas

Project ideas are meant to help inspire student thinking about their own project. Students are in the driver seat of their research and are free to use any or none of the ideas shared by their mentors.

Are you a computer?

Does a person's mind relate to their body as a computer's software relates its hardware? Those who answer ``yes'' endorse the Computational Theory of Mind (CTM). CTM commits you to the view that many, if not all, of a person's mental processes (e.g., their thinking and reasoning) are computer softwares executed by their brain. CTM is fascinating because it gives a unifying answer to a wide array of questions from across the history and philosophy of psychology. Nevertheless, there is broad disagreement over whether CTM is a genuine scientific organizing principle or a merely convenient metaphor. We'll start by familiarizing ourselves with the origins and content of CTM. After that, we'll branch out in accord with your interests. Whichever way we go, we'll strive for a deeper philosophical understanding of how our mental processes facilitate our capacity to navigate and alter our environment. Pre-requisites: A curiosity for the relationship between the mind, body, and environment is all that's required. We will start with thoughtful columns, podcasts, or videos authored by science communicators and public philosophers and engage with recent research and historical movements where needed.

What are games good for?

``Common sense'' wisdom alleges that games are a waste of time, if not a social ill. Playing games allegedly weakens our character and stymies our goals. Social media platforms allegedly ruined political discourse by turning them into games. In contrast, some sciences and their associated philosophies value games as vehicles for exploring and explaining their subject matter. Economists and ecologists often ``model'' certain behaviors as optimal strategies for winning games with certain pay-off structures. Linguists often ``model'' types of conversations as ``language games'' with distinctive goals, rules, and scoreboards. But are games good for their own sake? Is there a characteristic good or value to ``just playing a game''? Together we'll look at discussions by artists, game designers, and philosophers about how games comprise a distinctive artform valuable for their own sake. From there, we'll branch out in accord with your interests. Whichever way we go, we'll strive for a deeper philosophical understanding of just what it is games are good for. Pre-requisites: A curiosity for what makes games, arts, or scientific explanations special is all that's required. We will start with thoughtful columns, podcasts, or videos authored by science communicators and public philosophers and engage with recent research where needed.

What is knowledge and what is it good for?

What is knowledge? What is the value of knowing something? How should answers to these questions inform our practice of explaining people's actions and animal behaviors by referencing what they know? We will start by familiarizing ourselves with contemporary discussions about the composition and value of knowledge. From there, we can branch out in accord with your interests to investigate such topics as knowledge in non-human animals, knowledge as a social good, or the scientific method as a distinctive way to gain knowledge. Pre-requisites: A curiosity for the role of knowledge in our mental lives is all that's required. We will start with thoughtful columns, podcasts, or videos authored by science communicators and public philosophers and engage with recent research and classic literature where needed.

How can we write rules for a language game?

We do so much with words. Consider, for instance, our practice of questioning and asserting. In raising questions, we determine what problems to resolve. In asserting propositions, we resolve questions by present things as being certain ways rather than others. Our practice of questioning and asserting can have profound effects on others. In skillfully questioning and asserting, we can achieve equitable agreements, well-coordinated actions, and insightful research. In abusively questioning and asserting, we reap such harms as silencing, unwarranted subordinating, gaslighting, and propogating misinformation. How should we scientifically explain our ways with words? Many linguists and philosophers explain them as being moves in a rule governed language game. Others reject language games as unhelpful metaphors. Together, we'll examine both sides to understand what we explain when writing the rules of a language game. Pre-requisites: None. All you need is a curiousity for how our words bear meanings and how we can use our words to effect substantive change. We will start by reading classical philosophical works in the philosophy of language, foundational texts in linguistics, and thoughtful reflections by public intellectuals and then engage with recent research as the project develops.

What does a map say?

Pictures and other visual media are just as important to human communication as the written and spoken word. For this project, we will explore pictures and visual media as communication methods in their own right. What does it really mean to say that a picture is worth more than a thousand words? In what way do all maps really lie and what does it matter? Exactly how does a picture contribute to scientific discourse? In this project, you would not only learn about different types of communication systems and their semantics, you would also learn such practical skills as how to accurately parse difficult technical writings for nuance, how to accurately break apart and present difficult ideas, and how to discern accurate reporting from disinformation.

Coding skills

LaTeX

Teaching experience

I have several years experience as a teaching assistant and instructor of record for a wide range of university level philosophy courses, including introductory philosophy, introductory ethics, critical thinking, epistemology (theories of knowledge and evidential support), symbolic and first-order logics, philosophy of law, philosophy of psychology, and philosophy of science. I think the most rewarding learning achievement in philosophy is developing your own critical, yet empathetic voice. I aim to facilitate this for my students and mentees by clearly presenting philophical concepts for them, having them apply those concepts in novel situations, and by having them charitably critique those novel applications. The purpose of the presentation portion is to ensure that they have good resources to start with. The purpose of the novel application portion is to get them use to the innovative aspect of trying to reason critically. The purpose of the charitable critique portion is to help them develop a sense for articulating limits and shortcomings without being dismissive or hostile.

Credentials

Work experience

UCSB Chapter of Minorities and philosophy (2014 - 2020)
Chapter Member and Co-Founder
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (2023 - Current)
Lecturer

Education

Brandeis University
BA Bachelor of Arts (2010)
Philosophy and Legal Studies
Brandeis University
MA Master of Arts (2013)
Philosophy
University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB)
MA Master of Arts (2016)
Philosophy
University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB)
PhD Doctor of Philosophy
Philosophy

Completed Projects

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