Professors Molly Gardner, David Grant, Duncan Purves, and Graduate Student Jack Madock participated in the Rocky Mountain Ethics Congress (RoME) on August 8-11.
Held annually in Boulder, Colorado, RoME is an international conference geared to offer the “highest quality, highest altitude” discussion of ethics, broadly conceived.
Professors David Grant and Duncan Purves presented their paper titled “Against the Causal Account of Algorithmic Fairness.”
Abstract: This paper argues that recently defended causal accounts of algorithmic fairness fail to correctly label cases of algorithm
ic redlining as instances of algorithmic unfairness. Because these are canonical cases of algorithmic unfairness, the causal account of algorithmic fairness should be rejected. They suggest that the fundamental error made by proponents of the causal account is to conflate algorithmic unfairness and algorithmic discrimination. Algorithmic unfairness can manifest as direct discrimination, indirect discrimination, or evidentiary unfairness. Causal accounts err in recognizing only the first category.
Graduate student Jack Madock, in collaboration with Duncan Purves, presented “What to Trust When We Trust Artificial Intelligence.”
Abstract: This paper argues that the ontological boundaries of artificial intelligence should include the entire system in which it is embedded. It further argues that AI systems should be treated analogously to institutions regarding attributions of trust. To be worthy of trust, an AI system must be competent, non-accidentally responsive, and provide evidence of these qualities. This account preserves a distinction between reliability and trust, vindicates list criteria, and is appropriately ontologically selective.
The participation of UF’s philosophy faculty and graduate students in RoME underscores the department’s commitment to engaging with critical ethical challenges and contributing to global philosophical dialogues. Their involvement at RoME highlights UF’s academic excellence and alsostrengthens connections with other leading institutions in the field.