16.2654, Calls: Syntax/Semantics/Canada;Computational Ling/France

Wed Sep 14 21:47:05 UTC 2005

LINGUIST List: Vol-16-2654. Wed Sep 14 2005. ISSN: 1068 - 4875.

Subject: 16.2654, Calls: Syntax/Semantics/Canada;Computational Ling/France

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1)
Date: 13-Sep-2005
From: Eric Mathieu < emathieu at uottawa.ca >
Subject: Nominal Incorporation and its Kind 

2)
Date: 08-Sep-2005
From: colin schmidt < colin.schmidt at univ-lemans.fr >
Subject: Computers & Philosophy, an International Conference 

-------------------------Message 1 ---------------------------------- 
Date: Wed, 14 Sep 2005 17:44:09
From: Eric Mathieu < emathieu at uottawa.ca >
Subject: Nominal Incorporation and its Kind 

Full Title: Nominal Incorporation and its Kind 
Short Title: NIK 

Date: 20-Feb-2006 - 22-Feb-2006
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada 
Contact Person: Eric Mathieu
Meeting Email: nik at uottawa.ca
Web Site: http://www.thenikconference.com 

Linguistic Field(s): Morphology; Semantics; Syntax 

Call Deadline: 15-Sep-2005 

Meeting Description:

The idea behind this conference is to bring together syntacticians and semanticists who have worked on the topic of nominal incorporation and/or nominal conflation, often independently. In addition to giving descriptions and providing accounts of the different kinds of nominal incorporation available cross-linguistically, the meeting hopes to address issues such as the status of pseudo nominal incorporation and the concept of pseudo nominal conflation. Papers on constructions and processes that resemble noun incorporation (e.g. bare nouns, complex predication, etc.) are also very welcome. 

Cette conférence a pour but de réunir syntacticiens et sémanticiens travaillant sur l'incorporation et/ou la conflation nominale, souvent indépendamment. En plus des contributions descriptives et théoriques sur l'incorporation nominale à travers les langues, le colloque espère apporter des réponses à des questions nouvelles telles que le statut de la pseudo incorporation nominale et le concept de la pseudo conflation nominale. Viennent s'ajouter à ces deux thèmes principaux toutes les constructions et tous les processus qui ressemblent de près ou de loin à l'incorporation nominale (noms nus, prédication complexe, etc.). 

-Last call-

Noun Incorporation and its Kind (NIK)

Feb. 20, 21, 22, 2005
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

http://www.thenikconference.com

The idea behind this conference is to bring together syntacticians and semanticists who have worked on the topic of nominal incorporation and/or nominal conflation, often independently. In addition to giving descriptions and providing accounts of the different kinds of nominal incorporation available cross-linguistically, the meeting hopes to address issues such as the status of pseudo nominal incorporation and the concept of pseudo nominal conflation. Papers on constructions and processes that resemble noun incorporation (e.g. bare nouns, complex predication, etc.) are also very welcome. 

Cette conférence a pour but de réunir syntacticiens et sémanticiens travaillant sur l'incorporation et/ou la conflation nominale, souvent indépendamment. En plus des contributions descriptives et théoriques sur l'incorporation nominale à travers les langues, le colloque espère apporter des réponses à des questions nouvelles telles que le statut de la pseudo incorporation nominale et le concept de la pseudo conflation nominale. Viennent s'ajouter à ces deux thèmes principaux toutes les constructions et tous les processus qui ressemblent de près ou de loin à l'incorporation nominale (noms nus, prédication complexe, etc.).

-------------------------Message 2 ---------------------------------- 
Date: Wed, 14 Sep 2005 17:44:14
From: colin schmidt < colin.schmidt at univ-lemans.fr >
Subject: Computers & Philosophy, an International Conference 

Full Title: Computers & Philosophy, an International Conference 
Short Title: i-C&P 2006 

Date: 03-May-2006 - 05-May-2006
Location: Laval, France, France 
Contact Person: Colin SCHMIDT
Meeting Email: colin.schmidt at univ-lemans.fr
Web Site: http://www-lium.univ-lemans.fr/~schmidt/ 

Linguistic Field(s): Anthropological Linguistics; Cognitive Science; Computational Linguistics; Linguistic Theories; Neurolinguistics; Philosophy of Language; Pragmatics; Psycholinguistics; Semantics; Text/Corpus Linguistics; Writing Systems 

Call Deadline: 18-Nov-2005 

Meeting Description:

CALL FOR PAPERS

i-C&P 2006  quick link

COMPUTERS  &  PHILOSOPHY,  an International Conference
Le Mans University, Laval, France, 3-5 May, 2006 

Chair: C.T.A. SCHMIDT  Colin.Schmidt at univ-lemans.fr  e-mail 

http://www.iut-laval.univ-lemans.fr/i-CaP_2006/

IMPORTANT DATES (check conference url for up-to-date information)
Friday November 18 th 2005 Submission deadline for extended abstracts (1000 wds.)
January 27th 2006 Notification of acceptance
March 1st 2006 Early registration deadline
3-5 May 2006, Conference
August 1st 2006 Camera-ready paper

GENERAL INFORMATION
>From Wednesday 3rd to Friday 5th May 2006 THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON  COMPUTERS  &  PHILOSOPHY will be held at Le Mans University in Laval (near Rennes, France).

Overview: Those interested in the study of philosophical problems and related technological applications are encouraged to participate; in addition to the suggested research areas provided in the list of topics given, society's philosophical, epistemological, theological and anthropological stances on the use of machines are of relevance to the conference. 
-see list of topics. 

Within the framework of the programme, we are looking forward to the contributions of some imminent thinkers: 
USA- Daniel DENNETT, Philosophy, Tufts
USA- Rodney BROOKS, Robotics, MIT
Italy- Lorenzo MAGNANI, Logic & Philosophy, Pavia
UK- Margaret BODEN, Art. Intelligence, Cognitive Sc. & Philosophy, Sussex
Canada- Daniel VANDERVEKEN, Logic & Language, UQTR 
Thailand- Darryl MACER, UNESCO Reg. Adviser for Soc.& Human Sc. in Asia-Pacific
UK- Noel SHARKEY, Computation & Robotics, Sheffield

to be confirmed:
France- Francis JACQUES, Logic, Philosophy & Theology, Sorbonne 
Belgium- Luc STEELS, Artificial Intelligence, SONY - VUB Brussels  
Japan- Hiroshi ISHIGURO, Artificial Beings, Osaka University

SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMME 
The increasing interaction between Philosophy and Computing over the past 40 some years has lead to many position-taking stances in theories of mind, applied machine-embedded Intelligence and cultural adaptations to the onslaught of robots in society. In the first instance, the Chair is seeking short manuscripts contributing to the body of knowledge within or about the intersection of the two fields --i.e. are there established dialogues between Philosophy and Computing? Is there a proper answer to the question of whether machines can think? Contemporary thought on computers and Artificial Intelligence is not the exclusive aim of the conference; the arise of newer forms of machine intelligence can inform us about potential human beliefs and permissibility thresholds with regards to technology --i.e. are all communities equally-footed with respect to machines that speak, have desires and beliefs, autonomously increase their own learning capabilities, develop bodily functions, play games with us, help us learn, help children or the ill to express themselves, care-give the elderly, etc. To this end, comparative studies and forward-looking accounts are welcome, as well as reports on innovative uses of knowledge previously gained at the crossroads of Philosophy and all ''Intelligent Machinery sciences''. Breaking news in Computer Science that ''pull'' the philosopher towards the computationalist point of view on mind are equally encouraged; and so are propositions that show the limits of representationalistic theories in portraying the workings of mind or leading to multi-modal simulations (i.e. suggesting post-cognitivist approaches or attitudes). The Scientific Committee have taken note of the very convincing simulations of (not only human) life that exist and thus remain open to originality, both in presuppositions and visions, whether scientific or philosophical. The main goal of the conference is to spur on interdisciplinary dialogue between 50-80 engaging intellectuals. Potential contributors may wish to use the topics listed below for further inspiration. 

Speakers:

Margaret BODEN, Infomatics Department, University of Sussex, UK

''Life and Mind''
It's sometimes said, and even more often assumed, that life is necessary for mind. If so, and if A-Life promises to throw light on the nature of life as such, then A-Life is in principle highly relevant to the philosophy of mind and cognitive science.
However, very few philosophers have attempted to argue for the relation between life and mind. It's usually taken for granted. Even those (mostly in the Continental tradition, including some with a following in A-Life) who have insisted on the linkage have stated it rather than justified it.
If an evolutionary account of intentionality is acceptable, then perhaps biological life 'makes room' for mind. But that claim is problematic, since it's not clear that the type of self-organization involved in life-as-such must necessarily include evolution. Even if it does, it's a further step to show that life is strictly necessary for mind.

Rodney BROOKS -Robotics Group, Artificial Intelligence Lab, MIT, Cambridge MA, USA

''Folk Personhood''
What are the future technological milestones that will drive changes in relationships between people and machines?  At different times in history different technologies have been more or less significant in determining people's attitudes towards machines as beings.  Some technological trends will soon change the way a non-specialist will relate to certain machines.  Other plausible changes in relationships may depend on scientific realizations that are as yet uncertain.  And perhaps we will surprise ourselves.

Daniel DENNETT -Centre for Cognitive Studies, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA

''Computers as prostheses for the imagination''
Many scientists' experiments are aided, or even made possible, by such perception-magnifiers as microscopes and telescopes; philosophers' thought experiments can be just as dramatically extended by use of computers to discipline their imaginations. Artificial Intelligence, Artificial Life, and evolutionary economics are best seen as new varieties of more rigorous philosophy. And on a more informal, traditional level of philosophizing, the concepts of computer science can help banish failures of imagination that have long been mistaken by philosophers as insights into necessity.

Lorenzo MAGNANI -Computational Philosophy Laboratory, University of Pavia, Italy

''Beyond Mind. How Brains Make Up Artificial Cognitive Systems''
At the roots of thinking abilities there is a process of disembodiment of mind that presents a new cognitive perspective on the role of external models and representations. Taking advantage of Turing's comparison between ''unorganised'' brains and ''logical'' and ''practical'' machines the presentation will illustrate the centrality to cognition of the disembodiment of mind from the point of view of the interplay between internal and external representations, both mimetic and creative. 
The last part of the presentation will describe the concept of mimetic mind I have introduced to shed new cognitive and philosophical light on the role of computational modelling and on the decline of the so-called Cartesian computationalism.

Daniel VANDERVEKEN -Department of Philosophy, University of Québec at Trois Rivières, Canada

''Foundations of the Formal Pragmatics of Discourse''
Like Montague, I believe that pragmatics should use the resources of formalisms (proof, model and game theories) and philosophical logic in order to construct a theory of meaning and use. I will explain how to further develop intensional and illocutionary logics, the logic of attitudes and of action in order to characterize our ability to converse. One important issue is to analyze the logical form of intentional actions, to explicate the minimal rationality of speakers and the dynamics of dialogues. By considering previous utterances and conversational goals, the theory of meaning becomes more dynamic. It can better determine the force and propositional content of individual illocutionary acts and the nature of collective illocutionary acts to which speakers intend to contribute.

Noel SHARKEY -Department of Computer Science, Sheffield University, UK
To be communicated

Darryl MACER, Biotechnology Ethics & Policy, UNESCO Reg. Adviser for Soc.& Human Sc. in Asia-Pacific, Bangkok

'' Asian-Pacific Perspectives (on the Personhood of Non-humans/Machines)''

Prospective or be Confirmed:
Francis JACQUES, Logic, Philosophy, Theology, -Sorbonne University, France
Luc STEELS, Artificial Intelligence, SONY CSL  Paris/VUB AI Laboratory  Brussels  France/Belgium

Hiroshi ISHIGURO, Osaka University, Japan
RELEVANT RESEARCH AREAS	
cf. ''Information'' quick link

In addition to main-stream areas of research --Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence, Intelligent Robotics, Cognitive Science, Computer Ethics-- we are looking for cross-cultural studies on the place of machines in society, as well as the following:  

1. Evolution & Technologies 
- Evolutionary Computation and Evolutionary Language Development 
- Information Systems and the Philosophy of Design 
- Biologically-Incorporated Intelligence; the Use of Organic Components for Robotics
- Bio-computation, Bio-Robotics, Artificial Life & Meaning 
- Robotics (Humanoid, Cognitive, Epigenetic, ''Autonomous'', Service, etc.)
- Virtual Reality and Performance

2. Pragmatics & Comp. Linguistics 
- Speech Acts and the Limits of Machine-embedded Use of Dialogue
- Obstacles to Parsing (Accents, Intonations, Emotional States, etc.)
- Relations, Reference and Communicability 
- Artificial Affectivity in (non-)Dialogical Settings
- All Language, Meaning and Dialogue Issues

3. Minds and Intentionality
- Evocative Objects and Presumed Intelligence 
- Personification of Artefacts
- Other Minds Theories and Simulating Co-intentionality
- The Mind/Body Problem in Cognitive Science
- European Versions (and Anti-theses) of the Intentional Stance 

4. Culture & Adaptability 
- All Anthropological Views on Computers and Robots
- Context-embedded Computer Learning
- In-class Robotic Teachers, Vulgarisation and (non-)Acceptance Issues 
- The Pros and Cons of Computer-Mediated Communication & Learning 
- Virtual Reality & Digitally-supported Personalities
- Post-modernism and Fiction related to Machines and Individuals

5. History, Ethics & Theology 
- Issues arising from the Automation of Thought
- Designing Users' Beliefs, Beliefs Designing Machines, Religious Deontology 
- Robo-Ethics, Moral Agents, Spirituality of Machines, Technological Souls 
- The Impacts of Intelligent Computers and Robotics on Society throughout History
- Cognitive Epistemology or Science as Applied Technology

Other
- All transdisciplinary attempts to link Philosophy, Computing and/or Robotics

Although technical demonstrations will be encouraged at the conference, papers writers should endeavour to display one aspect of their work that is not technical: philosophical, anthropological, epistemological or theological aspects constitute a list the Chair provides although this list of suggestions remains open. Proposals of mainstream philosophy should include one technical reference or incorporate related works or oeuvres (i.e. A. Turing, J. Austin, H. Putnam, H. Simon...). If in doubt, e-mail the Chair of the Scientific Committee.  ?see list of topics
All potential participants interested in chairing a sessions are asked to please send a short statement of interest to the Chair at Colin.Schmidt at univ-lemans.fr . e-mail

VENUE 	cf. quick link

As the conference will be collocated with Laval Virtual (LV2006) ( http://www.laval-virtual.org/fr/index.php ), attendees may consider planning extended stays in the area. The two events are not held back to back in order to allow time for sightseeing and rest. Laval is known to be a city of character for its history, art and culture. Located on the Mayenne River in beautiful Western France, it offers all the amenities of a large city while maintaining a small town feel. There are many interesting things to see, some for which we can provide more information. Prospective attendees of the conference may find further information in the links provided soon on the conference web site. 

SUBMISSION OF PAPERS  quick link

Authors must circumscribe the general idea of the final paper by writing concisely. They should submit an electronic version of an extended abstract (total word count approximately 800-1000 words). The file should also contain a 150 word abstract that will be used for the conference website/booklet. Keywords (up to six) should be provided as well as full information concerning the authors (affiliations, titles, professional addresses, telephone numbers, etc.). 
The final full papers, to be submitted AFTER the conference, will not exceed a total word count of 4500 words and will be accompanied by a word count and an abstract of not more than 250 words. These post-conference submissions for the 1st of August 2006 are to take into account the comments made by the Scientific Committee during the conference. A selected number of papers will be published --after peer review of the final versions-- in a special issue of an international journal (title TBA). The Chair will also negotiate publication in a hard cover book for especially advanced or brilliant pieces of research. 

The submissions should be made electronically, written in a format appropriate for blind review in Word format. To submit papers visit
http://www.iut-laval.univ-lemans.fr/i-CaP_2006/ and follow the links to ''submit''
The extended abstract submission deadline is Friday the 18 th of November 2005.

For further information about the conference, please consult the i-C&P 2006 website or contact the Chair. 

REGISTRATION quick link

Registration fee before/after March 1st 2006:
Standard: EURO 180/300 (1 Conference Reception-Meal plus coffee breaks included)
No refunds will be granted after April 1st 2006 
For registration please visit the conference web site:
http://www.iut-laval.univ-lemans.fr/i-CaP_2006/registration.htm

ACCOMMODATION
To book accommodation, please consult the conference web site soon for some hotel links. 

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE
General Chair: Colin T. SCHMIDT, Communication, Philosophy & Cognition, Le Mans University, France
Local Organisations Chair: Xavier DUBOURG, Computer Science & Learning, Le Mans University & Director of the Laval Technological Institute, France
Honorary Chair: Francis JACQUES, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy, Sorbonne University, France
Varol AKMAN, Philosophy and Computer Science, Bilkent University, Turkey 
Jean CAELEN, Cognition and Interaction, CNRS/Grenoble University, France
Raja CHATILA, Robotics, CNRS/Toulouse University, France
Nathalie COLINEAU, Language & Multi-modality, CSIRO, Australia
Roberto Cordeschi, Computation & Communication, Salerno University, Italy
Liu GANG, Information & Philosophy, Inst. of Philosophy, Chinese Acad. of Soc. Sciences, China 
Deborah G. JOHNSON, Technology and Ethics, University of Virginia, USA 
Frédéric KAPLAN, Artificial Intelligence, SONY CSL  Paris
Nik KASABOV, Computer and Information Sciences, Auckland University, New Zealand
Oussama KHATIB, Robotics & Artificial Intelligence, Stanford University, USA
Boicho KOKINOV, Cognitive Science, New Bulgarian University, Sofia, Bulgaria
Felicitas KRAEMER, Philosophy & Intentionality, Bielefeld University, Germany
Jean LASSÈGUE, Philosophy, CNRS/Ecole Normale Supérieur Paris, France 
Ping LI, Cognitive Science & Philosophy of Science, Sun Yat-sen University, China
Daniel LUZZATI, Linguistics, Le Mans University, France
M.C. MANES GALLO, Info. & Communication Sciences, Bordeaux University, France
Anne NICOLLE, Computer Science & Interdisciplinarity, CNRS/University of Caen, France
Teresa NUMERICO, Communication, Salerno University, Italy
James MOOR, Philosophy, Dartmouth College, USA
Bernard MOULIN, Computer Science, Laval University, Canada
Denis VERNANT, Logic & Philosophy, Grenoble University, France
Ming XIE, Robotics, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Publications Chair: Colin T. SCHMIDT, Le Mans University & APFJ
Local Organisations Chair: Xavier DUBOURG, Assoc. Prof. Computer Science, Le Mans University & Laval Technological Institute

LOCAL CONTACT POINT
E-mail: e-mail 
Tel +33 2 43 59 49 20
&
Dr. Colin Schmidt (Chair) 
Computers & Philosophy, an International Conference
i-C&P 2006
Computer Science Laboratory LIUM CNRS FRE 2730 Le Mans University 
France
Phone: +33 2 43 59 49 25
Fax: +33 2 43 59 49 28
E-mail: Colin.Schmidt at lium.univ-lemans.fr 
Conference: quick link

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