The Northrop Distinguished Speaker Series aims to promote interdisciplinary discourse on the most pressing societal issues of the present and future. The Series focuses on one theme each semester and emphasizes understanding the problem through a holistic approach. It thus invites theorists and practitioners of all backgrounds and perspectives.
The Series is named after Sterling Professor of Law and Philosophy F.S.C. Northrop. A broad thinker in philosophy, anthropology, science, and law, Northrop integrated these disciplines to study major early-20th century scientific advances such as Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, cybernetics, and biological warfare.
The Series was launched in September 2022 by Yale Society of Ethics Founder and President Edward Seol and is sponsored by the Yale Philosophy Department.
Spring 2023
Biological transformation: the future of the human body
Joshua Knobe
Professor of Cognitive Science and Philosophy
Brian Scassellati
Professor of Computer Science and Cognitive Science, Director of the NSF Expedition on Socially Assistive Robotics
Stephen Latham
Director of Yale’s Interdisciplinary Center for Bioethics, Former Director of Ethics Standards at the AMA
Fall 2022
Technology and the future of humanity
Algorithmic Discrimination: Tech and the Future of Justice
Lily Hu | Wednesday Sept. 14th
Assistant Professor of Philosophy, former fellow at Harvard Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society
Moral Understandings: Toward a Cross-Cultural Tech Ethics
Matt Kuan Johnson | Monday Oct. 10th
Senior Technical Advisor at the Center for Responsible AI in the Department of Defense, Gates Cambridge Scholar
The Ethics of Social Media
Tracey Meares, Tom Tyler | Tuesday Oct. 25th
Yale Law School Professors, Founding Directors of The Justice Collaboratory at Yale Law School
Technology and a More Spiritual Future?
Carlos Eire | Monday Nov. 7th
T. Lawrason Riggs Professor of History and Religious Studies, National Book Award Winner
The Moral Status of Robots
Shelly Kagan | Wednesday December 7th
Clark Professor of Philosophy