Sam Hurcom
Research and Academic Achievements
PhD Research Overview
Sam is conducting his PhD research at Cardiff University. His research project examines ethical considerations in the fast-developing world of creative artificial intelligence. Sam's research is rooted in philosophy of mind, aesthetics and the philosophy of technology. Sam's work seeks to determine what constitutes autonomy and agency in a creative being, and to ask whether the tenets of human creativity can be made manifest in an inorganic 'artist'. More pressingly, Sam seeks to question whether such an outcome should be sought after.
Key areas of interest
Sam's research is focusing on (among others) the work of:
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Professor Margaret Boden OBE (Cognitive Sciences, University of Sussex)
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Martin Heidegger (particularly his 1954 essay 'The Question Concerning Technology')
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Jean-François Lyotard (with specific focus on his 1988 essay 'Can Thought Go on Without a Body')
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The collective works of philsopher, Vilém Flusser
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The collective works of philsopher, Friedrich Nietzsche
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The collective works of George Orwell
© Bengt Oberger
© Ralph Hinterkeuser
![IMG-20190926-WA0018[8556]_edited.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b05a6d_c1f0e7b79fdd415687b135adb5322f02~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_373,h_280,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/IMG-20190926-WA0018%5B8556%5D_edited.jpg)
Conferences and Panels
Sam has discussed his research and papers at a number of academic conferences and panel discussions. Most recently Sam:
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Presented his essay, 'Orwell, Totalitarianism and Generative AI', at Cardiff University's ENCAPsulate conference.
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Particpated on a panel at St. John's College (Oxford University) discussing AI, art and Gender. You can find out more about the 'Shattered Space: AI, Art & Gender' panel discussion by clicking here.
MA Scholarship
As part of his Master's studies, Sam was awarded the prestigious D M Phillips Tylorstown Scholarship Fund, for continued studies in Philosophy.
Associate Tutor
Sam has been an Associate Tutor in Creative Writing at Cardiff Metropolitan University since 2022. He has taught at all levels of higher education, from first year to MA. Sam has planned and delivered classes and modules on a variety of subject areas, including narrative forms, professional practice in the creative industries and digital storytelling.
