Luke Kersten

Department of Philosophy
University of Alberta
2-51 Assiniboia Hall, T6G 1C9, Edmonton, Canada
Email: kersten@ualberta.ca Website: lukekersten.weebly.com
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Academic Positions
Current
Assistant Professor, Department of Philosophy, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada

Previous
Killam Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Philosophy, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (2023
– 2024)
FCT Junior Research Fellow, Centre for Philosophy, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal (2022 –
2023)
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Institute of Philosophy II, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany (2021 –
2022)

Visiting Positions
Visiting Research Fellow, Institute of Philosophy, University of London (Jan. – May 2023)
Visiting PhD Student, University College Cork, Ireland. (PI: Joel Wamsley) (Apr. – July 2018)

Areas of Specialisation (AoS)

1 Philosophy of Mind; 2 Philosophy of Cognitive Science
Chief areas of interest within each AoS:
1. computational theories of mind, extended and embodied cognition, music psychology;
2. levels of explanation, mechanistic explanation, computational modeling

Areas of Competence (AoC)

1 Philosophy of Science; 2 Philosophy of AI
Primary areas of interest within each AoC:
1. models of scientific progress; realism/anti-realism
2. AI consciousness, modeling, alignment, risk

Education

University of Edinburgh, 2016 - 2020

PhD in Philosophy (passed without
corrections)
Carleton University, 2014 - 2016
MSc in Cognitive Science (passed
with distinction)
University of Alberta, 2012 - 2014
MA in Philosophy (passed with
distinction)
University of Ottawa, 2008 - 2012
(Hon.) BA in Philosophy (Magna Cum
L. Kersten

Laude)

Research
(a) In Preparation
1. Kersten, L. Solving the Problems of the Problem-Solving Model.
2. Kersten, L. Implementing Artificial Consciousness (with Leonard Dung)
3. United at Last: An Integrated Account of Predictive Processing and Embodied Cognition (with
Elmaire Venter).

(b) Forthcoming
1. Kersten, L. The Hierarchical Correspondence View of Levels: A Case Study in Cognitive Science.
Minds and Machines.
2. Kersten, L. Cognitive Extension, Recruitment, and the Promise of Predictive Processing. Thought: A
Journal of Philosophy.
3. Kersten, L., and Facchin, M. New Directions in the Extended Mind. Synthese.

(c) Published
16. Kersten, L. (2024). Predicting the Body or Embodied Prediction? New Directions in Embodied
Predictive Processing. In L. Shapiro and S. Spaulding (eds.), The Routledge Handbook of Embodied
Cognition (2nd Edition)(pp.110-119). Routledge.
15. Kersten, L. (2024). Wide computationalism revisited: distributed mechanisms, parsimony and
testability. Philosophical Explorations, 1-18. doi: 10.1080/13869795.2024.2332171.
14. Kersten, L. (2024). An idealised account of mechanistic computation. Synthese, 203(99), 1-23.
doi:10.1007/s11229-024-04526-x.
13. Kersten, L. (2023). A Model Solution: On the Compatibility of Predictive Processing and Embodied
Cognition. Mind and Machines, 32(4), 113-134. doi:10.1007/s11023-022-09617-7.
12. Kersten, L. (2022). A New Mark of the Cognitive? Predictive Processing and Extended Cognition.
Synthese, 200(281), 1-25. doi:10.1007/s11229-022-03674-2.
11. Kersten, L. (2020). How to be concrete: mechanistic computation and the abstraction problem.
Philosophical Explorations, 23(3), 251-266. doi:10.1080/13869795.2020.1799664.
10. Kersten, L. (2019). Thinking through the implications of neural reuse for the additive factors method.
In A. K. Goel, C. M. Seifert & C. Freska (eds.), (pp. 2005-2010). Proceedings of the 41st Annual
Conference of Cognitive Science Society. Montreal, QC: Cognitive Science Society.
9. Kersten, L. (2017). A Mechanistic Account of Wide Computationalism. Review of Psychology and
Philosophy, 8(3), 501-517. doi:10.1007/s13164-016-0322-3.
8. Kersten, L. (2017). Extended music cognition. Philosophical Psychology, 30(8), 1078-1103.
doi:10.1080/09515089.2017.1350946.
7. Kersten, L., Dewhurst, J., Deane, G. (2017). Resolving two tensions in 4E cognition using wide
computationalism. In G. Gunzelmann, A. Howes, T. Tenbrink, & E. Davelaar (Eds.), Proceedings of
the 39th Annual Conference of Cognitive Science Society (pp.2395-2400). Austin, TX: Cognitive
Science Society.
6. Kersten, L. (2017). The Narrow Conception of Computational Psychology. In G. Gunzelmann, A.
Howes, T. Tenbrink, & E. Davelaar (Eds.), Proceedings of the 39th Annual Conference of Cognitive
Science Society (pp.2389-2394). Austin, TX: Cognitive Science Society.
5. Kersten, L., and Wilson, R. (2016). The Sound of Music: Externalist Style. American Philosophical
Quarterly, 53(2), 139-154.

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L. Kersten

4. Kersten, L. (2016). The Alleged Coupling-Constitution Fallacy and the Mature Sciences. Frontiers in
Psychology, 7(2033), 1-2. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2016.02033
3. Kersten, L. (2016). Processor vs. Process Accounts of Stage Models: A Cautionary Tale. Frontiers in
Psychology, 7(719), 1-3. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00719.
2. Kersten, L., West, R., and Brook, A. (2016). Leveling the Field: Talking Levels in Cognitive Science.
In A. Papafragou, D. Grodner, D. Mirman, & J.C. Trueswell (Eds.), Proceedings of the 38th Annual
Conference of Cognitive Science Society (pp.2399-2404). Austin, TX: Cognitive Science Society.
1. Kersten, L. (2015). Music and Cognitive Extension. Empirical Musicology Review, 9(3-4), 193-202.
doi:10.18061/emr.v9i3-4.4315.

(c) Other Contributions

1. Kersten, L. (2013). 54 Encyclopedia Entries on Sterilization Legislation. Living Archives Project:
Eugenics in Western Canada.
http://eugenicsarchive.ca/database/documents/54f7397ae90b97152f000001

Presentations
(a) Invited Talks
10. “An Idealised Account of Physical Computation” (Paper presented at Philosophy Colloquium Series,
Simon Fraser University, May 17, 2024).
9. “Solving a Problem of Cognitive Science: The Compatibility of Predictive Processing and Embodied
Cognition (Paper presented at Philosophy Colloquium Series, University of Lethbridge, March 15,
2024).
8. “The Problems of Cognitive Science: A Functionalist Approach.” (Paper presented at Public Lecture
Series, Dartmouth College, Hanover, United States, January 12, 2024).
7. “Solving the Problems of Cognitive Science: Towards an Account of Paradigm Evaluation.” (Paper
presented at Philosophy Colloquium Series, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, September 29,
2023).
6. “United at Last: An Integrated Account of Predictive Processing and Embodied Cognition”. (Paper
presented at Visiting Seminar Series, Institute of Philosophy, University of London, London, UK,
March 23, 2023).
5. “An Explanatory Challenge to Compatibility Accounts of Predictive Processing and Embodied
Cognition” (Paper presented at Philosophy of Science Work Group, University of Belgrade, Belgrade,
Serbia, November 3, 2022).
4. “A Model of Compatibility for Predictive Processing and Embodied Cognition” (Paper presented at
Philosophy of Cognitive Science Seminar, Institute of Philosophy and Sociology of the Polish
Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland, October 25, 2022).
3. “From Theory to Research Tradition: Predictive Processing and Embodied Cognition”. (Paper
presented at Situated Cognition Spring School, Bochum, Germany, March 28, 2022).
2. “The Status Anxiety of Markov Blankets: An Abstracta Realist Proposal” (Paper presented at
Philosophy of Cognitive Science Seminar, Institute of Philosophy and Sociology of the Polish
Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland, Online, June 11, 2021)
1. “Wide Computationalism: A Mechanistic Proposal”. (Paper presented at Computational Psychology
Workshop, Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK, November 13, 2018).

(b) Conference Presentations

21. “An Idealisation Account of Mechanistic Computation.” (Paper presented at Annual Meeting of the
Canadian Philosophical Association, McGill University, Montreal, Canada, June 18, 2024).
20. “Cognitive Extension, Recruitment, and the Promise of Predictive Processing.” (Paper to be presented
at 115th Annual Meeting of the Southern Society for Philosophy and Psychology, University of

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L. Kersten

Cincinnati, Cincinnati, United States of America, March 22, 2024.

19. “United at Last: An Integrated Account of Embodied Cognition and Predictive Processing.” (Paper
presented at 30th Conference of the European Society for Philosophy and Psychology, Czech
Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia, August 28, 2023) (with Elmaire Venter).
18. “Mechanistic Computation and its Problems: An Abstract Solution.” (Paper presented at International
Association for Computing and Philosophy, Charles University, Prague, Czechia, July 3, 2023).
17. “Predicting the Body or Embodied Prediction?” (Paper presented at 4E International Conference on
Philosophy of Mind, Catholic University, Braga, Portugal, March 6, 2023).
16. “Mechanistic Computation and its Problems.” (Paper to be presented at Information and Computing
in Nature: Philosophical Perspectives, Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences, Online, December 1,
2022).
15. “On Your Marks: Predictive Processing and Extended Cognition” (Paper presented at The 96th Joint
Session of the Aristotelian Society & the Mind Association, St. Andrews, UK, July 16, 2022).
14. “Status Anxiety: Markov Blankets and the Demarcation Problem” (Paper presented at the 28th
Conference of the European Society for Philosophy and Psychology, Leipzig -Online Event,
September 1, 2021).
13. “How (Not) to Knit Your Extended Markov Blanket” (Paper presented at The 95th Joint Session of
the Aristotelian Society & the Mind Association, Online Event, July 16, 2021).
12. “Thinking through the implications of neural reuse for the additive factors method” (Poster presented
at 41st Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society, Palais des Congres, Montreal, Quebec,
July 24-27, 2019).
11. “The Narrow Conception of Computational Psychology” (Poster presented at 39th Annual Conference
of Cognitive Science Society, University of London, London, UK, July 29, 2017).
10. “Resolving two tensions in 4E cognition using wide computationalism”. (Poster presented at 39th
Annual Conference of Cognitive Science Society, University of London, London, UK, July 29, 2017)
(With Joe Dewhurst & George Deane).
9. “Resolving two tensions in 4E cognition.” (Paper presented at 61st Annual Congress of the Canadian
Philosophical Association, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada, May 30, 2017).
8. “Levels in Cognitive Science.” (Paper presented at 24th Annual Conference of the European Society for
Philosophy and Psychology, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Scotland, August 12, 2016).
(With Robert West & Andrew Brook).
7. “Leveling the Field: Talking Levels in Cognitive Science.” (Paper presented at 38th Annual Conference
of the Cognitive Science Society, Philadelphia, US, August 10, 2016).
6. “Music Cognition and the Extended Mind.” (Paper presented at Situating Cognition: 2nd International
Conference in Trends in Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland, October
18, 2015).
5. “Music, Emotions and the Extended Mind” (Paper presented at The Affect Conference: Memory,
Aesthetics and Ethics, Fort Garry Hotel, Winnipeg, September 18, 2015).
4. “From word to practice: eugenic language in sterilization legislation (1905-1945).” (Paper presented
at ISHPSSB, University of Montreal & Quebec, Montreal, CA, July 8, 2014. (With (with Laura
Davis).
3. “Making sense of analyticity: reconsidering the Carnap/Quine debate.” (Paper presented at Philosophy
Graduate and Post-Graduate Conference, University of Alberta, Alberta, CA, May 10, 2014).
2. “Music and cognitive extension.” (Paper presented at University of Alberta Colloquia, Department of
Philosophy, Edmonton, CA, January 25, 2014).
1. “Simple Networks, Complex Music: An Investigation into Embodied Representations.” (Paper
presented at Embodied Music Cognition Conference, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, July
22, 2013). (with Joshua Hathway & Michael Dawson).
Teaching Experience
(a) Instructor

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L. Kersten

4. Ethics and Artificial Intelligence (PHIL 398), University of Alberta, 2025

3. Selected Topics in Philosophy of Cognitive Science (PHIL488/594), University of Alberta, 2025
2. Philosophy of Mind (PHIL 205), University of Alberta, 2024
1. Critical Thinking (PHIL 2003), Carleton University, 2015

(b) Teaching Assistant

10. Great Philosophers (PHIL08016), University of Edinburgh (3 Courses), 2019-2021
9. Morality and Value (PHIL08015), University of Edinburgh (2 courses), 2019-2021
8. Logic 1 (PHIL 08004), University of Edinburgh (3 courses), 2018-2020
7. Mind, Matter, and Language (PHIL 08005), University of Edinburgh, 2018-2019
6. Philosophy of Science (PHIL 08005), University of Edinburgh, 2017-2018
5. Advanced Philosophy of Mind and Cognitive Science (PHIL 11135) (Online), University of
Edinburgh, 2016
4. Introduction to Cognitive Science (CGSC 1001), Carleton University (2 courses), 2014-2015
3. Philosophy of Mind (PHIL 2501), Carleton University, 2012
2. Critical Thinking (PHIL 2003), Carleton University, 2013
1. Introduction to Philosophy: Values and Society (PHIL 101), University of Alberta (2 courses), 2012-
2013

Grants and Funding

Nov 2021 — Nov 2024 FCT Scientific Employment Stimulus, Government of Portugal ($150000)
Sept 2017 — Aug 2020 Research Support Grants, University of Edinburgh ($5000)
Sept 2016 — Aug 2019 Principal’s Career Development Scholarship ($75000)
Global Edinburgh Research Scholarship ($40,000)
Sept 2015 — Aug 2016 Ontario Graduate Scholarship ($35,000)
Sept 2014 — Aug 2016 Graduate Scholarship ($50,000)
Sept 2013 — Aug 2014 Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship ($20,000)
Sept 2012 — Aug 2014 Graduate Assistantship Stipend ($35,000)

Total Grant and Award Support: $310,000

Awards and Prizes

2021 Student Teaching Award (Nominee), University of Edinburgh

2019 Student Teaching Award (Nominee), University of Edinburgh
2018 PPLS - Gray Publication Prize, University of Edinburgh
2016 Senate Medal for Outstanding Academic Achievement, Carleton University
2015 David and Rachel Epstein Award, Carleton University
2015 Alfred & Isabel Bader Award, Carleton University
2013 Graduate Student Award, Advanced Education, Government of Alberta
2013 Profiling Graduate Student Award, University of Alberta

Supervisory Roles

 PhD Committee Member, Joshua Barden (PhD), University of Alberta (2024)

 Supervisor (interim), Eric Cock (MA), University of Alberta (2024)
 Examiner, Tugba Yoldas (PhD), University of Alberta (2024)

Professional Service

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L. Kersten

 Departmental Chair, Professionalisation and Teaching Awards, University of Alberta (2024 – 2027)
 Adjudicator, Undergraduate Research Initiative, University of Alberta (2024)
 Editor (Guest), Synthese (Topical Collection: New Directions in the Extended Mind) (2023 – 2024)
 Reviewer, MIT Press, Mind & Language, Philosophy of Science, Synthese, Philosophical
Psychology, Review of Philosophy and Psychology, Cognitive Science Society, Erkenntnis, Minds
and Machines, Phenomenology and Cognitive Science, Topoi, Artificial Intelligence Review.
 Organiser, Philosophy PhD Retreat, University of Edinburgh (2017)
 Programme Reviewer, Graduate School of Polish Academy of Sciences
 Organiser, Annual Spring Cognitive Science Graduate Conference, Institute of Cognitive Science,
Carleton University (2016 -17)
 Research Assistant, Living Archives Project - Eugenics in Western Canada (PI: Prof. Robert
Wilson), University of Alberta (Apr. 2013 – Aug. 2014)
 Organiser, Post-Graduate Philosophy Conference, University of Alberta (2013-14)

Public Engagement and Outreach

 Presenter, Uschool Program, University of Alberta (Sept. – May 2013-14/2024)
 Coach/Judge, Alberta High School Ethics Bowl, University of Alberta (Mar. 2024)
 Presenter, Sutton Trust Summer School, University of Edinburgh (Jul. 2017 - 2021)
 Philosopher in Residence, Abbey Hill School, University of Edinburgh (Nov. 2018 – Jun. 2019)
 Athena SWAN Representative, PPLS, University of Edinburgh (Oct. – May 2016-17)
 Counselor, Philosophy for Children (Eurekamp) Summer Camp (Jun. – Aug. 2013 – 14)
 Organiser, Eugenics Awareness Week, University of Albert (Oct. 2013)
 Presenter, Philosophers in Residence Program, University of Alberta (Nov. – Mar. 2012)
 Equity Representative, Graduate Philosophy Student Group, University of Alberta (Sept. – Apr.
2012-13)

Organisational Affiliations and Accreditation

 Associate Fellow, Higher Education Academy, United Kingdom
 Member, Cognitive Science Society
 Member, European Society of Philosophy and Psychology
 Member, Canadian Philosophical Association