Joshua Boulton

Independent Researcher

Bridging software engineering, complex systems, and the philosophy of mind, I build simulations to explore models of intelligence, consciousness, and their evolutionary origins. Based in New Zealand.

Current Projects & Research

Simulations

My simulations are typically implemented in the Racket programming language. Some areas of exploration include:

  • Custom neural network models
  • Custom symbolic cognitive architectures
  • World modeling, predictive processing, mental simulation, self-modeling, and social cognition
  • The organic emergence of sex, parasitism, symbiosis, retroviral insertion, and more
  • The implementation of cognition with L-system grammars, graph cellular automata, fuzzy logic circuits, and other unconventional artificial cognitive systems

Academic Research

Currently co-authoring a paper with Dr. Douglas Campbell at the University of Canterbury, arguing for a physicalist theory of phenomenal consciousness that blends:

  • a quotational account of phenomenal concepts,
  • a relational account of qualia,
  • a simulation account of social cognition, and
  • an essential indexical account of psychophysical identity statements.

This theory elegantly handles:

  • Kripkean and Chalmersian conceivability arguments,
  • the inverted spectrum argument,
  • Nagel's bat,
  • the explanatory gap,
  • the epistemic gap, and
  • the hard problem of consciousness.

Writing

I publish my longer-form essays, philosophical inquiries, and thoughts on technology over on my blog, The Canterbury Critique.

Read The Canterbury Critique on Substack

Professional Experience

  • Soul Machines | Intern: Invented a novel approach to predicting user intents while users are actively speaking to chatbots.
  • University of Canterbury | Research Assistant & Essay Marker: Provided research support within the philosophy department and evaluated second- and third-year undergraduate essays. I blended my technical skills with my humanities skills, automating a large literary research task with Python scripts.
  • Digital Technologies Student Teacher: Taught Electronics & Robotics, Digital Technologies, and Structural Technologies to a culturally, linguistically, and psychologically diverse group of secondary school students.
  • Freelance Article Writer: Researched and authored SEO-optimised articles on a vast range of subjects.

Education

  • Certificate in Information Technology (Expected Completion Soon)
  • Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours in Philosophy: Primary research focus on the philosophy of mind and consciousness. Coursework:
    • The Neurobiology of Higher Cognition
    • Mathematical Cognition
    • Cognitive Science
    • Philosophical Logic and Paradoxes
  • Bachelor of Science: Major in Philosophy, Minor in Computer Science.
  • Diploma in Software Engineering

Awards & Honors

The David Novitz Prize: The David Novitz prize goes to the current year's most promising MA or BA(Hons) student in Philosophy at the University of Canterbury.

Get in Touch

If you have an interesting opportunity or just want to discuss ideas, reach out below.