Johnny Hartz Søraker

Base

Country

Netherlands

Institutional affiliation

Department of Philosophy, University of Twente

Title

Assistant professor

Research interests relevant to game philosophy

My PhD dissertation mainly dealt with the epistemology, ontology and ethics of virtual worlds, with a particular focus on their potential impact on personal well-being. Following this, my main research interests lie in the intersections between Information Technology, on the one hand, and both theoretical and practical philosophy, on the other. I often ground my work in psychological research, especially work in the field of Positive Psychology. I have published and lectured extensively on issues such as the ethical, societal and psychological effects of technology (especially related to the notion of well-being), gaming, Internet governance and the moral status of information.

Publications and presentations relevant to game philosophy

Søraker, J.H. (2013): ” The ethics of exploiting psychological research in video games”. TEDx Twente, October 11, 2013

Søraker, J.H. (2012): “Virtual worlds and their challenge to philosophy: Understanding the ‘intravirtual’ and the ‘extravirtual’”. Metaphilosophy 43(4): 499-512.

Søraker, J.H. (2012): “How Shall I Compare Thee? Comparing the Prudential Value of Actual and Virtual Friendship“. Ethics and Information Technology 14 (3):209-219.

Søraker, J.H. (2012): “Virtually Good? Disclosing the Presuppositions Behind the Claimed Inferiority of Virtual Worlds” in Brey, P., Briggle, A. and Spence, E., eds., The Good Life in a Technological Age [Routledge Studies in Science, Technology, and Society]. London: Routledge, pp. 225-238.

Søraker, J.H. (2011): “Virtual Entities, Environments, World and Reality – Suggested definitions and taxonomy”. In C. Ess and M. Thorseth, eds., Trust and Virtual Worlds: Contemporary Perspectives. Peter Lang Publishing, pp. 44-74.

Søraker, J.H. (2010): The Value of Virtual Worlds and Entities – A Philosophical Analysis of Virtual Worlds and Their Potential Impact on Well-Being [dissertation]. Ipskamp: Enschede. ISBN: 978-90-365-3010-1

Søraker, J.H. (2010): “The Neglect of Reason – A Plea for Rationalist Accounts of the Effects of Virtual Violence” [PREPRINT]. In C. Wankel and S. Malleck, eds., Emerging Ethical Issues of Life in Virtual Worlds. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing, pp. 15-32. ISBN: 978-1-60752-378-9

Keywords

Ethics (of technology), Epistemology, Ontology, Well-Being, Psychology

Name

Johnny Hartz Søraker

Background

Philosophy, Psychology, Comparative Literature, Computer programming