Philosopher
I am a postdoctoral research fellow at the Australian National University, working in the Machine Intelligence and Normative Theory (MINT) lab. I was awarded my PhD in philosophy at the ANU in 2023 for my research on expertise.
I specialize in philosophy of cognitive science, moral psychology and AI ethics. I believe we philosophers are at our best when we are omnivorous with respect to the sources of evidence we consume, and we should be active in gathering the ingredients for such a feast. As such, I employ both the traditional tools of logic and philosophical analysis alongside experimental methods from across the cognitive and behavioral sciences.
Areas of Specialty
Experimental philosophy, metaphilosophy, philosophy of skill, virtue theory and moral psychology, philosophy of cognitive science
Areas of Competence
Buddhist philosophy, philosophy of mind, social epistemology, AI ethics, philosophy of science, cybernetics
Education
PhD in Philosophy
2014-2023
Australian National University, Canberra
Thesis: Philosophical Expertise
Received the Kathleen Woodroofe PhD Scholarship in the Humanities/Social Sciences.
B.A. Hons, Philosophy
(First Class Honours)
2012
Received the School of Cybernetics Scholarship.
Master of Applied Cybernetics
2023
Macquarie University, Sydney
Thesis: Knowing How: A contemporary re-evaluation of the distinction between knowing how and knowing that
Bachelor of Arts
2009-2011
Monash University, Melbourne
Awarded the Monash academic achievement award for philosophy and bioethics
Publications
Academic publications:
· Kilov, D., & Hendy, C. (2022). Pundits and Possibilities: Philosophers Are Not Modal Experts. Australasian Journal of Philosophy, 1-20.
· Kilov, D. (2021). The brittleness of expertise and why it matters. Synthese, 199(1-2), 3431-3455.
· Kilov, D. (2023). Brittle virtue or bust: a new challenge to virtue-as-skill theories. Synthese, 202(3), 88.
Selected non-academic publications:
· Kilov, D. (2012, March/April). The rise and fall of remembering. TableAus, (Issue 398). Australian Mensa Journal
· Kilov, D. (2013). Book Review: Joshua Foer (2012), Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything, Reinvention: An International Journal of Undergraduate Research, 6(1).
· Kilov, D. (2015). Misunderstanding Memory in the Classroom. In Ali, T, How to Learn Anything in 48 Hours. Australia: Hardie Grant Books.
Teaching & Employment
Post-doctoral research fellow
Australian National University, School of Philosophy
Australian Research Council Linkage Project: Socially Responsible Insurance in the Age of AI
February 2024 – September 2024
Research Officer for project in complexity science
National Security College, Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU College of Asia and the Pacific
April – August 2022
Tutor, Australian National University
PHIL1005 Logic and Critical Thinking, Semester 1, 2022
PHIL2116 PPE integration 2, Semester 1, 2022
PHIL2012 Buddhist Philosophy, Semester 1, 2021
PHIL2061 Philosophy of Mind, Semester 2, 2019
PHIL2012 Buddhist Philosophy, Semester 2, 2017
Departmental Service
2018 – 2020 ANU graduate student representative
2022 – 2023 Affiliate of the Machine Intelligence and Normative Theory (MINT) lab at the Australian National University
Professional achievements
Academic talks and presentations
2023 – “The Mnemonomicon”, presentation of an AI agent created for Demo Day, School of Cybernetics, Canberra
2022 – “The shape and limits of philosophical expertise”, PhD pre-submission talk, ANU Philsoc Seminar, Canberra
2021 – “The Zettlekasten Method for Philosophers”, Foundations Seminar for the graduate students at ANU
2020 – “Are Philosophers Expert Modal Reasoners?”, Group for Empirical Approaches to Morality and Society (G.E.M.S.), New York
2019 – “Do Philosophers Show Signs of Expertise?”, Australian Association of Philosophy Conference, Wollongong
2017 – “Intuition as Philosophical Folklore”, ANU Philsoc Seminar, Canberra
Selected public talks
2018 – Kurukshetra CEG: Guest Lecture and Inauguration
2017 – How To: Academy: “How to: Remember”
2014 – TEDxManly: “The Secret of Memory”
2014 – Neuro-leadership group at Google, Sydney: “The Neuroscience of Memory”
2013 – The Mind & It’s Potential: “The Art and Science of Memory”
2012 – TEDxMacquarieUniversity: “The Art of Memory”
2012 – TEDxCanberra: “Memory Athletics”
2011 – Australian Mensa Conference: “How I learned to remember”
Selected TV appearances
2019 – SBS’ Child Genius Season 2: I was a consultant, designed the memory rounds for the show, developed educational material for the kids and was a guest judge.
2018 – SBS’ Child Genius: As above
2018 – Channel Seven’s ‘House of Wellness’: I provided mnemonic training for the host
2015 – SBS’ The Feed Forum: Expert panellist on cognitive enhancement
2013 – Chanel TEN’s The Project: Provided memory improvement tips
2012 – Chanel TEN’s The Project: Interview on Mensa
2011 – BC’s HUNGRY BEAST: Segment on mnemonics for practical purposes
Select Radio & Podcast interviews
2019 – The Uncommon Podcast: Interview on expertise, memory and philosophy
2019 – The Edge-of-Leadership podcast: Interview on memory and leadership
2016 – Decoding Genius podcast with Lily Serna, Episode 5: Interviewed as an expert on memory and expertise
2015 – ABC Radio Darwin: On my work with teachers in the NT
2013 – ABC Radio with Louise Maher on 666 Drive: Interview about life as a memory athlete
Selected print publications and appearances
2016 ‘Mnemonics: added memory may power classroom success’ by Sherryn Grotch, a feature story in The Age about my efforts to get memory techniques back into schools
2016 ‘Deep Work’ by Cal Newport. I was one of the case studies in Cal’s NYT bestselling book.
Mental athlete
3x silver-medallist at Australian Memory Championships (2011, 2012, 2016)
National record holder (abstract images)
Qualified for and successfully competed at World Rubik’s Cube Championships (2019)
For more about my work as a memory athlete visit mentalathlete.wordpress.com
Other skills
Python (NumPy, Pandas, Scikit-learn) for data analysis and ML
Survey design and digital platforms for data collection (Qualtrics, MTurk, SurveyMonkey)
Beginner-intermediate language skills in Indonesian