Luciano Floridi stands as a preeminent philosopher and cognitive scientist whose work has fundamentally shaped the ethical and philosophical frameworks for understanding digital technologies. He currently serves as the John K. Castle Professor in the Practice of Cognitive Science and Founding Director of the Digital Ethics Center at Yale University, while maintaining his position as Professor of Sociology of Culture and Communication at the Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna. Born in Rome on November 16, 1964, Floridi completed his education at Sapienza University of Rome, followed by an M.A. at the University of Oxford and a PhD at the University of Warwick. His distinguished academic career includes over three decades at the University of Oxford, where he was Professor of Philosophy and Ethics of Information at the Oxford Internet Institute, before his transition to Yale in July 2023.
Floridi is globally recognized as the founding father of the philosophy of information, having established this field as a critical discipline for navigating the digital age through his seminal tetralogy known as the Principia Philosophiae Informationis. His influential book 'The Fourth Revolution: How the Infosphere is Transforming the World' has reshaped academic and public understanding of humanity's relationship with digital environments, while his Onlife Manifesto has provided crucial guidance for policymakers on the ethical implications of digital technologies. With over 300 publications translated into numerous languages including Arabic, Chinese, French, German, and Japanese, his work has achieved remarkable scholarly impact, evidenced by over 75,000 citations according to Google Scholar. Floridi's conceptual frameworks for digital ethics have become foundational references for governments, international organizations, and technology companies seeking to address the complex ethical challenges posed by artificial intelligence and emerging digital systems.
In recognition of his transformative contributions to philosophy and digital ethics, Floridi was honored in 2022 by Italian President Sergio Mattarella with the prestigious title of Knight of the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit, Italy's highest civilian honor. As Founding Director of Yale's Digital Ethics Center, he is spearheading interdisciplinary research that bridges philosophy, computer science, and public policy to address pressing ethical questions in artificial intelligence and digital technologies. Floridi continues to serve as Editor in Chief of Philosophy & Technology while maintaining active collaborations with numerous governments and corporations worldwide to develop ethical frameworks for digital innovation. His ongoing research agenda focuses on creating practical ethical guidelines for AI development and implementation, ensuring that digital technologies serve humanity's best interests while preserving fundamental values in our increasingly connected world.
