James Moor, Daniel P. Stone Professor Emeritus in Intellectual and Moral Philosophy, died on Sept. 11 at home surrounded by family. He was 82 years old.
"An internationally recognized pioneer in the philosophy of computing, computer and AI ethics, and college teaching, Jim was beloved by his colleagues for his humility and kindness," Dean Elizabeth F. Smith said in a message to the Arts and Sciences community. "His trailblazing and prescient scholarship proved to be stunningly relevant in our rapidly evolving digital age, and he leaves a lasting legacy at Dartmouth and around the world."
Moor earned a BA in mathematics at the Ohio State University in 1965 followed by an MA in philosophy at the University of Chicago. He served as a National Teaching Fellow at Findlay College for two years before earning his PhD in history and the philosophy of science from Indiana University in 1972.
Moor joined the Dartmouth faculty in 1972 as an assistant professor, primarily teaching Logic and Language, Philosophy of Mind, and Philosophy and Computers. He was promoted to associate professor in 1978, full professor in 1985, and he was appointed the Daniel P. Stone professor in Intellectual and Moral Philosophy in 2009.
In 1985, Moor authored a paper in the journal Metaphilosophy titled "What Is Computer Ethics?" that became a classic and established him at the forefront of the field of computer ethics. In the essay, he argued that computer ethics includes the following: the identification of computer-generated policy vacuums; clarification of "conceptual muddles"; formulation of policies for the use of computer technology; and ethical justification of such policies.
Moor's many scholarly articles and book chapters that followed paved the way for the development of policies and guidelines for ethics in technology, with such titles as "The Future of Computer Ethics: You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet" and "Why We Need Better Ethics for Emerging Technologies." He also wrote extensively about the Turing Test, the philosophy of AI, and logic, with numerous articles in journals including Philosophy of Science, The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science, Philosophical Studies, and Journal of Philosophy.
Upon arrival at Dartmouth, Moor created a new model of logic instruction in which direct practice replaced lectures: Students read the textbook and did exercises on their own, tested each class day in the morning, and returned in the afternoon to review their answers with tutors and the professor, moving ahead at their own pace. Top-scoring students were recruited to return as tutors in later terms. President John Kemeny, a distinguished mathematician, called Moor to his office to ask if it was true that a new assistant professor was teaching a course without lectures. Moor came prepared with the final exams from before and after the new model, which showed that scores had gone up. Putting the students in the driver's seat had made them better learners. Logic courses at Dartmouth have followed Moor's innovative approach ever since.
Moor's subsequent textbook, The Logic Book, first published in 1980 and accompanied by original software, was customized for the Dartmouth course—and it became a classic book for logic connoisseurs. The textbook remains widely used today, including here at Dartmouth. Associate Professor of Philosophy Timothy Rosenkoetter, who has taught with the book for years, calls it a "model for all of us teachers in how to explain difficult concepts." He believes that the book stands among the most influential introductions to symbolic logic.
At Dartmouth, Moor's classes were often oversubscribed. His course on philosophy and computers was especially popular, in addition to his logic classes.
"I watched Jim teach logic to Dartmouth students a number of times," Rosenkoetter says. "He was excellent as they worked their way through a derivation at the chalkboard, helping them through a process of elimination to decide on the next step in the derivation. He was always a humane, friendly, welcoming presence."
Moor also edited many special issues of prestigious journals, such as Ethics and Information Technology and Minds and Machines, which he led as editor in chief from 2001 to 2010. He served as an editorial board member of Ethics and Information Technology and Information, Communications, and Ethics in Society. Additionally, he served as president of the Society for Machines and Mentality from 2001 to 2003; the International Society for Ethics and Information from 2004 to 2008; and the Northern New England Philosophical Association in 2013, among many other leadership roles in the field.
From 2010 to 2014, Moor served as a member of a National Academies of Science committee focused on the ethical and societal implications of advances in militarily significant technologies that are rapidly changing and increasingly globally accessible.
A sought-after speaker, Moor delivered presentations hosted by universities, professional organizations, and conferences around the world, including the American Philosophical Association, the World Congress of Philosophy in Montreal and Boston, the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences, the first International Workshop for Foundations of International Ethics, which took place in Kyoto in 1999, and the Computer Ethics Philosophical Enquiry, with talks in Rotterdam, London, Lisbon, Boston, and at Dartmouth.
He led several conferences at Dartmouth, including the third annual International Conference on Computers and Philosophy in 1988, "The Future of the Turing Test: The Next 50 Years" in 2000, a workshop celebrating the 50th anniversary of the birth of the field of AI in 2006, and a conference on nanotechnology and human enhancement in 2007.
Associate Dean of the Arts and Humanities and Professor of Philosophy Samuel Levey remembers taking part in the 2000 Turing conference, when Moor led Dartmouth's participation in the Loebner contest to test Turing's famous 1930 prediction that within 70 years, computers would succeed in the imitation game—passing as human in teletype conversation—at least 70% of the time. "So we ran a canonical version of the 'Turing test' here at Dartmouth," Levey said. "As it happens, I signed up as a test subject and told Jim we would grind the machines into the pavement. Jim laughed and said, 'I expect no less.'"
Moor garnered many honors and awards for his research, including fellowships and grants from the National Science Foundation, National Endowment for the Humanities, and William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. He also received many awards from Dartmouth, including a senior faculty grant, ethics research grant, and Math in the Curriculum grants. In 2003 he was awarded the American Computing Machinery SIGCAS Making a Difference Award, and he received the American Philosophical Association Barwise Prize in 2006.
At Dartmouth, Moor was widely admired for his collegiality. Among his administrative roles, he served on the steering committee for the Program in Linguistics and Cognitive Science and as a member of the Dartmouth Skiway Advisory Committee.
"What especially stands out, when considering his many years of service to Dartmouth and its community, was Jim's incredible integrity and humanity," says Associate Professor of Philosophy Christine Thomas. "He was a real gem."
Professor of Philosophy John Kulvicki recalls Moor's infectious laugh and sense of humor "that actually made it fun to go to department meetings." He says that Moor's generosity and advice "changed his career" for the better. "He was a model for how I tried to help out junior colleagues later on. His presence made Dartmouth better and I have missed him since he retired," he says.
"Jim told me once, discussing nanotech and a recent medical procedure, that his epitaph would read, 'Born human, died a cyborg,'" Levey recalls. "Always an extra smile. Jim was a beloved member of our department and community, and a dear friend."
Senior Lecturer of Philosophy Ann Bumpus also remembers Moor as a "super supportive and generous mentor" to junior faculty. "He was really friendly and always the first to welcome newcomers to the philosophy department, making sure they felt at home in Thornton Hall and in the Upper Valley," she says. "If new faculty or staff did not know how to ski, Jim would teach them. If they did know, Jim would show them the best trails."
Similarly, Professor of Philosophy Susan Brison recalls Moor's extraordinary warmth. "He was a wonderfully supportive colleague, a cherished friend, and a universally loved member of the department," she says.
For many of his colleagues, Moor also set an inspiring example of work/life balance. He loved being with his family and teaching philosophy, and happily devoted ample time to both.
Moor is survived by his beloved wife of 56 years, Marty Moor; his three daughters and their partners Wendy Wolfe (Mark), Kerry Moor Artman (Chris), and Michelle Moor Coulehan (Ben); his five adoring grandchildren; his sister Marilyn Trokey; and many extended family members who will all greatly miss his warmth, wit, and kindness.
The Dartmouth flag will be lowered on Monday, Nov. 25, and Tuesday, Nov. 26 in Moor's honor.
On Dec. 9, 2024, Moor was awarded the 2024 'Future of Life Award' posthumously for his groundbreaking work helping to lay the foundation of modern ethics and safety considerations for artificial intelligence and computers.
