Kathinka Evers

Kathinka Evers
Professor of Philosophy
Senior Researcher
Kathinka Evers, Professor of Philosophy is senior researcher in philosophy at the Centre for Research Ethics & Bioethics (CRB) at Uppsala University and Professor ad honoram at the Universidad Central de Chile. She conducted her doctoral studies in philosophy at Balliol College, University of Oxford, at the Research School of Social Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, and at Lund University, Sweden, where she received her doctoral degree in 1991. She has been a research fellow at Balliol College, University of Oxford (1994); and at the Department of Philosophy and Human Rights Centre, University of Essex, Colchester (1996-97). She was invited professor at the University of Tasmania, Hobart (1999), at École Normale Supérieure on the Chair Condorcet, Paris (2002), and at Collège de France, Paris (2006-7).
Her research focuses on philosophy of mind, neurophilosophy, bioethics and neuroethics. She directs the teaching and research on neuroethics at Uppsala University, where she started the first courses in the subject. Since 2013, she leads the neuroethics and philosophy work in the Human Brain Project.
She is also interested in the social responsibility of science, and was for six years (1997-2002) the Executive Director for the Standing Committee on Responsibility and Ethics in Science (SCRES) of the International Council for Science (ICSU). 2008-2014, she acted as Expert in Scientific Review Panels for the ERC on ‘The Human Mind and Its Complexity’. Since her first public lectures at the University of Oxford in 1990, she has lectured extensively at universities and research centres in Europe, the U.S., South America, Asia, and Australia.
E-mail: Kathinka.Evers@crb.uu.se
Phone: +46 18 471 62 43
Neuroethics & Neurophilsophy

Any attempt at understanding how the mind and the brain work comes with a set of philosophical, ethical and social issues.
The Human Brain Project

The Human Brain Project is one of the European Community flagship projects and involves over 100 groups. Kathinka Evers leads the philosophical research.
Neurotwin

Developing advanced brain models to treat Alzheimers disease and taking responsibility for the ethical and philosophical issues raised by brain research.
Communicating with unconscious patients

The instrumental investigation and assessment of consciousness have witnessed an astonishing progress over the last years. Michele Farisco has looked at the neuroscience of disorders of consiousness.
Pervasive refusal syndrome

Karl Sallin is studying pervasive refusal syndrome as a disorder of consciousness.
Neuroethics

Want to take an online course about applied and fundamental neuroethics and discuss clinical perspectives?
Fundamental Neuroethics

We aim to broaden the field and contribute to the ongoing discussion on the nature of neuroethics with our conceptual approach to fundamental neuroethics.
Neuronal epigenesis
Conceptual analysis

We develop a conceptual analysis of neuronal epigenesis in relation infant development and education, learning language, and the development of philosophical and religious systems and ethical norms.
Consciousness
Conceptual analysis

We develop new theory of consciousness with notable implication for how the 'unconscious' is conceived.
Dual-use neuroscience

Developments in neuroscientific techniques and technologies are increasing the capability to assess and affect the structure and functions of the brain. We explore issues emerging from dual use of this research.
Neuroscience & identity
Exploring the issues

We use philosophical tools to analyse the notion of human identity, its meaning and value, and its relation to the debate on human nature.
Research
Teaching
- Neuroethics (7,5 credits, advanced level)
- Research Ethics and the Philosophy of Science (1,5 credit, postgraduate course for medicine and pharmacy)
- Introduction to Scientific Research (7,5 credits, postgraduate course for medicine and pharmacy)
PhD supervision
- Michele Farisco: The neuroscience of disorders of consciousness: from laboratory to clinics
- Karl Sallin:What is it like to be unconscious? Perspectives from Philosophy and Neuroscience with special regards to Resignation Syndrome
- Frida Kuhlau: Dual use and responsible life science research – A bioethical approach (PhD 2013)
in the media
- I cannot be cloned, iai news 2021-05-04
- Neuroethics, 3:AM Magazine 2015-12-21
- Vi styr över våra gener, Vetenskapsradions veckomagasin 2015-03-27
Publications
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Separation and not residency permit restores function in resignation syndrome: a retrospective cohort study
Part of European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, p. 75-86, 2023.
DOI for Separation and not residency permit restores function in resignation syndrome: a retrospective cohort study Download full text (pdf) of Separation and not residency permit restores function in resignation syndrome: a retrospective cohort study
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Indicators and criteria of consciousness: ethical implications for the care of behaviourally unresponsive patients
Part of BMC Medical Ethics, 2022.
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On the Contribution of Neuroethics to the Ethics and Regulation of Artificial Intelligence
Part of Neuroethics, 2022.
DOI for On the Contribution of Neuroethics to the Ethics and Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Download full text (pdf) of On the Contribution of Neuroethics to the Ethics and Regulation of Artificial Intelligence
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Epistemic Challenges of Digital Twins & Virtual Brains: Perspectives from Fundamental Neuroethics
Part of SCIO: Revista de Filosofía, p. 27-53, 2021.
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Variable Determinism in Social Applications: Translating Science to Society
Part of Intellectica, p. 73-89, 2021.
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Anthropomorphism in AI
Part of AJOB Neuroscience, p. 88-95, 2020.
DOI for Anthropomorphism in AI Download full text (pdf) of Anthropomorphism in AI
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Towards Establishing Criteria for the Ethical Analysisof Artificial Intelligence
Part of Science and Engineering Ethics, p. 2413-2425, 2020.
DOI for Towards Establishing Criteria for the Ethical Analysisof Artificial Intelligence Download full text (pdf) of Towards Establishing Criteria for the Ethical Analysisof Artificial Intelligence

Neuroéthique. Quand la matière s'éveille
Evers K, Neuroéthique. Quand la matière s'éveille, Centre for Research Ethics & Bioethics (CRB) 2014, originally published by Éditions Odile Jacob, Paris, 2009.
The book has sold out and we offer an author version for download. The book has also been published in Spanish (Evers K, Neuroética. Cuando la materia se despierta, Katz editores, 2010).
