Don Dcruz is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at IIT Delhi. He teaches and researches in philosophy of science and explores how philosophy can clarify the principles of intelligence and rationality by engaging with advances in AI and cognitive science. After earning a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, he moved into philosophy with postgraduate and doctoral work at the University of Hyderabad. Prior to academia he worked in applied engineering settings, which informs his interest in the interface between technical systems and normative inquiry.
Contact Information
don at iitd dot ac dot in
01126548750
Research Areas
Philosophy of Science, Philosophy of Cognitive Science, Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence
Situated within philosophy of science and epistemology, current research examines foundational questions emerging from the sciences of intelligent systems. By engaging cognitive science and artificial intelligence, the work seeks to clarify the normative structures underlying learning, reasoning, knowledge, and action.
Academic Background
Ph.D in Philosophy, University of Hyderabad (2019)
MA in Philosophy, University of Hyderabad (2013)
B.Tech in Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering Trivandrum (2007)
Employment History
Jul 2022 - present: Assistant Professor (full time), Dept of Humanities & Social Sciences, IIT Delhi
Jun 2022 - Jul 2022: Assistant Professor (full time), Dept of Humanities & Social Sciences, IIT Gandhinagar
Dec 2019 - Apr 2022: Assistant Professor (full time), Human Sciences Research Center, IIIT Hyderabad
Jan 2011 - Jul 2011: Assistant Engineer, Transmission Circle, Kerala State Electricity Board
Jul 2007 - Jun 2008: Management Trainee, ABB Ltd.
Publications
"Cognitive Capacities and Machine Intelligence" (2024) in Chakrabarty, Nirmalya (ed) Exploring the Realm of the Mental: Cognition, Emotion and Volition, pages 344-357.
"Are Scientific Models of Life Testable? A Lesson from Simpson’s Paradox" (2021) In Sci (S.I: Molecules to Microbes), 3(1), 2. [joint work with Prasanta Bandyopadhyay, Nolan Grunska and Mark Greenwood, Montana State University]
"Simpson’s Paradox and Causality" (2016). American Philosophical Quarterly, 23(1), 13-25. [joint work with Prasanta Bandyopadhyay, Mark Greenwood, and Venkata Raghavan]
Teaching Areas
Philosophy of Science, Philosophy of Mind, Cognitive Science and AI, Introduction to Philosophy Through Dilemmas, Puzzles and Thought Experiments, History of Western Philosophy, Ethics
