Staff Profiles

Dr. John Danaher

BCL., LLM., Ph.D

Contact Details

Senior Lecturer
School of Law
University of Galway
E: john.danaher@universityofgalway.ie

Biography

John Danaher is a Senior Lecturer/Associate Professor in the Law School. He holds a BCL from University College Cork (2006); an LLM from Trinity College Dublin (2007); and a PhD from University College Cork (2011). He was lecturer in law at Keele University in the UK from 2011 until 2014. He joined Galway in July 2014.

John's research focuses on the ethical, legal and social implications of new technologies. He maintains a blog called Philosophical Disquisitions, and produces a podcast with the same title. He also writes for the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies.

Free, open-access pre-prints of his academic papers can be found on Philpapers, Researchgate and Academia.

Research Interests

John's research interests are in the areas of legal philosophy, emerging technologies and the future of human society. He is the author of Automation and Utopia: Human Flourishing in a World Without Work (Harvard University Press, 2019) and the coeditor of Robot Sex: Social and Ethical Implications (MIT Press 2017). He has published papers on many different topics, including the risks of advanced AI, the ethics of social robotics, meaning of life and the future of work, and the ethics of human enhancement, His work has appeared in The Atlantic, VICE: Motherboard, The Guardian, The Irish Times, The Sunday Times, Aeon, and The Philosophers’ Magazine.

He also maintains an active research interest in moral philosophy and the philosophy of religion.

Peer Reviewed Journals

	Year	Publication
	(2024)	'Digital Duplicates and the Scarcity Problem: Might AI Make Us Less Scarce and Therefore Less Valuable?' Danaher, John; Nyholm, Sven (2024) 'Digital Duplicates and the Scarcity Problem: Might AI Make Us Less Scarce and Therefore Less Valuable?'. Philosophy and Technology, [Details]
	(2024)	'Generative AI and the Future of Equality Norms' Danaher, J. (2024) 'Generative AI and the Future of Equality Norms'. Cognition, [Details]
	(2024)	'The Ethics of Personalised Digital Duplicates: A Minimally Viable Permissibility Principle' Danaher, John; Nyholm, Sven (2024) 'The Ethics of Personalised Digital Duplicates: A Minimally Viable Permissibility Principle'. AI and Ethics, [Details]
	(2024)	'Anticipatory gaps challenge the public governance of heritable human genome editing' Rueda, Jon; Segers, Seppe; Hopster, Jeroen; Kudlek, Karolina; Liedo, Bélen; Marchiori, Samuela; Danaher, John (2024) 'Anticipatory gaps challenge the public governance of heritable human genome editing'. Journal Of Medical Ethics, [Details]
	(2023)	'Resolving the battle of short- vs. long-term AI risks' Sætra, HS; Danaher, J. (2023) 'Resolving the battle of short- vs. long-term AI risks'. AI and Ethics, [DOI] [Details]
	(2023)	'Mechanisms of Techno-Moral Change: A Taxonomy and Overview' Danaher, J; Sætra, H.S. (2023) 'Mechanisms of Techno-Moral Change: A Taxonomy and Overview'. Ethical Theory And Moral Practice, [Details]
	(2023)	'Generative AI Entails a Credit-Blame Asymmetry' Porsdam Mann, S; Earp, B; Nyholm, S; Danaher, J et al (2023) 'Generative AI Entails a Credit-Blame Asymmetry'. Nature Machine Intelligence, [DOI] [Details]
	(2023)	'IN PRAISE OF OBJECTIVISM, OPTIMISM AND UTOPIANISM: A COUNTERPOINT TO SORGNER' Danaher, J (2023) 'IN PRAISE OF OBJECTIVISM, OPTIMISM AND UTOPIANISM: A COUNTERPOINT TO SORGNER'. Etica & Politca, :318-329 [Details]
	(2023)	'Moral Uncertainty and Our Relationships With Unknown Minds' Danaher, John (2023) 'Moral Uncertainty and Our Relationships With Unknown Minds'. Cambridge Quarterly Of Healthcare Ethics, [Details]
	(2023)	'The AI Ethicist's Dirty Hands Problem' Saetra, HS, Coeckelbergh, M., Danaher, J (2023) 'The AI Ethicist's Dirty Hands Problem'. Communications Of The Acm, [Details]
	(2022)	'To Each Technology Its Own Ethics: The Problem of Ethical Proliferation' Sætra, H.S and Danaher, J. (2022) 'To Each Technology Its Own Ethics: The Problem of Ethical Proliferation'. Philosophy and Technology, [DOI] [Details]
	(2022)	'The Normative Significance of Future Moral Revolutions' Danaher, J.; Hopster, J. (2022) 'The Normative Significance of Future Moral Revolutions'. Futures, [Details]
	(2022)	'Technology and Moral Change: The Transformation of Truth and Trust' Danaher, J.; Sætra, H.S (2022) 'Technology and Moral Change: The Transformation of Truth and Trust'. Ethics And Information Technology, [DOI] [Details]
	(2022)	'Techno-optimism: an analysis, an evaluation and a modest defence' Danaher, J. (2022) 'Techno-optimism: an analysis, an evaluation and a modest defence'. Philosophy and Technology, [Details]
	(2022)	'Tragic Choices and the Virtue of Techno-Responsibility Gaps' Danaher, J. (2022) 'Tragic Choices and the Virtue of Techno-Responsibility Gaps'. Philosophy and Technology, [Details]
	(2021)	'The AI ethicist¿s dilemma: fighting Big Tech by supporting Big Tech' Saetra, HS, Coeckelbergh, M., Danaher, J (2021) 'The AI ethicist¿s dilemma: fighting Big Tech by supporting Big Tech'. AI and Ethics, [DOI] [Details]
	(2021)	'Axiological Futurism: The Systematic Inquiry Into the Future of Human Values' Danaher, J. (2021) 'Axiological Futurism: The Systematic Inquiry Into the Future of Human Values'. Futures, [Details]
	(2021)	'Should we use technology to merge minds?' Danaher, J. and Nyholm, S. (2021) 'Should we use technology to merge minds?'. Cambridge Quarterly Of Healthcare Ethics, 30 :1-19 [DOI] [Details]
	(2021)	'What Matters for Moral Status: Behavioral or Cognitive Equivalence?' Danaher, J. (2021) 'What Matters for Moral Status: Behavioral or Cognitive Equivalence?'. Cambridge Quarterly Of Healthcare Ethics, [Details]
	(2020)	'Automation, Work and the Achievement Gap' Danaher, J. and Nyholm, S. (2020) 'Automation, Work and the Achievement Gap'. AI and Ethics, [Details]
	(2020)	'In Defence of the Hivemind Society' Danaher, J;Petersen, S (2020) 'In Defence of the Hivemind Society'. Neuroethics, [DOI] [Details]
	(2020)	'Artificial Intelligence and Legal Disruption: A New Model for Analysis' Liu, H-Y, Maas, M., Danaher, J., Scarcella, L., Lexer, M., Van Rompaey, L. (2020) 'Artificial Intelligence and Legal Disruption: A New Model for Analysis'. Law, Innovation and Technology, [Details]
	(2020)	'Welcoming Robots into the Moral Circle: A Defence of Ethical Behaviourism' Danaher, J (2020) 'Welcoming Robots into the Moral Circle: A Defence of Ethical Behaviourism'. Science and Engineering Ethics, 26 :2023-2049 [DOI] [Details]
	(2020)	'Technological Change and Human Obsolescence: An Axiological Analysis' Danaher, J. (2020) 'Technological Change and Human Obsolescence: An Axiological Analysis'. Techné: Research in Philosophy and Technology, [Details]
	(2020)	'A Defence of Sexual Inclusion' John Danaher (2020) 'A Defence of Sexual Inclusion'. Social Theory and Practice, [Details]
	(2020)	'Robot Betrayal: a guide to the ethics of robotic deception' Danaher, J (2020) 'Robot Betrayal: a guide to the ethics of robotic deception'. Ethics And Information Technology, [DOI] [Details]
	(2019)	'THE PHILOSOPHICAL CASE FOR ROBOT FRIENDSHIP' Danaher, J (2019) 'THE PHILOSOPHICAL CASE FOR ROBOT FRIENDSHIP'. Journal of Posthuman Studies, 3 :5-24 [Details]
	(2019)	'REGULATING CHILD SEX ROBOTS: RESTRICTION OR EXPERIMENTATION?' Danaher, J (2019) 'REGULATING CHILD SEX ROBOTS: RESTRICTION OR EXPERIMENTATION?'. Medical Law Review, 27 :553-575 [DOI] [Details]
	(2019)	'Direct-to-Consumer Neurotechnologies and Quantified Relationship Technologies: Overlapping Ethical Concerns' Nyholm, S., Earp, B. and Danaher, J. (2019) 'Direct-to-Consumer Neurotechnologies and Quantified Relationship Technologies: Overlapping Ethical Concerns'. American Journal of Bioethics, 10 (4):167-170 [DOI] [Details]
	(2019)	'In Defence of the Epistemological Objection to Divine Command Theory' Danaher, J (2019) 'In Defence of the Epistemological Objection to Divine Command Theory'. Sophia, 58 :381-400 [DOI] [Details]
	(2019)	'Embracing Human Obsolescence: Implications for the Enhancement Project' Danaher, J. (2019) 'Embracing Human Obsolescence: Implications for the Enhancement Project'. American Journal of Bioethics, [Details]
	(2019)	'The rise of the robots and the crisis of moral patiency' Danaher, J (2019) 'The rise of the robots and the crisis of moral patiency'. AI & Society, 34 :129-136 [DOI] [Details]
	(2019)	'Why Internal Moral Enhancement Might Be politically Better than External Moral Enhancement' Danaher, J (2019) 'Why Internal Moral Enhancement Might Be politically Better than External Moral Enhancement'. Neuroethics, 12 :39-54 [DOI] [Details]
	(2018)	'The foundations of conscientious objection: against freedom and autonomy' Nehushtan, Y,Danaher, J (2018) 'The foundations of conscientious objection: against freedom and autonomy'. Jurisprudence, 9 :541-565 [DOI] [Details]
	(2018)	'Why We Should Create Artificial Offspring: Meaning and the Collective Afterlife' Danaher, J (2018) 'Why We Should Create Artificial Offspring: Meaning and the Collective Afterlife'. Science and Engineering Ethics, 24 :1097-1118 [DOI] [Details]
	(2018)	'The Ethics of AI Assistants: Towards an Initial Framework' Danaher, J. (2018) 'The Ethics of AI Assistants: Towards an Initial Framework'. Philosophy and Technology, [Details]
	(2018)	'The Case Against Work' Danaher, J (2018) 'The Case Against Work'. Tpm-The Philosophers Magazine, :90-94 [DOI] [Details]
	(2018)	'The Benefits and Risks of Quantified Relationships' Danaher, J; Nyholm, S.; Earp, B. (2018) 'The Benefits and Risks of Quantified Relationships'. American Journal of Bioethics, 18 (2):W3-W6 [DOI] [Details]
	(2018)	'The Quantified Relationship' Danaher, J,Nyholm, S,Earp, BD (2018) 'The Quantified Relationship'. American Journal of Bioethics, 18 :3-19 [DOI] [Details]
	(2018)	'Could There Ever be an App for that? Consent Apps and the Problem of Sexual Assault' Danaher, J (2018) 'Could There Ever be an App for that? Consent Apps and the Problem of Sexual Assault'. Criminal Law and Philosophy, 12 :143-165 [DOI] [Details]
	(2017)	'Transfer of Personality to a Synthetic Human ('Mind Uploading') and the Social Construction of Identity' Bamford, S;Danaher, J (2017) 'Transfer of Personality to a Synthetic Human ('Mind Uploading') and the Social Construction of Identity'. Journal Of Consciousness Studies, 24 :6-30 [Details]
	(2017)	'Algorithmic governance: Developing a research agenda through the power of collective intelligence' Danaher, J, Hogan, MJ, Noone, C, Kennedy, R, Behan, A, De Paor, A, Felzmann, H, Haklay, M, Khoo, SM, Morison, J, Murphy, MH, O'Brolchain, N, Schafer, B, Shankar, K (2017) 'Algorithmic governance: Developing a research agenda through the power of collective intelligence'. Big Data and Society, 4 (2):1-21 [DOI] [ARAN Link] [Details]
	(2017)	'Robotic Rape and Robotic Child Sexual Abuse: Should They be Criminalised?' Danaher, J (2017) 'Robotic Rape and Robotic Child Sexual Abuse: Should They be Criminalised?'. Criminal Law and Philosophy, 11 :71-95 [DOI] [Details]
	(2017)	'Will Life Be Worth Living in a World Without Work? Technological Unemployment and the Meaning of Life' Danaher, J (2017) 'Will Life Be Worth Living in a World Without Work? Technological Unemployment and the Meaning of Life'. Science and Engineering Ethics, 23 :41-64 [DOI] [Details]
	(2016)	'Robots, law and the retribution gap' Danaher, J (2016) 'Robots, law and the retribution gap'. Ethics And Information Technology, 18 :299-309 [DOI] [Details]
	(2016)	'Common Knowledge, Pragmatic Enrichment and Thin Originalism' Danaher, J (2016) 'Common Knowledge, Pragmatic Enrichment and Thin Originalism'. Jurisprudence, 7 :267-296 [DOI] [Details]
	(2016)	'SHOULD WE USE COMMITMENT CONTRACTS TO REGULATE STUDENT USE OF COGNITIVE ENHANCING DRUGS?' Danaher, J (2016) 'SHOULD WE USE COMMITMENT CONTRACTS TO REGULATE STUDENT USE OF COGNITIVE ENHANCING DRUGS?'. Bioethics, 30 :568-578 [DOI] [Details]
	(2016)	'An evaluative conservative case for biomedical enhancement' Danaher, J (2016) 'An evaluative conservative case for biomedical enhancement'. Journal of medical ethics, 42 :611-618 [DOI] [Details]
	(2016)	'The Threat of Algocracy: Reality, Resistance and Accommodation' John Danaher (2016) 'The Threat of Algocracy: Reality, Resistance and Accommodation'. Philosophy and Technology, [DOI] [Details]
	(2016)	'Human Enhancement, Social Solidarity and the Distribution of Responsibility' Danaher, J (2016) 'Human Enhancement, Social Solidarity and the Distribution of Responsibility'. Ethical Theory And Moral Practice, 19 :359-378 [DOI] [Details]
	(2015)	'The Normativity of Linguistic Originalism: A Speech Act Analysis' Danaher, J (2015) 'The Normativity of Linguistic Originalism: A Speech Act Analysis'. Law and Philosophy, 34 :397-431 [DOI] [Details]
	(2015)	'Why AI Doomsayers are Like Sceptical Theists and Why it Matters' Danaher, J (2015) 'Why AI Doomsayers are Like Sceptical Theists and Why it Matters'. Minds And Machines, 25 :231-246 [DOI] [Details]
	(2015)	'The comparative advantages of brain-based lie detection: the P300 concealed information test and pre-trial bargaining' Danaher, J (2015) 'The comparative advantages of brain-based lie detection: the P300 concealed information test and pre-trial bargaining'. International Journal Of Evidence & Proof, 19 :52-66 [DOI] [Details]
	(2014)	'Skeptical Theism and Divine Permission: A Reply to Anderson' John Danaher (2014) 'Skeptical Theism and Divine Permission: A Reply to Anderson'. International Journal for the Philosophy of Religion, 75 (2):101-118 [Details]
	(2014)	'Hyperagency and the Good Life - Does Extreme Enhancement Threaten Meaning?' John Danaher (2014) 'Hyperagency and the Good Life - Does Extreme Enhancement Threaten Meaning?'. Neuroethics, 7 (2):227-242 [Details]
	(2014)	'Sex Work, Technological Unemployment and the Basic Income Guarantee' John Danaher (2014) 'Sex Work, Technological Unemployment and the Basic Income Guarantee'. Journal of Evolution and Technology, 22 (1):113-130 [Details]
	(2014)	'Necessary Moral Truths and Theistic Metaethics' John Danaher (2014) 'Necessary Moral Truths and Theistic Metaethics'. Sophia, 53 (3):309-330 [DOI] [Details]
	(2013)	'The Vice of In-Principlism and the Harmfulness of Love' John Danaher (2013) 'The Vice of In-Principlism and the Harmfulness of Love'. American Journal of Bioethics, 13 (11):19-21 [Details]
	(2013)	'Kramer's Purgative Rationale for Capital Punishment: A Critique' John Danaher (2013) 'Kramer's Purgative Rationale for Capital Punishment: A Critique'. Criminal Law and Philosophy, [Details]
	(2013)	'On the Need for Epistemic Enhancement: Democratic Legitimacy and the Enhancement Project' John Danaher (2013) 'On the Need for Epistemic Enhancement: Democratic Legitimacy and the Enhancement Project'. Law, Innovation and Technology, 5 (1):85-112 [Details]
	(2012)	'Stumbling on the Threshold: A Reply to Gwiazda on Threshold Obligations' John Danaher (2012) 'Stumbling on the Threshold: A Reply to Gwiazda on Threshold Obligations'. Religious Studies, 48 (4):469-478 [Details]
	(2011)	'The Future of Brain-Based Lie Detection and the Admissibility of Scientific Evidence' John Danaher (2011) 'The Future of Brain-Based Lie Detection and the Admissibility of Scientific Evidence'. Irish Criminal Law Journal, 21 (4):67-76 [Details]
	(2011)	'Blind Expertise and the Problem of Scientific Evidence' John Danaher (2011) 'Blind Expertise and the Problem of Scientific Evidence'. International Journal Of Evidence And Proof, 15 (3):207-231 [Details]
	(2010)	'Scientific Evidence and the Criminal Law: Lessons from Brain-Based Lie Detection' John Danaher (2010) 'Scientific Evidence and the Criminal Law: Lessons from Brain-Based Lie Detection'. Judicial Studies Institute Journal, 10 (1):94-130 [Details]

Books

	Year	Publication
	(2020)	A Citizen's Guide to Artificial Intelligence. Zerilli, John; Danaher, John; Liddicoat, J., Noorman, ME, Maclaurin, J., Knott, A. and Gavaghan, C. (2020) A Citizen's Guide to Artificial Intelligence. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. [Details]
	(2019)	Automation and Utopia: Human Flourishing in a World Without Work. Danaher, J (2019) Automation and Utopia: Human Flourishing in a World Without Work. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. [Details]

Book Chapters

	Year	Publication
	(2024)	'Envisioning the Post-Work World: A Roundtable Conversation' Michael Cholbi; John Danaher; Jean-Philippe Deranty; Helen Hester; Kathi Weeks (2024) 'Envisioning the Post-Work World: A Roundtable Conversation' In: Debating a Post-Work Future Perspectives from Philosophy and the Social Sciences. New York: Routledge. [Details]
	(2023)	'We and the Robots' John Danaher; Anthony Morgan (2023) 'We and the Robots' In: What Matters Most. Newcastle: Agenda Publishing. [DOI] [Details]
	(2022)	'Is There a Right to Sex?' Danaher, J. (2022) 'Is There a Right to Sex?' In: The Routledge Handbook on Sex and Sexuality. Abingdon and New York: Routledge. [Details]
	(2021)	'Robots and the Future of Retribution' Danaher, J. (2021) 'Robots and the Future of Retribution' In: Future Morality. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. [Details]
	(2021)	'The Technological Future of Love ' Nyholm, S; Danaher, J; and Earp, B (2021) 'The Technological Future of Love ' In: Love: Past, Present, and Future. Abingdon and New York: Routledge. [Details]
	(2021)	'Automation and the Future of Work' Danaher, J. (2021) 'Automation and the Future of Work' In: Oxford Handbook of Digital Ethics. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. [Details]
	(2021)	'The Ethics of Virtual Sexual Assault' Danaher, J. (2021) 'The Ethics of Virtual Sexual Assault' In: Oxford Handbook of Digital Ethics. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. [Details]
	(2021)	'Virtual Reality and the Meaning of Life' Danaher, J. (2021) 'Virtual Reality and the Meaning of Life' In: Oxford Handbook of the Meaning of Life. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. [Details]
	(2020)	'Freedom in an Age of Algocracy' Danaher, J. (2020) 'Freedom in an Age of Algocracy' In: Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Technology. Oxford: Oxford University Press. [Details]
	(2020)	'Sexuality' Danaher, J. (2020) 'Sexuality' In: Oxford Handbook of Ethics of AI. Oxford: Oxford University Press. [Details]
	(2019)	'The Ethics of Algorithmic Outsourcing in Everyday Life' Danaher, J. (2019) 'The Ethics of Algorithmic Outsourcing in Everyday Life' In: Algorithmic Regulation. Oxford: Oxford University Press. [Details]
	(2019)	'In Defence of the Post-Work Future: Withdrawal and the Ludic Life' Danaher, J. (2019) 'In Defence of the Post-Work Future: Withdrawal and the Ludic Life' In: The Future of Work, Technology and Basic Income. London: Routledge. [Details]
	(2019)	'Building better sex robots: Lessons from Feminist Pornography' John Danaher (2019) 'Building better sex robots: Lessons from Feminist Pornography' In: AI Love You - Studies on Human-Robot Intimate Relationships. Dordrecht: Springer. [Details]
	(2018)	'The Law and Ethics of Virtual Sexual Assault' Danaher, J. (2018) 'The Law and Ethics of Virtual Sexual Assault' In: The Law of Virtual and Augmented Reality. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing. [Details]
	(2018)	'Brain-based lie detection and the mereological fallacy: reasons for optimism' Danaher, J. (2018) 'Brain-based lie detection and the mereological fallacy: reasons for optimism' In: Neurolaw. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. [Details]
	(2018)	'Moral Enhancement and Freedom: A Critique of the Little Alex Problem' John Danaher (2018) 'Moral Enhancement and Freedom: A Critique of the Little Alex Problem' In: Moral Enhancement: Critical Perspectives. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. [Details]
	(2017)	'Should we be thinking about sex robots?' John Danaher (2017) 'Should we be thinking about sex robots?' In: Robot Sex: Social and Ethical Implications. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. [Details]
	(2017)	'The Symbolic Consequences Argument in the Sex Robot Debate' John Danaher (2017) 'The Symbolic Consequences Argument in the Sex Robot Debate' In: Robot Sex: Social and Ethical Implications. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. [Details]
	(2017)	'Should we campaign against sex robots?' John Danaher; Brian D. Earp; Anders Sandberg (2017) 'Should we campaign against sex robots?' In: Robot Sex: Social and Ethical Implications. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. [Details]
	(2017)	'Building a Postwork Utopia: Technological Unemployment, Life Extension and the Future of Human Flourishing' John Danaher (2017) 'Building a Postwork Utopia: Technological Unemployment, Life Extension and the Future of Human Flourishing' In: Surviving the Machine Age: Intelligent Technology and the Transformation of Human Work. London: Palgrave MacMillan. [Details]
	(2015)	'Responsible Innovation in Social Epistemic Systems: The P300 Memory Detection Test and the Legal Trial' John Danaher (2015) 'Responsible Innovation in Social Epistemic Systems: The P300 Memory Detection Test and the Legal Trial' In: Responsible Innovation Volume II: Concepts, Approaches, Applications. Dordrecht: Springer. [Details]
	(2013)	'Enhanced Control and Criminal Responsibility' John Danaher (2013) 'Enhanced Control and Criminal Responsibility' In: Cognitive Enhancement: An Interdisciplinary Perspective. :283-308 Dordrecht: Springer. [Details]

Edited Books

	Year	Publication
	(2017)	Robot Sex: Social and Ethical Implications. John Danaher; Neil McArthur (Ed.). (2017) Robot Sex: Social and Ethical Implications. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. [Details]