PeopleofSuperintelligence

Researcher

James H. Moor

Philosopher James Moor built a career at Dartmouth and shaped computer ethics through research on how computers affect people and social rules. He studied mathematics and philosophy at Ohio State and Chicago, earned a doctorate in history and philosophy of science at Indiana University in 1972, and joined Dartmouth's philosophy faculty in 1972. His 1980 textbook The Logic Book used original software, and his 1985 paper defined computer ethics around policy gaps and ethical rules for computing. Later writing explored emerging technologies and machine ethics. He died in 2024 and received the Future of Life Award posthumously for his work on computer ethics and AI safety.

Born
1942
Died
2024
Badges

Years link to their sources.

Timeline

  1. 1965–1972

    Degrees and teaching fellowship

    He earns a mathematics BA at Ohio State University in 1965 and an MA in philosophy at the University of Chicago. He serves as a National Teaching Fellow at Findlay College for a two-year term. In 1972, he completes a PhD in history and philosophy of science at Indiana University.

  2. 1972–2009

    Dartmouth faculty and The Logic Book

    He joins Dartmouth's philosophy faculty as an assistant professor in 1972, teaching Logic and Language, Philosophy of Mind, and Philosophy and Computers. He becomes associate professor in 1978, full professor in 1985, and Daniel P. Stone professor in Intellectual and Moral Philosophy in 2009. In 1980, he publishes The Logic Book with original software for Dartmouth's logic course.

  3. 1985

    What Is Computer Ethics?

    In 1985, he publishes "What Is Computer Ethics?" in Metaphilosophy. He defines computer ethics through four tasks: identify computer-generated policy vacuums, clarify conceptual muddles, formulate policies for computer use, and ethically justify those policies.

  4. 2001–2014

    Journal and policy roles

    He edits Minds and Machines as editor in chief from 2001 to 2010 and leads the Society for Machines and Mentality from 2001 to 2003 and the International Society for Ethics and Information from 2004 to 2008. In 2009, he coauthors "Why We Need Better Ethics for Emerging Technologies" with John Weckert, covering ethical questions raised by information technology, genetics, nanotechnology, and neurotechnology. From 2010 to 2014, he serves on a National Academies of Science committee on the ethical and societal implications of militarily significant technologies.

  5. 2003

    A SIGCAS award

    In 2003, he receives the SIGCAS Making a Difference Award.

  6. 2006

    The Barwise Prize

    In 2006, he receives the American Philosophical Association's K. Jon Barwise Prize for work connecting computing and philosophy.

  7. 2011

    Writing on machine ethics

    In 2011, he publishes "The Nature, Importance, and Difficulty of Machine Ethics," arguing that ethical questions arise as computers take on practical decisions such as driving cars.

  8. 2024

    A posthumous AI ethics award

    He dies in September 2024 at age 82. In December 2024, the Future of Life Institute awards him its Future of Life Award posthumously for his contributions to computer ethics and AI safety.

Career

  1. 2010–2014National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
  2. 2004–2008International Society for Ethics and Information Technology
  3. 2001–2003Society for Machines and Mentality
  4. 1972–2009Dartmouth CollegeAssistant Professor, Associate Professor
  5. Findlay CollegeNational Teaching Fellow

Education

  1. 1972Indiana UniversityPhD in history and philosophy of science
  2. 1965Ohio State UniversityMathematics BA
  3. University of ChicagoMA in philosophy

From the biography.

  1. More people shaping AI studied at Massachusetts Institute of Technology than at any other institutionIncludes Dartmouth College. We estimate where the people shaping AI studied and where their careers led. Massachusetts Institute of Technology leads with 467 former students, including 291 recorded doctorates.
  2. The company share of AI researchers’ top papers was 31% in 2020–2024 and 8% in 1970–1974Includes Dartmouth College. We estimate where the people shaping AI worked when their most-cited papers appeared: the company share was 31% in 2020–2024 and 8% in 1970–1974, and Google led all organizations in 2020–2024.
  3. The median h-index is 48 at universities and 14 at frontier AI labsIncludes Dartmouth College. The median h-index is 48 at universities and 14 at frontier AI labs. We compare publishing careers, recent citations, dual appointments and job moves across 2,420 university researchers and 308 frontier-lab researchers.
  4. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology trained or employed 44 of the 187 AI major-prize winners, more than any other universityIncludes Dartmouth College. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology trained or employed 44 of the 187 AI major-prize winners, more than any other university. We compare doctorate and 5+ year employment links, career timing and current workplaces for 187 major-prize and 1,111 best-paper winners.

Colleagues

People named in this biography, and people with dated positions at the same organization in the same years.

Sources and credits

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  1. Remembering James Moor, Trailblazing Scholar in the Philosophy of Computing fas.dartmouth.edu. Checked 20 October 2026.
  2. James Moor (1942-2024) - Daily Nous dailynous.com. Checked 20 October 2026.
  3. Why We Need Better Ethics for Emerging Technologies (Chapter 2) - Information Technology and Moral Philosophy cambridge.org. Checked 20 October 2026.
  4. The Nature, Importance, and Difficulty of Machine Ethics (Chapter 1) - Machine Ethics cambridge.org. Checked 20 October 2026.
  5. Future Of Life Award 2024 - Future of Life Institute futureoflife.org. Checked 20 October 2026.