John Horty Named Distinguished University Professor

The professor of philosophy was among the first to apply formal logic developed within artificial intelligence to address complex questions of moral reasoning.

By Jessica Weiss ’05

John Horty, professor of philosophy and one of his discipline’s leading thinkers in the field of logic, has been named a Distinguished University Professor. The title denotes the highest academic honor that the University of Maryland confers upon a faculty member.

Horty is an internationally known expert on several topics that connect philosophy, logic and artificial intelligence (AI) and he was among the first philosophers to apply methods from computer science to philosophical questions concerning legal and moral reasoning. In recent years, his work has focused on the growing field of “machine ethics” or “humane AI,” whose goal is to develop the conceptual and technical framework needed to advance AI in a way that is ethical and that promotes human wellbeing.

Horty is directing the development of a B.A. in AI major at UMD, which will have its home in ARHU and philosophy, and will be part of the Artificial Intelligence Interdisciplinary Institute at Maryland. It will offer students the opportunity to acquire the technical understanding necessary to engage with contemporary AI in a meaningful way, while preserving the traditional humanistic focus on human values, critical analysis and cultural understanding. 

"John’s work enriches our academic community immensely, and we are proud to have such a distinguished scholar as part of our college and university,” said Stephanie Shonekan, dean of the College of Arts and Humanities. “His contributions will undoubtedly help ensure our students are prepared to tackle the most pressing ethical challenges of the future."  

Horty earned a B.A. in philosophy and classics from Oberlin College, and a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Pittsburgh. He came to Maryland in 1990 and holds affiliate appointments in the Institute for Advanced Computer Studies and the computer science department. He served as chair of philosophy from 2009 to 2012.

He has authored four books, including "Reasons as Defaults" and "The Logic of Precedent: Constraint, Freedom, and Common Law Reasoning,” as well as papers on a variety of topics in logic, philosophy, law and computer science. His work has been supported by three fellowships from the National Endowment for Humanities and several grants from the National Science Foundation, by visiting fellowships at the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Studies and the Center for Advanced Studies in Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University, and more recently, by a Humboldt Research Award. 

Horty will be honored at Faculty & Staff Convocation on September 18, 2024, in the Memorial Chapel.