David Miguel Gray

David Miguel Gray is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at the University of Memphis and an Affiliate Faculty Member of the Institute for Intelligent Systems. He joined the department in 2017. Gray holds a PhD and MA from Harvard University and a BA from Columbia University. His research focuses on the philosophy of race and racism, AI ethics, cognitive science, and language, with specific attention to racial ontology, slurs, and ameliorative philosophy. He also explores philosophy of mind, psychopathology, and film.

Educations:

• PhD and MA in Philosophy, Harvard University
• BA in Philosophy, Columbia University

Research Interests:

Gray’s work bridges analytic philosophy with critical social theory. He investigates how racial categories are socially constructed, the ethical implications of AI systems, and the cognitive underpinnings of racial discourse. His recent projects include analyzing the derogatory force of slurs, conceptualizing race as a socio-historical artifact, and applying linguistic disobedience to challenge oppressive terminology. He also explores the intersection of mental disorder and self-ascription in schizophrenia through a three-factor cognitive model.

Public Engagement:

Gray contributes to public philosophy via articles like "Critical Race Theory: What it is and What it isn’t" (The Conversation) and video series on racial ontology for WiPhi. He actively participates in interdisciplinary discussions on AI ethics, including panels at the Global Harwell Forum and the Institute for Intelligent Systems.

Labs/Teams:

Affiliated with the Institute for Intelligent Systems at the University of Memphis, focusing on AI ethics and cognitive systems.