Hi everybody! I’m delighted to welcome you to my website.
I’m Alger Sans Pinillos, originally from Barcelona (the Modernist one!), and I specialize in the fascinating intersection of ethics, technology, and philosophy. I currently work as a Researcher in Digital Ethics for Dual-Use Technologies at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC-CNS), within the Department of Computer Applications in Science and Engineering (CASE). My work focuses on integrating ethical perspectives into the development of current and emerging dual-use technologies.
Recently, I finished my journey as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Pavia (Italy), where I dedicated myself to investigating the roots of abductive reasoning and pragmatism. My work also revisits the contributions of Paul Karl Feyerabend, a thinker I believe deserves more recognition, particularly in light of new intersections between epistemology and cognitive science.
During my PhD, I was a Predoctoral Fellow at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (2016–2020) thanks to the FPU grant (Training Program for University Teachers). During this period, I taught a range of courses in philosophy, including philosophy of cognitive science, philosophy of language, design sciences, praxeology, and philosophy of technology. It was a rich and rewarding experience, balancing both teaching and research.
In addition to my research and academic career, I’ve written or co-authored more than 40 works, including 7 papers in JCR and SJR-indexed journals, as well as 6 book chapters. I’ve co-edited three books and participated in over 20 peer-reviewed national and international conferences. I’m also proud to have contributed to 8 national and international research projects.
About my time as student, I earned my PhD in Cognitive Science and Language through a joint program between the Autonomous University of Barcelona, the University of Barcelona, and the University of Rovira i Virgili. My dissertation, awarded Cum Laude with the Extraordinary Doctorate Prize, explored the essential connection between prescriptive values and scientific practice using abductive reasoning. In reality, I’m still very much engaged in research around abduction and its many dimensions!
I completed a Master’s Degree in Theoretical and Practical Philosophy with a focus on Logic, History, and Philosophy of Science from the National Distance Education University (2014). Prior to that, I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (2009–2013), where I was honored with the Extraordinary Prize for my Degree in Philosophy.
As for my hobbies, I play the violin and sometimes dabble in poetry (or something close to it!). I’m also passionate about music, and I must confess: coffee and pipe smoking are my philosophical clichés!
Thank you for stopping by, and feel free to explore more in the CV section.