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The Research Centre in Applied Ethics

@cceaunibuc.bsky.social
32 followers 25 following 39 posts

Applied Ethics Faculty of Philosophy, University of Bucharest.

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The Research Centre in Applied Ethics @cceaunibuc.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Full program announced for the 3rd #avataResponsibility @erc.europa.eu workshop (8–9 Oct, Bucharest)! Featuring Alejo José Sison (Navarra Univ.), Roger Crisp(Oxford Univ.) & international speakers. Program and other details: avataresponsibility.ccea.ro/virtues-with...
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The Research Centre in Applied Ethics @cceaunibuc.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Can virtues like honesty or care belong to AI avatars and collective agents, or only to humans? In one month (Oct 8–9), CCEA hosts the 3rd #avataResponsibility @erc.europa.eu workshop in Bucharest, led by PI Mihaela Constantinescu. Program & updates coming soon: 🔗 avataresponsibility.ccea.ro
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The Research Centre in Applied Ethics @cceaunibuc.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Should autonomous vehicles be designed as avatars of virtuous drivers? In a new paper out in AI & Society, CCEA researchers @raduuszkai.bsky.social & Toni Gibea pilot the concept of "driving phronesis" to rethink AV ethics. 🔗 Open Access: link.springer.com/article/10.1...
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The Research Centre in Applied Ethics @cceaunibuc.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
At #ECAP12 in Madrid, our colleague @raduuszkai.bsky.social takes on a dual role: presenting "Take Your AI Avatar to School Day: Academic Enhancement or a New Form of Plagiarism?" and chairing the session on AI and Moral Wrongs. Program details: analyticphilosophy.eu/ecap12/
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The Research Centre in Applied Ethics @cceaunibuc.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
At #Robophilosophy2026 (UC Dublin), CCEA researchers Mihaela Constantinescu, Toni Gibea, and @raduuszkai.bsky.social examined whether testing hypotheses on robotic "duplicates" eases ethical burdens or creates new ones, urging proactive governance over reactive fixes. Details & abstract below ⬇️
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The Research Centre in Applied Ethics @cceaunibuc.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
ERC President Maria Leptin is visiting Romania! 🇷🇴 On June 11 (15:00 EEST), she will lead the "Boosting frontier research in Romania" event at POLITEHNICA Bucharest. Mihaela Constantinescu, CCEA Exec.Dir., will join as the ERC Ambassador in Romania. Find out more & register: link.europa.eu/tHFYD4
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The Research Centre in Applied Ethics @cceaunibuc.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
Our colleagues, @oana-ceocea.bsky.social, Mihaela Constantinescu, and @raduuszkai.bsky.social, recently represented CCEA at the International Conference "Contemporary Issues in AI Ethics." in Kaunas, Lithuania. A great opportunity to exchange insights with highly valued researchers.
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The Research Centre in Applied Ethics @cceaunibuc.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
Mihaela Constantinescu (CCEA Exc. Dir.) recently participated in the second annual meeting of the Ambassadors for the ERC in Brussels. It was a great day of conversations with fellow ERC grantees from across Europe who advocate for frontier research and scientific excellence.
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The Research Centre in Applied Ethics @cceaunibuc.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
Mihaela Constantinescu (CCEA Exc. Dir.), recently tackled the "Future of AI Companions" at the 8th CAIR/AI4Society event in Pretoria. Mihaela presented research on the vicious bonding of AI designed as true friends, arguing that such attachments can be detrimental to genuine human flourishing.
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The Research Centre in Applied Ethics @cceaunibuc.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
Mihaela Constantinescu (UB) and Muel Kaptein (Erasmus) just published a new article! They introduce the M3 Approach, arguing that LLM-developing organizations are key "interaction nodes" and must bear broader responsibility for harms. Open access article: link.springer.com/article/10.1...
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The Research Centre in Applied Ethics @cceaunibuc.bsky.social · 09/11/2025
With profound grief, today we say our final goodbyes to our beloved friend and co-founder, Emi Socaciu. Emi was a brilliant philosopher and a true mentor at CCEA. His kindness, insightful mind, and dedicated spirit will remain an immense inspiration for us all. We carry on his work. Rest in peace. 🙏
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The Research Centre in Applied Ethics @cceaunibuc.bsky.social · 17/10/2025
📢Newly published article by our Executive Director Mihaela Constantinescu: "Do GenAI avatars open new responsibility gaps?" Article link (open access): link.springer.com/article/10.1... #ERC #avataResponsibility #CCEA #AIethics #MihaelaConstantinescu
link.springer.com
Do GenAI avatars open new responsibility gaps? - AI & SOCIETY
In this article, I argue that semi-autonomous avatars relying on generative artificial intelligence to replicate or represent real human persons—GenAI avatars—open a new type of responsibility gaps, w...
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The Research Centre in Applied Ethics @cceaunibuc.bsky.social · 15/10/2025
Big week in Barcelona! Our Director, Emilian Mihailov (YAE member), is attending the 36th Annual Conference of Academia Europaea (AE) and the 14th Conference of the Young Academy of Europe. Catch his talk on "Public trust in science" this Friday, 17 oct.! 🇪🇸 Link ⬇️ #AcademiaEuropaea #YAE #CCEA
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The Research Centre in Applied Ethics @cceaunibuc.bsky.social · 09/10/2025
Mihaela Constantinescu (CCEA Exe.Dir.) at Her Space Festival Romania speaking about techno-moral virtues! 🗓️ Sat, Oct 18 @ 2:30 PM (Urban Hub, Bucharest) We have limited complimentary invitations! Email ASAP to request one: 📩 ccea.info@filosofie.unibuc.ro #HerSpaceFestival #avataResponsibility
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The Research Centre in Applied Ethics @cceaunibuc.bsky.social · 03/10/2025
ERC InfoDay on Oct 14th! ⏰ Our colleague, Mihaela Constantinescu (ERC Ambassador), will be there representing CCEA to share strategies for the ERC Work Programme 2026. Deadline to register is Oct 12th! 🔗 Sign up: www.ncp.uefiscdi.ro/event-detail... #ERC #ERCFunding #ERCAmbassador #AERC
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The Research Centre in Applied Ethics @cceaunibuc.bsky.social · 28/09/2025
The AI Personhood, Agency, and Responsibility workshop, part of ERC project LEGACY: Agency in law (Visa Kurki) was a succes! @raduuszkai.bsky.social, Mihaela Constantinescu, and @oana-ceocea.bsky.social met with international researchers from Finland, Japan, and the U.S. Many thanks to all!
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The Research Centre in Applied Ethics @cceaunibuc.bsky.social · 23/09/2025
Exciting news! This week, a two-day workshop will take place at Helsinki University on AI Personhood, Agency, and Responsibility in Law and Philosophy, hosted by LEGACY: Agency in Law. Mihaela Constantinescu, @raduuszkai.bsky.social and @oana-ceocea.bsky.social will be representing the CCEA team.
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The Research Centre in Applied Ethics @cceaunibuc.bsky.social · 17/09/2025
Our colleague Mihaela Constantinescu is joining Dragos Stanca (Upgrade 100 / Ethical Media Alliance) in a conversation on AI and digital philosophy in marketing at IMPACT Bucharest 2025. 📍 We are at Face Convention Center today, September 17! 👉 Full agenda: impactbucharest.com/agenda22/
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The Research Centre in Applied Ethics @cceaunibuc.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
Happy to share that CCEA was present at the Digital Duplicates Workshop, organized by the National University of Singapore on September 4-5. Top researchers discussed one of the hottest topics in applied ethics: digital duplicates, avatars, AI, and neurotechnologies.
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The Research Centre in Applied Ethics @cceaunibuc.bsky.social · 21/07/2025
CCEA Exc. Dir., Mihaela Constantinescu, recently experienced groundbreaking robotic technology at the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia in Genoa, Italy! Mihaela tested ergoCub, a robot that can function both in teleoperation (avatar) mode and highly autonomously with integrated LLMs. #Robotics #AI
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The Research Centre in Applied Ethics @cceaunibuc.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
"AI for Flourishing" Workshop at the University of Navarra has ended successfully. Huge thanks to all, especially to Mihaela Constantinescu (CCEA Exc. Dir.), for amazing discussions! Key takeaway: AI helps human flourishing when designed and used ethically, with a human-centered approach.
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The Research Centre in Applied Ethics @cceaunibuc.bsky.social · 30/06/2025
Mihaela Constantinescu (CCEA Exc. Dir.) is speaking today at the "AI for Flourishing Workshop", at the University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain! 🇪🇸 Her talk, "How should we live well with LLMs?", will be discussed by prof. Alejo Sison. Details: www.unav.edu/eventos/-/ev...
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The Research Centre in Applied Ethics @cceaunibuc.bsky.social · 29/06/2025
👏Congrats to our CCEA researcher & #avataResponsibility member @raduuszkai.bsky.social for participating with timely talks at the "AI Ethics Explored" workshop (University of Porto) and "The 15th Braga Meetings on Ethics and Political Philosophy" conference (CEPS, University of Minho) in Portugal!
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The Research Centre in Applied Ethics @cceaunibuc.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
NIHAI project kicks off with the conference on "AI Assertion", June 22-23, 2025. CCEA Team: Mihaela Constantinescu (PI), Alexandra Zorilă, Cristina Voinea and Cristina Tofan, are involved. Emilian Mihailov (CCEA Dir) is an invited speaker. More info and program: talkingtobots.net?page_id=15
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The Research Centre in Applied Ethics @cceaunibuc.bsky.social · 06/06/2025
Emilian Mihailov (CCEA Director), delivered a fantastic talk on the moral psychology of impartiality at the University of Granada in Spain. 🇪🇸 Emilian's research on the Oxford Utilitarianism Scale and Kantian impartiality can be explored here: link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com
Measuring Impartial Beneficence: A Kantian Perspective on the Oxford Utilitarianism Scale - Review of Philosophy and Psychology
To capture genuine utilitarian tendencies, (Kahane et al., Psychological Review 125:131, 2018) developed the Oxford Utilitarianism Scale (OUS) based on two subscales, which measure the commitment to impartial beneficence and the willingness to cause harm for the greater good. In this article, I argue that the impartial beneficence subscale, which breaks ground with previous research on utilitarian moral psychology, does not distinctively measure utilitarian moral judgment. I argue that Kantian ethics captures the all-encompassing impartial concern for the well-being of all human beings. The Oxford Utilitarianism Scale draws, in fact, a point of division that places Kantian and utilitarian theories on the same track. I suggest that the impartial beneficence subscale needs to be significantly revised in order to capture distinctively utilitarian judgments. Additionally, I propose that psychological research should focus on exploring multiple sources of the phenomenon of impartial beneficence without categorizing it as exclusively utilitarian.
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The Research Centre in Applied Ethics @cceaunibuc.bsky.social · 06/06/2025
Mihaela Constantinescu (CCEA Exc. Dir.), will be speaking at the "AI for Flourishing Workshop" on June 30, 2025, at the University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain! 🇪🇸 Her talk, "How should we live well with LLMs?", will be discussed by prof. Alejo Sison. Registration is open: lnkd.in/dRn5DfZP%22
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The Research Centre in Applied Ethics @cceaunibuc.bsky.social · 26/05/2025
A huge thank you to all our brilliant speakers for the insightful discussions at the "Artificial agency and responsibility: the rise of LLM-powered avatars" workshop last week! 👏 We're looking forward to the next #avataResponsibility workshop in 2026. Stay tuned for details!
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The Research Centre in Applied Ethics @cceaunibuc.bsky.social · 19/05/2025
🤖Let’s explore the puzzle of artificial agency and responsibility in the context of LLM-powered avatars through insights from #AIethics, #SocialOntology, and #PhilosophyOfLaw. 📅 May 22–23, 2025 📍 Faculty of Philosophy, University of Bucharest More details here: www.ccea.ro/artificial-a...
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The Research Centre in Applied Ethics @cceaunibuc.bsky.social · 14/05/2025
📢Upcoming workshop in our ERC Starting Grant (@erc.europa.eu) project #avataResponsibility: ”Artificial agency and responsibility: the rise of LLM-powered avatars" on May 22-23, 2025, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Bucharest. More details here: www.ccea.ro/artificial-a...
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The Research Centre in Applied Ethics @cceaunibuc.bsky.social · 29/04/2025
Great news! 🇷🇴 Mihaela Constantinescu (Exec Dir CCEA / Lecturer Uni Bucharest) has been appointed Ambassador for the ERC in Romania! The newly launched "Ambassadors for the ERC" network is a joint initiative by the European Research Council (@erc.europa.eu) & AERG (@ercgrantees.bsky.social). #Amb4ERC
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The Research Centre in Applied Ethics @cceaunibuc.bsky.social · 22/02/2025
(4/4) Wrapping up our team introductions with Cristina Voinea, a postdoc researcher exploring the impact of digital technologies, and Anda Zahiu, PhD researcher and assistant professor with research interests in VR and digital avatars. Visit our website to learn more about us and our work 🥇
A colour portrait photograph of postdoctoral researcher Cristina Voinea, smilingCristina Voinea is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellow and a hosted researcher at the Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics. 

Her research primarily revolves around understanding the impact of digital technologies on both individual and societal well-being. 

Cristina’s work delves into a range of critical themes within this domain, including responsibility in the realm of artificial intelligence, the influence of persuasive technologies, and the potential use of technology for cognitive and moral enhancement.A color portrait photograph of PhD researcher and assistant professor Anda Zahiu, smiling and with her arms crossed.Anda Zahiu is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Bucharest, and a member of the Research Centre in Applied Ethics.

Her current PhD research revolves around issues pertaining to tax and transfer redistributive schemes. 

She has a background in moral and political philosophy. Anda’s research interests include new and emerging technologies, with a particular focus on Virtual Reality and digital avatars. 

Her last article was published in Ethics and Information Technology.
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The Research Centre in Applied Ethics @cceaunibuc.bsky.social · 22/02/2025
More brilliant minds from the CCEA team! Meet Mihnea Dobre, whose research explores the history of philosophy and science, and Radu Uszkai, who specializes in applied ethics with a focus on new technologies.
A colour portrait of Mihnea Dobre, Senior researcher at CCEAMy research focus is on the history of philosophy and science; in particular, on the relations between philosophy, science, and religion in the early modern period. 

I am interested in new scholarly approaches (Digital Humanities) and different ways of communicating and disseminating research results (Open Science). Beside journal articles and contributed chapters to collective volumes, I published two monographs, co-edited two volumes, and collaborated in the production of two Open Access scholarly editions.

 I am a book review editor at the Centaurus, the Journal of the European Society for the History of Science (ESHS).A black and white photograph of Radu Uszkai smiling and resting on his hand, Postdoctoral Researcher at CCEARadu Uszkai teaches Philosophy and Business Ethics at the Bucharest University of Economic Studies where he works as an Assistant Lecturer at the Department of Philosophy and Social Sciences. 

He also works as a researcher at the Research Center in Applied Ethics, University of Bucharest. Radu holds a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Bucharest since 2015, with a thesis on the ethics of intellectual property and digital piracy. 

His research is focused on applied ethics (with an emphasis on new and emerging technologies), political philosophy (mainly on classical liberal ideas) and the philosophy of pop culture. He has recently published papers in journals like Philosophy & Technology, Ethics and Information Technology and Frontiers in Robotics and AI. 

His first book, dedicated to the ethics of copyright, was published in 2024 by Bucharest University Press.
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The Research Centre in Applied Ethics @cceaunibuc.bsky.social · 22/02/2025
Continuing our introductions to the amazing CCEA team! Meet Emilian Mihailov, our Director, and Constantin Vică, Senior Researcher. Emilian's research focuses on neuroethics and bioethics, while Constantin explores the ethics and politics of new technologies 🤖
A colour portrait photograph of Emilian Mihailov, Centre director and Senior researchEmilian Mihailov is the Director of the Research Centre in Applied Ethics (CCEA) and Associate Professor at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Bucharest.

His research domains are neuroethics, bioethics, and philosophical moral psychology. He has published on the ethics of enhancement and experimental bioethics in leading journals such as the American Journal of Bioethics, Science and Engineering Ethics, Bioethics, Consciousness & Cognition. 

He previously led a national research project dedicated to moral and cognitive enhancement (ENHATEC).
Senior Researcher, DirectorA colour portrait photograph of Constantin, a senior researcher at the centerConstantin Vică teaches courses at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Bucharest, on ethics and politics of new technologies, the philosophy of history – the philosophy of the future, digital culture, etc., and is a researcher at the Research Center in Applied Ethics. 

He has co-authored articles in Science and Engineering Ethics, Ethics and Information Technology, Philosophy & Technology, International Journal of Social Robotics, Frontiers in Robotics and AI, Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, Philosophical Psychology, Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences, Topoi, etc. 

In 2019, he co-edited the volume Vremuri noi, vremuri vechi. Jurnal 2007–2013 by Mihail Radu Solcan. In 2023, he published Civilizație algoritmică și viața în lumea digitală (Algorithmic Civilization and Life in the Digital World) with the University of Bucharest Press.
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The Research Centre in Applied Ethics @cceaunibuc.bsky.social · 22/02/2025
Meet CCEA's team! 👋 Professors, researchers, & students dedicated to exploring ethical challenges. Starting with Mihaela Constantinescu, our Executive Director, an expert in areas like virtue ethics & AI ethics. Learn more about our key members in this thread! (1/4)
CCEA's team is made up of professors and researchers from universities in Romania and other countries, as well as doctoral students, master's students, and undergraduate students from the University of Bucharest.


Let’s find out more about each of our key team members:
meet the teamA photograph of Mihaela Constantinescu, CCEA's Executive director sat at a desk, behind a laptop, with a microphone near and talking at a conference. Mihaela Constantinescu is a lecturer at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Bucharest, Romania, and executive director of the Research Centre in Applied Ethics (CCEA). 

Her research areas include virtue ethics, business ethics, Human-Robot Interaction, and AI ethics, with a focus on the normative interplay between the concepts of moral responsibility and moral agency in relation to individuals, organisations, and AI systems. 

Her articles were published in journals such as Ethics and Information Technology, Philosophy & Technology, International Journal of Social Robotics, Journal of Business Ethics. She is co-author of the book “Institutionalizing ethics: mechanisms and instruments” (in Romanian).

Find out more at CCEA.RO/ECHIPA and AVATARESPONSABILITY.CCEA.RO/MEMBERS
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The Research Centre in Applied Ethics @cceaunibuc.bsky.social · 22/02/2025
CCEA is now on Bluesky! 🦋 🎉 Explore the ethical dimensions of artificial intelligence with us. Follow for updates on our research, events, and the avataResponsibility project. You can also find us on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn! #AppliedEthics #ResponsibleAI #avataResponsibility #NIHAI #CHANGER
Social media graphic post titled "What is CCEA?" and showing a thinking emoji.
We've been around for 20 years, but what do we actually do? 

Hint: It's all about ethics!

Social media graphic post talking about what the CCEA stands for and who founded it.

CCEA Stands for The Research Centre in Applied Ethics.

You can find us at the University of Bucharest's Faculty of Philosophy. 

Founded by Professor Valentin Mureșan back in 2004, we're Romania's only research center dedicated to systematically studying & researching diverse ethical disciplines, from classical moral theories to AI ethics. 

We foster academic debate and encourage public reflection on ethical issues.Social media graphic post talking about CCEA's activities and research focus:

We advance frontier research in applied ethics, offer Master's & PhD programs, 
ethical consulting for organizations,
we engage in public discourse through debates and media appearances.
We promote a Socratic approach to ethics, facilitating reflection & collaboration across diverse fields like biomedicine, technology, business, and environmental science.
final slide in the post:

Our current projects include

avataResponsibility (ERC Starting Grant: Avatar agency. Moral responsibility at the intersection of individual, collective, and artificial social entities in emergent avatar communities) 

NIHAI (Norms of Assertion in Linguistic
 Human-AI Interaction developing ethical guidelines for chatbots).

CHANGER (CHAllenges and innovative chaNGes in research Ethics Reviews)
Ready to explore the ethical challenges of today's world?
avataresponsibility.ccea.ro
talkingtobots.net
changer-project.eu
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