University at Buffalo
The State University of New York at Buffalo, commonly called the University at Buffalo (UB) and sometimes called SUNY Buffalo, is a public research university with campuses in Buffalo and Amherst, New York. The university was founded in 18 ...
.
Philosophical work
Rapaport has done research and written extensively on intentionality and
artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) is intelligence—perceiving, synthesizing, and inferring information—demonstrated by machines, as opposed to intelligence displayed by animals and humans. Example tasks in which this is done include speech r ...
. He has research interests in
computer science
Computer science is the study of computation, automation, and information. Computer science spans theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, information theory, and automation) to practical disciplines (includi ...
,
artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) is intelligence—perceiving, synthesizing, and inferring information—demonstrated by machines, as opposed to intelligence displayed by animals and humans. Example tasks in which this is done include speech r ...
logic
Logic is the study of correct reasoning. It includes both formal and informal logic. Formal logic is the science of deductively valid inferences or of logical truths. It is a formal science investigating how conclusions follow from premise ...
and mathematics, and published many scientific articles on them.
While a philosophy graduate student at
Indiana University
Indiana University (IU) is a system of public universities in the U.S. state of Indiana.
Campuses
Indiana University has two core campuses, five regional campuses, and two regional centers under the administration of IUPUI.
*Indiana Universi ...
in 1972, he concocted the sentence: "
Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo
Buffalo most commonly refers to:
* Bubalina, including most "Old World" buffalo, such as water buffalo
* Bison, including the American buffalo
* Buffalo, New York
Buffalo or buffaloes may also refer to:
Animals
* Bubalina, a subtribe of the t ...
". Throughout his career he developed this theme, and discussed it extensively.
His early work on
nonexistent object
An object of the mind is an object that exists in the imagination, but which, in the real world, can only be represented or modeled. Some such objects are abstractions, literary concepts, or fictional scenarios.
Closely related are intentional ob ...
s was influenced by
Alexius Meinong
Alexius Meinong Ritter von Handschuchsheim (17 July 1853 – 27 November 1920) was an Austrian philosopher, a realist known for his unique ontology. He also made contributions to philosophy of mind and theory of value.
Life
Alexius Meinong ...
.
Rapaport has clearly explained the field of intentionality, and his papers on the subject have influenced leading scientists and writers such as Daniel Dennett,
Héctor-Neri Castañeda
Héctor-Neri Castañeda (December 13, 1924 – September 7, 1991) was a Guatemalan- American philosopher and founder of the journal ''Noûs''.
Biography
Born in San Vicente, Zacapa, Guatemala, he emigrated to the United States in 1948 and stud ...
(his doctoral advisor)Academic Family Tree of Hector-Neri Castañeda /ref> and John Searle (with whom he disagrees).
Rapaport is also interested in science educational theory and has received the New York Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Other activities
In June 1988, Rapaport compiled a list of restaurants in the Buffalo area to give attendees of an ACL meeting at SUNY Buffalo. Now, the list is interactive and updated frequently with user reviews of restaurants.
Rapaport and his wife Mary, with whom he has a son Michael, a member of the Division I bowling team at Colgate University, and who is frequently seen out and about with upcoming broadway star, Meredith Clark, are the principal donors to the
Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center
The Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum,, formally The Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum & Center for Comedy and commonly known as the Lucy Desi Museum, is a museum at 2 West 3rd Street, Jamestown, New York that is affiliated with the nearby National Co ...
in Jamestown, NY. The Desilu Playhouse, located in the Rapaport Center, contains memorabilia and other vintage
I Love Lucy
''I Love Lucy'' is an American television sitcom that originally aired on CBS from October 15, 1951, to May 6, 1957, with a total of 180 half-hour episodes, spanning six seasons. The show starred Lucille Ball, her husband, Desi Arnaz, along wit ...
items. He and his wife have also purchased and renovated
Lucille Ball
Lucille Désirée Ball (August 6, 1911 – April 26, 1989) was an American actress, comedienne and producer. She was nominated for 13 Primetime Emmy Awards, winning five times, and was the recipient of several other accolades, such as the Golde ...
's childhood home in
Celoron, New York
Celoron ( ) is a village in Chautauqua County, New York, United States. It is part of the town of Ellicott and sits on the west boundary of the city of Jamestown. The population of Celoron was 1,082 at the 2020 census.
History
Celoron Park ...
Philosophy of Computer Science online textbook on connections between Philosophy, Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, constantly being updated