Philosophy and Artificial Intelligence 2025: Difference between revisions
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:''[https://cosmosandtaxis.org/submissions/upcoming-issues/Cosmos+Taxis Symposium'' on ''Why Machines Will Never Rule the World''] — Guest editor, Janna Hastings, University of Zurich | :''[https://cosmosandtaxis.org/submissions/upcoming-issues/Cosmos+Taxis Symposium'' on ''Why Machines Will Never Rule the World''] — Guest editor, Janna Hastings, University of Zurich | ||
which | which appeared as a special issue of the public access journal ''Cosmos + Taxis'' in early 2024. | ||
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Barry Smith is one of the world's most [https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=search_authors&hl=en&mauthors=label:metaphysics widely cited philosophers]. He has contributed primarily to the field of applied ontology, which means applying philosophical ideas derived from analytical metaphysics to the concrete practical problems which arise where attempts are made to compare or combine heterogeneous bodies of data. | Barry Smith is one of the world's most [https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=search_authors&hl=en&mauthors=label:metaphysics widely cited philosophers]. He has contributed primarily to the field of applied ontology, which means applying philosophical ideas derived from analytical metaphysics to the concrete practical problems which arise where attempts are made to compare or combine heterogeneous bodies of data. | ||
'''Topics treated in 2024''' | |||
*The Glory and the Misery of ChatGPT | |||
**What is AI? How does it work? What are its limits? | |||
*What is intelligence. Can a machine be intelligent? | |||
*Capabilities, or: What do IQ tests measure? | |||
*The human brain and the theory of complex systems | |||
*Can an Artificial Intelligence act? What is agency? | |||
*AI and economic planning | |||
*The ontology of physics | |||
*AI and the Replication Problem | |||
'''Course Description''' | '''Course Description''' | ||
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'''Draft Schedule''' | '''Draft Schedule''' | ||
== | ==Monday, February 17 (14:30-17:15)== | ||
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Introduction: Philosophy and Artificial Intelligence | |||
We begin with a survey of the development of AI research from 1970 to today, paying attention especially to the background role of ontology (Knowledge Graphs) in this development. | We begin with a survey of the development of AI research from 1970 to today, paying attention especially to the background role of ontology (Knowledge Graphs) in this development. | ||
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== | ==Tuesday February 18 (09:30-12:15)== | ||
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The Glory and the Misery of ChatGPT== | The Glory and the Misery of ChatGPT== | ||
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== | ==Wednesday, February 19 (13:30 - 16:15)== | ||
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== | ==Thursday, February 20 (9:30 - 12:15)== | ||
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No Machine Will == | |||
:Room: A23 | :Room: A23 | ||
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==Monday, April 28 (14:30 - 17:30) | ==Monday, April 28 (14:30 - 17:30) == | ||
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==Tuesday, April 29 (13:30 - 16:30) | |||
==Tuesday, April 29 (13:30 - 16:30)== | |||
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The ontology of physics == | |||
:Room: A23 | :Room: A23 | ||
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:[https://buffalo.box.com/s/j6hhv85hfyedzcv3ry0d4by30w3u3eqj Slides] | :[https://buffalo.box.com/s/j6hhv85hfyedzcv3ry0d4by30w3u3eqj Slides] | ||
==Wednesday April 30 (13:30 - 16:30) | ==Wednesday April 30 (13:30 - 16:30)== | ||
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Are we living in a simulation? (II), digital twins and and Certifiable AI == | Are we living in a simulation? (II), digital twins and and Certifiable AI == | ||
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== | ==Wednesday April 30 (13:30 - 16:30)== | ||
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The Replication Problem== | |||
:Room: A23 | :Room: A23 | ||
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:[https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/21504366/science-replication-crisis-peer-review-statistics Science has been in a “replication crisis” for a decade] | :[https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/21504366/science-replication-crisis-peer-review-statistics Science has been in a “replication crisis” for a decade] | ||
:[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhDGkbw1FdwThe Irreproducibility Crisis and the Lehman Crash], Barry Smith, Youtube 2020 | :[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhDGkbw1FdwThe Irreproducibility Crisis and the Lehman Crash], Barry Smith, Youtube 2020 | ||
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==Friday May | ==Friday May 2 (13:30-16:30) Student Presentations and Concluding Survey== | ||
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:Room: A23 | :Room: A23 | ||
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:'''Student Presentations''' | :'''Student Presentations''' | ||
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==Background Material== | ==Background Material== | ||
Latest revision as of 13:48, 26 September 2024
Philosophy and Artificial Intelligence 2025
Jobst Landgrebe and Barry Smith
MAP, USI, Lugano, Spring 2025
Background
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the subfield of Computer Science devoted to developing programs that enable computers to display behavior that can (broadly) be characterized as intelligent. On the strong version, the ultimate goal of AI is to create what is called General Artificial Intelligence (AGI), by which is meant an artificial system that is as intelligent as a human being.
Since its inception in the middle of the last century AI has enjoyed repeated cycles of enthusiasm and disappointment (AI summers and winters). Recent successes of ChatGPT and other Large Language Models (LLMs) have opened a new era popularization of AI. For the first time, AI tools have been created which are immediately available to the wider population, who for the first time can have real hands-on experience of what AI can do.
These developments in AI open up a series of questions such as:
- Will the powers of AI continue to grow in the future, and if so will they ever reach the point where they can be said to have intelligence equivalent to or greater than that of a human being?
- Could we ever reach the point where we can accept the thesis that an AI system could have something like consciousness or sentience?
- Could we reach the point where an AI system could be said to behave ethically, or to have responsibility for its actions.
- Can quantum computers enable a stronger AI than what we have today?
We will describe in detail how stochastic AI work, and consider these and a series of other questions at the borderlines of philosophy and AI. The class will close with presentations of papers on relevant topics given by students.
Some of the material for this class is derived from our book
and from the companion volume
- Symposium on Why Machines Will Never Rule the World — Guest editor, Janna Hastings, University of Zurich
which appeared as a special issue of the public access journal Cosmos + Taxis in early 2024.
Faculty
Jobst Landgrebe is the founder and CEO of Cognotekt, GmBH, an AI company based in Cologne specialised in the design and implementation of holistic AI solutions. He has 20 years experience in the AI field, 8 years as a management consultant and software architect. He has also worked as a physician and mathematician, and he views AI itself -- to the extent that it is not an elaborate hype -- as a branch of applied mathematics. CUrrently his primary focus is in the biomathematics of cancer.
Barry Smith is one of the world's most widely cited philosophers. He has contributed primarily to the field of applied ontology, which means applying philosophical ideas derived from analytical metaphysics to the concrete practical problems which arise where attempts are made to compare or combine heterogeneous bodies of data.
Topics treated in 2024
- The Glory and the Misery of ChatGPT
- What is AI? How does it work? What are its limits?
- What is intelligence. Can a machine be intelligent?
- Capabilities, or: What do IQ tests measure?
- The human brain and the theory of complex systems
- Can an Artificial Intelligence act? What is agency?
- AI and economic planning
- The ontology of physics
- AI and the Replication Problem
Course Description
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the subfield of Computer Science devoted to developing programs that enable computers to display behavior that can (broadly) be characterized as intelligent. On the strong version, the ultimate goal of AI is to create an artificial system that is as intelligent as a human being. Recent striking successes such as AlphaFold have convinced many not only that this objective is obtainable but also that in a not too distant future machines will become even more intelligent than human beings.
The actual and possible developments in AI open up a series of striking questions such as:
- Can a computer have a conscious mind?
- Can a computer have desires, a will, and emotions?
- Can a computer have responsibility for its behavior
- Would machine intelligence, if there is such a thing, be something comparable to human intelligence or something quite different?
In addition, new developments in the AI field make it possible for us to consider a series of philosophical questions in a new light, including:
- Could a machine have something like a personal identity? Would I really survive if the contents of my brain were uploaded to the cloud?
- What is it for a human to behave in an ethical manner? (Could there be something like machine ethics? Could machines used in fighting wars be programmed to behave ethically?)
- What is a meaningful life? If routine, meaningless work in the future is performed entirely by machines, will this make possible new sorts of meaningful lives on the part of humans?
After introducing the relevant ideas and tools from both AI and philosophy, all the aforementioned questions will be thoroughly addressed in class discussions. The class will close with presentations of papers on relevant topics given by students.
Grading
- Essay with presentation: 80%
- Essay with no presentation: 95%
- Presentation: 15%
- Class Participation 5%
Draft Schedule
Monday, February 17 (14:30-17:15)
Tuesday February 18 (09:30-12:15)
Wednesday, February 19 (13:30 - 16:15)
Thursday, February 20 (9:30 - 12:15)
Monday, April 28 (14:30 - 17:30)
Tuesday, April 29 (13:30 - 16:30)
Wednesday April 30 (13:30 - 16:30)
Friday May 2 (13:30-16:30) Student Presentations and Concluding Survey
Background Material
An Introduction to AI for Philosophers
(AI experts are invited to criticize what I have to say in this talk)
An Introduction to Philosophy for Computer Scientists
(Philosophers are invited to criticize what I have to say in this talk)
