Descartes and AI: the Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence

 

AI-Generated Image

 

Introduction:

The AI age needs its own Descartes, its own Kant, to explain what is being created and what it will mean for humanity. This was written by Henry Kissinger( 1923-2023) in his famous book” The Age of AI and Human Future”. The book was co-authored with Eric Schmidt (former CEO of Google) and Daniel Huttenlocher Dean (MIT).

Rene Descartes, the 17th-century French philosopher, laid the groundwork for modern philosophy and profoundly influenced our understanding of the mind. Fast forward to the 21st century, where artificial intelligence (AI) is pushing the boundaries of what we thought possible. This blog will explore the intersections of Descartes' philosophy and the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence.

 

Descartes' Legacy:

 

Descartes' most famous assertion, "Cogito, ergo sum" (I think, therefore I am), crystallizes the essence of human consciousness. His dualism posited a separation between the mind and the body, suggesting that the mind, or the "res cogitans," is distinct from the material world. This dualistic perspective has deep implications for how we conceptualize the potential of artificial intelligence.

 

Concept of Chiliagon 6^th Meditation:

On 25 May 2020, I posted on my Facebook Profile about Chiliagon where,

René Descartes emphasized the use of reason to understand the origin and nature of all things and thus he prioritized reason and the human mind over all things. He uses the chiliagon as an example in his Sixth Meditation to show the difference between pure reason and imagination. He says that, when one thinks of Chiliagon, he "does not imagine a thousand aspects or see them as if they existed". Like when he imagines a triangle. Intellect tries to understand God through arguments, although sometimes it comes close to understanding God through wisdom.

 

Chiliagon

 

Descartes Example of Clock in 5^th Meditation:

 

Descartes centuries ago imagined what would happen if someone could create sophisticated human-shaped machines that resemble our bodies and can move just like us. Descartes writes that just as we see a clock consisting only of ropes and springs can count the hours and measure time more accurately than we can despite all our wisdom.

 

AI and Consciousness:

 

As we witness the remarkable progress of AI and the use of chatGPT, questions arise about the nature of consciousness and whether machines can truly "think" in the way humans do. Descartes' dualism, with its emphasis on the non-material mind, challenges the notion that AI could achieve genuine self-awareness or subjective experience. The debate hinges on whether consciousness is an emergent property of complex information processing, as AI proponents argue, or if it requires a different kind of non-material essence, as Descartes suggested.

 

Functionalism and the Computational Mind:

 

Contrary to Descartes' dualism, contemporary discussions often revolve around functionalism and computational theories of mind. These perspectives propose that the mind is essentially an information processor, and consciousness can arise from sufficiently advanced computations, irrespective of the physical substrate. This challenges Descartes' dualistic framework and opens the door to the possibility of creating machines with cognitive capacities.

 

Ethical Considerations:

 

Descartes' philosophy also sheds light on the ethical implications of artificial intelligence. If we strive to create machines with human-like intelligence, do we need to consider ethical responsibilities akin to those we have toward other conscious beings? Descartes' emphasis on the moral implications of thought and consciousness prompts us to reflect on the ethical considerations in AI development, especially concerning issues like autonomy, accountability, and the potential impact on society.

 

Conclusion:

 

Rene Descartes' philosophical legacy continues to resonate in contemporary debates about artificial intelligence. As we navigate the complexities of creating machines with cognitive abilities, Descartes' dualism challenges us to reconsider the fundamental nature of consciousness and the ethical responsibilities that come with playing the role of creators. The evolving relationship between Descartes' ideas and AI invites us to explore the boundaries of what it means to be "thinking beings (Humans)" in a world gradually designed by intelligent machines.