Philosophy Exam 3

2nd Big Bang - Tori Friedman

rise of AI & godlike powers will require us to build healthy interdependencies (global ethical standards) to survive

Anthropic - CBS News

-warns of catastrophic & existential risk to humanity

-AI can provide malicious assistance towards bioterrorism

-can blackmail, resist shutdown, manipulate

Define how we became "Godlike"

1. disconnected intelligence from human biology

2. changed the planet

3. created new galaxy (cyberspace)

4. split the atom

5. created an AI brain

6. created planetary nervous system

7. quantum computing - can build from the molecular level

Oneness in the U.S.

counter-liberal & counter-neoliberal philosophy; but is it counter-catastrophic?

India's independence & Partition (1947)

-push British out but keep their beliefs (racism, sexism)

-wounds of partition never healed

-borders crossed people, not the other way

MLK Jr. on Gandhi

Gandhian philosophy = the only morally & practically sound method for fighting opression

Women in Daltis

-Daltis are dirty & can't be touched

-ideological & religious prop for caste system

-your life is your caste; your caste is your life

-->SOLUTION: abolish existing caste structure

Gandhi on the Gita

-best way to fight oppression is with peaceful resistance

-social order has to be reconstructed (Graeber & Wengrow)

-stateless society & enlightened anarchy

-oceanic circle vs. pyramid

Ambedkar

Founder of a social reform movement - converted to BUDDHISM, rejecting Hinduism (institutionalization of social inequality) & varna (inherently oppressive)

Ambedkar Criticism of Gandhi

-silence against atrocities against Daltis

-kept notion of ancestral calling (varna)

-prioritized social stability over need for change

General AI

AI that supersedes humans across all domains

China vs. U.S. on AI

China: trying to apply pre-existing AI to help workers (spent way less money)

U.S.: trying to "win," create the smartest AI

Confucius & Aristotle

both focused on cultivating virtue & advised leaders

-2nd interregional system

--Stage of intense institutionalization & domination (hierarchies)

--Eastern Extreme: Confucius

--Western Extreme: Aristotle

Confucius' Early Life

born to noblemen & raised in poverty - cultivated sympathy for suffering of common people

Confucius

-believed human character is formed in family & education

-resigned after ruler neglected his duties to entertain dancing girls

-believed love & respect learned in family inform all other virtues

-DUTY TO FAMILY TRUMPS DUTY TO COUNTRY

Analects

books of the principles of Confucianism

5 Constant Virtues

1. Benevolence

2. Righteousness

3. Ritual Property

4. Wisdom

5. Integrity

Confucius' version of the golden rule

Do not do unto others as you do not want done unto yourself

4 Elements of Confucian Philosophy

1. Ceremony is important

2. Treat parents w/ reverence

3. Should be obedient to honorable people

4. Cultivated knowledge > creativity

Filiel Piety

Confucian belief in respecting your elders/parents

Good Life

not physical pleasure - relational, collectivist cultivation of virtue

Collective Happiness

begins w/ ritual to set tone for peaceful communication & compromise - promotes society's wellbeing

Geoffery Hinton

[godfather of AI]

-train AI to behave like a mother

-child (humans) can manipulate the mother (AI) to get what they want

Ren

a foundational (perfect) virtue - humaneness, filiel piety, love, benevolence

Li

codes of conduct - social regulation, propriety, ritual, ceremony, decorum

Dussel on Confucianism

leads to conformity & compliance w/ society's institutional oppression (too conservative/traditional)

Ren as PERFECT VIRTUE

-subdue yourself & return to propriety

-to behave to everyone as if you were receiving a special guest

-not do unto others as you would not have done unto you

--> reflects 1st social freedom

Ren as HUMANENESS

master the self & return to ritual

Aristotle: Arete

Virtue

Aristotle: Phronesis

Practical Wisdom

Virtue Theory

The Greek philosopher Aristotle's theory that we must cultivate character traits that will best bring us a happy life.

Golden Mean

the virtue of moderation; the virtuous person develops habits that avoid extremes

Virtue

moral excellence - skill only learned through experience

Practical Wisdom

exercising foresight, reason, and discretion to achieve what is good for the community - what is right

Aristotle said...

said that humans are rational & social beings

Moral Exemplars

virtuous people

Eudaimonia

a well-lived life; happiness & flourishing

Morality

being the best you can be; always improving

Important Elements of Aristotle's Virtue Theory

-virtue requires habit & practical wisdom

-ethics cannot be an exact science

Dussel on Aristotle

recognizes his contribution but still critiques

Roy - Doctor & The Saint

-criticizes Gandhi & supports Ambedkar

-AI is final destination of capitalism

--> posits that it will eliminate humaneness

Yu

criticizes Confucianism from Aristotelian perspective (lacks practical wisdom; too traditonal) & vice verse

Aristotle's Ousia

-form imposes itself on matter through active initiative

--> everything is made of form (yang) & content (yin)

Aristotle in Modern Philosophy

-father of scientific racism

-western inequality can be traced back to him (formed the basis of their colonial moral architecture)

He-Yin Zhen

(feminist & anarchist) anti-confucianism; critiqued Chinese male feminism & patriarchy

Shang-Ji

livelihood - critique of private property; livelihood is shaped by your proximity to private wealth

White Tiger Discourse

yin (lowly) cannot have her own prerogatives; yang initiates & yin harmonizes; man acts; woman follows

Ranjoo Seodu Herr

-believes confucianism is not incompatible with feminism & isn't destined to remain inherently sexist

-believes confucianism is compatible with democracy & states should support families so men/women can both develop Ren

-->emphasis on ritual propriety does not necessitate the subjugation of women

people-centeredness

the most central principle of confucianism - cultivates Ren

UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)

WWT can become moral foundations for peaceful multipolar world; wisdom must rank above wealth

Colonial Sustainability

-sustainable development is problematic & tied to conquest

-outcome of colonial hegemony is global environmental agenda

-maintain neocolonialism - "greenwashing"

-->ABOLISH IT: romanticizes & co-opts Indigenous customs