Philosophy Midterm Review

Artificial Neural Network (ANN): A computer system that uses a network of artificial neurons to mimic the human brain and solve problems. Networks of simple computing units (like neurons). No centralized CPU or separate memory

Behaviorism: (what matters is observable behavior - “everything, including thinking, can be reduced to behavior”) An approach that focuses on designing systems to learn and act based on observable actions and responses to stimuli, without considering internal thoughts or emotions, similar to how humans or animals learn from their environment.

Bensalem: The utopian society in New Atlantis operated on ideals of scientific advancement

Common Sense Knowledge Problem: The challenge in AI of teaching machines the vast, everyday knowledge that humans take for granted, such as understanding basic facts about the world and how things work.

Connectionism: A theory that models how the brain works by using networks of simple units (like neurons) that work together to process information and learn from experience, similar to how neural networks function in machine learning.

Cybernetics: The study of how systems, including artificial intelligence, communicate and control themselves through feedback loops, enabling them to adapt and learn from their environment.

Deep Blue: Chess AI that beat chess GM Garry Kasparov

Enshittification: The process by which online platforms or services become worse for users over time as they prioritize profits and advertisers at the expense of user experience

Embedded and Embodied AI: AI that is able to interact with a physical world (Ex. Robot)

Ethic of Responsibility: Recognizing and accepting the impact of AI decisions on people and society, and ensuring that these technologies are developed and used in ways that prioritize safety, fairness, and accountability.

Frame problem: The challenge of determining which facts or conditions in a situation remain unchanged when an action is taken, making it difficult for a system to focus on relevant information without getting overwhelmed by unnecessary details.

Functionalism: What the mind does is more important than how it does it. The idea that a system can be considered intelligent if it performs tasks or functions similar to human intelligence, regardless of how it achieves those results.

House of Salomon: At the heart of the utopian society Bensalem. The institution is dedicated to research.

Garry Kasparov: Chess Grandmaster that lost to Deep Blue in chess

GOFAI: a traditional approach to artificial intelligence (AI) that uses symbolic reasoning and representation to solve problems (Symbolic AI)

Kuno: A young man living underground in a future society where people rely entirely on a vast machine for all their needs, and he desires to explore the outside world and seek real human connections.

Medium-independence: The ability of a system to function and express its intelligence across different formats or platforms, such as text, images, or sounds, without being limited to one specific medium.

Mind Design: The endeavor to understand mind (thinking, intellect) in terms of its design (how it is built, how it works)

NFAI(New-Fangled AI): Modern artificial intelligence like machine learning and deep learning, which learn from data and adapt over time. Opposite of GOFAI, which relies on predefined rules and logic to solve problems.

Platform: A software system or environment that provides tools and resources for developing, deploying, and managing AI applications and services

Technological Determinism: Technology decides how society is shaped. The idea that technology, like artificial intelligence, shapes and controls how society operates and thinks, rather than society influencing the development and use of technology.

Turing Machine: A simple, theoretical computing device that reads and writes symbols on an infinite tape, following a set of rules to solve problems or perform calculations step by step.

Turing Test: Way to check if a computer can think like a human by seeing if it can hold a conversation without people realizing they’re talking to a machine. Turing says determining whether a machine can think is if a machine can perform well enough in an imitation game to be indistinguishable from a human.

Unintended consequences: Advancement of technology may bring us unintended consequences that can change our lives

Value-Neutrality of Technology: Technology itself is not good or bad but it really depends on the user (Mesthene)

1. What is the Turing Test? What question is it addressing? What is Searle’s Chinese Room thought experiment, and what question is it addressing? How does the Chinese Room respond to the idea of the Turing Test?

The Turing Test is a way to determine if a machine can exhibit human-like intelligence. It involves a human judge interacting with both a machine and a human through text. If the judge can't reliably tell which is which, the machine is considered to have passed the test. The question it addresses is whether machines can think or understand like humans. John Searle's Chinese Room thought experiment challenges this idea by imagining a person inside a room who follows instructions to manipulate Chinese symbols without actually understanding the language. This scenario questions whether a machine can truly "understand" language or just simulate understanding. The Chinese Room suggests that passing the Turing Test doesn't mean a machine genuinely comprehends language; it might just be following rules without real understanding.

2. Compare Mesthene’s view of technology with McDermott’s. What is Mesthene’s main point or thesis? What is McDermott’s main point or thesis?

Mesthene and McDermott both explore the impact of technology on society, but they approach it from different angles. Mesthene argues that technology shapes human behavior and society, emphasizing that our reliance on technology can lead to a loss of control over our lives and decisions. He believes technology should serve humanity, not dominate it. In contrast, McDermott focuses on how technology can serve as a distraction for intellectuals, making them dependent on it instead of encouraging critical thinking. He suggests that while technology has potential benefits, it often becomes an "opiate," dulling our ability to engage deeply with ideas. Overall, Mesthene warns against technology's overpowering influence, while McDermott critiques its tendency to numb our intellectual engagement.

3. Describe the world of The Machine Stops by EM Forster. Why does Kuno want to escape to the surface? What does he feel he is missing by living underground?

The world is a dystopian future where humanity lives underground in isolated cells, relying on a vast Machine to provide for their every need, from food to communication. People rarely leave their rooms and have become dependent on technology, losing touch with the natural world. Kuno, the main character, wants to escape to the surface because he feels trapped and longs for a connection to nature and real human experiences. He believes that living underground makes him miss out on the beauty of the outside world, including fresh air, sunlight, and the sense of freedom that comes with it. Kuno yearns for a life that is more authentic and fulfilling, which he feels he cannot achieve in the sterile, controlled environment of the Machine.

4. Compare GOFAI’s concept of human intelligence with Dreyfus’. What does he think GOFAI is lacking compared to the human mind?

GOFAI, or "Good Old-Fashioned Artificial Intelligence," approaches human intelligence as a set of rules and logical processes that can be programmed into machines. In contrast, philosopher Hubert Dreyfus argues that this view is overly simplistic. He believes that GOFAI lacks the ability to understand the nuances of human experience, like emotions, intuition, and the context of situations. Dreyfus emphasizes that human intelligence is deeply rooted in our lived experiences and our ability to adapt to new environments, which machines following rigid rules cannot replicate. Essentially, he sees GOFAI as missing the richness and complexity of human thought and understanding.

Emmanuel G. Mesthene: Believed that technology shapes society and human behavior, emphasizing that while it brings many benefits, it also poses challenges and ethical dilemmas that we must carefully consider.

John McDermott: Closer to technological determinist. He critiques technology, arguing that it can often distract and mislead intellectuals, making them dependent on it instead of fostering true understanding and critical thinking.

Hubert L. Dreyfus: Dreyfus criticizes AI. He says that it overestimates the ability of machines to replicate human thinking. Dreyfus argues that human intelligence is more than just following rules and processing data which is what computers do. He believes that humans rely on intuition and experience things that machines can't fully understand or mimic. Also, he criticizes AI researchers for ignoring the importance of human emotions, social interactions, and the human body in forming how we think and act. He is known for his critique of technology, arguing that it often undermines human experience and understanding by reducing complex, meaningful interactions to mere data and algorithms.

John Haugeland: Coined the term GOFAI, talks about mind design. Emphasizing that technology should enhance human understanding and creativity rather than replace or diminish it.

Alan Turing: “Father of Computer Science” Proposes the question “Can machines think?” He believed that machines could simulate human intelligence, which laid the groundwork for modern computing and our understanding of technology's potential.

Hans Jonas: Argued that technology should be guided by ethical considerations to ensure it benefits humanity and protects the environment rather than harm it.