1.1 Intro

General Information About the Course

  • Lecturer Information: Marco Degano, Contact: m.degano@uva.nl

  • Course Team Members:

    • Senior TAs:

      • Frank Wildenburg: f.c.l.wildenburg@uva.nl

      • Emmeke Veltmeijer: e.a.veltmeijer@uva.nl

    • TAs:

      • Storm Hartkamp

      • Kirti Singh

      • Guido van der Knaap

      • Jesse Wonnink

  • Course Format:

    • 12 Lectures

    • 6 Tutorials (mandatory attendance, one absence allowed without reason)

  • Assessment:

    • 2 Homework Assignments: Before Tutorials 2 and 3 (10%)

    • 2 Exams (Midterm 30% + Final Exam 30%)

    • Final Essay (30%)

Course Overview

What is Philosophy?

  • Study of fundamental questions such as:

    • What is knowledge?

    • Is there free will?

    • What constitutes valid reasoning?

    • What is the relationship between language and the world?

    • How should I live?

What is AI?

  • AI involves systems that think, act, or function like humans or rationally.

Different Domains of Philosophy

  1. Epistemology

  2. Philosophy of Science

  3. Philosophy of Mind

  4. Ethics

  5. Philosophy of Language

  6. Philosophy of AI

Aim of the Course

  • Reflection on the general goals, uses, and ethical challenges of AI is critical due to rapid technological advancements.

  • Philosophical Tools and Concepts:

    • Use important philosophical concepts and tools to analyze foundational questions of AI.

    • Develop skills in clear writing, analytic thinking, and critique of AI issues.

Course Schedule

  • Week 1: Introduction and Epistemology

  • Week 2: Epistemology and Philosophy of Science

  • Week 3: Philosophy of Mind

  • Week 4: Midterm Examination

  • Week 5: Ethics

  • Week 6: Philosophy of Language

  • Week 7: Selected Topics

  • Week 8: Final Examination

Course Content

Readings and Materials

  • Required: Clark Glymour, "Thinking Things Through: An Introduction to Philosophical Issues and Achievements"

  • Additional Articles: Available on Canvas, along with optional readings.

  • Slides are based on Glymour (2015) and other materials but are self-contained.

Topics Explored in Philosophy and AI

  1. The relationship between philosophical questions and AI.

  2. Examining whether machines can think.

  3. Understanding the goals and implementations of AI (including symbolic vs subsymbolic)

  4. Exploring connections between various fields of philosophy (e.g., epistemology, ethics, metaphysics) and AI.

Philosophical Questions in AI

  • Many AI concerns mirror historical philosophical inquiries, including knowledge acquisition, reasoning, and ethics.

  • Important issues facing AI today such as self-awareness, bias, and the potential for simulation.

Final Remarks

  • Emphasize the integration of philosophical inquiry with technological advancements.

  • Evaluation of philosophical tools to comprehend and influence the understanding of AI operations, challenges, and implications.