Understanding Shadows: Plato's Theory of Forms and AI
Long ago, Plato proposed arguably philosophy’s most famous thought experiment: “The Allegory of The Cave.” It goes as follows: Imagine a group of people in a cave, sitting with a fire behind them such that it casts shadows onto the wall directly in front of them. A set of figurines is located between the fire and the people to give shape to the shadows. The people are assumed to be unable to turn around and actually see the fire, and all they can see are the shadow figures on
32 minutes ago
Philosophizing Consciousness
In conversations about tech, we often hear the term “consciousness.” Why, though, is it such a popular idea that’s so frequently referenced? Furthermore, what can it help us understand about the nature of our own human experience, and what, moreover, can be taken away from these discussions to inform the technology we’re creating? To investigate this topic, first, it is important to consider the unique characteristics humans possess. If we can figure out what separates us fro
3 days ago
Can Pluralism Save Us from Rogue AI?
Why a Philosophical Framework is Needed In the coming years, technology is going to force us to clarify our ideas. As has been the course over the past several years, as technology expands, we must decide which ideas to use to program it. But, as it stands, there are many ideas. So, how do we decide which ones to use? This is the emerging problem we’re up against. Pluralism Pluralism posits that instead of one correct view, there may be several views, each with their own mer
6 days ago
The Ship of Theseus and AI Chatbots
“The Ship of Theseus” thought experiment has fascinating connections to AI. It was first formulated by Plutarch, a philosopher born circa 46 CE in Boeotia, Greece. Here it is, as follows: “The ship wherein Theseus and the youth of Athens returned from Crete had thirty oars, and was preserved by the Athenians down even to the time of Demetrius Phalereus, for they took away the old planks as they decayed, putting in new and strong timber in their places, insomuch that this ship
Oct 2
Aristotle and Epicurus on Science
Why do we pursue knowledge? This is quite possibly the most fundamental question behind all scientific inquiry. What’s fascinating though, are the two conclusions that come from this query. Knowledge is intrinsically valuable, and this value is not a result of any sort of utility. Knowledge is valuable as a means for helping others, oneself, and cultivating human flourishing. As we’ll see, the two philosophers Aristotle and Epicurus largely held different views on this ques
Sep 19
Creating Knowledge: The Low Hanging Fruit Theory
There’s something I’ve been fascinated by lately - for the sake of simplicity, I’ll call it the “Low Hanging Fruit Theory,” for, to my knowledge, it's never been given an official name. Essentially, what the theory states is that nearly all of the easy-to-discover ideas have already been discovered. Hence the name, low hanging fruit. Consequently, the ideas left require increasing efforts to even come within reach. Empirically and anecdotally, this theory seems to have some
Sep 5
Anthropocentrism, Peter Singer, and Data Centers
Data Centers. Why are they the big topic of conversation? It seems that, as of late, they’re constantly appearing in the news. And, on top of it all, they are shaping up to be a divisive topic. Supporters cite the benefits: more powerful AI, better infrastructure, and increased jobs in communities; meanwhile, those in opposition reference concerns of environmental disruption and electricity usage. The creation and expansion of data centers reveal something central to the hum
Aug 29
