Essay on Our Posthuman Future The Philosophical Implications

Introduction This essay is about the philosophy of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and it will delve deep into the question of the many philosophical implications of AI. In this paper, I will argue that a machine being able to think and the possibility of an emerging post human future due to the hypothetical invention of AI has philosophical implications for the future of humanity. The intersection of strong and weak AI with human consciousness is also explored through the examples of IBM’s AI systems such as Watson and Deep Blue. Overall, the aim of this essay is to examine the philosophical implications of the emerging post human future. Before launching into the full-fledged discussion, it would be in the fitness of things to clarify†¦show more content†¦While we can make machines play chess and Jeopardy with success and in many ways much better than a great percentage of the human population but can we also make machines that are emotional, prone to aesthetics, and r esponsive to the finer aspects of human existence? These are some of the themes that are explored in detail in this paper. Can Machines Think? This section examines the question with reference to the examples of IBM’s Watson and Deep Blue supercomputers and explores strong and weak AI compared to human intelligence. The overarching theme in this section is to discuss the intriguing question as to whether machines can think. First, we need to define as to what is meant by machines having the ability to think. The process of thinking is a matter of great importance to cognitive scientists and researchers who are engaged in studying the nature of human thinking and problem solving. The first definition of what it means to think is that of the Enlightenment Philosopher, Thomas Hobbes who posited, â€Å"Thinking was nothing more than reckoning† (Mays, 1952, 159). Next, the other philosophers like Kant, Leibniz, and Hume postulated that thinking is an extension of one’s mind, which is echoed by Descartes (widely regarded as the pioneer of cognition) who stated, â€Å"I Think, Therefore I am† (Mays, 1952, 161). This leads us to the premise that the human mind is akin to a computer, which derives its intelligence from calculation that is similar toShow MoreRelatedCartesian Dualism And Transhumanism : Theories Within Their Time Contexts1510 Words   |  7 Pagesand Kovach 1972.) By making the distinction between reality and our perception of reality through consciousness, and being aware of the â€Å"self,† it allowed for the study of humans as an attempt to make his theory objective. This made psychology a practise, and is a huge strength of Descartes dualism (Leahey 2004.) However, due to Descartes reliance on doubt as a way of explaining and supporting his theory, this led to many philosophical psychologist doubting existence of the external world, for exampleRead MoreTechnology Is The Most Likely Possibility For A Utopia Within The 21st Century2064 Words   |  9 Pagesthe potential technology brings, there is also a worryingly large chance that we could wipe ourselves out. In this essay, I will be talking about the pros and cons of these technological advances from a philosophical view in the context of utopia, and trying to decipher whether a technological future is all that humanity hopes it will be. For those looking for a techno-utopia, the lure of transhumanism is understandable. By using machines in order to enhance and progress humans, transhumanism representsRead MoreNew World Order in Conspiracy Theory13987 Words   |  56 Pagesradical right-wing ideology articulated by British post-Third-Position  activist  Troy Southgate, called for a  insurrection  against, and  secession  from, the Zionist, capitalist New World Order.[15][16]  National-anarchists see a convergence in the near-future between the  decentralist left  and  decentralist right  rising to combat the political and economic  centralization  of the New World Order.[17] After the  turn of the century, specifically during the  financial crisis of 2007–2010, many politicians and