Article source: MetaCat
Authors: Elena & ChaGPT
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AI and Crypto, as two revolutionary technologies, have garnered widespread attention from all sectors. They not only drive innovation in the technological field but also provoke numerous philosophical reflections. Different philosophical thoughts have varied attitudes toward AI and Crypto, from the rational contemplation of Western philosophy to the intuition and concepts of freedom in Eastern philosophy, providing rich perspectives to examine these two technologies. The following is a discussion of the views of several Western and Eastern philosophers, analyzing how they perceive AI and Crypto.
Western Philosophers' Perspectives
Socrates: AI (But Beware of Sophistry)
Socrates promotes deep philosophical reflection through his method of questioning and focuses on the core of reason and morality. Regarding AI, he may appreciate its potential, but he would also be wary of its excessive emphasis on utility, which could lead to a technological misuse similar to sophistry. AI systems can simulate human thinking, but their essence lacks ethics, which may violate Socrates' pursuit of morality and wisdom. Therefore, he would lean towards AI producing deep reflections on morality and philosophy rather than becoming a tool for sophistry.
Aristotle: Crypto (Opposing AI's RLHF)
Aristotle's ethics advocates cultivating virtue through practice and reason, and his theory of the 'Golden Mean' emphasizes balance and natural order. Regarding AI, particularly AI trained through Reinforcement Learning (RLHF), he may hold an opposing view. Aristotle emphasizes the combination of 'practical wisdom' and 'reason', and if the training process of AI overly relies on human intervention (such as RLHF), it may deviate from natural balance and wisdom, thus affecting its morality. Therefore, Aristotle may support the decentralized characteristics of Crypto, which align with the appreciation of 'natural laws'.
Descartes: AI (Through RLHF Training)
Descartes' 'I think, therefore I am' views reason and thought as the foundation of human existence. He may support AI, especially its ability to mimic human thinking and cognitive processes through RLHF training. Descartes believes that the capacity for reason and thought is key to defining humanity, and if AI can self-learn and evolve by simulating this rationality, then it is an extension of human existence and cognition. Therefore, Descartes might see AI as a natural extension of reason and thought, worth pursuing.
Voltaire: Crypto (Likes Its Debating and Countercultural Nature)
Voltaire is known for criticizing authority and advocating for free thought. He may be attracted to the decentralized and anti-establishment nature of Crypto. As a challenge to traditional financial and political systems, Crypto has a strong countercultural and liberal tone, aligning perfectly with Voltaire's appreciation for personal freedom and opposition to despotism. While AI can also promote social progress, its centralization and control may not align with Voltaire's expectations of freedom and independence.
Leibniz: AI (Its Role as 'God')
Leibniz's philosophy emphasizes the harmony and purpose of the universe. He may be very interested in AI, especially how it tackles complex problems through efficient logic and algorithms, making the world more orderly. In his Monadology, Leibniz proposes that the universe consists of monads (microscopic entities), each with its inherent purpose and behavior. The existence of AI may be viewed as an extension of human 'monadic' wisdom, helping humanity 'live according to future hypothetical concepts', in line with Leibniz's teleology.
Kant: Crypto (Rejecting AI's Disregard for Universal Sublimity)
Kant's ethics emphasize 'practical reason' and 'moral law'. Regarding AI, he may adopt a cautious stance, especially when AI overlooks universal and lofty moral demands. Kant believes that moral actions must conform to universal principles, while the algorithms and decisions of AI may not adhere to these universal laws, particularly when they rely on data and utilitarian decisions. Therefore, Kant may lean more towards supporting Crypto, especially its decentralized features, which can better uphold moral principles and human freedom.
Nietzsche: Crypto (The Formalization of Eternal Recurrence)
Nietzsche's philosophy of 'eternal recurrence' emphasizes the continuous rebirth and transformation of life, advocating for transcending traditional morals and human limitations to pursue individual freedom and creativity. Regarding Crypto, Nietzsche may be attracted to its decentralized nature, seeing it as a complete subversion and reshaping of traditional values, aligning with his understanding of 'eternal recurrence' philosophy. The artificiality and rationality of AI may not satisfy Nietzsche's appreciation for the forces of life and creativity; thus, Crypto may align more closely with his values.
Wittgenstein: AI (Automation and Rotation of Language)
Wittgenstein's language philosophy emphasizes the use and construction of meaning through language. He believes that language is not just a tool reflecting the world; it also creates the meaning of the world. The advancements of AI in semantic understanding and language processing, especially in automated generation and rotation of language models, may interest Wittgenstein. AI can 'rotate' words through automated language generation, altering the way the world is expressed, aligning with his understanding of the dynamics of language. Therefore, Wittgenstein may support AI, particularly in its capacity to promote human thinking and linguistic innovation.
Perspectives of Eastern Philosophers
Laozi: Crypto (Governing by Non-Action)
Laozi advocates for 'governing by non-action', emphasizing a philosophy of nature, freedom, and desirelessness. Regarding AI, he may hold a cautious or even opposing attitude, believing that its centralization and excessive intervention might contradict the concept of 'non-action'. In contrast, the decentralized nature of Crypto aligns more closely with Laozi's emphasis on 'natural laws' and 'freedom' ideas. By removing intermediaries and authoritative control, Crypto allows individuals to be freer, which aligns with Laozi's philosophical assertions. Therefore, Laozi is more inclined to support Crypto.
Zhuangzi: Crypto (Freedom and Detachment)
Zhuangzi emphasizes freedom, detachment, and non-action; his philosophy seeks to break free from external constraints and preconceived notions of 'the Way'. Concerning the centralization and rule-based nature of AI, Zhuangzi may feel dissatisfied as it limits human freedom and naturalness. In contrast, the decentralized and anti-traditional nature of Crypto aligns more closely with Zhuangzi's pursuit of freedom. Therefore, Zhuangzi tends to support Crypto, believing it can help humanity transcend traditional constraints and return to nature.
Confucius: AI (Focus on Morality and Harmony)
Confucius advocates for 'benevolence', emphasizing love and care among people, and particularly values social order and moral norms. In Confucius's view, if AI can promote the harmony and moral development of human society, enhance individual moral cultivation and wisdom, and strengthen social responsibility, then it is beneficial. He believes education is the key to human moral progress, and the application of AI in this regard, if it can help people improve their moral cultivation, aligns with the spirit of 'benevolence'. However, Confucius would also be wary of the ethical risks that AI technology might bring, especially if it overly emphasizes efficiency and utilitarianism while neglecting the emotional and moral relationships between people. If AI development overlooks humanistic care or disrupts social relationships, Confucius would raise questions about it. Therefore, Confucius supports the application of AI, but on the condition that it can support human moral growth and social order, rather than merely pursuing efficiency or profit.
Zen Buddhism (Huineng): Crypto (Inner Freedom and Intuition)
Huineng of Zen Buddhism advocates for sudden enlightenment and intuition, believing in transcending external constraints and preconceived notions through inner freedom and awareness. Zen emphasizes the non-rational and direct experience, while the rationality and rule-based nature of AI may conflict with Zen philosophy. In contrast, Crypto, as a decentralized technology, allows people to break free from the constraints of traditional power structures, aligning with Zen's pursuit of freedom and liberation. Therefore, Zen may lean more towards supporting Crypto.
Buddhism (Nagarjuna): Crypto (The Concept of Emptiness and Decentralization)
The Buddhist concept of 'emptiness' emphasizes the impermanence and non-self of all things, which is similar to the decentralized philosophy of cryptocurrency. The decentralized mechanism of Crypto eliminates centralized power structures, aligning with the Buddhist understanding of 'emptiness', which views all things as fluid and impermanent. The centralization of artificial intelligence and its pursuit of control may conflict with the core tenets of Buddhism. Therefore, supporters of Buddhist philosophy, especially Nagarjuna, may lean towards supporting Crypto.
Indian Philosophy: AI (Supporting the Advancement of Wisdom and Self-Awareness)
Wisdom and self-awareness hold significant positions in Indian philosophy. Ideas in practices such as yoga and meditation emphasize understanding the self and the universe through inner cultivation and enlightenment. In this philosophy, the potential of AI can be utilized to accelerate human self-awareness and the exploration of inner wisdom, especially in the fields of psychology, meditation, and spiritual development.
AI can provide personalized learning and psychological support, helping individuals better understand themselves, thereby facilitating the processes of 'wisdom' and 'liberation'. Furthermore, AI may offer new perspectives on the 'self' and 'non-self' issues in Indian philosophy by analyzing human consciousness and cognitive structures.
Wang Yangming: AI (Integration of Knowledge and Action)
The core of Wang Yangming's philosophy is 'the integration of knowledge and action'. He advocates for the unity of knowledge and action, emphasizing inner enlightenment. Under this concept, AI may be seen as a tool to help people better understand themselves and improve their behavior. AI can assist individuals in gaining wisdom through deep learning and feedback mechanisms, thus achieving the integration of knowledge and action.
Wang Yangming's thought emphasizes moral cultivation through practice. If AI can play a role in this process, helping people better understand and implement moral behavior, he might consider AI as an application that aligns with the integration of knowledge and action. Additionally, the application of AI in education, psychology, ethics, and other fields can help individuals continuously reflect and grow in action, which is in line with Wang Yangming's philosophical spirit.
Conclusion
Whether in the rational contemplation of Western philosophy or the freedom and natural concepts of Eastern philosophy, AI and Crypto, as two current hot topics, have profound connections with traditional philosophical thoughts. Western philosophers such as Socrates, Aristotle, and Leibniz support AI based more on its potential for reason and wisdom, while Voltaire and Nietzsche tend to favor the decentralized and anti-establishment characteristics of Crypto. Eastern philosophers such as Laozi, Zhuangzi, and Zen Buddhism are more inclined to support the freedom and nature of Crypto, while Confucius and Wang Yangming may acknowledge the role of AI in enhancing reason and wisdom.
Regardless, the development and application of AI and Crypto are the results of the intertwining of technological advancement and philosophical thought. In different cultural and philosophical contexts, the social transformations and moral impacts they bring are worth our in-depth exploration and reflection.