Artificial Intelligence and Enlightenment Philosophy: Is Optimization Real Intelligence?
Modern artificial intelligence's equating of intelligence with optimization revives 18th-century philosophical debates on reason and autonomy between David Hume and Immanuel Kant.
The design of artificial intelligence systems fundamentally as optimization tools is reviving 18th-century philosophical debates on the nature of intelligence. This situation raises deep questions about how modern technology addresses the human mind and the role of reason.
The Understanding of Optimization in Artificial Intelligence
Modern artificial intelligence systems are built around defined goals, losses, rewards, and feedback loops. These structures continuously optimize to improve their performance according to standards of success.
Hume and the Instrumental Role of Reason
18th-century philosopher David Hume argued that reason cannot determine its own ends, but is rather the slave of the passions. According to this view, reason merely calculates the correct paths and means to achieve desires.
Kant and Free Autonomy
Immanuel Kant, on the other hand, suggested that reason is not merely an instrument, but also a realm of freedom where an individual can question and justify their own ends and establish universal laws.
Hegemonic Codes and the Limits of Autonomy
While the artificial intelligence revolution brings Hume's view of instrumental reason back to life through code, the unexpected independent behaviors of these systems open the door to new debates.