The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence and a Historical Comparison of Medicine
The ethical and spiritual dimensions of artificial intelligence are examined through the history of medicine and the tradition of the Hippocratic Oath.
The ethical and spiritual dimensions of artificial intelligence technologies are addressed by drawing parallels with the transformations in the history of medicine and traditions such as the Hippocratic Oath.
Artificial Intelligence and Ethical Crises
Following the Second World War, as medical research expanded rapidly, it encountered ethical crises, a situation that bears similarities to contemporary discussions on artificial intelligence. To cope with these challenges, the creation of a social contract or a text similar to the Hippocratic Oath for artificial intelligence has come to the agenda.
The Oxford Oath and Spiritual Motivations
Theologians, philosophers, and developers who gathered within the Ian Ramsey Centre for Science and Religion have created the Oxford Oath for artificial intelligence professionals. The spiritual and religious impulses underlying such ethical code appeals are connected to humanity's shared past.
The Dilemma of Optimism and Pessimism
Public approaches to artificial intelligence are divided. While pessimists fear job losses, environmental crises, and dystopian outcomes, optimists advocate for artificial intelligence's potential to cure diseases and solve problems.
Historical and Metaphysical Context
All past healing systems, from the Pythagorean tradition to Mayan and Egyptian practices, are directly linked to metaphysical and moral systems. In the past, the Hippocratic Oath functioned as an initiation ritual into the dangerous knowledge of healing by invoking gods and goddesses for assistance.
Neural and Liminal Spaces
Disease and human vulnerability leave individuals in liminal spaces between health and illness, life and death. This situation makes the establishment of professional oaths and safe ethical boundaries mandatory.