Under construction

Please refer to the Reading List for links and references.

What if the machines take control?

R&N:51 call this a design flaw.

Can it be avoided under bounded rationality?

Note that design is an evolution, and final goals cannot be predicted.

Reading (in order of priority)

1. R&N (Sec. 1.5).
2. Schaathun (2022)
3. Dick: Do androids dream of electric sheep?
4. Simon (1996:Ch. 6)

Can machines think?

Debate: two students to argue yes and two students to argue no

Reading (in order of priority)

1. Epstein (2009:Chapters 1 and 3)
2. Weizenbaum (1976:Chapter 10)
3. Heinlein: The Moon is a harsh Mistress

Eastern Philosophy

This module is biased towards Western philosophy, drawing heavily on ideas developed in a long tradition of thought, rooted in Ancient Greek philosophy and the Judeo-Christian worldview. This is as it has to be. We are who we are, and there is no other tradition where the module convener would be qualified to convene the module.

However, a meeting with other traditions of thought would be very valuable, if someone would be up for the challenge. This is not an easy task, because we should be looking for scientific rigour, and not a superficial approach. However, if someone is familiar with philosophical traditions of other cultures, you are welcome to take any question suggested above or otherwise discussed in the module, and recast it within your own cultural frame?

How is the relationship between Man and Machine viewed in Indian philosophy? How is intelligence viewed in Chines thought? What constitutes reason and rationality in Persian tradition? There are plenty of questions and plenty of viewpoints, and note that I have no idea about the answers what-so-every. Curiosity is all I can contribute.

Note that the task is scholarly. As a minimum, one has to point to scholarly references when citing the great thinkers. I do not expect references in a language I can read, but they need to be disclosed honestly and accurately.