In the age of artificial intelligence, the final decision still belongs to humans!

Evaluating the transformations brought by the digital era on World Philosophy Day, Prof. Çiğdem Yazıcı stated, “We can ask artificial intelligence anything that comes to mind, but the final decision about what we will do and how we will live must always belong to us.”

Emphasizing that it is possible to speak of a distinct field referred to as “the philosophy of artificial intelligence,” Prof. Yazıcı added, “The philosophy of artificial intelligence examines and discusses the moral and practical questions that may arise from AI’s growing role in our lives, the relationships, differences, and similarities between human and artificial intelligence, and the dynamics between humans and machines.”

Head of Department of Philosophy at Üsküdar University, Prof. Çiğdem Yazıcı, highlighted the importance of philosophy in the digital age on the occasion of World Philosophy Day, celebrated every year on the third Thursday of November.

Philosophy invites us to develop the ability to think together with differences

Pointing to UNESCO’s emphasis that World Philosophy Day belongs to anyone concerned with philosophy, Prof. Yazıcı said: “World Philosophy Day aims to create a tolerant space where we can rationally discuss the challenges and crises of our age by strengthening intercultural dialogue. Philosophy is not merely an activity of understanding and recognizing ourselves; it is also an activity that invites us to encounter what is different from us, to understand these differences, and to develop the ability to think together with them.”

Has the meaning of thinking and questioning changed in the digital age?

Acknowledging that digitalization has significantly simplified our lives and will continue to do so, Prof. Yazıcı explained: “Through artificial intelligence, we can access far more data than ever before on subjects we think about or research. AI can process this data and provide us with meaningful results. However, this digitalization cannot relieve humans of the responsibility to grapple with the essential questions of their own existence and to seek answers through the decisions they make in their lives. For example, we can ask artificial intelligence all kinds of questions, but the final decision about what we will do and how we will live must always be ours. Therefore, critical thinking, genuine curiosity about ourselves, others, and the world, and the act of questioning cannot be handed over to artificial intelligence. We can say that the meaning of thinking and questioning has not changed in the digital age, but it has gained far greater importance, value, and urgency.”

Questioning the transformative power of technology is a philosophical necessity

Noting that humans have assigned meaning to themselves and the world around them since the moment they began to exist, Prof. Yazıcı said: “Humans have interpreted and transformed the world in specific ways. Technology is one of the tools of this transformation. Therefore, questions regarding how humans will transform themselves and the Earth through technology, and into what, stand before us as questions that technology itself cannot answer. Considering today’s wars, raw material crises, and climate crises, this question is vital and urgent. These questions can only be addressed within the new horizons opened by philosophical inquiry and a philosophically oriented life that brings theory and practice together.”

Reiterating that it is possible to speak of a distinct field called the philosophy of artificial intelligence, Prof. Yazıcı added: “The philosophy of artificial intelligence examines the moral and practical questions that may arise from AI’s presence in our lives, the relationships between the human mind and AI, their differences and similarities, and the relations between humans and machines.”

It does not seem possible to program conscious computers anytime soon

Evaluating whether artificial intelligence has the capacity for “thinking” or “consciousness,” Prof. Yazıcı continued her remarks as follows: “While intelligence refers to the ability to solve problems, consciousness refers to the ability to feel things such as pain, joy, love, and anger, as well as the capacity for self-awareness. Artificial intelligence may become far more skilled than humans at solving problems using data. However, this does not mean it will eventually acquire consciousness. Since we still do not have sufficient knowledge about the origins of consciousness or how it emerges, it does not seem possible that we will be able to program conscious computers or machines anytime soon. Those interested in this topic may refer to Yuval Noah Harari’s book 21 Lessons for the 21st Century.”

AI can process human ideas and generate new philosophical interpretations

Addressing whether a human-made system can create its own philosophy, Prof. Yazıcı concluded her remarks as follows: “A system created by humans can only imitate humans when it comes to generating a philosophy. If we are speaking of a system such as artificial intelligence, then AI can only process human ideas and thoughts as data and produce a new philosophical framework from them. But this philosophy cannot be independent of what the human mind has produced; it may compile human knowledge and offer broader philosophical interpretations, even generating previously unwritten but comprehensive philosophical analyses. Yet, what kind of question would AI’s philosophy be built upon, what would be its starting point? Why would AI feel the need to create a new philosophical system? It could only do so if prompted by an external force, for example, a human request. Philosophy can preserve its authenticity only when it remains the product of a uniquely human need to make meaning.”