Leiden University Student Repository

Pol, Iki van de (2016)

The origin of our anxiety concerning Artificial Intelligence.

Bachelor thesis | Wijsbegeerte (BA)

The conception of man as master and possessor of nature was introduced by Descartes and this view dominated ever since. Humanity has become extremely smug with his own intelligence and superiority over nature. When we consider science and technology as parts of nature, they also subordinate to humanity. Heidegger believes that because man is so captured by this conception of himself as master and possessor, he is in fact enslaved by technology, and thereby disconnected from his own essence and from truth. These ideas are highly applicable to the case of artificial intelligence and they can explain the anxiety towards Artificial Intelligence and Robotics. This will be demonstrated through this paper. It is an attempt to show that the origin of the anxiety of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics lies in man’s attachment to his self-image as master and possessor of nature.

Artificial Intelligence

Philosophy

Descartes

Heidegger

Robotics

MIT

anxiety

master and possessor of nature

Author

Pol, Iki van de

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Specialisation

Filosofie van mens, techniek en cultuur

Supervisors

Chouraqui, Frank

ECTS Credits

10

Language

en