Artificial Intelligence and the Past, Present, and Future of Democracy
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Landscrapers Vs. Skyscrapers
Debating Tall Landscrapers vs. Skyscrapers What does the office of the future look like? The leading tech industry giants all seem to agree the main goal is “connectivity” that forges collaboration and ideation. But there are significant differences in how this manifests in the built environment. Recently, Facebook and Google have proposed or built “landscrapers” – large, elongated buildings, in both low- (Menlo Park, California) and high-density (London) cities. Others, such as Salesforce (San Francisco) and Tencent (Shenzhen) (see Case Study, page 12), have chosen skyscrapers. We asked, “Are ‘landscrapers’ a more plausible form of office building than skyscrapers for low- to mid-density cities?” YES density within a smaller geographic space? So entails being in a tall building. Silicon Amy Webb far, we’ve seen an inverse correlation between Valley is an obvious exception. Apart from Professor, Stern School of Business, New York density and quality of life. That brings us to projecting unprecedented power and University/Founder, Future Today Institute architectural design. New buildings in prestige, these magnificent and highly densely-populated urban centers have no bespoke horizontal office monuments In the near future, landscapers will create way to go but up. In our new economic have been created to attract high-caliber entirely new urban footprints in emerging centers, architects will be freed to develop employees. Complete with their very own low-density economic centers. There are a new models for working and living. Recent utopian visions with physical number of factors conspiring to push innovations in elevator technologies, such as manifestations so remote from their what was once a concept from the fringe the ropeless elevator, will make it easier to surroundings, these physically isolated into the mainstream. -
Why Dreyfus' Frame Problem Argument Cannot Justify Anti
Why Dreyfus’ Frame Problem Argument Cannot Justify Anti- Representational AI Nancy Salay ([email protected]) Department of Philosophy, Watson Hall 309 Queen‘s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6 Abstract disembodied cognitive models will not work, and this Hubert Dreyfus has argued recently that the frame problem, conclusion needs to be heard. By disentangling the ideas of discussion of which has fallen out of favour in the AI embodiment and representation, at least with respect to community, is still a deal breaker for the majority of AI Dreyfus‘ frame problem argument, the real locus of the projects, despite the fact that the logical version of it has been general polemic between traditional computational- solved. (Shanahan 1997, Thielscher 1998). Dreyfus thinks representational cognitive science and the more recent that the frame problem will disappear only once we abandon the Cartesian foundations from which it stems and adopt, embodied approaches is revealed. From this, I hope that instead, a thoroughly Heideggerian model of cognition, in productive debate will ensue. particular one that does not appeal to representations. I argue The paper proceeds in the following way: in section I, I that Dreyfus is too hasty in his condemnation of all describe and distinguish the logical version of the frame representational views; the argument he provides licenses problem and the philosophical one that remains unsolved; in only a rejection of disembodied models of cognition. In casting his net too broadly, Dreyfus circumscribes the section II, I rehearse Dreyfus‘ negative argument, what I‘ll cognitive playing field so closely that one is left wondering be calling his frame problem argument; in section III, I how his Heideggerian alternative could ever provide a highlight some key points from Dreyfus‘ positive account of foundation explanatorily robust enough for a theory of a Heideggerian alternative; in section IV, I make my case cognition. -
Kierkegaard on Selfhood and Our Need for Others
Kierkegaard on Selfhood and Our Need for Others 1. Kierkegaard in a Secular Age Scholars have devoted much attention lately to Kierkegaard’s views on personal identity and, in particular, to his account of selfhood.1 Central to this account is the idea that a self is not something we automatically are. It is rather something we must become. Thus, selfhood is a goal to realize or a project to undertake.2 To put the point another way, while we may already be selves in some sense, we have to work to become real, true, or “authentic” selves.3 The idea that authentic selfhood is a project is not unique to Kierkegaard. It is common fare in modern philosophy. Yet Kierkegaard distances himself from popular ways of thinking about the matter. He denies the view inherited from Rousseau that we can discover our true selves by consulting our innermost feelings, beliefs, and desires. He also rejects the idea developed by the German Romantics that we can invent our true selves in a burst of artistic or poetic creativity. In fact, according to Kierkegaard, becom- ing an authentic self is not something we can do on our own. If we are to succeed at the project, we must look beyond ourselves for assistance. In particular, Kierkegaard thinks, we must rely on God. For God alone can provide us with the content of our real identi- ties.4 A longstanding concern about Kierkegaard arises at this point. His account of au- thentic selfhood, like his accounts of so many concepts, is religious. -
Man As 'Aggregate of Data'
AI & SOCIETY https://doi.org/10.1007/s00146-018-0852-6 OPEN FORUM Man as ‘aggregate of data’ What computers shouldn’t do Sjoukje van der Meulen1 · Max Bruinsma2 Received: 4 October 2017 / Accepted: 10 June 2018 © The Author(s) 2018 Abstract Since the emergence of the innovative field of artificial intelligence (AI) in the 1960s, the late Hubert Dreyfus insisted on the ontological distinction between man and machine, human and artificial intelligence. In the different editions of his clas- sic and influential book What computers can’t do (1972), he posits that an algorithmic machine can never fully simulate the complex functioning of the human mind—not now, nor in the future. Dreyfus’ categorical distinctions between man and machine are still relevant today, but their relation has become more complex in our increasingly data-driven society. We, humans, are continuously immersed within a technological universe, while at the same time ubiquitous computing, in the words of computer scientist Mark Weiser, “forces computers to live out here in the world with people” (De Souza e Silva in Interfaces of hybrid spaces. In: Kavoori AP, Arceneaux N (eds) The cell phone reader. Peter Lang Publishing, New York, 2006, p 20). Dreyfus’ ideas are therefore challenged by thinkers such as Weiser, Kevin Kelly, Bruno Latour, Philip Agre, and Peter Paul Verbeek, who all argue that humans are much more intrinsically linked to machines than the original dichotomy suggests—they have evolved in concert. Through a discussion of the classical concepts of individuum and ‘authenticity’ within Western civilization, this paper argues that within the ever-expanding data-sphere of the twenty-first century, a new concept of man as ‘aggregate of data’ has emerged, which further erodes and undermines the categorical distinction between man and machine. -
Creativity in Nietzsche and Heidegger: the Relation of Art and Artist
Creativity in Nietzsche and Heidegger: The Relation of Art and Artist Justin Hauver Philosophy and German Mentor: Hans Sluga, Philosophy August 22, 2011 I began my research this summer with a simple goal in mind: I wanted to out- line the ways in which the thoughts of Friedrich Nietzsche and Martin Heidegger complement one another with respect to art. I had taken a few courses on each philosopher beforehand, so I had some inclination as to how their works might be brought into agreement. However, I almost immediately ran into difficulty. It turns out that Heidegger, who lived and thought two or three generations after Nietzsche, had actually lectured on the topic of Nietzsche's philosophy of art and had placed Nietzsche firmly in a long tradition characterized by its mis- understanding of art and of the work of art. This means that Heidegger himself did not agree with me|he did not see his thoughts on art as complementary with Nietzsche's. Rather, Heidegger saw his work as an improvement over the misguided aesthetic tradition. Fortunately for me, Heidegger was simply mistaken. At least, that's my thesis. Heidegger did not see his affinity with Nietzsche because he was misled by his own misinterpretation. Nevertheless, his thoughts on art balance nicely with those of Nietzsche. To support this claim, I will make three moves today. First, I will set up Heidegger's critique, which is really a challenge to the entire tradition that begins with Plato and runs its course up to Nietzsche. Next, I will turn to Heidegger's views on art to see how he overcomes the tradition and answers his own criticism of aesthetics. -
Warren Mcculloch and the British Cyberneticians
Warren McCulloch and the British cyberneticians Article (Accepted Version) Husbands, Phil and Holland, Owen (2012) Warren McCulloch and the British cyberneticians. Interdisciplinary Science Reviews, 37 (3). pp. 237-253. ISSN 0308-0188 This version is available from Sussex Research Online: http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/43089/ This document is made available in accordance with publisher policies and may differ from the published version or from the version of record. If you wish to cite this item you are advised to consult the publisher’s version. Please see the URL above for details on accessing the published version. Copyright and reuse: Sussex Research Online is a digital repository of the research output of the University. Copyright and all moral rights to the version of the paper presented here belong to the individual author(s) and/or other copyright owners. To the extent reasonable and practicable, the material made available in SRO has been checked for eligibility before being made available. Copies of full text items generally can be reproduced, displayed or performed and given to third parties in any format or medium for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-profit purposes without prior permission or charge, provided that the authors, title and full bibliographic details are credited, a hyperlink and/or URL is given for the original metadata page and the content is not changed in any way. http://sro.sussex.ac.uk Warren McCulloch and the British Cyberneticians1 Phil Husbands and Owen Holland Dept. Informatics, University of Sussex Abstract Warren McCulloch was a significant influence on a number of British cyberneticians, as some British pioneers in this area were on him. -
A Dictionary of Cybernetics
Annenberg School for Communication Departmental Papers (ASC) University of Pennsylvania Year 1986 A Dictionary of Cybernetics Klaus Krippendorff University of Pennsylvania, kkrippendorff@asc.upenn.edu This paper is posted at ScholarlyCommons. http://repository.upenn.edu/asc papers/224 A DICTIONARY OF CYBERNETICS by Klaus Krippendorff University of Pennsylvania version 2/2/86 A dictionary like the discipline whose terminology it aims to clarify is constantly in flux. It is aided by communal efforts and in turn aids communication within the community of users. Critical comments and suggestions, especially for including new or omitting useless entries, for improving the wording, for references that may need to be added should be directed to: Klaus Krippendorff The Annenberg School of Communications University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia PA 19104 NOTE: This dictionary is not intended to represent the American Society for Cybernetics nor the opinions of any of its members: neither does it replace the current Cybernetics Glossary. Klaus Krippendorff has been kind enough to make his work available to ASC members in order to stimulate discussion on the language of cybernetics. as well as on the idea of a dictionary itself. ABSOLUTE DISCRIMINATION: ->LIMIT OF ABSOLUTE DISCRIMINATION ADAPTATION: STABILITY of success in the face of a changing environment. Two kinds of adaptation are distinguished. (a) Darwinian adaptation after Darwin who observed how organisms change their internal STRUCTURE when their environment makes existing forms no longer viable. E.g., Ashby's HOMEOSTAT searches for a new pattern of behavior as soon as disturbances in its surroundings drive or threaten to drive its essential VARIABLEs outside specified limits. -
Section 2: Emerging Technologies and Military-Civil Fusion: Artificial Intelli
SECTION 2: EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES AND MILITARY-CIVIL FUSION: ARTIFICIAL INTELLI- GENCE, NEW MATERIALS, AND NEW ENERGY Key Findings • China’s government has implemented a whole-of-society strat- egy to attain leadership in artificial intelligence (AI), new and advanced materials, and new energy technologies (e.g., energy storage and nuclear power). It is prioritizing these areas be- cause they underpin advances in many other technologies and could lead to substantial scientific breakthroughs, economic dis- ruption, enduring economic benefits, and rapid changes in mili- tary capabilities and tactics. • The Chinese government’s military-civil fusion policy aims to spur innovation and economic growth through an array of pol- icies and other government-supported mechanisms, including venture capital (VC) funds, while leveraging the fruits of civil- ian innovation for China’s defense sector. The breadth and opac- ity of military-civil fusion increase the chances civilian academ- ic collaboration and business partnerships between the United States and China could aid China’s military development. • China’s robust manufacturing base and government support for translating research breakthroughs into applications allow it to commercialize new technologies more quickly than the Unit- ed States and at a fraction of the cost. These advantages may enable China to outpace the United States in commercializing discoveries initially made in U.S. labs and funded by U.S. insti- tutions for both mass market and military use. • Artificial intelligence: Chinese firms and research institutes are advancing uses of AI that could undermine U.S. economic lead- ership and provide an asymmetrical advantage in warfare. Chi- nese military strategists see AI as a breakout technology that could enable China to rapidly modernize its military, surpassing overall U.S. -
Second-Order Economics As an Example of Second-Order Cybernetics
Cybernetics and Human Knowing. Vol. 18, nos. 3-4, pp. xx-xx Second-Order Economics as an Example of Second-Order Cybernetics Stuart A. Umpleby1 Heinz von Foerster proposed that the observer should be included in the domain of observation. He suggested that this approach to cybernetics be called second-order cybernetics. Heinz was primarily interested in understanding cognition, based on neurophysiology and mathematics. But there has also been strong interest in cybernetics as a theory of social systems. Using the “second order” idea for existing social science fields would focus attention on the role of the observer and on reflexive phenomena such as the effect of theories on what is being studied. This article considers how the field of economics might adopt the second order idea. A Current Task for Cybernetics In emphasizing the role of the observer and creating the term second-order cybernetics Von Foerster was ahead of his time. One example is the fact that the field of economics may be on the verge of beginning research on second-order economics. But before explaining why that is happening, some background is necessary. Von Foerster was persuaded that the observer needed to be studied as well as the observed. The traditional philosophy of science maintained that scientific observations should be independent of the characteristics of the observer. However, as Humberto Maturana noted, “Anything said is said by an observer” (Maturana, 1970, p. 4). Hence, excluding the observer from consideration is a kind of denial. Von Foerster sustained and advanced the field of cybernetics when many others had returned to their home disciplines. -
Latour, Foucault, and Post-Truth: the Role and Function of Critique in the Era of the Truth Crisis." Le Foucaldien 6, No
Research How to Cite: Flatscher, Matthias, and Sergej Seitz. "Latour, Foucault, and Post-Truth: The Role and Function of Critique in the Era of the Truth Crisis." Le foucaldien 6, no. 1 (2020): 6, 1–23. DOI: https://doi.org/10.16995/ lefou.83 Published: 05 June 2020 Peer Review: This is an English translation of a German article that has been peer-reviewed through the double-blind process of Le foucaldien, which is a journal published by the Open Library of Humanities. Copyright: © 2020 The Author(s). This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. See http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. Open Access: Le foucaldien is a peer-reviewed open-access journal. Digital Preservation: The Open Library of Humanities and all its journals are digitally preserved in the CLOCKSS scholarly archive service. Flatscher, Matthias, and Sergej Seitz. "Latour, Foucault, and Post-Truth: The Role and Function of Critique in the Era of the Truth Crisis." Le foucaldien 6, no. 1 (2020): 6, 1–23. DOI: https://doi.org/10.16995/lefou.83 RESEARCH Latour, Foucault, and Post-Truth: The Role and Function of Critique in the Era of the Truth Crisis Matthias Flatscher1 and Sergej Seitz2 1 University of Vienna, AT 2 University of Innsbruck, AT Corresponding author: Sergej Seitz ([email protected]) This paper, first published in German in Le foucaldien 4, no. -
It Takes a Journalist
IT TAKES A JOURNALIST ® 2019 ANNUAL REVIEW IT TAKES A OUR MISSION LETTER FROM OUR PRESIDENT JOURNALIST ® ICFJ empowers a global network of Dear Friend, 2 OUR MISSION journalists to produce news coverage Across the globe, our unparalleled network of journalists produces news stories 3 LETTER FROM OUR PRESIDENT that have tremendous impact. With our training and support, these journalists: 4 BLAZING THE TRAIL that leads to better governments, Hold the powerful to account even in the darkest corners of the world 6 OUR NETWORK stronger economies, vibrant societies where autocratic forces threaten their safety. 8 OUR IMPACT and healthier lives. Combat disinformation as fake news spreads across every platform — 12 AWARDS DINNER from local radio in the smallest village to the social media giants. 15 FINANCIALS 16 OUR DONORS Give voice to the forgotten, such as poor children denied an ICFJ HAS WORKED WITH education or women deformed in vicious acid attacks. 19 BOARD OF DIRECTORS 140,000+ JOURNALISTS On our 35th anniversary, we are committed to expanding our vast network of journalists, who are pursuing the truth despite the risks. FROM 180 COUNTRIES Join our efforts to support the truth tellers in these perilous times. To ensure free and vibrant societies, it takes a journalist. OVER 35 YEARS Joyce Barnathan, President, ICFJ ICFJ 2019 ANNUAL REVIEW 3 BLAZING THE TRAIL ICFJ has stayed ahead of the trends to ensure that journalists can provide the highest quality content. 1984 1989 1994 2001 2007 2009 2010 2014 2016 2017 2018 2018 2019 Founded by Led the rise of Trained a new Helped U.S. -
On the Internet, Second Edition
Copyrighted Material-Taylor & Francis Copyrighted Material-Taylor & Francis On the Internet Second edition Copyrighted Material-Taylor & Francis Thinking In Action Series editors: Simon Critchley, New School University, New York, and Richard Kearney, Uni- versity Gollege Dublin and Boston College Thinking in Action is a major new series that takes philosophy to its public. Each book in the series is written by a major international philosopher or thinker, engages with an important contemporary topic, and is clearly and accessibly written. The series informs and sharpens debate on issues as wide ranging as the Internet, religion, the problem of immigration and refugees, and the way we think about science. Punchy, short and stimulating, Thinking in Action is an indispensable starting point for anyone who wants to think seriously about major issues confront- ing us today. Praise for the series ‘. allows a space for distinguished thinkers to write about their passions.’ The Philosophers’ Magazine ‘. deserve high praise.’ Boyd Tonkin, The Independent (UK) ‘This is clearly an important series. I look forward to reading future volumes.’ Frank Kermode, author of Shakespeare’s Language ‘. both rigorous and accessible.’ Humanist News ‘. the series looks superb.’ Quentin Skinner ‘. an excellent and beautiful series.’ Ben Rogers, author of A.J. Ayer: A Life ‘Routledge’s Thinking in Action series is the theory junkie’s answer to the eminently pocketable Penguin 60s series.’ Mute Magazine (UK) ‘Routledge’s new series, Thinking in Action, brings philosophers to our aid...’ The Evening Standard (UK) ‘...a welcome new series by Routledge.’ Bulletin of Science, Technology and Society (Can) ‘Routledge’s innovative new Thinking in Action series takes the concept of philosophy a step further’ The Bookwatch Copyrighted Material-Taylor & Francis HUBERT L.